IP Library Granted Patent US 11,013,264
Granted Patent B2
US 11,013,264 · App. 14/946,662 · Granted May 25, 2021

Method, composition and apparatus for functionalization of aerosols from non combustible smoking articles

Inventors: Luis A. Sanchez (Greensboro, NC); Steven E. Brown (Oak Ridge, NC); Kai Tang (Chapel Hill, NC)
Assignee: Fontem Holdings 4 B.V.
A24F47/008A24F47/002
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,013,264
App. No.
14/946,662
Granted
May 25, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

An apparatus and method for delivering an aerosol-forming composition and a separate functional composition for generating a functionalized aerosol vapor which emulates the organoleptic characteristics and properties of mainstream smoke experienced by smoking traditional tobacco-based smoking articles. The apparatus can comprise a battery section comprising a first housing, a battery disposed within the first housing, and a first connector coupled to the housing, an aerosol section comprising a second housing, an aerosol forming chamber disposed within the second housing, and a pod bay, and an insert section comprising a third housing, a connector, an annular separator, and a mouth end. The battery section can be configured to couple to the aerosol section, the aerosol section can be configured to couple to the insert section, and the connector can be configured to fit within the pod bay.

Claims (28)

1. An apparatus for generating a functionalized aerosol, the apparatus comprising:

a battery section comprising a first housing, a battery disposed within the first housing, and a first connector coupled to the first housing;

an aerosol section comprising a second housing, an aerosol forming chamber disposed within the second housing, a liquid container fluidly coupled to the aerosol forming chamber, and a pod bay; and

an insert section comprising a third housing, an insert connector, an annular separator, a flavor reservoir, a heating element, and a mouth end, wherein the flavor reservoir comprises a nicotine substance, wherein the heating element comprises an electric nebulization and is configured to control a temperature of the flavor reservoir, and wherein the annular separator is configured to control a release of nicotine from the nicotine substance to an aerosol passing through the insert section,

wherein the battery section is configured to couple to the aerosol section, wherein the aerosol section is configured to couple to the insert section, wherein the insert section is configured to be removably inserted into the aerosol section, and wherein the insert connector is configured to fit within the pod bay.

2. The apparatus for generating a functionalized aerosol according to claim 1 , wherein the insert section further comprises a chamber configured to contain a flavoring.

3. The apparatus for generating a functionalized aerosol according to claim 2 , wherein the chamber further comprises a coaxial design comprising a core portion and a shell portion.

4. The apparatus for generating a functionalized aerosol according to claim 3 , wherein the shell portion surrounds an exterior portion of the core portion.

5. The apparatus for generating a functionalized aerosol according to claim 1 , wherein the annular separator comprises at least one slatted portion.

6. The apparatus for generating a functionalized aerosol according to claim 5 , wherein the annular separator further comprises at least one through-hole.

7. The apparatus for generating a functionalized aerosol according to claim 1 , wherein the insert section further comprises a foam insert.

8. The apparatus for generating a functionalized aerosol according to claim 7 , wherein the foam insert comprises a material with a high pore density.

9. The apparatus for generating a functionalized aerosol according to claim 8 , wherein the high pore density comprises a pore density of between 50 and 100 pores per inch.

10. The apparatus for generating a functionalized aerosol according to claim 1 , wherein the mouth end further comprises a through-hole.

11. The apparatus for generating a functionalized aerosol according to claim 1 , wherein the mouth end further comprises a plurality of through-holes equally spaced around a perimeter of the mouth end.

12. An apparatus for generating a functionalized aerosol, the apparatus comprising:

a battery section comprising a first housing, a battery disposed within the first housing, and a first connector coupled to the first housing;

an aerosol section comprising a second housing, an aerosol forming chamber disposed within the second housing, a fluid container fluidly coupled to the aerosol forming chamber, and a pod bay; and

an insert section comprising a third housing, an insert connector, a chamber, an annular separator, a flavor reservoir, a heating element, and a coaxial mouth end, wherein the flavor reservoir comprises a nicotine substance, wherein the heating element comprises an electric nebulization and is configured to control a temperature of the flavor reservoir, and wherein the annular separator is configured to control a release of nicotine from the nicotine substance to an aerosol passing through the insert section,

wherein the battery section is configured to couple to the aerosol section, wherein the aerosol section is configured to couple to the insert section, wherein the insert section is configured to be removably inserted into the aerosol section, and wherein the insert connector is configured to fit within the pod bay.

13. The apparatus for generating a functionalized aerosol according to claim 12 , wherein the chamber comprises a coaxial design comprising a core portion and a shell portion configured to receive an aerosol stream from the aerosol section and wherein the chamber is configured to separate the aerosol stream into a first aerosol stream and a second aerosol stream within the insert section.

14. The apparatus for generating a functionalized aerosol according to claim 13 , wherein the coaxial mouth end comprises a first aerosol outlet configured pass the first aerosol stream to an exterior portion of the insert section.

15. The apparatus for generating a functionalized aerosol according to claim 14 , wherein the coaxial mouth end comprises a second aerosol outlet configured pass the second aerosol stream to the exterior portion of the insert section.

16. The apparatus for generating a functionalized aerosol according to claim 15 , wherein the second aerosol outlet comprises at least one slatted portion.

17. The apparatus for generating a functionalized aerosol according to claim 12 , wherein the chamber comprises a coaxial design comprising a foam insert configured to receive an aerosol stream from the aerosol section.

18. The apparatus for generating a functionalized aerosol according to claim 17 , wherein the coaxial mouth end comprises an aerosol outlet configured pass the aerosol stream to an exterior portion of the insert section.

19. The apparatus for generating a functionalized aerosol according to claim 18 , wherein the aerosol outlet comprises an annular ring.

20. The apparatus for generating a functionalized aerosol according to claim 18 , wherein the aerosol outlet comprises at least one slatted portion.

Assignments (6)
MERGER Recorded Sep 29, 2023
From: FONTEM HOLDINGS 4 B.V.
To: FONTEM HOLDINGS B.V.
Reel/Frame 065078/0280 →
MERGER Recorded Sep 29, 2023
From: FONTEM HOLDINGS B.V.
To: FONTEM VENTURES B.V.
Reel/Frame 065078/0864 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 17, 2020
From: BROWN, STEVEN E.
To: LORILLARD TOBACCO COMPANY
Reel/Frame 054678/0921 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 17, 2020
From: SANCHEZ, LUIS A.
To: LORILLARD TOBACCO COMPANY
Reel/Frame 054679/0085 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 17, 2020
From: TANG, KAI
To: LORILLARD TOBACCO COMPANY
Reel/Frame 054679/0151 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 17, 2020
From: LORILLARD TOBACCO COMPANY
To: FONTEM HOLDINGS 4 B.V.
Reel/Frame 054679/0214 →
Continuity (3)
Provisional Application 62081870 · Nov 19, 2014
Provisional Application 62119655 · Feb 23, 2015
Related Publication 20160143360A1 · May 26, 2016
Cited By (2)
US 12,311,257 US 12,558,617