Cover for an electronic dispersion device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12303634-B2
Application number	US-202418440407-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 13, 2024
Priority date	Feb 22, 2019
Publication date	May 20, 2025
Grant date	May 20, 2025

Abstract

A dispersion device includes a first dispersion generating system, a second dispersion generating system and an outlet end element including a first outlet corresponding to the first dispersion generating system and a second outlet corresponding to the second dispersion generating system.

First claim

We claim:

1. A cover for a dispersion device comprising:
an outer housing having a first end and a second end;
at least two cartridges within the outer housing and extending from the first end to the second end; and
an outlet end element at the first end of the outer housing, the at least two cartridges contacting the outlet end element such that outlets of each of the at least two cartridges are isolated.

2. The cover of claim 1 , wherein the at least two cartridges includes,
a first cartridge containing a first pre-vapor formulation; and
a second cartridge containing a first pre-aerosol formulation, the first pre-vapor formulation and the first pre-aerosol formulation being different.

3. The cover of claim 1 , wherein the at least two cartridges includes,
a first cartridge including a first dispersion generating system; and
a second cartridge including a second dispersion generating system.

4. The cover of claim 3 , wherein:
the first dispersion generating system is configured to vaporize a first pre-vapor formulation into a first vapor having particles of a first size; and
the second dispersion generating system is configured to aerosolize a first pre-aerosol formulation into a first aerosol having particles of a second size and the first size and the second size are different.

5. The cover of claim 4 , wherein the first dispersion generating system includes a heater and the second dispersion generating system includes a heatless vapor generator.

6. The cover of claim 4 , wherein the first dispersion generating system includes a heater configured to generate the first vapor and the second dispersion generating system includes an ultra-sonic generator or a vibrator configured to generate the first aerosol.

7. The cover of claim 1 , wherein the outlet end element comprises:
a first outlet corresponding to a first cartridge of the at least two cartridges; and
a second outlet corresponding to a second cartridge of the at least two cartridges, the second outlet being separate from the first outlet.

8. The cover of claim 7 , wherein:
the first outlet is at a center of the outlet end element; and
the second outlet includes first and second parts at end portions of the outlet end element.

9. The cover of claim 7 , further comprising:
a divider separating the first cartridge and the first outlet from the second cartridge and the second outlet.

10. The cover of claim 7 , wherein the first outlet and the second outlet are angled with respect to a longitudinal axis of the dispersion device.

11. The cover of claim 1 , further comprising:
a divider defining first and second passages in the outer housing, a first cartridge of the at least two cartridges being in the first passage and a second cartridge of the at least two cartridges being in the second passage.

12. The cover of claim 11 , wherein the divider extends to the outlet end element and separates a first outlet in the outlet end element and a second outlet in the outlet end element.

13. The cover of claim 11 , wherein the outer housing defines a first opening through a surface of the outer housing, the first cartridge defines a second opening, and the first opening and the second opening align.

14. The cover of claim 1 , wherein the at least two cartridges include,
a sonicator configured to exert a force on a pre-aerosol formulation, and
a mesh plate adjacent to the pre-aerosol formulation, the mesh plate defining holes such that an aerosol exits the mesh plate when the sonicator exerts the force on the pre-aerosol formulation, the mesh plate separates the pre-aerosol formulation from a channel.

15. The cover of claim 1 , wherein the at least two cartridges include,
a pre-aerosol formulation reservoir configured to contain a pre-aerosol formulation,
an inner tube defining a central channel through the pre-aerosol formulation reservoir, and
a vibrator configured to vibrate the pre-aerosol formulation to generate a vapor.

16. The cover of claim 15 , wherein the vibrator is a plate and contacts the pre-aerosol formulation reservoir.

17. The cover of claim 16 , wherein the inner tube extends from the plate to an end of the pre-aerosol formulation reservoir.

18. The cover of claim 1 , wherein each of the at least two cartridges include an air inlet.

19. The cover of claim 1 , wherein the cover is configured couple to a base adjacent the second end of the outer housing, the base including,
a cartridge holder configured to receive the at least two cartridges, and
a power supply.

20. The cover of claim 19 , wherein:
the power supply is configured to be coupled to the at least two cartridges; and the cartridge holder includes,
a first slot configured to receive a first cartridge of the at least two cartridges, and
a second slot configured to receive a second cartridge of the at least two cartridges.

Assignees

• Altria Client Services Llc

Inventors

• Sahin Buket
• Kobal Gerd
• Wang Qiang
• Tucker Christopher S

Classifications

• B06B1/20

  making use of a vibrating fluid {(whistles or sirens per se G10K)} · CPC title

• A24F40/46

  Shape or structure of electric heating means · CPC title

• A24F40/42

  Cartridges or containers for inhalable precursors · CPC title

• A61M2205/3375

  Acoustical, e.g. ultrasonic, measuring means · CPC title

• A61M16/0003

  Accessories therefor, e.g. sensors, vibrators, negative pressure · CPC title