Electronic cigarette

• US 10,098,386 B2
• Filed: 03/09/2016
• Issued: 10/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC (Altria Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC (Altria Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Tucker, Christopher S., Jordan, Geoffrey Brandon, Smith, Barry S., Rostami, Ali A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cordray, Dennis R
• Application Number:
  US15/065,467
• Publication Number:
  US 20160183599A1
• Time in Patent Office: 951 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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 a mouth end insert having at least two diverging outlets.

Claims

1. A cartridge of an electronic article comprising:

an outer housing extending in a longitudinal direction, the outer housing defining a portion of a liquid supply region configured to store a liquid material;

an inner tube within the outer housing;

a coil heater contained within the outer housing;

a wick in communication with the liquid supply region and at least partially surrounded by the coil heater;

a mouthpiece at a mouth-end of the outer housing, the mouthpiece including only two outlets and no central outlet; and

a gasket including a central orifice between the inner tube and the mouthpiece.

2. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the mouthpiece further includes an interior surface upon which drops of liquid material may impact.

3. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the central orifice has a diameter of about 2.0 mm to about 3.0 mm.

4. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the wick comprises:

a plurality of filaments.

5. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the coil heater extends substantially transverse to the longitudinal direction.

6. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the coil heater includes 3 to 8 windings.

7. An electronic article comprising:

a cartridge including,

an outer housing extending in a longitudinal direction, the outer housing defining a portion of a liquid supply region configured to store a liquid material;

an inner tube within the outer housing;

a coil heater contained within the outer housing;

a wick in communication with the liquid supply region and at least partially surrounded by the coil heater;

a mouthpiece at a mouth-end of the outer housing, the mouthpiece including only two outlets and no central outlet; and

a gasket including a central orifice between the inner tube and the mouthpiece; and

a second section including,

a power supply configured to be electrically connected to the coil heater.

8. The electronic article of claim 7, wherein the mouthpiece further includes an interior surface upon which drops of liquid material may impact.

9. The electronic article of claim 7, wherein the central orifice has a diameter of about 2.0 mm to about 3.0 mm.

10. The electronic article of claim 7, wherein the wick comprises:

a plurality of filaments.

11. The electronic article of claim 7, wherein the coil heater extends substantially transverse to the longitudinal direction.

12. The electronic article of claim 7, wherein the coil heater includes 3 to 8 windings.

13. The electronic article of claim 7, wherein the coil heater is formed of a nickel-chromium alloy.

14. The electronic article of claim 13, wherein the nickel-chromium alloy is essentially iron-free.

15. The electronic article of claim 7, wherein the coil heater has substantially uniformly spaced windings.