# US 10,117,467 B2 · Pod assembly, dispensing body, and e-vapor apparatus including the same

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- Number: US 10,117,467 B2
- Document ID: US10117467B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/984,627
- Filed: 2018-05-21
- Published: 2018-09-20
- Granted: 2018-11-06
- Earliest claimed: 2015-04-22
- Assignees: Altria Client Services LLC
- Applicants: Altria Client Services LLC
- Inventors: Eric Hawes; Raymond Lau; Alistair Bramley
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10117467B2

## CPC

- H05B 1/0297: {Heating of fluids for non specified applications}
- A24F 40/40: Constructional details, e.g. connection of cartridges and battery parts
- A24F 40/42: Cartridges or containers for inhalable precursors
- A24F 40/60: Devices with integrated user interfaces
- G06F 21/44: Program or device authentication
- H05B 3/12: characterised by the composition or nature of the conductive material
- A24F 40/10: Devices using liquid inhalable precursors
- H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
- A24F: SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES (inhaling appliances for medical purposes, shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes A61M15/06)
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)

## Abstract

An e-vapor apparatus may include a pod assembly and a dispensing body configured to receive the pod assembly. A vaporizer may be disposed in the pod assembly and/or the dispensing body. The pod assembly may include a vapor precursor compartment, a device compartment, and a vapor channel extending from the device compartment and traversing the vapor precursor compartment. The pod assembly is a smart pod configured to receive, store, and transmit information that can be communicated with the dispensing body and/or another electronic device. The proximal portion of the dispensing body includes a vapor passage and a through-hole. The vapor passage may extend from an end surface of the proximal portion to a side wall of the through-hole. The through-hole is configured to receive the pod assembly such that the vapor channel of the pod assembly is aligned with the vapor passage of the dispensing body.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A pod assembly for an e-vapor apparatus, comprising:
a plurality of external surfaces including a front face, a rear face opposite the front face, a first side face between the front face and the rear face, a second side face opposite the first side face, a downstream end face, and an upstream end face opposite the downstream end face, at least a portion of the front face and the rear face being transparent, the downstream end face defining an outlet;
a liquid compartment configured to hold a liquid formulation such that the liquid formulation is visible through the front face and the rear face;
a vaporizer compartment in fluidic communication with the liquid compartment, the vaporizer compartment being adjacent to the upstream end face, the vaporizer compartment configured to heat the liquid formulation, the vaporizer compartment including a wire coil and a wick;
a vapor channel extending from the vaporizer compartment, through a center of the liquid compartment, and to the outlet, the vapor channel being visible through the front face and the rear face; and
a plurality of electrical contacts disposed at the upstream end face and electrically connected to the wire coil of the vaporizer compartment, the vapor channel being between the outlet and the plurality of electrical contacts.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The pod assembly of claim 1, wherein a width of a downstream section of the vapor channel is less than a width of a corresponding section of the liquid compartment based on a side view, the downstream section being closer to the downstream end face than the upstream end face.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The pod assembly of claim 2, wherein the downstream section of the vapor channel is closer to the front face and the rear face than to the first side face and the second side face.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The pod assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first side face and the second side face defines a recess configured for engagement as part of an attachment structure.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

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

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The pod assembly of claim 1, wherein the wire coil is formed of a nickel-chromium alloy.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The pod assembly of claim 1, wherein the vaporizer compartment is visible through the front face and the rear face.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The pod assembly of claim 1, wherein an entirety of the vapor channel is downstream from the wire coil.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The pod assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of electrical contacts include a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact, the first electrical contact being closer to the first side face than the second side face, the second electrical contact being closer to the second side face than the first side face, the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact having respective planar surfaces.

### Claim 10

An e-vapor apparatus comprising:
a pod assembly including a plurality of external surfaces, a liquid compartment, a vaporizer compartment, a vapor channel, and a plurality of electrical contacts, the plurality of external surfaces including a front face, a rear face opposite the front face, a first side face between the front face and the rear face, a second side face opposite the first side face, a downstream end face, and an upstream end face opposite the downstream end face, at least a portion of the front face and the rear face being transparent, the downstream end face defining an outlet, the liquid compartment configured to hold a liquid formulation such that the liquid formulation is visible through the front face and the rear face, the vaporizer compartment in fluidic communication with the liquid compartment, the vaporizer compartment being adjacent to the upstream end face, the vaporizer compartment configured to heat the liquid formulation, the vaporizer compartment including a wire coil and a wick, the vapor channel extending from the vaporizer compartment, through a center of the liquid compartment, and to the outlet, the vapor channel being visible through the front face and the rear face, the plurality of electrical contacts disposed at the upstream end face and electrically connected to the wire coil of the vaporizer compartment, the vapor channel being between the outlet and the plurality of electrical contacts; and
a device body defining a pod compartment having a first compartment side wall, a second compartment side wall opposite the first compartment side wall, a third compartment side wall between the first compartment side wall and the second compartment side wall, and a fourth compartment side wall opposite the third compartment side wall, the pod assembly configured to engage with the first compartment side wall and the second compartment side wall when received by the device body, the vapor channel of the pod assembly coinciding with a central longitudinal axis of the device body, the device body including a magnet, the device body including a battery configured to supply power to the wire coil.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The e-vapor apparatus of claim 10, wherein at least one of the first compartment side wall and the second compartment side wall of the device body includes a mating member.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The e-vapor apparatus of claim 11, wherein at least one of the first side face and the second side face of the pod assembly defines a recess configured to engage with the mating member of the device body as part of an attachment structure for securing the pod assembly to the device body.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The e-vapor apparatus of claim 12, wherein the recess is configured to engage with the mating member so as to produce an audible click.