Granted Patent B2

US 12,501,928 · App. 15/067,990 · Granted Dec 23, 2025

Inventors: Ali A. Rostami (Richmond, VA); Gerd Kobal (Sandy Hook, VA); Yezdi Pithawalla (Richmond, VA); Christopher S. Tucker (Midlothian, VA); Georgios Karles (Richmond, VA); Munmaya K. Mishra (Manakin Sabot, VA); San Li (Midlothian, VA)

Assignee: ALTRIA CLIENT SERVICES LLC

A24F40/05A24F40/30A24F40/42A24F40/46A24F40/48A24F40/485A24F40/10

Abstract

Claims (30)

1 . A cartridge of an electronic vaping device comprising:

an outer housing extending in a longitudinal direction;

an outlet end insert including an outlet port, the outlet end insert and the outer housing at least partially defining a mixing chamber within the outer housing;

at least one air inlet configured to provide air to the mixing chamber;

a vaporizer assembly in the outer housing, the vaporizer assembly configured to produce a vapor, the vaporizer assembly including,

a first tank configured to store a pre-vapor formulation, and

a tube within the outer housing and separate from the outer housing, the tube having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet of the tube coupled with an outlet of the first tank, the outlet of the tube open to the mixing chamber between the outlet of the tube and the outlet port, such that the tube is configured to direct the pre-vapor formulation from the first tank to the mixing chamber, at least a portion of the tube formed of an electrically conductive material that is configured to be resistively heated and extends between two electrical leads connected to separate ends of the tube, the electrical leads configured to connect the portion of the tube to a power supply, such that the portion of the tube defines a heater configured to heat the pre-vapor formulation and form the vapor, the tube having a constriction adjacent the outlet of the tube;

and

an atomizer assembly in the outer housing, the atomizer assembly configured to produce an aerosol, the atomizer assembly including,

a second tank configured to store a pre-aerosol formulation, and

an atomizer configured to atomize the pre-aerosol formulation and form the aerosol without heat,

wherein the first tank is pressurized and the first tank includes a first valve between an outlet of the first tank and the inlet of the tube,

wherein the second tank is pressurized and the second tank includes a second valve at an outlet of the second tank,

wherein the cartridge further comprises a single push-button valve configured to open the first and second valves simultaneously, the single push-button valve including

a button connected to both the first and second valves, and

separate sets of one or more springs, each separate set of one or more springs being between the button and a separate valve of the first and second valves,

wherein the cartridge further comprises

a capsule of carbon dioxide, and

a dual piston cylinder between the second tank and the capsule of carbon dioxide, the capsule of carbon dioxide applying pressure to the pre-aerosol formulation in the second tank, the second tank having a flexible wall,

the dual piston cylinder including two pistons with a spring connected therebetween, the dual piston cylinder configured to at least partially reduce the pressure applied from the capsule of carbon dioxide on the second tank.

2 . The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the tube has an internal diameter of about 0.05 mm to 0.4 mm and a length of about 5 mm to about 72 mm.

3 . The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the tube includes a stainless steel tube, a non-metallic tube, or both a stainless steel tube and a non-metallic tube.

4 . The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the portion of the tube is coiled to form a coiled heated section.

5 . The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the atomizer includes a piezoelectric element.

6 . The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the pre-vapor formulation and the pre-aerosol formulation have different viscosities at room temperature.

7 . The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein one of the pre-vapor formulation and the pre-aerosol formulation comprises flavor material and another one of the pre-vapor formulation and the pre-aerosol formulation comprises nicotine.

8 . The cartridge of claim 1 , further comprising:

a window in the outer housing of the cartridge,

wherein the first tank is visible through the window, the second tank is visible through the window, or both the first tank and the second tank are visible through the window.

9 . The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein a mean particle size of the aerosol is larger than a mean particle size of the vapor.

Assignments (2)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (400)