US 12,011,534 B2
Electronic smoking article
Srinivasan Janardhan, Glen Allen, VA (US); Georgios D. Karles, Richmond, VA (US); Yezdi B. Pithawalla, Richmond, VA (US); and Christopher Simpson, Richmond, VA (US)
Assigned to Altria Client Services LLC, Richmond, VA (US)
Filed by Altria Client Services LLC, Richmond, VA (US)
Filed on Jan. 12, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/146,635.
Application 17/146,635 is a division of application No. 14/337,353, filed on Jul. 22, 2014, granted, now 10,905,159.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/858,382, filed on Jul. 25, 2013.
Prior Publication US 2021/0127740 A1, May 6, 2021
Int. Cl. A61M 11/00 (2006.01); A24F 40/40 (2020.01); A24F 40/485 (2020.01); A24F 40/57 (2020.01); A61M 11/04 (2006.01); A61M 15/00 (2006.01); A61M 15/06 (2006.01); A24F 40/10 (2020.01); A24F 40/48 (2020.01); A61M 16/20 (2006.01)
CPC A61M 11/002 (2014.02) [A24F 40/40 (2020.01); A24F 40/485 (2020.01); A24F 40/57 (2020.01); A61M 11/042 (2014.02); A61M 15/0021 (2014.02); A61M 15/06 (2013.01); A24F 40/10 (2020.01); A24F 40/48 (2020.01); A61M 11/008 (2014.02); A61M 15/002 (2014.02); A61M 16/202 (2014.02); A61M 2205/3368 (2013.01); A61M 2205/3606 (2013.01); A61M 2205/3653 (2013.01); A61M 2205/8206 (2013.01); A61M 2206/14 (2013.01); A61M 2206/16 (2013.01)] 9 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of improving organoleptic characteristics of an aerosol produced by an electronic vaping device comprising:
producing an aerosol with an electronic vaping device, the electronic vaping device including,
an outer tube extending in a longitudinal direction,
a liquid aerosol formulation,
a filamentary wick or a capillary configured to receive the liquid aerosol formulation, a heater in communication with the filamentary wick or the capillary, the heater configured to heat the liquid aerosol formulation to produce a volatilized aerosol formulation, and
a mouth-end insert including,
a downstream end wall having at least two diverging outlet passages extending therethrough, the downstream end wall being planar at a first end,
a cylindrical side wall extending from the downstream end wall in the longitudinal direction, at least a portion of the cylindrical side wall configured to be received in the outer tube, the cylindrical side wall having an inner surface facing an interior of the electronic vaping device in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction,
a mechanical aerosol converter (MAC) portion upstream of the end wall including at least one air passage extending longitudinally therethrough, thereby, or both therethrough and thereby, the MAC portion being disc shaped and contacting at least a portion of the cylindrical side wall on the inner surface of the cylindrical side wall, the MAC portion being friction fit within the cylindrical side wall, and
an internal cavity arranged between the downstream end wall and the MAC portion, the downstream end wall having an inner surface shaped such that the internal cavity has a domed shape adjacent the downstream end wall, the internal cavity in fluid communication with the at least one air passage and the at least two diverging outlet passages; and
cooling the aerosol by passing the aerosol through the (MAC) portion.