Aerosol delivery device including a wave guide and related method

• US 9,980,516 B2
• Filed: 03/09/2015
• Issued: 05/29/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RAI STRATEGIC HOLDINGS, INC. (British American Tobacco PLC)
• Original Assignee: RAI STRATEGIC HOLDINGS, INC. (British American Tobacco PLC)
• Inventors: Ampolini, Frederic Philippe, Lamb, Wilson Christopher, Pail, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): JENNISON, BRIAN W
• Application Number:
  US14/642,241
• Publication Number:
  US 20160262453A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,177 Days
• Field of Search: 392404
• 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 40/50 Control or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/60 Devices with integrated user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/0033 Heating devices using lamps

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to aerosol delivery devices that may include components configured to convert electrical energy to heat and atomize an aerosol precursor composition. An outer body may at least partially enclose the components. An illumination source may be configured to output electromagnetic radiation. A wave guide may be configured to receive the electromagnetic radiation from the illumination source and illuminate the aerosol delivery device. The wave guide may define an increasing width from a first longitudinal end at which the electromagnetic radiation is received to an opposing second longitudinal end. Thereby, the wave guide may directly transmit the electromagnetic radiation across the entirety of the second longitudinal end to provide substantially even illumination at the second longitudinal end while employing less material and reducing the volume of space occupied by the wave guide as compared to cylindrical embodiments of wave guides. Related methods are also provided.

Claims

1. An aerosol delivery device, comprising:

an outer body extending between a first outer body end and a second outer body end, the outer body being at least partially hollow and defining an inner circumference;

an illumination source configured to output an electromagnetic radiation, the illumination source being positioned proximate the first outer body end;

a wave guide received within the outer body, the wave guide defining a longitudinal length extending between a first longitudinal end positioned proximate the illumination source and a second longitudinal end, and a width extending transversely to the longitudinal length between a first lateral end and a second lateral end, the wave guide extending around substantially an entirety of the inner circumference of the outer body such that the first lateral end abuts or overlaps the second lateral end along at least a portion of the longitudinal length of the wave guide, the wave guide being configured to receive the electromagnetic radiation from the illumination source and output light at one or more illumination sections;

a coupler coupled to the first outer body end; and

an end cap coupled to the second outer body end, the second longitudinal end of the wave guide being positioned proximate the end cap.

2. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, wherein the width of the wave guide is greater at the second longitudinal end than at the first longitudinal end.

3. The aerosol delivery device of claim 2, wherein the wave guide defines a T-shape prior to insertion within the outer body.

4. The aerosol delivery device of claim 2, wherein the wave guide defines a truncated triangular shape prior to insertion into the outer body.

5. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, further comprising an electrical power source and a control component, the control component being configured to direct current from the electrical power source to an atomizer.

6. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, wherein the wave guide comprises a sheet of material wrapped into a substantially tubular configuration,

the wave guide defining an outer diameter substantially equal to an inner diameter of the outer body.

7. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, further comprising a cartridge, wherein the outer body, the coupler, the end cap, the illumination source, and the wave guide collectively define a control body,

the cartridge being configured to engage the coupler of the control body.

8. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, wherein the one or more illumination sections include the second longitudinal end of the wave guide.

9. The aerosol delivery device of claim 8, wherein the one or more illumination sections include an intermediate illumination section positioned between the first longitudinal end and the second longitudinal end of the wave guide.

10. A method for assembling an aerosol delivery device, the method comprising:

coupling an illumination source to a first longitudinal end of a wave guide, the wave guide defining a longitudinal length extending between the first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end, and a width extending transversely to the longitudinal length between a first lateral end and a second lateral end, the wave guide being configured to receive the electromagnetic radiation from the illumination source and output light at one or more illumination sections;

inserting the wave guide within an outer body, the outer body being at least partially hollow and defining an inner circumference, such that the wave guide extends around substantially an entirety of the inner circumference of the outer body and the first lateral end abuts or overlaps the second lateral end along at least a portion of the longitudinal length of the wave guide;

coupling a coupler to a first outer body end; and

coupling an end cap to a second outer body end such that the second longitudinal end of the wave guide is positioned proximate the end cap.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising bending the wave guide.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the width of the wave guide is greater at the second longitudinal end than at the first longitudinal end and wherein bending the wave guide comprises abutting or overlapping the first lateral end and the second lateral end at the second longitudinal end of the wave guide.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein bending the wave guide comprises bending the wave guide from a T-shape.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein bending the wave guide comprises bending the wave guide from a truncated triangular shape.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein bending the wave guide comprises wrapping a sheet of material into a substantially tubular configuration such that the wave guide defines an outer diameter substantially equal to an inner diameter of the outer body.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising inserting an electrical power source and a control component within the outer body, the control component being configured to direct current from the electrical power source to an atomizer.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising coupling the coupler to a cartridge.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein inserting the wave guide within the outer body comprises resiliently pressing the wave guide against the inner circumference of the outer body.

19. The method of claim 10, wherein coupling the illumination source to the first longitudinal end of the wave guide comprises orienting the illumination source perpendicularly to the second longitudinal end of the wave guide such that the one or more illumination sections include the second longitudinal end.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising engaging a refractor with a core of the wave guide between the first longitudinal end and the second longitudinal end of the wave guide to define an intermediate illumination section.