Method for assembling an aerosol delivery device

• US 10,058,125 B2
• Filed: 10/13/2015
• Issued: 08/28/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RAI STRATEGIC HOLDINGS, INC. (British American Tobacco PLC)
• Original Assignee: RAI STRATEGIC HOLDINGS, INC. (British American Tobacco PLC)
• Inventors: Worm, Steven L., Christopherson, David Glen, Henry, Jr., Raymond Charles, Ampolini, Frederic Philippe, Wood, Jason L., Billings, Alan Curtis
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Paul D
• Application Number:
  US14/881,392
• Publication Number:
  US 20170099877A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,050 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 15/12 for pocket use A24F15/005 takes precedence
• 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 40/50 Control or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/60 Devices with integrated user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/70 Manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/042 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0021 Mouthpieces therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0023 retractable
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/06 Inhaling appliances shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0003 Accessories therefor, e.g. sensors, vibrators, negative pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0018 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/003 with a flowmeter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3331 Pressure; Flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3334 Measuring or controlling the flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3653 by Joule effect, i.e. electric resistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/505 Touch-screens; Virtual keyboard or keypads; Virtual buttons; Soft keys; Mouse touches
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/582 by tactile feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2207/00 : Methods of manufacture, assembly or production
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2207/10 : Device therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/088 : on the body

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to aerosol delivery devices. The aerosol delivery devices may include a housing and a cartridge including an atomizer and a reservoir configured to contain an aerosol precursor composition. The cartridge may be configured to move relative to at least a portion of the housing between a retracted configuration and an extended configuration. Related assembly methods are also provided.

Claims

1. A method for assembling an aerosol delivery device, the method comprising:

providing a housing, a track, an actuator, and a coupler,

the coupler being engaged with the actuator and configured to engage a cartridge comprising an aerosol precursor composition, an atomizer configured to heat the aerosol precursor composition to produce an aerosol, and a mouthpiece configured for passage of the aerosol therethrough;

engaging the track with the housing; and

moveably attaching the actuator to the track such that the coupler is configured to move the cartridge relative to at least a portion of the housing.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising engaging the coupler with the actuator.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein engaging the track with the housing comprises engaging a first housing portion with a second housing portion such that the track is received therebetween.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein moveably attaching the actuator to the track comprises moveably attaching a slider to a longitudinal extension defined by the track.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising bonding the coupler to the slider.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein moveably attaching the actuator to the track further comprises engaging the longitudinal extension with a support frame.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein engaging the track with the housing comprises engaging the support frame with the housing.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising engaging one or more stops with the support frame.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising engaging a magnet with the slider.

10. The method of claim 4, further comprising engaging an external engagement member with the slider to form the actuator.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein engaging the external engagement member with the slider comprises inserting the external engagement member through an opening defined in the housing such that at least a portion of the external engagement member is positioned outside of the housing.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising engaging a controller with a support frame of the track.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising engaging a power source with the controller.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising engaging a display with the controller.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising engaging a display cover with the display.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising engaging an input mechanism with the display cover.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising positioning a tube in fluid communication with the coupler and a flow sensor of the controller.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein positioning the tube in fluid communication with the coupler and the flow sensor of the controller comprises engaging a flow sensor seal with the flow sensor and the tube.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising engaging a plurality of electrical terminals of the coupler with a plurality of electrical wires;

and

engaging the electrical wires with an electrical connector.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising engaging a second plurality of electrical wires with a second electrical connector;

engaging the second plurality of electrical wires with a controller; and

engaging the electrical connector with the second electrical connector.