Aerosol delivery device with improved sealing arrangement

Abstract

The present invention includes an aerosol delivery device including a cartridge, an atomizer assembly arranged about a connecting end of the cartridge, and a control body operably engaged with the cartridge about the connecting end. The atomizer assembly includes a base defining a first surface engageable with the connecting end to define a reservoir chamber containing an aerosol precursor composition, an atomizer arranged about the first surface of the base, a liquid transport element defining opposing first and second ends with exposed end surfaces that are in fluid communication with the reservoir chamber, and a reservoir chamber sealing arrangement comprising a first sealing member to circumferentially seal the opposing first and second ends of the liquid transport element and expose the end surfaces thereof, such that the reservoir chamber is sealed by the reservoir chamber sealing arrangement except at the exposed end surfaces of the liquid transport element.

1 . An aerosol delivery device comprising:
 an atomizer assembly comprising:
 a base defining a first surface and an opposing second surface, the first surface defining a reservoir chamber containing an aerosol precursor composition, 
 a liquid transport element with exposed end surfaces that are in fluid communication with the reservoir chamber, and 
 a reservoir chamber sealing arrangement comprising a first sealing member arranged to circumferentially seal the opposing first and second ends of the liquid transport element and expose the end surfaces thereof, such that the reservoir chamber is sealed by the reservoir chamber sealing arrangement except at the exposed end surfaces of the liquid transport element. 
   
     
     
         2 . The aerosol delivery device of  claim 1 , further comprising an atomizer arranged about the first surface of the base to atomize the aerosol precursor composition and form an aerosol, wherein the reservoir chamber sealing arrangement comprises a flow director defining a base portion with a flow tube extending therefrom and arranged such that the first sealing member is disposed between the flow director and the first surface of the base, the flow tube being in fluid communication with the atomizer. 
     
     
         3 . The aerosol delivery device of  claim 2 , wherein the base further comprises a retaining member extending from the first surface thereof and engaging the flow director, the retaining member being arranged to compress the flow director against the first sealing member and the first surface of the base, and thereby seal the reservoir chamber except at the exposed end surfaces of the liquid transport element. 
     
     
         4 . The aerosol delivery device of  claim 3 , wherein the retaining member comprises one or more pairs of arms extending substantially perpendicularly from the first surface of the base and one or more pairs of respective protrusions extending toward a center of the base, the protrusions engaging the base portion of the flow director to compress the base portion of the flow director against the first sealing member and the first surface of the base, and thereby seal the reservoir chamber except at the exposed end surfaces of the liquid transport element. 
     
     
         5 . The aerosol delivery device of  claim 4 , wherein the first sealing member comprises a pair of opposing annular members comprising open receptacles, with a pair of opposite connecting flanges extending between the open receptacles, one of the first and second ends of the liquid transport element being at least partially received in one of the open receptacles such that the opposing first and second ends of the liquid transport element are circumferentially sealed by the open receptacles and the end surfaces are exposed, and the reservoir chamber is sealed by the reservoir chamber sealing arrangement at an interface between the base portion of the flow director and the flanges and receptacles of the liquid transport element except at the exposed end surfaces of the liquid transport element. 
     
     
         6 . The aerosol delivery device of  claim 3 , further comprising a cartridge comprising an outer housing formed of an outer wall, the outer housing having a mouth end and an opposing connecting end, wherein the cartridge further comprises a mouthpiece channel extending at least partially along a length of the reservoir chamber, the mouthpiece channel defining an open first and an open terminal end, the open first end being in fluid communication with the mouth end of the outer housing and the open terminal end being in fluid communication with the flow tube of the flow director such that the aerosol is directed through the mouthpiece channel. 
     
     
         7 . The aerosol delivery device of  claim 6 , wherein the reservoir chamber sealing arrangement comprises a second sealing member arranged at the open terminal end of the mouthpiece channel to provide a seal between the flow tube and the mouthpiece channel. 
     
     
         8 . The aerosol delivery device of  claim 1 , further comprising a control body operably engaged with a cartridge about a connecting end of an outer housing thereof; and electrical contacts proximate the second surface of the base and providing electrical communication between the atomizer and a power source in the control body when the cartridge is engaged with the control body. 
     
     
         9 . The aerosol delivery device of  claim 8 , wherein electrical terminals in electrical communication with the atomizer extend from the first surface of the base through the second surface of the base and contact the electrical contacts. 
     
     
         10 . The aerosol delivery device of  claim 2 , wherein the atomizer comprises a coil having a plurality of turns and the liquid transport element defines an outer surface longitudinally extending between the end surfaces, the plurality of turns of the coil being wound about the outer surface and between the end surfaces of the liquid transport element. 
     
     
         11 . A cartridge for an aerosol delivery device, the cartridge comprising:
 an outer housing formed of an outer wall, the outer housing having a mouth end and an opposing connecting end; and   an atomizer assembly arranged about the connecting end of the outer housing and comprising:
 a base defining a first surface and an opposing second surface, the first surface defining a reservoir chamber containing an aerosol precursor composition, 
 a liquid transport element with exposed end surfaces that are in fluid communication with the reservoir chamber, and 
   a reservoir chamber sealing arrangement comprising a first sealing member arranged to circumferentially seal the opposing first and second ends of the liquid transport element and expose the end surfaces thereof, such that the reservoir chamber is sealed by the reservoir chamber sealing arrangement except at the exposed end surfaces of the liquid transport element.   
     
     
         12 . The cartridge of  claim 11 , further comprising an atomizer arranged about the first surface of the base to atomize the aerosol precursor composition and form an aerosol, wherein the reservoir chamber sealing arrangement comprises a flow director defining a base portion with a flow tube extending therefrom and arranged such that the first sealing member is disposed between the flow director and the first surface of the base, the flow tube being in fluid communication with the atomizer. 
     
     
         13 . The cartridge of  claim 12 , wherein the base further comprises a retaining member extending from the first surface thereof and engaging the flow director, the retaining member being arranged to compress the flow director against the first sealing member and the first surface of the base, and thereby seal the reservoir chamber except at the exposed end surfaces of the liquid transport element. 
     
     
         14 . The cartridge of  claim 13 , wherein the retaining member comprises one or more pairs of arms extending substantially perpendicularly from the first surface of the base and one or more pairs of respective protrusions extending toward a center of the base, the protrusion engaging the base portion of the flow director to compress the base portion of the flow director against the first sealing member and the first surface of the base, and thereby seal the reservoir chamber except at the exposed end surfaces of the liquid transport element. 
     
     
         15 . The cartridge of  claim 14 , wherein the first sealing member comprises a pair of opposing annular members comprising open receptacles, with a pair of opposite connecting flanges extending between the open receptacles, one of the first and second ends of the liquid transport element being at least partially received in one of the open receptacles such that the opposing first and second ends of the liquid transport element are circumferentially sealed by the open receptacles and the end surfaces are exposed, and the reservoir chamber is sealed by the reservoir chamber sealing arrangement at an interface between the base portion of the flow director and the flanges and receptacles of the liquid transport element except at the exposed end surfaces of the liquid transport element. 
     
     
         16 . The cartridge of  claim 13 , wherein the cartridge further comprises a mouthpiece channel extending at least partially along a length of the reservoir chamber, the mouthpiece channel defining an open first and an open terminal end, the open first end being in fluid communication with the mouth end of the outer housing and the open terminal end being in fluid communication with the flow tube of the flow director such that the aerosol is directed through the mouthpiece channel. 
     
     
         17 . The cartridge of  claim 16 , wherein the reservoir chamber sealing arrangement comprises a second sealing member arranged at the open terminal end of the mouthpiece channel to provide a seal between the flow tube and the mouthpiece channel. 
     
     
         18 . The cartridge of  claim 11 , wherein the atomizer comprises a coil having a plurality of turns and the liquid transport element defines an outer surface longitudinally extending between the end surfaces, the plurality of turns of the coil being wound about the outer surface and between the end surfaces of the liquid transport element. 
     
     
         19 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An atomizer assembly for an aerosol delivery device, the atomizer assembly comprising:
 a reservoir chamber containing an aerosol precursor composition;   a liquid transport element with exposed end surfaces that are in fluid communication with the reservoir chamber; and   a reservoir chamber sealing arrangement comprising a first sealing member arranged to circumferentially seal the opposing first and second ends of the liquid transport element and expose the end surfaces thereof, such that the reservoir chamber is sealed by the reservoir chamber sealing arrangement except at the exposed end surfaces of the liquid transport element.   
     
     
         22 . The atomizer assembly of  claim 21 , further comprising an atomizer arranged to atomize the aerosol precursor composition and form an aerosol.