Electrically heated smoking system having a liquid storage portion

Abstract

An electrically heated smoking system includes a shell and a replaceable mouthpiece. The shell includes an electric power supply and electric circuitry. The mouthpiece includes a liquid storage portion and a capillary wick having a first end and a second end. The first end of the wick extends into the liquid storage portion for contact with liquid therein. The mouthpiece also includes a heating element for heating the second end of the capillary wick, an air outlet, and an aerosol forming chamber between the second end of the capillary wick and the air outlet. When the shell and mouthpiece are engaged or connected, the heating element is in electrical connection with the power supply via the circuitry, and a flowpath for air is defined from at least one air inlet to the air outlet via the aerosol forming chamber. In use, liquid is transferred from the liquid storage portion towards the heating element by capillary action in the wick. Liquid at the second end of the capillary wick is vaporized by the heating element. The supersaturated vapor created, is mixed and carried in the air flow from the at least one air inlet to the aerosol forming chamber. In the aerosol forming chamber, the vapor condenses to form an aerosol, which is carried towards the air outlet.

1 .- 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A mouthpiece of a system, the mouthpiece comprising:
 a housing extending in a longitudinal direction;   a liquid storage portion containing a liquid, the liquid storage portion in the housing;   a wick including a first end and a second end, the first end extending into the liquid storage portion, the wick including a plurality of fibers;   a heating element at least partially surrounding a portion of the wick;   an air outlet; and   a chamber between the heater and the air outlet.   
     
     
         11 . The mouthpiece of  claim 10 , wherein the heating element comprises:
 a coil of wire.   
     
     
         12 . The mouthpiece of  claim 11 , wherein the coil of wire is formed of a metal alloy wire. 
     
     
         13 . The mouthpiece of  claim 10 , wherein the liquid storage portion comprises:
 a container.   
     
     
         14 . The mouthpiece of  claim 13 , wherein the container is upstream of the heating element. 
     
     
         15 . The mouthpiece of  claim 13 , wherein the container is between the heating element and the air outlet. 
     
     
         16 . The mouthpiece of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 an end cap positioned about the second end of the wick, the end cap configured to protect the second end of the wick.   
     
     
         17 . A system comprising:
 a housing extending in a longitudinal direction;   a liquid storage portion containing a liquid, the liquid storage portion in the housing;   a wick including a first end and a second end, the first end extending into the liquid storage portion, the wick including fibers;   a heating element at least partially surrounding a portion of the wick;   an air inlet configured to allow air to flow into the housing, the air inlet upstream of the heating element;   an air outlet in communication with the air inlet;   a chamber between the air inlet and the air outlet, the chamber downstream of the heating element;   a battery electrically connected to the heating element; and   a sensor configured to detect airflow.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the sensor is a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) based sensor. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a puff indicator configured to indicate when the heating element is activated.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the liquid storage portion contains only the liquid. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the battery is rechargeable. 
     
     
         22 . A system comprising:
 a mouthpiece including,
 a housing extending in a longitudinal direction, 
 a liquid storage portion containing a liquid, the liquid storage portion in the housing, 
 a wick including a first end and a second end, the first end extending into the liquid storage portion, the wick including fibers, 
 a heating element at least partially surrounding a portion of the wick, 
 an air outlet; and 
 a chamber in communication with the air outlet, the chamber between the heating element and the air outlet; and 
   a shell including,
 a battery electrically connected to the heating element; and 
 a sensor configured to detect airflow. 
   
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 a locking mechanism configured to releasably connect the shell and the mouthpiece.   
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 at least one air inlet along at least one of the shell and the mouthpiece.   
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the heating element comprises:
 a coil of wire.   
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the coil of wire is formed from a metal alloy wire. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 electric circuitry in the shell, the electric circuitry being programmable.   
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the shell and the mouthpiece are detachable.