Electronic cigarette and method

Abstract

An electronic smoking article includes a liquid supply including liquid material, a heater operable to heat the liquid material to a temperature sufficient to vaporize the liquid material and form an aerosol, a wick in communication with the liquid material and in communication with the heater such that the wick delivers the liquid material to the heater, and at least one air inlet operable to establish a predetermined resistance to draw under a prescribed test of said smoking article.

We claim: 
     
         1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . An electronic article comprising:
 a first section extending in a longitudinal direction, the first section including,
 a liquid supply region configured to store liquid material, 
 a wick in communication with the liquid supply region, 
 a heater configured to heat the liquid material, 
 a mouth-end insert including a plurality of outlets, and 
 a first connector piece; and 
   a second section extending in the longitudinal direction, the second section including,
 a battery configured to electrically connect to the heater, and 
 a second connector piece configured to connect with the first connector piece, one of the first connector piece and the second connector piece including an air inlet extending through a sidewall of the one of the first connector piece and the second connector piece, the air inlet extending in a direction substantially transverse to the longitudinal direction, and another one of the first connector piece and the second connector piece including a slot at an edge thereof. 
   
     
     
         3 . The electronic article of  claim 2 , wherein the first connector piece has a distal end and a proximal end, and wherein the first connector piece includes a first threaded portion at the distal end and a first non-threaded portion between the proximal end and the first threaded portion. 
     
     
         4 . The electronic article of  claim 3 , wherein the first connector piece includes the air inlet, and the air inlet is at the first non-threaded portion. 
     
     
         5 . The electronic article of  claim 4 , wherein the second connector piece has a distal end and a proximal end, and wherein the second connector piece includes a second non-threaded portion at the proximal end of the second connector piece and a second threaded portion between the second non-threaded portion and the distal end of the second connector piece. 
     
     
         6 . The electronic article of  claim 5 , wherein the second connector piece includes the slot, and the slot is at the second non-threaded portion of the second connector piece. 
     
     
         7 . The electronic article of  claim 6 , wherein the first connector piece and the second connector piece establish an air passage between the slot and the air inlet when the first connector piece and the second connector piece are joined together. 
     
     
         8 . The electronic article of  claim 7 , wherein the first section includes a first casing and the second section includes a second casing. 
     
     
         9 . The electronic article of  claim 2 , wherein the air inlet is in the first connector piece and the slot is in the second connector piece. 
     
     
         10 . The electronic article of  claim 2 , wherein the slot, the air inlet, the first connector piece, and the second connector piece form an air passage from the slot to the air inlet when the first connector piece and the second connector piece are connected. 
     
     
         11 . The electronic article of  claim 10 , wherein the air passage is between (i) the heater and (ii) threaded portions of the first connector piece and the second connector piece when the first connector piece and the second connector piece are connected. 
     
     
         12 . An electronic article comprising:
 a first section including,
 a first casing extending in a longitudinal direction, the first casing partially defining a liquid supply region, the liquid supply region configured to store a liquid material, 
 an inner tube within the first casing, the liquid supply region between the first casing and the inner tube, 
 a heater in the first casing, 
 a wick in communication with the liquid supply region and surrounded by the heater, 
 a mouth-end insert including a plurality of outlets, and 
 a first connector piece at an end of the first casing; and 
   a second section including,
 a second casing extending in the longitudinal direction, 
 a power supply in the second casing, the power supply configured to be electrically connected to the heater, and 
 a second connector piece configured to be connected to the first connector piece, one of the first connector piece and the second connector piece including an air inlet extending through a sidewall of the one of the first connector piece and the second connector, the air inlet extending in a direction substantially transverse to the longitudinal direction, and another one of the first connector piece and the second connector piece including a slot at an edge thereof. 
   
     
     
         13 . The electronic article of  claim 12 , wherein the first connector piece has a distal end and a proximal end, and wherein the first connector piece includes a first threaded portion at the distal end and a first non-threaded portion between the proximal end and the first threaded portion. 
     
     
         14 . The electronic article of  claim 13 , wherein the first connector piece includes the air inlet, and the air inlet is at the first non-threaded portion. 
     
     
         15 . The electronic article of  claim 14 , wherein the second connector piece has a distal end and a proximal end, and wherein the second connector piece includes a second non-threaded portion at the proximal end of the second connector piece and a second threaded portion between the second non-threaded portion and the distal end of the second connector piece. 
     
     
         16 . The electronic article of  claim 15 , wherein the second connector piece includes the slot, and the slot is at the second non-threaded portion of the second connector piece. 
     
     
         17 . The electronic article of  claim 16 , wherein the first connector piece and the second connector piece establish an air passage between the slot and the air inlet when the first connector piece and the second connector piece are joined together. 
     
     
         18 . The electronic article of  claim 17 , wherein the proximal end of the first connector piece is in the first casing and the distal end of the second connector piece is in the second casing. 
     
     
         19 . The electronic article of  claim 11 , wherein the air inlet is in the first connector piece and the slot is in the second connector piece. 
     
     
         20 . The electronic article of  claim 11 , wherein the slot, the air inlet, the first connector piece, and the second connector piece form an air passage from the slot to the air inlet when the first connector piece and the second connector piece are connected. 
     
     
         21 . The electronic article of  claim 20 , wherein the air passage is between (i) the heater and (ii) threaded portions of the first connector piece and the second connector piece when the first connector piece and the second connector piece are connected.