IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,408,702
Granted Patent B2
US 12,408,702 · App. 18/488,332 · Granted Sep 9, 2025

Electronic smoking article

Inventors: Jason Andrew Macko (Richmond, VA); James Anthony Skapars (Richmond, VA)
Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
A24F40/46A24F40/44A24F40/10
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,408,702
App. No.
18/488,332
Granted
Sep 9, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electronic smoking article includes a liquid supply region including liquid material and a heater-wick element operable to wick liquid material and heat the liquid material to a temperature sufficient to vaporize the liquid material and form an aerosol. The heater-wick element comprises a plurality of fused metal beads or particles.

Claims (24)

1. An electronic vaping cartridge comprising:

a liquid supply region including liquid material;

an air channel extending through the liquid supply region;

a heater-wick element including a heatable portion and a wicking portion, the heater-wick element formed of a plurality of particles, the heater-wick element in fluidic communication with the liquid material and oriented in a transverse direction across the air channel; and

a connection structure wrapped around the heater-wick element and configured to connect the heater-wick element to electrical leads.

2. An electronic vaping cartridge comprising:

a liquid supply region including liquid material;

an air channel extending through the liquid supply region; and

a heater-wick element including a beatable portion and a wicking portion, the heater-wick element formed of a plurality of particles, the heater-wick element in fluidic communication with the liquid material and oriented in a transverse direction across the air channel,

wherein the wicking portion extends into the liquid supply region, and

wherein the wicking portion includes a first wicking portion, a second wicking portion, a third wicking portion, and a fourth wicking portion, the first wicking portion and the second wicking portion disposed at one end of the heatable portion, and the third wicking portion and the fourth wicking portion disposed at an opposing end of the heatable portion.

3. An electronic vaping cartridge comprising:

a liquid supply region including liquid material;

an air channel extending through the liquid supply region; and

a heater-wick element including a heatable portion and a wicking portion, the heater-wick element formed of a plurality of particles, the heater-wick element in fluidic communication with the liquid material and oriented in a transverse direction across the air channel,

wherein the plurality of particles are metal beads, and

wherein the metal beads are glued together with a ceramic paste.

4. The electronic vaping cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of particles include a ceramic material.

5. The electronic vaping cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of particles are formed of at least one of a nickel aluminide or an iron aluminide.

6. The electronic vaping cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of particles are fused together.

7. The electronic vaping cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the heater-wick element includes an insulating material that coats the plurality of particles.

8. The electronic vaping cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the heater-wick element includes an insulating material that is embedded in the plurality of particles.

9. The electronic vaping cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the heater-wick element is U-shaped.

10. The electronic vaping cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the heater-wick element varies in cross-section along a length thereof.

Continuity (6)
Continuation 17212334 · Mar 25, 2021
Continuation 16436158 · Jun 10, 2019
Continuation 15997324 · Jun 4, 2018
Continuation 14185299 · Feb 20, 2014
Provisional Application 61768080 · Feb 22, 2013
Related Publication 20240041116A1 · Feb 8, 2024
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