Granted Patent B2

US 12,204,635 · App. 18/468,112 · Granted Jan 21, 2025

Inventors: Raymond Lau (Richmond, VA); Eric Hawes (Glen Allen, VA); Alistair Bramley (Richmond, VA)

Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC

G06F21/44A24F40/10A24F40/42A24F40/46A24F40/48A24F40/53B65D25/04B65D25/38H05B1/0227H05B1/0297H05B3/12A24F40/60

Abstract

Claims (14)

1. A pod assembly for an e-vapor apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of external surfaces including a front face, a rear face opposite the front face, a downstream end, and an upstream end opposite the downstream end, the downstream end defining a single outlet, portions of the front face and the rear face being curved;

a liquid compartment configured to hold a liquid formulation;

a vaporizer compartment in fluidic communication with the liquid compartment, the vaporizer compartment being adjacent to the upstream end, the vaporizer compartment being between the liquid compartment and the upstream end, the vaporizer compartment configured to heat the liquid formulation, the vaporizer compartment including a ceramic and an electrically resistive material, the electrically resistive material including a metal alloy;

a vapor channel extending from the vaporizer compartment and through the liquid compartment, the single outlet aligned with a longitudinal axis of the vapor channel; and

a plurality of electrical contacts at the upstream end and electrically connected to the electrically resistive material in the vaporizer compartment.

2. The pod assembly of claim 1 , wherein a width of the downstream end is less than a width of a midsection of the pod assembly.

3. The pod assembly of claim 2 , wherein the single outlet is elongated in a direction of extension of the width of the downstream end.

4. The pod assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least portions of the front face and the rear face taper toward the downstream end.

5. The pod assembly of claim 1 , wherein the vapor channel and at least a portion of the liquid formulation in the liquid compartment are between the downstream end and the vaporizer compartment.

6. The pod assembly of claim 1 , wherein the single outlet has a shape with opposing rounded end sections.

7. The pod assembly of claim 1 , wherein an entirety of the vapor channel is downstream from the ceramic and the electrically resistive material in the vaporizer compartment.

8. The pod assembly of claim 1 , wherein each the plurality of electrical contacts has a shape with a rounded section.

9. The pod assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of electrical contacts include a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact.

Continuity (7)

References Cited (400)