Electronic smoking article with improved storage of aerosol precursor compositions

• US 9,974,334 B2
• Filed: 01/17/2014
• Issued: 05/22/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RAI STRATEGIC HOLDINGS, INC. (British American Tobacco PLC)
• Original Assignee: RAI STRATEGIC HOLDINGS, INC. (British American Tobacco PLC)
• Inventors: Dooly, Grady Lance, Sears, Stephen Benson, Williams, Karen V., Dull, Gary M., Worm, Steven L., Jones, Wesley Steven, Alderman, Steven Lee, Brinkley, Paul A., Flinchum, Jr., Jack Gray
• Primary Examiner(s): Del Sole, Joseph S
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ahmed Ali, Mohamed K
• Application Number:
  US14/158,264
• Publication Number:
  US 20150201674A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,586 Days
• Field of Search: 131329
• 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 40/42 Cartridges or containers for inhalable precursors
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/485 Valves; Apertures
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/70 Manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0015 located upstream of the dispenser, i.e. not traversed by the product
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0016 located downstream of the dispenser, i.e. traversed by the product
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 5/06 Packaging groups of articles, the groups being treated as single articles
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/266 for absorbing gases, e.g. oxygen absorbers or desiccants B65D51/244, B65D51/30 take precedence

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to electronic smoking articles exhibiting improved moisture control of a reservoir contained therein. The reservoir can be formed of fibrous materials, such as cellulose acetate fiber, thermoplastic fiber, non-thermoplastic fiber, or a combination thereof. The disclosure further provides methods for forming electronic smoking articles and methods of packaging electronic smoking articles (including cartridges thereof) so as to improve moisture control of the reservoir.

Claims

1. An electronic smoking article comprising:

a housing;

a reservoir within the housing, the reservoir being formed of a woven or nonwoven fabric having a basis weight of about 120 gsm or greater; and

an aerosol precursor fluid held by the reservoir, the aerosol precursor fluid including water in an amount that is greater than about 0.1% and less than about 15% by weight;

wherein the reservoir has a saturation capacity of about 800% to about 2,000% by weight relative to the aerosol precursor fluid.

2. The electronic smoking article of claim 1, wherein the reservoir is substantially shaped as a cylinder having a hollow interior portion.

3. The electronic smoking article of claim 1, wherein the woven or nonwoven fabric comprises cellulose acetate.

4. The electronic smoking article of claim 1, wherein the weight of aerosol precursor fluid held by the reservoir relative to the saturation capacity of the reservoir is no greater than about 80%.

5. The electronic smoking article of claim 4, wherein the weight of aerosol precursor fluid held by the reservoir relative to the saturation capacity of the reservoir is no greater than about 60%.

6. The electronic smoking article of claim 1, further comprising an atomizer.

7. The electronic smoking article of claim 6, wherein the atomizer comprises:

a continuous, elongated wick having two opposing ends;

a heater in connection with the wick and positioned at about a midpoint thereof; and

electrically conducting terminals in electrical connection with the heater.

8. The electronic smoking article of claim 1, wherein the woven or nonwoven fabric has a wall thickness of about 1 mm to about 4 mm.

9. The electronic smoking article of claim 1, further comprising a second housing that includes a power source, the second housing being removably attached to the housing comprising the reservoir.