Non-combustible smoking systems, devices and elements thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10986874-B2
Application number	US-201916299557-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 12, 2019
Priority date	Dec 28, 2016
Publication date	Apr 27, 2021
Grant date	Apr 27, 2021

Abstract

At least one example embodiment provides a non-combustible smoking system or kit, comprising: a cartridge having a first end and a second end; and a tobacco containing section having a third end and a fourth end. The cartridge includes: a pre-vapor formulation reservoir element and a pre-vapor heating element coupled to the pre-vapor formulation reservoir element. The tobacco containing section includes a tobacco housing and a tobacco heating element. The first end of the cartridge is configured to be connected to the fourth end of the tobacco containing section, and the second end of the cartridge is configured to be connected to the third end of the tobacco containing section.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A non-combustible smoking system, comprising:
a cartridge having a first end and a second end, the cartridge including
a pre-vapor formulation reservoir element configured to contain a pre-vapor formulation material, and
a pre-vapor formulation heating element coupled to the pre-vapor formulation reservoir element, the pre-vapor formulation heating element configured to heat at least a portion of the pre-vapor formulation material to generate a vapor, and to provide the vapor to a first channel through the cartridge; and

a tobacco containing section having a third end and a fourth end, the tobacco containing section including
a tobacco housing configured to contain tobacco, and to provide an aroma to a second channel through the tobacco containing section, and
a tobacco heating element configured to heat at least a portion of the tobacco to generate the aroma;

wherein
the cartridge and the tobacco containing section are configured to be alternately arranged in series with one another in a first configuration and a second configuration,
in the first configuration, the first end of the cartridge is connected to the fourth end of the tobacco containing section,
in the second configuration, the second end of the cartridge is connected to the third end of the tobacco containing section, and
in the first configuration and the second configuration, the first channel is in fluid communication with the second channel.

2. The non-combustible smoking system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a mouthpiece configured to be selectively connected to one of the first end of the cartridge and the third end of the tobacco containing section; and
a power section configured to be selectively connected to one of the second end of the cartridge and the fourth end of the tobacco containing section.

3. The non-combustible smoking system of claim 1 , wherein the tobacco housing comprises:
an outer housing extending in a longitudinal direction; and
an inner tube in the outer housing, the inner tube extending in the longitudinal direction to define at least a portion of the second channel, the outer housing and the inner tube defining a space to contain the tobacco.

4. The non-combustible smoking system of claim 3 , wherein the tobacco heating element is a coil that extends around the inner tube.

5. The non-combustible smoking system of claim 3 , wherein the tobacco heating element includes a plurality of ceramic coil heaters positioned in the second channel.

6. The non-combustible smoking system of claim 3 , wherein the tobacco heating element includes a single ceramic coil heater positioned in the second channel.

7. The non-combustible smoking system of claim 3 , wherein the tobacco heating element is a mesh heater assembly extending around the inner tube.

8. The non-combustible smoking system of claim 7 , wherein the mesh heater assembly includes a mesh heater covered in a fiber glass shield.

9. The non-combustible smoking system of claim 1 , wherein the pre-vapor formulation heating element and the tobacco heating element are configured to be electrically connected in parallel with one another when the first end of the cartridge is connected to the fourth end of the tobacco containing section, and when the second end of the cartridge is connected to the third end of the tobacco containing section.

10. The non-combustible smoking system of claim 1 , wherein
the cartridge further includes a first male connector at the first end and a first female connector at the second end;
the first male connector has a first electrode portion;
the first female connector has a second electrode portion; and
the first electrode portion and the second electrode portion are connected via a first electrical lead.

11. The non-combustible smoking system of claim 10 , wherein
the tobacco containing section includes a second male connector at the third end and a second female connector at the fourth end;
the second male connector has a third electrode portion;
the second female connector has a fourth electrode portion;
the third electrode portion and the fourth electrode portion are connected via a second electrical lead;
the first male connector is configured to be connected to the second female connector; and
the first female connector is configured to be connected to the second male connector.

12. The non-combustible smoking system of claim 10 , wherein
the tobacco containing section includes a male connector at the third end and a female connector at the fourth end;
the male connector has a first electrode portion;
the female connector has a second electrode portion; and
the first electrode portion and the second electrode portion are connected via an electrical lead.

13. The non-combustible smoking system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a power section configured to be selectively connected to one of the second end of the cartridge and the fourth end of the tobacco containing section; wherein
the power section is further configured to supply power concurrently to the pre-vapor formulation heating element and the tobacco heating element when connected to the second end of the cartridge and when the power section is connected to the fourth end of the tobacco containing section.

14. The non-combustible smoking system of claim 13 , further comprising:
a mouthpiece configured to be selectively connected to one of the first end of the cartridge and the third end of the tobacco containing section.

15. A non-combustible smoking device comprising:
a cartridge including
a housing having a first connector at a first end and a second connector at a second end, a first electrode portion of the first connector electrically connected to a second electrode portion of the second connector via an electrical lead;
a pre-vapor formulation reservoir element within the housing, and between the first and second connector, the pre-vapor formulation reservoir element configured to contain a pre-vapor formulation material; and
a pre-vapor formulation heating element within the housing, and positioned between the first and second connectors, the pre-vapor formulation heating element electrically connected to the first electrode portion of the first connector and to a third electrode portion of the first connector, and the pre-vapor formulation heating element configured to heat at least a portion of the pre-vapor formulation material to generate a vapor, and to provide the vapor to a channel within and through the housing.

16. The non-combustible smoking device of claim 15 , further comprising:
a power section configured to be connected to the cartridge via the first connector, the power section configured to supply power to the pre-vapor formulation heating element when connected to the cartridge.

17. The non-combustible smoking device of claim 15 , further comprising:
a tobacco containing section;
a power section;
a mouthpiece; and
wherein the power section, the tobacco containing section, the cartridge and the mouthpiece are configured to be connected in series with one another; and
wherein the cartridge is configured to be selectively positioned (i) between the power section and the tobacco containing section, and (ii) between the tobacco containing section and the mouthpiece.

18. A non-combustible smoking device, comprising:
a cartridge having a first end and a second end, the cartridge including
a pre-vapor formulation reservoir element configured to contain a pre-vapor formulation material, and
a pre-vapor formulation heating

Assignees

• Altria Client Services Llc

Inventors

• Tucker Christopher S
• Smith Barry
• Cadieux Ed
• Bennett David
• Olegario Raquel
• Li San
• Karles Georgios
• Jupe Richard
• Lipowicz Peter
• Ragland Benjamin

Classifications

• A61M15/06

  Inhaling appliances shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes · CPC title

• A24F40/42 Primary

  Cartridges or containers for inhalable precursors · CPC title

• A24F40/40

  Constructional details, e.g. connection of cartridges and battery parts · CPC title

• A24F40/30 Primary

  Devices using two or more structurally separated inhalable precursors, e.g. using two liquid precursors in two cartridges · CPC title

• A24F40/20

  Devices using solid inhalable precursors · CPC title