Nicotine e-vaping device

{
  "publication_number": "US11490660B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Nicotine e-vaping device",
  "abstract": "A reservoir assembly that holds a nicotine pre-vapor formulation in a reservoir includes a reservoir assembly connector assembly defining a connector conduit, and which may be configured to detachably couple with a nicotine vaporizer assembly based on a connector element of the nicotine vaporizer assembly engaging with the connector conduit of the connector conduit. The reservoir assembly may include an isolation structure configured to move in relation to both the reservoir and the nicotine vaporizer connector assembly between a first position where the isolation structure exposes the nicotine vaporizer assembly to the reservoir and at least partially obstructs the connector conduit to restrict the connector element from disengaging from the connector conduit, and a second position where the isolation structure isolates the nicotine vaporizer assembly from the reservoir and opens the connector conduit to enable the connector element to disengage from the connector conduit.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A nicotine vapor generator assembly comprising: a reservoir assembly configured to hold a nicotine pre-vapor formulation in a reservoir; and a nicotine vaporizer assembly configured to vaporize the nicotine pre-vapor formulation, wherein the reservoir assembly further includes a reservoir assembly connector assembly defining a connector conduit, the reservoir assembly connector assembly configured to detachably couple with the nicotine vaporizer assembly to establish fluid communication between the nicotine vaporizer assembly and the reservoir based on a connector element of the nicotine vaporizer assembly engaging with the connector conduit, and an isolation structure configured to move in relation to both the reservoir and the reservoir assembly connector assembly between a first position where the isolation structure exposes the nicotine vaporizer assembly to the reservoir and at least partially obstructs the connector conduit to restrict the connector element from disengaging from the connector conduit, and a second position where the isolation structure isolates the nicotine vaporizer assembly from the reservoir and opens the connector conduit to enable the connector element to disengage from the connector conduit.",
    "2. The nicotine vapor generator assembly of claim 1, wherein the reservoir assembly includes a first fluid port extending through a housing of the reservoir assembly, the isolation structure is configured to expose the reservoir to the nicotine vaporizer assembly via the first fluid port based on moving to the first position, and the isolation structure is further configured to cover the first fluid port based on moving to the second position.",
    "3. The nicotine vapor generator assembly of claim 2, wherein the reservoir assembly includes a second fluid port, the second fluid port configured to enable fluid communication between the reservoir and an exterior of the nicotine vapor generator assembly, the isolation structure is configured to cover the second fluid port to isolate the reservoir from the exterior of the nicotine vapor generator assembly based on moving to the first position, the isolation structure is further configured to expose the second fluid port to expose the reservoir to the exterior of the nicotine vapor generator assembly based on moving to the second position, and the reservoir assembly is configured to be refilled through the second fluid port based on the isolation structure being in the second position.",
    "4. The nicotine vapor generator assembly of claim 3, wherein the isolation structure is further configured to move in relation to both the reservoir assembly and the reservoir assembly connector assembly to a third position where the isolation structure covers both the first fluid port and the second fluid port, and the isolation structure is configured to open the connector conduit to enable the connector element to disengage from the connector conduit based on the isolation structure moving to the third position.",
    "5. The nicotine vapor generator assembly of claim 2, wherein the isolation structure includes a third fluid port configured to at least partially align with the first fluid port for the isolation structure to expose the first fluid port based on the isolation structure moving to the first position.",
    "6. The nicotine vapor generator assembly of claim 1, wherein the reservoir assembly connector assembly is a bayonet connector that is configured to establish a bayonet interface connection with a bayonet connector of the nicotine vaporizer assembly.",
    "7. The nicotine vapor generator assembly of claim 1, wherein the isolation structure is configured to rotate around a longitudinal axis of the reservoir assembly to move between the first position and the second position.",
    "8. A nicotine e-vaping device, comprising: the nicotine vapor generator assembly of claim 1; and a power supply assembly coupled to the nicotine vapor generator assembly, the power supply assembly including a power supply, the power supply assembly configured to supply electrical power from the power supply to the nicotine vaporizer assembly.",
    "9. The nicotine e-vaping device of claim 8, wherein the power supply is a rechargeable battery.",
    "10. The nicotine e-vaping device of claim 8, wherein the power supply assembly is configured to decouple from the nicotine vapor generator assembly.",
    "11. A reservoir assembly for a nicotine e-vaping device, the reservoir assembly comprising: one or more structures defining a reservoir configured to hold a nicotine pre-vapor formulation; a reservoir assembly connector assembly defining a connector conduit, the reservoir assembly connector assembly configured to detachably couple with a nicotine vaporizer assembly to establish fluid communication between the nicotine vaporizer assembly and the reservoir based on a connector element of the nicotine vaporizer assembly engaging with the connector conduit; and an isolation structure configured to move in relation to both the reservoir and the reservoir assembly connector assembly between a first position where the isolation structure exposes the nicotine vaporizer assembly to the reservoir and at least partially obstructs the connector conduit to restrict the connector element from disengaging from the connector conduit, and a second position where the isolation structure isolates the nicotine vaporizer assembly from the reservoir and opens the connector conduit to enable the connector element to disengage from the connector conduit.",
    "12. The reservoir assembly of claim 11, wherein the reservoir assembly includes a first fluid port extending through a housing of the reservoir assembly, the isolation structure is configured to expose the reservoir to the nicotine vaporizer assembly via the first fluid port based on moving to the first position, and the isolation structure is further configured to cover the first fluid port based on moving to the second position.",
    "13. The reservoir assembly of claim 12, wherein the reservoir assembly includes a second fluid port, the second fluid port configured to enable fluid communication between the reservoir and an exterior of the reservoir assembly, the isolation structure is configured to cover the second fluid port to isolate the reservoir from the exterior of the reservoir assembly based on moving to the first position, the isolation structure is further configured to expose the second fluid port to expose the reservoir to the exterior of the reservoir assembly based on moving to the second position, and the reservoir assembly is configured to be refilled through the second fluid port based on the isolation structure being in the second position.",
    "14. The reservoir assembly of claim 13, wherein the isolation structure is further configured to move in relation to both the reservoir assembly and the reservoir assembly connector assembly to a third position where the isolation structure covers both the first fluid port and the second fluid port, and the isolation structure is configured to open the connector conduit to enable the connector element to disengage from the connector conduit based on the isolation structure moving to the third position.",
    "15. The reservoir assembly of claim 14, wherein the isolation structure includes a third fluid port configured to at least partially align with the first fluid port for the isolation structure to expose the first fluid port based on the isolation structure moving to the first position.",
    "16. The reservoir assembly of claim 11, wherein the reservoir assembly connector assembly is a bayonet connector that is configured to establish a bayonet interface connection with a bayonet connector of the nicotine vaporizer assembly.",
    "17. The reservoir assembly of claim 11, wherein the isolation structure is configured to rotate around a longitudinal axis of the reservoir assembly to move between the first position and the second position.",
    "18. The reservoir assembly of claim 11, wherein the isolation structure is configured to move axially along a longitudinal axis of the isolation structure to move between the first position and the second position."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "Example embodiments relate to nicotine electronic vaping devices, nicotine e-vaping devices, or the like, and/or elements thereof.\n\nNicotine e-vaping devices, also referred to herein as nicotine electronic vaping devices (EVDs) may be used by adult vapers for fluid portable vaping. A nicotine e-vaping device may include a reservoir that holds nicotine pre-vapor formulation and a nicotine vaporizer assembly that may heat nicotine pre-vapor formulation drawn from the reservoir to generate a nicotine vapor.\n\nSome nicotine e-vaping devices are configured to enable replenishment of the nicotine pre-vapor formulation held in a reservoir of the nicotine e-vaping device (i.e., refilling of the reservoir).\n\nSome example embodiments are directed toward a nicotine e-vaping device.\n\nAccording to some example embodiments, a nicotine vapor generator assembly may include a reservoir assembly configured to hold a nicotine pre-vapor formulation in a reservoir, and a nicotine vaporizer assembly configured to vaporize the nicotine pre-vapor formulation. The reservoir assembly may further include a reservoir assembly connector assembly defining a connector conduit, the reservoir assembly connector assembly configured to detachably couple with the nicotine vaporizer assembly to establish fluid communication between the nicotine vaporizer assembly and the reservoir based on a connector element of the nicotine vaporizer assembly engaging with the connector conduit.",
  "cpc": [
    "A24F 40/485",
    "A24F 40/10",
    "A24F 40/40",
    "A24F 40/42",
    "A61M 11/042",
    "A61M 15/06",
    "A61M 2205/8206"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "A24F 40/10",
    "A24F 40/42",
    "A24F 40/485"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Altria Client Services LLC"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Eric Hawes",
    "Raymond W. Lau",
    "Jose Jesus Paolo Montalvan",
    "John Paul MURING"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2020-06-25",
  "publication_date": "2022-11-08",
  "grant_date": "2022-11-08",
  "priority_date": "2020-06-25",
  "application_number": "US-202016911951-A",
  "family_id": "76744834",
  "cited_by_count": 5,
  "citations": [
    "WO2016184247A1",
    "US20180228219A1",
    "US20170290370A1",
    "US20180049470A1",
    "US9795169B1",
    "US20180020721A1",
    "US20180255831A1",
    "US20180310614A1",
    "WO2020002006A1",
    "WO2020084799A1",
    "CA3122166A1"
  ]
}