# US 12,120,779 B2 · Aerosol-generating system with pump > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,120,779 B2 - Document ID: US12120779B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/189,774 - Filed: 2023-03-24 - Published: 2023-07-20 - Granted: 2024-10-15 - Earliest claimed: 2016-03-31 - Assignees: Altria Client Services LLC - Applicants: Altria Client Services LLC - Inventors: Laurent Manca; Rui Nuno Batista - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12120779B2 ## CPC - A61M 15/06: Inhaling appliances shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes - H05B 1/0244: {Heating of fluids (H05B1/0247 takes precedence)} - A24F 40/48: Fluid transfer means, e.g. pumps - A24F 40/485: Valves; Apertures - A61M 11/042: {electrical} - H05B 3/04: Waterproof or air-tight seals for heaters - H05B 3/44: heating conductor arranged within rods or tubes of insulating material - A24F 40/10: Devices using liquid inhalable precursors - A61M 11/006: {operated by applying mechanical pressure to the liquid to be sprayed or atomised} - A61M 15/0015: {located upstream of the dispenser, i.e. not traversed by the product} - A61M 2205/3653: by Joule effect, i.e. electric resistance - A61M 2205/8206: battery-operated - H05B 2203/014: Heaters using resistive wires or cables not provided for in H05B3/54 - H05B 2203/021: Heaters specially adapted for heating liquids - H05B 2203/022: Heaters specially adapted for heating gaseous material - 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)} - H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL - A24F: SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES (inhaling appliances for medical purposes, shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes A61M15/06) ## Abstract An aerosol generating system includes a heater assembly and a manually operated pump. The pump includes a hollow member with an inlet portion and an outlet portion. The inlet portion of the hollow member is configured connectable with a liquid storage portion. The outlet portion of the hollow member is in fluid communication with a dispensing assembly. The pump is configured to dispense a liquid material onto the heater assembly. The pump is configured to pump the liquid material from the liquid storage portion via the dispensing assembly and onto the heater assembly. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An aerosol generating system comprising: a heater assembly, a liquid storage portion configured to contain a liquid material; a dispensing assembly configured to dispense the liquid material to the heater assembly; and a pump including, a flexible, hollow tube having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet connected to the liquid storage portion, and the outlet in fluid communication with the dispensing assembly, and a volume modifier including, a fixed element in contact with the flexible, hollow tube, and a moveable element connected to a button in a housing of the aerosol generating system, the flexible, hollow tube between the fixed element and the moveable element, such that when the button is pressed, the button presses against the moveable element so as to press the moveable element against the flexible, hollow tube in a direction towards the fixed element. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The aerosol generating system of claim 1, wherein the inlet and the outlet each include a one-way valve. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The aerosol generating system of claim 2, wherein the one-way valve at the inlet is configured to allow the liquid material to flow from the liquid storage portion into the flexible, hollow tube. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The aerosol generating system of claim 2, wherein the one-way valve at the outlet is configured to allow the liquid material to flow from the flexible, hollow tube to the dispensing assembly. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The aerosol generating system of claim 1, wherein the pump is manually operated. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The aerosol generating system of claim 1, wherein the volume modifier further comprises: a resilient element configured to assist in returning the moveable element to a resting position. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The aerosol generating system of claim 1, wherein the dispensing assembly comprises: a nozzle configured to spray the liquid material onto the heater assembly. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The aerosol generating system of claim 1, wherein upon activation of the pump, an amount of the liquid material is delivered onto the heater assembly via the dispensing assembly. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The aerosol generating system of claim 1, wherein the heater assembly comprises an electrical resistive heating element, a metallic mesh, a metallic thin film coating applied on a non-conductive heat resistant substrate, or any combination thereof. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The aerosol generating system of claim 1, wherein the moveable element is coupled to an electronic switch, and the electronic switch is configured to create an electrical signal in response to the moveable element being operated. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The aerosol generating system of claim 10, wherein the electronic switch is a kinetic electronic switch, and signals from actuation of the kinetic electronic switch are transmitted to a control unit via a wireless communication channel. ### Claim 12 A method of delivering a liquid material in an aerosol generating system comprising providing an aerosol generating system including, a heater assembly, a liquid storage portion configured to contain a liquid material; a dispensing assembly configured to dispense the liquid material to the heater assembly; and a pump including, a flexible, hollow tube having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet connected to the liquid storage portion, and the outlet in fluid communication with the dispensing assembly, and a volume modifier including, a fixed element in contact with the flexible, hollow tube, and a moveable element connected to a button in a housing of the aerosol generating system, the flexible, hollow tube between the fixed element and the moveable element, such that when the button is pressed, the button presses against the moveable element so as to press the moveable element against the flexible, hollow tube in a direction towards the fixed element; and operating the pump so as to pump the liquid material from the liquid storage portion onto the heater assembly via the dispensing assembly. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the inlet and the outlet each include a one-way valve. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the one-way valve at the inlet allows the liquid material to flow from the liquid storage portion into the flexible, hollow tube. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the one-way valve at the outlet allows the liquid material to flow from the flexible, hollow tube to the dispensing assembly. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising: generating an electronic signal, using an electronic switch operably connected to the moveable element, in response to the moveable element being activated. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method according to claim 16, wherein the electronic switch is a kinetic manually powered electronic switch. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method according to claim 17, further comprising: transmitting the electronic signal to a control unit via a wireless communication channel.