US 12,465,086 B2
Microtextured liquid transport element for aerosol delivery device
Michael F. Davis, Clemmons, NC (US); Frederic Philippe Ampolini, Winston-Salem, NC (US); James William Rogers, Cornelius, NC (US); Andries Don Sebastian, Clemmons, NC (US); Eric Taylor Hunt, Pfafftown, NC (US); Sawyer Hubbard, Winston-Salem, NC (US); and David Allan Brammer, Smyrna, GA (US)
Assigned to RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc., Winston-Salem, NC (US)
Filed by RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc., Winston-Salem, NC (US)
Filed on Sep. 21, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/471,993.
Application 18/471,993 is a continuation of application No. 17/021,077, filed on Sep. 15, 2020, granted, now 11,793,238.
Application 17/021,077 is a continuation of application No. 15/679,849, filed on Aug. 17, 2017, granted, now 10,791,761, issued on Oct. 6, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2024/0008542 A1, Jan. 11, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A24F 40/46 (2020.01); A24F 40/10 (2020.01); A24F 40/44 (2020.01); H05B 3/22 (2006.01)
CPC A24F 40/46 (2020.01) [A24F 40/44 (2020.01); A24F 40/10 (2020.01); A61M 2205/3653 (2013.01); H05B 3/22 (2013.01); H05B 2203/01 (2013.01); H05B 2203/016 (2013.01); H05B 2203/021 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An aerosol delivery device, comprising:
a reservoir containing a liquid aerosol precursor composition; and
an atomizer comprising:
a nonfibrous liquid transport element in fluid communication with the reservoir;
a heating zone proximate the nonfibrous liquid transport element;
a heating element proximate the heating zone;
a microtextured surface adapted for surface wicking of the liquid aerosol precursor composition across the surface to direct the liquid aerosol precursor composition toward the heating element; and
a protective layer arranged over the heating element,
wherein the heating element is formed as a film arranged in direct contact with the microtextured surface.