Electronic smoking article

Abstract

An electronic smoking article includes a liquid supply region including liquid material and a heater-wick element operable to wick liquid material and heat the liquid material to a temperature sufficient to vaporize the liquid material and form an aerosol. The heater-wick element comprises a plurality of fused metal beads or particles.

1 . An electronic vaping cartridge comprising:
 a liquid supply region configured to contain a liquid material;   an air channel extending through the liquid supply region;   a heater-wick element including a heatable portion and a wicking portion, the heater-wick element formed of a plurality of particles, the heater-wick element in fluidic communication with the liquid material and oriented in a transverse direction across the air channel;   electrical leads configured to electrically connect the heater-wick element to a power supply; and   wiring connecting the electrical leads to the heater-wick element, the wiring wrapped around the heater-wick element.   
     
     
         2 . The electronic vaping cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the wiring is brazed to the heater-wick element. 
     
     
         3 . The electronic vaping cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein
 the liquid supply region is defined by an outer wall of an inner tube and an inner wall of an outer tube, and   the electrical leads are connected to the heater-wick element in the liquid supply region.   
     
     
         4 . The electronic vaping cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the heater-wick element is CERAMIC FREE. 
     
     
         5 . The electronic vaping cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of particles are glued together with a thermally resistive paste. 
     
     
         6 . The electronic vaping cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of particles include a ceramic material. 
     
     
         7 . The electronic vaping cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of particles are formed of at least one of a nickel aluminide or an iron aluminide. 
     
     
         8 . The electronic vaping cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of particles are fused together. 
     
     
         9 . The electronic vaping cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the heater-wick element includes an insulating material that coats the plurality of particles. 
     
     
         10 . The electronic vaping cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the heater-wick element includes an insulating material that is embedded in the plurality of particles. 
     
     
         11 . The electronic vaping cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the heater-wick element is U-shaped. 
     
     
         12 . The electronic vaping cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the heater-wick element varies in cross-section along a length thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The electronic vaping cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of particles are formed of at least one of a nickel-chromium alloy or an iron-chromium alloy. 
     
     
         14 . A vaporizer assembly for use in an electronic vaping device, the vaporizer assembly comprising:
 a heater-wick element including a heatable portion and a wicking portion, the heater-wick element formed of a plurality of particles, the heatable portion and the wicking portion integrally formed of a same material; and   wiring wrapped around the heater-wick element in two connection regions spaced apart along the heater-wick element.   
     
     
         15 . The vaporizer assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the wiring is brazed to the heater-wick element. 
     
     
         16 . The vaporizer assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of particles include a ceramic material. 
     
     
         17 . The vaporizer assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of particles are formed of at least one of a nickel aluminide or an iron aluminide. 
     
     
         18 . The vaporizer assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of particles are fused together. 
     
     
         19 . The vaporizer assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the heater-wick element is CERAMIC FREE. 
     
     
         20 . The vaporizer assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of particles are glued together with a thermally resistive paste.