Electronic smoking article

• US 10,021,915 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2017
• Issued: 07/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC (Altria Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC (Altria Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cadieux, Edmond J., Jordan, Geoffrey Brandon, Smith, Barry S., Rinehart, Steve R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Del Sole, Joseph S
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ahmed Ali, Mohamed K
• Application Number:
  US15/639,409
• Publication Number:
  US 20170295849A1
• Time in Patent Office: 382 Days
• Field of Search: 131329, 12820521
• 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

Abstract

An electronic smoking article includes a first section containing a liquid supply reservoir including liquid material, a heater operable to heat the liquid material to a temperature sufficient to vaporize the liquid material and form an aerosol, and a wick in communication with the liquid material and operable to deliver the liquid material to the heater, and a second section containing a power supply. The first section is connected to the second section at a breakaway connection. The breakaway connection includes a weakened region.

Claims

1. A cartridge of an electronic vaping device comprising:

an outer housing extending in a longitudinal direction;

a reservoir configured to store a pre-vapor formulation;

a vaporizer in fluid communication with the reservoir, the vaporizer configured to vaporize the pre-vapor formulation; and

a first connector piece, the first connector piece extending in the longitudinal direction, the first connector piece including,

a weakened region at a location along a length of the first connector piece, the first connector piece configured to break at the weakened region if the electronic vaping device is bent beyond a threshold breaking force.

2. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the weakened region comprises:

a recess adjacent a threaded portion of the first connector piece.

3. The cartridge of claim 2, wherein the weakened region further comprises:

a plurality of holes through the recess, the plurality of holes being at spaced locations about the recess.

4. The cartridge of claim 3, wherein the holes are spaced about 45°

to about 90°

apart and the first connector piece includes two to eight holes.

5. The cartridge of claim 2, wherein the recess is discontinuous about a circumference of the first connector piece.

6. The cartridge of claim 2, wherein the recess is continuous about a circumference of the first connector piece.

7. The cartridge of claim 2, wherein the recess has a width ranging from about 0.2 mm to about 0.6 mm wide.

8. The cartridge of claim 2, wherein the recess has a depth ranging from about 0.2 mm to about 0.6 mm.

9. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the first connector piece comprises:

a body portion including a notch about a circumference of the body portion.

10. The cartridge of claim 9, wherein the notch has a width ranging from about 1.0 mm to about 3.0 mm.

11. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the reservoir is sealed with a gasket, the gasket between the first connector piece and a first end of the cartridge.

12. An electronic vaping device comprising:

a first section including, an outer housing extending in a longitudinal direction, a reservoir configured to store a pre-vapor formulation, a vaporizer in fluid communication with the reservoir, the vaporizer configured to vaporize the pre-vapor formulation, and a first connector piece, the first connector piece extending in the longitudinal direction, the first connector piece including, a weakened region at a location along a length of the first connector piece, the first connector piece configured to break at the weakened region if the electronic vaping device is bent beyond a threshold breaking force; and

a second section including, a second outer housing extending in the longitudinal direction, a power supply in the second outer housing, and a second connector piece connectable with the first connector piece.

13. The electronic vaping device of claim 12, wherein the weakened region comprises:

a recess adjacent a threaded portion of the first connector piece.

14. The electronic vaping device of claim 13, wherein the weakened region further comprises:

a plurality of holes through the recess, the plurality of holes being at spaced locations about the recess.

15. The electronic vaping device of claim 14, wherein the holes are spaced about 45°

to about 90°

apart and the first connector piece includes two to eight holes.

16. The electronic vaping device of claim 13, wherein the recess is discontinuous about a circumference of the first connector piece.

17. The electronic vaping device of claim 13, wherein the recess is continuous about a circumference of the first connector piece.

18. The electronic vaping device of claim 13, wherein the recess has a width ranging from about 0.2 mm to about 0.6 mm wide.

19. The electronic vaping device of claim 13, wherein the recess has a depth ranging from about 0.2 mm to about 0.6 mm.

20. The electronic vaping device of claim 12, wherein the first connector piece comprises:

a body portion including a notch about a circumference of the body portion, the notch having a width ranging from about 1.0 mm to about 3.0 mm.