Aerosol delivery device with static ignitor contacts

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12357024-B2
Application number	US-202217899026-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 30, 2022
Priority date	Aug 30, 2022
Publication date	Jul 15, 2025
Grant date	Jul 15, 2025

Abstract

Disclosed is an aerosol delivery device for use with removable and replaceable cartridges. The device includes a holder defining a proximal end and a distal end and a receiving chamber configured to receive the removable cartridge including an ignitable heat source. The holder defines a first aerosol passageway extending therethrough. The device includes a mouthpiece coupled to the holder and defining a second aerosol passageway extending therethrough and a pair of static ignitor contacts disposed proximate the receiving chamber and oriented to contact the ignitable heat source when the removable cartridge is secured within the receiving chamber. The device may include an access door movably coupled to the holder and configured to provide access to the receiving chamber in an open configuration and secure the cartridge for ignition when in a closed configuration.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An aerosol delivery device comprising:
a holder comprising a main body defining a proximal end and a distal end, the main body further defining a receiving chamber configured to receive a removable cartridge comprising an ignitable heat source, the main body further defining a first aerosol passageway that extends through at least a portion of the main body;
an access door coupled to the holder and configured to be movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration, wherein in the open configuration, the receiving chamber is at least partially exposed for loading of the removable cartridge; and
a static ignitor contact disposed on or in the access door and oriented to contact the ignitable heat source when the removable cartridge is secured within the receiving chamber and the access door is in the closed configuration.

2. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1 , further comprising a power source disposed within the main body, wherein the static ignitor contact is in electrical communication with the power source when the door is in the closed configuration.

3. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the static ignitor contact comprises a pair of static ignitor contacts oriented so as to contact the ignitable heat source at, at least two points when the removable cartridge is secured within the receiving chamber and the access door is in the closed configuration.

4. The aerosol delivery device of claim 3 , wherein the pair of static ignitor contacts are disposed on an inner surface of the access door.

5. The aerosol delivery device of claim 2 , wherein the holder comprises at least one electrical contact in electrical communication with the power source and configured to mate with the static ignitor contact when the access door is in the closed configuration to complete an electrical circuit.

6. The aerosol delivery device of claim 5 , wherein at least one of the electrical contact comprises a pogo pin.

7. The aerosol delivery device of claim 5 , wherein the static ignitor contact comprises an elongate body with a first contact portion disposed at a distal end thereof and configured to engage the ignitable heat source and a second contact portion disposed at a proximal end of the elongate body and configured to engage the at least one electrical contact.

8. The aerosol delivery device of claim 2 further comprising an ignition switch disposed on the holder and in electrical communication with the power source and the static ignitor contact when the access door is in the closed configuration, the ignition switch configured to deliver electrical current to the static ignitor contact when actuated.

9. The aerosol delivery device of claim 2 further comprising a printed circuit board disposed within the holder and in electrical communication with the power source and comprising a controller.

10. The aerosol delivery device of claim 5 , wherein the electrical circuit is disrupted when the access door is in the open configuration.

11. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the access door is pivotably coupled to the main body.

12. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the access door is hingedly coupled to the main body.

13. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the access door is coupled to the main body via a detent hinge configured maintain the access door in at least one of the open configuration or the closed configuration.

14. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the access door sealingly engages the main body in the closed configuration.

15. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the access door further comprises an inner housing defining the receiving chamber, wherein the access door is configured to orient the receiving chamber in fluid communication with the first aerosol passageway when in the closed configuration.

16. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1 further comprising a latching mechanism configured to secure the access door in the closed configuration.

17. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the access door is substantially flush with an outer surface of the holder when in the closed configuration.

18. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1 further comprising an actuator assembly configured to release the access door from the closed configuration.

19. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the access door includes an insert disposed therein and configured to receive the cartridge and provide thermal insulation thereto.

20. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1 further comprising a biasing mechanism disposed within the holder and oriented to engage a removable cartridge secured within the receiving chamber, wherein the biasing mechanism urges the ignitable heat source of the cartridge into contact with the static ignitor contact when the access door is in the closed configuration.

21. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1 further comprising a seal assembly disposed within the receiving chamber and configured to removably secure the removable cartridge therein.

22. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1 further comprising a mouthpiece including a first end and a longitudinally opposed second end with a second aerosol passageway extending longitudinally therebetween, wherein the first end is configured to engage with a user's mouth and the second end is configured to engage the proximal end of the holder.

23. The aerosol delivery device of claim 22 , wherein the mouthpiece is removably coupled to the holder.

24. The aerosol delivery device of claim 22 , wherein the access door defines an opening in a distal end thereof, the opening configured to provide air to the ignited heat source.

25. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1 further comprising the removable cartridge, wherein the cartridge includes a substrate material having an aerosol precursor composition configured to form an aerosol upon application of heat thereto.

26. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1 further comprising a sliding actuator assembly coupled to the holder and configured to eject the removable cartridge.

27. The aerosol delivery device of claim 26 , wherein the sliding actuator assembly comprises:
a tubular body defining a portion of the first aerosol passageway and configured to slide along a portion of the main body in a first direction and a second direction;
a first protrusion extending from an outer surface of the tubular body and configured to extend through an opening in a wall of the main body to provide for moving the tubular body in the first and second directions;
a second protrusion extending from a distal end of the tubular body and configured to engage the removable cartridge so as to advance the removable cartridge through the distal end of the main body when the tubular body is moved in the first or second direction.

28. The aerosol delivery device of claim 26 , wherein the sliding actuator further comprises a sealing arrangement for sealingly engaging an internal surface of the main body.

Assignees

• Reynolds Tobacco Co R

Inventors

• Aller Jared
• Jackson Thaddeus
• Cleckley Karen H
• Rennecker Daniel W
• Nettenstrom Matthew J
• Schennum Steven M

Classifications

• A24F7/02

  with detachable connecting members · CPC title

• A24F40/60

  Devices with integrated user interfaces · CPC title

• A24F40/50

  Control or monitoring · CPC title

• A24D1/22 Primary

  Cigarettes with integrated combustible heat sources, e.g. with carbonaceous heat sources · CPC title

• A24F40/00

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