Refillable aerosol delivery device and related method

• US 10,314,340 B2
• Filed: 04/21/2017
• Issued: 06/11/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RAI STRATEGIC HOLDINGS, INC. (British American Tobacco PLC)
• Original Assignee: RAI STRATEGIC HOLDINGS, INC. (British American Tobacco PLC)
• Inventors: Davis, Michael F., Phillips, Percy D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Harvey, James
• Application Number:
  US15/493,919
• Publication Number:
  US 20180303160A1
• Time in Patent Office: 781 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 15/015 with means for refilling of liquid inhalable precursors
• 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 40/48 Fluid transfer means, e.g. pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/485 Valves; Apertures
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/045 for filling, e.g. for filling reservoirs

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to an aerosol delivery device. The aerosol delivery device may include one or more fill ports. Thereby, a reservoir of the aerosol delivery device may be refillable. The fill ports may be defined in a base of a cartridge of the aerosol delivery device. The aerosol delivery device may further include a flow director. An atomizer may extend through the flow director transversely to a longitudinal length of the flow director. The atomizer may include a liquid transport element with a capillary channel extending therethrough, which may receive aerosol precursor composition from the reservoir. There aerosol precursor composition may be drawn through the liquid transport element to a heating element of the atomizer, which may vaporize the aerosol precursor composition.

Claims

1. An aerosol delivery device, comprising:

an outer body;

a base;

a flow director extending from a first flow director end to a second flow director end through the outer body such that a reservoir is defined between the flow director and the outer body, the reservoir defining an open space configured to receive an aerosol precursor composition; and

an atomizer extending through the flow director at a position between the first flow director end and the second flow director end, the atomizer including a liquid transport element and a heating element configured to vaporize at least a portion of the aerosol precursor composition to produce an aerosol within the flow director.

2. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, wherein the liquid transport element comprises a capillary channel extending therethrough.

3. The aerosol delivery device of claim 2, wherein the liquid transport element comprises a porous monolith.

4. The aerosol delivery device of claim 3, wherein the heating element comprises a wire defining a plurality of coils extending around the liquid transport element.

5. The aerosol delivery device of claim 4, further comprising first and second connectors contacting the coils at first and second opposing ends of the heating element.

6. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, wherein a longitudinal axis of the liquid transport element extends substantially perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of the flow director.

7. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, wherein the outer body is sealed to the base.

8. The aerosol delivery device of claim 7, wherein the outer body engages the base via threaded engagement.

9. The aerosol delivery device of claim 8, further comprising an O-ring is compressed between the outer body and the base.

10. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, further comprising a mouthpiece, wherein the mouthpiece is sealed to the outer body and the flow director.

11. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, wherein the base comprises one or more fill ports configured to receive the aerosol precursor composition therethrough.

12. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, wherein the atomizer is sealed to the flow director.

13. An aerosol delivery device operation method, comprising:

retaining an aerosol precursor composition in a reservoir defined between a flow director and an outer body, the flow director extending between a first flow director end and a second flow director end;

directing the aerosol precursor composition from the reservoir through a liquid transport element of an atomizer extending through the flow director at a position between the first flow director end and the second flow director end;

receiving an electrical current through a heating element of the atomizer; and

vaporizing at least a portion of the aerosol precursor composition to produce an aerosol within the flow director.

14. The aerosol delivery device operation method of claim 13, further comprising receiving the aerosol precursor composition through one or more fill ports defined in a base.

15. The aerosol delivery device operation method of claim 13, wherein directing the aerosol precursor composition through the liquid transport element comprises directing the aerosol precursor composition through a capillary channel.

16. The aerosol delivery device operation method of claim 15, wherein directing the aerosol precursor composition through the liquid transport element further comprises directing the aerosol precursor composition through a porous monolith to the heating element.

17. The aerosol delivery device operation method of claim 13, wherein receiving the electrical current through the heating element comprises receiving the electrical current through a wire defining a plurality of coils extending around the liquid transport element.

18. The aerosol delivery device operation method of claim 13, further comprising directing the aerosol out of the flow director through a mouthpiece.

19. The aerosol delivery device operation method of claim 13, further comprising retaining the aerosol precursor composition in the reservoir with a seal between the outer body and the base.

20. The aerosol delivery device operation method of claim 13, further comprising retaining the aerosol precursor composition in the reservoir with a seal between the mouthpiece and the outer body and a seal between the mouthpiece and the flow director.