# US 2017/0280776 A1 · Aerosol-generating system with pump > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0280776 A1 - Document ID: US20170280776A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/474,337 - Filed: 2017-03-30 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2016-03-31 - Assignees: Altria Client Services LLC - Inventors: Laurent MANCA; Rui Nuno BATISTA - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170280776A1 ## CPC - A61M 15/06: Inhaling appliances shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes - H05B 1/0244: {Heating of fluids (H05B1/0247 takes precedence)} - A24F 40/48: Fluid transfer means, e.g. pumps - A24F 40/485: Valves; Apertures - A61M 11/042: {electrical} - H05B 3/04: Waterproof or air-tight seals for heaters - H05B 3/44: heating conductor arranged within rods or tubes of insulating material - A24F 40/10: Devices using liquid inhalable precursors - A61M 11/006: {operated by applying mechanical pressure to the liquid to be sprayed or atomised} - A61M 15/0015: {located upstream of the dispenser, i.e. not traversed by the product} - A61M 2205/3653: by Joule effect, i.e. electric resistance - A61M 2205/8206: battery-operated - H05B 2203/014: Heaters using resistive wires or cables not provided for in H05B3/54 - H05B 2203/021: Heaters specially adapted for heating liquids - H05B 2203/022: Heaters specially adapted for heating gaseous material - 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)} - H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL - A24F: SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES (inhaling appliances for medical purposes, shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes A61M15/06) ## Abstract An aerosol generating system includes a heater assembly and a manually operated pump. The pump includes a hollow member with an inlet portion and an outlet portion. The inlet portion of the hollow member is configured connectable with a liquid storage portion. The outlet portion of the hollow member is in fluid communication with a dispensing assembly. The pump is configured to dispense a liquid material onto the heater assembly. The pump is configured to pump the liquid material from the liquid storage portion via the dispensing assembly and onto the heater assembly. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An aerosol generating system comprising: a heater assembly, and a manually operated pump including, a hollow member including, an inlet portion, the inlet portion being connectable to a liquid storage portion, the liquid storage portion configured to store a liquid material, and an outlet portion, the outlet portion being in fluid communication with a dispensing assembly, the dispensing assembly configured to dispense the liquid material onto the heater assembly, the inlet portion and the outlet portion each including a one way valve, the one-way valve at the inlet portion configured to allow the liquid material to flow from the liquid storage portion into the hollow member only, and the one-way valve at the outlet portion configured to allow the liquid material to flow from the hollow member to the dispensing assembly only, and a volume modifier including a moveable element, the volume modifier being configured to change an internal volume of the hollow member. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The aerosol generating system according to claim 1, wherein the hollow member comprises, at least one wall, at least a portion of the at least one wall being flexible. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The aerosol generating system according to claim 2, wherein the volume modifier is configured to be pressed against the flexible portion of the at least one wall of the hollow member of the manually operated pump. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The aerosol generating system according to a claim 1, wherein the volume modifier comprises, a movable element, and a fixed element. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The aerosol generating system according to claim 1, wherein the hollow member of the manually operated pump is defined by a flexible tube. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The aerosol generating system according to claim 5, wherein the flexible tube is positioned between the fixed element and the movable element of the volume modifier, such that by moving the movable element towards the fixed element, the internal volume of the tube is reduced. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The aerosol generating system according to claim 6, wherein the volume modifier comprises, a resilient element configured to assist in returning the moveable element to a resting position. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The aerosol generating system according to claim 1, wherein the dispensing assembly comprises, a nozzle configured to spray the liquid material onto the heater assembly. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The aerosol generating system according to claim 1, wherein upon activation of the pump, an amount of the liquid material is delivered onto the heater assembly. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The aerosol-generating system according to claim 1, wherein the heater assembly comprises at least one of an electrical resistive heating element, a metallic mesh, and a metallic thin film coating applied on a non-conductive heat resistant substrate. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The aerosol generating system according to any claim 1, wherein the moveable element is coupled to an electronic switch, the electronic switch configured to create an electrical signal when the volume modifier is operated. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The aerosol-generating system according to claim 11, wherein the electronic switch is a kinetic electronic switch, and wherein signals from actuation of the switch are transmitted to the control unit via a wireless communication channel. ### Claim 13 A method of delivering a liquid aerosol-forming substrate, comprising providing an aerosol generating system including, a heater assembly; a manually operated pump including, a hollow member including, an inlet portion, and an outlet portion, and a volume modifier including a moveable element, the volume modifier being configured to change the internal volume of the hollow member, the inlet portion of the hollow member being connectable to a liquid storage portion, the liquid storage portion configured to store a liquid material, the outlet portion of the hollow member being in fluid connection with a dispensing assembly, the inlet portion and the outlet portion each including a one way valve, the one-way valve at the inlet portion configured to allow the liquid material to flow from the liquid storage portion into the hollow member only, and the one-way valve at the outlet portion configured to allow the liquid material to flow from the hollow member to the dispensing assembly only; and operating the manually operated pump so as to pump a liquid aerosol-forming substrate from the liquid storage portion via the dispensing assembly onto a heater assembly. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, wherein operating includes activating a volume modifier comprising a moveable element. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, wherein the moveable element is coupled to an electronic switch, the electronic switch being configured to generate an electronic signal when the volume modifier is activated. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15, wherein the electronic switch is a kinetic manually powered electronic switch. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method according to claim 16, further comprising: transmitting generated signals to a control unit via a wireless communication channel.