Granted Patent B2

US 12,396,482 · App. 16/049,450 · Granted Aug 26, 2025

Inventors: Christopher S. Tucker (Midlothian, VA); William J. Crowe (Richmond, VA); Geoffrey Brandon Jordan (Midlothian, VA); Bipin R. Patil (Richmond, VA); Jarrett Keen (Richmond, VA); Michael Roberts (Richmond, VA)

Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC

A24F40/42A24B15/167A24F40/10H05B2203/021

Abstract

Claims (56)

1. A cartridge for an electronic vaping device comprising:

an outer housing extending in a longitudinal direction;

a reservoir configured to contain a pre-vapor formulation, the reservoir in the outer housing, the reservoir including,

a reservoir housing in the outer housing and defining two orifices therein;

at least two transfer pads at a reservoir end, the transfer pads including a plurality of fibers, each of the plurality of fibers being substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction, and each of the transfer pads extending through a respective one of the two orifices in the reservoir housing;

a cap structure coupled to the reservoir housing opposite the reservoir end and defining a port;

an outlet assembly coupled to the cap structure and defining a channel, the channel fluidly coupled to the port of the cap structure; and

a vapor generator asssembly in contact with the transfer pads, the vapor generator assembly including,

a wick in contact with the transfer pads, and

at least one heater in fluid communication with the wick, the vapor generator assembly configured to direct air flow in the longitudinal direction accross the at least one heater.

2. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the reservoir is under atmospheric pressure.

3. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the transfer pads have a density ranging from about 0.08 g/cc to about 0.3 g/cc.

4. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the transfer pads have a length of about 2.0 mm to about 10.0 mm.

5. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the transfer pads have a density of about 0.08 g/cc to about 0.1 g/cc.

6. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the transfer pads have a length of about 0.5 mm to about 10.0 mm.

7. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the transfer pads have a density of about 0.1 g/cc to about 0.3 g/cc.

8. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the transfer pads have a length of about 3.0 mm.

9. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the transfer pads have a generally cylindrical cross-section.

10. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the transfer pads each include a plurality of channels, one or more of the plurality of channels between adjacent ones of the plurality of fibers.

11. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein each of the transfer pads includes an outer side wall, the outer side wall having a coating thereon.

12. The cartridge of claim 1 , further comprising:

an inner tube within the outer housing, the reservoir between an outer surface of the inner tube and an inner surface of the outer housing.

13. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fibers include polypropylene, polyester, or both polypropylene and polyester.

14. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the at least one heater does not contact the transfer pads.

15. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein about 50% to about 100% of the plurality of fibers extend substantially in the longitudinal direction.

16. The cartridge of claim 15 , wherein about 75% to about 95% of the plurality of fibers extend substantially in the longitudinal direction.

17. An electronic vaping device comprising:

an outer housing extending in a longitudinal direction;

a reservoir configured to contain a pre-vapor formulation, the reservoir in the outer housing, the reservoir including,

a reservoir housing in the outer housing and defining two orifices therein;

at least two transfer pads at a reservoir end, each of the transfer pads including a plurality of fibers, the plurality of fibers being substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction, and each of the transfer pads extending through a respective one of the two orifices in the reservoir housing;

a cap structure coupled to the reservoir housing opposite the reservoir end and defining a port;

an outlet assembly coupled to the cap structure and defining a channel, the channel fluidly coupled to the port of the cap structure;

a vapor generator assembly in contact with the transfer pads, the vapor generator assembly including,

a wick in contact with the transfer pads;

at least one heater in fluid communication with the wick, the vapor generator assembly configured to direct air flow in the longitudinal direction across the at least one heater; and

a power supply electrically connectable to the at least one heater.

18. The electronic vaping device of claim 17 , wherein the reservoir is under atmospheric pressure.

19. The electronic vaping device of claim 17 , wherein the transfer pads have a density ranging from about 0.08 g/cc to about 0.3 g/cc.

20. The electronic vaping device of claim 17 , wherein the transfer pads have a length of about 2.0 mm to about 10.0 mm.

21. The electronic vaping device of claim 17 , wherein the transfer pads have a density of about 0.08 g/cc to about 0.1 g/cc.

22. The electronic vaping device of claim 17 , wherein the transfer pads have a length of about 0.5 mm to about 5.0 mm.

23. The electronic vaping device of claim 17 , wherein the transfer pads have a density of about 0.1 g/cc to about 0.3 g/cc.

24. The electronic vaping device of claim 17 , wherein the transfer pads include a plurality of channels, one or more of the plurality of channels between adjacent ones of the plurality of fibers.

25. The electronic vaping device of claim 17 , wherein the transfer pads include an outer side wall, the outer side wall having a coating thereon.

26. The electronic vaping device of claim 17 , wherein the transfer pads have a length of about 3.0 mm.

27. The electronic vaping device of claim 17 , wherein the transfer pads have a generally cylindrical cross-section.

28. The electronic vaping device of claim 17 , further comprising:

an inner tube within the outer housing, the reservoir between an outer surface of the inner tube and an inner surface of the outer housing.

29. The electronic vaping device of claim 17 , wherein the plurality of fibers include polypropylene, polyester, or both polypropylene and polyester.

30. The electronic vaping device of claim 17 , wherein the at least one heater does not contact the transfer pads.

31. The electronic vaping device of claim 17 , wherein about 50% to about 100% of the plurality of fibers extend substantially in the longitudinal direction.

32. The electronic vaping device of claim 17 , wherein about 75% to about 95% of the plurality of fibers extend substantially in the longitudinal direction.

33. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein,

the vapor generator assembly further includes an interface configured to be coupled to a power supply, and

a first end of the at least two transfer pads is configured to extend into the reservoir and a second end of the at least two transfer pads is configured to extend into the vapor generator assembly.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (2)

References Cited (373)