RU2839040C1 - Device for e-vaping of nicotine with built-in heater-thermocouple - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: smoking accessories.

SUBSTANCE: there is provided nicotine cartridge (100) for a nicotine e-vaping device (500), wherein nicotine cartridge (100) comprises a body defining reservoir (134) which contains a ready-made vapor composition (180) containing nicotine. Nicotine cartridge (100) also comprises wick (240) configured to transport the nicotine-containing finished vapor composition (180) by capillary action, and built-in heater-thermocouple (250). Built-in heater-thermocouple (250) is configured to heat nicotine-containing finished vapor composition (180) in wick (240) to generate nicotine vapor, wherein built-in heater-thermocouple (250) comprises first segment (252) made from first alloy and second segment (256) made from second alloy.

EFFECT: disclosed is a device for e-vaping of nicotine with a built-in heater-thermocouple.

16 cl, 20 dwg

Description

The present invention relates to measuring and controlling temperature in electronic devices for vaping (e-vaping) nicotine.

Some devices for nicotine e-vaping comprise a first section connected to a second section. The first section may comprise a wick and a heater. The wick is configured to move a nicotine-containing ready-made vapor composition by means of capillary action and is arranged to extend into the reservoir and the vapor passage. The heater is in thermal contact with the wick and is configured to evaporate a nicotine-containing ready-made vapor composition drawn through the wick into the vapor passage. The second section comprises a power source configured to supply electric current to the heater during smoking of the electronic cigarette. Initiation of the nicotine e-vaping device can be achieved by manual activation and/or puff activation.

At least one embodiment relates to a nicotine cartridge of a device intended for a nicotine e-vapor device. In an illustrative embodiment, the nicotine cartridge may comprise a housing, a wick, and a built-in heater-thermocouple. The housing defines a reservoir that contains a nicotine-containing ready-to-use vapor composition. The wick is configured to transport the nicotine-containing ready-to-use vapor composition by capillary action. The built-in heater-thermocouple is configured to heat the nicotine-containing ready-to-use vapor composition in the wick with generation of nicotine vapor. The built-in heater-thermocouple comprises a first segment made of a first alloy, and a second segment made of a second alloy.

At least one embodiment relates to a device for nicotine e-vaping. In an illustrative embodiment, the device for nicotine e-vaping may comprise a nicotine cartridge and a main part of the device. The nicotine cartridge comprises a nicotine-containing ready-to-use vapor composition, a wick and a built-in heater-thermocouple. The wick is configured to transport the nicotine-containing ready-to-use vapor composition by capillary action. The built-in heater-thermocouple comprises a first segment made of a first alloy and a second segment made of a second alloy. The main part of the device is configured to receive the nicotine cartridge. The main part of the device comprises a power source, at least one sensor and a controller. The power source is configured to supply electric power to the built-in heater-thermocouple for heating the nicotine-containing ready-to-use vapor composition in the wick with generation of nicotine vapor. At least one sensor is configured to measure the voltage difference between the first segment and the second segment of the built-in heater-thermocouple as a result of supplying electric power from the power source. The controller is configured to regulate the supply of electrical energy to the built-in thermocouple heater based on the voltage difference measured by at least one sensor.

Various features and advantages of the non-limiting embodiments herein may become more apparent when the detailed description is considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawings are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not to be interpreted as limiting the scope of the claims. The accompanying drawings are not to be construed as being drawn to scale unless expressly indicated. For clarity, various sizes of the images may have been exaggerated.

Fig. 1 shows a front view of a nicotine e-vapor device according to an illustrative embodiment.

Fig. 2 shows a side view of the nicotine e-vaporization device of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows a rear view of the nicotine e-vaporization device of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 shows a view of the near end of the device for e-vaporizing nicotine according to Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 shows a view of the far end of the nicotine e-vaporization device of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 shows a front view of the nicotine e-vaping device shown in Fig. 1 when the nicotine cartridge and the main part of the device are not engaged.

Fig. 7 shows an exploded view of the nicotine cartridge of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 shows a first exploded view of the evaporator shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 shows a second exploded view of the evaporator shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 10 shows an exploded view of the evaporation module of Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 shows an exploded view of the evaporation module of Fig. 9.

Fig. 12 shows an exploded view of the heater assembly of Fig. 10.

Fig. 13 shows an exploded view of the heater assembly of Fig. 11.

Fig. 14 shows a partially exploded view of the main part of the device of Fig. 6.

Fig. 15 shows a perspective view of the battery section of Fig. 14.

Fig. 16 shows a partially exploded view of the battery section of Fig. 15.

Fig. 17 shows a partially exploded view of the battery assembly of Fig. 16.

Fig. 18 shows a sectional view of the nicotine cartridge and a partial sectional view of the main part of the device of Fig. 6 when not engaged.

Fig. 19 shows a sectional view of the nicotine cartridge and a partial sectional view of the main part of the device of Fig. 18 when engaged.

Fig. 20 shows an enlarged view of the cross-section shown in Fig. 19.

Certain detailed illustrative embodiments are disclosed herein. However, the specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are presented solely for the purpose of describing the illustrative embodiments. However, the illustrative embodiments may be embodied in many alternative forms and should not be construed as limited to only the illustrative embodiments set forth herein.

Accordingly, since the illustrative embodiments may have various modifications and alternative forms, illustrative embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail herein. However, it should be understood that there is no intention to limit the illustrative embodiments to the specific forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the illustrative embodiments should cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives thereof. Throughout the description of the figures, like numerals refer to like elements.

It should be understood that when an element or layer is designated as being "on," "attached to," "connected to," "attached to," "adjacent to," or "overlying" another element or layer, it may be directly located on, attached to, connected to, attached to, adjacent to, or may overly the other element or layer, or there may be intervening elements or layers. Conversely, when an element is designated as being "directly on," "directly connected to," or "directly attached to" another element or layer, there are no intervening elements or layers. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout the specification. As used herein, the term "and/or" includes any and all combinations or subcombinations of one or more related listed elements.

It should be understood that although the terms "first," "second," "third," etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, regions, layers, and/or sections, these elements, regions, layers, and/or sections should not be limited to these terms. These terms are used merely to distinguish one element, region, layer, or section from another region, layer, or section. Accordingly, the first element, region, layer, or section discussed below could be referred to as the second element, region, layer, or section without departing from the teachings of the illustrative embodiments.

Relative spatial location terms (e.g., "below," "under," "lower," "above," "upper," etc.) may be used herein to simplify the description to disclose the relationship of one element or feature to another element or feature as depicted in the figures. It should be understood that relative spatial location terms are intended to cover various orientations of the device during use or operation in addition to the orientation shown in the figures. For example, if the device is inverted in the figures, elements described as being "under" or "below" other elements or parts would then be oriented "above" the other elements or parts. Accordingly, the preposition "under" may imply both above and below. The device may be oriented differently (rotated 90 degrees or in other orientations), and the words used herein to define relative spatial location will be interpreted accordingly.

The terminology used herein is intended to describe various illustrative embodiments only and is not intended to limit the illustrative embodiments. As used herein, the use of the singular forms does not exclude the plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It should also be understood that the terms "includes," "including," "comprises," and/or "containing," when used in this description, indicate the presence of certain features, integers, steps, operations, and/or elements, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or groups thereof.

When the terms "approximately" or "substantially" are used in this description in conjunction with a numerical value, it is understood that the corresponding numerical value includes a manufacturing or operational error (e.g., more or less than 10 percent) of the stated numerical value. Moreover, when the terms "generally" or "substantially" are used in conjunction with geometric shapes, it is understood that precision of the geometric shape is not required, but such freedom in shape is within the scope of this disclosure. Furthermore, regardless of whether numerical values or shapes are modified as "approximately," "generally," or "substantially," it should be understood that these values and shapes should be considered as including a manufacturing or operational error (e.g., more or less than 10 percent) of the stated numerical values or shapes.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used in this document have the same meanings as commonly understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art to which the illustrative embodiments pertain. It will also be understood that terms, including those defined in commonly used dictionaries, are to be interpreted as having a meaning that corresponds to their meaning in the context of the relevant art, and should not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly defined herein.

The hardware may be implemented using processing or control circuitry such as, but not limited to, one or more processors, one or more central processing units (CPUs), one or more microcontrollers, one or more arithmetic logic units (ALUs), one or more digital signal processors (DSPs), one or more microcomputers, one or more field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), one or more system-on-chip (SoCs), one or more programmable logic units (PLUs), one or more microprocessors, one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), or any other device or devices capable of responding to instructions and executing them in a particular manner.

Unless explicitly stated otherwise or as is apparent from the discussion, terms such as "processing" or "computing" or "calculating" or "determining" or "displaying" and the like refer to the action and processes of a computer system or similar electronic computing device that manipulates and transforms data represented as physical, electronic quantities in the registers and memory of the computer system into other data similarly represented as physical quantities in the memory or registers of the computer system or other similar information storage, transmission or display devices.

In the following description, illustrative embodiments may be described with reference to actions and symbolic representations of actions (e.g., in the form of flow charts, data flow diagrams, block diagrams, structural diagrams, etc.), which may be implemented as software modules or functional processes, including repetitive sequences, programs, objects, data structures, etc., that perform specific tasks or implement specific types of abstract data. The operations may be implemented using existing hardware in existing electronic systems, such as one or more microprocessors, central processing units (CPUs), digital signal processors (DSPs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), SoCs, field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), computers, or similar devices.

One or more exemplary embodiments are (or include) hardware, firmware, hardware executing software, or any combination thereof. Such hardware may include one or more microprocessors, CPUs, SoCs, DSPs, ASICs, FPGAs, computers, etc., configured as special-purpose machines to perform the functions described herein, as well as any other well-known functions of these elements. In at least some cases, CPUs, SoCs, DSPs, ASICs, and FPGAs may be commonly referred to as processing circuits, processors, and/or microprocessors.

Although processes may be described in terms of sequential operations, many of the operations may be performed in parallel, simultaneously, or jointly. In addition, the order of operations may be changed. A process may terminate when its operations are complete, but may also include additional steps not included in the figure. A process may correspond to a method, function, procedure, routine, subroutine, etc. When a process corresponds to a function, its termination may correspond to the function returning to the calling function or the main function.

As disclosed herein, the term "storage medium," "machine-readable storage medium," or "non-volatile computer-readable storage medium" may represent one or more data storage devices, including read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic RAM, magnetic core memory, magnetic disk storage media, optical storage media, flash memory devices, and/or other tangible computer-readable information storage media. The term "machine-readable medium" may include, but is not limited to, removable or non-removable storage devices, optical storage devices, and various other media capable of storing, containing, or carrying instructions and/or data.

In addition, at least some portions of the exemplary embodiments may be implemented using hardware, software, firmware, firmware, microcode, hardware description languages, or any combination thereof. When implemented in software, firmware, firmware, or microcode, the program code or code segments for performing the necessary tasks may be stored on a machine-readable or computer-readable medium, such as a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. When implemented in software, the processors, processing circuits, or processing units may be programmed to perform the necessary tasks, thereby becoming special-purpose processors or computers.

A code segment may represent a procedure, a function, a subroutine, a program, a repetitive sequence, a routine, a module, a software package, a class, or any combination of instructions, data structures, or software statements. A code segment may be coupled to another code segment or hardware circuit by passing and/or receiving information, data, arguments, parameters, or memory contents. Information, arguments, parameters, data, etc. may be passed, forwarded, or transmitted by any suitable means, including memory sharing, message passing, token passing, network transmission, etc.

Fig. 1 shows a front view of a nicotine e-vaping device according to an exemplary embodiment. Referring to Fig. 1, a nicotine e-vaping device 500 may comprise a sleeve section 310 configured to receive a nicotine cartridge 100 (discussed in more detail below with respect to Fig. 6). The sleeve section 310 is connected to the battery section housing 360 by means of a knurled connector 340. The light guide 358 may be opened by means of the knurled connector 340 such that the open surface of the light guide 358 constitutes the outer surface of the nicotine e-vaping device 500. The open surface of the light guide 358 may also be located between the sleeve section 310 and the battery section housing 360. The combination of at least the sleeve section 310 and the battery section housing 360 can be considered as a housing of the nicotine e-vaping device 500. When the nicotine e-vaping device 500 is fully assembled/engaged, the mouthpiece 110 is located at the near end of the sleeve section 310, while the end cap 370 is located at the far end of the battery section housing 360. The mouthpiece 110 (part of the nicotine cartridge 100) can have a tapering shape, so that the width at its near end is less than the diameter of the sleeve section 310.

The near end and the far end of the nicotine e-vaping device 500 (and/or its component parts) may also be referred to as the downstream end and the upstream end, respectively. In particular, in the context of this document, the term "near" (and conversely, "distant") is used in relation to an adult vaper during vaping, and "downstream" (and conversely, "upstream") refers to the flow of nicotine vapor.

The sleeve section 310 defines several air inlets 312. As illustrated, each of the air inlets 312 may have a hexagonal shape and may be staggered so as to resemble a honeycomb pattern. However, it should be understood that other shapes and arrangements are possible. For example, instead of (or in addition to) a hexagonal shape, the air inlets 312 may have a triangular, quadrangular (e.g., square, diamond-shaped), pentagonal and/or circular shape. Furthermore, instead of an axial arrangement along a portion of the length of the sleeve section 310, the air inlets 312 may be arranged circumferentially around the sleeve section 310. In an exemplary embodiment, the nicotine e-vaping device 500 may comprise at least ten common air inlets 312 (e.g., at least twenty common air inlets 312).

Fig. 2 shows a side view of the nicotine e-vaping device of Fig. 1. Referring to Fig. 2, opposite sides of the coupling section 310 can define a first array of air inlets 312 and a second array of air inlets 312 such that both arrays are partially visible in a side view. In an illustrative embodiment, the first array of air inlets 312 is fully visible based on the front view of the coupling section 310, as shown in Fig. 1, while the second array of air inlets 312 is fully visible based on the rear view of the coupling section 310, as shown in Fig. 3, which is discussed below.

The mouthpiece 110 may have a wedge-shaped or chisel-shaped appearance based on the side view shown in Fig. 2. However, it should be understood that other shapes and configurations are possible. For example, in one case, the mouthpiece 110 may instead have a cylindrical shape. In another case, the mouthpiece 110 may have a frusto-conical shape or a frusto-conical shape.

Port 368 may be located near the distal end of battery section housing 360 so as to be adjacent to end cap 370. In the side view shown in Fig. 2, port 368 may be seen simply as a recess in battery section housing 360. In an illustrative embodiment, port 368 facilitates charging and/or transferring information to/from nicotine e-vaping device 500. Port 368 will be discussed in more detail in connection with Fig. 3.

The light guide 358 is configured to transmit light emitted by at least one internal light source (e.g., LED) to provide one or more visual indications. In particular, the light transmitted by the light guide 358 can visually notify an adult vaper of the state of the device 500 for e-vaping nicotine. For example, the visual indications by the light guide 358 can include (but are not limited to) the following information: whether the device 500 for e-vaping nicotine is turned on, whether nicotine vapor is generated, whether the battery is discharged, whether charging is in progress or completed, and/or the ready-made composition for vapor containing nicotine is discharged or used up.

As mentioned in this document, the nicotine-containing vapor composition is a material or a combination of materials that can be converted into a nicotine vapor. For example, the nicotine-containing vapor composition may comprise a liquid, solid and/or gel composition. This may include, for example and without limitation, water, oil, emulsions, granules, solvents, active ingredients, ethanol, plant extracts, nicotine, natural or artificial flavors, vapor-generating substances such as glycerin and propylene glycol, and any other ingredients that may be suitable for vaping. During vaping, the nicotine e-vaping device 500 is adapted to heat the nicotine-containing vapor composition to generate nicotine vapor. Nicotine vapor, nicotine-containing aerosol and nicotine-containing dispersion may be used interchangeably and refer to a substance generated or produced by the disclosed, claimed devices and/or their equivalents, wherein such substance may contain nicotine. In an illustrative embodiment, the device 500 for e-vaping nicotine may be considered an Electronic Nicotine Delivery System (ENDS).

Referring again to Fig. 2, the light guide 358 may be on the opposite side of the nicotine e-vaping device 500 from the port 368. However, it should be understood that the exemplary embodiments are not limited to this. For example, in some embodiments, the light guide 358 may be on the same side of the nicotine e-vaping device 500 as the port 368 (e.g., the back side of the nicotine e-vaping device 500). Conversely, in other embodiments, the port 368 may be on the same side of the nicotine e-vaping device 500 as the light guide 358 (e.g., the front side of the nicotine e-vaping device 500).

Fig. 3 shows a rear view of the nicotine e-vaping device of Fig. 1. Referring to Fig. 3, the second array of air inlets 312 on the rear side of the nicotine e-vaping device 500 may be the same as described in connection with the first array of air inlets 312 on the front side of the nicotine e-vaping device 500 shown in Fig. 1. Therefore, the respective descriptions of the air inlets 312 already discussed above will not be repeated for the sake of brevity. However, in some embodiments, the second array of air inlets 312 on the rear side of the nicotine e-vaping device 500 shown in Fig. 3 may differ from the first array of air inlets 312 on the front side of the nicotine e-vaping device 500 shown in Fig. 1 (or vice versa). For example, instead of three staggered rows of seven, eight, and seven air inlets 312 per array, the number of rows and/or the number of air inlets 312 per array may be varied to be separated from twenty-two air inlets 312 per array (or forty-four total air inlets 312 for the nicotine e-vaping device 500).

The port 368 is configured to receive electric current (e.g. via a USB/mini-USB/USB-C cable) from an external power source to charge the internal power source inside the nicotine e-vaping device 500. In addition, the port 368 may also be configured to send data (e.g. via a USB/mini-USB/USB-C cable) to another nicotine e-vaping device or another electronic device (e.g. a phone, tablet, computer) and/or receive data from them. In addition, the nicotine e-vaping device 500 may be configured to wirelessly communicate with another electronic device, such as a phone, using an application program (application) installed on this electronic device. In such a case, an adult vaper can control or otherwise interact with the nicotine e-vaping device 500 (e.g., detect the exact location of the nicotine e-vaping device, check usage information, change operating parameters) via the application.

Although Fig. 3 shows that port 368 is located on the rear side of the nicotine e-vaping device 500, it should be understood that other locations are possible. For example, in some embodiments, port 368 may instead be located on the front side of the nicotine e-vaping device 500 in Fig. 1. Additionally, in other embodiments, port 368 may be located on the far end of the nicotine e-vaping device 500 so as to be accessible through end cap 370.

Fig. 4 shows a view of the near end of the nicotine e-vaping device of Fig. 1. Referring to Fig. 4, the mouthpiece 110 defines a vapor outlet 112. During vaping, the generated nicotine vapor is drawn out of the nicotine e-vaping device 500 through the vapor outlet 112. Although the vapor outlet 112 is shown in the center so as to coincide with the central longitudinal axis of the nicotine e-vaping device 500, it should be understood that the vapor outlet 112 can be offset from the center (e.g., offset from the central longitudinal axis) in some cases. Additionally, although only one vapor outlet 112 is shown in Fig. 4, it should be understood that embodiments are not limited to this. In particular, in some embodiments, the mouthpiece 110 can define a plurality of vapor outlets 112. For example, the mouthpiece 110 can define two steam outlets 112, which can extend parallel (for example, in the longitudinal direction) or in a divergent manner. In another case, the mouthpiece 110 can define three steam outlets 112. In such an embodiment, the three steam outlets 112 can be aligned in a linear arrangement such that the steam outlet 112 in the middle extends in the longitudinal direction, while the other two steam outlets 112 extend in a divergent manner. Alternatively, all three steam outlets 112 can extend parallel.

It should also be understood that the placement, arrangement and number of one or more steam outlets 112 may further vary depending on the configuration of the mouthpiece 110. In particular, in illustrative embodiments where the mouthpiece 110 has a cylindrical shape or a frusto-conical shape (instead of a flattened shape), there may be additional options for the placement, arrangement and number of one or more steam outlets 112. For example, when space allows, an embodiment with three steam outlets 112 may have a triangular arrangement of the steam outlets 112. Similarly, an embodiment with four steam outlets 112 may have a triangular arrangement with a central steam outlet 112 or, alternatively, a quadrangular (e.g., square, diamond-shaped) arrangement. Similarly, an embodiment with a plurality of steam outlets 112 may have a quadrangular arrangement, a pentagonal arrangement, a hexagonal arrangement, a heptagonal arrangement, or an octagonal arrangement, which may or may not include a central steam outlet 112.

As shown in the drawings, the device 500 for e-vaping nicotine may have a generally cylindrical shape and a circular cross-section. Alternatively, the device 500 for e-vaping nicotine may have a generally polygonal shape with a polygonal cross-section. The selection of the general shape of the device 500 for e-vaping nicotine takes into account various factors, including (but not limited to) aesthetics, functionality and manufacturing considerations. For example, instead of a cylindrical shape, the device 500 for e-vaping nicotine may have a polygonal shape to provide a more modern appearance and/or to prevent or reduce the likelihood of unwanted twisting (e.g., an anti-twist design).

The polyhedron shape for the nicotine e-vaping device 500 may comprise a triangular prism, a cube, a pentagonal prism, a hexagonal prism, a heptagonal prism or an octagonal prism. With a shape resembling a triangular prism, the nicotine e-vaping device 500 may have a triangular cross-section (for example, the shape of an equilateral triangle). With a shape resembling a cube, the nicotine e-vaping device 500 may have a square cross-section or a rectangular cross-section. With a shape resembling a pentagonal prism, the nicotine e-vaping device 500 may have a pentagonal cross-section. With a shape resembling a hexagonal prism, the nicotine e-vaping device 500 may have a hexagonal cross-section. With a shape resembling a heptagonal prism, the nicotine e-vaping device 500 may have a heptagonal cross-section. With a shape resembling an octagonal prism, the nicotine e-vaping device 500 may have an octagonal cross-section.

Fig. 5 shows a view of the distal end of the nicotine e-vaping device of Fig. 1. Referring to Fig. 5, the end cap 370 and the button 372 are located at the distal end of the nicotine e-vaping device 500. The end cap 370 may engage with the battery section housing 360 by means of a press fit (which may also be referred to as a fit or friction fit). For example, the outer side wall of the end cap 370 may engage with a corresponding inner side wall of the battery section housing 360. Additionally, the outer side wall of the end cap 370 may be ribbed to improve engagement. In an embodiment, the end cap 370 also defines an opening configured to accommodate a button 372. In such a case, the end cap 370 is a fixed structure, while the button 372 is a movable structure that can move (e.g., be pressed) relative to the end cap 370.

The button 372 may be a button for turning on the device 500 for e-vaping nicotine. In particular, when pressed, the button 372 may activate a power source inside the device 500 for e-vaping nicotine. Although the button 372 is shown as being located at the far end of the device 500 for e-vaping nicotine, it should be understood that embodiments are not limited to this. For example, in some embodiments, the button 372 may instead be located on the front of the device 500 for e-vaping nicotine (for example, so as to be on the same side as the light guide 358).

Fig. 6 shows a front view of the nicotine e-vaping device shown in Fig. 1 when the nicotine cartridge and the main part of the device are not engaged. Referring to Fig. 6, the nicotine e-vaping device 500 comprises a nicotine cartridge 100 and a main part 300 of the device, wherein the main part 300 of the device is configured to receive the nicotine cartridge 100. The nicotine cartridge 100 comprises a housing configured to store a nicotine-containing finished vapor composition 180. When the nicotine cartridge 100 is engaged with the main part 300 of the device, most of the nicotine cartridge 100 can be hidden from view by the coupling section 310, while the mouthpiece 110 remains visible (for example, as shown in Fig. 1). The nicotine-containing vapor composition 180 inside the nicotine cartridge 100 can also be seen through the main part 300 of the device through the air inlet openings 312 in the sleeve section 310. During vaping, the nicotine-containing vapor composition 180 is heated to generate nicotine vapor, which is discharged from the nicotine e-vaping device 500 through the mouthpiece 110.

The nicotine cartridge 100 can be considered as a consumable material that is replaced as soon as the nicotine-containing final composition 180 for vapor contained therein is consumed. The level of the nicotine-containing final composition 180 for vapor in the nicotine cartridge 100 can be visually determined through the air inlet openings 312 in the coupling section 310. In some cases, the nicotine e-vaping device 500 can additionally provide a notification (for example, via the light guide 358) when the nicotine-containing final composition 180 for vapor in the nicotine cartridge 100 is considered to be consumed. In other cases, the nicotine e-vaping device 500 can also provide an indication (for example, via the light guide 358) that another unacceptable condition exists. Examples of other unacceptable conditions include (but are not limited to) a poor electrical connection and/or an unauthorized nicotine cartridge or an authorized nicotine cartridge that is no longer considered suitable for vaping (e.g. too much time has passed, such as a year, since the nicotine cartridge was first vaped).

The shape of the main part 300 of the device may correspond to the shape of the nicotine cartridge 100 (for example, a generally cylindrical shape for both the main part 300 of the device and the nicotine cartridge 100). However, in other cases, the shape of the main part 300 of the device may differ from the shape of the nicotine cartridge 100. For example, the nicotine cartridge 100 may have a cylindrical shape, while the main part 300 of the device may have one of the different shapes described in this document (for example, a cuboid shape) or vice versa. Therefore, the device 500 for e-vaping nicotine may have a general shape (which is primarily influenced by the main part 300 of the device), which differs from the shape of the nicotine cartridge 100.

Fig. 7 shows an exploded view of the nicotine cartridge of Fig. 6. Referring to Fig. 7, the nicotine cartridge 100 comprises a mouthpiece 110, a first seal 120, a reservoir 130, a second seal 140 and an evaporator 150. The reservoir 130 defines a reservoir 134 configured to store a finished vapor composition 180 containing nicotine when the nicotine cartridge 100 is assembled. In addition, a side wall of the reservoir 130 can define at least one channel for vapor passing therethrough. As shown, the side wall of the reservoir 130 defines channels 132a and 132b for vapor (which can also be referred to as the first channel 132a for vapor and the second channel 132b for vapor). In an illustrative embodiment, the vapor channels 132a and 132b may be defined within opposite sides of the side wall of the reservoir 130 (e.g., diametrically opposite) such that the reservoir 134 is located between the vapor channels 132a and 132b. The vapor channels 132a and 132b may also be parallel to each other and to the longitudinal axis of the reservoir 130. The reservoir 130 may be made of a transparent material that allows viewing the contents therein (e.g., the nicotine-containing finished vapor composition 180).

The first seal 120 and the second seal 140 are configured to seal or close the reservoir 134. The first seal 120 defines slots 122a and 122b (which may also be referred to as the first slot 122a and the second slot 122b). As a result, when the first seal 120 engages the reservoir 130 to seal the near side of the reservoir 134, the slots 122a and 122b will be aligned with the channels 132a and 132b for vapor, respectively. With such engagement, the nicotine vapor generated by the vaporizer 150 during vaping can move upward along the channels 132a and 132b for vapor and through the slots 122a and 122b, respectively, to the mouthpiece 110 and from the outlet opening 112 for vapor. When the nicotine cartridge 100 is assembled, the first seal 120 may be hidden from view by the mouthpiece 110 (which also engages with the reservoir 130). Additionally, the first seal 120 may be made of or contain an elastic material of construction (e.g., silicone).

The second seal 140 is configured to engage with the reservoir 130 to seal the distal side of the reservoir 134. In particular, the second seal 140 is configured to seal the distal side of the reservoir 134 by closing the opening 136 of the reservoir 130. In an illustrative embodiment, the second seal 140 is made of an elastic material (for example, silicone) and includes a head portion, a portion of the main portion, and a tapering portion between the head portion and the portion of the main portion. The diameter of the head of the second seal 140 is larger than the diameter of the opening 136 and smaller than the diameter of the part of the main part of the second seal 140, while the diameter of the tapered part of the second seal 140 can correspond to the diameter of the opening 136. As a result, when the head of the second seal 140 is pushed through the opening 136 in the tank 130, the tapered part of the second seal 140 can be elastically placed in the opening 136 in a liquid-tight manner, while the head of the second seal 140 is inside the tank 134, and the part of the main part of the second seal 140 is outside the tank 134. In such a case, by engaging the opposite surfaces of the tank 130 defining the opening 136, the head and the part of the main part of the second seal 140 can help to ensure that the second seal 140 provides the desired seal while maintaining its proper placement.

Therefore, the first seal 120 and the second seal 140 are configured to be connected to the reservoir 130 in such a way that the reservoir 134 is sealed and isolated from the vapor channels 132a and 132b. The combination of the first seal 120, the reservoir 130 and the second seal 140 may also be collectively referred to as the body of the nicotine cartridge 100. In an illustrative embodiment, the second seal 140 may be designed as a pierceable structure that completely covers the opening 136 in the reservoir 130 (when it is in an unpierced/unpierced state). In such an embodiment, the reservoir 134 may remain sealed until the vaporizer 150 is received by the reservoir 130 and engaged therewith (e.g., during assembly, prior to vaporization) such that the tip of the vaporizer 150 pierces the second seal 140 and passes through the opening 136 into the reservoir 134 to access the nicotine-containing final vapor composition 180 (e.g., as shown in Fig. 6).

Fig. 8 shows a first exploded view of the evaporator shown in Fig. 7. Fig. 9 shows a second exploded view of the evaporator shown in Fig. 7. Referring to Fig. 8-9, the evaporator 150 comprises an evaporative module 200 that can be retained at least partially within a crimping ring 160 and a bayonet connector 170. The crimping ring 160 defines an opening 162 configured to receive the evaporative module 200. Similarly, the bayonet connector 170 defines an opening 172 configured to receive the evaporative module 200. When the evaporator 150 is assembled, the crimping ring 160 will engage with the bayonet connector 170 to surround and retain the evaporative module 200. Additionally, the tip or piercing portion of the evaporative module 200 will protrude beyond the edge of the crimping ring 160, while the remainder of the evaporative module 200 will be substantially or completely hidden from view in the bayonet connector 170, depending on the angle. In an illustrative embodiment, the evaporative module 200 may be retained by the crimping ring 160 and the bayonet connector 170 within it via an interference fit.

The bayonet connector 170 (which is part of the vaporizer 150 and, therefore, part of the nicotine cartridge 100) facilitates the connection between the nicotine cartridge 100 and the main part 300 of the device. As shown in Fig. 8-9, the bayonet connector 170 defines a pair of grooves 174, each of which is configured to receive a corresponding engagement element. Each of the grooves 174 comprises a longitudinal portion 174a and a circumferential portion 174b. Additionally, the circumferential portion 174b can comprise a groove 174c to help retain the corresponding engagement element. Establishing a bayonet connection between the nicotine cartridge 100 and the main part 300 of the device will be discussed in more detail herein.

Fig. 10 shows an exploded view of the evaporation module of Fig. 8. Fig. 11 shows an exploded view of the evaporation module of Fig. 9. Referring to Figs. 10-11, the evaporation module 200 includes a first module cover 210, a module housing 220, and a heater and wick assembly 230. The module housing 220 defines a chamber 222, which may also be called a heating chamber or an evaporation chamber. In an illustrative embodiment, the module housing 220 may be made of a transparent material to provide the ability to view the contents inside the chamber 222. The first module cover 210 is configured to engage with the near end of the module housing 220. The heater and wick assembly 230 is configured to engage with the opposite far end of the module housing 220. Thus, the open ends of the module body 220 may be limited (e.g. covered) by the cover 210 of the first module and the heater and wick assembly 230.

The lid 210 of the first module comprises a cap portion 216 and a piercing portion 214 protruding from the cap portion 216. The cap portion 216 of the lid 210 of the first module defines a plurality of slits 218, which can be equally spaced from each other and arranged in a circle around the piercing portion 214. In an illustrative embodiment, the cap portion 216 defines eight slits 218. However, it should be understood that the number, shape and/or arrangement of the slits 218 in the cap portion 216 can be changed accordingly to achieve the desired passage of the aerosol through them from the chamber 222. For example, alternatively, the cap portion 216 can define only two slits 218, each of which has an elongated shape and is arranged in a diametrically opposite manner to be aligned with the channels 132a and 132b for steam in the reservoir 130, when the evaporator 150 engages with the reservoir 130. As for the assembly of the evaporative module 200, the cap portion 216 of the cover 210 of the first module has an outer side surface designed with the possibility of engaging with the corresponding inner side surface of the body 220 of the module.

The piercing portion 214 defines a passage opening 212 that can extend in the longitudinal direction through the cover 210 of the first module. For example, the passage opening 212 in the piercing portion 214 can coincide with the central longitudinal axis of the cover 210 of the first module. In addition, the piercing portion 214 defines perforations 213 in its side wall. The perforations 213 can be considered as extending transversely through the piercing portion 214 so as to be orthogonal to the passage opening 212. Although a pair of perforations 213 is illustrated in Fig. 10, it should be understood that the embodiment examples are not limited to this. For example, the piercing portion 214 can instead define a different number (for example, three, four) of perforations 213 in its side wall. In addition, the piercing portion 214 may have an inclined near surface that tapers toward a pointed end or tip to facilitate insertion of the piercing portion 214 through the second seal 140, through the opening 136 in the reservoir 130 and into the reservoir 134. When the vaporizer 150 is in fluid communication with the reservoir 134, the nicotine-containing final vapor composition 180 enters the evaporation module 200 through the passage opening 212 and/or perforations 213 in the piercing portion 214.

The assembly unit 230 of the heater and the wick comprises a cover 260 of the second module, which can function as a base or support for other parts of the assembly unit 230 of the heater and the wick. As a result, other parts of the assembly unit 230 of the heater and the wick can be installed or secured on the cover 260 of the second module in an integrated manner. In an illustrative embodiment, the cover 260 of the second module can be formed from a conductive material. For example, the conductive material can comprise steel (for example, stainless steel 304). With regard to the assembly of the evaporation module 200, the cover 260 of the second module has an outer side surface configured to engage with a corresponding inner side surface of the module body 220.

The assembly unit 230 of the heater and the wick further comprises a wick 240 configured to draw or transport the nicotine-containing final composition 180 for vapor from the reservoir 134 to the evaporation module 200. The wick 240 may be a fibrous structure with pores/voids provided for capillary action. In an illustrative embodiment, the wick 240 may have a cord-like shape, wherein the strands of the fiber are braided, twisted and/or woven together. When the evaporation module 200 is assembled, the near portion of the wick 240 may extend into the cover 210 of the first module, while the far portion of the wick 240 may be supported/held by the cover 260 of the second module.

For example, the proximal portion of the wick 240 can be positioned within the piercing portion 214 of the lid 210 of the first module so as to substantially occupy the passage opening 212 (for example, Fig. 8), thereby helping to regulate the supply of the nicotine-containing final composition 180 for vapor from the reservoir 134. As a result, the possibility of an excessive supply of the nicotine-containing final composition 180 for vapor into the chamber 222 (via the passage opening 212 and/or the perforations 213) can be reduced or prevented. Instead, the nicotine-containing final composition 180 for vapor can be drawn into the chamber 222 substantially as needed. In particular, when the nicotine-containing vapor composition 180 inside the wick 240 is heated to generate nicotine vapor (and therefore is consumed) during vaping, the wick 240 will draw additional nicotine-containing vapor composition 180 from the reservoir 134 to fill the nicotine-containing vapor composition 180 consumed in the wick 240. The nicotine-containing vapor composition 180 from the reservoir 134 can enter the lid 210 of the first module through the passage opening 212 and/or the perforations 213 before being drawn into the wick 240 by capillary action. On the other hand, when vaping is not occurring, the drawing of the nicotine-containing vapor composition 180 from the reservoir 134 by the wick 240 can slow down or stop as soon as the wick 240 is saturated. In addition, leakage of the nicotine-containing final vapor composition 180 into the slots 218 can be reduced or prevented by engaging the cover 210 of the first module and the second seal 140.

The built-in thermocouple heater 250 is arranged to be in thermal contact with the wick 240. The device 500 for e-vaping nicotine is configured in such a way that the built-in thermocouple heater 250 will be activated during vaping to heat the nicotine-containing preformulation 180 for vapor in the wick 240 to generate nicotine vapor. The built-in thermocouple heater 250 can be designed to undergo Joule heating (which is also known as ohmic/resistive heating) when an electric current is supplied to it. In more detail, the built-in thermocouple heater 250 can be formed from conductors (resistive materials) and is configured to generate heat when an electric current is passed through it. The electric current can be supplied from a power source (for example, a battery) inside the main part 300 of the device.

In an illustrative embodiment, the integrated thermocouple heater 250 is configured as a helical coil that wraps (e.g., in a spiral) around the wick 240. For example, the integrated thermocouple heater 250 may wrap around a lower portion of the wick 240 (e.g., around a portion of the wick 240 that does not protrude into the piercing portion 214). Additionally, in such a case, the integrated thermocouple heater 250 may be oriented such that the axis of its helix is at an angle (e.g., neither parallel nor orthogonal) relative to the longitudinal axis of the evaporation module 200. The integrated thermocouple heater 250 will be discussed in more detail herein.

As shown in Fig. 11, the first electrical contact 270 can be located on the upstream side of the cover 260 of the second module. In the assembled form, the distal end of the cover 260 of the second module passes through the opening defined by the first electrical contact 270. In an illustrative embodiment, the first electrical contact 270 is made in the form of a washer of a wavy or wave-shaped form. The first electrical contact 270 can be covered with gold plating. For example, the first electrical contact 270 can have an inner part (underlying structure) formed from steel (for example, spring steel), and an outer part formed from gold (for example, in the form of an applied layer).

The second electrical contact 290 may be located at the far end of the assembly 230 of the heater and the wick, passing through the first electrical contact 270 and the cover 260 of the second module. In an illustrative embodiment, the second electrical contact 290 may be covered with gold plating. For example, the second electrical contact 290 may have an inner part (underlying structure) formed from brass and an outer part formed from gold (for example, in the form of an applied layer). The second electrical contact 290 also defines a passage 292 that passes an air flow into the chamber 222.

When the heater and wick assembly 230 is assembled, the first end of the built-in thermocouple heater 250 can be electrically connected to the second module cover 260/first electrical contact 270, while the second end of the built-in thermocouple heater 250 can be electrically connected to the second electrical contact 290. The insulator 280 electrically isolates the second electrical contact 290 from the second module cover 260/first electrical contact 270. In an illustrative embodiment, the insulator 280 is in the form of a gasket having the shape of a shell that receives the second electrical contact 290 and passes through the second module cover 260/first electrical contact 270. Additionally, in such a case, the first end of the built-in thermocouple heater 250 can be fixed between the second module cover 260 and the insulator 280, while the second end of the built-in thermocouple heater 250 can be secured between the insulator 280 and the second electrical contact 290.

Fig. 12 shows an exploded view of the heater assembly of Fig. 10. Fig. 13 shows an exploded view of the heater assembly of Fig. 11. In particular, the heater assembly is an assembly 230 of a heater and a wick without a wick 240. Referring to Figs. 12-13, the integral heater-thermocouple 250 includes a first segment 252 and a second segment 256. The first segment 252 and the second segment 256 are connected at a junction 254 (which may also be referred to as a "hot" junction). Additionally, the first segment 252 is made of a first alloy, and the second segment 256 is made of a second alloy (which is different from the first alloy).

In an illustrative embodiment, where the built-in thermocouple heater 250 is made in the form of a spiral structure (which is wrapped around the wick 240), the spiral structure contains a plurality of turns. In such a case, the plurality of turns contains at least one turn corresponding to the first segment 252, and at least one turn corresponding to the second segment 256. As a result, at least one turn of the first segment 252 is made of the first alloy and at least one turn of the second segment 256 is made of the second alloy. Additionally, at least one turn of the first alloy can be joined by welding to at least one turn of the second alloy at the joint 254.

The plurality of turns of the built-in heater-thermocouple 250 can be made in the form of five to ten full turns (for example, from six to nine full turns). For example, the first segment 252 of the built-in heater-thermocouple 250 can contain one turn of the first alloy, and the second segment 256 can contain five turns of the second alloy. Alternatively, the first segment 252 of the built-in heater-thermocouple 250 can contain two turns of the first alloy, and the second segment 256 can contain four turns of the second alloy.

With respect to orientation, the evaporative module 200 can be considered as comprising a housing having a first longitudinal axis, and the helical structure of the built-in heater-thermocouple 250 can be considered as having a second longitudinal axis intersecting the first longitudinal axis to form an oblique (i.e. different from 90 degrees) angle. In such a case, at least one turn of the first segment 252 (which is made of the first alloy) is located further downstream from at least one turn of the second segment 256 (which is made of the second alloy).

According to an exemplary embodiment, the first alloy is a nickel-aluminum alloy and the second alloy is a nickel-chromium alloy. For example, the nickel-aluminum alloy may contain 95 percent nickel and 2 percent aluminum (e.g., Alumel), and the nickel-chromium alloy may contain 90 percent nickel and 10 percent chromium (e.g., Chromel). With regard to physical properties, the first alloy has a first electrical resistivity and a first thermal conductivity, and the second alloy has a second electrical resistivity and a second thermal conductivity. In an exemplary embodiment, the first electrical resistivity is less than the second electrical resistivity, and the first thermal conductivity is greater than the second thermal conductivity. Additionally, the built-in thermocouple heater 250 may have a Seebeck coefficient of approximately 35 to 75 μV/°C (e.g., 41 μV/°C, 50 μV/°C, 68 μV/°C). In addition, the built-in thermocouple heater 250 may have a total resistance of approximately 0.5 to 3.5 Ω (e.g., 1 Ω).

As indicated above , the integrated heater-thermocouple 250 can be designed to undergo Joule heating (which is also known as ohmic/resistive heating) when an electric current is applied thereto. In addition, the integrated heater-thermocouple 250 has a first segment 252 of a first alloy that is connected to a second segment 256 of a second alloy (which is different from the first alloy) at a junction 254. As a result of the dissimilar alloys and the associated thermoelectric effect, a voltage is created when the junction 254 experiences a temperature change (for example, such as during Joule heating to generate nicotine vapor). This voltage is dependent on the temperature and, therefore, can be used to determine the temperature at the junction 254. For example, the relationship between voltage and temperature can be determined based on empirical studies and stored in a look-up table (LUT). Thus, the built-in heater-thermocouple 250 can function both as a heater and as a thermocouple.

The cover 260 of the second module defines an opening 262 and has a near edge 264 and a far edge 266 around the opening 262. As shown in the drawings, the circumference of the near edge 264 can be larger than the circumference of the far edge 266. The near edge 264 of the cover 260 of the second module can help to retain the far portion of the wick 240 and/or contain a small amount of the nicotine-containing finished composition 180 for vapor that can leak from it. In addition, the outer edge of the near edge 264 can be chamfered to facilitate engagement with the body 220 of the module.

The first electrical contact 270 defines an opening 272 and has a ring shape, which can also be wave-shaped. During assembly, the first electrical contact 270 is engaged with the cover 260 of the second module so that the distant edge 266 of the cover 260 of the second module passes through the opening 272 in the first electrical contact 270. As a result, during assembly, the first electrical contact 270 can be located opposite the lower side of the cover 260 of the second module (for example, by means of an interference fit on the distant edge 266).

The insulator 280 comprises a portion 284 of the shell and a portion 286 of the flange, and also defines an opening 282 passing through them. During assembly, the insulator 280 is inserted through the cover 260 of the second module (as well as through the first electrical contact 270) in such a way that the outer side wall of the portion 284 of the shell engages with the side wall of the opening 262 in the cover 260 of the second module. In addition, during assembly, the flange portion 286 of the insulator 280 can adjoin the distant edge 266 of the cover 260 of the second module.

The second electrical contact 290 comprises a portion 294 in the form of a rod and a base portion 296, and also defines a passage 292 passing through them. When assembled, the second electrical contact 290 passes through an opening 282 in the insulator 280 (as well as through the first electrical contact 270 and the cover 260 of the second module) such that the passage 292 in the second electrical contact 290 leads to the chamber 222 in the evaporative module 200. Additionally, the base portion 296 of the second electrical contact 290 can adjoin the flange portion 286 of the insulator 280. As indicated above , the insulator 280 electrically isolates the second electrical contact 290 from the cover 260 of the second module/the first electrical contact 270. In addition, the base portion 296 also defines a groove 298, which extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the second electrical contact 290. In an illustrative embodiment and as will be discussed in more detail herein, the groove 298 in the base portion 296 is configured to provide access for incoming air to enter the passage 292 in the second electrical contact 290 when the nicotine cartridge 100 is engaged with the main portion 300 of the device.

In the heater assembly, the first end corresponding to the first segment 252 of the built-in thermocouple heater 250 can be electrically connected to the cover 260 of the second module/the first electrical contact 270, while the second end corresponding to the second segment 256 of the built-in thermocouple heater 250 can be electrically connected to the second electrical contact 290. In particular, the first end corresponding to the first segment 252 of the built-in thermocouple heater 250 can be fixed between the cover 260 of the second module and the insulator 280, while the second end corresponding to the second segment 256 of the built-in thermocouple heater 250 can be fixed between the insulator 280 and the second electrical contact 290.

Fig. 14 shows a partially exploded view of the main part of the device of Fig. 6. Referring to Fig. 14, the main part 300 of the device includes a coupling section 310 and a battery section 320. The coupling section 310 is configured to receive a nicotine cartridge 100 when the nicotine cartridge 100 is inserted into the main part 300 of the device to engage with the battery section 320. Additionally, as shown, the coupling section 310 defines an array of inlet holes or inlet holes 312 for air. The array of air inlet holes or inlet openings 312 may be in the form of a honeycomb configured to facilitate the suction of ambient air, which enters the main part 300 of the device and is directed to a power source (inside the battery section 320) before moving inside and then to the built-in thermocouple heater 250 in the nicotine cartridge 100.

The battery section 320 comprises a bayonet adapter 330 which is configured to connect with the bayonet connector 170 of the nicotine cartridge 100. In particular, to engage the nicotine cartridge 100 with the main part 300 of the device, the distal end of the nicotine cartridge 100 (the end of the nicotine cartridge 100 with the bayonet connector 170) is inserted into the coupling section 310 of the main part 300 of the device until the grooves 174 of the bayonet connector 170 are initially mated with the engaging elements of the bayonet adapter 330. Once the initial mating occurs, the nicotine cartridge 100 can then be rotated/twisted/rotated relative to the main part 300 of the device to lock with the main part 300 of the device. As a result, a device 500 for e-vaping nicotine can be provided, wherein a bayonet connection is installed between the nicotine cartridge 100 and the main part 300 of the device. The battery section 320 of the main part 300 of the device also contains a knurled connector 340, a light guide 358, a battery section housing 360 and an end cap 370, which were discussed above in connection with the previous figures. As a result, such descriptions will not be repeated in this document for the sake of brevity, although additional details may be provided later in this document.

Fig. 15 shows a perspective view of the battery section of Fig. 14. Referring to Fig. 15, the bayonet adapter 330 comprises at least one engagement element 334 configured to mate/lock with the bayonet connector 170 of the nicotine cartridge 100. In an illustrative embodiment, the bayonet adapter 330 comprises a pair of engagement elements 334 that protrude from its outer side wall. Additionally, the engagement elements 334 can be diametrically opposed to each other. The bayonet adapter 330 also defines an opening 332 that opens (e.g., to provide access) a pin 352. The bayonet adapter 330 and the pin 352 of the battery section 320 can be considered as electrical contacts of the main part 300 of the device. In particular, when the main part 300 of the device is engaged with the nicotine cartridge 100, the bayonet adapter 330 is configured to be in electrical contact with the first electrical contact 270 of the nicotine cartridge 100, while the pin 352 is configured to be in electrical contact with the second electrical contact 290 of the nicotine cartridge 100. The bayonet adapter 330 can be formed from a conductive material, such as steel (for example, from stainless steel 304). The pin 352 can be coated with gold plating. For example, the pin 352 can have an inner part (underlying structure) formed from brass and an outer part formed from gold (for example, in the form of an applied layer).

The grooved connector 340 defines at least one channel 344 for incoming air (e.g., air entering inside and directed to the evaporative module 200). At least one channel 344 in the knurled connector 340 is in fluid communication with the opening 332 in the bayonet adapter 330. In particular, during vaping, air drawn into the nicotine e-vaping device 500 via the air inlet openings 312 will flow in the annular space between the coupling section 310 and the nicotine cartridge 100 in the direction of the battery section 320 (e.g., in the first longitudinal direction) and then flow inward (e.g., in the radial direction) via at least one channel 344 in the knurled connector 340 to the opening 332 in the bayonet adapter 330 before passing through the opening 332 (e.g., in the second longitudinal direction) into the evaporation module 200. In an illustrative embodiment, the knurled connector 340 can be chrome-plated. For example, a 340 knurled connector may have an inner portion (underlying structure) formed of brass and an outer portion formed of chromium (e.g., as an applied layer).

Fig. 16 shows a partially exploded view of the battery section of Fig. 15. Referring to Fig. 16, the dimensions of the engaging elements 334 of the bayonet adapter 330 are configured to substantially correspond to the dimensions of the grooves 174 in the bayonet connector 170. Additionally, each of the engaging elements 334 may comprise a projection 336 that helps maintain the installed bayonet connection (for example, by locking with the corresponding groove 174). For example, the projection 336 of each engaging element 334 is configured to be placed in a corresponding groove 174c of each of the grooves 174. The projection 336 may have a linear shape that extends radially along the lower side of each engaging element 334 (for example, from the side wall of the bayonet adapter 330 to the edge of the engaging element 334). Due to the relatively tight fit between the engaging members 334 of the bayonet adapter 330 and the slots 174 of the bayonet connector 170, tactile and/or auditory feedback (e.g., an audible click) can be produced to notify an adult vaper that the nicotine cartridge 100 is properly connected to the main part 300 of the device.

The knurled connector 340 is configured to connect the coupling section 310 and the battery section housing 360 of the main part 300 of the device. As illustrated, the knurling on the outer side wall of the knurled connector 340 can be made in the form of two strips separated by a non-knurled section between them, wherein the near (for example, upper) strip is intended to engage with the coupling section 310, and the far (for example, lower) strip is intended to engage with the battery section housing 360. In the illustrative embodiment, the knurling is hidden from view by the coupling section 310 and the battery section housing 360, when the main part 300 of the device is assembled. The outer part of the coupling section 310 and the battery section housing 360 can also be flush with the open non-knurled section of the knurled connector 340, when the main part 300 of the device is assembled. The knurling may contain straight (e.g. longitudinal) protrusions. However, it should be understood that other patterns may also be suitable. For example, the knurling may alternatively have a ring pattern, an angular pattern, or a diamond pattern.

As shown in Fig. 16, the grooved connector 340 defines a pair of channels 344. The pair of channels 344 can be located diametrically in the grooved connector 340. As a result, a line passing through the grooved connector 340 along the channels 344 can intersect the central longitudinal axis of the grooved connector 340, thereby coinciding with the diameter of the grooved connector 340. In addition, the outer side of the grooved connector 340 can be recessed (for example, to a greater extent than the knurling) from the edge to the area around each channel 344 to provide an entrance (for example, an entry point in the form of a recess) into each channel 344 when the coupling section 310 engages the grooved connector 340. In this case, the incoming air during hovering can reach the channels 344 through these recessed entrances.

The knurled connector 340 also defines an opening 342 and a perforation 346 for receiving parts of the battery assembly 350. In particular, when the battery section 320 is assembled, the pin 352 will pass through the opening 342 in the knurled connector 340 and into the opening 332 in the bayonet adapter 330. In this assembled state, the near end of the pin 352 can be approximately at the same level as the engaging elements 334 of the bayonet adapter 330, although embodiments are not limited to this. The cavity 346 in the knurled connector 340 is configured to open the light guide 358. The light guide 358 can contain red, green and blue (RGB) light-emitting diodes (LEDs), in which these primary colors can be combined to produce white light, as well as a variety of other shades of light. As a result, the emitted light can be transmitted by the light guide 358 in a manner that would be visible and useful to an adult vaper.

The battery assembly 350 further comprises a first printed circuit board (PCB) 354 configured to mechanically support and electrically connect various parts of the battery section 320, including the first sensor 356, the pin 352 and the light guide 358. In an illustrative embodiment, the first sensor 356 may be a combined pressure sensor and a temperature sensor. Additionally, the pin 352 may be a spring pin or a spring-loaded pin. The light guide 358 may comprise five light-emitting diodes, although it should be understood that a different number may be implemented. The light guide 358 may be used to transmit various types of information to an adult vaper.

For example, with respect to the battery level, the illumination of all five indicators by the light guide 358 may indicate a full battery level, while the illumination of a smaller number of indicators, such as three indicators, may indicate a medium battery level. On the other hand, the illumination of only one indicator may indicate a low battery level. The color of one or more indicators may also change (for example, change to a warning color, such as red) to improve the recognition of this indication. In addition, one or more indicators may flash to help indicate the urgency of a particular indication. The desired type of information or function may be available by pressing the button 372 (FIG. 5) at the far end of the nicotine e-vaping device 500. In an illustrative embodiment, a single press of the button 372 may display the battery level (for example, for 5 seconds). In another case, successive pressing of the button 372 for a short period of time may result in another function or display. In particular, successively pressing the button 372 five times can turn on/off the device 500 for e-vaping nicotine. Therefore, the device 500 for e-vaping nicotine can be activated by a puff and/or a button.

Fig. 17 shows a partially exploded view of the battery assembly of Fig. 16. Referring to Fig. 17, the battery assembly 350 also comprises a second printed circuit board (PCB) 364 configured to mechanically support and electrically connect at least a second sensor 366. The second sensor 366 is a temperature sensor (e.g., a second temperature sensor). The battery assembly 350 further comprises a controller 359, which can be mechanically supported and electrically connected by the first printed circuit board 354 and/or the second printed circuit board 364. The power source 362 is located inside the housing 360 of the battery section. The power source 362 can be a rechargeable battery configured to supply electric current to the built-in thermocouple heater 250 of the nicotine cartridge 100 in response to activation of a puff or a button.

At least one of the first sensor 356 or the second sensor 366 may be configured to measure a voltage difference between the first segment 252 and the second segment 256 of the built-in thermocouple heater 250 as a result of supplying electric energy from the power source 362 (for example, when the nicotine-containing final vapor composition 180 is heated to generate nicotine vapor). When both the first sensor 356 and the second sensor 366 are used to measure the voltage, the measured values may be averaged to obtain an average value. The controller 359 may be configured to adjust the supply of electric energy to the built-in thermocouple heater 250 based on the voltage difference measured by at least one of the first sensor 356 or the second sensor 366. In an illustrative embodiment, the controller 359 is configured to determine the temperature of the built-in thermocouple heater 250 based on the voltage difference and to stop supplying electric energy when the temperature exceeds an upper threshold value.

Since the measured voltage at the junction 254 of the built-in heater-thermocouple 250 depends on the temperature, the relationship between the voltage and the temperature can be determined based on empirical studies and organized/stored in a look-up table (LUT). In this case, during vaping, the measured voltage can be used by the controller 359 to access the temperature at the junction 254 of the built-in heater-thermocouple 250 from the look-up table (which can be stored in the controller 359 or in a separate memory device). If the controller 359 determines the temperature as exceeding an upper threshold, then the controller 359 can make an adjustment to reduce the duty cycle (for example, a duty cycle of 50 percent is reduced to 25 percent). On the other hand, if the controller 359 determines the temperature as below the lower threshold, then the controller 359 can make an adjustment to increase the duty cycle (for example, a duty cycle of 50 percent is increased to 75 percent). Such temperature control can be performed in a closed loop. In an alternative embodiment, the relationship between voltage and temperature may be represented as an equation and calculated instead of being accessed from the LUT.

Fig. 18 shows a sectional view of the nicotine cartridge and a partial sectional view of the main part of the device of Fig. 6 when not engaged. Referring to Fig. 18, the nicotine cartridge 100 is configured to be inserted into the coupling section 310 of the main part 300 of the device in such a way that the grooves 174 (Fig. 8) of the bayonet connector 170 initially mate with the engagement elements 334 of the bayonet adapter 330. In particular, the longitudinal portion 174a (Fig. 9) of each groove 174 is configured to receive the corresponding engagement element 334 until the engagement element 334 abuts the end surface of the longitudinal portion 174a. Once this initial mating has occurred, the nicotine cartridge 100 can then be rotated/twisted/rotated (e.g. clockwise) relative to the main part 300 of the device such that the engagement elements 334 slide circumferentially within the corresponding circumferential portions 174b of the grooves 174 until the projections 336 (Fig. 16) of the engagement elements 334 are elastically placed within the groove 174c (Fig. 8) of the grooves 174, thereby mechanically locking the nicotine cartridge 100 with the main part 300 of the device.

With regard to the electrical engagement, the first segment 252 (Fig. 12) of the built-in thermocouple heater 250 of the nicotine cartridge 100 can be electrically connected to the bayonet adapter 330 of the main part 300 of the device, while the second segment 256 (Fig. 12) of the built-in thermocouple heater 250 of the nicotine cartridge 100 can be electrically connected to the pin 352 of the main part 300 of the device. In turn, the bayonet adapter 330 of the main part 300 of the device can be electrically connected to the negative terminal of the power source 362, while the pin 352 of the main part 300 of the device can be electrically connected to the positive terminal of the power source 362. The electrical paths from the power supply terminals 362 to the built-in thermocouple heater 250 will be discussed in more detail in this document.

When engaged (mechanically and electrically) with the main part 300 of the device, the nicotine cartridge 100 can be substantially hidden from view except for the mouthpiece 110. Due to this substantial obscuring of the portion of the reservoir 130, the nicotine-containing vapor composition 180 and the evaporator 150 can be partially visible through the air inlet openings 312 in the coupling section 310 of the main part 300 of the device. As a result, when there is sufficient ambient light, the level of the nicotine-containing vapor composition 180 in the nicotine cartridge 100 can be visually measured by an adult vaper. In contrast, when there is no or insufficient ambient light, then the adult vaper can rely on the notification from the light guide 358 that the nicotine-containing vapor composition 180 in the nicotine cartridge 100 is low and/or exhausted.

The removal of the nicotine cartridge 100 can be achieved by reversing the direction of the movements associated with the engagement, such as rotating the nicotine cartridge 100 in the opposite direction (for example, counterclockwise) and pulling the nicotine cartridge 100 out of the main part 300 of the device. Since the engagement elements 334 of the bayonet adapter 330 are elastically placed within the grooves 174c of the grooves 174, the force required to untwist and detach the nicotine cartridge 100 can be greater than the force used to twist and engage the nicotine cartridge 100, which can help ensure that the detachment of the nicotine cartridge 100 from the main part 300 of the device is an intentional action and not an event due to unintentional actions. In addition, for the sake of brevity, it should be understood that not all marked parts of Fig. 18 have been specifically mentioned in connection with this section because such parts have already been discussed above and do not need further repetition or discussion.

Fig. 19 shows a sectional view of the nicotine cartridge and a partial sectional view of the main part of the device of Fig. 18 when engaged. Referring to Fig. 19, the air flow to the built-in thermocouple heater 250 and the flow of vapor generated from it are shown in dashed lines. In particular, when a negative pressure is applied to the mouthpiece 110 of the nicotine e-vaping device 500, air is drawn into the air inlet openings 312 (Fig. 1) in the sleeve section 310 and through the annular space between the sleeve section 310 and the nicotine cartridge 100 in the direction of the knurled connector 340. The air then enters the channels 344 in the knurled connector 340 and passes through them. The air flow inside the annular space towards the channels 344 in the knurled connector 340 may comprise a circumferential flow (e.g. from the annular space in front of the nicotine cartridge 100 in a circle to the side or from the annular space behind the nicotine cartridge 100 in a circle to the side). The air flow through the channels 344 in the knurled connector 340 is directed inward (e.g. in a radial direction towards the central longitudinal axis of the device 500 for e-vaping nicotine).

After passing through the channels 344 in the ribbed connector 340, the air flows are then directed to the second electrical contact 290 and enter the passage 292 through the second electrical contact 290 through the recesses 298 (Fig. 13) in the base portion 296 of the second electrical contact 290. The air flows also converge when passing through the passage 292 in the second electrical contact 290.

The air exiting the passage 292 in the second electrical contact 290 passes through/past the built-in thermocouple heater 250 (for example, which was activated during a puff) and the wick 240 to obtain the generated nicotine vapor. After that, the obtained nicotine vapor passes through the slots 218 (Fig. 10) in the cover 210 of the first module. In an illustrative embodiment, the passage of nicotine vapor through the cover 210 of the first module can divide the vapor into eight streams due to the eight slots 218 (Fig. 10). The divided nicotine vapor is then combined into two streams that pass through the channels 132a and 132b for vapor in the reservoir 130, as well as through the slots 122a and 122b in the first seal 120 (Fig. 7). After passing through the first seal 120, the two streams of nicotine vapor converge into a single stream for exiting through the outlet opening 112 for vapor of the mouthpiece 110. However, it should be understood that the illustrative embodiments are not limited to this. For example, as noted above , the mouthpiece 110 may have different configurations for the outlet 112 of vapor, and therefore allows for other changes in relation to the flow of nicotine vapor exiting.

Fig. 20 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of Fig. 19. Referring to Fig. 20, the electrical paths from the terminals of the power source 362 (Fig. 17) to the built-in thermocouple heater 250 include a plurality of electrical connections (J1-J8). J1 is an electrical connection of the printed circuit board (e.g., copper of the first printed circuit board 354) and the pin 352 (e.g., gold-plated brass). J2 is an electrical connection of the pin 352 (e.g., gold-plated brass) and the second electrical contact 290 (e.g., gold-plated brass). J3 is an electrical connection between the second electrical contact 290 (for example, gold-plated brass) and the second segment 256 (for example, nickel-chromium alloy) of the built-in heater-thermocouple 250. J4 is an electrical connection between the first segment 252 (for example, nickel-aluminum alloy) of the built-in heater-thermocouple 250 and the cover 260 of the second module (for example, made of stainless steel). J5 is an electrical connection between the cover 260 of the second module (for example, made of stainless steel) and the first electrical contact 270 (gold-plated steel). J6 is an electrical connection between the first electrical contact 270 (for example, made of gold-plated steel) and the bayonet adapter 330 (for example, made of stainless steel). J7 is an electrical connection between the bayonet adapter 330 (for example, made of stainless steel) and the knurled connector 340 (for example, made of chrome-plated brass). J8 is an electrical connection between the knurled connector 340 (e.g. chromed brass) and the printed circuit board (e.g. copper of the first printed circuit board 354).

Therefore, when the nicotine e-vaping device 500 is activated (e.g., activated by puffing), an electrical current may be considered to flow from the positive terminal of the power source 362 to the printed circuit board 354, from the printed circuit board 354 to the pin 352, from the pin 352 to the second electrical contact 290, from the second electrical contact 290 to the second segment 256 of the built-in thermocouple heater 250, from the second segment 256 to the first segment 252 of the built-in thermocouple heater 250, from the first segment 252 of the built-in thermocouple heater 250 to the cover 260 of the second module, from the cover 260 of the second module to the first electrical contact 270, from the first electrical contact 270 to the bayonet adapter 330, from the bayonet adapter 330 to the knurled connector 340, from the knurled connector 340 to the printed circuit board 354 and from the printed circuit board 354 to the negative terminal of the power source 362. It should be understood that the necessary circuits in the device 500 for e-vaping nicotine are connected to the power source 362, although such connections are not necessarily illustrated in the graphic materials.

The electrical connections (J1-J8) discussed above can be taken into account by the controller 359 when determining the temperature at the junction 254 of the built-in heater-thermocouple 250. Based on the known materials of the electrical connections (J1-J8), empirical studies can be conducted to generate a calibration curve that covers the expected operating temperature range of the built-in heater-thermocouple 250. As a result, a factor or correction can be applied to the initial temperature determination by the controller 359 to achieve a corrected temperature that takes into account the electrical connections (J1-J8) connected to the built-in heater-thermocouple 250.

Although a number of illustrative embodiments have been disclosed herein, it should be understood that other variations may be possible. Such variations should not be considered a departure from the scope of the present invention, and as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.

Claims (22)

1. A nicotine cartridge for a nicotine e-vaping device, comprising: a housing defining a reservoir that contains the nicotine-containing prepared vapor composition; a wick adapted to transport the nicotine-containing vapor composition by capillary action; and a built-in heater-thermocouple, configured to heat a nicotine-containing prepared vapor composition in a wick to generate nicotine vapor, wherein the built-in heater-thermocouple comprises a first segment made from a first alloy and a second segment made from a second alloy; wherein the built-in thermocouple heater is made in the form of a spiral structure wrapped around the wick, the spiral structure contains a plurality of turns, wherein this plurality of turns contains at least one turn of the first alloy and at least one turn of the second alloy; wherein the first alloy has a first specific electrical resistance and a first thermal conductivity, the second alloy has a second specific electrical resistance and a second thermal conductivity, wherein the first specific electrical resistance is less than the second specific electrical resistance, and the first thermal conductivity is greater than the second thermal conductivity; and wherein said at least one turn of the first alloy is located further downstream from said at least one turn of the second alloy. 2. A nicotine cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing comprises a side wall and a first longitudinal axis, wherein the side wall of the housing defines at least one channel for vapor passing through it and along the first longitudinal axis of the housing. 3. A nicotine cartridge according to claim 2, characterized in that said at least one vapor channel comprises a first vapor channel and a second vapor channel, and the reservoir is located between the first vapor channel and the second vapor channel. 4. A nicotine cartridge according to any one of paragraphs 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the built-in thermocouple heater has a Seebeck coefficient of 35 to 75 µV/°C. 5. A nicotine cartridge according to any of the preceding paragraphs, characterized in that the built-in thermocouple heater has a total resistance of 0.5 to 3.5 Ω. 6. A nicotine cartridge according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing has a first longitudinal axis, and the spiral structure has a second longitudinal axis intersecting the first longitudinal axis to form an oblique angle. 7. A nicotine cartridge according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one turn of the first alloy is joined by welding to said at least one turn of the second alloy at the junction. 8. A nicotine cartridge according to any of the preceding paragraphs, characterized in that said plurality of turns is made in the form of five to ten turns. 9. A nicotine cartridge according to claim 8, characterized in that said plurality of turns comprises one turn of the first alloy and five turns of the second alloy. 10. A nicotine cartridge according to claim 8, characterized in that said plurality of turns comprises two turns of the first alloy and four turns of the second alloy. 11. A nicotine cartridge according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first alloy is a nickel-aluminum alloy and the second alloy is a nickel-chromium alloy. 12. A nicotine cartridge according to claim 11, characterized in that the nickel-chromium alloy contains 90 percent nickel and 10 percent chromium. 13. A device for nicotine e-vaping, comprising: a nicotine cartridge that contains a nicotine-containing ready-made vapor composition, a wick and a built-in heater-thermocouple, wherein the wick is designed with the possibility of transporting the nicotine-containing ready-made vapor composition due to capillary action, the built-in heater-thermocouple comprises a first segment made of a first alloy and a second segment made of a second alloy, wherein the built-in heater-thermocouple is designed in the form of a spiral structure wrapped around the wick, wherein the spiral structure comprises a plurality of turns, wherein said plurality of turns comprises at least one turn of the first alloy and at least one turn of the second alloy; wherein the first alloy has a first specific electrical resistance and a first thermal conductivity, the second alloy has a second specific electrical resistance and a second thermal conductivity, wherein the first specific electrical resistance is less than the second specific electrical resistance, and the first thermal conductivity is greater than the second thermal conductivity; wherein said at least one turn of the first alloy is located further downstream from said at least one turn of the second alloy; and a main part of the device configured to receive a nicotine cartridge, wherein the main part of the device comprises a power source, at least one sensor and a controller, wherein the power source is configured to supply electrical energy to a built-in thermocouple heater for heating a nicotine-containing ready-made vapor composition in a wick for the purpose of generating nicotine vapor, wherein said at least one sensor is configured to measure a voltage difference between the first segment and the second segment of the built-in thermocouple heater as a result of supplying electrical energy from the power source, and the controller is configured to regulate the supply of electrical energy to the built-in thermocouple heater based on the voltage difference measured by said at least one sensor. 14. A device for nicotine e-vaporation according to paragraph 13, characterized in that the controller is designed with the ability to calculate the temperature of the built-in thermocouple heater based on the voltage difference and to stop the supply of electrical energy when the temperature exceeds the upper threshold value. 15. A device for e-vaping nicotine according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the main part of the device additionally contains a sleeve section configured to accommodate a nicotine cartridge, wherein the sleeve section defines an array of inlet openings. 16. A device for e-vaping nicotine according to claim 15, characterized in that said array of inlet openings has the form of a honeycomb structure made to facilitate the suction of ambient air, which enters the main part of the device and is directed to the power source before moving inside and then to the built-in heater-thermocouple.