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Patent 3188851 Summary

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(12) Patent Application: (11) CA 3188851
(54) English Title: CARTOMIZER FOR AN AEROSOL GENERATING DEVICE WITH FINS
(54) French Title: CARTOMISEUR POUR UN DISPOSITIF DE GENERATION D'AEROSOL AVEC DES AILETTES
Status: Deemed Abandoned
Bibliographic Data
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):
  • A24F 40/48 (2020.01)
  • A24F 40/485 (2020.01)
(72) Inventors :
  • LOVEDAY, PETER (United Kingdom)
(73) Owners :
  • JT INTERNATIONAL SA
(71) Applicants :
  • JT INTERNATIONAL SA (Switzerland)
(74) Agent: SMART & BIGGAR LP
(74) Associate agent:
(45) Issued:
(86) PCT Filing Date: 2021-09-01
(87) Open to Public Inspection: 2022-03-10
Availability of licence: N/A
Dedicated to the Public: N/A
(25) Language of filing: English

Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT): Yes
(86) PCT Filing Number: PCT/EP2021/074123
(87) International Publication Number: WO 2022049119
(85) National Entry: 2023-02-08

(30) Application Priority Data:
Application No. Country/Territory Date
20194596.1 (European Patent Office (EPO)) 2020-09-04

Abstracts

English Abstract

The present invention relates to a cartomizer 1 for an aerosol generating device 100, in particular an electronic cigarette or vaporizer, the cartomizer including: a container 10 for holding at least one reservoir 1 configured to contain a vaporizable material; a vaporizing chamber 12 fluidly connected to a mouth end 13 by a vapor passage 14; a liquid transport element 15, in particular a porous capillary member, extending from inside the at least one reservoir 11 to inside the vaporizing chamber 12 in order to convey the vaporizable material from the reservoir 11 to the inside of the vaporizing chamber 12; and an air inlet 16 arranged to supply the vaporizing chamber 12 with air in use; wherein the liquid transport element 15 is separated from at least one part of the at least one reservoir 11 by at least one compartmenting wall 17 arranged for creating at least one chamber 30, 30, in particular at least one capillary chamber 30, communicating by a liquid restriction passage 24 formed in the compartmenting wall 17 of the chamber 30, 31, 32, 33 and wherein at least a portion of the liquid transport element 15 extends in the chamber 30, 31.


French Abstract

La présente invention concerne un cartomiseur (1) pour un dispositif de génération d'aérosol (100), en particulier une cigarette électronique ou un vaporisateur, le cartomiseur comprenant : un récipient (10) pour contenir au moins un réservoir (1) conçu pour contenir un matériau vaporisable ; une chambre de vaporisation (12) reliée de manière fluidique à une extrémité d'embouchure (13) par un passage de vapeur (14) ; un élément de transport de liquide (15), en particulier un élément capillaire poreux, s'étendant depuis l'intérieur du ou des réservoirs (11) vers l'intérieur de la chambre de vaporisation (12) afin de transporter le matériau vaporisable du réservoir (11) vers l'intérieur de la chambre de vaporisation (12) ; et une entrée d'air (16) agencée pour alimenter la chambre de vaporisation (12) en air lors de l'utilisation ; l'élément de transport de liquide (15) étant séparé d'au moins une partie dudit au moins un réservoir (11) par au moins une paroi de compartimentation (17) agencée pour créer au moins une chambre (30, 30), en particulier au moins une chambre capillaire (30), communiquant par un passage de restriction de liquide (24) formé dans la paroi de compartimentation (17) de la chambre (30, 31, 32, 33) et au moins une partie de l'élément de transport de liquide (15) s'étendant dans la chambre (30, 31).

Claims

Note: Claims are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.


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CLAIMS
1. A cartomizer (1) for an aerosol generating device (100),
in particular an electronic cigarette or vaporizer, the
cartomizer comprising:
a container (10) for holding at least one reservoir (11)
configured to contain a vaporizable material;
a vaporizing chamber (12) fluidly connected to a mouth
end (13) by a vapor passage (14);
a liquid transport element (15), in particular a porous
capillary member, extending from inside the at least one
reservoir (11) to inside the vaporizing chamber (12) in order
to convey the vaporizable material from the reservoir (11) to
the inside of the vaporizing chamber (12); and
an air inlet (16) arranged to supply the vaporizing
chamber (12) with air in use;
wherein the liquid transport element (15) is separated
from at least one part of the at least one reservoir (11) by
at least one compartmenting wall (17) arranged for creating
at least one capillary chamber (30, 31, 32, 33) communicating
by a liquid restriction passage (24) formed in the
compartmenting wall (17) of the capillary chamber (30, 31,
32, 33) and wherein at least a portion of the liquid
transport element (15) extends in the capillary chamber (30,
31, 32, 33).
2. The cartomizer (1) according to claim 1, further
comprising a first sealing (21) forming a first holder, in
particular a bottom holder, of the liquid transport element
(15), wherein an upper surface of the first sealing (21)
preferably forms a downstream compartmenting wall (18) of the
capillary chamber (30, 31, 32, 33), in particular of the
lowermost arranged chamber (30, 33).
3. The cartomizer (1) according to claim 1 or 2, further
comprising at least n compartmenting walls (17, 19, 20)
forming at least n-1 chambers (30, 31, 32, 33); each
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compartmenting wall (17, 18, 19) comprising at least one
(liquid) restriction passage (24); wherein n is comprised
between 2 and 10.
4. The cartomizer (1) according to any one of the preceding
claims, wherein the at least one compartmenting wall (17) or
at least some of the n compartmenting walls (17, 19, 20) have
at least two, preferably more than two, restriction passages
(24) that are preferably symmetrically distributed at the
circumference of the compartmenting wall.
5. The cartomizer (1) according to any one of the preceding
claims, wherein the liquid transport element (15) is rod-
shaped and is longitudinally separated by at least one
compartmenting wall (22), which is preferably a second
sealing, wherein the compartmenting wall (22) preferably
forms two successive chambers (30A, 30B), in particular
capillary chambers (30A, 30B).
6. The cartomizer (1) according to any one of the preceding
claims, wherein the liquid transport element (15), in
particular the porous capillary member, extends in at least
two different successive chambers (30A, 30B).
7. The cartomizer (1) according to any one of claims 2 to
6, wherein the distance between the compartmenting walls (17,
22, 18, 19, 20) forms a thickness of the chamber (30A, 30B,
31, 32, 33) of no more than 2 mm, preferably no more than 1
mm.
8. The cartomizer (1) according to any one of the preceding
claims, wherein the restriction passage (24) is no more than
1.5 mm, preferably no more than 1 mm, and/or a maximum
opening surface area of the restriction passage is no more
than 1.8 mm2, preferably no more than 0.8 mm2.
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9. The cartomizer (1) according to any one of the preceding
claims, wherein
the at least one restriction passage (24) is configured
to be closed by a check valve such as a one-way valve, and/or
the at least one restriction passage (24) has a tapered
profile with the smallest cross-section being at the
vaporizing chamber side.
10. The cartomizer (1) according to any one of the preceding
claims, wherein the compartmenting walls (17, 18, 19, 20) are
formed as fins provided about a central holder (23).
11. The cartomizer (1) according to claim 10, wherein the
central holder (23), in particular the fins, abuts against an
outer body (10A) or shell of the container (10).
12. The cartomizer (1) according to claim 10 or 11, wherein
the central holder (23) is arranged for holding at least
partially the liquid transport element (15).
13. The cartomizer (1) according to any one of claims 10, 11
or 12, wherein the central holder (23) forms a third sealing
around at least a portion of the liquid transport element
(15).
14. The cartomizer (1) according to any one of the preceding
claims, wherein the compartmenting walls (17, 22, 18, 19, 20,
22), the central holder (23), the first sealing (21) and/or
the second sealing (22) is/are made of elastomeric or
silicone material.
15. The cartomizer (1) according to any one of the preceding
claims and claims 2 and 13, wherein the first sealing 21 and
the central holder (23), in particular the third sealing,
form at least partially the vaporizing chamber (12).
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Description

Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.


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CARTOMIZER FOR AN AEROSOL GENERATING DEVICE
WITH FINS
CROSS REFERENCE
Any features essential to the European patent applications
titled "CARTOMIZER FOR AN AEROSOL GENERATING DEVICE WITH
LEAKAGE PREVENTION and "CARTOMIZER FOR AN AEROSOL GENERATING
DEVICE WITH COMBINED ELECTRICAL AND MAGNETIC CONTACTS" all
filed September 4, 2020 having application numbers 20 194
597.9 and 20 194 595.3, as well as the corresponding PCT
applications all filed September 1, 2021, such as the claims
thereof, and/or contained therein and corresponding to and/or
relating to features of the present application are
incorporated herein by this reference and can be combined
with feature combinations disclosed herein in order to
provide an improved aerosol generating device, and protection
may be sought for the resulting feature combinations.
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a cartomizer for an aerosol
generating device, in particular an electronic cigarette or
vaporizer, with a liquid flow control system, in particular
cartomizer fins.
TECHNICAL BACKGROUND
Aerosol generating devices, such as electronic cigarettes or
"e-cigarettes" as they are also known, have gained in
popularity over the past ten years as an alternative to
traditional smoking articles, like cigarettes, cigars, and
cigarillos. Developments in the design and configuration of
such aerosol generating devices or vaporizer devices are on-
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going to improve their performance and their reliability, as
well as their ease of production and their production costs.
Conventional aerosol generating devices usually include a
heater powered by an electrical power source and a liquid
reservoir containing flavoured liquid (vaporizable material)
that can be volatized using the heater and transferred to a
user of the aerosol generating device in an airflow, which is
preferably guided through a mouthpiece of the device.
In order to provide a convenient way for a user to load the
vaporizable material into the aerosol generating device and
to avoid the need for the user to handle the vaporizable
material (liquid) directly, thereby reducing the likelihood
of spillage and waste, conventionally capsules are provided.
In this way, the integrity, safety and quality of the
vaporizable material can also be assured, because it is
loaded into the shell or container during manufacture to form
a pre-manufactured capsule.
Correct dosing of the
vaporizable material is also assured.
Moreover, in order to avoid that the heating element is worn
out over time, the heating element is often provided within
the capsule, thereby forming a so called "cartomizer". As
the heating element (heater) is provided with the cartomizer,
it is each time the cartomizer (capsule) is replaced, hence,
there is no reduction in performance over time.
However, since in general a liquid transport element, in
particular a wick, is used to transport the vaporizable
material to the heater, in particular a coil that is wound
around the wick, it is unavoidable that vaporizable material
(liquid) leaks from the reservoir via the liquid transport
element into the vaporization chamber and thereby into the
air path of the cartomizer.
Hence, it is desirable that
leakage is minimized from the cartomizer, in order to avoid
that leaked vaporizable material or liquid affects either the
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device or consumer.
This can be approached in two
directions, namely by preventing leakage around or from the
liquid transport element to occur and secondly retaining
leakage within the cartomizer.
US 2019/0223508 Al is related to a liquid storage tank of an
electronic vapor provision device having one or more boundary
walls defining an interior volume of the tank for
accommodating source liquid to be vaporized in the electronic
vapor provision device and one or more baffles, each baffle
protruding from an inner surface of the boundary wall into
the interior volume to impede a flow of source liquid between
portions of the interior volume between which the baffle is
located.
Even though this arrangement hinders the flow of
liquid in the reservoir, the stored liquid is directly fed to
the wick, hence, only slows down the flow inside the
reservoir but the baffles do not contribute to the prevention
of leakage.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the above, there is the desire to provide a
cartomizer for an aerosol generating device, in particular an
electronic cigarette or vaporizer, capable of controlling
liquid flow from at least one reservoir accommodating
vaporizable material or liquid to a liquid transport element
of the cartomizer, thereby reducing or eliminating leakage of
vaporizable material or liquid from the liquid transport
element, even under changing situations like differing usage
and storage angles. Hence, capable of ensuring that leaked
vaporizable material or liquid does not affect either the
device or consumer.
This am may he achieved by a cartomizer as defined in
claim 1. Embodiments may be found in the dependent claims,
the following description and the accompanying drawings.
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According to one embodiment of the present invention,
provided there is a cartomizer for an aerosol generating
device, in particular an electronic cigarette or vaporizer,
the cartomizer including: a container for holding at least
one reservoir configured to contain a vaporizable material or
a liquid, a vaporizing chamber fluidly connected to a mouth
end by a vapor passage, a liquid transport element, in
particular a porous capillary member, extending from inside
the at least one reservoir to inside the vaporizing chamber
in order to convey the vaporizable material from the
reservoir to the inside of the vaporizing chamber and an air
inlet arranged to supply the vaporizing chamber with
(ambient) air in use, wherein the liquid transport element is
at least partially separated from at least one part of the
reservoir by at least one compartmenting wall arranged for
creating at least one chamber, in particular at least one
capillary chamber, communicating by a liquid restriction
passage formed in the at least one compartmenting wall, in
particular upstream compartmenting wall, of the chamber and
wherein at least a portion of the liquid transport element
extends in the chamber.
Hence, a cartomizer for an aerosol generating device is
provided, capable of reducing the likelihood that vaporizable
material or liquid, leaking from the liquid transport element
or a heater of the cartomizer reaches the outside of the
cartomizer.
Thereby, ensuring that leaked vaporizable
material or liquid is prevented from affecting the device or
a user of the device.
To provide a consistent customer experience, vaporizable
material or liquid needs to be delivered to a heater (or a
wick) in a consistent manner under various situations
including pressure/temperature fluntuations, low fluid levels
of the vaporizable material within the cartomizer and
differing usage and storage angles.
Hence, it is desirable
that on one hand a constant flow of vaporizable material or
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liquid is delivered to the heater or wick, while leakage from
the liquid transport element or wick is minimized. As the
cartomizer of the present invention is provided with a
chamber, in particular at least one capillary chamber or at
least one baffle chamber, that is separated from the
reservoir storing the vaporizable material or liquid, a flow
barrier between the wick and the main fluid reservoir is
realized, controlling the flow of vaporizable material or
liquid to the liquid transport element.
According to a further embodiment of the present invention,
the cartomizer may further include a first sealing forming a
first holder, in particular a bottom holder, of the liquid
transport element, wherein an upper surface of the first
sealing preferably forms a downstream compartmenting wall of
the chamber, in particular of the lowermost arranged chamber,
in case the cartomizer is provided with several chambers.
Moreover, in some embodiments of the present invention, the
cartomizer may include at least n compartmenting walls
forming at least n-1 chambers, each upstream compartmenting
wall(s) comprising at least one (liquid) restriction passage,
wherein n is comprised between 2 and 10.
In some embodiments, the n compartmenting walls and the n-1
chambers may be aligned side by side in an axial direction of
the cartomizer.
As regards the "axial direction of the cartomizer", said
direction defines in the present application in general a
longitudinal direction of the cartomizer.
However, as the
shape of the cartomizer may vary, the "axial direction of the
cartomizer" also refers to a direction in which the air flows
in general through the cartomizer, namely from the air inlet
of the cartomizer to the mouth end of the cartomizer, which
is configured to come into contact with the lips of a user
during use of the aerosol generating device.
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According to a further embodiment of the present invention,
the at least one compartmenting wall or at least some of the
n compartmenting wails may have at least two, preferably more
than two, restriction passages that are preferably
symmetrically distributed at the circumference of the
compartmenting wall.
Furthermore, the liquid transport element may be rod-shaped
and longitudinally separated by at least one compartmenting
wall, which is preferably a second sealing.
The term
"separated- defines here in the context of the present
invention that the compartmenting wall separates the area
surrounding the liquid transport element into two independent
spaces.
Moreover, the compartmenting wall may form in this way two
successive chambers, in particular capillary chambers.
In some embodiments, the liquid transport element, in
particular the porous capillary member (wick), may extend in
at least two different successive chambers, in particular
into the two successive chambers formed by the compartmenting
wall which corresponds to the second sealing.
Furthermore, the distance between the compartmenting walls
forms or defines a thickness of the chamber(s), in particular
of the capillary chambers, of no more than 2 mm, preferably
no more than 1 mm. In other words, a distance between the
compartmenting walls arranged next to each other is not
greater than 2 mm, preferably not greater than 1 mm.
By defining the distance between adjacent compartmenting
walls, in other words the thickness of the chambers, in
particularly of the capillary chambers, to lie within the
above ranges, a capillary acting on the liquid temporarily
stored in the capillary chamber can be ensured and adjusted
precisely, making it possible to control the flow of liquid
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with high precision.
Yet, because of the capillary action
within the capillary chambers, retained liquid within the
chambers will prevent drying out of the wick even in extreme
situations like low fluid levels or extreme cartomizer
angles.
Moreover, air bubbles will be allowed as the
capillary action will flow fluid around the bubble. Finally,
as the quantity of liquid in each chamber is very small but
remains constant irrespective of the gravity or orientation
of the cartomizer, a constant flow of vaporizable material or
liquid can be ensured.
Moreover, in some embodiments, the restriction passage, in
particular a width of the restriction passage, is no more
than 1.5 mm, preferably no more than 1 mm, and/or a maximum
opening surface area of the restriction passage may be no
more than 1.8 mm2, preferably no more than 0.8 mm2.
According to a further embodiment of the present invention,
the at least one restriction passage may be configured to be
closed by a check valve such as a one-way valve.
Moreover, the at least one restriction passage may have a
tapered profile with the smallest cross-section being at the
vaporizing chamber side of the compartmenting wall.
Additionally, the compartmenting walls may be formed as fins
provided about a central holder.
Moreover, the central holder, in particular the
compartmenting walls or the fins, may abut against an outer
body or shell of the container, thereby sealing the capillary
chambers against the container limiting the possible flow
path of the vaporizable material or liquid to the restriction
passage(s). The number of elements is also reduced and the
assembling of the device simplified.
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According to a further embodiment of the present invention,
the central holder may be arranged for holding at least
partially the liquid transport element.
Yurthermore, in some embodiments, the central holder may form
a third sealing, in particular a sealing around at least a
portion of the liquid transport element.
Additionally, the compartmenting walls, the central holder,
the first sealing and/or the second sealing may be made of an
elastomeric or silicone material.
In some embodiments, the first sealing and the central
holder, in particular the third sealing, may form at least
partially the vaporizing chamber.
Additionally, the container, shell or outside casing of the
cartomizer may be formed of a rigid material, in particular a
rigid thermoplastic material, glass or metal.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A more complete appreciation of the present invention and
many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily
obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference
to the following detailed description when considered in
connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 shows a sectional view of a conventional aerosol
generating device having a housing consisting of a
control body and a tank;
Fig. 2 shows a schematic sectional view of the interior of
a cartomizer for an aerosol generating device
according to a first embodiment of the present
invention;
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Fig. 3
shows a schematic sectional view of a detail of the
device shown in Fig. 2;
Fig. 4
shows a schematic sectional view of a detail of the
device shown in Fig. 2 when inserted into an aerosol
generating device;
Fig. 5
shows a schematic spatial view of the interior of a
cartomizer for an aerosol generating device
according to a second embodiment of the present
invention; and
Fig. 6
shows a schematic spatial view of a whole aerosol
generating device including the cartomizer according
to the present invention without the outside casing.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be explained
with reference to the drawings. It will be apparent to those
skilled in the field of aerosol generating devices from this
disclosure that the following description of the embodiments
is provided for illustration only and not for the purpose of
limiting the disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
Features of the embodiments described below can also be used
to further characterize the device defined in the claims.
Modifications of features can be combined to form further
embodiments.
Features described in individual embodiments
can be provided in a single embodiment if they are not
incompatible.
Likewise, features described in a single
embodiment can be provided in several embodiments
individually or in any suitable sub-combination. As used in
the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms
"a", "an", "the" and the like include plural referents unless
the context clearly dictates otherwise.
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The same reference numerals listed in different figures refer
to identical, corresponding or functionally similar elements.
As described hereinafter, example implementations of the
present disclosure relate to cartomizers for aerosol
generating devices or aerosol delivery devices.
Aerosol
generating devices according to the present invention use
electrical energy to heat a material (preferably without
combusting the material to any significant degree and/or
without significant chemical alteration of the material) to
form an inhalable substance or vapor; and components of such
device have the form of articles that most preferably are
sufficiently compact to be considered hand-held devices.
That is, use of components of preferred aerosol generating
devices does not result in the production of smoke in the
sense that aerosol results principally from by-products of
combustion or pyrolysis of tobacco, but rather, use of those
devices preferably results in the production of vapors
resulting from volatilization or vaporization of certain
components incorporated therein.
In some example implementations, components of aerosol
generating devices may be characterized as electronic
cigarettes, and those electronic cigarettes preferably
incorporate aerosolisable liquid (e.g. propylene glycol,
polyhydric alcohol), tobacco and/or tobacco materials derived
at least partially from tobacco, and hence deliver tobacco
derived components in aerosol or vapor form to a user.
In
more detail, aerosol generating devices within the meaning of
the present invention may transport the volatilized particles
in an airflow through the aerosol generating device, in
particular through the cartomizer, to a user of the device,
the user of the device being able to activate or deactivate
the generation of aerosol and to control the duration,
velocity and volume of the airflow by means of puffing or
inhaling action.
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Figure 1 illustrates a known aerosol generating or delivery
device 200 including a control body 202 and a tank 204. As
shown in Figure 1, the control body 202 can be formed of a
control body shell 206 that can include a control component
208 (e.g., a printed circuit board (PCE), an integrated
circuit, a memory component, a microprocessor, individually
or as part of a micro-controller, and the like), a flow
sensor 210, a battery 212, and one or more light-emitting
diodes (LEDs) 214, and such components can be variably
aligned.
Moreover, the tank 204 can be formed of a tank
shell 216 enclosing a reservoir 218 that is in fluid
communication with a liquid transport element 220 adapted to
wick or otherwise transport an aerosol precursor composition
stored in the reservoir housing to a heater 222 (sometimes
referred to as a heating element). A valve may be positioned
between the reservoir and heater and configured to control an
amount of aerosol precursor composition passed or delivered
from the reservoir to the heater.
The known device is
provided with a mouthpiece 224 having an opening defined
therein and which may be coupled to the tank shell 216 to
allow for egress of formed aerosol from the tank 204.
The
shown device 200, in particular the control body 202 and the
tank 204, include a coupler 230 having a cavity 232 therein.
A base 228 of the tank is adapted to engage the coupler and
includes a projection 234 to fit within the cavity.
Aerosol generating devices of the present invention generally
include a number of components provided within an outer body
or shell, which may be referred to as an outside casing or
housing. The overall design of the outside casing can vary,
and the format or configuration of the outside casing that
can define the overall size and shape of the aerosol
generating device can vary.
For some aerosol generating
devices, an elongated body resembling the shape of a
cigarette or cigar can be formed from a single, unitary
housing, or the elongated housing can be formed of two or
more separable bodies.
For example, an aerosol generating
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device can include an elongated shell or body (outside
casing) that can be substantially tubular in shape and, as
such, resemble the shape of conventional cigarettes or
cigars. In one implementation, all of the components of the
aerosol generating device are contained within a single
housing.
Alternatively, an aerosol delivery device can
comprise two or more housings that are joined and are
separable.
Aerosol generating devices of the present invention can be
formed of an outside casing or shell that is not
substantially tubular in shape but may be formed to
substantially greater transversal dimensions.
The outside
casing or shell can be configured to include a mouthpiece
and/or may be configured to receive a separate shell (e.g. a
cartridge, a tank) that can include consumable elements, such
as a liquid aerosol former, and can include a vaporizer.
Figure 2 shows a schematic sectional view of the interior of
a cartomizer 1 for an aerosol generating device 100 according
to a first embodiment of the present invention. As can be
taken from Figure 2, the cartomizer 1 is generally a
container 10 or cartridge that can be at least partially
inserted into a receiving cavity of an aerosol generating
device and that provides the functionalities of generating an
aerosol or vapor from a vaporizable material or liquid stored
therein. For example, a cartomizer can be a pre-manufactured
and pre-filled cartridge that comprises at least one
reservoir 11 for containing the vaporizable material or
liquid from which the aerosol or vapor can be generated. For
the purpose of generating said aerosol or vapor, the
cartomizer 1 may further comprise a heater which is arranged
to heat at least a fraction of the vaporizable material or
liquid so as to vaporize an amount of it for, in turn,
generating the aerosol or vapor. The heater may comprise any
one of and/or a combination of a wire, a resistive element, a
coil, and a susceptor being heatable by induction.
The
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13
cartomizer 1 further comprises an air conduct and/or a
mouthpiece (mouth end) 13 so as to allow a user to inhale the
generated aerosol, preferably as a mixture with air from the
environment.
In the shown embodiment the heater is formed by a wire that
is wound around a liquid transport element 15, in particular
a capillary-type wick such as a bundle of cotton filaments,
and located within a vaporizing chamber 12.
It should
further be mentioned that the vaporizing chamber 12 is
fluidly connected to the mouth end 13, in particular an
opening provided in the mouth end 13, via a vapor passage 14.
In other words, vapor generated by the heater can be provided
via the vapor passage 14 and the opening in the mouth end 13
to a user. In the shown embodiment the cartomizer 1 is only
provided with one reservoir 11 which surrounds the vapor
passage 14, the heater and the liquid transport element 15.
Both ends of the wick 15 reach into the reservoir 11, in
particular into the vaporizable material stored inside the
reservoir 11, on opposing sides and thereby convey, wick or
otherwise transport the vaporizable material from the
reservoir 11 to the heater which is positioned inside the
vaporizing chamber 12.
As also can be seen in Figure 2, the cartomizer 1 is provided
with an air inlet 16 which is arranged on the bottom, in
particular in a bottom holder 17, of the container 10. The
air inlet 16 is configured to supply the vaporizing
chamber 12 with ambient air, which is sucked into the
vaporizing chamber 12 during use of the aerosol generating
device 100.
Figure 2 also shows that the cartomizer 1 is provided with a
first sealing 21 forming a first holder, in particular a
bottom holder, which is provided below the reservoir 11 and
the wick 15 to hold or fix the liquid transport element 15
within the vaporizing chamber 12. An upper surface of the
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first sealing 21 forms a compartmenting wall 18, in
particular a downstream compartmenting wall, which is
arranged to form together with a further compartmenting
wall 17, in particular an upstream compartmenting wall, a
capillary chamber 30.
As can be taken from .Vig. 2, the
upstream compartmenting wall 17 forms part of a central
holder 23 which is partially arranged around the vapor
passage 14 and holds at least partially the liquid transport
element 15.
It should also be noted that the central
holder 23 forms a third sealing that is provided around the
liquid transport element 15 and forms together with the first
sealing 21 at least partially the vaporizing chamber 12.
As also can be taken from Figure 2 (and shown in more detail
in Figure 3), the central holder 23 includes three
compartmenting walls 17, 19 and 20 which are formed as fins
that abut against an outer body of the container 10, in
particular an inside surface of the outer body.
As the
compartmenting walls or fins are made of an elastomeric or
silicone material, they are able to circumferentially seal a
contact surface between the compartmenting walls or fins and
the inside surfaces of the outer body.
In this way, the
three compartmenting walls 17, 19 and 20 together with the
upper surface 18 (downstream compartmenting wall) of the
first sealing 21 form three capillary chambers 30, 31 and 32.
Hence, the liquid transport element 15 becomes separated from
the reservoir 11, thereby, avoiding that the majority of
vaporizable material or liquid stored in the reservoir 11
comes in direct contact with the liquid transport element 15.
Instead, the vaporizable material or liquid stored in the
reservoir 11 needs to flow from the reservoir 11 through a
liquid restriction passage 24, which is provided in the
compartmenting wall 20, into the uppermost capillary chamber
32 and from there via the second uppermost capillary chamber
31 into the lowermost capillary chamber 30, into which the
two ends of the liquid transport element 15 extend. Also,
the compartmenting walls 19 and 17 are provided with at least
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one liquid restriction passage 24.
Yet, as the vaporizing
material or liquid stored in the reservoir flows from the
reservoir 11, which is arranged above the liquid transport
element 15, downward to the liquid transport element 15, the
upper compartmenting wall of a capillary chamber is called
upstream compartmenting wall and the lower compartmenting
wall of a capillary chamber is called downstream
compartmenting wall.
Moreover, Figure 3 shows a schematic sectional view of a
detail of the cartomizer shown in Fig. 2. As can be taken
from Figure 3, the liquid transport element 15, in particular
the wick, has a shape of a rod and is encapsulated by a
compartmenting wall 22 that forms a second sealing and
separates the lowermost capillary chamber 30 into two
capillary chambers 30A and 30B. Hence, the liquid transport
element 15 or porous capillary member extends into two
separate capillary chambers 30A, 30B which are arranged side
by side.
As Figure 3 also shows, the capillary chambers 30A, 30B, 31
and 32 have a rather small thickness, which increases the
capillary effect of the chambers. Moreover, in order to
restrict the flow of vaporizable material or liquid from the
reservoir 11 to the liquid transport element 15, the size of
the restriction passages 24 is chosen rather small,
particularly smaller than 1.5 mm.
Figure 4 shows a schematic sectional view of a detail of the
cartomizer 1 shown in Fig. 2 when inserted into an aerosol
generating device 100.
It should also he noted that the
aerosol generating device 100 is provided with electrical
contacts 105 such as "pogo pins" that are configured to
contact electrical connectors 18 of the cartomizer 1 in order
to provide the heater of the cartomizer 1 with electrical
power. As Figure 4 also shows, the electrical connectors 18
also contact magnets 104 which are provided within an inner
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16
frame 102 of the aerosol generating device 100.
Yet, in
order to provide the wire of the heater with electrical
power, the cartomizer 1 is further provided with lead
wires 40 that electrically connect the wire with the
electrical connectors 18.
Figure 5 shows a schematic spatial view of the interior of a
cartomizer 1 for an aerosol generating device 100 according
to a second embodiment of the present invention. As can be
taken from Figure 5, the cartomizer 1 according to the second
embodiment corresponds in its general structure to the
cartomizer of the first embodiment. Meaning, the cartomizer
1 also includes a container 10, a vaporizing chamber 12, a
liquid transport element 15, in particular a wick, and an air
inlet 16. However, instead of the capillary chambers 30, 31,
32 the cartomizer 1 of the second embodiment is only provided
with one chamber 33, in particular a baffle chamber.
Meaning, the third sealing or central holder 23 provides only
one compartmenting wall 17 that forms the baffle chamber 33
between the compartmenting wall 17 and the first sealing 21,
thereby separating the wick 15 from the reservoir 11.
It should also be noted that the compartmenting wall 17 or
the central holder 23 is provided preferably with at least
two restriction passages 24 that are symmetrically
distributed at the circumference of the compartmenting wall
17.
In the embodiment shown in Fig. 5, four restriction
passages 24 are visible.
In the shown embodiment the
restriction passages 24 are formed by a straight through-
hole, however, the restriction passages 24 can also have a
tapered form or profile with the smallest cross-section being
formed at the vaporizing chamber side or downstream side of
the compartmenting wall 17.
Moreover, in order to avoid backflow of the vaporizing
material from the baffle chamber 33 to the reservoir 11, the
restriction passages 24 can be provided with a check valve
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17
(not shown) such as a one-way valve, only allowing a flow
from the reservoir 11 into the baffle chamber 33.
By providing the above described baffle chamber 33, it can be
avoided that the wick 15 protrudes directly into the (main)
reservoir 11. Hence, instead of a direct feeding of the wick
15 the baffle chamber 33 is feed from the (main) reservoir 11
such that fluid flow between the two chambers is controlled,
in particular by the size and number of the restriction
passages 24, to prevent either significant fluid flow (e.g.
if the cartomizer 1 is inverted). Moreover, the baffle
chamber 33 retains liquid around the wick in almost any
orientation as long as it is allowed at some point to be
laced in a vertical orientation thus ensuring liquid is
available to the wick up until the point of complete
exhaustion.
Figure 6 shows a schematic spatial view of a whole aerosol
generating device 100 including the cartomizer according to
the present invention, where only the outside casing of the
aerosol generating device is not shown for illustrating
purposes. The shown aerosol generating device 100 includes a
mouthpiece which is part of the cartomizer 1 for guiding the
generated vapor to a user, the cartomizer 1, a battery 101, a
sealing arrangement 103 and an inner frame 102 for holding
the battery 101 inside the device 100.
It should also be
noted that the aerosol generating device 100 has an elongated
shape, in which a receiving cavity for the cartomizer 1, a
power supply device, in particular the battery 101, and a
main electronic circuit board are arranged in this order from
a first, proximal end (mouth end) to a second, distal end.
Consequently, the power supply device, in particular battery
101, is located at approximately the center of the
device 100, so that it is particularly well balanced.
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18
REFERENCE LIST
1 Cartomizer
Container (Shell)
11 Reservoir
12 Vaporizing chamber
13 Mouth end
14 Vapor passage
Liquid transport element (Wick)
16 Air inlet
17 Compartmenting wall (upstream)
18 Compartmenting wall (downstream)
19 (Further) Compartmenting wall
(Uppermost) Compartmenting wall
21 First sealing (First holder)
22 Second sealing (Compartmenting wall)
23 Third sealing (Central holder)
24 Restriction passage(s)
Capillary chamber (lowermost)
31 Capillary chamber (middle)
32 Capillary chamber (uppermost)
33 Baffle chamber
Lead Wires
100 Aerosol generating device
101 Battery
102 Inner frame
103 Sealing arrangement
104 Magnets
105 Electrical contacts
CA 03188851 2023- 2-8

Representative Drawing
A single figure which represents the drawing illustrating the invention.
Administrative Status

2024-08-01:As part of the Next Generation Patents (NGP) transition, the Canadian Patents Database (CPD) now contains a more detailed Event History, which replicates the Event Log of our new back-office solution.

Please note that "Inactive:" events refers to events no longer in use in our new back-office solution.

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Event History

Description Date
Deemed Abandoned - Failure to Respond to Maintenance Fee Notice 2024-03-01
Letter Sent 2023-09-01
National Entry Requirements Determined Compliant 2023-02-08
Request for Priority Received 2023-02-08
Priority Claim Requirements Determined Compliant 2023-02-08
Inactive: First IPC assigned 2023-02-08
Inactive: IPC assigned 2023-02-08
Inactive: IPC assigned 2023-02-08
Letter sent 2023-02-08
Application Received - PCT 2023-02-08
Application Published (Open to Public Inspection) 2022-03-10

Abandonment History

Abandonment Date Reason Reinstatement Date
2024-03-01

Maintenance Fee

The last payment was received on 

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Fee History

Fee Type Anniversary Year Due Date Paid Date
Basic national fee - standard 2023-02-08
MF (application, 2nd anniv.) - standard 02 2023-09-01
Owners on Record

Note: Records showing the ownership history in alphabetical order.

Current Owners on Record
JT INTERNATIONAL SA
Past Owners on Record
PETER LOVEDAY
Past Owners that do not appear in the "Owners on Record" listing will appear in other documentation within the application.
Documents

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Document
Description 
Date
(yyyy-mm-dd) 
Number of pages   Size of Image (KB) 
Representative drawing 2023-06-30 1 11
Cover Page 2023-06-30 1 49
Description 2023-02-08 18 716
Claims 2023-02-08 3 107
Drawings 2023-02-08 4 83
Abstract 2023-02-08 1 25
Courtesy - Abandonment Letter (Maintenance Fee) 2024-04-12 1 556
Commissioner's Notice - Maintenance Fee for a Patent Application Not Paid 2023-10-13 1 550
National entry request 2023-02-08 3 93
Patent cooperation treaty (PCT) 2023-02-08 1 34
Patent cooperation treaty (PCT) 2023-02-08 1 64
Courtesy - Letter Acknowledging PCT National Phase Entry 2023-02-08 2 48
Patent cooperation treaty (PCT) 2023-02-08 1 69
International search report 2023-02-08 2 62
Patent cooperation treaty (PCT) 2023-02-08 1 36
National entry request 2023-02-08 9 211