# US 12,213,531 B2 · Nicotine e-vaping device

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- Number: US 12,213,531 B2
- Document ID: US12213531B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/325,380
- Filed: 2023-05-30
- Published: 2023-09-28
- Granted: 2025-02-04
- Earliest claimed: 2020-06-25
- Assignees: Altria Client Services LLC
- Applicants: Altria Client Services LLC
- Inventors: Eric Hawes; Raymond W. Lau; Jose Jesus Paolo Montalvan; John Paul Muring
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12213531B2

## CPC

- A24F 40/485: Valves; Apertures
- A24F 40/10: Devices using liquid inhalable precursors
- A24F 40/40: Constructional details, e.g. connection of cartridges and battery parts
- A24F 40/42: Cartridges or containers for inhalable precursors
- A61M 11/042: {electrical}
- A61M 15/06: Inhaling appliances shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes
- A61M 2205/8206: battery-operated
- 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

A reservoir assembly that holds a nicotine pre-vapor formulation in a reservoir includes a reservoir assembly connector assembly defining a connector conduit, and which may be configured to detachably couple with a nicotine vaporizer assembly based on a connector element of the nicotine vaporizer assembly engaging with the connector conduit of the connector conduit. The reservoir assembly may include an isolation structure configured to move in relation to both the reservoir and the nicotine vaporizer connector assembly between a first position where the isolation structure exposes the nicotine vaporizer assembly to the reservoir and at least partially obstructs the connector conduit to restrict the connector element from disengaging from the connector conduit, and a second position where the isolation structure isolates the nicotine vaporizer assembly from the reservoir and opens the connector conduit to enable the connector element to disengage from the connector conduit.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An assembly for a nicotine e-vaping device, the assembly comprising:
a housing including a first fluid port extending through the housing, the housing having an inner surface at least partially defining an internal conduit; and
a connector assembly configured to detachably couple with a nicotine vaporizer assembly received into the internal conduit to hold the nicotine vaporizer assembly at least partially within the internal conduit such that the nicotine vaporizer assembly is engaged with the assembly; and
an isolation structure configured to move in relation to the connector assembly between
based on the isolation structure being at a first position,
restricting the nicotine vaporizer assembly held at least partially within the internal conduit from disengaging from the assembly, and
exposing the nicotine vaporizer assembly held at least partially within the internal conduit to the first fluid port, and
based on the isolation structure being at a second position, the second position different from the first position,
enabling the nicotine vaporizer assembly held at least partially within the internal conduit to disengage from the assembly, and
isolating the nicotine vaporizer assembly held at least partially within the internal conduit from the first fluid port.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The assembly of claim 1, wherein
the isolation structure includes a second fluid port configured to at least partially align with the first fluid port to selectively expose the nicotine vaporizer assembly held at least partially within the internal conduit to the first fluid port via the second fluid port concurrently with selectively restricting the nicotine vaporizer assembly held at least partially within the internal conduit from disengaging from the assembly.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The assembly of claim 1, wherein
an outer surface of the housing at least partially defines a reservoir, the first fluid port configured to enable fluid communication between the internal conduit and the reservoir.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The assembly of claim 3, wherein
the assembly includes a third fluid port, the third fluid port configured to enable fluid communication between the reservoir and an exterior of the assembly,
the isolation structure is configured to cover the third fluid port to isolate the reservoir from the exterior of the assembly concurrently with selectively exposing the nicotine vaporizer assembly held at least partially within the internal conduit to the first fluid port and selectively restricting the nicotine vaporizer assembly held at least partially within the internal conduit from disengaging from the assembly,
the isolation structure is further configured to expose the third fluid port to expose the reservoir to the exterior of the assembly concurrently with selectively isolating the nicotine vaporizer assembly held at least partially within the internal conduit from the first fluid port and selectively enabling the nicotine vaporizer assembly held at least partially within the internal conduit to disengage from the assembly, and
the assembly is configured to enable the reservoir to be refilled through the third fluid port based on the third fluid port being exposed.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The assembly of claim 4, wherein
the isolation structure is further configured to cover both the first fluid port and the third fluid port concurrently with selectively enabling the nicotine vaporizer assembly held at least partially within the internal conduit to disengage from the assembly.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The assembly of claim 1, wherein the connector assembly is a first bayonet connector that is configured to establish a bayonet interface connection with a second bayonet connector of the nicotine vaporizer assembly.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The assembly of claim 1, wherein the isolation structure is configured to rotate around a longitudinal axis of the isolation structure to selectively and concurrently restrict the nicotine vaporizer assembly held at least partially within the internal conduit from disengaging from the assembly and expose the nicotine vaporizer assembly held at least partially within the internal conduit to the first fluid port.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The assembly of claim 1, wherein the isolation structure is configured to move axially along a longitudinal axis of the isolation structure to selectively and concurrently restrict the nicotine vaporizer assembly held at least partially within the internal conduit from disengaging from the assembly and expose the nicotine vaporizer assembly held at least partially within the internal conduit to the first fluid port.

### Claim 9 (depends on 3)

A nicotine vapor generator assembly, comprising:
the assembly of claim 3; and
a nicotine vaporizer assembly configured detachably couple with the connector assembly of the assembly such that the nicotine vaporizer assembly is held at least partially within the internal conduit of the assembly,
wherein the nicotine vaporizer assembly is configured to vaporize nicotine pre-vapor formulation held in the reservoir at least partially defined by the housing of the assembly based on the isolation structure selectively exposing the nicotine vaporizer assembly to the first fluid port.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

A nicotine e-vaping device, comprising:
the nicotine vapor generator assembly of claim 9; and
a power supply assembly coupled to the nicotine vapor generator assembly, the power supply assembly including a power supply, the power supply assembly configured to supply electrical power from the power supply to the nicotine vaporizer assembly.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The nicotine e-vaping device of claim 10, wherein the power supply is a rechargeable battery.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The nicotine e-vaping device of claim 10, wherein the power supply assembly is configured to decouple from the nicotine vapor generator assembly.