Adaptor devices for use in emissions testing of smoking or vaping products and methods of use

Inventors: Marielle Brinkman (Columbus, OH); Theodore Wagener (Powell, OH); Jason Robinson (Columbus, OH); Jeremy Jones (Johns Creek, GA); Ryan Petitti (Columbus, OH); Clint Fleshman (Columbus, OH); Brittney Keller-Hamilton (Columbus, OH); Gary Allread (Columbus, OH)

Assignee: Ohio State Innovation Foundation

A24C5/3406 A24F40/80

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 12672669
App. No.: 19/114,040
Granted: Jul 7, 2026
Kind: B2

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Abstract

A smoking machine adaptor device including a base configured to couple to a smoking machine, the base defining a central axis and a base cavity, a cap including a cap flange defining a cap aperture, and a cap actuator coupled to the base and configured to move the cap flange relative to the base along the central axis between a first position to a second position, and a resiliently deformable ferrule sized to be received within the base cavity and defining a ferrule aperture aligned axially with the cap aperture along the central axis. The ferrule aperture defines a. first ferrule area in a plane perpendicular to the central axis when the cap flange is in the first position, a. second, smaller ferrule area in the plane perpendicular to the central axis when the cap flange is in the second position.

Claims (34)

1 . A smoking machine adaptor device comprising:

a base configured to couple to a smoking machine, the base defining a central axis and a base cavity;

a cap including a cap flange defining a cap aperture, and a cap actuator coupled to the base and configured to move the cap flange relative to the base along the central axis between a first position to a second position; and

a resiliently deformable ferrule sized to be received within the base cavity and defining a ferrule aperture aligned axially with the cap aperture along the central axis,

wherein the ferrule aperture defines a first ferrule area in a plane perpendicular to the central axis when the cap flange is in the first position,

wherein the ferrule aperture defines a second ferrule area in the plane perpendicular to the central axis when the cap flange is in the second position, and

wherein the second ferrule area is less than the first ferrule area such that, when the cap is in the second position, the ferrule engages and forms a seal with a smoking, vaping, or inhalation device disposed within the ferrule aperture.

2 . The smoking machine adaptor device of claim 1 , wherein the base further defines a filter cavity in fluid communication with the base cavity via a smoke passage therebetween; and

the smoking machine adaptor device further comprising a filter disposed within the filter cavity of the base.

3 . The smoking machine adaptor device of claim 1 , wherein the cap is threadingly couplable to the base.

4 . The smoking machine adaptor device of claim 1 , wherein rotation of the cap relative to the base causes the cap to move between the first position to the second position.

5 . The smoking machine adaptor device of claim 1 , further comprising a compression plate disposed between the ferrule and the cap flange and defining a flange aperture aligned axially with the ferrule aperture and the cap aperture along the central axis.

6 . The smoking machine adaptor device of claim 5 , the compression plate further comprising a compression surface having a frustoconical shape that biases deformation of the ferrule toward the central axis.

7 . The smoking machine adaptor device of claim 1 , wherein the ferrule aperture is circular or oval shaped in the plane perpendicular to the central axis.

8 . The smoking machine adaptor device of claim 1 , wherein the ferrule is formed of a resiliently flexible urethane rubber material.

9 . The smoking machine adaptor device of claim 1 , wherein the ferrule deforms radially relative to the central axis to effectively decrease an area of the ferrule aperture as the cap moves from the first position to the second position.

10 . The smoking machine adaptor device of claim 1 , wherein the smoking, vaping, or inhalation device comprises a rigid mouthpiece or a compressible mouthpiece, either of which are engageable by the ferrule to form the seal.

11 . The smoking machine adaptor device of claim 1 , wherein, when the cap is in the second position, the second ferrule area matches a shape of the smoking, vaping, or inhalation device disposed therein.

12 . A smoking machine adaptor kit comprising:

a base configured to couple to a smoking machine, the base defining a central axis and a base cavity;

a first resiliently deformable ferrule sized to be received within the base cavity and defining a circular ferrule aperture configured to align axially with the cap aperture along the central axis, the circular ferrule aperture defining a first area when the cap is in the first position and a second, smaller area when the cap is in the second position such that, when the cap is in the second position, the first ferrule engages and forms a seal with a first smoking, vaping, or inhalation device disposed within the circular ferrule aperture; and

a second resiliently deformable ferrule sized to be received within the base cavity and defining an oval ferrule aperture configured to align axially with the cap aperture along the central axis, the oval ferrule aperture defining a first area when the cap is in the first position and a second, smaller area when the cap is in the second position such that, when the cap is in the second position, the second ferrule engages and forms a seal with a second smoking, vaping, or inhalation device disposed within the oval ferrule aperture.

13 . The smoking machine adaptor kit of claim 12 , further comprising a second base configured to couple to the smoking machine, the base structured to receive a first filter and the second base structured to receive a second filter different from the first filter.

14 . The smoking machine adaptor kit of claim 12 , further comprising a filter holder coupled to the base and configured to secure a filter between the base and the filter holder.

15 . The smoking machine adaptor kit of claim 12 , further comprising:

a first compression plate including a circular plate aperture corresponding to the circular ferrule aperture of the first resiliently deformable ferrule; and

a second compression plate including an oval plate aperture corresponding to the oval ferrule aperture of the second resiliently deformable ferrule.

16 . The smoking machine adaptor kit of claim 15 , wherein the first compression plate further comprises a compression surface having a frustoconical shape that biases deformation of the first ferrule toward the central axis.

17 . The smoking machine adaptor kit of claim 12 , further comprising:

a third resiliently deformable ferrule sized to be received within the base cavity and defining a small circular ferrule aperture configured to align axially with the cap aperture along the central axis, the small circular ferrule aperture defining a smaller area than the circular ferrule aperture; and

a fourth resiliently deformable ferrule sized to be received within the base cavity and defining a small oval ferrule aperture configured to align axially with the cap aperture along the central axis, the small oval ferrule aperture defining a smaller area than the oval ferrule aperture.

18 . The smoking machine adaptor kit of claim 12 , wherein the first smoking, vaping, or inhalation device comprises a compressible mouthpiece and the second smoking or vaping device comprises a rigid mouthpiece.

19 . The smoking machine adaptor kit of claim 12 , wherein, when the cap is in the second position, the second area of the oval ferrule aperture matches a shape of the second smoking, vaping, or inhalation device disposed therein.