# US 12,108,794 B2 · Method of making cartridge including absorbent material with first reservoir and second reservoir

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- Number: US 12,108,794 B2
- Document ID: US12108794B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/295,066
- Filed: 2023-04-03
- Published: 2023-07-27
- Granted: 2024-10-08
- Earliest claimed: 2016-12-29
- Assignees: Altria Client Services LLC
- Applicants: Altria Client Services LLC
- Inventors: Christopher S. Tucker; Edmond Cadieux; Barry S. Smith; William J. Crowe; Nam Tran
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12108794B2

## CPC

- A24F 40/42: Cartridges or containers for inhalable precursors
- H05B 1/0244: {Heating of fluids (H05B1/0247 takes precedence)}
- A24F 40/10: Devices using liquid inhalable precursors
- A24F 40/485: Valves; Apertures
- A24F 40/50: Control or monitoring
- A24F 40/70: Manufacture
- 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 first defining a first reservoir and a second reservoir within a housing of a cartridge, the second reservoir being in fluid communication with the first reservoir, inserting at least one first layer of absorbent material within the first reservoir, and arranging a heater and a wick to be in communication with a central channel, the wick being in contact with the absorbent material.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method, comprising:
first defining a first reservoir and a second reservoir within a housing of a cartridge, the second reservoir being in fluid communication with the first reservoir;
inserting at least one first layer of absorbent material within the first reservoir; and
arranging a heater and a wick to be in communication with a central channel, the wick being in contact with the absorbent material.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
configuring an interior of the second reservoir to be devoid of an absorbent material.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
second defining at least one first hole within a first wall that is between the first reservoir and the second reservoir.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, further comprising:
filling the second reservoir with a pre-vapor formulation,
wherein the second defining defines the at least one first hole such that the pre-vapor formulation flows from the second reservoir into the first reservoir through the at least one first hole during the filling.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, further comprising:
controlling a wicking rate of the cartridge by adjusting an overall cross-sectional flow area of at least one first hole that is defined within a first wall between the first reservoir and the second reservoir.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, further comprising:
controlling a vapor production of the cartridge by adjusting an overall cross-sectional flow area of at least one first hole that is defined within a first wall between the first reservoir and the second reservoir.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
second defining at least one first hole within a first wall that is between the first reservoir and the second reservoir, the first wall at least partially defining the first reservoir and the second reservoir.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein the arranging arranges the wick to extend through at least one second hole that is defined within a second wall, the second wall being between and at least partially defining the first reservoir and the central channel.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the inserting inserts the at least one first layer of absorbent material as a plurality of layers of the absorbent material, the absorbent material being at least one of gauze or a fibrous material.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the arranging arranges the wick as a filamentary wick, the filamentary wick being made from a different material relative to the absorbent material.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the inserting inserts the at least one first layer of absorbent material as a plurality of layers of the absorbent material, one or more of the plurality of layers being made from a different material relative to a remaining number of the plurality of layers.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
second defining an airflow path through the housing, the central channel forming at least a portion of the airflow path.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, further comprising:
first configuring a control circuit to send an electrical current from a power supply to the heater in response to a sensor detecting one or more internal vaping conditions within the airflow path during an active use of the cartridge, the sensor being operationally connected to the control circuit.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the arranging:
arranges the wick to transport a pre-vapor formulation from the first reservoir to the heater, and
arranges the heater to at least partially vaporize the pre-vapor formulation to produce a vapor that is entrained within the airflow path, during the active use of the cartridge.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, further comprising:
second configuring electrical elements of a power section to be operationally connected to the heater in response to the power section being connected to the cartridge, the electrical elements including the control circuit, the power supply, and the sensor.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the first defining defines the first reservoir and the second reservoir using a first fabrication material that is one of transparent or translucent, the first fabrication material being configured to allow at least a portion of an interior of the first reservoir and the second reservoir to be viewable from outside of the cartridge.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the first defining defines the first reservoir to be at least partially within the second reservoir.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein the first defining defines the first reservoir and the second reservoir using a first fabrication material that is one of transparent or translucent, the first fabrication material being configured to allow at least a portion of an interior of the first reservoir and the second reservoir to be viewable from outside of the cartridge.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein the inserting inserts the at least one first layer of the absorbent material in an annulus space, the annulus space at least partially surrounding the central channel, the first reservoir including the annulus space.

### Claim 20 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, further comprising:
first connecting a first end of a first tube to a connector, the first tube at least partially defining the central channel;
second connecting a second end of a second tube to the connector, the first reservoir being at least partially defined by the first tube and the second tube; and
connecting a third end of a third tube to the connector, the second reservoir being at least partially defined by the second tube and the third tube, the housing including the third tube.