ELECTRONIC SMOKING ARTICLE

• US 20170071261A1
• Filed: 11/23/2016
• Published: 03/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC (Altria Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC (Altria Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: KASOFF, Victor, TUCKER, Christopher S., KOBAL, Gerd, JORDAN, Geoffrey Brandon
• Granted Patent: US 9,961,941 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 40/46 Shape or structure of electric heating means
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/48 Fluid transfer means, e.g. pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/485 Valves; Apertures
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/51 Arrangement of sensors

Abstract

An electronic cigarette includes a capillary tube in communication with a liquid supply including liquid material and a heater operable to heat the capillary tube to a temperature sufficient to vaporize the liquid material contained therein and form an aerosol. The liquid supply is adapted to be squeezed or otherwise compressed so as to allow a smoker to manually pump liquid to the capillary tube and simultaneously activate the heater.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. A method of achieving a cigarette experience without combusting tobacco, comprising:

operating a heated capillary tube by;

delivering liquid to a capillary tube by manually communicating pressure to a compressible liquid supply containing liquid in communication with the capillary tube;

activating a pressure switch to communicate electrical power from a power source to an electric heater operative upon the capillary tube, wherein the heated capillary tube discharges the liquid communicated to the capillary tube in an at least partially volatized condition;

the discharging including;

discharging the liquid into a chamber downstream of the capillary tube to produce a vapor; and

drawing the vapor from the chamber.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the manually communicating pressure to a compressible liquid supply also communicates pressure to the pressure switch.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the delivering liquid step includes limiting liquid communication to pressures above a minimum pressure.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the delivering liquid step includes limiting liquid communication to a maximum flow rate.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the producing vapor includes admitting air and mixing the admitted air with the discharged liquid, downstream of the heater.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein activating the pressure switch comprises sensing flow from the liquid supply.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein activating the pressure switch comprises sensing flow from the liquid supply simultaneously with sensing a puff.