Smoking articles, cartridges and related methods for ad-hoc delivery of increased amounts of aerosol precursor compositions

Abstract

Smoking articles, cartridges, and methods for on-demand delivery of incremental amounts of aerosol precursor compositions are disclosed. In some embodiments, the cartridge (300) includes a housing and a reservoir (316) disposed within the housing and defining two or more chambers (318A-C), each having an aerosol precursor composition therein. The reservoir is in fluid communication with an aerosol-forming arrangement (308) configured to form an aerosol from any of the aerosol precursor compositions, and the aerosol precursor compositions in each of the two or more chambers are directed to the aerosol-forming arrangement in substantially equal, nominal amounts. The cartridge further includes an actuator (328) configured to selectively and operably engage any one of the chambers and direct an incremental amount of the aerosol precursor composition from the engaged chamber to the aerosol-forming arrangement, the incremental amount being greater than the nominal amount of the aerosol precursor composition.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to smoking articles, and more particularly to smoking articles, cartridges and related methods for on-demand delivery of increased amounts of an aerosol precursor composition, the on-demand delivery of increased amounts of an aerosol precursor composition being achieved by a user-operated actuator. [Background technology]

[0002] Numerous smoking products have been developed that attempt to provide the smoking sensation of cigarettes, cigars or pipes without significant tobacco combustion.Many of these products have aerosol precursor compositions that contain flavor generating agents, vapor generating agents, various nicotine contents, etc., to deliver a normal amount of aerosol precursor composition to the aerosol-forming composition for each individual puff of the product.See, for example, the various alternative smoking products that include smoking articles, aerosol delivery devices and / or 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., U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014 / 0000638 to Sebastian et al., U.S. Patent No. 8,881,737 to Collett et al. and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014 / 0096781 to Sears et al., which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0003] However, such smoking products do not necessarily allow the consumer of such products to selectively control the incremental amount of one or more aerosol precursor compositions (i.e., flavor loading) delivered to the aerosol-forming configuration. More specifically, it is not necessarily clear that such smoking products allow the consumer to selectively control the delivery of incremental amounts of aerosol precursor compositions to the aerosol-forming configuration, the incremental amount being greater than the normal amount of aerosol precursor composition delivered to the aerosol-forming configuration based on, for example, an individual puff. Smoking articles that allow the consumer to selectively control the incremental amount of aerosol precursor composition may be even more desirable because the aerosol formed thereby has increased properties directly related to the incremental amount of aerosol precursor composition delivered to the aerosol-forming configuration. Such increased properties may include, for example, increased active ingredient (i.e., nicotine) content, increased flavor, increased vapor / aerosol production, etc. [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 / 0000638 [Patent Document 4] U.S. Pat. No. 8,881,737 [Patent Document 5] US Patent Application Publication No. 2014 / 0096781 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] It would therefore be desirable to provide smoking articles, cartridges and related methods for the ad-hoc delivery of increased amounts of aerosol precursor compositions to provide consumers with selectively enhanced properties of the generated vapour / aerosol. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The above and other needs are met by an embodiment of the present disclosure, which provides a smoking article including, in one aspect, a control body and a cartridge engaged to the control body. The cartridge includes a housing having a proximal end and an opposite distal end engageable with the control body. A reservoir is disposed within the housing and extends longitudinally from a first end disposed toward the proximal end of the housing to a second end disposed toward the distal end of the housing. The reservoir defines two or more chambers, each having an aerosol precursor composition disposed therein, and is in fluid communication with an aerosol forming arrangement configured to form an aerosol from one of the aerosol precursor compositions. The aerosol precursor composition of each of the two or more chambers is directed to the aerosol forming arrangement in a substantially equal normal amount. An actuator is configured to engage the housing and to selectively and operably engage any one of the two or more chambers defined by the reservoir. The actuator is configured to direct an incremental amount of the aerosol precursor composition from a chamber engaged therewith to the aerosol forming arrangement upon actuation thereof, the incremental amount being greater than the normal amount of the aerosol precursor composition.

[0007] Another aspect of the disclosure provides a cartridge for a smoking article, the cartridge including a housing having a proximal end and an opposite distal end engageable with a control body of the smoking article. A reservoir is disposed within the housing and extends longitudinally from a first end disposed toward the proximal end of the housing to a second end disposed toward the distal end of the housing. The reservoir defines two or more chambers, each having an aerosol precursor composition disposed therein, and is in fluid communication with an aerosol forming arrangement configured to form an aerosol from one of the aerosol precursor compositions. The aerosol precursor composition of each of the two or more chambers is directed to the aerosol forming arrangement in a substantially equal normal amount. An actuator is configured to engage the housing and to selectively and operably engage any one of the two or more chambers defined by the reservoir. The actuator is configured to direct an incremental amount of the aerosol precursor composition from a chamber engaged therewith to the aerosol forming arrangement upon actuation thereof, the incremental amount being greater than the normal amount of the aerosol precursor composition.

[0008] Yet another aspect of the present disclosure provides a method of manufacturing a smoking article, such method comprising: The method includes engaging a reservoir in fluid communication with an aerosol forming arrangement configured to form an aerosol from the aerosol precursor composition. The reservoir is disposed within a housing of the cartridge and defines two or more chambers each extending longitudinally from a first end disposed toward a proximal end of the housing to a second end disposed toward a distal end of the housing. Each of the two or more chambers has an aerosol precursor composition disposed therein and is configured to direct a substantially equal normal amount of each of the two or more chambers of the aerosol precursor composition to the aerosol forming arrangement. An actuator engages the housing such that the actuator selectively and operably engages any one of the two or more chambers defined by the reservoir. The actuator is selectively operable configured to direct an incremental amount of the aerosol precursor composition from a chamber engaged therewith to the aerosol forming arrangement, the incremental amount being greater than the normal amount of the aerosol precursor composition.

[0009] Accordingly, the present disclosure includes, without limitation, the following embodiments.

[0010] Embodiment 1: A smoking article, comprising a control body and a cartridge engaged with the control body, the cartridge comprising: a housing having a proximal end and an opposed distal end engageable with a control body; and a reservoir disposed within the housing and extending longitudinally from a first end disposed toward the proximal end of the housing to a second end disposed toward the distal end of the housing, the reservoir defining two or more chambers each having an aerosol precursor composition disposed therein and in fluid communication with an aerosol forming arrangement configured to form an aerosol from one of the aerosol precursor compositions, the aerosol precursor composition of each of the two or more chambers being directed to the aerosol forming arrangement in substantially equal nominal amounts; an actuator engaged with the housing and configured to selectively and operably engage any one of two or more chambers defined by the reservoir, the actuator being configured, upon actuation thereof, to direct an incremental amount of the aerosol precursor composition from the chamber engaged therewith to the aerosol forming arrangement, the incremental amount being greater than a normal amount of the aerosol precursor composition; Smoking articles, including:

[0011] Embodiment 2: The smoking article of any preceding embodiment, wherein the cartridge further comprises a backflow prevention device configured to selectively prevent an increased amount of the aerosol precursor composition channeled from a chamber operatively engaged with the actuator from flowing back into other of two or more chambers of the reservoir.

[0012] Embodiment 3: A smoking article of any preceding embodiment, wherein the anti-backflow mechanism comprises two or more aligned discs, one of which is independently rotatable relative to the other about a common axis passing therethrough, and the discs are arranged in series relative to each other along the common axis.

[0013] Embodiment 4: A smoking article of any preceding embodiment, wherein a first disc and a second disc of two or more discs each define a plurality of feed ports, each feed port corresponding to two or more chambers, and by rotating one of the discs so that the feed ports of the first disc coincide with the feed ports of the second disc, a substantially equal normal amount of each of the aerosol precursor compositions of the two or more chambers can be fed from the reservoir through the feed ports and directed into an aerosol forming configuration.

[0014] Embodiment 5: A smoking article of any preceding embodiment, wherein the supply ports of the first and second discs are arranged equidistant along a radius starting from a common axis, and the supply ports are substantially equally angularly spaced around each of the first and second discs.

[0015] Embodiment 6: A smoking article of any preceding embodiment, wherein the first disk defines an augmentation port that is radially equidistant to the supply ports and angularly spaced from each supply port, such that when the first disk rotates such that the augmentation port coincides with one of the supply ports of the second disk associated with one of the chambers, the first disk blocks the other supply port of the second disk, preventing backflow of an increased amount of the aerosol precursor composition from one of the chambers to the other of the chambers.

[0016] Embodiment 7: A smoking article of any preceding embodiment, wherein the first and second discs each define three supply ports, the three supply ports being spaced at an angle of approximately 120 degrees from one another, and the first disc defines an enhancement port between two of the supply ports such that the enhancement port is located approximately 60 degrees from each of two of the supply ports.

[0017] Embodiment 8: A smoking article of any preceding embodiment, wherein the actuator includes a flexible valve in fluid communication with one of the two or more chambers, and the chamber in fluid communication with the valve is configured to respond to actuation of the valve by reducing its volume to provide an increased amount of the aerosol precursor composition in the chamber to the aerosol forming arrangement.

[0018] Embodiment 9: A smoking article of any preceding embodiment, wherein the actuator is in communication with a pump device, the pump device is in fluid communication with one of the two or more chambers, and the chamber in fluid communication with the pump device is configured to pressurize the chamber or an aerosol precursor composition therein in response to actuation of the pump device by the actuator to supply an increased amount of the aerosol precursor composition in the chamber to the aerosol forming arrangement.

[0019] Embodiment 10: A smoking article of any preceding embodiment, wherein the actuator is in fluid communication with the piston member, the piston member is in fluid communication with one of the two or more chambers, and the chamber in fluid communication with the piston member is configured to, in response to actuation of the piston member by the actuator, reduce a volume of the chamber and supply an increased amount of the aerosol precursor composition in the chamber to the aerosol forming arrangement.

[0020] Embodiment 11: A smoking article of any preceding embodiment, wherein the control body includes a control component, a flow sensor and a battery, the aerosol forming arrangement includes a resistive heating element in electrical communication with the battery and configured to generate heat in response thereto, and the aerosol precursor composition is directed to the aerosol forming arrangement which generates an aerosol upon interaction with the heat generated by the heating element.

[0021] Embodiment 12: A smoking article of any preceding embodiment, comprising a transport element configured to direct the aerosol precursor composition to interact with heat generated by the heating element, and a sorption element operably engaged between the one or more chambers and the transport element, the sorption element configured to sorb and receive the aerosol precursor composition and supply the aerosol precursor composition to the transport element.

[0022] Embodiment 13: A smoking article of any preceding embodiment, wherein the cartridge defines a flow tube having a proximal end forming a mouthpiece element, the flow tube extending between the two or more chambers to a distal end in fluid communication with the aerosol-forming arrangement and directing aerosol therefrom through the mouthpiece element in response to drawing applied to the mouthpiece element.

[0023] Embodiment 14: A smoking article of any preceding embodiment, wherein each of the two or more chambers contains a different flavour, a different proportion of active ingredient, or an aerosol precursor composition of different composition.

[0024] Embodiment 15: A cartridge for a smoking article, comprising: a housing having a proximal end and an opposite distal end engageable with a control body of a smoking article; a reservoir disposed within the housing and extending longitudinally from a first end disposed toward a proximal end of the housing to a second end disposed toward a distal end of the housing, the reservoir defining two or more chambers each having an aerosol precursor composition disposed therein and in fluid communication with an aerosol forming arrangement configured to form an aerosol from one of the aerosol precursor compositions, the aerosol precursor composition of each of the two or more chambers being directed to the aerosol forming arrangement in substantially equal nominal amounts; an actuator engaged with the housing and configured to selectively and operably engage any one of two or more chambers defined by the reservoir, the actuator being configured, upon actuation thereof, to direct an incremental amount of the aerosol precursor composition from the chamber engaged therewith to the aerosol forming arrangement, the incremental amount being greater than a normal amount of the aerosol precursor composition; Including, the cartridge.

[0025] Embodiment 16: The cartridge of any preceding embodiment, comprising a backflow prevention device configured to selectively prevent an increased amount of aerosol precursor composition channeled from a chamber operatively engaged with the actuator from flowing back into other of two or more chambers of the reservoir.

[0026] Embodiment 17: The cartridge of any preceding embodiment, wherein the backflow prevention mechanism includes two or more aligned disks, one of which is independently rotatable relative to the other about a common axis passing therethrough, and the disks are arranged in series relative to each other along the common axis.

[0027] Embodiment 18: A cartridge of any preceding embodiment, wherein a first disk and a second disk of the two or more disks each define a plurality of feed ports, each feed port corresponding to two or more chambers, and wherein rotating one of the disks so that the feed ports of the first disk coincide with the feed ports of the second disk enables substantially equal regular amounts of each of the two or more chambers to be fed from the reservoir through the feed ports and directed into the aerosol forming configuration.

[0028] Embodiment 19: A cartridge of any preceding embodiment, wherein the supply ports of the first and second disks are positioned equidistant along a radius beginning from a common axis, and the supply ports are substantially equally angularly spaced around each of the first and second disks.

[0029] Embodiment 20: A cartridge of any preceding embodiment, wherein the first disk defines an augmentation port that is radially equidistant to the supply ports and angularly spaced from each supply port such that when the first disk is rotated such that the augmentation port is aligned with one of the supply ports of the second disk associated with one of the chambers, the first disk blocks the other supply port of the second disk, preventing backflow of an increased amount of the aerosol precursor composition from one of the chambers to the other of the chambers.

[0030] Embodiment 21: A cartridge of any preceding embodiment, wherein the first and second disks each define three supply ports, the three supply ports being spaced at an angle of approximately 120 degrees from one another, and the first disk defines an augmentation port between two of the supply ports such that the augmentation port is positioned approximately 60 degrees from each of two of the supply ports.

[0031] Embodiment 22: The cartridge of any preceding embodiment, wherein the actuator includes a flexible valve in fluid communication with one of the two or more chambers, the chamber in fluid communication with the valve configured to respond to actuation of the valve by reducing its volume to provide an increased amount of the aerosol precursor composition in the chamber to the aerosol forming arrangement.

[0032] Embodiment 23: The cartridge of any preceding embodiment, wherein the actuator is in communication with a pump device, the pump device is in fluid communication with one of the two or more chambers, and the chamber in fluid communication with the pump device is configured to pressurize the chamber or an aerosol precursor composition therein in response to actuation of the pump device by the actuator to supply an increased amount of the aerosol precursor composition in the chamber to the aerosol forming arrangement.

[0033] Embodiment 24: The cartridge of any preceding embodiment, wherein the actuator is in communication with the piston member, the piston member is in fluid communication with one of the two or more chambers, and the chamber in fluid communication with the piston member is configured to, in response to actuation of the piston member by the actuator, reduce a volume of the chamber and supply an increased amount of the aerosol precursor composition in the chamber to the aerosol forming arrangement.

[0034] Embodiment 25: The cartridge of any preceding embodiment, wherein the aerosol-forming arrangement includes a resistive heating element in electrical communication with the battery and configured to generate heat in response thereto, and wherein the aerosol precursor composition is directed to the aerosol-forming arrangement which generates an aerosol upon interaction with the heat generated by the heating element.

[0035] Embodiment 26: A cartridge of any preceding embodiment, wherein the aerosol forming arrangement includes a transport element configured to direct the aerosol precursor composition to interact with heat generated by the heating element, and a sorption element operably engaged between the one or more chambers and the transport element, the sorption element configured to sorb and receive the aerosol precursor composition and supply the aerosol precursor composition to the transport element.

[0036] Embodiment 27: A cartridge of any preceding embodiment, wherein the housing defines a flow tube having a proximal end forming a mouthpiece element, the flow tube extending between the two or more chambers to a distal end in fluid communication with the aerosol forming arrangement and directing an aerosol therefrom through the mouthpiece element in response to suction applied to the mouthpiece element.

[0037] Embodiment 28: The cartridge of any preceding embodiment, wherein each of the two or more chambers contains a different flavor, a different percentage of active ingredient, or an aerosol precursor composition of different composition.

[0038] Embodiment 29: A method of manufacturing a smoking article, comprising engaging a reservoir in fluid communication with an aerosol forming arrangement configured to form an aerosol from an aerosol precursor composition, wherein the reservoir is disposed within a housing of the cartridge and defines two or more chambers each extending longitudinally from a first end disposed toward a proximal end of the housing to a second end disposed toward a distal end of the housing, each of the two or more chambers having an aerosol precursor composition disposed therein, the reservoir being configured to direct aerosol precursor composition of each of the two or more chambers in substantially equal regular amounts to the aerosol forming arrangement; engaging an actuator with the housing such that the actuator selectively and operably engages any one of two or more chambers defined by a reservoir, the actuator being operably configured to direct an incremental amount of the aerosol precursor composition from the chamber engaged therewith to the aerosol forming arrangement, the incremental amount being greater than a normal amount of the aerosol precursor composition; A manufacturing method comprising:

[0039] Embodiment 30: The method of any preceding embodiment, comprising engaging a proximal or distal end of the housing of the cartridge with the control body.

[0040] Embodiment 31: The method of any preceding embodiment, comprising engaging a backflow prevention device within the housing between the reservoir and the aerosol forming arrangement, the backflow prevention device being configured to selectively prevent an increased amount of the aerosol precursor composition directed from a chamber operably engaged with the actuator from flowing back into other of two or more chambers of the reservoir.

[0041] Embodiment 32: The method of any preceding embodiment, wherein engaging the backflow prevention device comprises engaging two or more disks aligned along a common axis passing therethrough and arranged in series relative to one another between the reservoir and the aerosol formation arrangement, wherein one of the disks is independently rotatable relative to the other.

[0042] Embodiment 33: The method of any preceding embodiment, wherein engaging the two or more disks comprises aligning the first and second disks in series relative to one another along their common axis such that one of the first and second disks is rotatable relative to the other of the first and second disks, each of the first and second disks defining a plurality of feed ports, each feed port corresponding to one of the two or more chambers, and rotating one of the disks such that the feed ports of the first disk coincide with the feed ports of the second disk enables substantially equal regular amounts of each of the two or more chambers to be fed from the reservoir through the feed ports and directed into the aerosol forming configuration.

[0043] Embodiment 34: The method of any preceding embodiment, comprising forming supply ports in each of the first and second discs such that the supply ports are equidistantly spaced along a radius beginning from a common axis and such that the supply ports are substantially equally angularly spaced around each of the first and second discs.

[0044] Embodiment 35: The method of any preceding embodiment, comprising forming boost ports in the first disk, the boost ports being positioned equidistant along a radius relative to the supply ports and angularly spaced apart from each of the supply ports such that when the first disk is rotated such that the boost port coincides with one of the supply ports of the second disk associated with one of the chambers, the first disk blocks the other supply port of the second disk, preventing backflow of an increased amount of the aerosol precursor composition from one of the chambers to the other of the chambers.

[0045] Embodiment 36: The method of any preceding embodiment, comprising forming three supply ports in each of the first and second disks such that the three supply ports are spaced apart at an angle of approximately 120 degrees from one another, and forming an augmentation port in the first disk between two of the supply ports such that the augmentation port is positioned approximately 60 degrees from each of two of the supply ports.

[0046] Embodiment 37: The method of any preceding embodiment, wherein engaging the actuator includes engaging a flexible valve with the housing and fluidly connecting the flexible valve to one of the two or more chambers, whereby actuation of the valve reduces a volume of one of the two or more chambers to supply an increased amount of the aerosol precursor composition from the chamber to the aerosol forming arrangement.

[0047] Embodiment 38: The method of any preceding embodiment, wherein engaging the actuator includes engaging the actuator into communication with a pumping device that is in fluid communication with one of the two or more chambers, whereby actuation of the pumping device by the actuator pressurizes one of the two or more chambers or an aerosol precursor composition therein to supply an incremental amount of the aerosol precursor composition from the chamber to the aerosol forming arrangement.

[0048] Embodiment 39: The method of any preceding embodiment, wherein engaging the actuator comprises engaging the actuator to communicate with a piston member in fluid communication with one of the two or more chambers, whereby actuation of the piston member by the actuator reduces a volume of one of the two or more chambers to supply an increased amount of the aerosol precursor composition from the chamber to the aerosol forming arrangement.

[0049] Embodiment 40: The method of any preceding embodiment, wherein engaging the housing of the cartridge with the control body comprises engaging a control body including a control component, a flow sensor and a battery, and wherein the aerosol forming arrangement includes a resistive heating element, whereby the resistive heating element is in electrical communication with the battery and generates heat in response thereto, and wherein the aerosol forming arrangement generates an aerosol upon interaction of an aerosol precursor composition directed thereto with the heat generated by the heating element.

[0050] Embodiment 41: The method of any preceding embodiment, comprising operably engaging a sorption element between a transport element disposed within the housing and one or more chambers, the transport element configured to direct the aerosol precursor composition to interact with heat generated by the heating element, and the sorption element configured to sorb and receive the aerosol precursor composition and supply the aerosol precursor composition to the transport element.

[0051] Embodiment 42: The method of any preceding embodiment, comprising engaging a flow tube having a proximal end forming a mouthpiece element between two or more chambers of the housing such that a distal end of the flow tube is in fluid communication with the aerosol forming arrangement, the flow tube being configured to direct an aerosol from the aerosol forming arrangement through the mouthpiece element in response to suction applied to the mouthpiece element.

[0052] Embodiment 43: The method of any preceding embodiment, comprising introducing into each of the two or more chambers aerosol precursor compositions of different flavors, different ratios of active ingredient, or different composition.

[0053] These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from a reading of the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are briefly illustrated below. The present disclosure includes any combination of two, three, four or more features or elements described in this disclosure or recited in any one or more of the claims, regardless of whether such features or elements are explicitly combined or otherwise recited in the description of a particular embodiment or in the claims 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 embodiments, appear as intended to be combinable, unless the context of the disclosure clearly dictates otherwise.

[0054] The present disclosure having been described in general terms above, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0055] [Figure 1] 1 shows a side cross-sectional view of a smoking article having a cartridge and control body for on-demand delivery of increased amounts of an aerosol precursor composition according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 2] 1 shows a perspective view of a cartridge for a smoking article according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the cartridge including three chambers defined by reservoirs; [Figure 3A] 1 shows a side cross-sectional view of a cartridge for a smoking article according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the cartridge including a flexible valve. [Figure 3B] 1 shows a side cross-sectional view of a cartridge for a smoking article according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the cartridge including a pump device; [Figure 3C] 1 shows a side cross-sectional view of a cartridge for a smoking article according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the cartridge including a piston mechanism; [Figure 4] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of two aligned discs that are independently rotatable within a cartridge of a smoking article according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 5A] 5 illustrates a top view of a first aligned disk of the two or more aligned disks of FIG. 4. [Figure 5B] 5 illustrates a top view of a second aligned disk of the two or more aligned disks of FIG. 4. [Figure 6] 1 shows a method flow diagram of a method of manufacturing a smoking article according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0056] The present disclosure will now be described in further detail with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof. These exemplary embodiments are provided 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.

[0057] The present disclosure provides a description of an aerosol delivery device that uses electrical energy to heat a material (preferably without significant combustion of the material) to form an inhalable substance (e.g., an aerosol). Most preferably, such a device is small enough to be considered a "handheld" device. In certain preferred embodiments, the aerosol delivery device can be characterized as a smoking article. As used herein, the term "smoking article" is intended to mean an article or device that provides some or all of the sensations of smoking a cigarette, cigar, or pipe (e.g., the manner of inhalation and exhalation, the type of taste or flavor, the sensory stimulating effect, the physical feel, the manner of use, the visual stimuli such as those provided by a visible aerosol (e.g., vapor), etc.) without substantially burning any component of the article or device. As used herein, the term "smoking article" does not necessarily mean that, during operation, the article or device produces smoke in the sense of an aerosol resulting from the by-products of combustion or pyrolysis of tobacco, but rather that the article or device produces vapors (including, for example, vapors within an aerosol that may be considered a visible aerosol that may be considered or described as smoky) due to volatilization or vaporization of certain components of the article or device. In some preferred embodiments, articles or devices characterized as smoking articles incorporate tobacco and / or tobacco-derived components.

[0058] The products or devices of the present disclosure can also be characterized as vapor product articles, aerosol delivery articles, or drug delivery articles. Thus, such articles or devices can be configured to provide one or more substances (e.g., flavors and / or pharmacoactive ingredients) in an inhalable form or state. For example, the inhalable substance can be substantially in vapor form (i.e., a substance in the gas phase at a temperature below its critical point). Alternatively, the inhalable substance can 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 in a form that can be considered smoky.

[0059] Smoking articles of the present disclosure, when in use, are subject to many of the physical actions employed by an individual when using a traditional type of smoking article (e.g., a cigarette, cigar, or pipe that is used by lighting tobacco and inhaling. For example, a consumer of a smoking article of the present disclosure can hold the article as with a traditional type of smoking article, draw on one end of the article to inhale an aerosol produced by the article, take puffs at selected time intervals, etc.

[0060] 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a smoking article, generally indicated at 100. The smoking article 100 includes a control body, generally indicated at 200, and a cartridge, generally indicated at 300, which engages the control body 200. For example, the control body 200 is permanently or removably aligned in functional relationship with the cartridge 300 by threaded engagement, press fit engagement, interference fit, magnetic engagement, etc.

[0061] In certain embodiments, one or both of the control body 200 and the cartridge 300 are referred to as disposable or reusable. For example, the control body 200 has a replaceable power source (e.g., a battery) or is rechargeable and therefore can be combined with any type of recharging technology, including connection to a typical electrical outlet, connection to a car charger (i.e., cigarette lighter), and connection to a computer via a USB cable or the like. In another example, the cartridge 300 is replaceable and disposable, or refillable for reuse. In an exemplary embodiment, the control body 200 includes a housing 202 that substantially encloses the control body 200 therein.

[0062] In one embodiment, the control body 200 includes a control component 204, a flow sensor 206, and a power source 208 that are variably aligned and in communication with one another. In some embodiments, the power source 208 includes a battery or other power source for providing a sufficient current flow to support various functions of the smoking article 100, such as resistive heating, powering the control components (e.g., the control component 204), powering the indicators, etc. Preferably, the power source 208 is sized to fit conveniently within the article 100 so that the article 100 is easily handled. Additionally, a preferred power source 208 is lightweight enough so as not to detract from the desired smoking experience. In some embodiments, the indicators are provided in various numbers, take various forms, and / or are associated with openings in the control body 200 (i.e., to emit a sound when such an indicator is present). Additional components of the control body 200 may include, but are not limited to, an air inlet 212, a receptacle 210 that enables electrical connection with its aerosol forming configuration (e.g., 308), such as a resistive heating element (described below), when the cartridge 300 is attached to the control body 200, and / or multiple indicators at the distal end of the control body 200.

[0063] The cartridge 300 comprises a housing 302 having a mouthpiece 304 with an opening 306 that allows the passage of air and entrained vapour or aerosol (i.e. components of the aerosol precursor composition that are inhalable (i.e. in aerosol form)) from the cartridge 300 to the consumer during inhalation of the smoking article 100. In certain embodiments, the smoking article 100 is substantially rod-shaped or substantially tubular in shape or substantially cylindrical in shape.

[0064] The cartridge 300 further includes an aerosol-forming arrangement, generally indicated at 308. In some embodiments, the aerosol-forming arrangement 308 is an atomizer (i.e., a resistive heating element 310 having a wire coil in electrical communication with the battery 208 and configured to generate heat in response thereto), and an aerosol precursor composition transport element 312. In one embodiment, the aerosol precursor composition transport element includes a wick configured to direct the aerosol precursor composition to interact with the heat generated by the heating element 310 to generate an aerosol upon interaction with the heat.

[0065] The wire coil may be formed using various embodiment materials configured to generate heat when an electric current is applied. Examples of materials forming the wire coil include Kanthal (FeCrAl), Nichrome, Molybdenum Disilicide (MoSi2), Molybdenum Silicide (MoSi), Molybdenum Disilicide doped with Aluminum (Mo(Si,Al)2), and ceramics (e.g., positive temperature coefficient ceramics). The aerosol precursor composition transport element 312 is also formed from various materials configured to transport liquids. For example, in some aspects, the aerosol precursor composition transport element 312 includes cotton and / or glass fiber. Electrically conductive heater terminals (e.g., positive and negative terminals) on either end of the heating element 310 are configured to direct the flow of electric current through the heating element 310. The heater terminals are also configured to attach to suitable wiring or circuitry (not shown) to form an electrical connection between the heating element 310 and the battery 208 when the cartridge 300 is connected to the control body 200. Specifically, in some embodiments, a plug 314 is disposed at a distal mounting end of the housing 302. When the cartridge 300 is connected to the control body 200, the plug 314 engages the receptacle 210 to form an electrical connection therebetween such that electrical current controllably flows from the battery 208 through the receptacle 210 and the plug 314 to the heating element 310. In some examples, the housing 302 of the cartridge 300 is continuous beyond the distal end of the housing 302 such that the distal end of the cartridge 300 is substantially closed by the plug 314 protruding therefrom.

[0066] A reservoir, generally designated 316, is disposed within the housing 302 and extends longitudinally from a first end disposed toward the proximal end of the housing 302 to a second end disposed toward the distal end of the housing 302. The reservoir 316 is configured to define two or more chambers 318A-C having aerosol precursor compositions 320A-C disposed therein, respectively. In some embodiments, for example, the two or more chambers 318A-C are defined via a partition within the housing 302, the partition separating one chamber from another. More specifically, partitions 322A-C extending longitudinally from a first end of the reservoir to a second end of the reservoir sufficiently separate each chamber 318A-C from one another within the reservoir 316. In this manner, the reservoir 316 is divided into two chambers, three chambers, four chambers, etc., based on a certain amount of aerosol precursor composition desired to be individually contained within the cartridge 300.

[0067] As shown in FIG. 2, three partitions 322A-C define three individual chambers 318A-C within the reservoir, with each chamber 318A-C receiving an individual aerosol precursor 320A-C therein. Thus, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the reservoir 316 is configured to accommodate up to three aerosol precursor compositions within the defined chambers 318A-C. The first chamber 318A includes a first aerosol precursor composition 320A and is defined by a first partition 322A and a second partition 322B between the first partition 322A and the second partition 322B. The second chamber 318B includes a second aerosol precursor composition 320B and is defined by a second partition 322B and a third partition 322C between the second partition 322B and the third partition 322C. The third chamber 318C contains a third aerosol precursor composition 320C and is defined by a first partition 322A and a third partition 322C between the first partition 322A and the third partition 322C.

[0068] In some embodiments, the aerosol precursor compositions 320A-C, also referred to as vapor precursor compositions, each include one or more distinct components. For example, in one embodiment, the aerosol precursor compositions 320A-C each include a polyhydric alcohol (e.g., glycerin, propylene glycol, or mixtures thereof), water, nicotine, natural and artificial flavors, menthol, or mixtures thereof. Representative types of additional aerosol precursor compositions are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,793,365 to Sensabaugh, Jr. et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,101,839 to Jakob et al., PCT Publication WO 98 / 57556 to Biggs et al., and Chemical and Biological Studies on New Cigarette Prototypes that Heat Instead of Burn Tobacco (1988) by R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company Monograph, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0069] In some embodiments, the aerosol precursor compositions 320A-C disposed within each relative chamber 318A-C are different aerosol precursor compositions. For example, in such a case, the first aerosol precursor composition 320A includes a chocolate flavor, the second aerosol precursor composition 320B includes a vanilla flavor, and the third aerosol precursor composition 320C includes a strawberry flavor. In another example, the first aerosol precursor composition 320A includes a 3.6% active ingredient (i.e., nicotine) aerosol precursor composition, the second aerosol precursor composition 320B includes a 1.1% active ingredient aerosol precursor composition, and the third aerosol precursor composition 320C includes a 0.4% active ingredient aerosol precursor composition. In yet a further example, the first aerosol precursor composition 320A comprises a vegetable glycerin (VG)-based nicotine composition, the second aerosol precursor composition 320B comprises a propylene glycol (PG)-based nicotine composition, and the third aerosol precursor composition 320C comprises a nicotine-free peppermint flavor.

[0070] As shown in FIG. 1, each chamber 318A-C is in fluid communication with an aerosol forming arrangement 308 configured to form an aerosol from one of the aerosol precursor compositions 320A-C. In some embodiments, the fluid communication between the aerosol forming arrangement 308 and the chambers 318A-C includes an aerosol precursor composition transport element 312 configured to direct the aerosol precursor compositions 320A-C to interact with heat generated by the heating element 310. One such example is shown in FIG. 1. As seen therein, the cartridge 300 includes a sorption element 324 including a nonwoven fiber layer formed in the shape of a circular disk disposed around a portion of the interior of the housing 302 of the cartridge 300 (i.e., around a second end of the reservoir disposed toward the distal end of the housing 302). The sorption element 324 is operatively engaged between one or more of the chambers 318A-C and the aerosol precursor composition transport element 312 (the wick in this embodiment) to provide the aerosol precursor compositions 320A-C to the transport element 312 (i.e., the sorption element 324 wetted by the aerosol precursor compositions 320A-C contacts the wick, which receives the aerosol precursor compositions 320A-C and directs them along toward the heating element 310). That is, for example, once received by the sorption element 324, the aerosol precursor compositions 320A-C are transported by the aerosol precursor composition transport element 312 via capillary action to the aerosolization zone 326 of the cartridge 300. As illustrated, the aerosol precursor composition transport element 312 is in direct contact with the heating element 310, such that the aerosolization zone 326 is defined at or around the contact between the wick and the heating element 310.

[0071] In some embodiments, the aerosol precursor compositions 320A-C of each of the two or more chambers 318A-C are directed to the aerosol forming arrangement 308 in substantially equal normal amounts. More specifically, in one embodiment, substantially equal proportions, amounts, flow rates, etc. of each aerosol precursor composition 320A-C are directed to the aerosol forming arrangement 308 such that the aerosol generated within the aerosol forming arrangement includes equal portions of each aerosol precursor composition 320A-C. For example, the generated aerosol includes about 33% of the first aerosol precursor composition 320A, about 33% of the second aerosol precursor composition 320B, and about 33% of the third aerosol precursor composition 320C. However, one skilled in the art will appreciate that in other embodiments, the normal amounts of each aerosol precursor composition 320A-C are configured to be different rather than substantially equal. For example, the aerosol generated may include about 30% first aerosol precursor composition 320A, about 35% second aerosol precursor composition 320B, and about 35% third aerosol precursor composition 320C. Thus, the typical amount of each aerosol precursor composition 320A-C delivered may vary as needed or desired.

[0072] However, if a consumer desires to increase the amount of one or more particular aerosol precursor compositions 320A-C such that the aerosol generated in the aerosol forming configuration 308 contains an increased percentage of one or more of the aerosol precursor compositions (i.e., an additional charge of one of the aerosol precursor compositions), an actuator, generally indicated at 328, is used to direct an increased amount of one of the desired aerosol precursor compositions 320A-C from the corresponding chamber 318A-C to the aerosol forming configuration 308. More specifically, in one aspect, the actuator 328 is configured to engage the housing 302 and selectively and operably engage any one of the two or more chambers 318A-C. As illustrated, in one general exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1, the actuator 328 includes a single actuator disposed at a first end of the reservoir 316 and engageable and independently operable with each of the two or more chambers 318A-C. However, as disclosed herein, other aspects of the present disclosure also contemplate dedicated actuators engageable and operable with each individual chamber 318A-C.

[0073] 3A-3C, exemplary embodiments of actuator 328 are shown. However, these are not limiting examples and one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that any type of actuator is contemplated that is in fluid communication with one of two or more chambers 318A-C and configured to reduce the volume or increase the pressure of any one of those chambers 318A-C having an actuator engaged therewith.

[0074] FIG. 3A illustrates one embodiment of a cartridge 300A for a smoking article (e.g., smoking article 100). As shown in FIG. 1, cartridge 300A includes a first chamber 318A and a second chamber 318B, each receiving one of aerosol precursor compositions 320A-B therein. Although not shown in this figure for this embodiment, cartridge 300A includes additional chambers that house additional aerosol precursor compositions. FIG. 3A illustrates one embodiment, in which each of first chamber 318A and second chamber 318B has an individual actuator 328A engaged thereto. In this case, each actuator 328A is independently actuable. However, in other embodiments, a single actuator 328A engages both the first and second chambers 318A, 318B. Regardless, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3A, each actuator 328A includes a flexible valve 330 including a resilient material that can be deformed by a consumer to either decrease the volume and thereby force air into the interior of the cartridge 300A, specifically into a respective one of the chambers 318A-B, or increase the pressure inside the cartridge 300A, specifically into a respective one of the chambers 318A-B.

[0075] As shown in FIG. 3A, in one embodiment, each chamber 318A-B includes a single valve actuator 330 operatively engaged therewith. Thus, the chambers 318A-B in fluid communication with the valves 330 are configured to deliver an increased amount of the aerosol precursor composition 320A-B from the corresponding chamber 318A-B to the aerosol forming arrangement 308 in response to actuation (i.e., depression) of the valves 330 by decreasing their volume. Notably, if there is more than one chamber in the cartridge 300A, a consumer may depress multiple flexible valves 330 at once, each in fluid communication with a respective chamber 318A-B, to increase the amount of multiple aerosol precursor compositions. To return the flexible valves 330 to their original shape, an orifice 332 is defined within the valve or elsewhere between the valve and the respective chamber, thereby allowing ambient air to return to the interior of the chamber or valve actuator 330 to allow the valve actuator 330 to return to its initial shape after actuation (i.e., depression). In this embodiment, incremental amounts of one or more aerosol precursor compositions 320A-B delivered by actuation of valve actuator 330 results in the production of an aerosol exhibiting characteristics for the incremental amounts of the selected aerosol precursor compositions 320A-B.

[0076] 3A, in one embodiment, one or more amounts of a first aerosol precursor composition 320A are selectively directed to the aerosol forming configuration 308 in a relatively greater amount than a second aerosol precursor composition 320B. Thus, the generated aerosol includes characteristics associated with the relatively greater amount of the first aerosol precursor composition 320A. For example, if the first aerosol precursor composition 320A includes a strawberry flavor and the second aerosol precursor composition 320B includes a chocolate flavor, by increasing the amount of the first aerosol precursor composition 320A delivered to the aerosol forming configuration 308, the aerosol generated thereby will have a more pronounced strawberry flavor as opposed to equal chocolate and strawberry flavors.

[0077] FIG. 3B illustrates another embodiment of a cartridge 300B for a smoking article (e.g., smoking article 100). As shown in FIG. 1, cartridge 300B includes a first chamber 318A and a second chamber 318B each receiving an aerosol precursor composition 320A-B therein. Although not shown in this figure, cartridge 300B may include additional chambers that accommodate additional aerosol precursor compositions. Each of first chamber 318A and second chamber 318B engages actuator 328B. In this embodiment, actuator 328B includes a pump device, such as a microelectromechanical (MEM) pump device having a button actuator 334 electrically, thermally, pneumatically, etc. connected to a pump structure (not shown) of pump device 328B. As shown in FIG. 3B, each chamber 318A-B is in fluid communication with a respective button actuator 334, which is configured to operate independently or simultaneously or substantially simultaneously to increase the amount of the multiple aerosol precursor compositions delivered to the aerosol forming configuration 308. In some non-limiting examples, the pumping device 328B includes a piezoelectric micropump, an electrostatic micropump, a thermopneumatic micropump, an electromagnetic micropump, a bimetallic micropump, an ionically conductive polymer film (ICPF) micropump, a phase change micropump, a shape memory alloy (SMA) pump, and the like. Thus, the chambers 318A-B in fluid communication with the pumping device 328B are configured to pressurize the chambers 318A-B or the aerosol precursor compositions 320A-B therein in response to actuation (i.e., depression) of the button actuator 334 associated with the pumping device 328B to provide an increased amount of the aerosol precursor compositions 320A-B from the chambers 318A-B to the aerosol forming configuration 308.

[0078] As shown in FIG. 3B, one or more quantities of both the first aerosol precursor composition 320A and the second aerosol precursor composition 320B are selectively directed to the aerosol forming configuration 308. Thus, the generated aerosol precursor composition includes properties related to both the first aerosol precursor composition 320A and the second aerosol precursor composition 320B. For example, if the first aerosol precursor composition 320A includes a composition including 1.1% of an active ingredient (i.e., nicotine) and the second aerosol precursor composition 320B includes a composition including 2.4% of that active ingredient, then normally equal quantities of the first and second aerosol precursor compositions 320A-B delivered to the aerosol forming configuration 308 will generate an aerosol including 1.75% of the active ingredient composition based on the average of the active ingredient content of each composition delivered thereto. By increasing the amount of the first aerosol precursor composition 320A and the second aerosol precursor composition 320B in substantially equal amounts, the aerosol generated retains a 1.75% active ingredient composition based on the average of the active ingredient content of each composition delivered thereto. In particular, by increasing the amount of the first aerosol precursor composition 320A delivered, the aerosol generated contains 1.53% active ingredient, whereas by increasing the amount of the second aerosol precursor composition delivered, the aerosol generated contains 1.96% active ingredient. In some cases, this may be advantageous for consumers who wish to adjust their overall active ingredient consumption, which may be done gradually by starting with a normal 1.75% nicotine-based composition and selectively increasing or decreasing the composition having the desired percentage.

[0079] FIG. 3C shows a cartridge 300C for a smoking article (e.g., smoking article 100). As shown in FIG. 1, cartridge 300C includes a first chamber 318A and a second chamber 318B, each receiving an aerosol precursor composition 320A-B therein. Although not shown in this figure, cartridge 300C may include additional chambers that accommodate additional aerosol precursor compositions. Each of first chamber 318A and second chamber 318B engages actuator 328C. In this embodiment, actuator 328C includes a piston or plunger member 336 in fluid communication with one of two or more chambers 318A-B. As shown in FIG. 3C, each chamber 318A-B is in fluid communication with a respective piston member 336. Piston member 336 is actuated by a consumer pressing or depressing the top surface of the piston to move piston 336 downward toward the second end of reservoir 316. Each piston member 336 is configured to operate independently or together simultaneously or substantially simultaneously to increase the amount of the plurality of aerosol precursor compositions delivered to the aerosol forming arrangement 308. Thus, the chambers 318A-B in fluid communication with the piston members 336 are configured to, in response to actuation (i.e., depression) of the upper surface of the piston members by the actuator, decrease the volume of the chambers 318A-B and deliver to the aerosol forming arrangement 308 an increased amount of the aerosol precursor compositions 320A-B therein.

[0080] As in FIG. 3C, one or more amounts of the second aerosol precursor composition 320B are selectively directed to the aerosol forming configuration 308. Thus, the generated aerosol includes a primary characteristic associated with the second aerosol precursor composition 320B. For example, the first aerosol precursor composition 320A includes a PG-based composition, and the second aerosol precursor composition 320B includes a VG-based composition. In this example, by increasing the amount of the second aerosol precursor composition 320B delivered to the aerosol forming configuration 308 relative to the first aerosol precursor composition, the aerosol generated thereby becomes primarily a VG-based aerosol (e.g., 30PG:70VG aerosol). To increase the PG content of the generated aerosol, the consumer presses the upper surface of the piston member 336 engaged with the first chamber 318A, and an increased amount of the PG-based composition is directed to the aerosol forming configuration 308, thereby causing the generated aerosol to become primarily a PG-based aerosol (60PG:40VG aerosol).

[0081] In some aspects, the cartridge 300 includes a backflow prevention device 338. FIG. 1 provides an exemplary embodiment of the backflow prevention device 338, where the backflow prevention device 338 is configured to selectively prevent an incremental amount of the aerosol precursor composition 320A-C, directed from a chamber operatively engaged with the actuator 328, from flowing back into other of the two or more chambers 318A-C. With reference to FIG. 4, one embodiment of the backflow prevention device 338 includes two or more aligned disks 338A-B, each of which is independently rotatable relative to the other about a common axis passing therethrough, and the disks 338A-B are also disposed in series relative to one another along the common axis. The common axis is an axis centrally disposed relative to the longitudinal axis of the article 100, and sometimes coincides with the longitudinal axis. In some embodiments, the flow tube 340 has a distal end in fluid communication with the aerosol-forming arrangement 308 and a proximal end forming the mouthpiece element 304, and is configured to direct an aerosol from the aerosol-forming arrangement 308 in response to suction applied to the mouthpiece element 304. To this end, the flow tube 340 defines a common axis or is aligned or substantially aligned with a common axis, and the two or more aligned discs 338-B are independently rotatable relative to one another about the flow tube 340 (i.e., the flow tube 340 defines an axis of rotation).

[0082] The two or more aligned disks 338A-B are disposed within the housing 302 of the cartridge 300 and are positioned relative to (i.e., between) the second end of the reservoir 316 and the aerosol forming arrangement 308. In some embodiments, for example, the first aligned disk 338A is disposed between the second end of the reservoir 316 and the second aligned disk 338B, which is disposed between the first aligned disk 338A and the sorption element 324. In some aspects, the two or more aligned disks 338A-B are formed from a material similar to that of the sorption element 324 or any other material that is suitable and sufficient to prevent backflow of the aerosol precursor compositions 320A-C into the reservoir 316.

[0083] 5A-5B show top views of the first and second disks 338A-B. In FIG. 5A, the first aligned disk 338A is shown. The plane of the first aligned disk 338A defines an opening 342A that is centrally located relative to the plane. The first aligned disk 338A includes dimensions that allow the disk 338A to independently rotate around the flow tube 340 (i.e., the flow tube 340 passes through the opening 342A). Additionally, the plane of the first disk 338A defines a number of feed ports 344A that are equidistantly located along a radius starting from a common axis. In some embodiments, the feed ports 344A are substantially equally angularly spaced around the respective first disk 338A. The plane of the first disk 338A also defines an augmentation port 346. The augmentation port 346 is radially spaced equidistant from the plurality of supply ports 344A and angularly spaced from each of the supply ports 344A. More specifically, for example, as shown in FIG 5A, three supply ports 344A are angularly spaced from each other at about 120 degrees, and the augmentation port 346 is positioned about 60 degrees from each of two of the supply ports 344A.

[0084] In FIG. 5B, a second aligned disk 338B is shown. The plane of the second aligned disk 338B defines an opening 342B that is centrally disposed relative to the plane of the first aligned disk 338B. The second aligned disk 338B includes dimensions that allow the disk 338B to rotate independently around the flow tube 340 (i.e., the flow tube 340 passes through the opening 342B). Additionally, the plane of the second disk 338B defines a plurality of feed ports 344B that are equidistantly disposed along a radius starting from a common axis, the feed ports 344B being substantially equally angularly spaced around each second disk 338B. More specifically, for example, as shown in FIG. 5B, three feed ports 344B are angularly spaced from each other by approximately 120 degrees.

[0085] Thus, the feed port 344A disposed on the first aligned disk 338A and the feed port 344B disposed on the second aligned disk are configured to align with the chambers 318A-C. More specifically, in a first embodiment, one of the disks 338A-B is rotatable such that the feed port 344A of the first disk 338A is aligned with the feed port 344B of the second disk 338B, thereby allowing substantially equal nominal amounts of each of the aerosol precursor compositions 320A-C of the two or more chambers 318A-C to be fed from the reservoir 316 through the feed ports 344A-B and directed to the aerosol forming arrangement 308.

[0086] In a second embodiment, one of the disks 338A-B is rotatable such that the boost port 346 is aligned with one of the supply ports 344B of the second disk 338B associated with one of the chambers 318A-C. In this manner, the disks 338A-B are configured to block the other supply port 344B of the second disk 338B and prevent the outflow of the aerosol precursor composition from the corresponding chamber or prevent the backflow of an increased amount of the aerosol precursor composition 320A-C from one of the chambers 318A-C having an boost port aligned with the supply port to the other of the chambers 318A-C. In some embodiments, each of the supply ports 344A-B and the boost port 346 is about 1 / 16 inch in diameter. The number of supply ports 344A-B is variable depending on the number of chambers defined by the reservoir 316. For example, in the embodiment described herein, the cartridge 300 includes three chambers 318A-C (see FIGS. 5A-5B) such that there are three feed ports 344A-B, each defined by a respective disk 338A-B. In another example, if there are four chambers, there are four feed ports 344A-B, each defined by a respective disk 338A-B.

[0087] Thus, when the smoking article 100 is being used, and after a quantity of a particular aerosol precursor composition 320A-C has been delivered to the aerosol forming arrangement 308, the consumer draws on the article 100, which in turn activates the heating element 310 (e.g., via a puff sensor), and the ingredients for the aerosol precursor composition 320A-C are vaporized / aerosolized in the aerosolization zone 326. Upon drawing on the mouthpiece element 306 of the article 100, ambient air enters the inlet 212 and passes through the central opening of the receptacle 210 and the central opening of the plug 314. In the cartridge 300, the drawn air passes through the flow tube 340 and mixes with the vapor formed in the aerosolization zone 326 to form an aerosol. The aerosol is then drawn away from the aerosolization zone 326, passes through the flow tube 340, and exits through the opening 306 of the mouthpiece element 304 of the article 100 for ingestion by the consumer.

[0088] It is understood that smoking articles of the type disclosed herein may include various combinations of components useful for forming smoking articles. See, for example, the smoking articles disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014 / 0000638 to Sebastian et al., U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2013 / 0255702 to Griffith, Jr. et al., and U.S. Patent No. 8,881,737 to Collett et al., the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. In addition to the above, exemplary heating elements and materials for use therein are described in U.S. Patent No. 5,060,671 to Counts et al., U.S. Patent No. 5,093,894 to Deevi et al., U.S. Patent No. 5,224,498 to Deevi et al., U.S. Patent No. 5,224,498 to Sprinkel et al., and U.S. Patent No. 5,311,133 to Sprinkel et al., and the like. No. 5,322,075 to Deevi et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,353,813 to Deevi et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,468,936 to Deevi et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,498,850 to Das, U.S. Pat. No. 5,659,656 to Das, U.S. Pat. No. 5,498,855 to Deevi et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,530,225 to Hajaligol, U.S. Pat. No. 5,665,262 to Hajaligol, U.S. Pat. No. 5,573,692 to Das et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 5,591,368 to Fleischhauer et al., the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. Additionally, a disposable cartridge for use with electronic smoking articles is disclosed in US Pat. No. 8,910,639 to Chang et al., the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0089] The various components of a smoking article according to the present disclosure may be selected from those described in the art and commercially available. An example of a battery that may be used in accordance with the present disclosure is described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010 / 0028766, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0090] An exemplary mechanism for providing puff activation capability includes a model 163PC01D36 silicon sensor manufactured by the MicroSwitch division of Honeywell, Inc., Freeport, Illinois. Additional examples of demand-operated electrical switches that can be used in heating circuits according to the present disclosure are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,735,217 to Gerth et al., which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Additional descriptions of current regulation circuits and other control components, including microcontrollers that can be used in the present smoking articles, are provided in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,922,901, 4,947,874 and 4,947,875 to Brooks et al., 5,372,148 to McCafferty et al., 6,040,560 to Fleischhauer et al., and 7,040,314 to Nguyen et al., all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

[0091] Additional components may be used in the smoking articles of the present disclosure. For example, U.S. Patent No. 5,261,424 to Sprinkel, Jr. discloses a piezoelectric sensor associated with the mouth end of the device that detects the user's lip movements associated with a puff and the use of triggered heating in response thereto; U.S. Patent No. 5,372,148 to McCafferty et al. discloses a puff sensor for controlling energy flow to a heat load array in response to a drop in pressure through the mouthpiece; U.S. Patent No. 5,967,148 to Harris et al. discloses a receptacle in a smoking system that includes an identifier that detects non-uniformity in infrared transparency of an inserted component and a controller that executes a detection routine when a component is inserted into the receptacle; U.S. Patent No. 6,040,560 to Fleischhauer et al. describes predefined executable power cycles having multiple differential phases; and U.S. Patent No. 5,934,289 to Watkins et al. discloses a photonic-optical (photonic-optical) sensor that detects the non-uniformity of infrared transparency of an inserted component and a controller that executes a detection routine when a component is inserted into the receptacle. No. 5,954,979 to Counts et al. discloses means for varying the resistance of draw through a smoking device; U.S. Pat. No. 6,803,545 to Blake et al. discloses certain battery configurations for use in smoking devices; U.S. Pat. No. 7,293,565 to Griffen et al. discloses various charging systems for use with smoking devices; U.S. Pat. No. 8,402,976 to Fernando et al. discloses computer interface means for a smoking device to facilitate charging and enable computer control of the device; U.S. Pat. No. 8,689,804 to Fernando et al. discloses an identification system for a smoking device; and WO 2010 / 003480 to Flick discloses a fluid flow sensing system indicative of a puff with an aerosol generating system, all of the foregoing disclosures are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.Additional examples of components related to electronic aerosol delivery articles and additional examples disclosing materials or components usable in the articles of the present invention include U.S. Pat. No. 4,735,217 to Gerth et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,249,586 to Morgan et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,666,977 to Higgins et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,053,176 to Adams et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,164,287 to White, U.S. Pat. No. 6,196,218 to Voges, U.S. Pat. No. 6,810,883 to Felter et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,854,461 to Nichols, U.S. Pat. No. 7,832,410 to Hon, U.S. Pat. No. 7,513,253 to Kobayashi, U.S. Pat. No. 7,522,253 to Hamano, U.S. Pat. No. 7,771,143 to Hamano, and U.S. Pat. No. 7,822,253 to Hamano. No. 896,006 to Shayan, U.S. Pat. No. 6,772,756 to Hon, U.S. Pat. No. 8,156,944 to Hon, U.S. Pat. App. Pub. No. 2006 / 0196518 to Hon, U.S. Pat. App. Pub. No. 2009 / 0188490 to Hon, U.S. Pat. No. 8,375,957 to Hon, U.S. Pat. No. 8,794,231 to Thorens et al., U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,915,254 to Monsees et al., U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,925,555 to Oglesby et al., U.S. Pat. App. Pub. No. 2010 / 0024834 to Oglesby et al., U.S. Pat. No. 8,851,083 to Wang, U.S. Pat. App. Pub. No. 2010 / 0307518 to Wang, and WO 2010 / 091593 to Hon. The various materials disclosed by the aforementioned documents may be incorporated into the present device in various combinations and in various embodiments, and all of the aforementioned disclosures are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

[0092] FIG. 6 shows a method flow diagram of an exemplary method of manufacturing a smoking article (e.g., smoking article 100), generally designated 400. In a first step 402, a reservoir (e.g., reservoir 316) is fluidly engaged with an aerosol-forming arrangement (e.g., arrangement 308) and configured to form an aerosol from an aerosol precursor composition (e.g., compositions 320A-C). The reservoir is disposed within a housing (e.g., housing 302) of a cartridge (e.g., cartridge 300) and defines two or more chambers (e.g., chambers 318A-C) each extending longitudinally from a first end disposed toward a proximal end of the housing to a second end disposed toward a distal end of the housing. Each of the two or more chambers has an aerosol precursor composition disposed therein and is configured to direct a substantially equal regular amount of each aerosol precursor composition of the two or more chambers to the aerosol-forming arrangement.

[0093] In step 404, an actuator (e.g., actuator 328) engages the housing such that the actuator selectively and operably engages any one of two or more chambers defined by the reservoirs. The actuator is operably configured to direct an increased amount of the aerosol precursor composition from the chamber engaged therewith to the aerosol forming arrangement, the increased amount being greater than a normal amount of the aerosol precursor composition.

[0094] Many modifications and other embodiments 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 to be understood, therefore, 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. A smoking article, A control body; a cartridge engaged with the control body, the cartridge comprising: a housing having a proximal end and an opposed distal end engageable with a control body; a reservoir disposed within the housing and extending longitudinally from a first end disposed toward a proximal end of the housing to a second end disposed toward a distal end of the housing, the reservoir defining two or more chambers each having an aerosol precursor composition disposed therein and in fluid communication with an aerosol forming arrangement configured to form an aerosol from one of the aerosol precursor compositions, the aerosol precursor composition of each of the two or more chambers being directed to the aerosol forming arrangement in substantially equal nominal amounts; a first member disposed between the two or more chambers and the aerosol-forming arrangement, the first member defining one or more delivery ports configured to be selectively aligned with one or more of the two or more chambers; a second member disposed between the first member and the aerosol forming arrangement and aligned with the first member and defining one or more feed ports, the first member being independently rotatable relative to the second member about a common axis passing therethrough, the first member and the second member being arranged in series relative to one another along the common axis such that an aerosol precursor composition disposed in each of the two or more chambers can be selectively prevented from flowing back therefrom into the aerosol forming arrangement through the one or more feed ports of the selectively aligned second member; an actuator configured to engage the housing and to selectively and operably engage any one of two or more chambers defined by a reservoir, the actuator being configured, upon actuation thereof, to direct an increased amount of the aerosol precursor composition from the chamber engaged therewith to the aerosol forming configuration, the increased amount being greater than a normal amount of the aerosol precursor composition; a heating element in fluid communication with the reservoir, wherein at least one of the first member and the second member is disposed between the two or more chambers and the heating element, the heating element positioned to receive an aerosol precursor composition to be selectively dispensed from any of the two or more chambers; Smoking articles, including:

2. 2. A smoking article according to claim 1, wherein the first member comprises a first disc and the second member comprises a second disc.

3. 3. A smoking article as described in claim 2, wherein rotating the first disk so that the feed ports of the first disk coincide with the feed ports of the second disk enables substantially equal normal amounts of each of the two or more chambers to be fed from the reservoir through the feed ports and directed into the aerosol forming configuration.

4. 4. A smoking article according to claim 3, wherein the supply ports of the first and second discs are arranged equidistantly along a radius starting from a common axis, the supply ports being substantially equally angularly spaced around the respective first and second discs.

5. 5. A smoking article as described in claim 4, wherein the first disk defines an enhancement port that is equidistant along a radius to the supply ports and angularly spaced from each supply port, such that when the first disk rotates such that the enhancement port coincides with one of the supply ports of the second disk associated with one of the chambers, the first disk blocks the other supply port of the second disk, preventing backflow of an increased amount of the aerosol precursor composition from one of the chambers to the other of the chambers.

6. 6. A smoking article according to claim 5, wherein the first and second discs each define three supply ports, the three supply ports being angularly spaced from one another at approximately 120 degrees, and the first disc defines an enhancement port between two of the supply ports such that the enhancement port is located approximately 60 degrees from each of two of the supply ports.

7. 2. The smoking article of claim 1, wherein the actuator includes a flexible valve in fluid communication with one of the two or more chambers, the chamber in fluid communication with the valve configured to respond to actuation of the valve by reducing its volume to provide an increased amount of the aerosol precursor composition in the chamber to the aerosol forming arrangement.

8. A smoking article as described in claim 1, further comprising a pump device in fluid communication with one of the two or more chambers, wherein the chamber in fluid communication with the pump device is configured to pressurize the chamber or the aerosol precursor composition therein in response to actuation of the pump device by the actuator, and to supply an increased amount of the aerosol precursor composition in the chamber to the aerosol forming arrangement.

9. A smoking article as described in claim 1, further comprising a piston member fluidly connected to one of two or more chambers, the chamber in fluid communication with the piston member configured to reduce a volume of the chamber in response to actuation of the piston member by the actuator and supply an increased amount of the aerosol precursor composition in the chamber to the aerosol forming arrangement.

10. 2. The smoking article of claim 1, wherein the control body includes a control component, a flow sensor and a battery, the heating element is in electrical communication with the battery and configured to generate heat in response thereto, and the aerosol precursor composition is directed to the aerosol forming configuration to generate an aerosol upon interaction with the heat generated by the heating element.

11. 11. The smoking article of claim 10, comprising a transport element configured to direct the aerosol precursor composition to interact with the heat generated by the heating element.

12. 2. A smoking article as described in claim 1, wherein the cartridge defines a flow tube having a proximal end forming a mouthpiece element, the flow tube extending between two or more chambers to a distal end in fluid communication with the aerosol forming arrangement and directing aerosol therefrom through the mouthpiece element in response to drawing applied to the mouthpiece element.

13. 10. The smoking article of claim 1, wherein each of the two or more chambers contains a different flavour, a different proportion of active ingredient or aerosol precursor composition of different composition.

14. A cartridge for a smoking article, comprising: a housing having a proximal end and an opposite distal end engageable with a control body of a smoking article; a reservoir disposed within the housing and extending longitudinally from a first end disposed toward a proximal end of the housing to a second end disposed toward a distal end of the housing, the reservoir defining two or more chambers each having an aerosol precursor composition disposed therein and in fluid communication with an aerosol forming arrangement configured to form an aerosol from one of the aerosol precursor compositions, the aerosol precursor composition of each of the two or more chambers being directed to the aerosol forming arrangement in substantially equal nominal amounts; a first member disposed between the two or more chambers and the aerosol-forming arrangement, the first member defining one or more delivery ports configured to be selectively aligned with one or more of the two or more chambers; a second member disposed between the first member and the aerosol-forming arrangement, aligned with the first member and defining one or more feed ports, the first member being independently rotatable relative to the second member about a common axis passing therethrough, the first member and the second member being arranged in series relative to one another along the common axis, such that an aerosol precursor composition disposed in each of the two or more chambers can be directed therefrom through the selectively aligned one or more of the feed ports of the first member and the feed ports of the second member and selectively prevented from flowing back therefrom into the aerosol-forming arrangement; an actuator engaged with the housing and configured to selectively and operably engage any one of two or more chambers defined by the reservoir, the actuator being configured, upon actuation thereof, to direct an increased amount of the aerosol precursor composition from the chamber engaged therewith to the aerosol forming configuration, the increased amount being greater than a normal amount of the aerosol precursor composition; a heating element in fluid communication with the reservoir, wherein at least one of the first member and the second member is disposed between the two or more chambers and the heating element, the heating element positioned to receive an aerosol precursor composition to be selectively dispensed from any of the two or more chambers; Including, the cartridge.

15. 15. The cartridge of claim 14, wherein the first member includes a first disc and the second member includes a second disc.

16. 16. The cartridge of claim 15, wherein rotating the first disk so that the feed ports of the first disk align with the feed ports of the second disk enables substantially equal regular amounts of each of the two or more chambers to be fed from the reservoir through the feed ports and into the aerosol forming configuration.

17. 17. The cartridge of claim 16, wherein the feed ports of the first and second disks are disposed equidistantly along a radius beginning from the common axis, the feed ports being substantially equally angularly spaced around each of the first and second disks.

18. 18. The cartridge of claim 17, wherein the first disk defines an augmentation port that is equidistant along a radius to the supply ports and angularly spaced from each supply port such that when the first disk rotates such that the augmentation port coincides with one of the supply ports of the second disk associated with one of the chambers, the first disk blocks the other supply port of the second disk, preventing backflow of an increased amount of the aerosol precursor composition from one of the chambers to the other of the chambers.

19. 20. The cartridge of claim 18, wherein the first and second disks each define three feed ports, the three feed ports being angularly spaced apart from one another at approximately 120 degrees, and the first disk defines an augmentation port between two of the feed ports such that the augmentation port is disposed approximately 60 degrees from each of two of the feed ports.

20. 15. The cartridge of claim 14, wherein the actuator includes a flexible valve in fluid communication with one of the two or more chambers, the chamber in fluid communication with the valve configured to respond to actuation of the valve by reducing its volume to provide an increased amount of the aerosol precursor composition in the chamber to the aerosol forming arrangement.

21. The cartridge of claim 14, further comprising a pump device fluidly connected to one of the two or more chambers, wherein the chamber in fluid communication with the pump device is configured to pressurize the chamber or the aerosol precursor composition therein in response to actuation of the pump device by the actuator, and to supply an increased amount of the aerosol precursor composition in the chamber to the aerosol forming arrangement.

22. The cartridge of claim 14, further comprising a piston member fluidly connected to one of the two or more chambers, the chamber in fluid communication with the piston member configured to reduce a volume of the chamber in response to actuation of the piston member by the actuator and supply an increased amount of the aerosol precursor composition in the chamber to the aerosol forming arrangement.

23. 15. The cartridge of claim 14, wherein the heating element comprises a resistive heating element in electrical communication with the battery and configured to generate heat in response thereto, and the aerosol precursor composition is directed to the aerosol forming configuration to generate the aerosol upon interaction with the heat generated by the heating element.

24. 24. The cartridge of claim 23, wherein the aerosol-forming arrangement comprises a transport element configured to direct the aerosol precursor composition to interact with heat generated by the heating element.

25. 15. A cartridge as described in claim 14, wherein the housing defines a flow tube having a proximal end forming a mouthpiece element, the flow tube extending between the two or more chambers to a distal end in fluid communication with the aerosol forming arrangement and directing an aerosol therefrom through the mouthpiece element in response to suction applied to the mouthpiece element.

26. 15. The cartridge of claim 14, wherein each of the two or more chambers contains a different flavor, a different percentage of active ingredient, or a different composition of the aerosol precursor composition.

27. 1. A method of manufacturing a smoking article, comprising the steps of: engaging a reservoir in fluid communication with an aerosol forming arrangement configured to form an aerosol from an aerosol precursor composition, the reservoir being disposed within a housing of the cartridge and defining two or more chambers each extending longitudinally from a first end disposed toward a proximal end of the housing to a second end disposed toward a distal end of the housing, each of the two or more chambers having an aerosol precursor composition disposed therein, the reservoir being configured to direct the aerosol precursor composition of each of the two or more chambers in substantially equal nominal amounts to the aerosol forming arrangement; engaging a first member disposed between the two or more chambers and the aerosol-forming arrangement with the housing, wherein at least one of the first member and the second member defines one or more delivery ports configured to be selectively aligned with one or more of the two or more chambers; engaging a second member disposed between the first member and the aerosol-forming arrangement, aligned with the first member and defining one or more feed ports, the first member being independently rotatable relative to the second member about a common axis passing therethrough, the first member and the second member being arranged in series relative to one another along the common axis, such that an aerosol precursor composition disposed in each of the two or more chambers can be directed therefrom through the selectively aligned one or more of the feed ports of the first member and the feed ports of the second member and selectively prevented from flowing back therefrom into the aerosol-forming arrangement; engaging an actuator with the housing such that the actuator selectively and operably engages any one of two or more chambers defined by a reservoir, the actuator being operably configured to direct an increased amount of the aerosol precursor composition from the chamber engaged therewith to the aerosol forming arrangement, the increased amount being greater than a normal amount of the aerosol precursor composition; A method of manufacturing comprising: at least one of a first member and a second member disposed between two or more chambers and a heating element, and receiving an aerosol precursor composition selectively dispensed from one of the two or more chambers by a heating element in fluid communication with a reservoir.

28. 28. The method of claim 27, comprising engaging a proximal or distal end of a cartridge housing with a control body.

29. 28. The method of claim 27, wherein engaging the first member comprises engaging a first disk and engaging the second member comprises engaging a second disk.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein engaging at least one of the first member and the second member includes aligning the first and second disks in series along their common axis, and rotating the first disk so that the feed ports of the first disk coincide with the feed ports of the second disk, thereby enabling substantially equal regular amounts of each of the aerosol precursor compositions to be fed from the reservoir through the feed ports to the two or more chambers and directed into the aerosol forming configuration.

31. 31. The method of claim 30, including forming the supply ports in each of the first and second disks such that the supply ports are equidistantly spaced along a radius beginning from a common axis, the supply ports being substantially equally angularly spaced about the respective first and second disks.

32. 32. The method of claim 31, comprising forming boost ports in the first disk, the boost ports being positioned equidistant along a radius relative to the feed ports and angularly spaced apart from each feed port such that when the first disk rotates such that the boost ports are aligned with one of the feed ports of the second disk associated with one of the chambers, the first disk blocks the other feed port of the second disk, preventing backflow of an increased amount of the aerosol precursor composition from one of the chambers to the other of the chambers.

33. 33. The method of claim 32, comprising forming three feed ports in each of the first and second disks such that the three feed ports are angularly spaced apart from one another at approximately 120 degrees, and forming augmentation ports in the first disk between two of the feed ports such that the augmentation ports are disposed approximately 60 degrees from each of two of the feed ports.

34. 28. The method of claim 27, wherein engaging the actuator includes engaging a flexible valve with the housing and fluidly connecting the flexible valve to one of the two or more chambers, whereby actuation of the valve reduces a volume of one of the two or more chambers to supply an increased amount of the aerosol precursor composition from the chamber to the aerosol forming configuration.

35. 28. The method of claim 27, wherein engaging the actuator comprises engaging a pumping device in fluid communication with one of the two or more chambers, whereby actuation of the pumping device by the actuator pressurizes the one of the two or more chambers or the aerosol precursor composition therein to supply an increased amount of the aerosol precursor composition from the chamber to the aerosol forming configuration.

36. 28. The method of claim 27, wherein engaging the actuator comprises engaging a piston member in fluid communication with one of the two or more chambers, whereby actuation of the piston member by the actuator reduces a volume of one of the two or more chambers to supply an increased amount of the aerosol precursor composition from the chamber to the aerosol forming configuration.

37. 29. The method of claim 28, wherein engaging the cartridge housing with the control body comprises engaging a control body including a control component, a flow sensor and a battery, wherein the heating element is in electrical communication with the battery and generates heat in response thereto, and wherein the aerosol forming arrangement generates an aerosol upon interaction of the aerosol precursor composition directed thereto with the heat generated by the heating element.

38. 40. The method of claim 37, comprising operably engaging a transport element disposed within the housing, the transport element configured to direct the aerosol precursor composition to interact with heat generated by the heating element.

39. 28. The method of claim 27, comprising engaging a flow tube having a proximal end forming a mouthpiece element between two or more chambers of the housing such that its distal end is in fluid communication with the aerosol-forming arrangement, the flow tube being configured to direct an aerosol from the aerosol-forming arrangement through the mouthpiece element in response to suction applied to the mouthpiece element.

40. 28. The method of claim 27, comprising introducing into each of the two or more chambers aerosol precursor compositions of different flavors, different percentages of active ingredient, or different compositions.

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