Electronic vaping device with outlet-end illumination

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025106945-A1
Application number	US-202418975296-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 10, 2024
Priority date	Dec 29, 2017
Publication date	Mar 27, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

A cartridge for an e-vaping device includes a housing extending along a longitudinal axis of the cartridge, and an outlet-end insert coupled to the outlet end of the housing. The housing at least partially encloses a pre-vapor formulation reservoir and a vapor generator of the cartridge and further channels light via internal reflection through an interior of the housing. The outlet-end insert includes an outlet in flow communication with the vapor generator, directs the vapor generated by the vapor generator out of the cartridge through the outlet, and further emits the light channeled through the interior of the housing. One or more properties of the light are controllable.

First claim

1 . An e-vaping device comprising:
a housing extending along a longitudinal axis of the e-vaping device, the housing having an inner surface and an outer surface extending along the longitudinal axis, the housing having a thickness between the inner surface and the outer surface; and a light source configured to emit light through the thickness of the housing such that at least a portion of the light is channeled along the longitudinal axis via internal reflection through the thickness of the housing between the inner surface of the housing and the outer surface of the housing to an outlet end of the housing, and the channeled light is emitted from the outlet end of the housing.

2 . The e-vaping device of claim 1 , wherein
the housing includes a first housing and a second housing, the first housing is removable from the second housing, and the light source is configured to emit light through a thickness of the first housing.

3 . The e-vaping device of claim 1 , further comprising:
control circuitry configured to control the light source.

4 . The e-vaping device of claim 3 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to cause the light source to remain activated for at least a desired period of elapsed time following a cessation of air being drawn through at least the portion of the e-vaping device.

5 . The e-vaping device of claim 3 , wherein,
the light source is configured to emit light having a property, the property being a color of the light, a brightness of the light, or both a color of the light and a brightness of the light; and the control circuitry is further configured to control the property of the light emitted by the light source, based on,
a determination that the light source has emitted light for at least a threshold period of elapsed time,
a determined amount of pre-vapor formulation held in a reservoir of the e-vaping device,
a determined amount of electrical charge held in a power supply section of the e-vaping device, or
a magnitude of generated vapor that is generated by a vapor generator of the e-vaping device.

6 . The e-vaping device of claim 3 , wherein
the housing includes a first housing and a second housing, the control circuitry is located within the second housing of the e-vaping device, the second housing is separate from the first housing, and the second housing is opaque to visible light.

7 . The e-vaping device of claim 6 , wherein
the light source is located within the second housing.

8 . The e-vaping device of claim 1 , wherein
the housing is transparent to visible light.

9 . The e-vaping device of claim 1 , wherein the inner surface of the housing defines an outer boundary of a reservoir within the e-vaping device.

10 . The e-vaping device of claim 9 , further comprising:
an inner tube defining an inner boundary of the reservoir.

11 . The e-vaping device of claim 10 , further comprising:
a vapor generator within the housing, wherein the inner tube at least partially defines an outer boundary of a channel in fluidic communication with the outlet end of the housing and the vapor generator.

12 . The e-vaping device of claim 11 , further comprising:
a transfer pad configured to transfer pre-vapor formulation from the reservoir to the vapor generator.

13 . The e-vaping device of claim 12 , wherein the transfer pad has a cylindrical shape.

14 . The e-vaping device of claim 12 , wherein the transfer pad is configured to seal a longitudinal end of the reservoir.

15 . The e-vaping device of claim 12 , wherein the transfer pad includes a plurality of fibers.

16 . The e-vaping device of claim 12 , wherein an inner surface of the transfer pad at least partially defines the outer boundary of the channel.

17 . The e-vaping device of claim 12 , wherein the vapor generator includes a heating element and a dispensing interface connecting the heating element to the transfer pad.

18 . The e-vaping device of claim 1 , wherein the outlet end of the housing includes an outlet-end insert.

19 . The e-vaping device of claim 18 , wherein the outlet-end insert is transparent to visible light.

20 . The e-vaping device of claim 18 , wherein the outlet-end insert defines a plurality of outlet air ports.

Assignees

• Altria Client Services Llc

Inventors

• Tucker Christopher S
• Diana Phillip
• Tran Nam
• Caparrelli Matthew

Classifications

• H05B3/46

  heating conductor mounted on insulating base · CPC title

• F21V33/0004

  Personal or domestic articles · CPC title

• H05B47/105

  in response to determined parameters · CPC title

• A24F47/00

  Smokers' requisites not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• A24F40/60

  Devices with integrated user interfaces · CPC title