RU2805104C1 - Aerosol delivery device with set of aerosol delivery paths - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: tobacco industry.

SUBSTANCE: present invention relates to aerosol delivery devices and corresponding methods for aerosol delivery to a user. The aerosol delivery device contains a casing providing a set of aerosol paths having a mouthpiece hole, through which a user can inhale aerosol, wherein the casing forms the first path for aerosol delivery, communicating via fluid with the mouthpiece hole, and the second path for aerosol delivery, separate from the first path for aerosol delivery and communicating via fluid with the mouthpiece hole; a reservoir containing a liquid composition of an aerosol precursor; an atomizer containing a heating element or a piezoelectric element and a liquid transfer element communicating via fluid with the reservoir and communicating via fluid with the heating element or the piezoelectric element, wherein the atomizer is made with the possibility of generation of the first aerosol from the composition of the aerosol precursor and is located to provide communication via fluid with the first path for aerosol delivery, wherein the atomizer communicates via fluid with the first air inlet; flavoring-infused material located in the second path for aerosol delivery and made with the possibility of generation of the second aerosol in contact between flavoring-infused material and the flowing air, wherein flavoring-infused material is located to provide communication via fluid with the second air inlet, wherein the casing contains a set of different flavoring-infused materials, each of which is located inside a separate path for aerosol delivery, and it communicates via fluid with a separate air inlet; and a mouthpiece cover having the first and the second holes, wherein the first hole is located downstream from the first path for aerosol delivery and communicates with it via fluid, and the second hole is located downstream from at least one of separate paths for aerosol delivery, having fragrance-infused material located in them, and it communicates via fluid with this path, wherein the mouthpiece cover is made with the possibility of rotation in such a way that it is possible for the user to move the second hole with the provision of communication via fluid with any of the set of different paths for aerosol delivery, having flavored-infused material located in them. There are two other options of the aerosol delivery device.

EFFECT: possibility of changing sensory characteristics of aerosol.

25 cl, 11 dwg

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to aerosol delivery devices such as electronic cigarettes and, more particularly, to aerosol delivery devices containing an atomizer. The atomizer may be configured to heat an aerosol precursor composition, which may be made or derived from tobacco, or otherwise include tobacco, to form an inhalable substance for human consumption.

BACKGROUND OF THE ART

Over the years, many devices have been proposed as an improvement or alternative to smoking products that require combustion of tobacco for use. It is understood that many of these devices have been designed to provide the sensations associated with smoking cigarettes, cigars or pipes, but without delivering the significant amounts of incomplete combustion and pyrolysis products that result from the combustion of tobacco. To this end, a variety of alternative smoking products, flavor generators and medicinal inhalers have been proposed that use electrical energy to vaporize or heat volatile material or attempt to provide the sensation of smoking cigarettes, cigars or pipes without substantially burning the tobacco. See, for example, various alternative smoking articles, aerosol delivery devices, and heat generating sources set forth in the prior art as described in US Pat. No. 8,881,737 to Collett et al., US Patent Application Publication No. 2013/0255702 to Griffith Jr. et al., US Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0000638 by Sebastian et al., US Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0096781 by Sears et al., US Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0096782 by Ampolini et al. and US Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0059780 to Davis et al., all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. See also, for example, the various embodiments of products and heating configurations described in the “Background of the Art” sections of US Pat. No. 5,388,594 to Counts et al. and US Pat. No. 8,079,371 to Robinson et al., which are incorporated by reference in their entirety.

Many electronic cigarettes contain an atomizer with a wick/coil design, which includes a resistive heating wire wound around a fibrous absorbent material. This design has potential disadvantages with respect to the delivery of flavoring agents designed to alter the sensory characteristics of the aerosol produced by the device. For example, flavor compounds may be temperature sensitive and undergo thermal degradation when heated above a given temperature, which may negatively impact the sensory experience associated with the aerosol. Accordingly, there remains a need in the art for aerosol delivery devices that provide a desired and relevant sensory experience.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an atomizer for aerosol delivery devices configured to produce an aerosol and which, in some embodiments, may be referred to as electronic cigarettes. According to one aspect, an aerosol delivery device is provided comprising a housing providing a plurality of aerosol paths having a mouthpiece opening through which a user can inhale the aerosol, the housing defining a first aerosol delivery path in fluid communication with the mouthpiece opening and a second delivery path aerosol, separated from the first aerosol delivery path and in fluid communication with the mouthpiece opening. The device also includes a reservoir containing a liquid aerosol precursor composition, an atomizer containing a heating element (e.g., an electric resistive heating element, an induction heating element, an infrared heating element, and the like) or a piezoelectric element, and a fluid transfer element in fluid communication. with the reservoir and in fluid communication with the heating element or piezoelectric element, wherein the atomizer is configured to produce a first aerosol from the aerosol precursor composition and is located in fluid communication with the first aerosol delivery path, wherein the atomizer is in fluid communication with the first inlet air hole. The device also includes a flavor infused material disposed within a second aerosol delivery path and configured to generate a second aerosol upon contact between the flavor infused material and flowing air, wherein the flavor infused material is positioned in fluid communication with the second inlet. air hole.

In some embodiments, the housing also defines a mixing region downstream of the first and second aerosol delivery paths configured to allow the first and second aerosols to mix prior to exiting the mouthpiece opening. The device may also include a heater configured to heat at least a portion of the flavor infused material located in the second aerosol delivery path. Preferably, the first aerosol may be respirable and the second aerosol may be non-respirable.

In certain embodiments, the liquid aerosol precursor composition is substantially free of fragrances. Examples of the flavor infused material include a liquid solution or emulsion containing or containing a carrier liquid and a flavor mixed with the carrier liquid, or a support and a released flavor carried by the support. Exemplary flavor infused materials are in the form of one or more monoliths, beads, particles, gels (including aerogels), capsules, and coatings. In one embodiment, the flavor-infused material comprises a liquid solution or emulsion containing or containing a carrier liquid and a flavor mixed with the carrier liquid, and an aerosol nozzle array is positioned in a second path to deliver the aerosol to form droplets of the flavor-infused material.

The housing may contain a variety of different flavor infused materials, each located within a separate aerosol delivery path and in fluid communication with a separate air inlet. In specific embodiments, the device may also include a mouthpiece cover having first and second openings, the first opening located downstream of and in fluid communication with the first aerosol delivery path, and the second opening located downstream of at least from one of the separate aerosol delivery paths having a flavor infused material located therein. The mouthpiece cover is optionally rotatable such that the user can move the second opening to provide fluid communication with various aerosol delivery paths having flavor infused material disposed therein.

The atomizer may be located in a separate housing upstream of the multiple aerosol path housing, wherein the multiple aerosol path housing is fixedly or removably attached to the separate housing. Alternatively, the atomizer is located inside a housing that provides multiple paths for the aerosol. The first aerosol delivery path and the second aerosol delivery path may be co-located in the housing.

In specific embodiments, the first aerosol delivery path is located in the center of the housing, and the second aerosol delivery path is an annular region surrounding the first aerosol delivery path. For example, the annular region surrounding the first aerosol delivery path may be divided into a plurality of separate aerosol delivery paths, each of which contains a different flavor infused material and is in fluid communication with a separate air inlet. The device may also include a mouthpiece cover having first and second openings, the first opening being located downstream of and in fluid communication with the first aerosol delivery path, and the second opening being located downstream of at least one of the separate paths for delivering an aerosol having a flavoring-infused material located therein. Preferably, the mouthpiece cover is rotatable such that the user can move the second opening into fluid communication with various aerosol delivery paths having the flavor infused material disposed therein.

In addition, at least one rupture capsule containing an internal payload containing a flavorant may be located in the second aerosol delivery path.

In one embodiment, the device comprises a rotatable absorbent material in fluid communication with a flavor infused material containing a liquid solution or emulsion containing or containing a carrier liquid and a flavoring mixed with the carrier liquid, the rotatable absorbent the material is configured to form drops of flavor-infused material during rotation.

Additional optional components of the device include one or more of the following: (a) a power supply configured to provide electrical current to the heating element or piezoelectric element; (b) a controller configured to control the flow of electric current from the power supply; and (c) a flow sensor coupled to the controller and configured to sense a pressure drop in the aerosol delivery device or portion thereof.

According to another aspect, the invention provides a method of delivering a plurality of aerosols from an aerosol delivery device having at least one mouthpiece opening toward the oral cavity of a user, the method comprising: (i) generating a first aerosol by flowing air through an atomizer, the atomizer being communicated by a fluid with an aerosol precursor composition, a first aerosol delivery path leading to a mouthpiece opening of the aerosol delivery device, and a first air inlet; (ii) generating a second aerosol by flowing air through a second aerosol delivery path separate from the first aerosol delivery path, wherein the second aerosol delivery path contains a flavor infused material internally and is in fluid communication with the second air inlet and the mouthpiece aerosol delivery device opening; and (iii) causing the first and second aerosols to pass through at least one mouthpiece opening of the aerosol delivery device into the oral cavity of the user. Preferably, the liquid aerosol precursor composition is substantially free of flavorings and optionally contains nicotine.

The present invention includes, without limitation, the following embodiments:

Embodiment 1: An aerosol delivery device comprising: a housing providing a plurality of aerosol paths having a mouthpiece opening through which the aerosol can be inhaled by a user, the housing defining a first aerosol delivery path in fluid communication with the mouthpiece opening and a second path for aerosol delivery, separate from the first aerosol delivery path and in fluid communication with the mouthpiece opening; a reservoir containing a liquid aerosol precursor composition; an atomizer comprising a heating element or piezoelectric element and a liquid transfer element in fluid communication with the reservoir and in fluid communication with the heating element or piezoelectric element, wherein the atomizer is configured to produce a first aerosol from the aerosol precursor composition and is positioned in fluid communication with a fluid with a first aerosol delivery path, the atomizer being in fluid communication with the first air inlet; and a flavor infused material disposed in the second aerosol delivery path and configured to generate a second aerosol upon contact between the flavor infused material and flowing air, the flavor infused material being disposed in fluid communication with the second air inlet.

Embodiment 2: The aerosol delivery device of any preceding embodiment, wherein the liquid aerosol precursor composition is substantially free of flavoring agents.

Embodiment 3: The aerosol delivery device of any preceding embodiment, wherein the flavor infused material comprises a liquid solution or emulsion containing or containing a carrier liquid and a flavor mixed with the carrier liquid, or contains a support and a releaseable flavor carried by the support.

Embodiment 4: The aerosol delivery device of any preceding embodiment, wherein the flavor infused material is in the form of one or more monoliths, beads, particles, gels, capsules, and coatings.

Embodiment 5: The aerosol delivery device of any preceding embodiment, wherein the housing also defines a mixing region downstream of the first and second aerosol delivery paths configured to cause the first and second aerosols to be mixed prior to exiting the mouthpiece opening.

Embodiment 6: The aerosol delivery device of any preceding embodiment, wherein the housing contains a plurality of different flavor infused materials, each located within a separate aerosol delivery path and in fluid communication with a separate air inlet.

Embodiment 7: The aerosol delivery device of any preceding embodiment, further comprising a mouthpiece cover having first and second openings, the first opening located downstream of the first aerosol delivery path and in fluid communication therewith, and the second opening located downstream of the first aerosol delivery path. downstream of at least one of the separate aerosol delivery paths having flavor infused material disposed therein and in fluid communication with that path.

Embodiment 8: The aerosol delivery device of any preceding embodiment, wherein the mouthpiece cover is rotatable such that the second opening can be moved by the user to provide fluid communication with various aerosol delivery paths having an infused agent disposed therein. flavoring material.

Embodiment 9: The aerosol delivery device of any preceding embodiment, wherein the atomizer is located in a separate housing upstream of the multiple aerosol path housing, wherein the multiple aerosol path housing is latched or removably attached to the separate housing .

Embodiment 10: The aerosol delivery apparatus of any preceding embodiment, wherein the first aerosol delivery path is located in the center of the housing and the second aerosol delivery path is an annular region surrounding the first aerosol delivery path.

Embodiment 11: The aerosol delivery device of any preceding embodiment, wherein the annular region surrounding the first aerosol delivery path is divided into a plurality of separate aerosol delivery paths, each of which contains a different flavor infused material and is in fluid communication with a separate an air inlet, the device also comprising a mouthpiece cover having first and second openings, the first opening being located downstream of and in fluid communication with the first aerosol delivery path, and the second opening being located downstream of at least one of the separate aerosol delivery paths having the flavoring infused material disposed therein, and is in fluid communication with that path.

Embodiment 12: The aerosol delivery device of any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the mouthpiece cover is rotatable such that the second opening can be moved by a user to provide fluid communication with various aerosol delivery paths having an infused agent disposed therein. flavoring material.

Embodiment 13: The aerosol delivery device of any preceding embodiment further comprising a heater configured to heat at least a portion of the flavor infused material located in the second aerosol delivery path.

Embodiment 14: The aerosol delivery device of any preceding embodiment, wherein the flavor infused material comprises a liquid solution or emulsion containing or containing a carrier liquid and a flavor mixed with the carrier liquid, and wherein to form droplets from the flavor infused material of material in the second aerosol delivery path is an array of aerosol nozzles.

Embodiment 15: The aerosol delivery device of any preceding embodiment, wherein the atomizer is located within a housing providing multiple paths for the aerosol.

Embodiment 16: The aerosol delivery device of any preceding embodiment, wherein the first aerosol delivery path and the second aerosol delivery path are co-located in the housing.

Embodiment 17: The aerosol delivery device of any preceding embodiment, wherein at least one frangible capsule containing an internal payload containing a flavorant is disposed in the second aerosol delivery path.

Embodiment 18: The aerosol delivery device of any preceding embodiment further comprising a rotatable absorbent material in fluid communication with a flavor infused material containing a liquid solution or emulsion containing or containing a carrier liquid and a flavor mixed with the liquid -a carrier, wherein the rotatable adsorbent material is configured to form droplets of flavor-infused material during rotation.

Embodiment 19: The aerosol delivery device of any preceding embodiment, wherein the first aerosol is made respirable and the second aerosol is made non-respirable.

Embodiment 20: The aerosol delivery device of any preceding embodiment, further comprising one or more of the following:

(a) a power supply configured to provide electrical current to the heating element or piezoelectric element;

(b) a controller configured to control the flow of electric current from the power supply; And

(c) a flow sensor coupled to the controller and configured to sense a pressure drop across the aerosol delivery device or portion thereof.

Embodiment 21: A method of delivering a plurality of aerosols from an aerosol delivery device having at least one mouthpiece opening toward the oral cavity of a user, the method comprising:

(i) generating a first aerosol by flowing air through the atomizer, the atomizer being in fluid communication with the aerosol precursor composition, a first aerosol delivery path leading to a mouthpiece opening of the aerosol delivery device, and a first air inlet;

(ii) generating a second aerosol by flowing air through a second aerosol delivery path separate from the first aerosol delivery path, wherein the second aerosol delivery path contains a flavor infused material internally and is in fluid communication with the second air inlet and the mouthpiece aerosol delivery device opening; And

(iii) causing the first and second aerosols to pass through at least one mouthpiece opening of the aerosol delivery device into the oral cavity of the user.

Embodiment 22: The method of any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the liquid aerosol precursor composition is substantially free of flavorings and optionally contains nicotine.

Embodiment 23: The method of any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the flavor infused material comprises a liquid solution or emulsion containing or comprising a carrier liquid and a flavor mixed with the carrier liquid, or contains a support and a releaseable flavor carried by the support.

Embodiment 24: The method of any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the flavor infused material is in the form of one or more monoliths, beads, particles, gels, capsules, and coatings.

Embodiment 25: The method as in any preceding embodiment, wherein the first aerosol is made respirable and the second aerosol is made non-respirable.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the disclosure of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are briefly described below. The present invention includes any combination of two, three, four or more of the foregoing embodiments, as well as combinations of two, three, four or more features or elements set forth herein, whether or not such features or elements are combined in expressly in the description of a particular embodiment herein. This invention is intended to be read as a whole, such that any individual features or elements of the disclosed invention in any of its aspects and embodiments are to be considered combinable unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Having therefore described the present invention in the foregoing general terms, reference is made below to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily to scale, in which:

in FIG. 1 shows an aerosol delivery device comprising a cartridge and a control housing in an assembled configuration, according to an example embodiment of the disclosure of the present invention;

in FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of a housing containing multiple aerosol flow paths for generating and transporting two separate aerosols;

in FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of a housing containing multiple aerosol flow paths for generating and transporting two separate aerosols;

in FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a housing with multiple aerosol delivery paths removably attached to the mouthpiece of the aerosol delivery device;

in FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a housing with multiple aerosol flow paths according to another embodiment of the disclosure of the present invention;

in FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a housing with multiple aerosol flow paths in accordance with yet another embodiment of the disclosure of the present invention;

in FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a housing with multiple aerosol flow paths in accordance with yet another embodiment of the disclosure of the present invention;

in FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a housing with multiple aerosol flow paths according to a further embodiment of the disclosure of the present invention;

in FIG. 9 shows the presence of blocking plates downstream of the rotatable absorbent material of FIG. 8 according to an embodiment of the disclosure of the present invention;

in FIG. 10 is a perspective cross-sectional view of a housing with multiple aerosol flow paths according to a further embodiment of the disclosure of the present invention; And

in FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a mouthpiece cover with multiple openings for use with a multiple aerosol flow path housing according to the embodiment of FIG. 10.

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is described below in more detail with reference to examples of its implementations. These exemplary implementations are described in such a way that the disclosure will thoroughly, completely and completely convey the scope of the invention to one skilled in the art. In fact, the present invention can be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments given herein; rather, these embodiments are provided to ensure that the present invention complies with applicable legal requirements. In this specification and in the accompanying claims, grammatical construction indicating that an element is in the singular also implies the plural unless the context of the invention clearly dictates otherwise.

The present invention provides an aerosol delivery device including a reservoir containing a liquid aerosol precursor composition and an atomizer. The atomizer is configured to produce a first aerosol that can be delivered to the oral cavity of the user of the device. In particular preferred embodiments, the liquid precursor composition may be substantially free of flavoring agents such that the flavoring compounds are not exposed to conditions within the atomizer that could result in decomposition or other chemical modification of the flavoring agent, which could potentially cause an adverse effect on the aerosol delivered by the device, such as negative sensory impact. As used herein, the term “substantially free of fragrances” refers to a liquid aerosol precursor composition having less than about 0.01% by weight of flavoring component(s), more specifically less than about 0.05% by weight, or less than about 0.01% by weight (or contains no flavoring compositions) based on the total weight of the precursor composition.

The composition of the aerosol precursor may vary. Typically, the aerosol precursor composition consists of a combination or mixture of various ingredients or components. The selection of specific aerosol precursor components and the relative amounts of these components used can be varied to control the overall chemistry of the bulk aerosol stream produced by the device. For example, typical generally liquid aerosol precursor compositions may take the form of liquid solutions, viscous gels, mixtures of miscible components, or liquids containing suspended or dispersed components. Typical aerosol precursor compositions are capable of vaporization by heat under the conditions encountered when using the aerosol generating structure(s) of the present invention, and are therefore capable of producing vapors and aerosols that can be inhaled.

For aerosol delivery systems that are characterized as electronic cigarettes, the aerosol precursor composition most preferably includes tobacco or tobacco-derived components. On the one hand, tobacco may be presented in the form of tobacco parts or pieces, such as finely ground, shredded or powdered tobacco flakes. Alternatively, the tobacco may be provided in the form of an extract, such as a spray-dried extract, which includes many of the water-soluble components of tobacco. Alternatively, tobacco extracts may take the form of relatively high nicotine content extracts that also contain trace amounts of other extracted tobacco-derived components. In another respect, tobacco-derived components may be provided in relatively pure form, such as certain flavoring agents that are tobacco-derived. On the one hand, a component that is derived from tobacco and that can be used in a highly purified or substantially pure form is nicotine (eg, pharmaceutical grade nicotine).

As stated above, highly purified tobacco-derived nicotine (eg, pharmaceutical grade nicotine having a purity of greater than 98% or greater than 99%) or derivatives thereof can be used in the present invention. Representative nicotine-containing extracts can be provided using technologies set forth in US Pat. No. 5,159,942 to Brinkley et al., which is incorporated herein by reference. In specific embodiments, the products of the invention may include nicotine in any form from any source, either derived from tobacco or obtained synthetically. The nicotine compounds used in the products of the invention may include nicotine in free base form, as a salt, as a complex or as a solvate. See, for example, the free basic form discussion of nicotine in US Patent Publication No. 2004/0191322 to Hansson, which is incorporated herein by reference. At least a portion of the nicotine compound may be used in the form of a nicotine resin complex, in which the nicotine is bound in an ion exchange resin such as nicotine polacrilex. See, for example, US Patent No. 3,901,248 to Lichtneckert et al., which is incorporated herein by reference. At least a portion of the nicotine may be used in the form of salt. Nicotine salts can be provided using the types of ingredients and technologies set forth in US Patent No. 2,033,909 by Cox et al., and publicationBeitrage Tabakforschung Int., 12, 43-54 (1983) by Perfetti. Additionally, nicotine salts are available from sources such as Pfaltz and Bauer, Inc. and K&K Laboratories, Division of ICN Biochemicals, Inc. Examples of pharmaceutically acceptable nicotine salts include nicotine tartrate salts (for example, nicotine tartrate and nicotine bitartrate), chloride (for example, nicotine hydrochloride and nicotine dihydrochloride), sulfate, perchlorate, ascorbate, fumarate, citrate, malate, lactate, aspartate, salicylate, tosylate, succinate, pyruvate and the like, nicotine salts hydrates (for example, zinc chloride nicotine monohydrate) and the like. In specific embodiments, at least a portion of the nicotine compound is in the form of a salt with organic acid moieties, including, without limitation, levulinic acid, as described in US Patent Application Publication No. 2011/0268809 by Brinkley et al., which are included incorporated into this document by reference.

The aerosol precursor composition may also include so-called “aerosol-forming materials.” Such materials, in some cases, may have the ability to produce visible (or non-visible) aerosols when evaporated by heat under the conditions encountered during normal use of the aerosol generating structure(s) of the present invention. Such aerosol-forming materials include various polyols or polyhydric alcohols (eg, glycerin, propylene glycol, or mixtures thereof). Aspects of the present invention also include aerosol precursor components, which may be characterized as water, saline, moisture, or aqueous liquid. Under normal use conditions of a particular aerosol generation structure(s), water included in the aerosol generation structure(s) may evaporate to release components of the generated aerosol. Thus, for purposes of the present disclosure, water present in the aerosol precursor composition may be considered an aerosol-forming material.

Aerosol precursor compositions may also include ingredients that have acidic or basic characteristics (eg, organic acids, ammonium salts, or organic amines). For example, specific organic acids (eg, levulinic acid, succinic acid, lactic acid and pyruvic acid) can be included in the nicotine aerosol precursor formulation, preferably in amounts up to equimolar (based on total organic acid content) with nicotine. For example, the aerosol precursor may include from about 0.1 to about 0.5 moles of levulinic acid per mole of nicotine, from about 0.1 to about 0.5 moles of succinic acid per mole of nicotine, from about 0.1 to about 0 .5 moles of lactic acid per mole of nicotine, about 0.1 to about 0.5 moles of pyruvic acid per mole of nicotine, or various permutations and combinations thereof, up to a concentration at which the total amount of organic acid present is equimolar to the total amount of nicotine, aerosol precursor present in the composition. However, in some aspects of the present invention, the aerosol precursor composition does not contain any acidic (or basic) characteristics or additives.

As one non-limiting example, representative aerosol precursor or substance compositions may include glycerin, propylene glycol, water, saline, nicotine, or combinations or mixtures of any or all of these components. For example, in one instance, a representative aerosol precursor composition may contain (by weight) from about 70% to about 100% glycerol, often from about 80% to about 90% glycerol, from about 5% to about 25% water, often from about 10% to about 20% water, from about 0.1% to about 5% nicotine, often from about 2% to about 3% nicotine. In one specific non-limiting example, a representative aerosol precursor composition may contain about 84% glycerol, about 14% water and about 2% nicotine. A typical aerosol precursor composition may also contain propylene glycol, optional flavoring agents, or other additives in varying amounts by weight. In some cases, the aerosol precursor composition may contain up to about 100% by weight of any of the following: glycerin, water and saline, as needed or desired.

Representative types of aerosol precursor components and compositions are also known and characterized in US Pat. No. 7,217,320 to Robinson et al., No. 8,881,737 to Collett et al., and US Pat. No. 9,254,002 to Chong et al.; publications of US patent applications No. 2013/0008457 by Zheng et al.; No. 2015/0020823 by Lipowicz et al.; and No. 2015/0020830 by Koller, and WO 2014/182736 by Bowen et al., the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. Other aerosol precursors that may be used include the aerosol precursors that are included in R. J. Reynolds Vapor Company's VUSE® product, Lorillard Technologies' BLU product, Mistic Ecigs' MISTIC MENTHOL product, and CN Creative Ltd.'s VYPE product. Also preferred are so-called "smoke juices" for electronic cigarettes, which are available from Johnson Creek Enterprises LLC.

The amount of aerosol precursor that is included in the aerosol delivery device is such that the device has acceptable sensory and desired performance characteristics. For example, it is most preferred that a sufficient amount of aerosol-forming material (eg, glycerin and/or propylene glycol) be used to produce the main aerosol (visible or invisible), which in many respects resembles the production of tobacco smoke. The amount of aerosol precursor composition within the device may depend on factors such as the number of puffs desired on the device. Typically, the amount of the aerosol precursor composition included in the aerosol delivery device is less than about 2 g, generally less than about 1.5 g, often less than 1 g, and often less than about 0.5 g.

The aerosol delivery devices of the invention typically provide a separate aerosol delivery path for any flavor components included in the device. The separate aerosol delivery path is typically defined by a housing that includes one or more wall structures in the housing that create separate paths for a first aerosol from the atomizer and a second aerosol that contains one or more flavor components. The wall structures that separate aerosol paths are typically not porous to the aerosol, which means that the walls may be solid structures that do not allow aerosol to be transported through them. However, in particular embodiments, the wall structure may have some level of permeability or porosity that only reduces or slows (without completely blocking) aerosol transfer between paths, such as porous ceramic structures, porous glass structures, or fibrous base materials (eg, fiberglass).

In certain embodiments of the invention, flavoring agents may not interact with the atomizer in an adverse manner. Additionally, in various embodiments of the invention, the use of two aerosol delivery paths prevents the first aerosol (e.g., the atomizer-generated aerosol) from passing through the flavor-infused material, where condensation of the aerosol could occur before reaching the mouthpiece of the device, which could change the nature and character of the aerosol. delivered to the user and cause clogging or clogging of the flavor infused material.

Typically, each path within the housing will be associated with a separate air inlet to draw air into the device to produce an aerosol. The separate airflow path also helps separate the flavor components from the atomizer.

Although some embodiments of the invention relate to devices with two aerosol paths (ie, dual paths), the invention is not limited to devices with only two aerosol paths. Instead, multiple aerosol paths of varying quantities may be used, particularly when the device is configured to deliver several different flavors that can be selected by the user.

As used herein, reference to “flavor” refers to compounds or device components that can be aerosolized or delivered to a user and that impart a sensory experience of taste and/or aroma. Examples of flavors include vanillin, ethylvanillin, cream, tea, coffee, fruit (such as apple, cherry, strawberry, peach and citrus flavors including lime and lemon), maple, menthol, mint, peppermint, spearmint, wintergreen, nutmeg , cloves, lavender, cardamom, ginger, honey, anise, sage, rosemary, hibiscus, rose hips, mate, gayusa, honeybush, rooibos, Eriodictyon Californian, bacopa monnieri, ginko biloba, withania somnifera, cinnamon, sandalwood, jasmine, cascarrolle, cocoa, licorice and flavorings and additives of the type and nature traditionally used to flavor cigarette, cigar and pipe tobacco. In addition, syrups such as high fructose corn syrup may be used.

The flavoring agent is typically used in a form that allows the flavoring agent to evaporate into an aerosol or vapor form without significant heat to form a second aerosol, although some heat may be applied if necessary. In some embodiments, the flavor is used in the form of a flavor-infused material that contains one or more flavors in combination with a liquid carrier to form a solution or emulsion, or that contains one or more flavors carried by a support. The form of the flavor infused material can vary with examples including porous monoliths, beads, particles, gels, capsules and coatings. The support material can be made, for example, from carbon materials, ceramics, polymers, composites, metals, cellulose (eg, microcrystalline cellulose), and the like. In particular embodiments, the support will be either porous (eg, porous carbon material) or in the form of a gel or coating that allows the flavor to be transported to its surface for evaporation. Examples of coating materials that can be combined with flavor to form a flavor-infused coating include gelatin, waxes, and the like.

In another embodiment, the flavor infused material is a polymeric material into which a flavor is incorporated. Examples of polymeric material that can be filled with flavor include polyolefins (eg, polyethylene or polypropylene) or ethylene vinyl acetate. Fragrance-infused materials are commercially available, for example, from ScentSational Technologies, LLC, MOGO Sport, Addmaster (eg, Scentmaster Fragrance Technology), Mint-X Corporation, Rotuba (e.g., AUROCELL material), and the like. See also US Patent No. 7,811,587 to Katoh et al., which is incorporated herein by reference. It should be noted that when a flavorant is incorporated into a plastic or polymeric material, the polymeric material may be provided with a concentration gradient of the flavorant to enhance the release of the flavorant from the desired surface of the material, or the polymeric material may include a rough or porous surface designed to enhance the release of the flavorant.

Representative flavor infused materials may include pellets or other items derived from a composition that includes tobacco (eg, particulate tobacco), tobacco components, and/or materials that are otherwise derived from tobacco. In some embodiments, the beads may include or otherwise contain or be configured such as, for example, granular tobacco beads of various shapes and sizes, a monolith of bonded (eg, sintered) beads; porous monolith; single porous structure; cellular monolith; one piece of porous material; extruded tobacco balls; balls of porous material containing tobacco extract (for example, calcium carbonate, ceramic or the like); reconstituted tobacco pieces; expanded tobacco pieces; extruded rods of various materials (including hollow cylinders and slotted rods) containing tobacco flavorings; shavings, granules, capsules and/or microcapsules of various materials containing tobacco flavorings or other substances, in liquid or other form; and treatments or combinations thereof.

As noted above, the flavor infused material may be in the form of a capsule, such as a rupture capsule, containing a frangible shell and an internal payload containing the flavor. Any of the illustrated embodiments may include one or more rupture capsules in a housing that is sufficiently pliable to allow a user to squeeze the device and rupture the capsule to release the flavor. Numerous methods have been proposed for handling erodible capsules and incorporating these erodible capsules into components of smoking articles and vapor delivery systems. For example, various types of capsules suitable for use in smoking articles, smoking article components that include rupture capsules, and equipment and technology associated with the manufacture of these smoking article components are taught in US Pat. No. 7,479,098 to Thomas et al.; No. 7,833,146 by Deal; No. 7,984,719 by Dube et al.; No. 7,972,254 by Stokes et al.; No. 8,186,359 by Ademe et al.; No. 8,262,550 by Barnes et al.; No. 8,353,810 by Garthaffner et al.; No. 8,381,947 by Garthaffner et al.; No. 8,459,272 by Karles et al.; No. 8,739,802 by Fagg; and No. 8,905,243 by Dixon et al.; and US Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0184576 by Prestia et al.; No. 2011/0053745 authored by Iliev et al.; No. 2011/0271968 by Carpenter et al.; No. 2012/0245007 by Henley, et al. and No. 2013/0085052 by Novak III, et al., which are incorporated herein by reference. Additionally, typical cigarette products that have filter elements including rupture capsules are available on the market worldwide under such brand names as "Marlboro W-Burst 5", "Kent iSwitch", "Kool Boost", "Camel Lights with Menthol" Boost", "Camel Crush", "Camel Silver Menthol", "Camel Filters Menthol" and "Camel Crush Bold". In addition, representative types of vapor delivery systems that include rupture capsules have been proposed in U.S. Patent Application Publications No. 2014/0261486 to Potter, No. 2015/0059780 to Davis, and No. 2015/0335070 to Sears et al. are incorporated herein by reference.

Examples of capsule types, capsule ingredients, capsule formats and configurations, capsule sizes, capsule properties, and capsule preparation techniques are set forth in U.S. Patent No. 7,984,719 to Dube et al.; No. 8,470,215 by Zhang and No. 8,695,609 by Dube; in US Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0053855 by Hartmann et al.; and PCT WO 03/009711 by Kim and PCT WO 2014/170947 by Iwatani, which are incorporated herein by reference. Additionally, examples of representative types of capsules that are commercially available are set forth in U.S. Patent No. 8,695,609 to Dube, which is incorporated herein by reference.

In general, as used herein, the term "beads" is intended to refer to beads, pellets, or other discrete small blocks or parts, which may include (in addition to those otherwise disclosed herein), for example, carbon parts , extruded carbon parts, cut into pellets, ceramic balls, granulated or spheronized tobacco parts and the like, or combinations thereof. For example, granules, pellets or beads may be generally cylindrical or spherical extruded or compressed granules, pellets or beads consisting of a moistened mixture or suspension of ground tobacco flake, fillers (for example, granulated calcium carbonate), flavorings, visible aerosol-forming materials, and binders (such as carboxymethylcellulose) that are formed, cut or pressed into the desired size and shape, and then dried to hold the desired configuration. However, such "pellets" or "balls" may contain any suitable elements or combinations of elements corresponding to the preferred aspects as disclosed herein. For example, some or all of the beads or beads may contain spherical capsules that are heat sensitive such that when incorporated into an aerosol generating element and exposed to heat, their rupture or disintegration causes the release of glycerin, propylene glycol, water, saline, tobacco flavoring and/or nicotine or other substances or additives. The beads may also contain ceramic or absorbent clay or silica or absorbent carbon to retain or release the aerosol former. Additionally, in some aspects, the beads/pellets may comprise a thermally conductive material, such as, for example, thermally conductive graphite, thermally conductive ceramic, metal, foil-cast tobacco, metal or other suitable material impregnated with suitable aerosol-generating substances such as glycerin and flavoring. (s), or suitable cast sheet material suitably formed into the desired balls/pellets.

In one specific example, the pellets/pellets (particles) may contain, by weight, from about 15% to about 60% finely ground tobacco particles (e.g., a mixture of Oriental, Burley, and fire-cured tobaccos, substantially all Oriental tobacco, substantially all burley tobacco or substantially all fire-cured tobacco), about 15% to about 60% calcium carbonate fines (or clay or ceramic fines), about 10% to about 50% glycerin (and optionally a small amount of flavoring), from about 0.25% to about 15% binder (preferably carboxymethylcellulose, guar gum, potassium or ammonium alginate) and from about 15% to about 50% water. In another example, the pellets/pellets (particles) may be composed of approximately 30% finely ground tobacco particles (e.g., a blend of Oriental, Burley, and fire-cured tobaccos, substantially all Oriental tobacco, substantially all Burley, or substantially all tobacco fire drying), about 30% fine calcium carbonate particles (or fine clay or ceramic particles), about 15% glycerin (and a small amount of flavoring if necessary), about 1% binder (preferably carboxymethylcellulose, guar gum, potassium alginate or ammonium) and from approximately 25% water. In such examples, the particles may be compressed to retain glycerin and, upon compression, may form a porous matrix that facilitates the migration of aerosol generating components to promote efficient aerosol formation. The manner in which the aerosol-forming material contacts the support material may vary. The aerosol-forming material may be applied to the formed material, may be incorporated into processed materials during the manufacture of those materials, or may be endogenous to the material. An aerosol-forming material, such as glycerin, can be dissolved or dispersed in an aqueous liquid or other suitable solvent or liquid carrier and sprayed onto the support material. See, for example, US Patent Application Publications No. 2005/0066986 to Nestor et al. and No. 2012/0067360 to Conner et al., which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Calcium carbonate or other inorganic filler helps create porosity within the particles and may also function to absorb heat, which in some cases may limit or otherwise prevent burnout of aerosol-generating components, as well as promote and promote aerosol formation. See, for example, those types of materials set forth in US Pat. No. 5,105,831 to Banerjee et al. and US Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0173229 to Crooks et al.; No. 2012/0042885 by Stone et al., which is incorporated herein by reference.

In one embodiment, flavor-infused materials, such as those in the form of beads or pellets, can be smoked to impart a smoky flavor or aroma. For example, pellets or pellets may be prepared and then exposed to smoke from a combustion source, such as a wood source (eg, a wood selected from hickory, maple, oak, orange, cherry, or mesquite). The pellets or pellets may be smoked for a period of time sufficient to impart the desired smoke flavor or aroma, at an approximate time interval of from about 5 to about 45 minutes. The manner in which the beads or pellets are contacted with smoke can vary, with one example involving heating wood chips in a container until smoke is produced (for example, heating the wood chips to a temperature of about 350-400°F (177-204°C) and placing the beads or pellet for processing in a closed environment with smoke generated by wood chips.

In some aspects, the pellets/pellets of the flavor infused material may be derived from tobacco material cast onto a foil/paper laminate. More specifically, the tobacco material may comprise, for example, a slurry containing reconstituted tobacco, glycerin and a binder material. Such tobacco material is disclosed, for example, in US Patent No. 5,101,839 to Jakob et al. and US Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0186757 to Crooks et al., both of which are incorporated herein by reference. In addition, the suspension may include granular inorganic material (ie calcium carbonate). The slurry is cast into a paper element of a laminated paper foil disclosed, for example, in U.S. Patent No. 8,678,013 to Crooks et al. and U.S. Patent No. 7,647,932 to Cantrell et al., which is also incorporated herein by reference, and assembled the sheet product is then dried, for example, by heat (ie, heated air, microwave drying, etc.). The paper element may have, for example, a certain porosity or texture to promote intimate contact and interaction with the slurry, for example through direct contact between the slurry and the foil. However, the exemplary aspect presented herein does not preclude casting the tobacco material (ie, slurry) directly onto metal foil or other suitable thin film thermal conductor. Once such a laminate is cast, the dried cast sheet (i.e., foil/paper/tobacco material) may be shredded, diced, or otherwise divided into a plurality of molded sheet portion units, each such unit preferably including a portion of the tobacco material (ie, a substrate) in close contact with a portion of the paper element, which in turn is in close contact with a portion of the foil element of the foil-paper laminate. Additionally, examples of flavor infused materials can be found, for example, in US2016/0073695 by Sears et al., which is incorporated herein by reference.

The aerosol precursor composition forming the first aerosol and the flavor infused material composition forming the second aerosol are preferably selected to complement each other to produce the desired sensory experience. In some embodiments, for example, the nicotine content of the aerosol precursor composition and the flavor infused material is selected such that either one or both of the aerosol precursor composition and the flavor infused material may contain nicotine or nicotine compounds or may be substantially or completely contained. do not contain nicotine or a nicotine compound. In other words, all of the nicotine content may be present in the flavor infused material, or all of the nicotine content may be present in the aerosol precursor composition, or both compositions may include some form of nicotine.

In addition, the first and second aerosols may be configured such that the first aerosol produced by the atomizer is respirable and the second aerosol containing the flavoring agent is non-respirable. As used herein, the term “respirable” refers to an aerosol that produces particles small enough to penetrate beyond the terminal bronchioles into the lungs and enter the region of gas exchange. Respirable particles are typically less than about 10 microns in size based on the aerodynamic diameter. As used herein, the term “non-respirable” particles refers to those that can be inhaled by mouth but cannot penetrate the gas exchange region of the lungs. Unrespirable particles typically range in size from about 10 µm to about 100 µm based on the aerodynamic diameter. Thus, the first aerosol can deliver components that are preferentially delivered to the lungs, while the flavor-infused material can deliver flavors that only enter the user's mouth and/or throat to impart the desired sensory characteristics.

The present invention provides descriptions of aerosol delivery devices. Aerosol delivery devices may use electrical energy to heat a material (preferably without burning the material to any significant extent) to produce an inhalable substance; wherein such products are most preferably compact enough to be considered portable devices. The aerosol delivery device may provide some or all of the sensations (eg, inhalation and exhalation rituals, types of tastes and aromas, organoleptic effects, physical sensation, usage rituals, visual cues such as those provided by a visible aerosol, and the like) of smoking a cigarette. , cigars or pipes without actually burning to any significant extent any of the components of that article or device. The aerosol delivery device may not produce smoke in the sense that the aerosol is not a by-product of combustion or pyrolysis of tobacco, but rather the product or device most preferably produces vapor (including vapor in the form of aerosols which are considered to be visible aerosols and which may be described as smoke-like) resulting from the vaporization or evaporation of some components of the article or device, although in other embodiments the aerosol may be invisible. In most preferred embodiments, aerosol delivery devices may contain tobacco and/or tobacco-derived components. Thus, in specific embodiments, the aerosol delivery device may be characterized as an electronic smoking product, such as an electronic cigarette or “e-cigarette.”

The proposed aerosol delivery devices can also be characterized as vapor-generating products or drug delivery products. Thus, such articles or devices may be adapted to deliver one or more substances (eg, flavoring agents and/or pharmaceutical active ingredients) in an inhalable form or state. For example, the inhaled substances may be essentially in the form of a vapor (eg, a substance that is in the gaseous phase at a temperature below its critical point). Alternatively, the inhaled substances may be in the form of an aerosol (i.e., a suspension of fine solid particles or liquid droplets in a gas). For the sake of simplicity, the term “aerosol” as used herein is intended to refer to vapors, gases, aerosols and combinations thereof of a form or type suitable for human inhalation, whether or not visible and whether or not a form that can be considered "smoke-like".

When used, the proposed aerosol delivery devices can be used in various physical activities of a person using a traditional type of smoking product (eg, a cigarette, cigar or pipe that is consumed by lighting and inhaling tobacco). For example, a user of the aerosol delivery device of the present invention may hold the article like a traditional smoking article, puffing through one end of the article to inhale the aerosol generated by the article, taking or taking puffs at selected intervals, etc.

The present invention will now be described with reference to various drawings. The proposed aerosol delivery devices generally comprise a number of components located within an outer shell or housing. The overall design of the outer shell or housing may vary, and the configuration and format of the outer housing, which may define the overall size and shape of the aerosol delivery device, may also vary. Typically, an elongated body resembling the shape of a cigarette or cigar may be formed from one single shell, or the elongated body may be formed from two or more separable parts. For example, an aerosol delivery device may comprise an oblong casing or body that may be substantially tubular in shape and thus resemble the shape of a conventional cigarette or cigar. Although in other embodiments, various other shapes and configurations (eg, rectangular or "keychain") may be used.

In one embodiment, all components of the aerosol delivery device are located within a single outer housing or shell. Alternatively, the aerosol delivery device may comprise two or more shells that are connected and removable. For example, at one end of the aerosol delivery device there may be a control housing that contains an enclosure containing one or more reusable components (for example, a rechargeable battery and various electronics for controlling the operation of the product), and at the other end of the device there may be a casing enclosing a disposable part (for example, a disposable cartridge containing flavor additives) is removably attached. More specific formats, configurations and arrangements of components located within a single shell type unit or within a releasably multi-part shell type unit will be apparent in light of the further disclosure of the invention presented below. In addition, the configuration of various aerosol delivery devices and the arrangement of components can be understood by considering commercially available electronic aerosol delivery devices.

Aerosol delivery devices according to the disclosure of the present invention most preferably comprise some combination of a power source (e.g., an electrical power supply), at least one control component (e.g., means for actuating, controlling, regulating, and/or stopping power to generate heat, e.g. , by controlling an electrical current from a power source to other components of the aerosol delivery device), a heater or heat generating component (e.g., an electrical resistive heating element or a component commonly referred to as an "atomizer portion"), and an aerosol precursor composition as otherwise described herein (e.g., typically a liquid capable of forming an aerosol when sufficient heat is applied, such ingredients typically listed as "smoke juice," "e-liquid," and "e-juice"), and a mouthpiece area or tip to enable puffing through the aerosol delivery device to inhalation of the aerosol (eg, providing a predetermined path for air flow through the product so that the generated aerosol can be removed from it after taking a puff). Alternatively, the aerosol delivery device of the invention may use a piezoelectric element to generate the first aerosol instead of a heating element as disclosed herein. See, for example, the piezoelectric element set forth in US Patent Application Publications No. 2006/0196518 by Hon; No. 2013/0319404 by Feriani et al.; and No. 2016/0366946 by Murison et al., each of which is incorporated herein by reference.

In the proposed aerosol delivery device, the alignment of the components may be different. In specific embodiments, the aerosol precursor composition may be located near the end of the aerosol delivery device, which may be configured to be positioned closer to the user's mouth to increase delivery of the aerosol to the user. However, other configurations are not excluded. In general, the heating element may be located sufficiently close to the aerosol precursor composition such that heat from the heating element can vaporize the aerosol precursor (as well as one or more flavorings, medications, etc., which may also be provided for delivery to the user) and form aerosol for delivery to the user. When the heating element heats the aerosol precursor composition, an aerosol is formed, released or generated in a physical form suitable for inhalation by a consumer. It should be noted that the above terms should be considered interchangeable, so that forms of the above term such as "release", "release", "releases" or "released" include forms such as "form" or "generate", "forming" or "generating", "forming" or "generating" and "formed" or "generated". In particular, the respirable substance is released as a vapor or aerosol or a mixture thereof, which conditions are also used interchangeably herein unless otherwise indicated.

As noted above, the aerosol delivery device may include a battery or other electrical source (eg, a capacitor) to provide sufficient electrical current to provide various functions of the aerosol delivery device, such as powering a heater, powering control systems, powering indicators, and the like. The power source may have various implementation options. Preferably, the power source is configured to supply sufficient energy to quickly heat the heating element to form an aerosol and supply energy to the aerosol delivery device for use for the required period of time. The power source is preferably sized to fit comfortably into the aerosol delivery device so that the aerosol delivery device can be conveniently used. In addition, the preferred power source is lightweight enough to not interfere with the desired smoking process.

More specific formats, configurations and arrangements of components in an aerosol delivery device in accordance with the present invention will be apparent in light of the further disclosure of the invention presented below. In addition, the selection of various components of aerosol delivery devices can be understood by considering commercially available electronic aerosol delivery devices. Further, the arrangement of components within the aerosol delivery device can also be assessed by considering commercially available electronic aerosol delivery devices. Examples of commercially available products for which components thereof, methods of controlling them, materials included therein, and/or other characteristics thereof may be included in devices according to the disclosure of the present invention are commercially available as ACCORD®, manufactured by Philip Morris Incorporated; ALPHA™, JOYE 510™ and M4™ manufactured by InnoVapor LLC; CIRRUS™ and FLING™, manufactured by White Cloud Cigarettes; BLU™ manufactured by Lorillard Technologies, Inc.; COHITA™, COLIBRI™, ELITE CLASSIC™, MAGNUM™, PHANTOM™ and SENSE™ manufactured by EPUFFER® International Inc.; DUOPRO™, STORM™ and VAPORKING® manufactured by Electronic Cigarettes, Inc.; EGAR™, manufactured by Egar Australia; eGo-C™ and eGo-T™ manufactured by Joyetech; ELUSION™, manufactured by Elusion UK Ltd; EONSMOKE®, manufactured by Eonsmoke LLC; FIN™TM, manufactured by FIN Branding Group, LLC; SMOKE® manufactured by Green Smoke Inc. USA; GREENARETTE™, manufactured by Greenarette LLC; HALLIGAN™, HENDU™, JET™, MAXXQ™, PINK™ and PITBULL™ manufactured by Smoke Stik®; HEATBAR™ manufactured by Philip Morris International, Inc.; HYDRO IMPERIAL™ and LXE™, manufactured by Crown7; LOGIC™ and THE CUBAN™, manufactured by LOGIC Technology; LUCI®, manufactured by Luciano Smokes Inc.; METRO®, manufactured by Nicotek, LLC; NJOY® and ONEJOY™ manufactured by Sottera, Inc.; NO. 7™ manufactured by SS Choice LLC; PREMIUM ELECTRONIC CIGARETTE™ manufactured by PremiumEstore LLC; RAPP E-MYSTICK™ manufactured by Ruyan America, Inc.; RED DRAGON™, manufactured by Red Dragon Products, LLC; RUYAN®, manufactured by Ruyan Group (Holdings) Ltd.; SF® manufactured by Smoker Friendly International, LLC; GREEN SMART SMOKER®, manufactured by The Smart Smoking Electronic Cigarette Company Ltd.; SMOKE ASSIST®, manufactured by Coastline Products LLC; SMOKING EVERYWHERE®, manufactured by Smoking Everywhere, Inc.; V2CIGS™ manufactured by VMR Products LLC; VAPOR NINE™, manufactured by VaporNine LLC; VAPOR4LIFE®, manufactured by Vapor 4 Life, Inc.; VEPPO™, manufactured by E-CigaretteDirect, LLC; AVIGO, VUSE, VUSE CONNECT, VUSE FOB, VUSE HYBRID, ALTO, ALTO+, MODO, CIRO, FOX + FOG, AND SOLO+, manufactured by R. J. Reynolds Vapor Company; Mistic Menthol products manufactured by Mistic Ecigs; and the Vype product, manufactured by CN Creative Ltd. Other electrical aerosol delivery devices, and in particular devices that have been characterized as so-called electronic cigarettes, have been marketed under the trade names COOLER VISIONS™; DIRECT E-CIG™; DRAGONFLY™; EMIST™; EVERSMAKE™; GAMUCCI®; HYBRID FLAME™; KNIGHT STICKS™; ROYAL BLUES™; SMOKETIP®; SOUTH BEACH SMOKE™.

Additional manufacturers, designers and/or assignees of components and related technologies that may be used in the aerosol delivery device of the present invention include Shenzhen Jieshibo Technology of Shenzhen, China; Shenzhen First Union Technology from Shenzhen, China; Safe Cig of Los Angeles, California; Janty Asia Company from the Philippines; Joyetech Changzhou Electronics from Shenzhen, China; SIS Resources; B2B International Holdings of Dover, Delaware; Ohio-based Evolv LLC; Montrade from Bologna, Italy; Shenzhen Bauway Technology from Shenzhen, China; Global Vapor Trademarks Inc. from Pompano Beach, Florida; Vapor Corp. from Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Nemtra GMBH from Raschau-Markersbach, Germany, Perrigo L. Co. from Allegan, Michigan; Needs Co., Ltd.; Smokefree Innotec of Las Vegas, Nevada; McNeil AB from Helsingbors, Sweden; Chong Corp; Alexza Pharmaceuticals of Mountain View, Calif.; BLEC, LLC of Charlotte, North Carolina; Gaitrend Sarl from Rohrbach-lès-Bitche, France; FeelLife Bioscience International from Shenzhen, China; Vishay Electronic GMBH from Selb, Germany; Shenzhen Smaco Technology Ltd. from Shenzhen, China; Vapor Systems International of Boca Raton, Florida; Exonoid Medical Devices from Israel; Shenzhen Nowotech Electronic from Shenzhen, China; Minilogic Device Corporation of Hong Kong, China; Shenzhen Kontle Electronics from Shenzhen, China; Fuma International, LLC of Medina, Ohio, 21st Century Smoke of Beloit, Wisconsin and Kimree Holdings (HK) Co. Limited from Hong Kong, China.

One example implementation of a typical aerosol delivery device, i.e. electronic cigarette is shown in FIG. 1. The electronic cigarette 20 includes a first end 36 that is a mouthpiece for puffing by the user, and a second end 37 that optionally includes an LED 26. As shown in the drawing, the control body 21 may be formed by a control body shell 22 that may comprise, for example, a control component 23, a flow sensor 24, a battery 25, and an LED 26. The cartridge 27 may be formed by a cartridge shell 28 enclosing a reservoir housing 29 that is in fluid communication with a liquid transfer element 30 configured to absorb or otherwise transferring the aerosol precursor composition stored in the reservoir casing to the heater 31. An opening 32 may be provided in the cartridge shell 28 to allow the generated aerosol to exit the cartridge 27. Such components are representative of components that may be present in the cartridge and are not intended to to limit the scope of the cartridge components covered by the disclosure of the present invention. The cartridge 27 may be configured to interact with the control housing 21 by means of a tight-fitting engagement between the control housing protrusion 33 and the cartridge receiving socket 34 . Various other mechanisms may connect the cartridge 27 and the control body 21, for example, in the form of a threaded coupling, an interference fit, a magnetic coupling, and the like. Such interaction may promote a stable connection between the control housing and the cartridge and establish an electrical connection between the battery 25 and the control component 23 in the control housing and the heater 30 in the cartridge. The cartridge 27 may also include one or more electronic components 35, which may include an integrated circuit, a memory component, a sensor, or the like. The electronic component 35 may be configured to communicate with the control component 23. For examples of additional aerosol delivery devices, see US Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0144145 to Chang and US Patent No. 8,881,737 to Collett, both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

In specific embodiments, the cartridge 27 and/or the control housing 21 may be referred to as disposable or reusable. For example, the control housing 21 may have a replaceable battery or a rechargeable battery and/or capacitor and thus may be combined with any type of charger, including connection to a typical AC electrical outlet, connection to a vehicle charger (i.e. cigarette lighter socket) and a connection to a computer, such as a cable or a universal serial bus (USB) connector. Also, in some embodiments, the cartridge 27 may comprise a disposable cartridge, as described in US Patent No. 8,910,639 to Chang et al., which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Examples of electrical power sources are described in US Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0028766 to Peckerar et al., the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. With respect to the flow sensor 24, specific electrical current control components and other electrical current control components, including various microcontrollers, sensors and switches for aerosol delivery devices, are described in US Pat. No. 4,735,217 to Gerth et al.; No. 4,922,901, No. 4,947,874 and No. 4,947,875 by Brooks et al.; No. 5,372,148 by McCafferty et al.; No. 6,040,560 by Fleischhauer et al.; No. 7,040,314 by Nguyen et al.; No. 8,205,622 by Pan, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Reference is also made to the various control schemes described in US Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0270727 to Ampolini et al., which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Other additional components may be used in the proposed aerosol delivery device. For example, US Pat. No. 5,154,192 to Sprinkel et al. discloses indicators for smoking articles; US Patent No. 5,261,424 by Sprinkel Jr. discloses piezoelectric sensors that can be provided on the mouthpiece of the device to detect the user's lip activity associated with the execution of a puff and then trigger heating; US Patent No. 5,372,148 to McCafferty et al. discloses a tightening sensor for controlling the flow of energy in a thermal load array in response to the tightening resistance of a mouthpiece; US Pat. No. 5,967,148 to Harris et al. discloses receptacles in a smoking device that include an identifier that detects a discontinuity in the infrared transmittance value of an inserted component and a controller that executes a detection program when the component is inserted into the receptacle; US Patent No. 6,040,560 to Fleischhauer et al. describes a specific executable power cycle with multiple differential phases; US Pat. No. 5,934,289 to Watkins et al discloses photonic-optocoupler components; U.S. Patent No. 5,954,979 to Counts et al. discloses means for varying draw resistance through a smoking device; US Patent No. 6,803,545 to Blake et al discloses certain battery configurations for use in smoking devices; US Pat. No. 7,293,565 to Griffen et al. discloses various charging systems for use with smoking devices; U.S. Patent No. 8,402,976 to Fernando et al. discloses computer communications for smoking devices designed to facilitate charging and allow automated control of the device; U.S. Patent No. 8,689,804 to Fernando et al. discloses identification systems for smoking devices; and WO 2010/003480 by Flick discloses a fluid flow detection system indicating the presence of a puff in an aerosol generation system; and the contents of all of the foregoing disclosures are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Further examples of components associated with electronic aerosol delivery products and disclosing materials and components that may be used in the present article are described in US Pat. No. 4,735,217 to Gerth et al.; No. 5,249,586 by Morgan et al.; No. 5,666,977 by Higgins et al.; No. 6,053,176 by Adams et al.; No. 6,164,287 by White; No. 6,196,218 by Voges; No. 6,810,883 by Felter et al.; No. 6,854,461 by Nickols; No. 7,832,410 by Hon; No. 7,513,253 by Kobayashi; No. 7,896,006 by Hamano; No. 6,772,756 by Shayan; No. 8,156,944 and No. 8,375,957 by Hon; No. 8,794,231 by Thorens et al.; No. 8,851,083 by Oglesby et al.; Nos. 8,915,254 and 8,925,555 by Monsees et al.; No. 9,220,302 by DePiano et al.; publications of US patent applications No. 2006/0196518 and No. 2009/0188490 by Hon; US Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0024834 by Oglesby et al.; US Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0307518 by Wang; US Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0096781 to Sears et al.; publication of US patent application No. 2014/0261495 by Novak et al.; US Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0335071 by Brinkley et al.; in WO 2010/091593 by Hon and WO 2013/089551 by Foo, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. The various materials disclosed in the foregoing documents may be incorporated into the present devices in various embodiments, and all of the foregoing disclosures are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

The liquid transfer element 30 may particularly be a wick that utilizes capillary action in transferring liquid. Thus, a wick for use according to the invention can be any material that provides sufficient absorptivity to transfer one or more components of the aerosol precursor composition to the aerosolization zone. Non-limiting examples include natural and synthetic fibers such as cotton, cellulose, polyesters, polyamides, polyacid, glass fibers, combinations thereof and the like. Other examples of materials that may be used in wicks include metals, ceramics, and carbonized materials (eg, a foam or monolith formed from a carbonaceous material that has been calcined to remove the non-carbonaceous components of the material). The wicks may be further coated with materials that modify the capillary action of the fibers, and the fibers used to form the wicks may have specific cross-sectional shapes and may contain recesses to modify the capillary action of the fibers. For example, temperature-adaptive polymers can be used. Such adaptive polymers can be coated on fibers or otherwise used, and these polymers are effective in providing variable fluid transfer characteristics based on environmental conditions. Temperature adaptive polymers in particular may exhibit reduced transfer at lower temperatures and may exhibit increased transfer at elevated temperatures. One example is a material known as Adaptive from HeiQ®. The fibers used to form the wicks may be provided either in a single form, in bundles, in a woven web (including meshes and weaves), or in a non-woven web. The porosity of the wick material can also be controlled to change the capillary action of the wick, including controlling the average pore size and overall porosity. Individual wicks can also have different lengths. The term "wick" is also intended to cover capillary tubes, and any combination of elements that provide the desired capillary action may be used.

Additional typical heating elements and materials for use in these elements are described in US Pat. No. 5,060,671 to Counts et al.; No. 5,093,894 by Deevi et al.; No. 5,224,498 by Deevi et al.; No. 5,228,460 by Sprinkel Jr. and etc.; No. 5,322,075 by Deevi et al.; No. 5,353,813 by Deevi et al.; No. 5,468,936 by Deevi et al.; No. 5,498,850 by Das; No. 5,659,656 by Das; No. 5,498,855 by Deevi et al.; No. 5,530,225 by Hajaligol; No. 5,665,262 by Hajaligol; No. 5,573,692 by Das et al.; and No. 5,591,368 by Fleischhauer et al., the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Additionally, in other embodiments, chemical heating may be used. Various additional examples of heaters and materials used to form the heaters are described in US Patent No. 8,881,737 to Collett et al., which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety as stated above.

The various components of the aerosol delivery device of the present invention may be selected from components described in the prior art and commercially available. For example, reference is made to a reservoir and heater system for controlled delivery of various atomized materials in an electronic smoking article disclosed in US Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0000638 to Sebastian et al., which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. An example embodiment of a carbon-based cartridge is described in US Patent Application Publication No. 2013/0255702 by Griffith Jr. etc., which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

The remaining drawings describe embodiments of housings that provide multiple paths for aerosol delivery as provided by the invention. Some of these housing designs may be implemented as downstream housings that are fixed or removable attached to the cartridge of the type shown in FIG. 1. Alternatively, some of the housing embodiments shown herein may serve as a replacement for the cartridge component of FIG. 1. It should be noted that, for the sake of brevity, the following housing embodiments are not shown in detail, but rather focus on specific aspects associated with the multiple aerosol delivery paths provided by the invention. Accordingly, it should be understood that the housing embodiments described below may include any of the cartridge components shown in FIG. 1 or as otherwise disclosed herein.

The embodiment of FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a housing 50 that may serve as an extension on the mouthpiece of the aerosol delivery device, such as an extension latched or removably attached to the cartridge 27 of FIG. 1. As shown in the drawing, housing 50 is located downstream of a conventional atomizer 52, which may be, for example, an atomizer as described with reference to FIG. 1, which produces a first aerosol from an aerosol precursor composition as described herein. The first aerosol moves through a central passage 54 within the housing 50 formed by the walls of the housing into an opening in the mouthpiece cover 56. The cross-sectional shape of the central passage 54 is not intended to be limited and may be, for example, circular, oval, rectangular, or the like. One or more air inlets 58 provide air to the atomizer 52 to form a first aerosol. The housing 50 provides a second path 60 for delivering the aerosol through an annular space formed in the housing containing a flavor-infused material, such as a layer of flavor beads or particles 62. The housing 50 includes one or more second air inlets 64 that allow ambient air to enter. air into the housing, interacting with the layer of flavor beads or particles 62 and producing a second aerosol, which is also left in the hole in the mouthpiece cover 56. If necessary, a screen or mesh 68 may be placed in the air inlet 64 to retain the flavor beads/particles 62 in the annular chamber and control the amount of air allowed to enter the housing. As shown in the drawing, the housing 50 may optionally provide space 70 for mixing the first and second aerosols for mixing before exiting the housing through the opening in the mouthpiece cover 56.

In FIG. 3 shows an alternative embodiment to FIG. 2, wherein the flavor infused material is present as a coating 74 on the inner walls within the housing 50, but not as beads or particles. Without departing from the scope of the present invention, it should be noted that more than one flavoring agent may be provided according to the embodiment of FIG. 2 or FIG. 3 by using combinations of beads/particles with different flavoring agents incorporated therein, or by using coating materials with different flavoring agents incorporated therein. For example, in the embodiment of FIG. 3, the annular space containing the flavor infused material may include a first coating material containing the first flavor on one portion of the circumference of the housing 50, a second coating material containing the second flavor on a second portion of the circumference of the housing 50, and so on. To increase the surface area for transferring the flavor into aerosol form, the walls to which the coating 74 is applied may be roughened or textured.

As discussed above, a housing containing a plurality of aerosol paths may be removably attached to the mouthpiece of an aerosol delivery device, such as the device described in FIG. 1. Such an implementation is shown in FIG. 4, in which a removable housing 80 having air inlets 82 is connected to the mouth end of an aerosol delivery device 84 having air inlets 86. The internal structure of the removable housing 80 may be any of the embodiments set forth herein, such as the embodiments shown in FIG. 2 and 3. The connection between the housing 80 and the aerosol delivery device 84 may be formed using various methods known in the art, such as friction fit, press fit, lock fit, threaded engagement, magnetic engagement, adhesive, and the like.

The two aerosol delivery paths can be separated using an inner wall that separates the two paths to provide a side-by-side arrangement rather than a radially separated configuration as shown in FIG. 2 and 3. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, housing 90 may include an inner wall 92 (which may be impermeable or semi-permeable to aerosol) separating first aerosol path 94 from second aerosol path 96. Separate air inlets 98, 100 are used to provide air to housing 90, each aerosol path 94, 96 is connected to at least one air inlet. One path may produce an aerosol using an atomizer 102 as described herein, and one path may produce an aerosol using a flavor-infused material 104 as described herein. In the embodiment of FIG. 5, similar to FIG. 2 and 3, both generated aerosols are delivered through the same opening in the mouthpiece cover 56.

In a further embodiment shown in FIG. 6, housing 110 may include two parallel aerosol delivery paths that deliver aerosols using different heating technologies. One aerosol delivery path 116 contains an atomizer 112. Another aerosol delivery path 120 contains a flavor-infused material 114 in proximity to a heater 118. The heater 118 may be of various designs and may include, for example, a flat plate configuration, a coil heater, a needle heater, or a disk heater. etc. The flavor infused material 114 may be operatively located adjacent or otherwise adjacent to (e.g., surround) the heater 118. Alternatively, the flavor infused material 114 may be located downstream of the heater 118 such that the heater preheats the air, entering the housing 110 prior to contact with the flavor infused material. The flavor infused material 114 may take various forms, such as a sol-gel containing flavor attached to the heater 118, a flavor infused coating applied to the heater, a solid or gel flavor infused material packaged in a chamber around the heater, and the like. . The flavor infused liquid may also be sprayed onto a heater 118, which may have a rough or porous surface to retain the liquid on the heater. Both heaters may be operatively coupled to a power source and a controller, as disclosed in conjunction with FIG. 1. In the embodiment shown, two aerosol paths 116, 120 may exit the mouthpiece of the housing 110 through separate openings 122, 124. It should be noted that a heater may be included in the aerosol delivery path containing the flavor infused material in other embodiments shown , such as the embodiments of FIG. 2 and 3.

In a further embodiment shown in FIG. 7, housing 130 may include two parallel aerosol delivery paths that deliver aerosols using different technologies. One aerosol delivery path 132 contains an atomizer 134. Another aerosol delivery path 136 contains a flavor-infused liquid 140 in fluid communication with a print head 142 (i.e., an aerosol nozzle array), such as a bubble nozzle, a piezo-activated nozzle, or another aerosol-forming print head device. Both aerosol generating devices may be operatively coupled to a power source and a controller as disclosed with respect to FIG. 1. Examples of printhead aerosol generating devices are disclosed in US Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0114409 to Brammer et al., which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The print head 142 is particularly suitable for generating an aerosol that is not respirable. Thus, the aerosol generated in the aerosol delivery path 136 remains in the mouth and throat region and provides a desired sensory experience for the user. The aerosol generated in the aerosol delivery path 132 may be adapted to produce respirable particles that enter the user's lungs.

In another embodiment shown in FIG. 8, housing 150 provides two aerosol delivery paths 152, 154, including a first path 152 that includes an atomizer 156 configured to generate a first aerosol 182 as described herein, and a second path 154 that includes a rotating absorbent material 160 ( e.g., a cylindrical sponge material) located on an axle 162 coupled to a small electric motor 164. A support 166 containing the flavor infused material in liquid form is in fluid communication with the rotating absorbent material 160 so that the flavor infused material can be transferred into rotating absorbent material. The rotating absorbent material 160 rotates to produce aerosol droplets 170 and then exit the device mouthpiece 180 due to centrifugal force. Two aerosols can be combined in the user's mouth. The aerosol droplets 170 thus produced will tend to become uninhalable, while the aerosol 170 produced in the atomizer 156 is generally respirable. Both aerosol generating devices may be operatively coupled to a power source and a controller, as disclosed in conjunction with FIG. 1. The motor 164 may be activated by a flow sensor as set forth herein, or activation of the rotating absorbent material 160 may be accomplished without a motor by activating a mechanical device such as a lever or wheel that can be operated by a user (not shown).

In FIG. 9 is an upstream view of the device of a rotating absorbent material 160 with two blocking plates 190 positioned downstream to capture aerosol droplets 170 that extend from the rotating absorbent material in a direction different from the opening in the mouthpiece of the device. These droplets are deposited on the surface of the blocking plates 190 and returned to either the rotatable absorbent material 160 or the substrate 166 when the device is positioned such that gravity causes the deposited droplets to move upstream within the device.

In FIG. 10 shows another embodiment in which the housing 198 includes multiple aerosol delivery paths containing excipients flavored with substances that are provided in outer segments 200, 202, 204 surrounding a central aerosol delivery path 206 located to deliver the aerosol from an upstream flow of the atomizer 210. Each outer segment may contain a different flavor and may include a separate air inlet 214, and each segment has a porous end such that the aerosol generated therein can exit the mouthpiece of the device. The outer segments are separated from each other by walls 212, which may be non-porous or semi-permeable.

The embodiment of FIG. 10 may be supplemented with that shown in FIG. 11 by a plug 216 that is rotatable and which includes a central opening 220 for receiving aerosol from the central aerosol delivery path 206 and an outer opening 222 that can be rotated to allow fluid communication with any one or two (if any) located above the wall 212) with outer segments to deliver a user-selected flavor (or combination of flavors) into the oral cavity. Optionally, the mouthpiece cover 216 may include a locking mechanism 230 to prevent rotation after flavor selection, such as a slide-activated lock that creates friction between the mouth end cover 216 and another housing component 198 in FIG. 10. Various other locking mechanisms may be used, such as magnetic lock, interface lock and the like. Alternatively, the mouthpiece cover 216 may be removable and not rotatable when attached to the housing 198, such that the user must remove the cover to reposition the outer opening 222 and then reattach the cover to the device.

Many modifications and other embodiments of the present invention will be apparent to one skilled in the art to which this invention relates using the disclosure set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are used herein, they are used in a generalized and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

Claims (43)

1. An aerosol delivery device containing: a housing providing a plurality of aerosol paths having a mouthpiece opening through which a user can inhale an aerosol, the housing defining a first aerosol delivery path in fluid communication with the mouthpiece opening and a second aerosol delivery path separate from the first aerosol delivery path and in fluid communication with the mouthpiece hole; a reservoir containing a liquid aerosol precursor composition; an atomizer comprising a heating element or piezoelectric element and a liquid transfer element in fluid communication with the reservoir and in fluid communication with the heating element or piezoelectric element, wherein the atomizer is configured to produce a first aerosol from the aerosol precursor composition and is positioned in fluid communication with a fluid with a first aerosol delivery path, the atomizer being in fluid communication with the first air inlet; a flavor infused material disposed in a second aerosol delivery path and configured to generate a second aerosol upon contact between the flavor infused material and flowing air, wherein the flavor infused material is disposed in fluid communication with the second air inlet, wherein the housing contains a plurality of different flavor infused materials, each located within a separate aerosol delivery path and in fluid communication with a separate air inlet; And a mouthpiece cover having first and second openings, the first opening located downstream of the first aerosol delivery path and in fluid communication therewith, and the second opening located downstream of at least one of the separate aerosol delivery paths having a flavor infused material disposed therein and in fluid communication with that path, the mouthpiece cover being rotatable so as to allow the user to move the second opening into fluid communication with any of a variety of different aerosol delivery paths, having a material infused with a flavoring located in them. 2. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, wherein the liquid aerosol precursor composition is substantially free of flavoring agents. 3. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, wherein the flavor infused material comprises a liquid solution or emulsion containing or containing a carrier liquid and a flavor mixed with the carrier liquid, or contains a support and a releaseable flavor carried by the support. 4. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, wherein the flavor infused material is in the form of one or more porous monoliths, beads, particles, gels, capsules and coatings. 5. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, wherein the housing also defines a mixing region downstream of the first and second aerosol delivery paths configured to allow the first and second aerosols to be mixed prior to exiting the mouthpiece opening. 6. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, wherein the atomizer is located in a separate housing upstream of the multiple aerosol path housing, wherein the multiple aerosol path housing is lockably or removably attached to the separate housing. 7. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, wherein the first aerosol delivery path is located in the center of the housing, and the second aerosol delivery path is an annular region surrounding the first aerosol delivery path. 8. The aerosol delivery device of claim 7, wherein the annular region surrounding the first aerosol delivery path is divided into a plurality of separate aerosol delivery paths, each of which contains a different flavor infused material and is in fluid communication with a separate inlet for air, the device also comprising a mouthpiece cover having first and second openings, the first opening being located downstream of and in fluid communication with the first aerosol delivery path, and the second opening being located downstream of at least one of the separate aerosol delivery paths having a flavoring infused material located therein, and are in fluid communication with this path. 9. The aerosol delivery device of claim 8, wherein the mouthpiece cover is rotatable such that the second opening can be moved by the user to provide fluid communication with various aerosol delivery paths having flavor infused material disposed therein. 10. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, further comprising a heater arranged to heat at least a portion of the flavor infused material located in the second aerosol delivery path. 11. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, wherein the flavor-infused material comprises a liquid solution or emulsion containing or containing a carrier liquid and a flavoring agent mixed with the carrier liquid, and wherein to form droplets from the flavor-infused material in a second An array of aerosol nozzles is located along the path for aerosol delivery. 12. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, wherein the atomizer is located inside a housing that provides multiple paths for the aerosol. 13. The aerosol delivery device of claim 12, wherein the first aerosol delivery path and the second aerosol delivery path are located adjacent to each other in the housing. 14. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, wherein the second aerosol delivery path comprises at least one frangible capsule containing an internal payload containing a flavoring agent. 15. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, further comprising a rotatable absorbent material in fluid communication with a flavor-infused material containing a liquid solution or emulsion containing or containing a carrier liquid and a flavor mixed with the carrier liquid, wherein the rotatable absorbent material is configured to form droplets of the flavor-infused material during rotation. 16. The aerosol delivery device according to claim 1, in which the first aerosol is made suitable for inhalation, and the second aerosol is made unsuitable for inhalation. 17. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, further comprising one or more of the following: (a) a power supply configured to provide electrical current to the heating element or piezoelectric element; (b) a controller configured to control the flow of electric current from the power supply; And (c) a flow sensor coupled to the controller and configured to sense a pressure drop across the aerosol delivery device or portion thereof. 18. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, wherein the liquid aerosol precursor composition is substantially free of flavorings and optionally contains nicotine. 19. An aerosol delivery device containing: a housing providing a plurality of aerosol paths having a mouthpiece opening through which a user can inhale an aerosol, the housing defining a first aerosol delivery path in fluid communication with the mouthpiece opening and a second aerosol delivery path separate from the first aerosol delivery path and in fluid communication with the mouthpiece hole; a reservoir containing a liquid aerosol precursor composition; an atomizer comprising a heating element or piezoelectric element and a liquid transfer element in fluid communication with the reservoir and in fluid communication with the heating element or piezoelectric element, wherein the atomizer is configured to produce a first aerosol from the aerosol precursor composition and is positioned in fluid communication with a fluid with a first aerosol delivery path, the atomizer being in fluid communication with the first air inlet; a flavor infused material disposed in a second aerosol delivery path and configured to generate a second aerosol upon contact between the flavor infused material and flowing air, the flavor infused material being disposed in fluid communication with the second air inlet, wherein the first aerosol delivery path is located at the center of the housing, and the second aerosol delivery path is an annular region surrounding the first aerosol delivery path, and the annular region surrounding the first aerosol delivery path is divided into a plurality of separate aerosol delivery paths, each of which comprises a different flavor infused material and is in fluid communication with a separate air inlet, the device also comprising a mouthpiece cover having first and second openings, the first opening being located downstream of and communicating with the first aerosol delivery path and a second opening located downstream of at least one of the separate aerosol delivery paths having the flavor infused material disposed therein in fluid communication with that path. 20. The aerosol delivery device of claim 19, wherein the mouthpiece cover is rotatable such that the second opening can be moved by a user to provide fluid communication with various aerosol delivery paths having flavor infused material disposed therein. 21. The aerosol delivery device of claim 19, wherein the liquid aerosol precursor composition is substantially free of flavoring agents. 22. The device according to claim 19, in which the first aerosol is made suitable for inhalation, and the second aerosol is made unsuitable for inhalation. 23. An aerosol delivery device containing: a housing providing a plurality of aerosol paths having a mouthpiece opening through which a user can inhale an aerosol, the housing defining a first aerosol delivery path in fluid communication with the mouthpiece opening and a second aerosol delivery path separate from the first aerosol delivery path and in fluid communication with the mouthpiece hole; a reservoir containing a liquid aerosol precursor composition; an atomizer comprising a heating element or piezoelectric element and a liquid transfer element in fluid communication with the reservoir and in fluid communication with the heating element or piezoelectric element, wherein the atomizer is configured to produce a first aerosol from the aerosol precursor composition and is positioned in fluid communication with a fluid with a first aerosol delivery path, the atomizer being in fluid communication with the first air inlet; a flavor infused material disposed in a second aerosol delivery path and configured to generate a second aerosol upon contact between the flavor infused material and flowing air, the flavor infused material being disposed in fluid communication with the second air inlet; And a rotatable absorbent material in fluid communication with a flavoring-infused material containing a liquid solution or emulsion containing or containing a carrier liquid and a flavoring mixed with the carrier liquid, wherein the rotatable absorbent material is configured to form droplets of the flavored material while turning. 24. The aerosol delivery device of claim 23, wherein the liquid aerosol precursor composition is substantially free of flavoring agents. 25. The device according to claim 23, in which the first aerosol is made suitable for inhalation, and the second aerosol is made unsuitable for inhalation.