System and apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11111127-B2
Application number	US-201615550729-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 5, 2016
Priority date	Feb 13, 2015
Publication date	Sep 7, 2021
Grant date	Sep 7, 2021

Abstract

The present invention provides a method, system and apparatus for refilling a reservoir of a smoking-substitute device with liquid from a dispenser.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An assembly for transferring liquid between a dispenser and a cartomizer portion of a smoking-substitute device, said assembly comprising:
a first portion configured for sealably cooperating with a mutually cooperative formation of said cartomizer portion;
a second portion connected to said first portion and configured for sealably cooperating with a mutually cooperative formation of said dispenser; and
a chamber formed within said first and second portions, and including a first aperture at an end of said first portion and a second aperture at an end of said second portion;

wherein said assembly is configurable between:
a non-dispensing configuration in which liquid communication between said chamber and said first aperture is restricted; and
a dispensing configuration in which a liquid communication pathway is opened between the chamber and said first aperture to communicate liquid between said dispenser and said cartomizer portion through a dispenser outlet and cartomizer portion inlet, and a gas communication pathway is formed between a formation on a body of said second portion and said chamber for expulsion of gas from said cartomizer portion; and further wherein alternation between said non-dispensing configuration and said dispensing configuration is effected responsive to application of an actuation force, exerted via an actuation formation of said cartomizer portion, to a closure member located within said chamber; and

wherein, in the dispensing configuration, said first aperture includes a gas passageway within the actuation formation of said cartomizer portion.

2. The assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the assembly is configure to close the liquid communication pathway responsive to removal of said actuation force.

3. The assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein, in the dispensing configuration, the assembly is operable to permit liquid to be transferred through the liquid communication pathway, and for a substantially equivalent volume of gas to be expelled from said cartomizer portion via said gas communication pathway.

4. The assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said closure member is biased to close the liquid communication pathway in the absence of said actuation force.

5. The assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said first portion comprises a male member configured to be received in a mutually complementary female member of said cartomizer portion.

6. The assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said second portion comprises a male member configured to be received in a mutually complementary female member of said dispenser.

7. The assembly as claimed in claim 1 , configured for sealably cooperating with said cartomizer portion, and optionally securably cooperating with said cartomizer portion.

8. The assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a portion of said liquid communication pathway is formed between said first aperture and said gas passageway.

9. The assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said closure member is configured to sealably close said gas passageway responsive to application of said actuation force.

10. A system for transferring liquid between a dispenser and a cartomizer portion of a smoking-substitute device, comprising: an assembly according to claim 1 ; said dispenser configured to cooperate with and be operative with the assembly; and said cartomizer portion configured to cooperate with and be operative with the assembly.

Assignees

• Fontem Holdings 1 Bv

Inventors

• Scott Kenneth
• Mcdonald Stephen J
• Sudlow Thomas S
• Jones David
• Lord Christopher

Classifications

• B65D47/243

  moving linearly, i.e. without rotational motion · CPC title

• B65D47/06 Primary

  with pouring spouts or tubes; with discharge nozzles or passages (with slidable spouts B65D47/26) · CPC title

• B65B3/04

  Methods of, or means for, filling the material into the containers or receptacles · CPC title

• A61M2209/045

  for filling, e.g. for filling reservoirs · CPC title

• B67D7/0294 Primary

  Combined with valves · CPC title