Heating elements formed from a sheet of a material and inputs and methods for the production of atomizers

• US 10,595,561 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2016
• Issued: 03/24/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RAI STRATEGIC HOLDINGS, INC. (British American Tobacco PLC)
• Original Assignee: RAI STRATEGIC HOLDINGS, INC. (British American Tobacco PLC)
• Inventors: DePiano, John, Smith, David, Novak, III, Charles Jacob, Silveira, Frank S., Laine, Michael, Metcalfe, Robert Alden, Wolber, John William
• Primary Examiner(s): Campbell, Thor S
• Application Number:
  US15/232,389
• Publication Number:
  US 20160345633A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,323 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 40/46 Shape or structure of electric heating means
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/70 Manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/017 Manufacturing methods or apparatus for heaters
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/021 Heaters specially adapted for heating liquids
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/46 heating conductor mounted on insulating base
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49387 Boiler making

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an input for production of atomizers and atomizers formed from a sheet of a material, and which may be employed in an aerosol delivery device such as a smoking article. The input may include a carrier and heating elements coupled thereto. The heating elements may include first and second ends and interconnected alternating loops disposed therebetween. The heating elements may be oriented parallel to a longitudinal axis of the carrier, or perpendicular thereto. The heating elements may be coupled to a liquid transport element by bending the interconnected loops at least partially around the liquid transport element. The ends of the heating element may be coupled to heater terminals. A related method for forming atomizers is also provided.

Claims

1. A heating element, comprising:

a first terminal end;

a second terminal end; and

a plurality of interconnected loops coupled between the first terminal end and the second terminal end, the interconnected loops being oriented transversely to a longitudinal axis extending between the first terminal end and the second terminal end and alternatingly disposed with respect thereto such that alternate loops extend in opposite directions from the longitudinal axis, the alternate interconnected loops having tips thereof bent in opposite directions about the longitudinal axis and toward one another such that the tips of sequential alternate loops of the interconnected loops are positioned adjacent to one another,

wherein the first terminal end, the second terminal end, and the plurality of interconnected loops are integrally formed from a sheet of a material.

2. The heating element of claim 1, wherein the interconnected loops define a substantially cylindrical void extending parallel to the longitudinal axis.

3. The heating element of claim 1, wherein each of the first terminal end and the second terminal end has a width that is greater than a width of the material defining the interconnected loops.