# US 12,108,792 B2 · Aerosol provision system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,108,792 B2 - Document ID: US12108792B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/604,317 - Filed: 2020-04-09 - Published: 2022-09-15 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2019-04-17 - Assignees: Nicoventures Trading Limited - Applicants: Nicoventures Trading Limited - Inventors: Joseph Sutton; Terry Lee Angell - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12108792B2 ## CPC - A24F 40/42: Cartridges or containers for inhalable precursors - A61M 11/042: {electrical} - A24F 40/60: Devices with integrated user interfaces - A24F 40/85: Maintenance, e.g. cleaning - A61M 15/06: Inhaling appliances shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes - A61M 2016/0015: {inhalation detectors} - A61M 2205/3331: Pressure; Flow - A61M 2205/3368: Temperature - A61M 2205/3379: Masses, volumes, levels of fluids in reservoirs, flow rates - A61M 2205/3653: by Joule effect, i.e. electric resistance - 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 An aerosol provision cartridge (30) for an aerosol provision system (10). The cartridge (30) comprises a refillable chamber (100) for aerosol precursor material, the chamber (100) comprising a first opening (102) and a second opening (104), each opening (102;104) allowing for access into the chamber (100). Each opening (102;104) is covered by a respective cap (130;132) which is configured to be uncoupled from the chamber (100) for allowing access to the opening (102;104). The cartridge (30) is configured such that each cap (130;132), when coupled to the chamber (100), requires at least two different actions (A1;A2) to be uncoupled from the chamber (100). The first or second action (A1;A2) may each include, but are not limited, to: rotating; pulling; pushing; or unlatching. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An aerosol provision cartridge for an aerosol provision system, wherein the cartridge comprises a refillable chamber for aerosol precursor material, the chamber comprising a first opening and a second opening, each opening allowing for access into the chamber, wherein each opening is covered by a respective cap which is configured to be uncoupled from the chamber for allowing access to the opening, wherein the cartridge is configured such that each cap, when coupled to the chamber, requires at least two different actions to be uncoupled from the chamber, wherein the cartridge further comprises an aerosol generating component located in the chamber; wherein the cap for the first opening includes an orifice through which the aerosol generating component projects when the cap for the first opening is coupled to the chamber; and wherein the aerosol provision cartridge further comprises a retaining means configured to hold the aerosol generating component inside the chamber when the cap for the first opening has been uncoupled from the chamber. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The aerosol provision cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the at least two actions are in two different directions. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The aerosol provision cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the aerosol generating component is removable through at least one of the first and second openings when the cap for the first opening and the cap for the second opening are uncoupled from the chamber. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The aerosol provision cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the aerosol generating component is removable through at least one of the first and second openings when a corresponding one of the cap for the first opening and the cap for the second opening is uncoupled from the chamber. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The aerosol provision cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the cap for the second opening defines a mouthpiece. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The aerosol provision cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the aerosol precursor material comprises a liquid. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The aerosol provision cartridge according to claim 1, wherein each cap remains attached to the chamber when the cap is uncoupled from the chamber. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The aerosol provision cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the at least two actions includes a first action which comprises: rotating; pulling; pushing; or unlatching. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The aerosol provision cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the at least two actions defines a second action which comprises: rotating; pulling; pushing; or unlatching. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The aerosol provision cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the at least two actions for the cap for the first opening is different from the at least two actions for the cap for the second opening. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The aerosol provision cartridge according to claim 1 wherein, for the cap for the first opening, the first action comprises pulling, and the second action comprises rotating. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The aerosol provision cartridge according to claim 1 wherein, for the cap for the second opening, the first action comprises pushing, and the second action comprises rotating. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The aerosol provision cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the chamber is substantially cylindrical. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The aerosol provision cartridge according to claim 13, wherein the chamber comprises a first end comprising the first opening, and comprises a second end comprising the second opening. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The aerosol provision cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising an alignment mechanism configured to prevent one of the caps from being uncoupled from the chamber unless the cap is rotated to a predetermined position with respect to the chamber. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The aerosol provision cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising an alignment mechanism configured to prevent one of the caps from being uncoupled from the chamber, wherein the alignment mechanism comprises at least one collar member that is rotatable with respect to the one of the caps and the chamber, wherein the alignment mechanism is configured to prevent the cap from being uncoupled from the chamber unless the at least one collar member is rotated to a predetermined position with respect to the cap and the chamber. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The aerosol provision cartridge according to claim 16, wherein the alignment mechanism comprises a plurality of collar members. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The aerosol provision cartridge according to claim 16, wherein the cartridge further comprises an aerosol generating component located in the chamber, wherein the one of the caps is the cap for the first opening, wherein each collar member comprises an electrically conductive portion for transferring electrical power between the aerosol generating component and the cap for the first opening when the cap for the first opening is coupled to the chamber. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The aerosol provision cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising a biasing means for biasing one of the caps towards a position where the cap is coupled to the chamber. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The aerosol provision cartridge according to claim 19, wherein the biasing means is positioned between the one of the caps and the chamber. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) An aerosol provision system configured to receive the aerosol provision cartridge of claim 1. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The aerosol provision system according to claim 21, wherein the aerosol provision system comprises a body to which the aerosol provision cartridge is attachable, wherein the cap for the first opening is configured to abut the body when the cartridge is attached to the body. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The aerosol provision system according to claim 22, wherein the body is configured to push the cap for the first opening against the first action of the cap for the first opening when the cartridge is coupled to the body, wherein the first action of the cap for the first opening comprises pulling. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) An aerosol provision system comprising the aerosol provision cartridge of claim 1. ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) The aerosol provision cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising visual indicia for indicating how to uncouple each cap from the chamber. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The aerosol provision cartridge according to claim 25, wherein the visual indica are located on the first cap and the second cap. ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) The aerosol provision cartridge according to claim 25, wherein the visual indicia comprises a series of numbered arrows on each cap. ### Claim 28 A method of accessing a chamber for aerosol precursor material comprised in an aerosol provision cartridge for an aerosol provision system, wherein the aerosol provision cartridge comprises the chamber for aerosol precursor material, the chamber comprising a first opening and a second opening each allowing for access into the chamber, wherein each opening is covered by a respective cap which is configured to be uncoupled from the chamber for allowing access to the opening, wherein the aerosol provision cartridge is configured such that each cap, when coupled to the chamber, requires at least two different actions to be uncoupled from the chamber; wherein the cartridge further comprises an aerosol generating component located in the chamber; wherein the cap for the first opening includes an orifice through which the aerosol generating component projects when the cap for the first opening is coupled to the chamber; wherein the aerosol provision cartridge further comprises a retaining means configured to hold the aerosol generating component inside the chamber when the cap for the first opening has been uncoupled from the chamber, and wherein the method comprises the steps of: performing a first action on one of the caps; and performing a second action on the cap; wherein the first action is different to the second action. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The method according to claim 28, wherein the method further comprises the steps of: performing the first action in a first direction; and performing a second action in a second direction; wherein the first direction is different to the second direction. ### Claim 30 (depends on 28) The method according to claim 28, wherein the method further comprises the steps of: performing a third action on another of the caps in a third direction; and performing a fourth action on the another of the caps in a fourth direction; wherein the third action is different to the fourth action, and the third direction is different to the fourth direction.