Electronic article

• US 10,299,516 B2
• Filed: 05/07/2018
• Issued: 05/28/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2012
• 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., Kobal, Gerd, Jordan, Geoffrey Brandon, Kasoff, Victor
• Primary Examiner(s): Lazorcik, Jason L
• Application Number:
  US15/972,578
• Publication Number:
  US 20180249765A1
• Time in Patent Office: 386 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/10 Devices using liquid inhalable precursors
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/42 Cartridges or containers for inhalable precursors
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/46 Shape or structure of electric heating means
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/48 Fluid transfer means, e.g. pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/485 Valves; Apertures
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/51 Arrangement of sensors

Abstract

The electronic article includes an outer housing extending in a longitudinal direction, a reservoir having an outlet and being formed of a compressible elastomeric material, the reservoir being a main supply reservoir configured to contain a liquid. The reservoir is at least partially contained within the outer housing. The article includes a capillary tube having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet of the capillary tube being in fluid communication with the outlet of the reservoir. The article further includes a heater configured to heat and at least initially volatilize the liquid in the capillary tube. The reservoir is configured to be manually compressed to pump the liquid from the reservoir into the capillary tube.

Claims

1. An e-vaping device, comprising:

an outer housing extending in a longitudinal direction;

a reservoir having an outlet and being formed of a compressible elastomeric material, the reservoir being a main supply reservoir configured to contain a liquid, the reservoir being at least partially contained within the outer housing;

a capillary tube having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet of the capillary tube being in fluid communication with the outlet of the reservoir; and

a heater configured to heat and at least initially volatilize the liquid in the capillary tube,

wherein the reservoir is configured to be manually compressed to pump the liquid from the reservoir into the capillary tube.

2. The e-vaping device of claim 1, wherein the heater is a heatable section of the capillary tube.

3. The e-vaping device of claim 1, further comprising:

a power supply; and

control circuitry configured to cause the power supply to energize the heater if manual compression of the reservoir occurs.

4. The e-vaping device of claim 3, wherein the manual compression includes manually pressing the reservoir in a first direction, the e-vaping device further comprising:

a pressure switch electrically connected to the control circuitry, the pressure switch being collinear with the first direction.

5. The e-vaping device of claim 3, wherein the e-vaping device further comprises:

a pressure switch, the pressure switch being configured to sense the manual compression and send a signal to the control circuitry in response to the manual compression.

6. The e-vaping device of claim 3, wherein the e-vaping device further comprises:

a pressure switch, the pressure switch being positioned along a first side of the reservoir, the reservoir being configured to allow for the manual compression to be performed on a second side of the reservoir.

7. The e-vaping device of claim 6, wherein the reservoir is configured to bow outward along the first side of the reservoir, and contact the pressure switch, due to the manual compression of the reservoir.

8. The e-vaping device of claim 6, wherein the outer housing defines a depression superposed along the second side of the reservoir, the depression indicating where the manual compression is to be applied.

9. The e-vaping device of claim 3, wherein the e-vaping device further comprises:

a pressure switch, the pressure switch being positioned along a first side of the reservoir, the reservoir being configured to allow the manual compression to be performed on the first side of the reservoir.

10. The e-vaping device of claim 9, wherein an upper surface of the pressure switch extends beyond an outer surface of the outer housing.

11. The e-vaping device of claim 3, further comprising:

a fitting configured to at least partially contain the reservoir.

12. The e-vaping device of claim 11, further comprising:

a pressure switch, the fitting defining a recess configured to at least partially receive the pressure switch.

13. The e-vaping device of claim 12, wherein the recess is on a first side of the fitting, the fitting defining a cutout on a second side of the fitting.

14. The e-vaping device of claim 13, wherein the first and second sides of the fitting oppose each other, the cutout being configured to allow the manual compression of the reservoir.

15. The e-vaping device of claim 11, wherein the fitting includes a connecting structure on ends of the fitting, the connecting structure being configured to connect the fitting to a first section and a second section of the e-vaping device.

16. The e-vaping device of claim 15, wherein the connecting structure is at least one of clamps and threads.

17. The e-vaping device of claim 15, wherein the first section includes the capillary tube and the second section includes the power supply and the control circuitry.

18. The e-vaping device of claim 1, further comprising:

a check valve in fluid communication with the outlet of the reservoir and the inlet of the capillary tube.

19. The e-vaping device of claim 18, wherein a critical pressure of the check valve is less than an expected pressure of a manual compression of the reservoir.

20. The e-vaping device of claim 1, wherein the outer housing defines an air inlet that is located downstream of the outlet of the capillary tube.

21. The e-vaping device of claim 1, wherein the capillary tube is the heater.

22. The e-vaping device of claim 1, further comprising:

a housing, the housing defining a recess that allows for manual compression of the reservoir.