E-VAPING DEVICE

• US 20160366725A1
• Filed: 06/10/2015
• Published: 12/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC (Altria Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Altria Client Services, Inc. (Altria Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: TUCKER, Christopher S., BURTON, Douglas A.
• Granted Patent: US 10,368,399 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/10 Devices using liquid inhalable precursors
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/40 Constructional details, e.g. connection of cartridges and battery parts
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/014 Heaters using resistive wires or cables not provided for in H05B3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/021 Heaters specially adapted for heating liquids
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/06 Heater elements structurally combined with coupling elements or holders
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/12 characterised by the composition or nature of the conductive material

Abstract

Example embodiments relate to a cartomizer including a housing, a fluid reservoir, configured to store an e-fluid, in the housing, a vaporizer configured to vaporize the e-fluid, the vaporizer including a heater having at least one end portion connected to an electrical lead wire, and a sleeve covering the connection between the end portion of the heater and the electrical lead wire.

Claims

1. A cartomizer, comprising:

a housing;

a fluid reservoir in the housing, the fluid reservoir configured to store an e-fluid;

a vaporizer configured to vaporize the e-fluid, the vaporizer including a heater having at least one end portion connected to an electrical lead wire; and

a sleeve covering the connection between the end portion of the heater and the electrical lead wire.

2. The cartomizer according to claim 1, wherein the connection between end portion of the heater and the electrical lead wire is formed by crimping.

3. The cartomizer according to claim 1, wherein the connection between end portion of the heater and the electrical lead wire is formed by soldering.

4. The cartomizer according to claim 1, wherein the connection between end portion of the heater and the electrical lead wire is formed by spot welding.

5. The cartomizer according to claim 1, wherein the housing further includes:

an outer tube; and

an inner tube within the outer tube, the inner tube including a pair of opposing slots,

wherein the end portion of the heater extends through one of the opposing slots.

6. The cartomizer according to claim 5, wherein the sleeve is co-axial with the inner tube to cover a portion thereof.

7. The cartomizer according to claim 5, wherein the sleeve is below the pair of opposing slots of the inner tube.

8. The cartomizer according to claim 5, wherein

the vaporizer includes a wick, and the heater surrounds the wick such that heater heats liquid material to a temperature sufficient to vaporize the liquid and form a vapor;

and

an upper edge of the sleeve is disposed near the wick without touching the wick.

9. The cartomizer according to claim 5, wherein the sleeve partially closes off an open space provided between the heater and the pair of opposing slots.

10. The cartomizer according to claim 1, further comprising:

at least two electrical lead wires forming at least two connections between at least two end portions of the heater and the at least two electrical lead wires; and

wherein

the sleeve covers the at least two connections between the at least two end portions of the heater and the at least two electrical lead wires.

11. The cartomizer according to claim 10, wherein the sleeve substantially covers the electric lead wires extending from a power supply.

12. An e-vaping device, comprising:

a cartomizer including,

a housing,

a fluid reservoir in the housing, the fluid reservoir configured to store an e-fluid,

a vaporizer configured to vaporize the e-fluid, the vaporizer including a heater having at least one end portion connected to an electrical lead wire, and

a sleeve covering the connection between the end portion of the heater and the electrical lead wire; and

a power supply configured to supply power to the heater.

13. The e-vaping device according to claim 12, wherein the connection between end portion of the heater and the electrical lead wire is formed by crimping.

14. The e-vaping device according to claim 12, wherein the connection between end portion of the heater and the electrical lead wire is formed by soldering.

15. The e-vaping device according to claim 12, wherein the connection between end portion of the heater and the electrical lead wire is formed by spot welding.

16. The e-vaping device according to claim 12, wherein the housing further includes:

an outer tube; and

an inner tube within the outer tube, the inner tube including a pair of opposing slots,

wherein the end portion of the heater extends through the one of the opposing slots.

17. The e-vaping device according to claim 16, wherein the sleeve is co-axial with the inner tube to cover a portion thereof.

18. The e-vaping device according to claim 16, wherein

the vaporizer includes a wick, and the heater surrounds the wick such that heater heats liquid material to a temperature sufficient to vaporize the liquid and form a vapor;

and

an upper edge of the sleeve is disposed near the wick without touching the wick.

19. The e-vaping device according to claim 16, wherein the sleeve partially closes off an open space provided between the heater and the pair of opposing slots.

20. The e-vaping device according to claim 16, further comprising:

at least two electrical lead wires forming at least two connections between at least two end portions of the heater and the at least two electrical lead wires; and

wherein

the sleeve covers the at least two connections between the at least two end portions of the heater and the at least two electrical lead wires.

21. The e-vaping device according to claim 12, wherein the power supply is removably connected to the cartomizer via a connector.