ELECTRONIC SMOKING ARTICLE
First Claim
1. An electronic smoking article having a heater-wick element comprising a plurality of metal beads or particles, said heater-wick element in communication with a liquid supply region including liquid material such that the liquid material travels along the heater-wick element through interstices and voids between the plurality of metal beads or particles and the heater-wick element is operative to volatilize liquid material to produce an aerosol.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic smoking article includes a liquid supply region including liquid material and a heater-wick element operable to wick liquid material and heat the liquid material to a temperature sufficient to vaporize the liquid material and form an aerosol. The heater-wick element comprises a plurality of fused metal beads or particles.
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Citations
28 Claims
- 1. An electronic smoking article having a heater-wick element comprising a plurality of metal beads or particles, said heater-wick element in communication with a liquid supply region including liquid material such that the liquid material travels along the heater-wick element through interstices and voids between the plurality of metal beads or particles and the heater-wick element is operative to volatilize liquid material to produce an aerosol.
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28. A method of producing an aerosol in an electronic smoking article comprising:
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retaining a liquid in a portion of said electronic smoking article; directing electrical current through a heatable portion of a heater-wick element formed of a frit; and drawing said liquid to said heatable portion with a wicking portion of said heater-wick element by communicating said wicking portion with a liquid supply region of the electronic smoking article, said heatable portion and said wicking portion having been integrally formed.
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Specification