Reservoir configuration for aerosol delivery device

Abstract

To provide an aerosol delivery device that may comprise a housing defining an outer wall.SOLUTION: A device 100 includes a power source 110 and a control component 106, a mouthpiece portion, a tank portion that includes a reservoir 144 configured to contain a liquid composition 145, and an atomization assembly 115 configured to vaporize the liquid composition to generate aerosol. The atomization assembly includes a mesh plate. In some implementations, the reservoir of the aerosol delivery device is configured to rotate relative to the position of the aerosol delivery device. In some implementations, the aerosol delivery device further comprises a perforated gate. In some implementations, the aerosol delivery device further comprises a liquid transport element. In some implementations, the aerosol deliver device further comprises a micropump assembly. In some implementations, the reservoir of the aerosol delivery device is U-shaped.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 851,318, entitled "Reservoir Configuration for Aerosol Delivery Device," filed May 22, 2019, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0002] The present disclosure relates to an aerosol delivery device, and more particularly to an aerosol delivery device that includes a reservoir and an atomizing assembly that can utilize electrical power to vaporize an aerosol precursor composition to generate an aerosol. In various implementations, the aerosol precursor composition, which may be made or derived from tobacco, may incorporate materials and / or ingredients that may incorporate tobacco or other plants, may include natural or synthetic ingredients including flavorings, and / or may include one or more medicinal ingredients, is vaporized by the atomizing assembly to generate an inhalable substance for human consumption. [Background technology]

[0003] Many smoking devices have been proposed over the years as an improvement or replacement for smoking products that require tobacco to be burned for use. Many of these devices are designed to provide the sensation associated with smoking cigarettes, cigars or pipes, but are said to not deliver significant amounts of incomplete combustion and pyrolysis products resulting from tobacco combustion. To this end, many smoking products, flavor generators and medicinal inhalers have been proposed that utilize electrical energy to vaporize or heat volatile materials or attempt to provide the smoking sensation of cigarettes, cigars or pipes without significantly burning tobacco. For example, see the various alternative smoking articles, aerosol delivery devices and heat sources described in the background art described in U.S. Patent No. 7,726,320 to Robinson et al., U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2013 / 0255702 to Griffith Jr. et al. and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014 / 0096781 to Sears et al., which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. See also, for example, the various types of smoking articles, aerosol delivery devices, and electrically powered sources referenced by trade names and commercial sources set forth in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015 / 0216232 to Bless et al., which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] U.S. Patent No. 7,726,320 [Patent Document 2] US Patent Application Publication No. 2013 / 0255702 [Patent Document 3] US Patent Application Publication No. 2014 / 0096781 [Patent Document 4] US Patent Application Publication No. 2015 / 0216232 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, it would be desirable to provide an aerosol delivery device with improved functionality. In this regard, it would be desirable to provide an aerosol delivery device having advantageous characteristics. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In various implementations, the present disclosure provides an aerosol delivery device, including but not limited to the following exemplary implementations:

[0007] Exemplary implementation form 1: An aerosol delivery device comprising: a housing defining an outer wall and further comprising a power source and control components; a mouthpiece portion; a tank portion including a reservoir configured to contain a liquid composition; and an atomizing assembly configured to vaporize the liquid composition to generate an aerosol, wherein the atomizing assembly comprises a vibration assembly including a mesh plate, and the reservoir is configured to rotate relative to a position of the aerosol delivery device.

[0008] Exemplary implementation 2: An aerosol delivery device of any preceding exemplary implementation or any combination of any preceding exemplary implementation, wherein the mesh plate is substantially flat.

[0009] Exemplary implementation 3: An aerosol delivery device of any preceding exemplary implementation or any combination of any preceding exemplary implementation, wherein at least a portion of the mesh plate is convex relative to the reservoir.

[0010] Exemplary implementation 4: An aerosol delivery device of any preceding exemplary implementation or any combination of any preceding exemplary implementation, wherein the vibration assembly further includes a piezoelectric component attached to the mesh plate and substantially surrounding the mesh plate.

[0011] Exemplary implementation 5: An aerosol delivery device of any preceding exemplary implementation or any combination of any preceding exemplary implementation, wherein the vibration assembly is configured to be positioned adjacent to the closure of the reservoir.

[0012] Exemplary implementation 6: An aerosol delivery device of any preceding exemplary implementation or any combination of any preceding exemplary implementation, wherein the vibration assembly is positioned in proximity to the opening of the reservoir.

[0013] Exemplary implementation 7: An aerosol delivery device of any preceding exemplary implementation or any combination of any preceding exemplary implementation, wherein the reservoir is substantially spherical.

[0014] Exemplary implementation 8: An aerosol delivery device of any preceding exemplary implementation or any combination of any preceding exemplary implementation, wherein the reservoir is substantially cylindrical.

[0015] Exemplary implementation 9: An aerosol delivery device of any preceding exemplary implementation or any combination of any preceding exemplary implementation, wherein the reservoir is configured to rotate around one axis.

[0016] Exemplary implementation 10: An aerosol delivery device of any of the preceding exemplary implementations or any combination of any of the preceding exemplary implementations, further comprising an intermediate frame configured to connect the reservoir to the housing, wherein the intermediate frame is configured to rotate relative to the housing about a first axis and the reservoir is configured to rotate relative to the intermediate frame about a second axis, wherein the first and second axes are substantially perpendicular.

[0017] Exemplary implementation form 11: An aerosol delivery device comprising: a housing defining an outer wall and further including a power source and control components; a mouthpiece portion; a tank portion including a reservoir configured to contain a liquid composition; and a spray assembly configured to vaporize the liquid composition to generate an aerosol, wherein the spray assembly includes a vibration assembly including a mesh plate and a perforated gate having a plurality of openings defined therein, the perforated gate being positioned in close proximity to the mesh plate and between the liquid composition and the mesh plate.

[0018] Exemplary implementation 12: An aerosol delivery device of any preceding exemplary implementation or any combination of any preceding exemplary implementation, wherein the perforated gate is substantially parallel to the mesh plate.

[0019] Exemplary implementation 13: An aerosol delivery device of any preceding exemplary implementation or any combination of any preceding exemplary implementation, further comprising a chamber defined between the mesh plate and the perforated gate.

[0020] Exemplary implementation 14: An aerosol delivery device of any preceding exemplary implementation or any combination of any preceding exemplary implementation, wherein the multiple openings of the perforated gate have a frustoconical shape.

[0021] Exemplary implementation 15: An aerosol delivery device of any preceding exemplary implementation or any combination of any preceding exemplary implementation, wherein the small ends of the multiple openings are positioned closest to the mesh plate.

[0022] Exemplary implementation 16: An aerosol delivery device of any preceding exemplary implementation or any combination of any preceding exemplary implementation, wherein at least a portion of the surface of the perforated gate is covered by a coating.

[0023] Exemplary implementation 17: An aerosol delivery device of any preceding exemplary implementation or any combination of any preceding exemplary implementation, wherein the coating comprises a hydrophobic / oleophobic coating.

[0024] Exemplary implementation 18: An aerosol delivery device of any of the preceding exemplary implementations or any combination of any of the preceding exemplary implementations, wherein the vibration assembly further includes a piezoelectric component attached to the mesh plate and substantially surrounding the mesh plate.

[0025] Exemplary implementation 19: An aerosol delivery device of any preceding exemplary implementation or any combination of any preceding exemplary implementation, wherein the mesh plate is substantially flat.

[0026] Exemplary implementation 20: An aerosol delivery device of any preceding exemplary implementation or any combination of any preceding exemplary implementation, wherein at least a portion of the mesh plate is convex relative to the reservoir.

[0027] Exemplary implementation 21: An aerosol delivery device comprising: a housing defining an outer wall and further including a power source and control components; a mouthpiece portion; a tank portion including a reservoir configured to contain a liquid composition; and a spray assembly configured to vaporize the liquid composition to generate an aerosol, the spray assembly comprising a mesh plate and a vibration assembly further including a liquid transport element, one end of the liquid transport element being positioned in close proximity to the mesh plate.

[0028] Exemplary implementation 22: An aerosol delivery device of any preceding exemplary implementation or any combination of any preceding exemplary implementation, wherein the liquid transport element comprises a single layer of a single material.

[0029] Exemplary implementation 23: An aerosol delivery device of any preceding exemplary implementation or any combination of any preceding exemplary implementation, wherein the liquid transport element comprises multiple layers of a single material.

[0030] Exemplary implementation 24: An aerosol delivery device of any preceding exemplary implementation or any combination of any preceding exemplary implementation, wherein the liquid transport element comprises multiple layers.

[0031] Exemplary implementation 25: An aerosol delivery device of any of the preceding exemplary implementations or any combination of any of the preceding exemplary implementations, wherein the liquid transport element comprises at least one of a polymer material, a polymer fiber material, a cotton material, a silk material, a silica fiber material, a particulate material, a synthetic fiber material, a natural fiber material, and a ceramic material.

[0032] Exemplary implementation 26: An aerosol delivery device of any of the preceding exemplary implementations or any combination of any of the preceding exemplary implementations, wherein the vibration assembly further includes a piezoelectric component attached to the mesh plate and substantially surrounding the mesh plate.

[0033] Exemplary implementation 27: An aerosol delivery device of any preceding exemplary implementation or any combination of any preceding exemplary implementation, wherein the mesh plate is substantially flat.

[0034] Exemplary implementation 28: An aerosol delivery device of any preceding exemplary implementation or any combination of any preceding exemplary implementation, wherein at least a portion of the mesh plate is convex relative to the reservoir.

[0035] Exemplary implementation 29: An aerosol delivery device of any of the preceding exemplary implementations or any combination of any of the preceding exemplary implementations, wherein the aerosol delivery device comprises a housing defining an outer wall and further comprising power and control components, a mouthpiece portion, a tank portion including a reservoir configured to contain a liquid composition, and a spraying assembly configured to vaporize the liquid composition to generate an aerosol, wherein the spraying assembly comprises a vibration assembly including a mesh plate and a pump assembly configured to transfer a portion of the liquid composition from the reservoir to the mesh plate.

[0036] Exemplary implementation 30: An aerosol delivery device of any of the preceding exemplary implementations or any combination of any of the preceding exemplary implementations, wherein the pump assembly is configured to deliver a liquid composition to the mesh plate on demand.

[0037] Exemplary implementation 31: An aerosol delivery device of any of the preceding exemplary implementations or any combination of any of the preceding exemplary implementations, wherein the pump assembly utilizes one or more nozzles to transfer the liquid composition to the mesh plate.

[0038] Exemplary implementation 32: An aerosol delivery device of any of the preceding exemplary implementations or any combination of any of the preceding exemplary implementations, wherein the pump assembly includes at least one of a dispensing mechanism, a diaphragm device, and a peristaltic device.

[0039] Exemplary implementation 33: An aerosol delivery device of any of the preceding exemplary implementations or any combination of any of the preceding exemplary implementations, wherein the dispensing mechanism comprises a shape memory mechanism.

[0040] Exemplary implementation 34: An aerosol delivery device of any of the preceding exemplary implementations or any combination of any of the preceding exemplary implementations, wherein the vibration assembly further includes a piezoelectric component attached to the mesh plate and substantially surrounding the mesh plate.

[0041] Exemplary implementation 35: An aerosol delivery device of any preceding exemplary implementation or any combination of any preceding exemplary implementation, wherein the mesh plate is substantially flat.

[0042] Exemplary implementation 36: An aerosol delivery device of any preceding exemplary implementation or any combination of any preceding exemplary implementation, wherein at least a portion of the mesh plate is convex relative to the reservoir.

[0043] Exemplary implementation 37: An aerosol delivery device comprising a housing defining an outer wall and further including a power source and control components, a mouthpiece portion, a tank portion including a reservoir configured to contain a liquid composition, and a spraying assembly configured to vaporize the liquid composition to generate an aerosol, the spraying assembly including a vibration assembly having a mesh plate and a blower assembly configured to propel a portion of the liquid composition from the reservoir to the mesh plate.

[0044] Exemplary implementation 38: An aerosol delivery device of any of the preceding exemplary implementations or any combination of any of the preceding exemplary implementations, wherein the blower assembly includes a compressor.

[0045] Exemplary implementation 39: An aerosol delivery device of any of the preceding exemplary implementations or any combination of any of the preceding exemplary implementations, wherein the blower assembly includes one or more nozzles.

[0046] Exemplary implementation 40: An aerosol delivery device of any of the preceding exemplary implementations or any combination of any of the preceding exemplary implementations, wherein the blower assembly utilizes pressurized gas to pump the liquid composition to the mesh plate.

[0047] Exemplary implementation 41: An aerosol delivery device of any of the preceding exemplary implementations or any combination of any of the preceding exemplary implementations, wherein the pressurized gas contains at least one of air, carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrogen (N2).

[0048] Exemplary implementation 42: An aerosol delivery device of any of the preceding exemplary implementations or any combination of any of the preceding exemplary implementations, wherein the vibration assembly further includes a piezoelectric component attached to the mesh plate and substantially surrounding the mesh plate.

[0049] Exemplary implementation 43: An aerosol delivery device of any preceding exemplary implementation or any combination of any preceding exemplary implementation, wherein the mesh plate is substantially flat.

[0050] Exemplary implementation 44: An aerosol delivery device of any of the preceding exemplary implementations or any combination of any of the preceding exemplary implementations, wherein at least a portion of the mesh plate is convex relative to the reservoir.

[0051] Exemplary implementation 45: An aerosol delivery device comprising: a housing defining an outer wall and further comprising a power source and control components; a mouthpiece portion; a tank portion including a reservoir configured to contain a liquid composition; and an atomizing assembly configured to vaporize the liquid composition to generate an aerosol, wherein the atomizing assembly comprises a vibration assembly including a mesh plate; the reservoir comprises a U-shaped tube comprising a first reservoir section, a second reservoir section and a third reservoir section, the third reservoir section being positioned adjacent to the atomizing assembly, and the second reservoir section connecting the first reservoir section to the third reservoir section.

[0052] Exemplary implementation 46: An aerosol delivery device of any of the preceding exemplary implementations or any combination of any of the preceding exemplary implementations, wherein the first reservoir section has a diameter larger than the diameters of the second and third reservoir sections.

[0053] Exemplary implementation 47: An aerosol delivery device of any preceding exemplary implementation or any combination of any preceding exemplary implementation, further comprising a weight configured to apply a downward force to the liquid composition in the first reservoir section.

[0054] Exemplary implementation 48: An aerosol delivery device of any of the preceding exemplary implementations or any combination of any of the preceding exemplary implementations, wherein the weight comprises at least one of a weighted disk and a weighted ball.

[0055] Exemplary implementation 49: An aerosol delivery device of any preceding exemplary implementation or any combination of any preceding exemplary implementation, wherein the weight further comprises an active component configured to apply a downward force to the weight.

[0056] Exemplary implementation 50: An aerosol delivery device of any of the preceding exemplary implementations or any combination of any of the preceding exemplary implementations, wherein the reservoir is angled with respect to the longitudinal axis of the aerosol delivery device.

[0057] Exemplary implementation 51: An aerosol delivery device of any of the preceding exemplary implementations or any combination of any of the preceding exemplary implementations, wherein the mouthpiece portion is positioned on one side of the aerosol delivery device body to facilitate use of the device in a particular orientation.

[0058] Exemplary implementation 52: An aerosol delivery device of any of the preceding exemplary implementations or any combination of any of the preceding exemplary implementations, wherein the vibration assembly further includes a piezoelectric component attached to the mesh plate and substantially surrounding the mesh plate.

[0059] Exemplary implementation 53: An aerosol delivery device of any preceding exemplary implementation or any combination of any preceding exemplary implementation, wherein the mesh plate is substantially flat.

[0060] Exemplary implementation 54: An aerosol delivery device of any of the preceding exemplary implementations or any combination of any of the preceding exemplary implementations, wherein at least a portion of the mesh plate is convex relative to the reservoir.

[0061] Exemplary implementation 55: An aerosol delivery device comprising: a housing defining an outer wall and further comprising power and control components; a mouthpiece portion; a tank portion including a reservoir configured to contain a liquid composition; and an atomizing assembly configured to vaporize the liquid composition to generate an aerosol, wherein the atomizing assembly comprises a vibration assembly including a mesh plate; the reservoir comprises a substantially cylindrical tube; and the aerosol delivery device further comprises a weight including an active component configured to apply a downward force to the liquid composition in the first reservoir section.

[0062] Exemplary implementation 56: An aerosol delivery device of any of the preceding exemplary implementations or any combination of any of the preceding exemplary implementations, wherein the active component includes a spring.

[0063] These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are briefly described below. The present disclosure includes any combination of two, three, four or more features or elements described in the present disclosure, regardless of whether such features or elements are explicitly combined or otherwise recited in a particular exemplary implementation described herein. The present disclosure is intended to be read as a whole such that any separable features or elements of the disclosure, in any of its aspects and exemplary implementations, appear as intended, i.e., combinable, unless the context of the disclosure clearly dictates otherwise.

[0064] It will therefore be understood that this summary is provided only for the purpose of summarizing some exemplary implementations to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the present disclosure. It will therefore be understood that the above exemplary implementations are merely examples and should not be construed in any way to narrow the scope or spirit of the present disclosure. Other exemplary implementations, aspects and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of some described exemplary implementations.

[0065] To aid in the understanding of aspects of the present disclosure, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and in which like reference numerals refer to like elements, and which are provided by way of example to aid in the understanding of aspects of the present disclosure and should not be construed as limiting the present disclosure. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0066] [Figure 1]FIG. 1 is a perspective schematic diagram of an aerosol delivery device including a cartridge and a control unit according to an exemplary implementation of the present disclosure, the cartridge and control unit shown in a coupled configuration. [Diagram 2] 1 shows a front cross-sectional schematic view of an aerosol delivery device including a cartridge and a control unit according to an exemplary implementation of the present disclosure, the cartridge and control unit being shown in a separated configuration. [Diagram 3] 1 illustrates a perspective view of a portion of a spray assembly according to an exemplary implementation of the present disclosure. [Figure 4A] 1 illustrates a side schematic view of a portion of a spray assembly according to an exemplary implementation of the present disclosure. [Figure 4B] 1 illustrates a side schematic view of a portion of a spray assembly according to an exemplary implementation of the present disclosure. [Figure 4C] 1 illustrates a side schematic view of a portion of a spray assembly according to an exemplary implementation of the present disclosure. [Figure 4D] 1 illustrates a side schematic view of a portion of a spray assembly according to an exemplary implementation of the present disclosure. [Figure 4E] 1 illustrates a side schematic view of a portion of a spray assembly according to an exemplary implementation of the present disclosure. [Figure 4F] 1 illustrates a side schematic view of a portion of a spray assembly according to an exemplary implementation of the present disclosure. [Diagram 5] 1 shows a schematic side view of a portion of a reservoir configured to hold a liquid composition and an atomization assembly configured to generate an aerosol from the liquid composition, according to an exemplary implementation of the present disclosure. [Figure 6] 1 shows a schematic side view of a portion of a reservoir configured to hold a liquid composition and an atomization assembly configured to generate an aerosol from the liquid composition, according to an exemplary implementation of the present disclosure. [Figure 7] 1 shows a perspective schematic diagram of a portion of a reservoir configured to hold a liquid composition and an atomization assembly configured to generate an aerosol from the liquid composition, according to an exemplary implementation of the present disclosure. [Figure 8A]1 shows a top schematic view of a portion of a reservoir assembly configured to hold a liquid composition and an atomization assembly configured to generate an aerosol from the liquid composition, according to an exemplary implementation of the present disclosure. [Figure 8B] 1 shows a top schematic view of a portion of a reservoir assembly configured to hold a liquid composition and an atomization assembly configured to generate an aerosol from the liquid composition, according to an exemplary implementation of the present disclosure. [Figure 8C] FIG. 1 shows a top schematic view of a portion of an aerosol delivery device including a reservoir assembly configured to hold a liquid composition and a nebulizer assembly configured to generate an aerosol from the liquid composition, according to an exemplary implementation of the present disclosure. [Figure 9] FIG. 1 shows a perspective schematic view of various portions of an aerosol delivery device including a reservoir configured to hold a liquid composition and an atomization assembly configured to generate an aerosol from the liquid composition, according to an exemplary implementation of the present disclosure. [Figure 10] 1 shows a top cross-sectional schematic view of a portion of a reservoir configured to hold a liquid composition and an atomization assembly configured to generate an aerosol from the liquid composition, according to an exemplary implementation of the present disclosure. [Figure 11] 1 shows a schematic side view of a portion of a reservoir configured to hold a liquid composition and an atomization assembly configured to generate an aerosol from the liquid composition, according to an exemplary implementation of the present disclosure. [Figure 12] 1 shows a schematic side view of a portion of a reservoir configured to hold a liquid composition and an atomization assembly configured to generate an aerosol from the liquid composition, according to an exemplary implementation of the present disclosure. [Figure 13] 1 shows a schematic side view of a portion of a reservoir configured to hold a liquid composition and an atomization assembly configured to generate an aerosol from the liquid composition, according to an exemplary implementation of the present disclosure. [Figure 14]1 shows a schematic side view of a portion of a reservoir configured to hold a liquid composition and an atomization assembly configured to generate an aerosol from the liquid composition, according to an exemplary implementation of the present disclosure. [Figure 15A] 1 shows a schematic side view of a portion of a reservoir configured to hold a liquid composition and an atomization assembly configured to generate an aerosol from the liquid composition, according to an exemplary implementation of the present disclosure. [Figure 15B] 1 shows a schematic side view of a portion of a reservoir configured to hold a liquid composition and an atomization assembly configured to generate an aerosol from the liquid composition, according to an exemplary implementation of the present disclosure. [Figure 16] FIG. 1 shows a side schematic view of various portions of an aerosol delivery device including a reservoir configured to hold a liquid composition and an atomization assembly configured to generate an aerosol from the liquid composition, according to an exemplary implementation of the present disclosure. [Figure 17] 1 shows a schematic side view of a portion of a reservoir configured to hold a liquid composition and an atomization assembly configured to generate an aerosol from the liquid composition, according to an exemplary implementation of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0067] The present disclosure will now be described in further detail with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof. These exemplary embodiments are described so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art. Indeed, the present disclosure may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0068] As described below, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to aerosol delivery devices or vaporization devices, the terms being used interchangeably herein. Aerosol delivery devices according to the present disclosure use electrical energy to vaporize materials (preferably without significantly burning and / or significantly chemically altering the materials) to form inhalable substances, and components of such devices most preferably have the form of items small enough to be considered handheld devices. That is, some aerosol delivery device components do not generate smoke (i.e., from by-products of tobacco combustion or pyrolysis), but rather, their preferred systems generate vapor resulting from the vaporization of an aerosol precursor composition. In some examples, aerosol delivery device components may be characterized as electronic cigarettes, which most preferably incorporate tobacco and / or tobacco-derived components and thus deliver tobacco-derived components in aerosol form. Other examples include delivery devices for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), botanicals, pharmaceuticals, and / or other active ingredients.

[0069] The aerosol generating device of certain preferred aerosol delivery devices can provide many of the sensations (e.g., the type of inhalation and exhalation, the type of taste or flavor, the sensory stimulating effect, the physical feel, the type of use, the visual stimuli such as those provided by a visible aerosol, etc.) of smoking a cigarette, cigar, or pipe used by lighting and burning tobacco (and thus inhaling tobacco smoke) without substantially burning any of its components. For example, a user of an aerosol generating device of the present disclosure can hold and use the device, draw on one end of the device to inhale the aerosol generated by the device, take puffs at selected time intervals, etc., in the same manner as a smoker would use a conventional type of smoking article.

[0070] The aerosol delivery device of the present disclosure may also be characterized as a vapor product article or drug delivery article. Thus, such an article or device may be adapted to provide one or more substances (e.g., flavors and / or pharmacologic actives) in an inhalable form or state. For example, the inhalable substance may be substantially in vapor form (i.e., a substance in the gas phase at a temperature below its critical point). Alternatively, the inhalable substance may be in aerosol form (i.e., a suspension of fine solid particles or liquid droplets in a gas). For ease of understanding, the term "aerosol" as used herein is meant to include vapors, gases, and aerosols in any form or type suitable for human inhalation, whether or not visible and whether or not in a form that can be considered smoky.

[0071] The aerosol delivery device of the present disclosure most preferably comprises some combination of a power source (i.e., a power source), at least one control component (e.g., a means for activating, controlling, regulating, and terminating power, such as by controlling the flow of current from the power source to other components of the article (e.g., a microcontroller or microprocessor)), an atomizing assembly, a liquid composition (e.g., an aerosol precursor composition liquid capable of generating an aerosol, generally, such as ingredients commonly referred to as "smoke juice," "e-liquid," and "e-juice"), and a mouthpiece or mouth area that allows for drawing on the aerosol delivery device for aerosol inhalation (e.g., a defined air flow path through the article such that the generated aerosol can be drawn therefrom by inhalation).

[0072] The alignment of the components within the aerosol delivery device may be variable. In certain embodiments, the aerosol precursor composition may be disposed between two opposing ends of the device (e.g., in a reservoir of a cartridge that may be replaceable and disposable or refillable in certain circumstances). However, other configurations are not excluded. In general, the components are configured relative to one another such that energy from the atomizing assembly vaporizes the aerosol precursor composition (as well as one or more flavorants, medicaments, etc., which may also be provided for delivery to the user) to form an aerosol for delivery to the user. When the atomizing assembly vaporizes the aerosol precursor composition, an aerosol is formed, released, or generated in a physical form suitable for inhalation by the consumer. It should be noted that the foregoing terms are meant to include references to release, releasing, releases, or released, interchangeably to include form or generate, forming or generating, forms or generates, and formed or generated. Specifically, the inhalable substance is released in the form of a vapor or an aerosol or a mixture thereof.

[0073] More specific forms, configurations and arrangements of components within the aerosol delivery devices of the present disclosure will become apparent in light of the further disclosure provided below. Moreover, the selection and arrangement of the various aerosol delivery device components will be understood in light of commercially available electronic aerosol delivery devices, such as the representative products referenced in the Background section of this disclosure.

[0074] FIG. 1 illustrates an aerosol delivery device comprising a cartridge and a control unit according to an exemplary implementation of the present disclosure, where the cartridge and the control unit are shown in a coupled configuration. In particular, FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective schematic view of an aerosol delivery device 100 comprising a cartridge 104 and a control unit 102. As shown in the figure, the cartridge 104 may be permanently or removably aligned in a functional relationship with the control unit 102. In some implementations, for example, the cartridge and the control unit may comprise a single part, while in other implementations (such as the implementation shown), the connection between them may be releasable, for example, such that the control unit may be reusable with one or more additional cartridges, which may be disposable and / or refillable. In various implementations, a variety of different engagement means may be used to couple the cartridge and the control unit to one another. For example, in some implementations, the cartridge and the control unit may be coupled via one or more of a snap-fit ​​engagement, a press-fit engagement, a threaded engagement, and a magnetic engagement. It should be noted that the components shown in this and other figures are representative of components that may be present in the control unit and / or cartridge and are not intended to limit the scope of control unit and / or cartridge components encompassed by this disclosure.

[0075] 2 shows a front cross-sectional schematic view of the aerosol delivery device 100, with the cartridge 104 and control unit 102 of FIG. 1 shown in a separated configuration. In various implementations, the aerosol delivery device 100 may have a variety of different shapes. For example, in some implementations (such as the illustrated implementation), the aerosol delivery device 100 may be substantially rod-shaped or substantially tubular or substantially cylindrical. However, in other implementations, other shapes and dimensions are possible (e.g., rectangular, oval, hexagonal, prismatic, regular or irregular polygonal, disc-shaped, cubic, multi-sided, etc.). In still other implementations, the cartridge and control unit may have different shapes.

[0076] In the illustrated implementation, the control unit 102 and cartridge 104 include components adapted to facilitate mechanical engagement therebetween. Although various other configurations are possible, the control unit 102 in the illustrated implementation includes a coupler 124 that defines a cavity 125 therein. Similarly, the cartridge 104 includes a base 140 adapted to engage with the coupler 124 of the control unit 102. Couplers and bases such as those useful in accordance with the present disclosure are described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014 / 0261495 to Novak et al., the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0077] However, it should be noted that in other implementations, various other structures, shapes, and / or components may be used to couple the control unit and the cartridge. For example, in some implementations, the control unit and the cartridge may be coupled to each other via an interference or press-fit connection, such as, for example, an implementation in which the control body includes a chamber configured to receive at least a portion of the cartridge or an implementation in which the cartridge includes a chamber configured to receive at least a portion of the control unit. In other implementations, the cartridge and the control unit may be coupled to each other via a threaded connection. In still other implementations, the cartridge and the control unit may be coupled to each other via a bayonet connection. In still other implementations, the cartridge and the control unit may be coupled to each other via a magnetic connection. In various implementations, upon coupling, an electrical connection may be formed between the cartridge and the control unit to electrically connect the cartridge (and its components) to the battery and / or via a control component of the control unit. Such an electrical connection may be present via one or more components of the coupling mechanism. In this manner, corresponding electrical contacts in the cartridge and the control unit may be substantially aligned after coupling to provide an electrical connection.

[0078] In certain implementations, one or both of the control unit 102 and the cartridge 104 may be referred to as disposable or reusable. For example, in some implementations, the control unit may have a replaceable or rechargeable battery and may therefore be combined with any type of recharging technology, including connection to a wall charger, connection to an automobile charger (e.g., cigarette lighter, USB port, etc.), connection to a computer, any of which may include a Universal Serial Bus (USB) cable or connector (e.g., USB 2.0, 3.0, 3.1, USB Type C), connection to a USB connector (e.g., USB 2.0, 3.0, 3.1, USB Type C, which may be implemented in a wall outlet, electronic device, vehicle, etc.), connection to a photovoltaic cell (sometimes called a solar cell) or solar panel, wireless chargers such as chargers using inductive wireless charging (including, for example, wireless charging compliant with the Qi wireless charging standard by the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC)), or radio frequency (RF)-based chargers, and connection to an array of external cells such as a mobile battery to charge the device via a USB connector or wireless charger. An example of an inductive wireless charging system is described in US Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0112196 to Sur et al., which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. In a further implementation, the power source may also include a capacitor. The capacitor may be discharged faster than the battery and may be charged between puffs, allowing the battery to discharge into the capacitor at a relatively low rate. For example, a supercapacitor, such as an electric double layer capacitor (EDLC), may be used separately from or in combination with the battery. When used alone, the supercapacitor may be recharged before each use of the article. Thus, the device may also include a charger component that can be attached to the smoking article between uses to replenish the supercapacitor. An example of a power source including a supercapacitor is described in US Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0112191 to Sur et al., which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0079] As shown, the control unit 102 may be formed from a control unit housing 101 that contains control components 106 (e.g., a printed circuit board (PCB), integrated circuits, memory components, microcontrollers, etc.), a flow sensor 108, a battery 110 and a light emitting diode (LED) 112, which may be variably aligned. Some exemplary types of electronic components, their structure and configuration, their features, and their general methods of operation are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,735,217 to Gerth et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,947,874 to Brooks et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,372,148 to McCafferty et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,040,560 to Fleischhauer et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,040,314 to Nguyen et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 8,205,622 to Pan, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2009 / 0230117 to Fernando et al., U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014 / 0060554 to Collet et al., and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014 / 0270727 to Ampolini et al., and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015 / 0257445 to Henry et al., which are incorporated by reference in their entireties. Some examples of batteries that may be applicable to the present disclosure are described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010 / 0028766 to Peckerar et al., the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. In some implementations, additional indicators (e.g., haptic feedback components, audio feedback components, etc.) may be included in addition to or as an alternative to LEDs. Additional representative types of components or indicators that provide visual cues, such as light-emitting diode (LED) components, and their configurations and uses are described in U.S. Patent No. 5,154,192 to Sprinkel et al., U.S. Patent No. 8,499,766 to Newton, and U.S. Patent No. 8,539,959 to Scatterday, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015 / 0020825 to Galloway et al., and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015 / 0216233 to Sears et al., which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.It should be understood that in various implementations, not all of the illustrated elements are required. For example, in some implementations, the LEDs may not be present or may be replaced with different indicators, such as a vibration indicator. Similarly, the flow sensor may be replaced with a manual actuator, such as, for example, one or more push buttons that are manually activated.

[0080] In the illustrated implementation, the cartridge 104 may be formed from a cartridge housing 103 that may define a liquid reservoir 144 configured to contain a liquid composition 145. In some implementations, the liquid reservoir may be part of the cartridge housing (e.g., comprise a molded feature of the cartridge housing), while in other implementations, the liquid reservoir may comprise a separate part. In some implementations, the liquid reservoir may be disposable. In other implementations, the liquid reservoir may be refillable. In various implementations, the liquid composition contained in the liquid reservoir 144 may include an aerosol precursor composition. Some examples of the types of substrates, reservoirs or other components for supporting liquid compositions are described in U.S. Patent No. 8,528,569 to Newton, U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2014 / 0261487 to Chapman et al. and 2014 / 0059780 to Davis et al., and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015 / 0216232 to Bless et al., which are incorporated by reference in their entireties. Additionally, various wicking materials as well as the construction and operation of wicking materials within certain types of electronic cigarettes are described in U.S. Patent No. 8,910,640 to Sears et al., which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0081] In some implementations, the reservoir may be made of a polymeric material that is at least partially transparent or translucent in further implementations. In some implementations, such materials may include, but are not limited to, polycarbonate, acrylic, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), amorphous copolyester (PETG), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), liquid silicone rubber (LSR), cyclic olefin copolymer, polyethylene (PE), ionomer resin, polypropylene (PP), fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP), styrene methyl methacrylate (SMMA), styrene acrylonitrile resin (SAN), polystyrene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), and combinations thereof. In other implementations, the reservoir may be made of other materials that are at least partially transparent or translucent. Such materials may include, for example, glass or ceramic materials.

[0082] In some implementations, the aerosol precursor composition may incorporate nicotine, which may be present in various concentrations. The source of nicotine may vary, and the nicotine incorporated in the aerosol precursor composition may be derived from a single source or a combination of two or more sources. For example, in some implementations, the aerosol precursor composition may include nicotine derived from tobacco. In other implementations, the aerosol precursor composition may include nicotine derived from other organic plant sources, such as non-tobacco plant sources including plants of the Solanaceae family. In other implementations, the aerosol precursor composition may include synthetic nicotine. In some implementations, the nicotine incorporated in the aerosol precursor composition may be derived from non-tobacco plant sources, such as other members of the Solanaceae family.

[0083] In some implementations, the aerosol precursor composition may additionally or alternatively contain alcohol, other botanical substances, other medicinal substances, or may contain tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD) or other active ingredients, or some combination thereof.

[0084] In some implementations, the aerosol precursor composition may incorporate tobacco or tobacco-derived components. In some respects, the tobacco may be provided as tobacco parts or pieces, such as finely ground, crushed, or powdered tobacco flakes. Tobacco beads, pellets, or other solid forms may be included, such as those described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015 / 0335070 to Sears et al., the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. In other respects, the tobacco may be provided in the form of an extract, such as a spray-dried extract, that incorporates many of the water-soluble components of tobacco. Alternatively, the tobacco extract may have the form of a relatively high concentration of nicotine-containing extract that also incorporates small amounts of other extracted components derived from tobacco. In other respects, the tobacco-derived components may be provided in a relatively pure form, such as certain flavoring agents derived from tobacco. In some respects, a component derived from tobacco that can be used in a highly purified or essentially pure form is nicotine (e.g., pharmaceutical grade nicotine, USP / EP nicotine, etc.). In other implementations, only non-tobacco materials may form the aerosol precursor composition. In some implementations, the aerosol precursor composition may include tobacco extracted nicotine with tobacco or non-tobacco flavors and / or non-tobacco extracted nicotine with tobacco or non-tobacco flavors.

[0085] In the illustrated implementation, the liquid composition, which may also be referred to as an aerosol precursor composition or vapor precursor composition or "e-liquid," may include a variety of ingredients, which may include, for example, a polyhydric alcohol (e.g., glycerin, propylene glycol, or mixtures thereof), nicotine, tobacco, tobacco extract, and / or flavorings. Representative types of aerosol precursor components and formulations are also described and characterized in U.S. Pat. No. 7,217,320 to Robinson et al., and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2013 / 0008457 to Zheng et al., U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2013 / 0213417 to Chong et al., U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014 / 0060554 to Collett et al., U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015 / 0020823 to Lipowicz et al., and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015 / 0020830 to Koller, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties, and WO 2014 / 182736 to Bowen et al. Other aerosol precursors that may be used include the aerosol precursors incorporated in VUSE® products from RJ Reynolds Vapor Company, BLU™ products from Fontem Ventures BV, MISTIC MENTHOL products from Mistic Ecigs, MARK TEN products from Nu Mark LLC, JUUL products from Juul Labs, Inc., and VYPE products from CN Creative Ltd. Also desirable are so-called "smoke juices" for e-cigarettes available from Johnson Creek Enterprises LLC.Further exemplary aerosol precursor compositions are sold under the trade names BLACK NOTE, COSMIC FOG, THE MILKMAN E-LIQUID, FIVE PAWNS, THE VAPOR CHEF, VAPE WILD, BOOSTED, THE STEAM FACTORY, MECH SAUCE, CASEY JONES MAINLINE RESERVE, MITTEN VAPORS, DR.CRIMMY'S V-LIQUID, SMILEY E LIQUID, BEANTOWN VAPOR, CUTTWOOD, CYCLOPS VAPOR, SICBOY, GOOD LIFE VAPOR, TELEOS, PINUP VAPORS, SPACE JAM, MT.BAKER VAPOR, and JIMMY THE JUICE MAN.

[0086] The amount of aerosol precursor incorporated into the aerosol delivery system is such that the aerosol generating device provides acceptable sensation and desirable performance characteristics. For example, it is highly preferred that a sufficient amount of aerosol forming material (e.g., glycerin and / or propylene glycol) is used to generate a visible mainstream aerosol that resembles in many ways the appearance of cigarette smoke. The amount of aerosol precursor in the aerosol generating system may depend on factors such as the number of puffs desired per aerosol generating device. In one or more embodiments, about 1 ml or more, about 2 ml or more, about 5 ml or more, or about 10 ml or more of the aerosol precursor composition may be included.

[0087] In some of the above examples, the aerosol precursor composition includes a glycerol-based liquid. However, in other implementations, the aerosol precursor composition may be a water-based liquid. In some implementations, the water-based liquid may be comprised of more than about 80% water. For example, in some implementations, the percentage of water in the water-based liquid may be within the inclusive range of about 90% to about 93%. In some implementations, the water-based liquid may include up to about 10% propylene glycol. For example, in some implementations, the percentage of propylene glycol in the water-based liquid may be within the inclusive range of about 4% to about 5%. In some implementations, the water-based liquid may include up to about 10% flavoring. For example, in some implementations, the percentage of flavoring in the water-based liquid may be within the inclusive range of about 3% to about 7%. In some implementations, the water-based liquid may include up to about 1% nicotine. For example, in some implementations, the percentage of nicotine in the water-based liquid may be within the inclusive range of about 0.1% to about 0.3%. In some implementations, the water-based liquid may include up to about 10% cyclodextrin. For example, in some implementations, the percentage of cyclodextrin in the water-based liquid may be within the inclusive range of about 3% to about 5%. In still other implementations, the aerosol precursor composition may be a combination of a glycerol-based liquid and a water-based liquid. For example, some implementations may include up to about 50% water and less than about 20% glycerol. The remaining ingredients may include one or more of propylene glycol, flavoring, nicotine, cyclodextrin, and the like.Some examples of aqueous liquid compositions that may be suitable are UK Patent No. 1817863.2, filed November 1, 2018, and entitled "Aerosolisable Formulation"; UK Patent No. 1817864.0, filed November 1, 2018, and entitled "Aerosolisable Formulation"; UK Patent No. 1817867.3, filed November 1, 2018, and entitled "Aerosolisable Formulation"; UK Patent No. 1817865.7, filed November 1, 2018, and entitled "Aerosolisable Formulation"; UK Patent No. 1817859.0, filed November 1, 2018, and entitled "Aerosolisable Formulation"; No. 1817866.5, filed November 1, 2018 and entitled "Gel and Crystalline Powder", UK Patent No. 1817861.6, filed November 1, 2018 and entitled "Aerosolisable Formulation", UK Patent No. 1817862.4, filed November 1, 2018 and entitled "Aerosolised Formulation", UK Patent No. 1817868.1, filed November 1, 2018 and entitled "Aerosolised Formulation", and UK Patent No. 1817860.8, filed November 1, 2018 and entitled "Aerosolised Formulation", each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0088] As noted above, in various implementations, the liquid composition may include a flavoring. In some implementations, the flavoring may be premixed with the liquid. In other implementations, the flavoring may be delivered separately downstream from the atomizer as a primary or secondary flavor. Still other implementations may combine a premixed flavoring with a downstream flavoring. As used herein, reference to a "flavoring" refers to a compound or component that provides a sensory experience in terms of taste and / or aroma that can be aerosolized and delivered to a user. Exemplary flavors include, but are not limited to, vanillin, ethyl vanillin, cream, tea, coffee, fruit (e.g., apple, cherry, strawberry, peach, and citrus flavors including lime, lemon, mango, and other citrus flavors), maple, menthol, mint, peppermint, spearmint, wintergreen, nutmeg, clove, lavender, cardamom, ginger, honey, anise, sage, rosemary, hibiscus, rose hips, yerba mate, guayusa, honeybush, rooibos, amaretto, mojito, yerba santa, ginseng, chamomile, turmeric, bacopa monniera, ginkgo, ashwagandha, cinnamon, sandalwood, jasmine, cascarilla, cocoa, licorice, as well as flavors and flavor packages of a type and character conventionally used in cigarette, cigar, and pipe tobacco flavorings. Other examples include flavors derived from or simulating burley, oriental, flue-cured, etc. Syrups such as high fructose corn syrup can also be used. Exemplary plant-derived compositions that may be suitable are disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 9,107,453 and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2012 / 0152265, both to Dube et al., the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. The selection of such additional ingredients can vary based on factors such as the sensory characteristics desired in the smoking article, and the present disclosure is intended to encompass any such additional ingredients that are readily apparent to those skilled in the art of tobacco and tobacco-related or tobacco-derived products.See, Gutcho, Tobacco Flavoring Substances and Methods, Noyes Data Corp. (1972), and Leffingwell et al., Tobacco Flavoring for Smoking Products (1972), the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. It should be noted that reference to flavor should not be limited to any single flavor as described above, but may, in fact, represent a combination of one or more flavors.

[0089] Referring back to FIG. 2, the liquid reservoir 144 of the illustrated implementation may be in fluid communication (either directly or through one or more additional components) with at least a portion of the atomizing assembly 115. As described in more detail below, in some implementations, the liquid reservoir 144 may comprise an independent container (e.g., formed from walls that are substantially impermeable to the liquid composition) that may be configured to rotate relative to the body of the aerosol delivery device (e.g., the control housing unit and / or the cartridge housing unit). In some implementations, the walls of the liquid reservoir may be flexible and / or collapsible, while in other implementations, the walls of the liquid reservoir may be substantially rigid. In some implementations, the liquid reservoir may be substantially sealed to prevent the passage of the liquid composition other than through any particular openings or conduits expressly provided for the passage of the liquid composition, such as through one or more transport elements described elsewhere herein.

[0090] The electrical connection 116 connects the spray assembly 115 to the control component 106 and / or the battery 110. In the illustrated implementation, the spray assembly 115 is connected to the base 140 of the cartridge 104 and provides an electrical connection to the control component 106 and / or the battery 110 when assembled to the control unit 102. As described above, the spray assembly 115 is configured to be electrically connected to the battery 110 and / or the control component 106. In this manner, the spray assembly 115 of the illustrated implementation may be energized by the battery 110 and / or the control component 106 (e.g., to vibrate the components of the spray assembly at a relatively high speed). In various implementations, the spray assembly 115 may be fluidly coupled to a portion of the liquid composition such that the spray assembly 115 generates an aerosol from the liquid composition with which it comes into contact. In various implementations, the spray assembly may be directly fluidly coupled to a portion of the liquid composition or indirectly fluidly coupled to a portion of the liquid composition via a liquid transport element or the like. In various implementations, the liquid transport element may have one layer or multiple layers and may be made of a single material or multiple materials. In various implementations, the liquid transport element may be of any shape and may be a porous, semi-porous or non-porous absorbent / adsorbent material.

[0091] For example, in some implementations, the liquid transport element may be made from fibrous materials (e.g., organic cotton, cellulose acetate, regenerated cellulose cloth, glass fiber), polymers, silk, particles, porous ceramics (e.g., alumina, silica, zirconia, SiC, SiN, AlN, etc.), porous metals, porous carbon, graphite, porous glass, sintered glass beads, sintered ceramic beads, capillaries, porous polymers, etc. In some implementations, the liquid transport element may be any material that includes an open pore network (i.e., multiple pores that are interconnected such that fluid can flow from one pore to another in multiple directions through the element). The pores may be nanopores, micropores, macropores, or combinations thereof. As further described herein, some implementations of the present disclosure may specifically relate to the use of non-fibrous transport elements. As such, fibrous transport elements may be explicitly excluded. Alternatively, a combination of fibrous and non-fibrous transport elements may be utilized. In some embodiments, the liquid transport element may be a substantially solid, non-porous material, such as a polymer or dense ceramic or metal, configured to direct liquid through apertures or slots without necessarily relying on wicking by capillary action. Such solids may be used in combination with porous absorbent pads. The absorbent pads may be formed from silica-based fibers, organic cotton, rayon fibers, cellulose acetate, regenerated cellulose cloth, highly porous ceramic or metal mesh, and the like. Some representative types of substrates, reservoirs, or other components for supporting aerosol precursors are described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,528,569 to Newton, U.S. Pat. App. Pub. No. 2014 / 0261487 to Chapman et al., U.S. Pat. App. Pub. No. 2014 / 0059780 to Davis et al., and U.S. Pat. App. Pub. No. 2015 / 0216232 to Bless et al., which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. Additionally, various wicking materials as well as the construction and operation of wicking materials within particular types of electronic cigarettes are described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,910,640 to Sears et al., the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.In some implementations, the liquid transport element may be partially or completely formed from a porous monolith, such as a porous ceramic, porous glass, etc. Exemplary monolithic materials that may be suitable for use with embodiments of the present disclosure are described, for example, in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0188626 to Davis et al. and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014 / 0123989 to LaMothe, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. In some implementations, the porous monolith may form a substantially solid wick.

[0092] In various implementations, the end of the liquid transport element may be configured to be disposed proximate to the mesh plate and between the mesh plate and the liquid composition in the reservoir, such that the liquid transport element acts as a secondary reservoir that absorbs or adsorbs liquid from the reservoir such that the mesh plate contacts the liquid composition even when there is no longer liquid in the reservoir. In this manner, the liquid transport element is configured to facilitate contact between the liquid composition and the spray assembly.

[0093] In some implementations, the liquid composition may be forced through a component of the atomizing assembly to generate a plurality of aerosol particles. Similarly, in other implementations, vibration of a component of the atomizing assembly may generate ultrasonic waves and / or surface acoustic waves in the liquid composition, resulting in the formation of an aerosol on the surface of the liquid composition. As described in more detail below, in some implementations, the liquid composition may be applied and / or transferred to a component of the atomizing assembly to generate an aerosol.

[0094] In the illustrated implementation, the control unit housing 101 includes an air inlet 118, which may comprise an opening in the housing proximate the coupler 124 to allow the passage of ambient air into the control unit housing 101, which may then pass through a cavity 125 of the coupler 124 and ultimately into or around the atomizing assembly 115, where it may mix with the vaporized aerosol precursor composition to comprise the aerosol that is delivered to the user. It should be noted that in other implementations, the air inlet 118 is not limited to being on or adjacent to the control unit housing 101. For example, in some implementations, the air inlet may be formed through the cartridge housing 103 (e.g., so that it does not enter the control unit 102) or some other portion of the aerosol delivery device 100. In the illustrated implementation, a mouthpiece portion including an opening 128 may be present within the cartridge housing 103 (e.g., at the mouth end of the cartridge 104) to allow the formed aerosol to be expelled from the cartridge 104, for example, for delivery to a user who inhales into the mouth end of the cartridge 104.

[0095] In various implementations, the cartridge 104 may also include at least one electronic component 150, which may include integrated circuits, memory components, sensors, and the like, although such components need not be included. In implementations including such components, the electronic component 150 may be adapted to communicate with the control component 106 and / or an external device by wired or wireless means. In various implementations, the electronic component 150 may be located anywhere within the cartridge 104 or its base 140. Some examples of electronic components / control components as may be applicable to the present disclosure are described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2019 / 0014819 to Sur, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. It should be noted that while in the illustrated implementation, the control component 106 and the flow sensor 108 are shown separately, in some implementations, the control component and the flow sensor may be combined as an electronic circuit board to which the air flow sensor is directly attached. In some embodiments, the air flow sensor may comprise its own circuit board or other base element to which it may be attached. In some embodiments, a flexible circuit board may be utilized. The flexible circuit board may be configured in a variety of shapes, including a substantially tubular shape. For example, printed circuit board and pressure sensor configurations are described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015 / 0245658 to Worm et al., the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Additional types of sensing or detection mechanisms, their structures and configurations, their components, and their general methods of operation are described in U.S. Patent No. 5,261,424 to Sprinkel, Jr., U.S. Patent No. 5,372,148 to McCafferty et al., and PCT Publication No. WO 2010 / 003480 to Flick, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

[0096] In some implementations, when a user inhales on the article 100, airflow can be detected by the sensor 108 and the atomizing assembly 115 can be activated, which may vaporize the liquid composition. As described above, in some implementations, when the mouth end of the article 100 is inhaled, ambient air enters the inlet 118 and passes through the cavity 125 in the coupler 124 and the base 140. In the cartridge 104, the inhaled air combines with the formed vapor to form an aerosol. The aerosol is blown, inhaled, or otherwise drawn through the atomizing assembly 115 and exits through a mouth opening 128 in the mouth end of the article 100. As described above, in other implementations, in the absence of an airflow sensor, the atomizing assembly 115 may be manually activated, such as by a push button (not shown). Additionally, in some implementations, the inhalation can occur through the cartridge or between the cartridge and the control unit. It should be noted that in some implementations, there may be one or more components between the atomizing assembly and the opening in the mouth end of the article. For example, in the illustrated implementation, a heating component 147 is disposed downstream of the atomizing assembly 115. In various implementations, the heating component may comprise any device configured to increase the temperature of the generated aerosol, including, for example, one or more coil heating components, ceramic heating components, etc.

[0097] In some implementations, the aerosol delivery device may include one or more input elements (which may replace or complement an airflow sensor, a pressure sensor, or a manual push button). In various implementations, the input elements may be included to allow a user to control the device's functions and / or output information to the user. Any component or combination of components may be utilized as an input to control the device's functions. For example, one or more push buttons may be used, as described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015 / 0245658 to Worm et al., which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Similarly, a touch screen may be used, as described in U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 643,626 to Sears et al., filed March 10, 2015, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. As a further example, a component adapted for gesture recognition based on specific movements of the aerosol delivery device may be used as an input. See U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016 / 0158782 to Henry et al., which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. As yet another example, a capacitance sensor may be implemented in the aerosol delivery device to allow a user to provide input, such as by touching a surface of the device on which the capacitance sensor is implemented.

[0098] In some embodiments, the input element may comprise a computer or computing device such as a smartphone or tablet. Specifically, the aerosol delivery device may be wired to a computer or other device, such as through the use of a USB cord or similar protocol. The aerosol delivery device may also communicate with the computer or other device acting as an input via wireless communication. See, for example, systems and methods for controlling a device via read requests as described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016 / 0007561 to Ampolini et al., the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. In such implementations, an application or other computer program may be used in conjunction with a computer or other computing device to input control instructions to the aerosol delivery device, such control instructions including, for example, the ability to form an aerosol of a specific composition by selecting the nicotine content and / or the content of additional flavors included.

[0099] Still other features, controls or components that may be incorporated into the aerosol delivery systems of the present disclosure are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,967,148 to Harris et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,934,289 to Watkins et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,954,979 to Counts et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,040,560 to Fleischhauer et al., U.S. Pat. No. 8,365,742 to Hon, U.S. Pat. No. 8,402,976 to Fernando et al. ... U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010 / 0163063, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2013 / 0192623 to Tucker et al., U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2013 / 0298905 to Leven et al., U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2013 / 0180553 to Kim et al., U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014 / 0000638 to Sebastian et al., U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014 / 0261495 to Novak et al., and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014 / 0261408 to DePiano et al.

[0100] In various implementations, the atomizing assembly may comprise a variety of different components or devices configured to generate an aerosol from the liquid composition. For example, in some implementations, the atomizing assembly may comprise a jet nebulizer assembly that may be configured to generate an aerosol utilizing compressed air. In other implementations, the atomizing assembly may include an ultrasonic assembly that may be configured to generate an aerosol utilizing the formation of ultrasonic waves within the liquid composition. In other implementations, the atomizing assembly may comprise a vibrating mesh assembly that may be attached to a mesh plate (e.g., a perforated plate) that vibrates within or in close proximity to the surface of the liquid composition to generate an aerosol and / or may include a piezoelectric material (e.g., a piezoelectric ceramic material) that may substantially surround the mesh plate (e.g., a perforated plate). In other implementations, the atomizing assembly may comprise a surface acoustic wave (SAW) assembly or a Rayleigh wave assembly that may utilize surface wave properties to generate an aerosol at the surface of the liquid composition. It is noted that for purposes of this application, the ultrasonic assembly may be any assembly configured to generate ultrasonic waves within the liquid composition. In some implementations, for example, the vibrating mesh assembly may also operate as an ultrasonic assembly.

[0101] An example of an atomizing assembly in one implementation is shown in FIG. 3. In particular, FIG. 3 shows an atomizing assembly 215 comprising a piezoelectric ring 217 attached to and substantially surrounding a mesh plate 219. In some implementations, additional components may be included. For example, in some implementations, a support component may be included that is disposed on a side of the mesh plate opposite the vibrating component (e.g., such that the mesh plate is sandwiched between the support component and the vibrating component). In some implementations, the support component may comprise a support ring, although other configurations are possible. In various implementations, the support component may be made from any suitable material, including, but not limited to, polymeric, metallic, and / or ceramic materials. In this manner, in some implementations, the support component may extend the life of the mesh plate. In some implementations, the support component may be replaceable, while in other implementations, the support component may be attached to the mesh plate and / or the vibrating component. In some implementations, an auxiliary component disposed between the mesh plate and the vibrating component may be used. In some implementations, the auxiliary component may comprise an auxiliary ring, although other configurations are possible. In various implementations, the auxiliary components may be made of any suitable material, including, but not limited to, polymeric, metallic, and / or ceramic materials. In this manner, the auxiliary components may facilitate interface contact of the components. In some implementations, the auxiliary components may be replaceable, while in other implementations, the auxiliary components may be attached to the mesh plate and / or the vibrating component.

[0102] In various implementations, the vibrating component and the mesh plate may be permanently attached to one another, for example, by attaching the components together via an adhesive, such as an epoxy or other adhesive, or by ultrasonic welding, mechanical fasteners, or the like. It should be noted that while the illustrated implementations describe the vibrating component in the form of a piezoelectric ring, in other implementations, the vibrating component need not be limited to a ring-shaped object. For example, in some implementations, the piezoelectric component may have a rectangular, oval, hexagonal, triangular, and regular or irregular polygonal shape. In various implementations, the mesh plate may have a variety of different configurations. For example, in some implementations, the mesh plate may have a substantially flat profile. In other implementations, the mesh plate may have a substantially dome-shaped shape that can be concave or convex with respect to the liquid composition. In other implementations, the mesh plate may include a substantially flat portion and a dome-shaped portion. In various implementations, the mesh plate may be made from a variety of different materials. In some implementations, the mesh plate may be made from a metallic material, such as, but not limited to, stainless steel, palladium-nickel, or titanium. In other implementations, the mesh plate may be made from a polymeric material, such as, for example, a polyimide polymer. In still other implementations, the mesh plate may be made from a combination of materials.

[0103] In various implementations, the structure of the atomizing assembly may vary. For example, Figures 4A-4F show various exemplary implementations of the atomizing assembly. In particular, Figure 4A shows an atomizing assembly comprising a piezoelectric ring 217A attached to and substantially surrounding a mesh plate 219A. Figure 4B shows an atomizing assembly comprising a mesh plate 219A sandwiched between two portions of a piezoelectric ring 217A. Figure 4C shows an atomizing assembly including a piezoelectric ring 217C attached to and substantially surrounding a mesh plate 219C, where at least a portion of the mesh plate 219C is curved. Figure 4D shows an atomizing assembly comprising a mesh plate 219D sandwiched between two portions of a piezoelectric ring 217D, where at least a portion of the mesh plate 219D is curved. Figure 4E shows an atomization assembly comprising a piezoelectric ring 217E attached to and substantially surrounding one side of a mesh plate 219E, the other side of which includes a metal ring 221E substantially surrounding and attached thereto. Figure 4F shows an atomization assembly comprising a mesh plate 219F, one side of which includes a metal ring 221F substantially surrounding and attached thereto, the mesh plate 219F and the metal ring 221F being sandwiched between two portions of the piezoelectric ring 217F.

[0104] Referring back to FIG. 3, the mesh plate 219 includes a plurality of perforations. In some implementations, the perforations may be defined by circular openings in the surface of the plate. In other implementations, the perforations may be defined by non-circular openings in the surface of the plate, such as oval, rectangular, triangular, or regular or irregular polygonal openings. In various implementations, the perforations may be created using a variety of different methods, including, but not limited to, via a laser (e.g., femtosecond laser), or via electroplating (e.g., lithography), or via the use of high or low energy ion or electron beams. In various implementations, the shape defined through the plate by the perforations may vary. For example, in some implementations, the shape defined through the plate by the perforations may be substantially cylindrical. In other implementations, the shape defined through the plate by the perforations may be substantially conical (e.g., having a frustoconical shape defining a smaller opening on one surface of the plate and a larger opening on the opposite surface of the plate). In other implementations, the shape defined by the perforations through the plate may be a square or pyramid. In some implementations, it is believed that a substantially conical shape may enhance the performance of the mesh in spraying the liquid composition. While any orientation of the mesh plate may be used, in some implementations with perforations defining a substantially conical shape through the plate, the larger openings may be located proximate to the surface of the liquid composition and the smaller openings may define the aerosol exit area. In some implementations with perforations defining a substantially conical shape, the smaller openings may have a size in the inclusive range of about 1 micron up to about 10 microns, with an average size of about 2 microns to about 5 microns. In other implementations, the smaller openings may have a size in the inclusive range of about several hundred nanometers up to about 4 microns, with an average size of about 2 microns to about 3.1 microns. In other implementations, the smaller openings may have a size in the inclusive range of about several hundred nanometers up to about 2 microns, with an average size of about 1 micron.In some implementations, the larger openings may have a size in the inclusive range of about 10 microns to about 60 microns, with an average size of about 20 microns to about 30 microns. In other implementations, the larger openings may have a size in the inclusive range of about 5 microns to about 20 microns, with an average size of about 10 microns. In some implementations, the size of the perforations may be substantially uniform across the perforated portion of the plate. However, in other implementations, the size of the perforations may vary. In this manner, the aerosol formed may have aerosol droplets of different sizes. For example, in some implementations, the perforations may be relatively large in one portion of the plate and relatively small in another portion of the plate. Such portions may include, for example, the center of the plate and the periphery of the plate, or may include alternating rings extending radially from the center of the plate.

[0105] In various implementations, the mesh plate may have any number of perforations. In some implementations, for example, the number of perforations in the mesh plate may be in the inclusive range of about 200 to about 6,000, with the average number of perforations being about 1,100 to about 2,500. In other implementations, the number of perforations in the mesh plate may be in the inclusive range of about 400 to about 1,000. In various implementations, the thickness of the piezoelectric ring and the thickness of the mesh plate may vary. For example, in some implementations, the thickness of the mesh plate may be in the range of a few microns to a few millimeters. In various implementations, the overall diameter of the mesh plate may vary. For example, in some implementations, the overall diameter of the mesh plate may be in the inclusive range of about a few millimeters to about 30 millimeters. In some implementations, the outer diameter of the piezoelectric ring may be larger than the overall diameter of the mesh plate. In other implementations, the outer diameter may be substantially the same size as the overall diameter of the mesh plate. In various implementations, the diameter of the perforation region may be smaller than the overall diameter of the mesh plate. For example, in some implementations, the diameter of the perforated region may be in the inclusive range of about 1 millimeter to about 20 millimeters, with an average of about 4 millimeters to about 12 millimeters. In some implementations, the inner diameter of the piezoelectric ring may be larger than the diameter of the perforated region of the mesh plate. In other implementations, the inner diameter of the piezoelectric ring may be substantially the same as or smaller than the diameter of the perforated region of the mesh plate. In some implementations, the thickness of the piezoelectric ring may be in the inclusive range of hundreds of microns to tens of millimeters. For example, in some implementations, the thickness of the piezoelectric ring may be less than 1 millimeter.

[0106] In various implementations, the piezoelectric ring may be made of a piezoelectric ceramic material. In general, the piezoelectric ceramic material has piezoelectric properties (e.g., ferroelectric properties) and is configured to change shape slightly (e.g., 1-2 microns) when exposed to an electrical stimulus. This occurs due to a change in the crystal structure of the piezoelectric ceramic material (e.g., from orthorhombic to cubic, or from hexagonal to cubic, etc.). With respect to the piezoelectric ceramic ring, such a change in shape results in an internal strain, which causes the disk to contract and, as a result, bend due to its rigid structure. Since the ring is attached to a mesh plate, the bending of the ring is transferred to the mesh material. When the current is disconnected from the piezoelectric ring, the ring and mesh plate return to their original shape and position. Thus, the continuous change in shape and position results in an oscillating motion that can be used as a vibration source. In various implementations, the frequency of the piezoelectric ring may be in the range of a few Hz to a few MHz. For example, in some implementations, the frequency of the piezoelectric ring is in the inclusive range of about 50 KHz to about 150 KHz, averaging about 110 KHz in one implementation, about 113 KHz in another, about 117 KHz in another, about 130 KHz in another, about 150 KHz in another, about 170 KHz in another, and about 250 KHz in another implementation. In other implementations, the frequency of the piezoelectric ring is in the inclusive range of about 1 MHz to about 5 MHz, averaging about 3 MHz to about 3.5 MHz.

[0107] In various implementations of the present disclosure, a variety of different piezoelectric materials are possible, including natural or synthetic materials. Some non-limiting examples of natural piezoelectric materials include, for example, quartz, berlinite (AlPO4), sucrose, Rochelle salt, topaz, tourmaline group minerals, lead titanate (PbTiO3), and collagen. Some non-limiting examples of synthetic materials include, for example, (La3Ga5SiO 14 ), gallium phosphate, gallium orthophosphate (GaPO4), lithium niobate (LiNbO3), lithium tantalate (LiTaO3), AlN, ZnO, barium titanate (BaTiO3), lead zirconate titanate (Pb[Zrx Ti 1-x ]O3) (also known as PZT), potassium niobate (KNbO3), sodium tungstate (Na2WO3), Ba2NaNb5O5, Pb2KNb5O 15 , zinc oxide (ZnO), potassium sodium niobate ((K,Na)NbO3) (also known as NKN), bismuth ferrite (BiFeO3), sodium niobate NaNbO3, barium titanate (BaTiO3), bismuth titanate Bi4Ti3O 12 , sodium titanate, and sodium bismuth titanate NaBi(TiO3)2. In other implementations, polymers that exhibit piezoelectric properties may be used, including but not limited to polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF).

[0108] In various implementations, the mesh plate 219 of the atomizing assembly 215 may be in contact with and / or in close proximity to and / or receive (e.g., via a delivery mechanism) at least a portion of the liquid composition. In this manner, the resulting vibration of the plate generates an aerosol from the contacted liquid composition. In particular, the liquid composition is forced through a plurality of perforations, generating a plurality of aerosol particles. Similarly, in other implementations, such as, for example, implementations in which the mesh plate is immersed in the liquid composition, the vibration of the plate generates ultrasonic waves in the liquid composition, resulting in the formation of an aerosol on the surface of the liquid composition. As described in more detail below, in other implementations, the liquid composition may be applied and / or transferred to the atomizing assembly to generate an aerosol.

[0109] Another example of an atomizing assembly in one implementation is shown in FIG. 5. In particular, FIG. 5 shows an atomizing assembly 315 comprising a piezoelectric ring 317 attached to and substantially surrounding a mesh plate 319. As shown, the atomizing assembly 315 is disposed proximate to one end of a reservoir 344 that contains a liquid composition 345. The mesh plate 319 in the illustrated implementation includes two portions, a substantially flat outer portion 319A and a dome-shaped inner portion 319B. In the illustrated implementation, the inner dome-shaped portion 319B of the mesh plate 319 is configured to interact with the liquid composition 345 and has a convex configuration relative to the reservoir 344 (and the liquid composition 345). In the illustrated implementation, the mesh plate 319 includes a plurality of perforations 360 having a substantially conical shape. In particular, the plurality of perforations 360 includes a larger end 360A configured to be disposed proximate to an interface with the liquid composition 345 and a smaller end 360B through which the formed aerosol passes.

[0110] In various implementations, it may be advantageous to facilitate (e.g., maintain or promote) contact between the liquid composition and the atomizing assembly. In general, FIG. 6 shows a side schematic view of a portion of a reservoir 444 containing a liquid composition 445 and an atomizing assembly 415 configured to generate an aerosol from the liquid composition, and FIG. 7 shows a perspective schematic view of a portion of the reservoir 444 containing the atomizing assembly 415 (with the liquid composition removed for clarity of illustration), according to an exemplary implementation of the present disclosure. In the illustrated implementation, the reservoir 444 has a substantially hollow spherical shape. However, in other implementations, other shapes are possible, including, for example, a substantially hollow cylindrical shape, a substantially hollow prismatic shape, a substantially hollow rectangular shape, or any other shape configured to contain a liquid composition. Regardless of the shape of the reservoir, in various implementations, the reservoir may be located at various positions within the housing of the aerosol delivery device.

[0111] In some implementations, the reservoir may be made from a polymeric material that may be at least partially transparent or translucent in further implementations. In some implementations, such materials may include, but are not limited to, polycarbonate, acrylic, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), amorphous copolyester (PETG), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), liquid silicone rubber (LSR), cyclic olefin copolymer, polyethylene (PE), ionomer resin, polypropylene (PP), fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP), styrene methyl methacrylate (SMMA), styrene acrylonitrile resin (SAN), polystyrene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), and combinations thereof. In other implementations, the reservoir may be made from other materials that may be at least partially transparent or translucent. Such materials may include, for example, glass or ceramic materials.

[0112] In the illustrated implementation, the reservoir 444 includes an opening 446 proximate its top end. In various implementations, the opening 446 may be used to fill the reservoir 444 with the liquid composition 445. In the illustrated implementation, the opening 446 may be covered by a reservoir lid 448 and in some implementations may include multiple openings and / or be substantially gas permeable to allow the formed aerosol to exit the reservoir. The atomizing assembly 415 of the illustrated assembly is located opposite the opening 446 of the reservoir 444 proximate its bottom, although in other implementations the atomizing assembly may be located elsewhere in the reservoir. In the illustrated implementation, the reservoir 444 also includes an electrical connection 416 that extends to the atomizing assembly 415 and electrically connects the atomizing assembly 415 to a control component and / or a battery (either directly or indirectly via one or more additional components). In various implementations, the electrical connections 416 may extend inside and / or outside the reservoir 444 .

[0113] In various implementations, the reservoir of the present disclosure may be configured to rotate freely or otherwise, for example, via active control, relative to the position of the aerosol delivery device. As shown in the figure, the reservoir 444 of the illustrated implementation is configured to rotate about one axis (axis 450) via a pair of rotation elements 452 attached to the aerosol delivery device (not shown). In various implementations, the rotation elements 452 may be attached to the cartridge housing or the control unit housing, or any other component of the aerosol delivery device that allows the reservoir to rotate relative thereto. In various implementations, the rotation elements may comprise a variety of different components configured to enable rotation of the reservoir relative to the aerosol delivery device, including, for example, bearing elements, corresponding detents or pins configured to rotate within holes, etc. In some implementations, the rotation elements 452 may facilitate an electrical connection between the electrical connection 416 and a battery and / or a control component.

[0114] In various implementations, the rotation of the reservoir 444 in the illustrated implementation is configured to facilitate contact between the liquid composition 445 and the atomizing assembly 415, regardless of the position of the aerosol delivery device. To facilitate contact between the liquid composition 445 and the atomizing assembly 415 in the illustrated implementation, the bottom end of the reservoir 444 in the illustrated implementation (e.g., the portion of the reservoir 444 proximate to the atomizing assembly 415) is weighted compared to the top end. In various implementations, the weighting of the reservoir may be achieved in a variety of different ways. For example, in some implementations, the liquid composition itself may provide sufficient weight to enable rotation of the reservoir relative to the aerosol delivery device. In other implementations, the atomizing assembly may provide sufficient weight to enable rotation of the reservoir relative to the aerosol delivery device. In other implementations, weight may be added to the reservoir proximate to the atomizing assembly to enable rotation of the reservoir relative to the aerosol delivery device. In still other implementations, the reservoir itself may be configured to provide sufficient weight to enable rotation of the reservoir relative to the aerosol delivery device (e.g., by providing additional material in proximity to the atomizing assembly, etc.). In some implementations, the reservoir may be configured to actively rotate relative to the aerosol delivery device. For example, in some implementations, the reservoir may be actively rotated relative to the position of the aerosol delivery device, e.g., using electromagnetic means. Such implementations may include a reservoir configured to rotate within another portion (e.g., a substantially spherical reservoir configured to rotate within another substantially spherical portion) in the presence of the hydraulic fluid.

[0115] Some additional examples of reservoir configurations according to exemplary implementations of the present disclosure are shown in Figures 8A-8C, which show a series of top schematic views of portions of the reservoir and atomizing assembly of various aerosol delivery devices. In particular, Figure 8A shows a substantially cylindrical reservoir 544 (including an atomizing assembly 515 disposed proximate its lower end) configured to rotate about an axis 550 via a rotating element 552, although in other implementations the reservoir may have any shape. Figure 8B shows a substantially rectangular parallelepiped reservoir 644 (including an atomizing assembly 615 disposed proximate its lower end) configured to rotate about an axis 650 via a rotating element 652, although in other implementations the reservoir may have any shape. Also, Figure 8C shows a substantially oval aerosol delivery device 700 having a substantially cylindrical reservoir 744 (including an atomizing assembly 715 disposed proximate its lower end) configured to rotate about an axis 750 via a rotating element 752. 8C, the reservoir 744 is positioned adjacent to the side of the aerosol delivery device 700 closest to the opening 728 of the aerosol delivery device through which the aerosol is delivered to the user. By forming the aerosol delivery device in this manner and locating the opening 728 of the mouthpiece portion in this location, the reservoir 744 in the illustrated implementation can facilitate contact between the liquid composition in the reservoir 744 and the atomization assembly 715 via rotation of the reservoir 744 about an axis 750, regardless of the position of the aerosol delivery device.

[0116] It should be noted that in some implementations, the aerosol delivery device of the present disclosure may include separate cartridge and control unit components, and the reservoir may or may not be refillable, while in other implementations, the aerosol delivery device of the present disclosure may include a unitary body, and the reservoir may or may not be refillable. For example, FIG. 9 illustrates an aerosol delivery device according to another exemplary implementation of the present disclosure. In particular, FIG. 9 illustrates a perspective schematic view of an aerosol delivery device 800. As shown, the aerosol delivery device 800 does not include a separate cartridge and control unit, but rather, the components are combined into a unitary body having a common housing 805. As shown, the housing 805 includes a mouthpiece portion having an opening 828. The aerosol delivery device 800 of the illustrated implementation also includes a reservoir 844 having a substantially spherical shape. In the illustrated implementation, the reservoir 844 includes an opening 846 proximate its upper end. In various implementations, the opening 846 may be used to fill the reservoir 844 with the liquid composition. In the implementation shown, the opening 846 may be covered by a reservoir lid 848. The spray assembly 815 of the illustrated assembly is located opposite the opening 846 of the reservoir 844 proximate its bottom, although in other implementations the spray assembly may be located elsewhere in the reservoir. In the implementation shown, the reservoir 844 also includes an electrical connection (not shown) that connects the spray assembly 815 (directly or indirectly via one or more additional components) to a control component and / or a battery. In various implementations, the electrical connection may extend inside and / or outside the reservoir 844. In some implementations, a rotating element 852 may facilitate an electrical connection between the spray assembly 815 and the battery and / or the control component.

[0117] In various implementations, the reservoir of the present disclosure may be configured to rotate freely or otherwise, e.g., via active control, relative to the position of the aerosol delivery device. As shown, the reservoir 844 of the illustrated implementation is configured to rotate about one axis (axis 850) via a pair of rotation elements 852 attached to the aerosol delivery device 800. In various implementations, the rotation elements 852 may be attached to the housing 805 or any component of the aerosol delivery device that allows the reservoir to rotate relative thereto. In various implementations, the rotation elements may comprise a variety of different components configured to allow rotation of the reservoir relative to the aerosol delivery device, including, for example, bearing elements, corresponding detents or pins configured to rotate within holes, etc.

[0118] In various implementations, the rotation of the reservoir 844 in the illustrated implementation is configured to facilitate contact between the liquid composition and the atomizing assembly 815, regardless of the position of the aerosol delivery device. To facilitate contact between the liquid composition and the atomizing assembly 815 in the illustrated implementation, the bottom end of the reservoir 844 in the illustrated implementation (e.g., the portion of the reservoir 844 proximate to the atomizing assembly 815) is weighted compared to the top end. In various implementations, the weighting of the reservoir may be achieved in a variety of different ways. For example, in some implementations, the liquid composition itself may provide sufficient weight to enable rotation of the reservoir relative to the aerosol delivery device. In other implementations, the atomizing assembly may provide sufficient weight to enable rotation of the reservoir relative to the aerosol delivery device. In other implementations, weight may be added to the reservoir proximate to the atomizing assembly to enable rotation of the reservoir relative to the aerosol delivery device. In still other implementations, the reservoir itself may be configured to provide sufficient weight to enable rotation of the reservoir relative to the aerosol delivery device (e.g., by providing additional material in proximity to the atomizing assembly, etc.). In some implementations, the reservoir may be configured to actively rotate relative to the aerosol delivery device. For example, in some implementations, the reservoir may be actively rotated relative to the position of the aerosol delivery device, e.g., using electromagnetic components. Such implementations may include a reservoir configured to rotate within another portion (e.g., a substantially spherical reservoir configured to rotate within another substantially spherical portion) in the presence of the hydraulic fluid.

[0119] In some implementations, the rotation of the reservoir may occur by rotation about one axis relative to the aerosol delivery device, and in other implementations, the rotation of the reservoir may occur about two axes relative to the aerosol delivery device. A schematic example of such an implementation is shown in FIG. 10. In particular, FIG. 10 shows a top cross-sectional schematic view of a portion of a reservoir 944 and a nebulizing assembly 915 of an aerosol delivery device according to another exemplary implementation of the present disclosure. The nebulizing assembly 915 of the illustrated assembly is located proximate to the bottom of the reservoir 944, although in other implementations, the nebulizing assembly may be located at other positions within the reservoir. In the illustrated implementation, the reservoir 944 also includes electrical connections (not shown) that connect the nebulizing assembly 915 (directly or indirectly via one or more additional components) to a control component and / or a battery. In various implementations, the electrical connections may extend inside and / or outside the reservoir 944. In some implementations, the rotating element may facilitate an electrical connection between the aerosol assembly 815 and a battery and / or control components.

[0120] In various implementations, the reservoir of the present disclosure may be configured to rotate freely or otherwise (e.g., via active control) relative to the position of the aerosol delivery device. As shown, the implementation of FIG. 10 includes an intermediate frame 960 configured to rotate relative to the housing 905 of the aerosol delivery device about a first axis (axis 950A) via a pair of first rotating elements 952A. In various implementations, the first rotating elements 952A may be attached to the housing 905 or any component of the aerosol delivery device that allows the intermediate frame 960 to rotate relative thereto. In various implementations, the first rotating elements may comprise a variety of different components configured to enable rotation of the intermediate frame relative to the aerosol delivery device, including, for example, bearing elements, pins configured to rotate within corresponding detents or holes, etc.

[0121] Further, in the illustrated implementation, the reservoir 944 is configured to rotate relative to the intermediate frame 960 about a second axis (axis 950B) via a pair of second rotating elements 952B. In the illustrated implementation, the second axis 950B is substantially perpendicular to the first axis 950A. In various implementations, the second rotating elements may comprise a variety of different components configured to enable rotation of the intermediate frame relative to the aerosol delivery device, including, for example, bearing elements, pins configured to rotate within corresponding detents or holes, etc. In various implementations, the second rotating elements may be the same or different from the first rotating elements. In the illustrated implementation, the reservoir 944 has a substantially hollow spherical shape. However, in other implementations, other shapes are possible, including, for example, a substantially hollow cylindrical shape, a substantially hollow prismatic shape, a substantially hollow rectangular shape, or any other shape configured to contain a liquid composition. Regardless of the shape of the reservoir, in various implementations, the reservoir may be located in various locations within the housing of the aerosol delivery device.

[0122] In various implementations, the rotation of the reservoir 944 in the illustrated implementation is configured to facilitate contact between the liquid composition and the atomizing assembly 915, regardless of the position of the aerosol delivery device. To facilitate contact between the liquid composition and the atomizing assembly 915 in the illustrated implementation, the lower end of the reservoir 944 in the illustrated implementation (e.g., the portion of the reservoir 944 proximate to the atomizing assembly 915) is weighted compared to the upper end. In various implementations, the weighting of the reservoir may be achieved in a variety of different ways. For example, in some implementations, the liquid composition itself may provide sufficient weight to enable rotation of the reservoir relative to the aerosol delivery device. In other implementations, the atomizing assembly may provide sufficient weight to enable rotation of the reservoir relative to the aerosol delivery device. In other implementations, a weight may be applied to the reservoir proximate to the atomizing assembly to enable rotation of the reservoir relative to the aerosol delivery device. In still other implementations, the reservoir itself may be configured to provide sufficient weight to enable rotation of the reservoir relative to the aerosol delivery device (e.g., by providing additional material in proximity to the atomizing assembly, etc.). In some implementations, the reservoir may be configured to actively rotate relative to the aerosol delivery device. For example, in some implementations, the reservoir may be actively rotated relative to the position of the aerosol delivery device, e.g., using electromagnetic means. Such implementations may include a reservoir configured to rotate within another portion (e.g., a substantially spherical reservoir configured to rotate within another substantially spherical portion) in the presence of the hydraulic fluid.

[0123] Another implementation of the present disclosure is shown in FIG. 11. In particular, FIG. 11 shows a side schematic view of a portion of a reservoir 1044 configured to hold a liquid composition (not shown) and a nebulizing assembly 1015 configured to generate an aerosol from the liquid composition, according to another exemplary implementation of the present disclosure. In the illustrated implementation, the reservoir 1044 and the nebulizing assembly 1015 are configured to be used with an aerosol delivery device. In the illustrated implementation, the nebulizing assembly 1015 comprises a vibrating mesh assembly including a piezoelectric disk or ring 1017 attached to and substantially surrounding a mesh plate 1019. In various implementations, an electrical connection (not shown) connects the nebulizing assembly 1015 to a control component and / or a battery of the aerosol delivery device. In this manner, the nebulizing assembly 1015 of the illustrated implementation may be energized by a battery and / or a control component to vibrate the mesh plate 1019 at a relatively high speed. The resulting vibration of the plate generates an aerosol from the liquid composition with which it comes into contact. See further the description of the vibrating mesh assembly components and variations mentioned above.

[0124] In the illustrated implementation, the spray assembly 1015 further includes a perforated gate 1062 disposed between the liquid composition and the mesh plate 1019 and proximate to the mesh plate 1019. In the illustrated implementation, the perforated gate 1062 is substantially parallel to the mesh plate 1019 such that a small chamber 1064 is defined between the mesh plate 1019 and the perforated gate 1062. In various implementations, the perforated gate 1062 defines a plurality of openings 1066 configured to allow the liquid composition to pass therethrough. In the illustrated implementation, the openings 1066 are configured to facilitate the passage of the liquid composition from the reservoir 1044 to the small chamber 1064 between the mesh plate 1019 and the perforated gate 1062.

[0125] As shown, each of the openings 1066 in the illustrated implementation has a frusto-conical shape (see details), with the smaller end of the opening closest to the mesh plate 1019. In this manner, the openings 1066 can act similar to a one-way valve, where the liquid composition can pass in one direction through the perforated gate 1062 into the chamber 1064, and is prevented from returning in the opposite direction through the perforated gate 1062. It should be noted that in other implementations, the openings may have other configurations and / or other shapes. For example, in other implementations, the multiple openings may have a square, pyramidal or cylindrical shape. In some implementations, at least a portion of the perforated gate 1062 may include one or more coating materials. For example, in the illustrated implementation, the side of the perforated gate 1062 closest to the chamber 1064 includes a hydrophobic / oleophobic coating. Due to the configuration of the reservoir 1044 and the nebulizing assembly 1015, the illustrated implementation allows for use of the aerosol delivery device at a variety of angles and orientations.

[0126] Another implementation of the present disclosure is shown in FIG. 12. In particular, FIG. 12 shows a side schematic view of a portion of a reservoir 1144 configured to hold a liquid composition (not shown) and a nebulizing assembly 1115 configured to generate an aerosol from the liquid composition, according to another exemplary implementation of the present disclosure. In the illustrated implementation, the reservoir 1144 and the nebulizing assembly 1115 are configured to be used with an aerosol delivery device. In the illustrated implementation, the nebulizing assembly 1115 comprises a vibrating mesh assembly including a piezoelectric disk or ring 1117 attached to and substantially surrounding a mesh plate 1119. In various implementations, an electrical connection (not shown) connects the nebulizing assembly 1115 to a control component and / or a battery of the aerosol delivery device. In this manner, the nebulizing assembly 1115 of the illustrated implementation may be energized by a battery and / or a control component to vibrate the mesh plate 1119 at a relatively high speed. The resulting vibration of the plate generates an aerosol from the liquid composition with which it comes into contact. See further the description of the vibrating mesh assembly components and variations mentioned above.

[0127] The illustrated implementation further includes a liquid transport element 1168, one end of which is disposed adjacent to the mesh plate 1119. In the illustrated implementation, the liquid transport element 1168 is disposed between the liquid composition in the reservoir 1144 and the mesh plate 1119. In some implementations, the liquid transport element may occupy a portion or substantially all of the reservoir. In various implementations, the liquid transport element may have one layer or multiple layers and may be made of a single material or multiple materials. In various implementations, the liquid transport element may be of any shape and may be a porous, semi-porous or non-porous absorbent / adsorbent material. In other implementations, there may be a second liquid transport element disposed between the first liquid transport element and the liquid reservoir, the second liquid transport element being configured to transfer liquid from the liquid reservoir to the first liquid transport element. In this way, the first liquid transport element may not be in direct contact with the liquid in the liquid reservoir. In various implementations, the second liquid transport element may be made from the same or a different material as the first liquid transport element and may have the same or a different shape than the shape of the first liquid transport element.

[0128] For example, in some implementations, the liquid transport element may be made from fibrous materials (e.g., organic cotton, cellulose acetate, regenerated cellulose cloth, glass fiber), polymers, silk, particles, porous ceramics (e.g., alumina, silica, zirconia, SiC, SiN, AlN, etc.), porous metals, porous carbon, graphite, porous glass, sintered glass beads, sintered ceramic beads, capillaries, porous polymers, etc. In some implementations, the liquid transport element may be any material that includes an open pore network (i.e., multiple pores that are interconnected such that fluid can flow from one pore to another in multiple directions through the element). The pores can be nanopores, micropores, macropores, or combinations thereof. As further described herein, some implementations of the present disclosure may specifically relate to the use of non-fibrous transport elements. As such, fibrous transport elements may be explicitly excluded. Alternatively, a combination of fibrous and non-fibrous transport elements may be utilized. In some embodiments, the liquid transport element can be a substantially solid, non-porous material, such as a polymer or dense ceramic or metal, configured to direct liquid through an opening or slot without necessarily relying on wicking by capillary action. Such solids may be used in combination with a porous absorbent pad. The absorbent pad may be formed from silica-based fibers, organic cotton, rayon fibers, cellulose acetate, regenerated cellulose cloth, highly porous ceramic or metal mesh, and the like. Some representative types of substrates, reservoirs, or other components for supporting aerosol precursors are described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,528,569 to Newton, U.S. Pat. App. Pub. No. 2014 / 0261487 to Chapman et al., U.S. Pat. App. Pub. No. 2014 / 0059780 to Davis et al., and U.S. Pat. App. Pub. No. 2015 / 0216232 to Bless et al., which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. Additionally, various wicking materials as well as the construction and operation of wicking materials within particular types of electronic cigarettes are described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,910,640 to Sears et al., the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.In some implementations, the liquid transport element may be partially or completely formed from a porous monolith, such as a porous ceramic, porous glass, etc. Exemplary monolithic materials that may be suitable for use with embodiments of the present disclosure are described, for example, in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0188626 to Davis et al. and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014 / 0123989 to LaMothe, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. In some implementations, the porous monolith may form a substantially solid wick.

[0129] In various implementations, the end of the liquid transport element is configured to be disposed proximate to the mesh plate and between the mesh plate and the liquid composition in the reservoir, such that the liquid transport element acts as a secondary reservoir that absorbs or adsorbs liquid from the reservoir such that at least a portion of the liquid composition is delivered to the mesh plate even when there is no longer liquid in the reservoir. In this manner, the liquid transport element is configured to facilitate delivery of the liquid composition to the spray assembly.

[0130] Another implementation of the present disclosure is shown in FIG. 13. In particular, FIG. 13 shows a side schematic view of a portion of a reservoir 1244 configured to hold a liquid composition (not shown) and a nebulizing assembly 1215 configured to generate an aerosol from the liquid composition, according to another exemplary implementation of the present disclosure. In the illustrated implementation, the reservoir 1244 and the nebulizing assembly 1215 are configured to be used with an aerosol delivery device. In the illustrated implementation, the nebulizing assembly 1215 comprises a vibrating mesh assembly including a piezoelectric disk or ring 1217 attached to and substantially surrounding a mesh plate 1219. In various implementations, an electrical connection (not shown) connects the nebulizing assembly 1215 to a control component and / or a battery of the aerosol delivery device. In this manner, the nebulizing assembly 1215 of the illustrated implementation may be energized by a battery and / or a control component to vibrate the mesh plate 1219 at a relatively high rate. As at least a portion of the liquid composition is delivered to the mesh plate 1219, the resulting vibration of the plate generates an aerosol from the liquid composition with which it comes into contact, see further description of the vibrating mesh assembly components and variations discussed above.

[0131] In the illustrated implementation, the spray assembly 1215 further includes a micropump assembly 1260. In various implementations, the micropump assembly 1260 is configured to transfer a portion of the liquid composition from the reservoir 1244 to the mesh plate 1219. In some implementations, the delivery of the liquid composition to the mesh plate 1219 may occur automatically. In other implementations, the delivery of the liquid composition to the mesh plate 1219 may occur on demand, such as via control from a control component. In some implementations, the micropump assembly may directly apply the liquid composition droplets onto the mesh plate. In other implementations, the micropump assembly may spray the liquid composition droplets onto the mesh plate (e.g., via one or more nozzles). In still other implementations, the micropump assembly may apply or spray the liquid composition droplets onto a liquid transport element that can deliver at least a portion of the liquid composition to the mesh plate, as described with respect to FIG. 12 above. In various implementations, the micropump assembly may comprise any mechanical or non-mechanical pump configured to transport liquid from one location to another. Non-limiting examples of micropump assemblies include dispensing mechanisms (such as shape memory dispensing mechanisms), diaphragm devices, peristaltic devices, or lab-on-a-chip or lab-on-a-disk microfluidic systems. Such devices may be configured to automatically transfer liquids or may initially transfer liquids via one or more stimuli, such as, for example, manual force or pressure. Some examples of shape memory dispensing mechanisms are described in U.S. Patent No. 10,080,388 to Sebastian et al., which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0132] Another implementation of the present disclosure is shown in FIG. 14. In particular, FIG. 14 shows a side schematic view of a portion of a reservoir 1344 configured to hold a liquid composition (not shown) and a nebulizing assembly 1315 configured to generate an aerosol from the liquid composition, according to another exemplary implementation of the present disclosure. In the illustrated implementation, the reservoir 1344 and the nebulizing assembly 1315 are configured to be used with an aerosol delivery device. In the illustrated implementation, the nebulizing assembly 1315 comprises a vibrating mesh assembly including a piezoelectric disk or ring 1317 attached to and substantially surrounding a mesh plate 1319. In various implementations, an electrical connection (not shown) connects the nebulizing assembly 1315 to a control component and / or a battery of the aerosol delivery device. In this manner, the nebulizing assembly 1315 of the illustrated implementation may be energized by a battery and / or a control component to vibrate the mesh plate 1319 at a relatively high rate. As at least a portion of the liquid composition is delivered to the mesh plate 1319, the resulting vibration of the plate generates an aerosol from the liquid composition with which it comes into contact, see further description of the vibrating mesh assembly components and variations discussed above.

[0133] In the illustrated implementation, the spray assembly 1315 further includes a micro-blower assembly 1362. In various implementations, the micro-blower assembly 1362 is configured to propel a portion of the liquid composition (e.g., in the form of small particles or a small stream) from the reservoir 1344 to the surface of the mesh plate 1319. In some implementations, the micro-blower assembly may comprise a micro-compressor. In some implementations, the micro-blower assembly may utilize a pressurized gas (e.g., air, carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen (N2), etc.) to help propel the liquid composition to the surface of the mesh plate. In some implementations, the micro-blower assembly may include one or more nozzles.

[0134] Other implementations of the present disclosure are shown in Figures 15A and 15B. In particular, Figures 15A and 15B show side schematic views of portions of reservoirs 1444A, 1444B configured to hold liquid compositions 1445A, 1445B, and nebulizing assemblies 1415A, 1415B configured to generate an aerosol from the liquid compositions, according to other exemplary implementations of the present disclosure. In the illustrated implementations, the reservoirs 1444A, 1444B and nebulizing assemblies 1415A, 1415B are configured to be used with an aerosol delivery device. In the illustrated implementations, each nebulizing assembly 1415A, 1415B comprises a vibrating mesh assembly including a piezoelectric disk or ring 1417A, 1417B attached to and substantially surrounding a mesh plate 1419A, 1419B. In various implementations, electrical connections (not shown) connect the nebulizing assemblies 1415A, 1415B to a control component and / or a battery of the aerosol delivery device. Thus, the nebulizing assemblies 1415A, 1415B of the illustrated implementations may be energized by a battery and / or control component to vibrate the respective mesh plates 1419A, 1419B at a relatively high speed. The resulting vibration of the plates generates the respective aerosols from the contacted liquid composition. See further description of the vibrating mesh assembly components and variations above.

[0135] In the illustrated implementation, the reservoirs 1444A, 1444B comprise substantially U-shaped tubes and include respective first reservoir sections 1447A, 1447B, second reservoir sections 1449A, 1449B, and third reservoir sections 1451A, 1451B. In the illustrated implementation, the first reservoir sections 1447A, 1447B and the third reservoir sections 1451A, 1451B are substantially straight, and the second reservoir sections 1449A, 1449B connecting the first reservoir sections 1447A, 1447B to the third reservoir sections 1451A, 1451B are substantially curved. In the implementation shown in FIG. 15A, the diameters of the first reservoir section 1447A, the second reservoir section 1449A, and the third reservoir section 1451A are substantially the same. However, in other implementations, the diameters may be different. For example, in the implementation shown in FIG. 15B, the diameters of the second reservoir section 1449B and the third reservoir section 1451B are substantially the same and are smaller than the diameter of the first reservoir section 1447B.

[0136] In each of the illustrated implementations, the reservoirs 1444A, 1444B include respective weights 1464A, 1464B that exert a downward force on the liquid composition in the first reservoir sections 1447A, 1447B. In various implementations, the weights may comprise any device configured to increase pressure on the liquid composition, including, for example, a weighted disk or a weighted ball. In this manner, contact between the liquid composition and the mesh plates 1419A, 1419B is maintained even as the level of the liquid composition in the reservoirs 1444A, 1444B decreases.

[0137] Another implementation of the present disclosure is shown in FIG. 16. In particular, FIG. 15 shows a side schematic view of a portion of a reservoir 1544 configured to hold a liquid composition 1545, and a nebulizing assembly 1515 configured to generate an aerosol from the liquid composition, according to another exemplary implementation of the present disclosure. In the illustrated implementation, the reservoir 1544 and the nebulizing assembly 1515 are configured to be used with an aerosol delivery device as described above. In the illustrated implementation, the nebulizing assembly 1515 comprises a vibrating mesh assembly including a piezoelectric disk or ring 1517 attached to and substantially surrounding a mesh plate 1519. In various implementations, an electrical connection (not shown) connects the nebulizing assembly 1515 to a control component and / or a battery of the aerosol delivery device. In this manner, the nebulizing assembly 1515 of the illustrated implementation may be energized by a battery and / or a control component to vibrate the mesh plate 1519 at a relatively high speed. The resulting vibration of the plate generates an aerosol from the liquid composition with which it comes into contact. See further the description of the vibrating mesh assembly components and variations mentioned above.

[0138] In the illustrated implementation, the reservoir 1544 comprises a generally U-shaped tube and includes a first reservoir section 1547, a second reservoir section 1549, and a third reservoir section 1551. In the illustrated implementation, the first reservoir section 1547 and the third reservoir section 1551 are substantially straight, and the second reservoir section 1519 connecting the first reservoir section 1547 to the third reservoir section 1551 is substantially curved. In the implementation shown in FIG. 16, the diameters of the first reservoir section 1547, the second reservoir section 1549, and the third reservoir section 1551 are substantially the same. However, in other implementations, the diameters may be different.

[0139] In the illustrated implementation, the reservoir 1544 includes a weight 1564 that applies a downward force to the liquid composition in the first reservoir section 1547. In various implementations, the weight may comprise any device configured to increase pressure on the liquid composition, including, for example, a weighted disk or a weighted ball. In this manner, contact between the liquid composition and the mesh plate 1519 is maintained even as the level of the liquid composition in the reservoir 1544 decreases. Furthermore, in the illustrated implementation, the U-shaped reservoir is angled with respect to the longitudinal axis 1550 of the aerosol delivery device body 1505 such that contact between the liquid composition and the mesh plate 1519 is maintained. Furthermore, in the illustrated implementation, the mouthpiece portion 1509 (defining the opening 1528 through which the aerosol exits) is located on one side of the aerosol delivery device body 1505 to facilitate use of the device in a particular orientation.

[0140] Another implementation of the present disclosure is shown in FIG. 17. In particular, FIG. 17 shows a side schematic view of a portion of a reservoir 1644 configured to hold a liquid composition 1645 and a nebulizing assembly 1615 configured to generate an aerosol from the liquid composition, according to another exemplary implementation of the present disclosure. In the illustrated implementation, the reservoir 1644 and the nebulizing assembly 1615 are configured to be used with an aerosol delivery device. In the illustrated implementation, the nebulizing assembly 1615 comprises a vibrating mesh assembly including a piezoelectric disk or ring 1617 attached to and substantially surrounding a mesh plate 1619. In various implementations, an electrical connection (not shown) connects the nebulizing assembly 1615 to a control component and / or a battery of the aerosol delivery device. In this manner, the nebulizing assembly 1615 of the illustrated implementation may be energized by a battery and / or a control component to vibrate the mesh plate 1619 at a relatively high speed. The resulting vibration of the plate generates an aerosol from the liquid composition with which it comes into contact. See further the description of the vibrating mesh assembly components and variations mentioned above.

[0141] In the illustrated implementation, the reservoir 1644 comprises a substantially U-shaped tube and includes a first reservoir section 1647, a second reservoir section 1649, and a third reservoir section 1651. In the illustrated implementation, the first reservoir section 1647 and the third reservoir section 1651 are substantially straight, and the second reservoir section 1619 connecting the first reservoir section 1647 to the third reservoir section 1651 is substantially curved. In the implementation shown in FIG. 17, the diameters of the first reservoir section 1647, the second reservoir section 1649, and the third reservoir section 1651 are substantially the same. However, in other implementations, the diameters may be different.

[0142] In the illustrated implementation, the reservoir 1644 includes a weight 1664 that applies a downward force to the liquid composition in the first reservoir section 1647. As described above, in various implementations, the weight may comprise any device configured to increase pressure on the liquid composition. In some implementations, such as the illustrated implementation, the weight may further include an active component configured to actively apply pressure to the liquid composition in the reservoir. In various implementations, the active component can be any device configured to actively apply a force to the liquid composition in the reservoir. In the illustrated implementation, the active component comprises a spring 1665 that applies an additional force to the weight 1664. In other implementations, the active component may include an electromechanical device, such as, for example, an actuator or piston, which in some implementations may include feedback control. In various implementations, the active component may be selected based on the properties of the liquid composition (e.g., viscosity, density, etc.) and / or the size of the mesh holes and / or the frequency of vibration of the vibrating assembly. It should also be noted that in other implementations, the reservoir containing the active component may be substantially cylindrical in shape.

[0143] In some implementations of the present disclosure, the cartridge and the control unit may generally be provided together as a complete aerosol delivery device, although these components may be provided separately. For example, the present disclosure also encompasses a disposable unit for use with a reusable unit. In certain implementations, such a disposable unit (which may be a cartridge as shown in the accompanying figures) may be configured to engage with a reusable unit (which may be a control unit as shown in the accompanying figures). In yet other configurations, the cartridge may comprise the reusable unit and the control unit may comprise the disposable unit.

[0144] Although several figures described herein show the cartridge and control unit in operative relationship, it is understood that the cartridge and control unit may exist as separate components, and thus any description provided elsewhere herein regarding combined components should be understood as applying to the control unit and cartridge as separate and distinct components.

[0145] In another aspect, the present disclosure may be directed to a kit providing various components described herein. For example, the kit may include a control unit having one or more cartridges. The kit may further include a control unit having one or more charging components. The kit may further include a control unit having one or more batteries. The kit may further include a control unit having one or more cartridges and one or more charging components and / or one or more batteries. In further implementations, the kit may include multiple cartridges. The kit may further include multiple cartridges and one or more batteries and / or one or more charging components. In the above implementations, the cartridges or control units may include a heating element included therein. The kit of the present invention may further include a case (or other packaging, transport or storage component) that houses one or more of the additional kit components. The case may be a reusable hard or soft container. Additionally, the case may simply be a box or other packaging structure.

[0146] Many modifications and other implementations of the present disclosure will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which this disclosure pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. It is therefore to be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

Claims

1. 1. An aerosol delivery device comprising: a housing defining an outer wall and further including power and control components; A mouthpiece portion; a tank portion including a reservoir configured to contain a liquid composition; an atomization assembly configured to vaporize the liquid composition to generate an aerosol; Equipped with The aerosol delivery device, wherein the nebulizing assembly comprises a vibrating assembly including a mesh plate, the nebulizing assembly further comprising a liquid transport element, one end of the liquid transport element being positioned adjacent to the mesh plate.

2. 10. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, wherein the liquid transport element comprises a single layer of a single material.

3. 10. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, wherein the liquid transport element comprises multiple layers of a single material.

4. 10. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, wherein the liquid transport element comprises multiple layers.

5. 10. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, wherein the liquid transport element comprises at least one of a polymeric material, a polymeric fiber material, a cotton material, a silk material, a silica fiber material, a particulate material, a synthetic fiber material, a natural fiber material, and a ceramic material.

6. 1. An aerosol delivery device comprising: a housing defining an outer wall and further including power and control components; A mouthpiece portion; a tank portion including a reservoir configured to contain a liquid composition; an atomization assembly configured to vaporize the liquid composition to generate an aerosol; Equipped with The nebulizer assembly is an aerosol delivery device comprising a vibration assembly including a mesh plate and a pump assembly configured to transfer a portion of the liquid composition from the reservoir to the mesh plate.

7. 7. The aerosol delivery device of claim 6, wherein the pump assembly is configured to deliver the liquid composition to the mesh plate on demand.

8. 7. The aerosol delivery device of claim 6, wherein the pump assembly utilizes one or more nozzles to transfer the liquid composition to the mesh plate.

9. 7. The aerosol delivery device of claim 6, wherein the pump assembly comprises at least one of a dispensing mechanism, a diaphragm device, and a peristaltic device.

10. 10. The aerosol delivery device of claim 9, wherein the dispensing mechanism comprises a shape memory mechanism.

11. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1 or claim 6, wherein the vibration assembly further comprises a piezoelectric component, the piezoelectric component being attached to and substantially surrounding the mesh plate.

12. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1 or claim 6, wherein the mesh plate is substantially flat.

13. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1 or claim 6, wherein at least a portion of the mesh plate is convex relative to the reservoir.

14. 1. An aerosol delivery device comprising: a housing defining an outer wall and further including power and control components; A mouthpiece portion; a tank portion including a reservoir configured to contain a liquid composition; an atomization assembly configured to vaporize the liquid composition to generate an aerosol; Equipped with An aerosol delivery device, wherein the nebulizer assembly comprises a vibrating assembly including a mesh plate, the reservoir comprises a substantially cylindrical tube, and further comprises a weight having an active part configured to apply a downward force to the liquid composition in the first reservoir section.

15. The aerosol delivery device of claim 14 , wherein the active component comprises a spring.

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