Electronic smoking article and associated method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11856997-B2
Application number	US-202016741354-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 13, 2020
Priority date	Oct 8, 2012
Publication date	Jan 2, 2024
Grant date	Jan 2, 2024

Abstract

Smoking articles, and methods for forming such smoking articles, such as an electronic smoking article, are provided. An exemplary smoking article comprises a control body portion having a control body engagement end, and having a first control component therein. A cartridge body portion includes a cartridge body engagement end configured to removably engage the control body engagement end of the control body portion. The cartridge body portion further includes a consumable arrangement comprising at least an aerosol precursor composition and at least one heating element operably engaged therewith, and a second control component. At least the consumable arrangement is configured to be in communication with the first control component upon engagement between the cartridge body and control body portions.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A control body for a smoking article, the control body comprising:
a control body engagement portion configured to removably engage a cartridge body engagement portion of a cartridge body including a reservoir configured to store an aerosol precursor composition, an aerosolization component powerable to aerosolize the aerosol precursor composition to form an aerosol, and a purpose-specific circuit for authentication of the cartridge body;
control circuitry configured to direct power from an electrical power source to the aerosolization component; and
a controller configured to communicate with the purpose-specific circuit to validate the cartridge body is authentic, and allow the control circuitry to direct power from the electrical power source to the aerosolization component only when the cartridge body is validated as authentic.

2. The control body of claim 1 further comprising a sensor configured to detect user demand on the smoking article,
wherein the control circuitry is configured to direct power from the electrical power source to the aerosolization component only when the cartridge body is validated as authentic, and in response to the user demand.

3. The control body of claim 1 further comprising a button usable to indicate user demand on the smoking article,
wherein the control circuitry is configured to direct power from the electrical power source to the aerosolization component only when the cartridge body is validated as authentic, and in response to the user demand.

4. The control body of claim 1 , wherein the purpose-specific circuit is configured to provide authentication indicia to the controller, and the controller is configured to validate the cartridge body is authentic based on the authentication indicia.

5. The control body of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to validate the cartridge body is authentic based on authentication indicia from the purpose-specific circuit, and a failure of the controller to validate the cartridge body is indicated by an absence of the authentication indicia from the purpose-specific circuit.

6. The control body of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to validate the cartridge body is authentic based on authentication indicia from the purpose-specific circuit, and a failure of the controller to validate the cartridge body is indicated by unauthorized authentication indicia from the purpose-specific circuit.

7. A smoking article comprising the control body of claim 1 , and further comprising the cartridge body.

8. The smoking article of claim 7 , wherein the control body further includes a sensor configured to detect user demand on the smoking article, and
wherein the control circuitry is configured to direct power from the electrical power source to the aerosolization component only when the cartridge body is validated as authentic, and in response to the user demand.

9. The smoking article of claim 7 , wherein the control body further includes a button usable to indicate user demand on the smoking article, and
wherein the control circuitry is configured to direct power from the electrical power source to the aerosolization component only when the cartridge body is validated as authentic, and in response to the user demand.

10. The smoking article of claim 7 , wherein the purpose-specific circuit is configured to provide authentication indicia to the controller, and the controller is configured to validate the cartridge body is authentic based on the authentication indicia.

11. The smoking article of claim 7 , wherein the controller is configured to validate the cartridge body is authentic based on authentication indicia from the purpose-specific circuit, and a failure of the controller to validate the cartridge body is indicated by an absence of the authentication indicia from the purpose-specific circuit.

12. The smoking article of claim 7 , wherein the controller is configured to validate the cartridge body is authentic based on authentication indicia from the purpose-specific circuit, and a failure of the controller to validate the cartridge body is indicated by unauthorized authentication indicia from the purpose-specific circuit.

Assignees

• Rai Strategic Holdings Inc

Inventors

• Sears Stephen Benson
• Nestor Timothy Brian
• Novak Iii Charles Jacob
• Alderman Steven Lee
• Galloway Michael Ryan
• Guenther Jr Quentin Paul
• Ampolini Frederic Philippe
• Henry Jr Raymond C
• East Allen Michael

Classifications

• A24F40/53 Primary

  Monitoring, e.g. fault detection · CPC title

• A24F40/00

  Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor · CPC title

• A24F40/40

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

• A24F40/50

  Control or monitoring · CPC title

• A24F40/60

  Devices with integrated user interfaces · CPC title