Detachable container for aerosol delivery having pierceable membrane

• US 10,842,197 B2
• Filed: 07/12/2017
• Issued: 11/24/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RAI STRATEGIC HOLDINGS, INC. (British American Tobacco PLC)
• Original Assignee: RAI STRATEGIC HOLDINGS, INC. (British American Tobacco PLC)
• Inventors: Bless, Alfred C., Novak, III, Charles J., Sears, Stephen B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Efta, Alex B
• Application Number:
  US15/648,181
• Publication Number:
  US 20190014822A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,231 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 40/42 Cartridges or containers for inhalable precursors
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/485 Valves; Apertures
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0036 hollow piercing means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/004 with fixed piercing or cutting means
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 1/0244 Heating of fluids H05B1/0247 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/016 Heaters using particular connecting means
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/265 the insulating base being an inorganic material, e.g. ceramic H05B3/262 takes precedence

Abstract

A cartridge coupled or coupleable with a control body to form an aerosol delivery device is provided that includes a container of aerosol precursor composition and an atomizer enclosing a reservoir configured to receive and carry aerosol precursor composition. The container and the atomizer are removably coupleable with one another, and include respectively a septum and a connector including a cannula that are engaged when the container and the atomizer are coupled to enable passage of aerosol precursor composition from the container to the reservoir. The atomizer further includes a heating element controllable to activate and vaporize components of the aerosol precursor composition in the reservoir.

Claims

1. A cartridge coupled or coupleable with a control body to form an aerosol delivery device, the cartridge comprising:

a container of aerosol precursor composition; and

an atomizer enclosing a reservoir configured to receive and carry the aerosol precursor composition,

wherein the container and the atomizer are removably coupleable with one another via a connector of the atomizer, wherein the container includes a septum and the connecter includes a cannula, and wherein the cannula and the septum are engaged when the container and the atomizer are coupled to enable passage of the aerosol precursor composition from the container to the reservoir, the cannula extending through a body of the connector and in contact with the connector, the cannula including a first opening within the reservoir and a second opening within the container when the cannula and the septum are engaged, and

wherein the atomizer further includes a heating element controllable to activate and vaporize components of the aerosol precursor composition in the reservoir.

2. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the cannula includes a first passageway for the passage of aerosol precursor composition, and a second passageway for passage of air into the container.

3. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the atomizer further includes a second cannula that is also engaged with the septum when the container and the atomizer are coupled, the second cannula and the septum being engaged to enable passage of air into the container.

4. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the atomizer further comprises a porous element in the reservoir and configured to be at least partially saturated with the aerosol precursor composition in the reservoir.

5. The cartridge of claim 4, wherein the atomizer further comprises a transport component to enable fluid communication of aerosol precursor composition from the porous element to the heating element.

6. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the container and the atomizer are threadably coupleable with one another.

7. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the container and the atomizer are engagable in a snap fit connection with one another.

8. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the container and the atomizer are engagable in a pressure fit connection with one another.

9. A container of aerosol precursor composition, the container comprising:

a connector configured to removeably couple the container with an atomizer for an aerosol delivery device, the atomizer enclosing a reservoir configured to receive and carry the aerosol precursor composition; and

a septum that is engaged with a cannula of the connector when the container and the atomizer are coupled to enable passage of the aerosol precursor composition from the container to the reservoir, the cannula extending through a body of the connector and in contact with the connector, the cannula including a first opening within the reservoir and a second opening within the container when the cannula and the septum are engaged, the atomizer further including a heating element controllable to activate and vaporize components of the aerosol precursor composition in the reservoir.

10. The container of claim 9, wherein septum being engaged with the cannula includes the septum being engaged with the cannula that includes a first passageway for the passage of aerosol precursor composition, and a second passage way for passage of air into the container.

11. The container of claim 9, wherein the septum is further engaged with a second cannula of the atomizer when the container and the atomizer are coupled, the septum and the second cannula being engaged to enable passage of air into the container.

12. The container of claim 9, wherein the septum being engaged with the cannula includes the septum being engaged with the cannula to enable passage of aerosol precursor composition from the container to a porous element in the reservoir and configured to be at least partially saturated with the aerosol precursor composition in the reservoir.

13. The container of claim 9, wherein the connector is configured to threadably couple the container with the atomizer.

14. The container of claim 9, wherein the connector is configured to snap fit the container with the atomizer.

15. The container of claim 9, wherein the connector is configured to pressure fit the container with the atomizer.

16. An atomizer for an aerosol delivery device, the atomizer comprising:

a connector configured to removeably couple the atomizer with a container of aerosol precursor composition;

a reservoir configured to receive and carry the aerosol precursor composition;

a cannula of the connector that is engaged with a septum of the container when the atomizer and the container are coupled to enable passage of the aerosol precursor composition from the container to the reservoir, the cannula extending through a body of the connector and in contact with the connector, the cannula including a first opening within the reservoir and a second opening within the container when the cannula and the septum are engaged; and

a heating element controllable to activate and vaporize components of the aerosol precursor composition in the reservoir.

17. The atomizer of claim 16, wherein the cannula includes a first passageway for the passage of aerosol precursor composition, and a second passage way for passage of air into the container.

18. The atomizer of claim 16 further comprising a second cannula that is also engaged with the septum when the container and the atomizer are coupled, the second cannula and the septum being engaged to enable passage of air into the container.

19. The atomizer of claim 16 further comprising a porous element in the reservoir and configured to be at least partially saturated with the aerosol precursor composition in the reservoir.

20. The atomizer of claim 19 further comprising a transport component to enable communication of aerosol precursor composition from the porous element to the heating element.

21. The atomizer of claim 16, wherein the connector is configured to threadably couple the atomizer with the container.

22. The atomizer of claim 16, wherein the connector is configured to snap fit the container and the atomizer.

23. The atomizer of claim 16, wherein the connector is configured to pressure fit the container and the atomizer.