Aerosol delivery devices including a selector and related methods

• US 11,019,847 B2
• Filed: 07/28/2016
• Issued: 06/01/2021
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RAI STRATEGIC HOLDINGS, INC. (British American Tobacco PLC)
• Original Assignee: RAI STRATEGIC HOLDINGS, INC. (British American Tobacco PLC)
• Inventors: Watson, Nicholas H., Davis, Michael F., Sears, Stephen Benson
• Primary Examiner(s): Stapleton, Eric S
• Application Number:
  US15/222,615
• Publication Number:
  US 20180027876A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,769 Days
• Field of Search: 392387
• CPC Class Codes: A24B 15/283 by encapsulation of the chemical substances
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/10 Devices using liquid inhalable precursors
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/46 Shape or structure of electric heating means
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/485 Valves; Apertures
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 1/0297 Heating of fluids for non specified applications

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to aerosol delivery devices. The aerosol delivery devices may include multiple atomizers and an atomizer selector that provides for selection of one or more of the atomizers to which electrical current is directed. The atomizer selector may also alter a position of the atomizers relative to an airflow path through the aerosol delivery device. Another aerosol delivery device may include an atomizer and an additive selector that provides for selection of one or more additives added to vapor produced by the atomizer. Related methods are also provided.

Claims

1. An aerosol delivery device, comprising:

at least one atomizer configured to produce a vapor from an aerosol precursor composition, wherein the at least one atomizer includes a plurality of atomizers each configured to be in fluid communication with a respective one of a plurality of reservoirs;

an atomizer selector comprising a first actuator configured to move one or more of the atomizers into electrical communication with a power source to produce the vapor from the one or more atomizers and to move the one or more atomizers relative to an airflow path through the aerosol delivery device; and

an additive selector comprising;

a plurality of compartments, each configured to hold one or more additives; and

a second actuator configured to selectively align one or more of the compartments with an airflow director to introduce one or more of the additives to the vapor.

2. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, wherein the additive selector further comprises a bed of solids.

3. The aerosol delivery device of claim 2, wherein the bed of solids is positioned downstream of the at least one atomizer in terms of an airflow path.

4. The aerosol delivery device of claim 2, wherein the bed of solids is disposed within the plurality of compartments and separated by one or more partitions.

5. The aerosol delivery device of claim 4, wherein the second actuator of the additive selector is also configured to selectively align the airflow director with respect to one or more of the compartments.

6. The aerosol delivery device of claim 2, wherein the additive selector further comprises one or more additive heating elements configured to selectively heat one or more portions of the bed of solids.

7. The aerosol delivery device of claim 6, wherein the bed of solids comprises a plurality of flavor-laden plastic solids.

8. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, wherein the at least one atomizer comprises a Venturi nozzle, and

wherein the additive selector comprises a plurality of channels each configured to be in fluid communication with one of a plurality of additive reservoirs and selectively configurable to be in fluid communication with the Venturi nozzle.

9. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, wherein the additive selector comprises at least one crystal oscillator.