Electronic smoking article
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An electronic vaping article comprising:
- a heater-wick element including a heatable portion and at least one wicking portion including a plurality of metal beads or particles, the heater-wick element in communication with a liquid supply region;
at least one connection structure wrapped around the heater-wick element; and
at least one electrical lead connected to the at least one connection structure,the at least one wicking portion extending into the liquid supply region,the heatable portion integrally formed with the at least one wicking portion,the heatable portion outside of the liquid supply region,the liquid supply region including liquid material,the heater-wick element configured to wick the liquid material from the liquid supply region and move the liquid material along the heater-wick element through interstices and voids between the plurality of metal beads or particles, andthe heater-wick element having a porosity ranging from about 30% to about 60% and configured to volatilize the liquid material to produce a vapor.
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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.
58 Citations
28 Claims
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1. An electronic vaping article comprising:
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a heater-wick element including a heatable portion and at least one wicking portion including a plurality of metal beads or particles, the heater-wick element in communication with a liquid supply region; at least one connection structure wrapped around the heater-wick element; and at least one electrical lead connected to the at least one connection structure, the at least one wicking portion extending into the liquid supply region, the heatable portion integrally formed with the at least one wicking portion, the heatable portion outside of the liquid supply region, the liquid supply region including liquid material, the heater-wick element configured to wick the liquid material from the liquid supply region and move the liquid material along the heater-wick element through interstices and voids between the plurality of metal beads or particles, and the heater-wick element having a porosity ranging from about 30% to about 60% and configured to volatilize the liquid material to produce a vapor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28)
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22. A method of producing a vapor in an electronic vaping article comprising:
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transferring a liquid material from a liquid supply region to a channel using a heater-wick element having a porosity ranging from about 30% to about 60%, the heater-wick element including a heatable portion and at least one wicking portion formed from a plurality of metal beads or particles, the at least one wicking portion extending into the liquid supply region, the heatable portion being integrally formed with the at least one wicking portion, the heatable portion outside of the liquid supply region and in the channel; and directing an electrical current through the heatable portion via at least one electrical lead connected to at least one connection structure wrapped around the heater-wick element to at least partially volatilize the liquid material. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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Specification