# US 12,324,880 B2 · Vaporizer cartridge and airflow path therethrough > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,324,880 B2 - Document ID: US12324880B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/163,130 - Filed: 2023-02-01 - Published: 2023-09-07 - Granted: 2025-06-10 - Earliest claimed: 2010-05-15 - Assignees: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc. - Applicants: Rai Strategic Holdings, Inc. - Inventors: Nathan Andrew Terry; Noah Mark Minskoff - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12324880B2 ## CPC - A61M 15/0001: {Details of inhalators; Constructional features thereof} - A24F 40/44: Wicks - A24F 40/46: Shape or structure of electric heating means - A24F 40/485: Valves; Apertures - A61M 11/041: {using heaters} - A61M 11/042: {electrical} - A61M 15/0025: {with caps} - A61M 15/0035: {Piercing means} - A61M 15/06: Inhaling appliances shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes - A24F 40/10: Devices using liquid inhalable precursors - A61M 2016/0018: {electrical} - A61M 2205/0205: Materials having antiseptic or antimicrobial properties, e.g. silver compounds, rubber with sterilising agent - A61M 2205/0233: Conductive materials, e.g. antistatic coatings for spark prevention - A61M 2205/13: with means for the detection of operative contact with patient, e.g. lip sensor - A61M 2205/3592: using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission - A61M 2205/3653: by Joule effect, i.e. electric resistance - A61M 2205/3693: by mechanical waves, e.g. ultrasonic - A61M 2205/505: Touch-screens; Virtual keyboard or keypads; Virtual buttons; Soft keys; Mouse touches - A61M 2205/52: with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient - A61M 2205/59: Aesthetic features, e.g. distraction means to prevent fears of child patients - A61M 2205/80: voice-operated command - A61M 2205/8206: battery-operated - A61M 2230/005: Parameter used as control input for the apparatus - A61M 2230/65: Impedance, e.g. conductivity, capacity - 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)} - A24F: SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES (inhaling appliances for medical purposes, shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes A61M15/06) ## Abstract A personal vapor inhaling unit is disclosed. An electronic flameless vapor inhaler unit that may simulate a cigarette has a cavity that receives a cartridge in the distal end of the inhaler unit. The cartridge brings a substance to be vaporized in contact with a wick. When the unit is activated, and the user provides suction, the substance to be vaporized is drawn out of the cartridge, through the wick, and is atomized by the wick into a cavity containing a heating element. The heating element vaporizes the atomized substance. The vapors then continue to be pulled by the user through a mouthpiece and mouthpiece cover where they may be inhaled. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A cartridge for an aerosol generating smoking article, the cartridge comprising: a cartridge body defining a longitudinal axis extending between a proximal end and an opposed distal end of the cartridge body; a reservoir in the cartridge; an atomizer arranged relative to the reservoir to receive a liquid from the reservoir; a first air inlet arranged in the cartridge body; and an airflow path entering through the first air inlet in the cartridge body, wherein at least a first portion of the airflow path is arranged proximate the distal end of the cartridge body so that air drawn into the cartridge moves in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the cartridge body. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The cartridge of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the airflow path is arranged relative to the atomizer so that vapor formed by the atomizer mixes with air moving through the airflow path. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The cartridge of claim 2, further comprising a mouthpiece defined at the proximal end of the cartridge body and arranged to receive the vapor mixed with the air. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The cartridge of claim 3, wherein the mouthpiece is arranged to also receive an additional portion of air. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The cartridge of claim 1, wherein a portion of the airflow path extends along the distal end of the cartridge body. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the airflow path extends in at least two different directions through the cartridge body. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the airflow path extends in at least three different directions through the cartridge body. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The cartridge of claim 1, wherein a second portion of the airflow path is defined substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cartridge body and arranged between the cartridge body and the reservoir. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the airflow path defines a plurality of air passageways through the cartridge. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the first air inlet is arranged at the distal end of the cartridge. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The cartridge of claim 10, wherein the airflow path defines a single air passageway after entering the first air inlet and splits into a plurality of air passageways between the distal end of the cartridge and the proximal end of the cartridge. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the first air inlet is arranged between the distal end and the proximal end of the cartridge body. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The cartridge of claim 1, further comprising a liquid transport element in communication with the reservoir and arranged to deliver liquid to be vaporized to the atomizer. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The cartridge of claim 13, wherein the liquid transport element is a porous ceramic. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the distal end of the cartridge body defines a cartridge connector for connecting to a control body. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the cartridge body defines a void space between the reservoir and the proximal end of the cartridge body. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The cartridge of claim 1, further comprising an atomizer housing within cartridge body, the atomizer being positioned within the atomizer housing. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The cartridge of claim 17, wherein the atomizer housing is arranged between the reservoir and the distal end of the cartridge body. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) An aerosol generating smoking article comprising: a main body that is connectable with a cartridge according to claim 1, the main body including one or more of a control component, a power source, and a light emitting diode. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The aerosol generating smoking article of claim 19, wherein the one or more control components is configured to detect airflow through at least the portion of the aerosol generating smoking article and control passage of an electrical current from the power source of the main body to the atomizer of the cartridge based on a property of the airflow such that operation of the atomizer is impacted based on the property of the airflow. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The aerosol generating smoking article of claim 20, wherein the property of the airflow is a velocity of the airflow. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The aerosol generating smoking article of claim 20, wherein the one or more control components includes a sensor. ### Claim 23 A cartridge for an aerosol generating smoking article, the cartridge comprising: a cartridge body defining a longitudinal axis extending between a proximal end and an opposed distal end of the cartridge body; a reservoir in the cartridge; an atomizer arranged relative to the reservoir to receive a liquid from the reservoir; an airflow path through the cartridge body, at least a portion of the airflow path being arranged so that air drawn into the cartridge moves in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the cartridge body; and an air intake arranged at the distal end of the cartridge, wherein the airflow path defines a single air passageway after entering the air intake and splits into a plurality of air passageways between the distal end of the cartridge and the proximal end of the cartridge. ### Claim 24 A cartridge for an aerosol generating smoking article, the cartridge comprising: a cartridge body defining a longitudinal axis extending between a proximal end and an opposed distal end of the cartridge body; a reservoir in the cartridge; an atomizer arranged relative to the reservoir to receive a liquid from the reservoir; an airflow path through the cartridge body, at least a portion of the airflow path being arranged so that air drawn into the cartridge moves in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the cartridge body; and an atomizer housing within cartridge body, the atomizer being positioned within the atomizer housing, wherein the atomizer housing is arranged between the reservoir and the distal end of the cartridge body.