AEROSOL DELIVERY DEVICE INCLUDING A CERAMIC WICKING ELEMENT

• US 20180310616A1
• Filed: 04/27/2017
• Published: 11/01/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RAI STRATEGIC HOLDINGS, INC. (British American Tobacco PLC)
• Original Assignee: RAI STRATEGIC HOLDINGS, INC. (British American Tobacco PLC)
• Inventors: Clemens, David A., Carpenter, William Kevin, Davis, Michael F.
• Granted Patent: US 10,285,444 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/10 Devices using liquid inhalable precursors
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/40 Constructional details, e.g. connection of cartridges and battery parts
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/44 Wicks
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/485 Valves; Apertures
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 1/0244 Heating of fluids H05B1/0247 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/014 Heaters using resistive wires or cables not provided for in H05B3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/021 Heaters specially adapted for heating liquids
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/022 Heaters specially adapted for heating gaseous material
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/04 Waterproof or air-tight seals for heaters
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/42 non-flexible

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 vapor-forming units for aerosol delivery devices, the vapor-forming units including a ceramic wick that is in contact with a heater and in contact with an aerosol precursor composition. The vapor-forming units are connectable to a power unit.

Claims

1. An aerosol delivery device comprising:

a housing formed at least in part by an outer wall;

a flow tube positioned interior to the outer wall of the housing;

an annular space defined between the outer wall of the housing and the flow tube;

an airflow path through the device between a connector end of the housing and a mouthend of the housing, the airflow path passing at least partially through the flow tube;

an atomizer formed of a heater combined with a ceramic wick, the ceramic wick being in a sealing engagement with the flow tube such that at least a portion of the ceramic wick is in the airflow path and at least a portion of the ceramic wick is in fluid communication with the annular space defined between the outer wall of the housing and the flow tube; and

a sealing member positioned between the ceramic wick and the flow tube and configured to form the sealing engagement.

2. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, wherein the flow tube includes at least one vent configured in a wall thereof, the at least one vent being adapted to allow air flow therethrough and substantially prevent liquid flow therethrough.

3. The aerosol delivery device of claim 2, wherein the at least one vent configured in the wall of the flow tube is positioned proximate the mouthend of the housing.

4. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, further comprising a mouthpiece engaging the mouthend of the housing and engaging an end of the flow tube.

5. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, further comprising a connector engaging the connector end of the housing.

6. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, wherein the ceramic wick is substantially solid.

7. The aerosol delivery device of claim 6, wherein the heater is a resistance heating wire positioned around an exterior surface of the ceramic wick.

8. The aerosol delivery device of claim 6, wherein the ceramic wick has a longitudinal axis that is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the housing.

9. The aerosol delivery device of claim 6, wherein the ceramic wick extends transversely across the flow tube between a first ceramic wick end and a second ceramic wick end, and wherein the sealing member is in sealing engagement with the ceramic wick proximate the first ceramic wick end and the second ceramic wick end.

10. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, wherein the ceramic wick has a hollow interior defining a passageway extending between a first end of the ceramic wick and a second end of the ceramic wick.

11. The aerosol delivery device of claim 10, wherein the heater is positioned within the passageway defined in the hollow interior of the ceramic wick.

12. The aerosol delivery device of claim 10, wherein the second end of the ceramic wick is engaging a free end of the flow tube.

13. The aerosol delivery device of claim 12, wherein the first end of the ceramic wick is in connection with a connector engaging the connector end of the housing.

14. The aerosol delivery device of claim 13, wherein the sealing member forms the sealing engagement between the free end of the flow tube and the second end of the ceramic wick, and wherein a second sealing member forms a sealing engagement between the first end of the ceramic wick and the connector.

15. An aerosol delivery device comprising:

a housing including an airflow entry and an airflow exit;

a liquid storage container within the housing and formed of a flexible outer wall and having an opening formed therein; and

an atomizer within the housing comprising a ceramic wick including an end engaging the opening formed in the liquid storage container and a substantially central portion engaging a heater, the substantially central portion of the ceramic wick and the heater being in an airflow path between the airflow entry and the airflow exit of the housing.

16. The aerosol delivery device of claim 15, wherein the ceramic wick is substantially rod-shaped.

17. The aerosol delivery device of claim 15, wherein the ceramic wick has a longitudinal axis, the liquid storage container has a longitudinal axis, and the longitudinal axes of the ceramic wick and liquid storage container are substantially parallel.

18. The aerosol delivery device of claim 17, wherein the longitudinal axes of the ceramic wick and liquid storage container are substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the airflow path between the airflow entry and the airflow exit of the housing.

19. The aerosol delivery device of claim 15, wherein the airflow exit includes a mouthpiece extending outward from the housing.

20. The aerosol delivery device of claim 15, wherein the housing comprises a main body that is substantially aligned with an axis of the airflow path and a projection extending substantially perpendicularly from the main body, the projection including the liquid storage container.

21. The aerosol delivery device of claim 15, further comprising a power unit that is connectable with the housing, the power unit including a power source.

22. The aerosol delivery device of claim 21, wherein the power unit is connectable with the housing such that the housing is external to the power unit when connected.

23. The aerosol delivery device of claim 21, wherein the power unit is connectable with the housing such that the housing is entirely internal to the power unit when connected.

24. The aerosol delivery device of claim 21, wherein the power unit includes a mouthpiece.

25. The aerosol delivery device of claim 24, wherein the housing is configured for insertion into the power unit such that the airflow exit of the housing is substantially aligned with an aerosol entry into the mouthpiece.

26. The aerosol delivery device of claim 24, wherein the mouthpiece is movable between an open position wherein formed aerosol may pass therethrough and a closed position wherein formed aerosol is substantially prevented from passage therethrough.