# US 12,599,172 B2 · Nicotine pod assemblies and nicotine e-vaping devices

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- Number: US 12,599,172 B2
- Document ID: US12599172B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/167,555
- Filed: 2023-02-10
- Published: 2023-06-22
- Granted: 2026-04-14
- Earliest claimed: 2019-11-26
- Assignees: Altria Client Services LLC
- Applicants: Altria Client Services LLC
- Inventors: Dean Twite; Yannick Hourmand; Charles Dendy; Bipin Patil; Rangaraj S. Sundar; Christopher Newcomb; Niall Gallagher; Raymond W. Lau; Eric Hawes
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12599172B2

## CPC

- A24F 40/40: Constructional details, e.g. connection of cartridges and battery parts
- A24F 40/42: Cartridges or containers for inhalable precursors
- A24F 40/10: Devices using liquid inhalable precursors
- A24F: SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES (inhaling appliances for medical purposes, shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes A61M15/06)

## Abstract

A nicotine e-vaping device may include a nicotine pod assembly and a device body. The nicotine pod assembly has upstream and downstream ends and is configured to hold a nicotine pre-vapor formulation. The upstream end may define at least one upstream recess, and the downstream end may define at least one downstream recess. The device body defines a through hole configured to receive the nicotine pod assembly. The through hole includes an upstream sidewall and a downstream sidewall. The upstream sidewall may include at least one upstream protrusion, and the downstream sidewall may include at least one downstream protrusion. The at least one upstream protrusion and the at least one downstream protrusion may be configured to engage with the at least one upstream recess and the at least one downstream recess, respectively, so as to retain the nicotine pod assembly within the through hole of the device body.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A nicotine pod assembly for a nicotine e-vaping device, comprising: an upstream end and a downstream end, the upstream end defining a pod inlet and at least one upstream recess, the downstream end defining a pod outlet and at least one downstream recess, the nicotine pod assembly configured to hold a nicotine pre-vapor formulation;
wherein the depth of the at least one upstream recess is greater that a depth of the at least one downstream access.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The nicotine pod assembly of claim 1, wherein the upstream end is an opposing surface of the nicotine pod assembly from the downstream end.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The nicotine pod assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one downstream recess is in a form of a V-shaped notch.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The nicotine pod assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one upstream recess is more rounded than the at least one downstream recess.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The nicotine pod assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one upstream recess includes two upstream recesses.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The nicotine pod assembly of claim 5, wherein the pod inlet is between the two upstream recesses.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The nicotine pod assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one upstream recess is in a form of a U-shaped indentation.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The nicotine pod assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one downstream recess includes two downstream recesses.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The nicotine pod assembly of claim 8, wherein the pod outlet is between the two downstream recesses.