AEROSOL DELIVERY DEVICES INCLUDING A SELECTOR AND RELATED METHODS

• US 20180027876A1
• Filed: 07/28/2016
• Published: 02/01/2018
• 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
• Granted Patent: US 11,019,847 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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:

a plurality of atomizers each configured to be in fluid communication with a respective one of a plurality of reservoirs containing an aerosol precursor composition; and

an atomizer selector configured to;

provide for selection of one or more of the atomizers to which electrical current is directed to produce a vapor therefrom; and

alter a position of the atomizers with respect to an airflow path through the aerosol delivery device.

2. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, wherein the atomizer selector comprises a valve configured to selectively direct the airflow path at one or more of the atomizers.

3. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, wherein the atomizer selector is configured to selectively form an electrical connection with one or more of the atomizers.

4. The aerosol delivery device of claim 3, wherein the atomizer selector includes a guide track and each of the atomizers is moveable relative to the guide track.

5. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, further comprising an additive selector configured to provide for selection of one or more of a plurality of additives added to the vapor.

6. An aerosol delivery device, comprising:

at least one atomizer configured to produce a vapor from an aerosol precursor composition; and

an additive selector configured to provide for selection of one or more of a plurality of additives added to the vapor.

7. The aerosol delivery device of claim 6, wherein the additive selector comprises a bed of solids.

8. The aerosol delivery device of claim 7, wherein the bed of solids is positioned downstream of the at least one atomizer in terms of an airflow path.

9. The aerosol delivery device of claim 7, wherein the bed of solids comprises a plurality of compartments separated by one or more partitions.

10. The aerosol delivery device of claim 9, further comprising a flow director,

the additive selector being configured to selectively align the flow director with one or more of the compartments.

11. The aerosol delivery device of claim 7, 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.

12. The aerosol delivery device of claim 11, wherein the bed of solids comprises a plurality of flavor-laden plastic solids.

13. The aerosol delivery device of claim 6, 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.

14. The aerosol delivery device of claim 6, wherein the additive selector comprises at least one crystal oscillator.

15. The aerosol delivery device of claim 6, 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.

16. The aerosol delivery device of claim 15, further comprising an atomizer selector configured to:

provide for selection of one or more of the atomizers to which electrical current is directed to produce the vapor therefrom; and

alter a position of the atomizers with respect to an airflow path through the aerosol delivery device.

17. A method for vapor production with an aerosol delivery device, the method comprising:

providing for selection of one or more of a plurality of atomizers;

altering a position of the atomizers with respect to an airflow path through the aerosol delivery device; and

directing electrical current to the one or more of the atomizers selected to produce a vapor.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein altering a position of the atomizers with respect to the airflow path through the aerosol delivery device comprises selectively directing the airflow path at the one or more of the atomizers selected with the valve.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein directing electrical current to the one or more of the atomizers selected to produce the vapor comprises selectively forming an electrical connection with the one or more of the atomizers selected.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising providing for selection of one or more of a plurality of additives;

and

adding the one or more additives selected to the vapor.

21. A method for vapor production with an aerosol delivery device, the method comprising:

providing for selection of one or more of a plurality of additives;

producing a vapor with at least one atomizer from an aerosol precursor composition; and

adding the one or more additives selected to the vapor.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising forming the one or more additives from a bed of solids.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein providing for selection of one or more of the additives comprises providing for selective alignment of a Venturi nozzle with one or more channels respectively in fluid communication with one of a plurality of additive reservoirs.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein adding the one or more additives selected to the vapor comprises activating at least one crystal oscillator.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein producing the vapor with at least one atomizer comprises providing for selection of one or more of a plurality of atomizers.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising altering a position of the atomizers with respect to an airflow path through the aerosol delivery device;

and

directing electrical current to the one or more of the atomizers selected to produce a vapor.