# US 10,863,775 B2 · Cartridge assembly comprising a guide slot > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,863,775 B2 - Document ID: US10863775B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/068,990 - Filed: 2017-01-25 - Published: 2019-01-24 - Granted: 2020-12-15 - Earliest claimed: 2016-01-25 - Assignees: Philip Morris Products S.A. - Applicants: Philip Morris Products S.A. - Inventors: Patrick Charles Silvestrini - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10863775B2 ## CPC - A61M 15/06: Inhaling appliances shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes - A24B 15/167: in liquid or vaporisable form, e.g. liquid compositions for electronic cigarettes - A24F 7/02: with detachable connecting members - 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 40/485: Valves; Apertures - A24F 40/60: Devices with integrated user interfaces - A24F 40/465: specially adapted for induction heating - 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)} - A24B: MANUFACTURE OR PREPARATION OF TOBACCO FOR SMOKING OR CHEWING; TOBACCO; SNUFF - A24F: SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES (inhaling appliances for medical purposes, shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes A61M15/06) ## Abstract A cartridge assembly for an aerosol-generating system is provided, including a cartridge, housing, mouthpiece, and linkage. The cartridge includes first and second compartments each having an air inlet and outlet. The housing encloses the cartridge, and includes air inlets, air outlets, and a guide slot. The mouthpiece includes an air inlet in fluid communication with the housing air outlets. The linkage extends through the guide slot and is connected to the cartridge and the mouthpiece. The mouthpiece and the cartridge are rotatable with respect to the housing from a first position to a second position. When the cartridge is in the first position, the housing obstructs the air inlets and outlets of the first and second compartments. When the cartridge is in the second position, the air inlets and outlets of the first and second compartments are in fluid communication with the housing air inlets and outlets respectively. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A cartridge assembly for an aerosol-generating system, the cartridge assembly comprising: a cartridge comprising: a first compartment having a first air inlet and a first air outlet, and a second compartment having a second air inlet and a second air outlet, a housing enclosing the cartridge, the housing comprising: an upstream housing end wall comprising a third air inlet and a fourth air inlet, and a downstream housing end wall comprising a third air outlet, a fourth air outlet, and at least one guide slot; a mouthpiece comprising an upstream mouthpiece end wall and a mouthpiece air inlet in the upstream mouthpiece end wall, the mouthpiece air inlet in fluid communication with the third air outlet and the fourth air outlet; and at least one linkage extending through the at least one guide slot and connected to the cartridge and the upstream mouthpiece end wall, wherein the mouthpiece and the cartridge are rotatable with respect to the housing from a first position to a second position, wherein, when the cartridge is in the first position, the upstream housing end wall obstructs the first air inlet and the second air inlet, and the downstream housing end wall obstructs the first air outlet and the second air outlet, and wherein, when the cartridge is in the second position, the third air inlet is in fluid communication with the first air inlet, the third air outlet is in fluid communication with the first air outlet, the fourth air inlet is in fluid communication with the second air inlet, and the fourth air outlet is in fluid communication with the second air outlet. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The cartridge assembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least one guide slot comprises a first guide slot and a second guide slot, and wherein the at least one linkage comprises a first linkage extending through the first guide slot and connected to the cartridge and the upstream mouthpiece end wall, and a second linkage extending through the second guide slot and connected to the cartridge and the upstream mouthpiece end wall. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The cartridge assembly according to claim 1, wherein the downstream housing end wall is substantially circular, and wherein the at least one guide slot has an arcuate shape. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The cartridge assembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least one guide slot comprises a first end and a second end, wherein, when the cartridge is in the first position, the at least one linkage is positioned at the first end of the at least one guide slot, and wherein, when the cartridge is in the second position, the at least one linkage is positioned at the second end of the at least one guide slot. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The cartridge assembly according to claim 1, wherein the angular rotation of the cartridge from the first position to the second position is between 30 degrees and 110 degrees with respect to the housing. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The cartridge assembly according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge and the mouthpiece are configured for two-way rotational movement with respect to the housing so that the cartridge is rotatable from the second position to the first position. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The cartridge assembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least one linkage comprises a rod extending between the upstream mouthpiece end wall and the cartridge. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The cartridge assembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least one linkage is formed integrally with the upstream mouthpiece end wall or with the cartridge. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The cartridge assembly according to claim 1, wherein the mouthpiece comprises a mouthpiece chamber positioned downstream of the upstream mouthpiece end wall and in fluid communication with the mouthpiece air inlet, and wherein the mouthpiece further comprises a mouthpiece air outlet at a downstream end of the mouthpiece chamber. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The cartridge assembly according to claim 9, wherein the mouthpiece further comprises a ventilation air inlet providing fluid communication between the exterior of the mouthpiece and the mouthpiece chamber, and wherein the ventilation air inlet is position between the upstream mouthpiece end wall and the downstream end of the mouthpiece chamber. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The cartridge assembly according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge further comprises a nicotine source positioned within the first compartment and an acid source positioned within the second compartment. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The cartridge assembly according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge further comprises a third compartment configured to receive a heating element of an aerosol-generating device, the third compartment positioned between the first compartment and the second compartment, and wherein the upstream housing end wall comprises an aperture aligned with the third compartment when the cartridge is in the second position. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The cartridge assembly according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge comprises a susceptor positioned between the first compartment and the second compartment. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) An aerosol-generating system, comprising: a cartridge assembly according to claim 1; and an aerosol-generating device comprising a device cavity configured to receive an upstream end of the cartridge assembly and a heater configured to heat the first compartment and the second compartment of the cartridge of the cartridge assembly. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The aerosol-generating system according to claim 14, wherein the heater comprises a heating element positioned within the device cavity, wherein the cartridge comprises a third compartment configured to heat the heating element and positioned between the first compartment and the second compartment, and wherein the housing comprises an aperture aligned with the third compartment when the cartridge is in the second position. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The aerosol-generating system according to claim 14, wherein the heater comprises an inductive heater surrounding at least a portion of the device cavity, and wherein the cartridge comprises a susceptor positioned between the first compartment and the second compartment.