# US 10,440,998 B2 · Electric cartridge for an electronic cigarette and method for making the electric cartridge

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- Number: US 10,440,998 B2
- Document ID: US10440998B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/565,580
- Filed: 2016-04-12
- Published: 2018-05-03
- Granted: 2019-10-15
- Earliest claimed: 2015-04-13
- Assignees: G.D S.p.A.
- Applicants: G.D S.p.A.
- Inventors: Roberto Polloni; Ivan Eusepi; Luca Federici
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10440998B2

## CPC

- A24F 40/30: Devices using two or more structurally separated inhalable precursors, e.g. using two liquid precursors in two cartridges
- A24F 40/42: Cartridges or containers for inhalable precursors
- A24F 40/70: Manufacture
- A24F 40/20: Devices using solid inhalable precursors
- A24F 40/46: Shape or structure of electric heating means
- A61M 15/06: Inhaling appliances shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes
- A24F: SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES (inhaling appliances for medical purposes, shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes A61M15/06)
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}

## Abstract

The electric cartridge for an electronic cigarette of this invention comprises a piece of flexible substrate material comprising at least a flexible film which mounts an electrically conductive network in the form of an array and defining a plurality of resistive zones (pixels) and a plurality of power supply pins for supplying one or more electric currents and connected to the resistive zones. The resistive zones define heating means and are grouped into distinct modules. Each module corresponds to an uninterrupted portion of the electrically conductive network and comprises at least one resistive zone and respective power supply pins. The electric cartridge includes a plurality of portions of aromatic substance positioned on at least one face of the piece of flexible material. Each portion is associated with a resistive zone and positioned in proximity to a heating surface of the respective resistive zone.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for making an electric cartridge for an electronic cigarette, where the cartridge comprises a piece of flexible substrate material comprising at least a flexible film on which are defined a plurality of a resistive zones grouped into distinct modules, the electric cartridge comprising a plurality of portions of aromatic substance positioned on at least one face of the piece of flexible material, each portion being associated with a resistive zone and positioned in proximity to a heating surface of the respective resistive zone, the method comprising the steps of:
preparing a continuous web of flexible substrate material comprising at least one layer of flexible film mounting a plurality of modules of electrically conductive networks,
causing the continuous web of flexible substrate material to advance along a feed path;
depositing on the continuous web at least one dose of a composite comprising an aromatic substance in proximity to the heating surface of a resistive zone in order to obtain a portion of aromatic substance;
cutting an end portion of the continuous web to obtain a piece of flexible substrate material containing a certain number of modules.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein it comprises a sub-step of depositing two or more superposed or juxtaposed layers, each comprising a predetermined aromatic substance.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein it comprises the step of depositing on the continuous web at least one dose of a composite comprising a volatilizable substance suitable for releasing basic or carrier vapour in order to obtain at least one portion of volatilizable substance.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein it comprises the steps of:
depositing on the continuous web in proximity to the heating surface of a resistive zone of a first module at least one dose of a composite comprising an aromatic substance;
depositing on the continuous web in proximity to the heating surface of a resistive zone of a second, distinct module at least one dose of a composite comprising a different aromatic substance.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of preparing the continuous web of flexible substrate material comprises the step of coupling a continuous web of flexible film to a continuous web of covering film positioned on the electrically conductive networks, thereby obtaining the continuous web of flexible substrate material.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the dose of composite comprising the aromatic substance is deposited on a face of the flexible film layer opposite to the electrically conductive networks.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of preparing the continuous web of flexible substrate material comprises the step of coupling a continuous web of flexible film to a continuous web of base sheet.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

An electric cartridge for an electronic cigarette, obtained by the method according to claim 1 and comprising a piece of flexible substrate material comprising at least a flexible film (3), on which are defined a plurality of resistive zones grouped into distinct modules and which mounts an electrically conductive network in the form of an array and defining a plurality of resistive zones (pixels) and a plurality of power supply pins for supplying one or more electric currents and connected to the resistive zones; the resistive zones defining heating means and being grouped into distinct modules, each module corresponding to an uninterrupted portion of the electrically conductive network and comprising at least one resistive zone and respective power supply pins; the electric cartridge comprising a plurality of portions of aromatic substance positioned on at least one face of the piece of flexible material, each portion being associated with a resistive zone and positioned in proximity to a heating surface of the respective resistive zone.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The electric cartridge according to claim 8, wherein the aromatic substance of a first module is different from the aromatic substance of a second, distinct module.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The electric cartridge according to claim 8, wherein the piece of flexible substrate material comprises a covering film located on the electrically conductive network to isolate it from the portions of aromatic substance positioned on the covering film.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The electric cartridge according to claim 8, wherein the electrically conductive network is positioned on a face of the flexible film and wherein the portions of aromatic substance are positioned on the opposite face of the flexible film, the flexible film being interposed between the electrically conductive network and the portions of aromatic substance.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The electric cartridge according to claim 8, wherein the portions of aromatic substance are obtained by means of a jet printer which sprays a composite containing an aromatic substance.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The electric cartridge according to claim 12, wherein a portion of aromatic substance comprises two or more superposed or juxtaposed layers, each comprising a predetermined aromatic substance and made by one depositing pass.

### Claim 14 (depends on 8)

The electric cartridge according to claim 8, wherein it comprises one or more portions of a volatilizable substance suitable for releasing basic or carrier vapour.

### Claim 15 (depends on 8)

The electric cartridge according to claim 8, wherein the resistive zones are arranged along a plurality of rows and columns obtained by sequential and/or mirror-symmetric repetition of a group of modules of resistive zones.

### Claim 16 (depends on 8)

The electric cartridge according to claim 8, wherein the piece of flexible substrate material is wound about a longitudinal axis and wherein the portions of aromatic substance are preferably directed outwards relative to the longitudinal axis.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The electric cartridge according to claim 16, wherein the wound piece of flexible substrate material forms a cylindrical surface or a plurality of superposed coils preferably spaced from each other by supporting shoulders located on opposite, end sides of the piece of flexible material.

### Claim 18 (depends on 8)

The electric cartridge according to claim 8, wherein the piece of flexible substrate material is folded in concertina fashion along fold lines delimiting respective panels of the concertina, the resistive zones being arranged along a plurality of columns, each column occupying a panel of the concertina.

### Claim 19 (depends on 8)

The electric cartridge according to claim 8, wherein the piece of flexible substrate material is wound about a longitudinal axis parallel to the fold lines the panels of the concertina being preferably grouped into pairs of parallel, juxtaposed panels at the face opposite to the portions of aromatic substance, the pairs of panels being arranged along directions radial to the longitudinal axis, for example at 120° from each other.

### Claim 20 (depends on 8)

The electric cartridge according to claim 8, wherein it comprises an inner core around which the piece of flexible substrate material is wound, the inner core preferably comprising a plurality of electrical contacts adapted to power the power supply pins and/or a local processing unit configured to control the power supply of the modules of the electrically conductive network as a function of a particular power supply program.

### Claim 21 (depends on 8)

The electric cartridge according to claim 8, wherein the piece of flexible substrate material comprises a base sheet coupled to the flexible film on the side opposite to the portions of aromatic substance.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The electric cartridge according to claim 21, wherein the base sheet comprises at least one fastening extension to which a filter of the electric cartridge is permanently fixed.