US-12622457-B2 - Replaceable mouthpieces for aerosol-generating devices

US12622457B2US 12622457 B2US12622457 B2US 12622457B2US-12622457-B2

Abstract

The replaceable mouthpiece includes a body having a first body end and a second body end. The first body end defines an outlet. The second body end defines a first opening coupleable to the aerosol-generating device. The replaceable mouthpiece includes two or more pillars disposed within the body and extending towards the second body end.

Inventors

Gregory Lee NELSON
Nam Tran
Dean TWITE
Oliver DE ROECK

Assignees

ALTRIA CLIENT SERVICES LLC

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20221102

Claims (14)

1 . A replaceable mouthpiece for an aerosol-generating device, the replaceable mouthpiece comprises: a body including a first body end defining an outlet, and a second body end defining a first opening coupleable to the aerosol-generating device, the outlet including one or more projections extending from the first body end towards the second body end, the one or more projections including first, second, third, and fourth protrusions extending from the first body end towards the second body end; a first bridge having a first center point connecting the first protrusion and the second protrusion; and a second bridge having a second center point connecting the third protrusion and the fourth protrusion, the second center point intersecting with the first center point; and two or more pillars disposed within the body and extending towards the second body end, each of the two or more pillars has a first pillar end and a second pillar end, the first pillar end being coupled to and extending from an interior surface of the body at the first body end, the second pillar end being a free end that is not attached to the body.
2 . The replaceable mouthpiece of claim 1 , wherein the replaceable mouthpiece includes four pillars that together form a discontinuous shape that mirrors a shape of the outlet.
3 . The replaceable mouthpiece of claim 1 , wherein the replaceable mouthpiece further comprises a seal defining a second opening, the seal configured to engage the second body end such that the first opening and the second opening at least partially align.
4 . The replaceable mouthpiece of claim 3 , wherein the seal includes a ridge that defines the second opening and a lip that extends perpendicularly from the ridge.
5 . The replaceable mouthpiece of claim 4 , wherein the ridge is received by the second body end and the lip joins a ledge of the replaceable mouthpiece that is configured to position the replaceable mouthpiece with respect to the aerosol-generating device.
6 . The replaceable mouthpiece of claim 5 , wherein the lip is parallel with the ledge of the replaceable mouthpiece.
7 . The replaceable mouthpiece of claim 5 , wherein the two or more pillars are configured to contact at least a portion of the ridge when the seal is received by the second body end.
8 . The replaceable mouthpiece of claim 5 , wherein the ridge includes a shelf that extends along an interior perimeter of the ridge.
9 . The replaceable mouthpiece of claim 8 , wherein the two or more pillars are configured to contact the shelf at one or more locations.
10 . The replaceable mouthpiece of claim 1 , wherein the one or more projections include a recessed portion extending along a perimeter of the outlet and the first, second, third, and fourth protrusions extend from the recessed portion towards the second body end.
11 . The replaceable mouthpiece of claim 1 , wherein the first bridge is concave with respect to the outlet.
12 . The replaceable mouthpiece of claim 1 , wherein the second bridge is concave with respect to the outlet.
13 . The replaceable mouthpiece of claim 1 , the first body end includes a rim that ends along a perimeter of the first body end and a recessed surface extending inwardly from the rim and defining the outlet.
14 . The replaceable mouthpiece of claim 1 , wherein the body further includes one or more coupling structures disposed on an exterior surface of the body and configured to couple the replaceable mouthpiece to a lid of the aerosol-generating device.

Description

BACKGROUND Field The present disclosure relates to replaceable mouthpieces for use with aerosol-generating devices. Description of Related Art Some electronic devices are configured to heat a plant material to a temperature that is sufficient to release constituents of the plant material while keeping the temperature below a combustion point of the plant material so as to avoid any substantial pyrolysis of the plant material. Such devices may be referred to as aerosol-generating devices (e.g., heat-not-burn aerosol-generating devices), and the plant material heated may be tobacco and/or cannabis. In some instances, the plant material may be introduced directly into a heating chamber of an aerosol-generating device. In other instances, the plant material may be pre-packaged in individual containers to facilitate insertion and removal from an aerosol-generating device. SUMMARY At least some example embodiments relate to replaceable mouthpieces for use with aerosol-generating devices, such as heat-not-burn aerosol-generating device. In at least one example embodiment, the replaceable mouthpiece may include a body having a first body end and a second body end. The first body end may define an outlet. The second body end may define a first opening coupleable to the aerosol-generating device. The replaceable mouthpiece may also include two or more pillars disposed within the body and extending towards the second body end. In at least one example embodiment, the two or more pillars may extend from an interior surface of the body towards the second body end. In at least one example embodiment, each of the two or more pillars may have a first pillar end and a second pillar end. The first pillar end may be coupled to and extend from an interior surface of the body nearer to the first body end, while the second pillar end may be unattached to the body. In at least one example embodiment, the replaceable mouthpiece may include four pillars that together form a discontinuous shape that mirrors the shape of the outlet. In at least one example embodiment, the replaceable mouthpiece may further include a seal defining a second opening. The seal may be configured to engage the second body end such that the first opening and the second opening at least partially align. In at least one example embodiment, the seal may include a ridge that defines the second opening and a lip that extends perpendicularly from the ridge. In at least one example embodiment, the ridge may be received by the second body end and the lip may join a ledge of the replaceable mouthpiece that is configured to position the replaceable mouthpiece with respect to a lid of the aerosol-generating device. In at least one example embodiment, the lip may be parallel with the ledge of the replaceable mouthpiece. In at least one example embodiment, two or more pillars may be configured to contact at least a portion of the ridge when the seal is received by the second body end. In at least one example embodiment, the ridge may include a shelf that extends along an interior perimeter of the ridge. In at least one example embodiment, the two or more pillars may be configured to contact the shelf at one or more locations. In at least one example embodiment, the outlet may include one or more projections ending from the first body end towards the second body end. In at least one example embodiment, the one or more projections may include a recessed portion extending along a perimeter of the outlet and two or more protrusions extending from the recessed portion towards the second body end. In at least one example embodiment, the one or more protrusions may include a first protrusion. The one or more protrusions may also include a second protrusion that is parallel with the first protrusion. In at least one example embodiment, a first bridge may connect the first protrusion and the second protrusion. In at least one example embodiment, the first bridge may be concave with respect to the outlet. In at least one example embodiment, the one or more protrusions may further include a third protrusion. The one or more protrusions may also include a fourth protrusion that is parallel with the third protrusion. In at least one example embodiment, a second bridge may connect the third protrusion and the fourth protrusion. A first center point of the first bridge may intersect with a second center point of the second bridge. In at least one example embodiment, the second bridge may be concave with respect to the outlet. In at least one example embodiment, the first body end may include a rim that ends along a perimeter of the first body end and a recessed surface that extends inwardly from the rim and that defines the outlet. In at least one example embodiment, the body may further include one or more coupling structures disposed on an exterior surface of the body and configured to couple the replaceable mouthpiece to a lid of the aerosol-generating device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF T