Aerosol delivery device with improved atomizer

• US 10,674,765 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2017
• Issued: 06/09/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2017
• 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., Minskoff, Noah Mark, Sears, Stephen Benson
• Primary Examiner(s): Abraham, Ibrahime A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Asmelash, Biniam B
• Application Number:
  US15/472,839
• Publication Number:
  US 20180279672A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,168 Days
• Field of Search: 392395
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/10 Devices using liquid inhalable precursors
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/44 Wicks
• 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: A61M 11/042 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/06 Inhaling appliances shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3653 by Joule effect, i.e. electric resistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to aerosol delivery devices, methods of forming such devices, and elements of such devices. In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides atomizers and elements thereof, such as a combined wick and heater configured to improve vaporization response time, particularly on porous, monolithic wicks. The wick can have a tapered end that engages the interior of a substantially basket-shaped wire heater coil. The heater also may be in the form of a conductive mesh that is present on a portion of the wick.

Claims

1. An atomizer comprising:

a fluid transport element in a form of a rigid, porous monolith, the fluid transport element having a first end that is tapered and having a second end;

a heater in a conical configuration and including an interior area that receives and matches the tapered first end of the fluid transport element,

wherein the fluid transport element has a main body with a longitudinal length extending between the tapered first end and the second end, the main body having a diameter that is constant along the longitudinal length thereof, the tapered first end forming 5% to 50% of the total length of the fluid transport element, the tapered first end tapering from a first diameter that is the same as the diameter of the main body to a second diameter that is 50% or less of the diameter of the main body of the fluid transport element, and wherein each of the following conditions is met;

the heater has an upper end with a diameter that is the same as the diameter of the main body of the fluid transport element;

the heater has a height that is the same as a length of the tapered first end of the fluid transport element;

the heater has a lower end with a diameter that is 50% or less of the diameter of the upper end of the heater.

2. The atomizer of claim 1, wherein the rigid, porous monolith is formed of porous ceramic or porous glass.

3. The atomizer of claim 1, wherein the fluid transport element excludes any fibrous material.

4. An aerosol delivery device comprising an atomizer according to claim 1.

5. The aerosol delivery device of claim 4, comprising a reservoir including an aerosol precursor composition, wherein the second end of the fluid transport element extends into the reservoir so as to be in contact with the aerosol precursor composition.