US 12,465,081 B2
Internal sterilization of aerosol-generating devices
Christopher J. Suarez, Richmond, VA (US)
Assigned to Altria Client Services LLC, Richmond, VA (US)
Filed by Altria Client Services LLC, Richmond, VA (US)
Filed on Jun. 8, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/835,047.
Prior Publication US 2023/0397664 A1, Dec. 14, 2023
Int. Cl. A24F 40/80 (2020.01); A24F 7/00 (2006.01); A24F 40/40 (2020.01); A24F 40/42 (2020.01); A24F 40/60 (2020.01); A61L 2/10 (2006.01)
CPC A24F 40/42 (2020.01) [A24F 40/60 (2020.01); A61L 2/10 (2013.01); A61L 2202/11 (2013.01); A61L 2202/121 (2013.01); A61L 2202/14 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An aerosol-generating device comprising:
a housing defining a capsule-receiving cavity;
a lid configured to close the housing, the lid being fixedly coupled by a hinge to the housing at a first point and releasably couplable to the housing at a second point that is different from the first point;
a mouthpiece couplable to the lid opposite the housing such that air entering the housing and drawn through the capsule-receiving cavity exits out of the mouthpiece, the mouthpiece including a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the first end includes at least one outlet and the second end is configured to couple to the lid; and
at least one UV diode configured to sanitize an interior of the aerosol-generating device when the at least one UV diode is actuated,
wherein the at least one UV diode includes a plurality of UV diodes disposed on the first end of the mouthpiece and around the at least one outlet and the plurality of UV diodes are configured to direct UV light from the at least one outlet at the first end of the mouthpiece through the mouthpiece towards the lid.