Non-combustible smoking device and elements thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12178243-B2
Application number	US-202017074067-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 19, 2020
Priority date	Oct 4, 2016
Publication date	Dec 31, 2024
Grant date	Dec 31, 2024

Abstract

At least one example embodiment discloses a pre-vapor formulation reservoir configured to contain a pre-vapor formulation material, a heating element coupled to the pre-vapor formulation reservoir and configured to heat at least a portion of the pre-vapor formulation material into a generated vapor and provide the generated vapor to a first portion of a channel, a tobacco housing at a second portion of the channel and positioned to receive the generated vapor, the tobacco housing including tobacco and at least one air flow element in the tobacco housing to direct at least a first portion of the generated vapor towards an end of the non-combustible smoking element.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A non-combustible smoking element comprising:
a pre-vapor formulation reservoir configured to contain a pre-vapor formulation material;
a heater coupled to the pre-vapor formulation reservoir, the heater being configured to heat at least a portion of the pre-vapor formulation material into a generated vapor and provide the generated vapor to a first portion of a channel;
a tobacco housing at a second portion of the channel, downstream of the pre-vapor formulation reservoir and the heater, and positioned to expose a first portion of the generated vapor to tobacco in the tobacco housing;
a tube configured to extend through the tobacco housing and to prevent a second portion of the generated vapor from being exposed to the tobacco;
a first gasket in the tobacco housing adjacent the second portion of the channel and configured to receive the tube, the first gasket defining a plurality of holes circumscribing the tube and configured to direct at least the first portion of the generated vapor to the tobacco in the tobacco housing;
a filter downstream of the tobacco housing and configured to receive the first portion of the generated vapor and the second portion of the generated vapor;
a second gasket in the tobacco housing between the first gasket and the filter and configured to receive the tube, the second gasket defining a plurality of holes circumscribing the tube and configured to direct at least the first portion of the generated vapor to the filter;
an outer housing defining a receiving area adjacent the second portion of the channel, the pre-vapor formulation reservoir within the outer housing; and
a tobacco insert configured to be removably inserted into the receiving area of the outer housing, the tobacco insert including the tobacco housing, the tube, the first gasket, the second gasket, and the filter.

2. The non-combustible smoking element of claim 1 , wherein the tube extends from a first end portion of the tobacco housing to an opposing second end portion of the tobacco housing.

3. The non-combustible smoking element of claim 1 , wherein the tube separates the tobacco housing into a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the tobacco housing being configured to prevent the second portion of the generated vapor from being exposed to the tobacco.

4. The non-combustible smoking element of claim 3 , wherein the second portion of the generated vapor is 65 percent of the generated vapor.

5. The non-combustible smoking element of claim 1 , wherein the tube has an inside diameter of 0.5 mm to 3 mm.

6. The non-combustible smoking element of claim 5 , wherein the tube has an inside diameter of 2 mm to 2.5 mm.

7. The non-combustible smoking element of claim 1 , wherein the tube divides the tobacco housing into two sections.

8. The non-combustible smoking element of claim 1 , wherein the tube includes one of polyetheretherketone (PEEK), metal or both PEEK and metal.

9. The non-combustible smoking element of claim 1 , wherein the second portion of the generated vapor is directed through the tube.

10. The non-combustible smoking element of claim 1 , wherein the first gasket includes a base portion and a receiving portion, the base portion including the plurality of holes in the first gasket and the receiving portion configured to receive the tube.

11. The non-combustible smoking element of claim 1 , wherein the second gasket is within a middle portion of the tobacco housing, the tube extending through the second gasket.

12. A non-combustible smoking device comprising:
a pre-vapor formulation reservoir configured to contain a pre-vapor formulation material;
a heater coupled to the pre-vapor formulation reservoir, the heater being configured to heat at least a portion of the pre-vapor formulation material into a generated vapor and provide the generated vapor to a first portion of a channel;
a power supply configured to supply power to the heater;
a tobacco housing at a second portion of the channel, downstream of the pre-vapor formulation reservoir and the heater, and positioned to expose a first portion of the generated vapor to tobacco in the tobacco housing;
a tube configured to extend through the tobacco housing and to prevent a second portion of the generated vapor from being exposed to the tobacco;
a first gasket in the tobacco housing adjacent the second portion of the channel and configured to receive the tube, the first gasket defining a plurality of holes circumscribing the tube and configured to direct at least the first portion of the generated vapor to the tobacco in the tobacco housing;
a filter downstream of the tobacco housing and configured to receive the first portion of the generated vapor and the second portion of the generated vapor;
a second gasket in the tobacco housing between the first gasket and the filter and configured to receive the tube, the second gasket defining a plurality of holes circumscribing the tube and configured to direct at least the first portion of the generated vapor to the filter;
an outer housing defining a receiving area adjacent the second portion of the channel, the pre-vapor formulation reservoir within the outer housing; and
a tobacco insert configured to be removably inserted into the receiving area of the outer housing, the tobacco insert including the tobacco housing, the tube, the first gasket, the second gasket, and the filter.

13. The non-combustible smoking device of claim 12 , wherein the tube extends from a first end portion of the tobacco housing to an opposing second end portion of the tobacco housing.

14. The non-combustible smoking device of claim 12 , wherein the tube separates the tobacco housing into a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the tobacco housing being configured to prevent the second portion of the generated vapor from being exposed to the tobacco.

15. The non-combustible smoking device of claim 14 , wherein the second portion of the generated vapor is 65 percent of the generated vapor.

16. The non-combustible smoking device of claim 12 , wherein the tube has an inside diameter of 0.5 mm to 3 mm.

17. The non-combustible smoking device of claim 16 , wherein the tube has an inside diameter of 2 mm to 2.5 mm.

18. The non-combustible smoking device of claim 12 , wherein the second portion of the generated vapor is directed through the tube.

Assignees

• Altria Client Services Llc

Inventors

• Sahin Buket
• Li San

Classifications

• A24F40/485

  Valves; Apertures · CPC title

• A24F40/20

  Devices using solid inhalable precursors · CPC title

• A24F40/10

  Devices using liquid inhalable precursors · CPC title

• A24F40/57

  Temperature control · CPC title

• A24F40/51

  Arrangement of sensors · CPC title