Electronic smoking article having a vapor-enhancing apparatus and associated method

Abstract

A vapor-enhancing apparatus is provided for an electronic vapor smoking article. Such an apparatus includes a filter material and a tubular housing defining a lumen. The lumen has a mouth-engaging end and a longitudinally-opposed component-engaging end, and is configured to receive the filter material therein. The component-engaging end is adapted to operably engage a control body portion associated with the electronic vapor smoking article and to receive a vapor therethrough. A vapor-enhancing element is operably engaged with the filter material and is configured to enhance the vapor drawn through the filter material within the lumen, and through the mouth-engaging end, by application of suction to the mouth-engaging end of the housing. An associated method is also provided.

That which is claimed: 
     
         1 . A vapor-enhancing apparatus for an electronic vapor smoking article, comprising:
 a filter material;   a tubular housing defining a lumen, and having a mouth-engaging end and a longitudinally-opposed component-engaging end, the lumen being configured to receive the filter material therein, and the component-engaging end being adapted to operably engage a control body portion associated with the electronic vapor smoking article and to receive a vapor therethrough; and   a vapor-enhancing element operably engaged with the filter material and configured to enhance the vapor drawn through the filter material within the lumen, and through the mouth-engaging end, by application of suction to the mouth-engaging end of the housing.   
     
     
         2 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the filter material comprises one of a cellulose acetate tow, a regenerated cellulose fiber tow, gathered paper, a nonwoven polypropylene web, and gathered strands of shredded web. 
     
     
         3 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the component-engaging end of the housing is configured to be removably engaged with a cartridge body portion of the electronic vapor smoking article, the cartridge body portion being engaged between the housing and the control body portion, such that the housing is replaceable with respect to the cartridge body portion. 
     
     
         4 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing is configured as a component of a cartridge body portion of the electronic vapor smoking article, the cartridge body portion being engaged with the control body portion, and the mouth-engaging end of the housing being configured to retain the filter material within the lumen. 
     
     
         5 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing further comprises a flange disposed about the mouth-engaging end thereof, the flange extending radially inward with respect to the housing so as to retain the filter material within the lumen. 
     
     
         6 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein one of the housing and the filter material comprises an indicia indicative of a nature of the enhancement of the vapor provided by the vapor-enhancing element. 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein one of the housing and the filter material comprises an indicia indicative of a remaining service life of the enhancement of the vapor provided by the vapor-enhancing element. 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein one of the housing and the filter material comprises an indicia indicative of an expended service life of the enhancement of the vapor provided by the vapor-enhancing element. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein one of the housing and the filter material comprises an indicia indicative of compatibility of one of the vapor-enhancing element, the filter material, and the housing with the control body portion, upon operable engagement between the housing and the control body portion. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the vapor-enhancing element comprises a liquid engaged with the filter material 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing is configured to be resilient, and the vapor-enhancing element comprises a frangible member introduced into the filter material and housing an enhancement substance, the frangible member being configured to be responsive to a compressive force applied to the resilient housing to rupture and release the enhancement substance into engagement with the filter material. 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the vapor-enhancing element is operably engaged with the housing about an interface thereof with the cartridge body portion, and wherein the vapor-enhancing element is configured to be actuated upon engagement between the housing and the cartridge body portion at the interface. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the vapor-enhancing element comprises a plurality of objects deposited within the filter material. 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the vapor-enhancing element comprises one of a thread, a filament, a microcapsule, a capsule, a pellet, a granule, a flavorant, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the vapor-enhancing element comprises a plurality of serially-engaged objects. 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the vapor-enhancing element is configured to be electrically-actuated, and the housing is configured to form an electrically-conductive connection between the vapor-enhancing element and the control body portion upon operable engagement with the control body portion. 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the vapor comprises a tobacco component or a tobacco-derived material, and one of the filter material and the vapor-enhancing element is configured to alter a characteristic of the vapor. 
     
     
         18 . A method of enhancing a vapor produced by an electronic vapor smoking article, said method comprising:
 operably engaging a component-engaging end of a tubular housing with a control body portion associated with the electronic vapor smoking article, the tubular housing having a mouth-engaging end longitudinally-opposed to the component-engaging end, and defining a lumen configured to receive a filter material therein;   receiving a vapor through the lumen of the housing in response to application of a suction to the mouth-engaging end of the housing; and   enhancing the vapor drawn through the filter material by the suction with a vapor-enhancing element operably engaged with the filter material.   
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 18 , wherein enhancing the vapor further comprises enhancing the vapor drawn through the filter material comprising one of a cellulose acetate tow, a regenerated cellulose fiber tow, gathered paper, a nonwoven polypropylene web, and gathered strands of shredded web. 
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 18 , wherein operably engaging a component-engaging end of a tubular housing with a control body portion further comprises removably engaging the component-engaging end of the tubular housing with a cartridge body portion of the electronic vapor smoking article, the cartridge body portion being engaged between the housing and the control body portion, so as to render the housing replaceable with respect to the electronic vapor smoking article. 
     
     
         21 . A method according to  claim 18 , wherein the housing is configured as a component of a cartridge body portion of the electronic vapor smoking article, the cartridge body portion being engaged with the control body portion, and enhancing the vapor further comprises enhancing the vapor drawn through the filter material disposed in the lumen and retained therein by the mouth-engaging end of the housing. 
     
     
         22 . A method according to  claim 18 , wherein enhancing the vapor further comprises enhancing the vapor drawn through the filter material disposed in the lumen and retained therein by a flange disposed about the mouth-engaging end of the housing and extending radially inward with respect to the housing. 
     
     
         23 . A method according to  claim 18 , further comprising displaying an indicia about one of the housing and the filter material, the indicia being indicative of at least one of a nature of the enhancement of the vapor provided by the vapor-enhancing element; a remaining service life of the enhancement of the vapor provided by the vapor-enhancing element; an expended service life of the enhancement of the vapor provided by the vapor-enhancing element; and a compatibility of one of the vapor-enhancing element, the filter material, and the housing with the control body portion, upon operable engagement between the housing and the control body portion. 
     
     
         24 . A method according to  claim 20 , wherein the vapor-enhancing element is operably engaged with the housing about an interface thereof with the cartridge body portion, and wherein the method further comprises actuating the vapor-enhancing element upon engagement between the housing and the cartridge body portion at the interface. 
     
     
         25 . A method according to  claim 18 , wherein enhancing the vapor further comprises enhancing the vapor drawn through the filter material engaged with a liquid. 
     
     
         26 . A method according to  claim 18 , wherein the housing is configured to be resilient, and the vapor-enhancing element comprises a frangible member introduced into the filter material and housing an enhancement substance, and the method further comprises rupturing the frangible member in response to a compressive force applied to the resilient housing, and releasing the enhancement substance from the frangible member into engagement with the filter material. 
     
     
         27 . A method according to  claim 18 , wherein enhancing the vapor further comprises enhancing the vapor drawn through the filter material with a vapor-enhancing element comprising one of a plurality of objects deposited within the filter material, a thread, a filament, a microcapsule, a capsule, a pellet, a granule, a flavorant, a plurality of serially-engaged objects, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         28 . A method according to  claim 18 , wherein the vapor-enhancing element is configured to be electrically-actuated, and the method further comprises forming an electrically-conductive connection between the vapor-enhancing element and the control body portion upon operable engagement of the housing with the control body portion. 
     
     
         29 . A method according to  claim 18 , wherein enhancing the vapor further comprises altering a characteristic of the vapor comprising a tobacco component or a tobacco-derived material, with one of the filter material and the vapor-enhancing element.