# US 12,178,241 B2 · Consumable for a smoking substitute device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,178,241 B2 - Document ID: US12178241B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/951,033 - Filed: 2020-11-18 - Published: 2021-03-11 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2018-05-18 - Assignees: Imperial Tobacco Limited - Applicants: Imperial Tobacco Limited - Inventors: Pete Lomas; Chris Lord - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12178241B2 ## CPC - A24D 3/17: Filters specially adapted for simulated smoking devices - A24F 40/42: Cartridges or containers for inhalable precursors - A24F 40/46: Shape or structure of electric heating means - A24F 40/48: Fluid transfer means, e.g. pumps - A24F 40/485: Valves; Apertures - A24F 40/10: Devices using liquid inhalable precursors - A24D: CIGARS; CIGARETTES; TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS; MOUTHPIECES OF CIGARS OR CIGARETTES; MANUFACTURE OF TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS OR MOUTHPIECES - A24F: SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES (inhaling appliances for medical purposes, shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes A61M15/06) ## Abstract A consumable for a smoking substitute device, and a smoking substitute device including the consumable. The consumable comprising: a tank, for storing vapourisable liquid; a heater assembly, the heater assembly having an inlet and two or more outlets; and a connector, which is connected to the heater assembly, and which provides at least two airflow paths, each extending from a respective outlet of the heater assembly to an inlet of an airway tube. Each airflow path has a cross-section, located proximal to the respective outlet of the heater assembly, and a second cross-section, located proximal to the airway tube, and wherein the first cross-section is larger than the second cross-section. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A consumable for a smoking substitute device, the consumable comprising: a tank, for storing vapourisable liquid, the tank having a peripheral tank wall; a heater assembly; and a connector within the tank, the connector having at least two conduits in fluid communication with the heater assembly, each conduit defining a respective airflow paths extending from the heater assembly to an inlet of an airway tube; wherein each airflow path has a first cross-section, located proximal to the heater assembly, and a second cross-section, located proximal to the airway tube, and wherein the first cross-section is larger than the second cross-section such that each airflow path through the connector narrows in a direction from the heater assembly to the airway tube; wherein the airway tube is inserted into a first end of the connector and a second end of the connector is sealed against the heater assembly, the second end being opposite to the airway tube; and wherein the connector seals the heater assembly to the airway tube such that the vaporizable liquid stored in the tank cannot seep into the airway tube. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The consumable of claim 1, wherein the consumable includes one or more fixed baffles, which at least partially defines the respective airway paths. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The consumable of claim 1, wherein each airflow path includes at least two turns. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The consumable of claim 1, further comprising a mouthpiece connected to the airway tube at a point distal to the connector. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The consumable of claim 4, further comprising a filter, disposed between the tank and an outlet of the mouthpiece, which is configured to be impermeable to unvapourised liquid and permeable to vapourised liquid. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The consumable of claim 5, wherein the filter is positioned in or adjacent to the mouthpiece. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The consumable of claim 5, further including an air inlet, disposed at an opposite end of the consumable to the mouthpiece, and wherein the air inlet, heater assembly, and mouthpiece define a path for airflow through the consumable in that order. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The consumable of claim 5, wherein the filter is formed from a fabric so as to be permeable to vapourised liquid but impermeable to unvapourised liquid. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The consumable of claim 5, wherein the filter is formed from a mesh so as to be permeable to vapourised liquid but impermeable to unvapourised liquid. ### Claim 10 (depends on 5) The consumable of claim 5, wherein the filter is a gas-permeable and liquid-impermeable membrane. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The consumable of claim 1, wherein the airflow path through the connector is tortuous. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The consumable of claim 1, wherein a portion of the airway tube proximal to the heater assembly has a cross-sectional area of more than 5 mm2. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The consumable of claim 1, wherein the airway tube has a cross-sectional area of no more than 10 mm2. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The consumable of claim 1, wherein the airway tube has an internal diameter of more than 2.5 mm. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The consumable of claim 1, wherein an internal diameter of the airway tube is no more than 4 mm. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The consumable of claim 1, wherein the airway tube has a cross-sectional area, and wherein the cross-sectional area of the airway tube is substantially constant along its length. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The consumable of claim 1, wherein an internal diameter of the airway tube is at least 20% of a width of the tank. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The consumable of claim 17, wherein the tank has a width, as measured in the same direction as the internal diameter of the airway tube, of at least 10 mm and no more than 20 mm. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) A smoking substitute device, comprising the consumable of claim 1.