Electronic cigarette

• US 8,997,754 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2013
• Issued: 04/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2012
• 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., Jordan, Geoffrey Brandon, Smith, Barry S., Rostami, Ali A., Marcq, Pauline, Schuh, Christian, Flora, Jason, Fisher, Michael, Karles, George, Kobal, Gerd, Gedevani, Shon, Hession, Chris, Gibbs, Zane, Mitten, Robert, Mishra, Munmaya K., Rinehart, Steven, Dendy, Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Crispino, Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yaary, Eric
• Application Number:
  US13/756,095
• Publication Number:
  US 20130192622A1
• Time in Patent Office: 796 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 131/273
• 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: A24F 40/44 Wicks
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/485 Valves; Apertures
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/70 Manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/001 Particle size control
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/003 by passing the aerosol trough sieves or filters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/04 operated by the vapour pressure of the liquid to be sprayed or atomised air-humidification, e.g. "room humidifiers" F24F6/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/042 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/002 with air flow regulating means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/06 Inhaling appliances shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0018 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0016 by the smell sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3653 by Joule effect, i.e. electric resistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8268 Fuel storage cells
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/02 Equipment for testing the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 2270/0421 Controlled or regulated
• CPC Class Codes: H01C 17/00 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing resistors providing fillings for housings or enclosures H01C1/02; reducing insulation surrounding a resistor to powder H01C1/03; manufacture of thermally variable resistors H01C7/02, H01C7/04
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 1/0244 Heating of fluids H05B1/0247 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/021 : Heaters specially adapted for heating liquids
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/0014 : Devices wherein the heating current flows through particular resistances
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/10 : Heating elements characterised by the composition or nature of the materials or by the arrangement of the conductor
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/12 : characterised by the composition or nature of the conductive material
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/16 : the conductor being mounted on an insulating base
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/42 : non-flexible
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/44 : heating conductor arranged within rods or tubes of insulating material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49083 : Heater type

Abstract

An electronic smoking article includes a liquid supply including liquid material, a heater operable to heat the liquid material to a temperature sufficient to vaporize the liquid material and form an aerosol, a wick in communication with the liquid material and in communication with the heater such that the wick delivers the liquid material to the heater, at least one air inlet operable to deliver air to a central air passage upstream of the heater, and an aroma carrier on an outer surface of the outer tube. The aroma carrier includes fragrance material and is operable to deliver fragrance during smoking.

Claims

1. An electronic smoking article comprising:

an outer tube extending in a longitudinal direction;

an inner tube within the outer tube;

a liquid supply comprising a liquid material, the liquid supply contained in an outer annulus between the outer tube and the inner tube;

a coil heater located in the inner tube;

a wick in communication with the liquid supply and surrounded by the coil heater such that the wick delivers liquid material to the coil heater and the coil heater heats the liquid material to a temperature sufficient to vaporize the liquid material and form an aerosol in the inner tube;

at least one air inlet formed in the outer tube; and

an aroma carrier on an outer surface of the outer tube, the aroma carrier including fragrance material and being operable to deliver fragrance during smoking,

wherein the aroma carrier includes an inner layer impregnated with the fragrance material and an outer layer that is removable prior to smoking and

wherein the outer layer is larger than the inner layer and the outer layer covers the inner layer and the at least one air inlet formed in the outer tube of the smoking article prior to smoking.

2. The electronic smoking article of claim 1, wherein the aroma carrier extends fully or partially about a circumference of the outer tube.

3. The electronic smoking article of claim 1, wherein the aroma carrier comprises a strip of material formed of paper or a polymer, the paper or polymer being impregnated with fragrance material.

4. The electronic smoking article of claim 1, wherein the electronic smoking article comprises a first section and a second section and wherein the wick, the liquid supply and a mouth end insert are contained in the first section and a power supply is contained in a second section.

5. The electronic smoking article of claim 4, wherein the first section and the second section have the same outer diameter and wherein first section is a disposable downstream section and the second section is a reusable upstream section.

6. The electronic smoking article of claim 1, wherein the electronic smoking article comprises a single outer tube and wherein the wick, the liquid supply, a mouth end insert and a power supply are contained in the outer tube.

7. The electronic smoking article of claim 1, further including control circuitry including a puff sensor, the puff sensor operable to sense air flow and initiate application of voltage from the power supply to the coil heater.

8. The electronic smoking article of claim 1, wherein the fragrance material comprises a tobacco flavor extract.

9. The electronic smoking article of claim 8, wherein the tobacco flavor extract is derived from tobacco smoke.

10. The electronic smoking article of claim 8, wherein the tobacco flavor extract is derived from tobacco plant material.

11. The electronic smoking article of claim 1, wherein the aroma carrier is colored or includes indicia thereon.

12. The electronic smoking article of claim 1, wherein the fragrance material is encapsulated.

13. The electronic smoking article of claim 1, wherein the aroma carrier provides aroma for up to about 6 months.

23. The electronic smoking article of claim 1, wherein the aroma carrier extends fully about a circumference of the outer tube.

14. An electronic smoking article comprising:

a casing;

an arrangement in the casing operable to produce an aerosol;

a mouth end insert including an outlet; and

an aroma carrier on an outer surface of said casing, said aroma carrier including a fragrance material and being operable to deliver fragrance during smoking,

wherein the aroma carrier includes an inner layer impregnated with the fragrance material and an outer layer that is removable prior to smoking; and

wherein the outer layer is larger than the inner layer and the outer layer covers the inner layer and an air inlet.

15. The electronic smoking article of claim 14, wherein the aroma carrier extends partially about a circumference of the casing.

16. The electronic smoking article of claim 14, wherein the aroma carrier comprises a strip of material formed of paper or a polymer, the paper or polymer being impregnated with fragrance material.

17. The electronic smoking article of claim 14, wherein the fragrance material comprises a tobacco flavor extract.

18. The electronic smoking article of claim 17, wherein the tobacco flavor extract is derived from tobacco smoke.

19. The electronic smoking article of claim 17, wherein the tobacco flavor extract is derived from tobacco plant material.

20. The electronic smoking article of claim 14, wherein the aroma carrier is colored or includes indicia thereon.

21. The electronic smoking article of claim 14, wherein the fragrance material is encapsulated.

22. The electronic smoking article of claim 14, wherein the aroma carrier provides aroma for up to about 6 months.

24. The electronic smoking article of claim 14, wherein the aroma carrier extends fully about a circumference of the casing.