# US 12,178,243 B2 · Non-combustible smoking device and elements thereof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,178,243 B2 - Document ID: US12178243B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/074,067 - Filed: 2020-10-19 - Published: 2021-02-04 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2016-10-04 - Assignees: Altria Client Services LLC - Applicants: Altria Client Services LLC - Inventors: Buket Sahin; San Li - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12178243B2 ## CPC - A24F 40/30: Devices using two or more structurally separated inhalable precursors, e.g. using two liquid precursors in two cartridges - A24F 40/485: Valves; Apertures - A24F 40/10: Devices using liquid inhalable precursors - A24F 40/20: Devices using solid inhalable precursors - A24F: SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES (inhaling appliances for medical purposes, shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes A61M15/06) ## Abstract At least one example embodiment discloses a pre-vapor formulation reservoir configured to contain a pre-vapor formulation material, a heating element coupled to the pre-vapor formulation reservoir and configured to heat at least a portion of the pre-vapor formulation material into a generated vapor and provide the generated vapor to a first portion of a channel, a tobacco housing at a second portion of the channel and positioned to receive the generated vapor, the tobacco housing including tobacco and at least one air flow element in the tobacco housing to direct at least a first portion of the generated vapor towards an end of the non-combustible smoking element. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A non-combustible smoking element comprising: a pre-vapor formulation reservoir configured to contain a pre-vapor formulation material; a heater coupled to the pre-vapor formulation reservoir, the heater being configured to heat at least a portion of the pre-vapor formulation material into a generated vapor and provide the generated vapor to a first portion of a channel; a tobacco housing at a second portion of the channel, downstream of the pre-vapor formulation reservoir and the heater, and positioned to expose a first portion of the generated vapor to tobacco in the tobacco housing; a tube configured to extend through the tobacco housing and to prevent a second portion of the generated vapor from being exposed to the tobacco; a first gasket in the tobacco housing adjacent the second portion of the channel and configured to receive the tube, the first gasket defining a plurality of holes circumscribing the tube and configured to direct at least the first portion of the generated vapor to the tobacco in the tobacco housing; a filter downstream of the tobacco housing and configured to receive the first portion of the generated vapor and the second portion of the generated vapor; a second gasket in the tobacco housing between the first gasket and the filter and configured to receive the tube, the second gasket defining a plurality of holes circumscribing the tube and configured to direct at least the first portion of the generated vapor to the filter; an outer housing defining a receiving area adjacent the second portion of the channel, the pre-vapor formulation reservoir within the outer housing; and a tobacco insert configured to be removably inserted into the receiving area of the outer housing, the tobacco insert including the tobacco housing, the tube, the first gasket, the second gasket, and the filter. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The non-combustible smoking element of claim 1, wherein the tube extends from a first end portion of the tobacco housing to an opposing second end portion of the tobacco housing. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The non-combustible smoking element of claim 1, wherein the tube separates the tobacco housing into a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the tobacco housing being configured to prevent the second portion of the generated vapor from being exposed to the tobacco. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The non-combustible smoking element of claim 3, wherein the second portion of the generated vapor is 65 percent of the generated vapor. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The non-combustible smoking element of claim 1, wherein the tube has an inside diameter of 0.5 mm to 3 mm. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The non-combustible smoking element of claim 5, wherein the tube has an inside diameter of 2 mm to 2.5 mm. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The non-combustible smoking element of claim 1, wherein the tube divides the tobacco housing into two sections. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The non-combustible smoking element of claim 1, wherein the tube includes one of polyetheretherketone (PEEK), metal or both PEEK and metal. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The non-combustible smoking element of claim 1, wherein the second portion of the generated vapor is directed through the tube. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The non-combustible smoking element of claim 1, wherein the first gasket includes a base portion and a receiving portion, the base portion including the plurality of holes in the first gasket and the receiving portion configured to receive the tube. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The non-combustible smoking element of claim 1, wherein the second gasket is within a middle portion of the tobacco housing, the tube extending through the second gasket. ### Claim 12 A non-combustible smoking device comprising: a pre-vapor formulation reservoir configured to contain a pre-vapor formulation material; a heater coupled to the pre-vapor formulation reservoir, the heater being configured to heat at least a portion of the pre-vapor formulation material into a generated vapor and provide the generated vapor to a first portion of a channel; a power supply configured to supply power to the heater; a tobacco housing at a second portion of the channel, downstream of the pre-vapor formulation reservoir and the heater, and positioned to expose a first portion of the generated vapor to tobacco in the tobacco housing; a tube configured to extend through the tobacco housing and to prevent a second portion of the generated vapor from being exposed to the tobacco; a first gasket in the tobacco housing adjacent the second portion of the channel and configured to receive the tube, the first gasket defining a plurality of holes circumscribing the tube and configured to direct at least the first portion of the generated vapor to the tobacco in the tobacco housing; a filter downstream of the tobacco housing and configured to receive the first portion of the generated vapor and the second portion of the generated vapor; a second gasket in the tobacco housing between the first gasket and the filter and configured to receive the tube, the second gasket defining a plurality of holes circumscribing the tube and configured to direct at least the first portion of the generated vapor to the filter; an outer housing defining a receiving area adjacent the second portion of the channel, the pre-vapor formulation reservoir within the outer housing; and a tobacco insert configured to be removably inserted into the receiving area of the outer housing, the tobacco insert including the tobacco housing, the tube, the first gasket, the second gasket, and the filter. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The non-combustible smoking device of claim 12, wherein the tube extends from a first end portion of the tobacco housing to an opposing second end portion of the tobacco housing. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The non-combustible smoking device of claim 12, wherein the tube separates the tobacco housing into a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the tobacco housing being configured to prevent the second portion of the generated vapor from being exposed to the tobacco. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The non-combustible smoking device of claim 14, wherein the second portion of the generated vapor is 65 percent of the generated vapor. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The non-combustible smoking device of claim 12, wherein the tube has an inside diameter of 0.5 mm to 3 mm. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The non-combustible smoking device of claim 16, wherein the tube has an inside diameter of 2 mm to 2.5 mm. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The non-combustible smoking device of claim 12, wherein the second portion of the generated vapor is directed through the tube.