# US 8,770,187 B2 · Aerosol dispensing device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,770,187 B2 - Document ID: US8770187B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/991,392 - Filed: 2009-03-26 - Published: 2011-05-26 - Granted: 2014-07-08 - Earliest claimed: 2008-05-06 - Assignees: British American Tobacco (Investments) Limited - Applicants: James Murphy - Inventors: James Murphy - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8770187B2 ## CPC - A61M 15/06: Inhaling appliances shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes - A24F 42/20: Devices without heating means - A24F 42/60: Constructional details - A61M 11/002: {by flow deviation causing inertial separation of transported particles} - A61M 15/0016: {located downstream of the dispenser, i.e. traversed by the product} - A61M 15/002: {with air flow regulating means} - A61M 15/0021: {Mouthpieces therefor} - A61M 15/009: {using medicine packages with incorporated spraying means, e.g. aerosol cans (pocket atomiser of the injector type A61M11/08)} - A61M 15/0091: {mechanically breath-triggered} - A61M 15/0093: {without arming or cocking, e.g. acting directly on the delivery valve} - 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 An aerosol dispensing device comprises a tubular body that provides a plenum, a mouthpiece having an outlet, a valve for dispensing fluid from a canister as an aerosol with relatively large and small droplet sizes into the plenum for supply to a user through the mouthpiece, and a baffle arrangement that provides first and second passageways each coupled at one end to the plenum and so configured to receive relatively small and large size droplets in the aerosol respectively, the other end of the first passageway extending to the outlet in the mouthpiece to supply the small size droplets to the user, and the other end of the second passageway being closed to inhibit passage of the large size droplets to the mouthpiece outlet, and containing a absorbent pad to prevent leakage of liquid from the canister. The pad may be pre-loaded with a flavourant. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An aerosol dispensing device comprising: a body that provides a plenum, a mouthpiece having an outlet, a fluid dispensing valve that dispenses a fluid as an aerosol with relatively large and small droplet sizes into the plenum for supply through the mouthpiece, and a baffle arrangement that provides first and second passageways each coupled at one end to the plenum and configured to receive relatively small and large size droplets in the aerosol respectively, the other end of the first passageway extending to the outlet in the mouthpiece forming a supply passageway for the small size droplets, and the other end of the second passageway forming a closed passageway inhibiting passage of the large size droplets to the mouthpiece outlet. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, including a member that captures the large size droplets within the second passageway. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The device according to claim 2, wherein the member comprises an absorbent pad at the other end of the second passageway. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The device according to claim 3, wherein the pad is pre-loaded with a tobacco flavourant. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the body is generally tubular with the mouthpiece at one end thereof, and the baffle arrangement comprises an elongate baffle member within the tubular body extending from the plenum towards the mouthpiece outlet and forming the first and second passageways. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The device according to claim 5, wherein the baffle member is generally cylindrical and the first passageway is between the body and the baffle member and the second passageway is within the baffle member. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The device according to claim 6, wherein the tubular body and the baffle member are coaxially arranged. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The device according to claim 5, wherein the mouthpiece and the baffle member are formed as a single unit which is removably mounted on the tubular body. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The device according to claim 8, wherein the mouthpiece comprises a tubular outer part with the baffle member being configured within the outer part, whereby the first passageway is formed between the outer part and the baffle member. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the baffle member includes side apertures through which aerosol flows from the second passageway to the first passageway. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, including at least one air vent through the body, the air vent being configured to draw external air into the aerosol supplied to the mouthpiece. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the valve is operable to open and supply the aerosol into the plenum in response to a user drawing on the mouthpiece. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The device according to claim 12, wherein the valve includes a valve seat in the body, an orifice extending though the valve seat and configured to receive pressurized fluid for forming the aerosol, and a movable valve member resiliently biased against the valve seat to obturate the orifice and so configured that a pressure reduction caused by a user drawing on the mouthpiece causes the valve member to move away from the valve seat to release pressurized fluid through the orifice. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The device according to claim 13, wherein the valve member includes a flexible diaphragm. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The device according to claim 14, wherein the diaphragm includes apertures configured to allow passage of the aerosol, and is biased by a compression spring towards the valve seat. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the plenum is bounded on one side by a bulkhead that includes a nozzle that supplies aerosol from the valve into the plenum. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the body includes a receiving chamber that receives pressurized fluid. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The device according to claim 17, wherein the receiving chamber is configured to receive a replaceable canister of the pressurized fluid. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the device is charged with a fluid that contains nicotine. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, and having a dress generally corresponding to that of a tobacco containing filter cigarette.