Aerosol delivery device

Abstract

An aerosol delivery device comprises: a storage for storing aerosol precursor liquid, the storage comprising an air bleed channel for permitting air to enter the storage as the storage empties of aerosol precursor in use; and a liquid transfer element for transferring aerosol precursor liquid from the storage to an aerosol generator, wherein the air bleed channel and the liquid transfer element are configured such that aerosol precursor liquid from the liquid transfer element forms an obstruction in the air bleed channel in use to reduce flow through the air bleed channel, the aerosol delivery device further configured such that the obstruction is removed to open the air bleed channel in response to a user drawing on the aerosol delivery device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An aerosol delivery device, comprising:
 a storage for storing aerosol precursor liquid, the storage comprising an air bleed channel for permitting air to enter the storage as the storage empties of aerosol precursor in use;   an aerosol generator for generating an aerosol from the aerosol precursor liquid for inhalation by a user; and   a liquid transfer element for transferring aerosol precursor liquid from the storage to an aerosol generator,   wherein the air bleed channel and the liquid transfer element are configured such that aerosol precursor liquid from the liquid transfer element forms an obstruction in the air bleed channel in use to reduce flow through the air bleed channel, and   the aerosol delivery device is further configured such that the obstruction is removed to open the air bleed channel in response to a user drawing on the aerosol delivery device by causing the aerosol precursor liquid in the liquid transfer element to reduce and the obstruction to be pulled from the air bleed channel into the storage to open the air bleed channel.   
     
     
         2 . An aerosol delivery device according to  claim 1 , the aerosol generator comprising an aerosol generator portion configured to receive the aerosol precursor from the storage, the aerosol delivery device further comprising an air flow passage configured to direct air past the aerosol generator portion to pick up the aerosol precursor from the aerosol generator portion to form an aerosol. 
     
     
         3 . An aerosol delivery device according to  claim 2 , and further comprising a member, the member comprising the liquid transfer element and the aerosol generator portion. 
     
     
         4 . An aerosol delivery device according to any one of  claim 1 to claim 3 , wherein an external opening of the air bleed channel has a diameter of less than 1 mm. 
     
     
         5 . An aerosol delivery device according to  claim 4 , wherein the external opening has a diameter of substantially 0.5 mm. 
     
     
         6 . An aerosol delivery device according to any one of  claim 1 to claim 5 , wherein an external opening of the air bleed channel is located adjacent to the liquid transfer element. 
     
     
         7 . An aerosol delivery device according to  claim 6 , wherein the liquid transfer element defines a portion of the air bleed channel. 
     
     
         8 . An aerosol delivery device according to any one of  claim 1 to claim 7 , wherein the air bleed channel follows a tortuous path. 
     
     
         9 . An aerosol delivery device according to any one of  claim 1 to claim 7 , and further comprising a sealing element for inhibiting flow through the air bleed channel when in a deactivated state, wherein the sealing element is openable into an activated state to permit air flow through the air bleed channel when the obstruction is removed from the air bleed channel. 
     
     
         10 . An aerosol delivery device according to  claim 9 , wherein the sealing element comprises a bung received in the air bleed channel in the deactivated state, the bung movable into the activated state. 
     
     
         11 . An aerosol delivery device according to  claim 10 , wherein the bung comprises an enlarged portion and a neck portion, wherein the enlarged portion extends fully across the air bleed channel to block the air bleed channel in the deactivated state, and the enlarged portion moves out of the air bleed channel and the neck portion moves into the air bleed channel when the bung is moved from the deactivated to the activated state, the neck portion extending partially across the air bleed channel. 
     
     
         12 . An aerosol delivery device according to any one of  claim 1 to claim 11 , and further comprising a barrier arrangement for inhibiting flow of aerosol precursor from the storage to the liquid transfer element, wherein the barrier arrangement is openable so that the liquid transfer element can receive aerosol precursor from the storage. 
     
     
         13 . An aerosol delivery device according to  claim 12 , wherein the liquid transfer element is movable to contact the barrier arrangement to open the barrier arrangement. 
     
     
         14 . An aerosol delivery device according to any one of  claim 1 to claim 13 , wherein the aerosol delivery device is a consumable for a vaping device. 
     
     
         15 . An aerosol delivery device according to any one of  claim 1 to claim 14 , and further comprising an additional aerosol generator, the additional aerosol generator configured to produce an additional aerosol from an additional aerosol precursor. 
     
     
         16 . An aerosol delivery device, comprising:
 a storage tank defining a storage chamber for storing a liquid aerosol precursor;   a porous liquid transfer element for transferring the liquid aerosol precursor from the storage chamber to an aerosolization chamber in an activated state of the device;   an air bleed channel configured to allow the bleeding of air into the chamber of the storage tank to replace liquid aerosol precursor as it is transferred by the liquid transfer element in the activated state of the device; and   a sealing element for sealing the air bleed channel in a deactivated state of the device,   wherein the device further comprises first and second activation members extending from an inner surface of a terminal element,   wherein, in a first orientation of the terminal element, the first activation member is longitudinally aligned with the sealing element configured to engage the sealing element to provide the activated state of the device, and   wherein, in a second orientation of the terminal element, the second activation member is longitudinally aligned with the sealing element configured to engage the sealing element to provide the activated state of the device.   
     
     
         17 . An aerosol delivery device according to  claim 16 , wherein the terminal element is rotated by 180 degrees between the first and second orientations. 
     
     
         18 . An aerosol delivery device according to  claim 16 or claim 17 , wherein the storage tank further comprises a filling port and, wherein, in the first orientation of the terminal element, the second activation member is longitudinally aligned with the filling port and wherein, in the second orientation of the terminal element, the first activation member is longitudinally aligned with the filling port. 
     
     
         19 . An aerosol delivery device according to any one of  claim 16 to claim 18 , wherein the liquid transfer element is interposed between the first and second activation members. 
     
     
         20 . An aerosol delivery device according to  claim 19 , wherein the first and second activation members are symmetrically disposed either side of the liquid transfer element 
     
     
         21 . An aerosol delivery device according to any one of  claim 16 to claim 20 , wherein the first and second activation members are parallel to the liquid transfer element. 
     
     
         22 . An aerosol delivery device according to any one of  claim 16 to claim 21 , wherein the liquid transfer element is an elongate, liquid transfer element extending longitudinally along the longitudinal axis of the device and the first and second activation members extend parallel to the liquid transfer element and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the device. 
     
     
         23 . An aerosol delivery device according to any one of  claim 16 to claim 22 , wherein the liquid aerosol precursor comprises a flavorant. 
     
     
         24 . An aerosol delivery device according to any one of  claim 16 to claim 23 , comprising a flow passage extending between an upstream flow passage inlet to a downstream mouthpiece aperture on a mouthpiece portion of the terminal element. 
     
     
         25 . An aerosol delivery device according to  claim 24 , wherein the first and second activation members extend from the inner surface of the terminal element within the mouthpiece portion on opposing lateral/transverse sides of the mouthpiece aperture. 
     
     
         26 . An aerosol delivery device according to  claim 25 , wherein the activation members are symmetrically disposed either side of the mouthpiece aperture. 
     
     
         27 . An aerosol delivery device according to any one of  claim 24 to claim 26 , further comprising a cartomizer comprising a reservoir of an e-liquid aerosol precursor, a vaporizing chamber and a vapor outlet, the vapor outlet being fluidly connected to the inlet of the flow passage. 
     
     
         28 . An aerosol delivery device system, comprising an aerosol delivery device according to any one of  claim 16 to claim 27 , and a base unit comprising a power source. 
     
     
         29 . A method of operating an aerosol delivery system, comprising inserting an aerosol delivery device according to any one of  claim 16 to claim 27  into a base unit comprising a power source. 
     
     
         30 . An aerosol delivery device comprising:
 a container defining a reservoir for storing a liquid aerosol precursor;   a vaporization chamber for vaporizing the liquid aerosol precursor;   a vapor outlet extending from the vaporizing chamber to a vapor flow passage, the vapor flow passage being in fluid communication with a mouthpiece aperture; and   an absorbent member for absorbing condensed vapor within the vapor flow passage,   wherein there is a deflection between the vapor outlet and the vapor flow passage, and   wherein the absorbent member is provided proximal the deflection.   
     
     
         31 . An aerosol delivery device according to  claim 30 , wherein the absorbent member is a planar absorbent pad. 
     
     
         32 . An aerosol delivery device according to  claim 30 or claim 31 , wherein the absorbent member extends transversely within the device perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the device. 
     
     
         33 . An aerosol delivery device according to  claim 32 , wherein the absorbent member extends across the entire transverse dimension of the device. 
     
     
         34 . An aerosol delivery device according to any one of  claim 30 to claim 33 , wherein the absorbent member is positioned within the device upstream of the deflection and/or upstream of the vapor flow passage. 
     
     
         35 . An aerosol delivery device according to any one of  claim 30 to claim 34 , wherein the vapor outlet extends in a substantially longitudinal direction and the absorbent member extends within the device substantially perpendicularly to the vapor outlet. 
     
     
         36 . An aerosol delivery device according to any one of  claim 30 to claim 35 , wherein the absorbent pad comprises an aperture allowing fluid communication between the vapor outlet and the vapor flow passage. 
     
     
         37 . An aerosol delivery device according to any one of  claim 30 to claim 36 , wherein the vapor flow passage comprises a transverse portion proximal the vapor outlet such that the deflection is provided between the vapor outlet and the transverse portion of the vapor flow passage. 
     
     
         38 . An aerosol delivery device according to  claim 37 , wherein the absorbent member extends in parallel alignment within the transverse portion of the vapor flow passage. 
     
     
         39 . An aerosol delivery device according to any one of  claim 30 to claim 38 , wherein the device further comprises:
 a tank defining a storage chamber for containing a further liquid aerosol precursor; and   a porous liquid transfer element for transferring the further aerosol precursor from the storage chamber to an aerosolization chamber,   wherein the vapor flow passage extends through the aerosolization chamber to the mouthpiece aperture.   
     
     
         40 . An aerosol delivery device according to  claim 39 , wherein the deflection between the vapor outlet and the vapor flow passage and the absorbent pad are provided upstream of the storage tank and aerosolization chamber. 
     
     
         41 . An aerosol delivery device according to any one of  claim 30 to claim 40 , wherein the vapor flow passage comprises one or more deflections. 
     
     
         42 . An aerosol delivery device according to  claim 41 , wherein the vapor flow passage comprises a deflection between an upstream longitudinal portion and a downstream transverse portion, the transverse portion extending to the aerosolization chamber. 
     
     
         43 . An aerosol delivery device system, comprising an aerosol delivery device according to any one of  claim 30 to claim 42 , and a base unit comprising a power source. 
     
     
         44 . A method of operating an aerosol delivery device, comprising inserting an aerosol delivery device according to any one of  claim 30 to claim 43  into a base unit comprising a power source.