Non-nicotine pod assemblies and non-nicotine e-vaping devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11528938-B2
Application number	US-201916696081-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 26, 2019
Priority date	Nov 26, 2019
Publication date	Dec 20, 2022
Grant date	Dec 20, 2022

Abstract

A non-nicotine pod assembly for a non-nicotine e-vaping device may include a first section and a second section connected to the first section. The first section may define a pod outlet and be configured to hold a non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation. The second section may define a pod inlet and be configured to heat the non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation. The pod inlet is in fluidic communication with the pod outlet via a flow path. The flow path may include a first diverged portion, a second diverged portion, and a converged portion. A non-nicotine e-vaping device may include a device body defining a through hole configured to receive the non-nicotine pod assembly such that a pod inlet for the air flow is exposed when the non-nicotine pod assembly is seated within the through hole.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A non-nicotine pod assembly for a non-nicotine e-vaping device, comprising:
a first section defining a pod outlet and configured to hold a non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation; and
a second section connected to the first section, the second section defining a pod inlet and configured to heat the non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation, the pod inlet in fluidic communication with the pod outlet via a flow path, the flow path including a first diverged portion, a second diverged portion, and a converged portion.

2. The non-nicotine pod assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first section is configured to hermetically seal the non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation until an activation of the non-nicotine pod assembly.

3. The non-nicotine pod assembly of claim 2 , wherein the second section includes a perforator configured to release the non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation from the first section during the activation of the non-nicotine pod assembly.

4. The non-nicotine pod assembly of claim 3 , wherein the perforator includes a notch configured to engage with a clip to preclude a premature actuation of the perforator.

5. The non-nicotine pod assembly of claim 1 , wherein the pod inlet is upstream from the first diverged portion and the second diverged portion of the flow path.

6. The non-nicotine pod assembly of claim 1 , wherein the converged portion of the flow path is downstream from the first diverged portion and the second diverged portion.

7. The non-nicotine pod assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first diverged portion and the second diverged portion convene to form the converged portion of the flow path.

8. The non-nicotine pod assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second section includes a divider configured to direct an incoming air flow into the first diverged portion and the second diverged portion of the flow path.

9. The non-nicotine pod assembly of claim 8 , wherein the divider is wedge-shaped and configured to split the incoming air flow into opposite directions.

10. The non-nicotine pod assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first diverged portion includes a first curved segment.

11. The non-nicotine pod assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second diverged portion includes a second curved segment.

12. The non-nicotine pod assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first diverged portion and the second diverged portion are symmetrical portions bisected by an axis corresponding to the converged portion of the flow path.

13. The non-nicotine pod assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second section includes a heater and a wick downstream from the converged portion of the flow path.

14. The non-nicotine pod assembly of claim 13 , wherein the heater includes a folded heating element configured to grip the wick.

15. The non-nicotine pod assembly of claim 14 , wherein the folded heating element includes at least one prong configured to protrude into the wick.

16. The non-nicotine pod assembly of claim 13 , wherein the second section further includes an absorbent material seated within a holder, the absorbent material being downstream from and in fluidic communication with the wick.

17. The non-nicotine pod assembly of claim 16 , wherein the absorbent material is configured to receive the non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation from the first section, and the wick is configured to transfer the non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation from the absorbent material to the heater.

18. The non-nicotine pod assembly of claim 16 , wherein the absorbent material has an annular form, and the wick has a planar form.

19. The non-nicotine pod assembly of claim 16 , wherein the holder includes a base portion and a cylindrical portion.

20. A device body for a non-nicotine e-vaping device, comprising:
a device housing defining a through hole configured to receive a non-nicotine pod assembly, the through hole including an upstream sidewall and a downstream sidewall, the upstream sidewall including at least one upstream protrusion, the downstream sidewall including at least one downstream protrusion, the at least one downstream protrusion being retractable relative to adjacent surfaces of the downstream sidewall and configured to engage with at least one downstream recess of the non-nicotine pod assembly to retain the non-nicotine pod assembly within the through hole.

21. A non-nicotine e-vaping device, comprising:
a non-nicotine pod assembly including a first section and a second section, the first section configured to hold a non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation, the second section configured to diverge and converge an air flow into the non-nicotine pod assembly prior to a passage of the air flow through the first section; and
a device body defining a through hole configured to receive the non-nicotine pod assembly such that a pod inlet for the air flow is exposed when the non-nicotine pod assembly is seated within the through hole.

Assignees

• Altria Client Services Llc

Inventors

• Twite Dean
• Hourmand Yannick
• Patil Bipin
• Sundar Rangaraj S
• Nelson Gregory L
• Gallagher Niall
• Keen Jarrett
• Diana Phillip
• Yorkshades James

Classifications

• A24F40/46

  Shape or structure of electric heating means · CPC title

• A24F40/485

  Valves; Apertures · CPC title

• A24F40/44

  Wicks · CPC title

• A61M11/042

  electrical · CPC title

• A24F40/10

  Devices using liquid inhalable precursors · CPC title