# US 12,004,565 B2 · Method of forming assembly with duct abutting air impingement structure > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,004,565 B2 - Document ID: US12004565B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/051,173 - Filed: 2022-10-31 - Published: 2023-03-16 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2015-08-07 - Assignees: Altria Client Services LLC - Applicants: Altria Client Services LLC - Inventors: Michel Thorens - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12004565B2 ## CPC - A24F 40/42: Cartridges or containers for inhalable precursors - A24F 40/46: Shape or structure of electric heating means - A24F 40/485: Valves; Apertures - A24F 40/70: Manufacture - H05B 3/34: flexible, e.g. heating nets or webs - A24F 40/10: Devices using liquid inhalable precursors - H05B 2203/021: Heaters specially adapted for heating liquids - A24F: SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES (inhaling appliances for medical purposes, shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes A61M15/06) - H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL ## Abstract The method includes defining a duct within a capillary medium, first forming an air impingement structure, the air impingement structure including electrically conductive filaments, and connecting a first surface of the capillary medium to a second surface of the air impingement structure to form an assembly, a first end of the duct abutting the second surface, at least one first portion of the air impingement structure extending into the first surface. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of forming an assembly, comprising: defining a duct within a capillary medium; first forming an air impingement structure, the air impingement structure including electrically conductive filaments; and connecting a first surface of the capillary medium to a second surface of the air impingement structure to form the assembly, the second surface being convex and being conformed to a shape of the first surface that is concave, a first end of the duct abutting the second surface, at least one first portion of the air impingement structure extending into the first surface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first forming forms the first surface and a third surface of the air impingement structure to oppose each other, the first end of the duct not being in direct communication with the third surface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the defining defines the duct such that the duct does not extend through the air impingement structure. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the defining defines the duct to run through a longitudinal length of the capillary medium. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the defining defines the duct to run through a longitudinal length of the capillary medium, the first end of the duct abutting a first epicenter of the second surface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the connecting connects such that the at least one first portion includes the first epicenter. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the defining defines the duct to traverse through a second epicenter of the first surface, the capillary medium having a cylindrical shape, and the connecting connects such that the first epicenter is aligned with the second epicenter. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the defining defines the duct to run through a longitudinal centerline of the capillary medium, the first end of the duct abutting a first epicenter of the second surface, the capillary medium having a cylindrical shape. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the connecting connects such that the first end of the duct abuts a first epicenter of the second surface, the air impingement structure having a circular horizontal cross-section. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: second forming the capillary medium, the capillary medium including a first part and a second part. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the connecting connects the first surface to the second part, the second part having a first thermal decomposition temperature that is higher than a second thermal decomposition temperature of the first part. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the connecting connects such that the at least one first portion of the air impingement structure extends into both the first part and the second part. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the connecting connects such that a first epicenter of the second surface extends into both the first part and the second part, the second surface having a circular horizontal cross-section. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first forming forms the air impingement structure from a mesh made from the electrically conductive filaments, the mesh being fluid permeable. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: configuring the air impingement structure with a first contact and a second contact that are electrically conductive. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the configuring configures the first contact and the second contact to be located at an interior portion and an exterior portion of the air impingement structure. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the configuring configures the first contact to extend through the duct. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: inserting the assembly into a housing, the housing having an opening that is in communication with a third surface of the air impingement structure, the third surface opposing the second surface on the air impingement structure. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, further comprising: infusing at least a portion of the capillary medium with a liquid aerosol-forming substrate. ### Claim 20 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the connecting connects such that the at least one first portion of the air impingement structure directly contacts some of the first part and the second part. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the connecting connects the first surface to the second surface such the first surface is not in direct communication with the duct.