Cartridge with first compartment in fluid communication with second compartment

Abstract

The cartridge includes a housing, an airflow path being defined within the housing, a reservoir within the housing, the reservoir configured to contain a pre-vapor formulation, the reservoir including a first compartment in fluid communication with a second compartment, a fluid permeable heater between the first compartment and the second compartment, the fluid permeable heater having a first surface and a second surface, the first surface facing the airflow path, the second surface being in communication with the second compartment, and a removable seal with a seal portion and a tab portion, the seal portion covering the first surface.

1 . A cartridge, comprising:
 a housing, an airflow path being defined within the housing;   a reservoir within the housing, the reservoir configured to contain a pre-vapor formulation, the reservoir including a first compartment in fluid communication with a second compartment;   a fluid permeable heater between the first compartment and the second compartment, the fluid permeable heater having a first surface and a second surface, the first surface facing the airflow path, the second surface being in communication with the second compartment; and   a removable seal with a seal portion and a tab portion, the seal portion covering the first surface.   
     
     
         2 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the seal portion hermetically seals the first surface from exposure to the airflow path. 
     
     
         3 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the seal portion is configured to hermetically seal the first surface and the pre-vapor formulation in the second compartment from exposure to the airflow path. 
     
     
         4 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the removable seal is configured to allow the seal portion to be removed from the first surface by pulling on the tab portion. 
     
     
         5 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the removable seal is configured to allow the seal portion to be removed from the first surface by pulling on the tab portion to separate the removable seal from the cartridge. 
     
     
         6 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the removable seal is configured to allow the seal portion to be removed from the first surface by pulling on the tab portion to directly expose the first surface to the airflow path. 
     
     
         7 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the tab portion and the seal portion are made from at least one of a resilient material or an elastic material. 
     
     
         8 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the tab portion extends from outside of the housing while the seal portion is connected to the first surface. 
     
     
         9 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the first compartment is in fluid communication with the second compartment via at least one liquid channel. 
     
     
         10 . The cartridge of  claim 9 , wherein the reservoir and the at least one liquid channel are configured to communicate the pre-vapor formulation from the first compartment to the second compartment. 
     
     
         11 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the reservoir is configured to communicate the pre-vapor formulation from the first compartment to the second compartment in a first direction before reversing course and communicating the pre-vapor formulation within the second compartment towards the second surface in a second direction. 
     
     
         12 . The cartridge of  claim 11 , wherein the first direction is opposite to the second direction. 
     
     
         13 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the reservoir is configured to allow the pre-vapor formulation in the first compartment to replenish an amount of the pre-vapor formulation in the second compartment. 
     
     
         14 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the reservoir is configured to allow the pre-vapor formulation in the first compartment to replenish an amount of the pre-vapor formulation in the second compartment, as the fluid permeable heater at least partially vaporizes the pre-vapor formulation during an operation use of the cartridge. 
     
     
         15 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the reservoir is configured to allow the pre-vapor formulation in the first compartment to replenish an amount of the pre-vapor formulation in the second compartment at least in part due to gravity. 
     
     
         16 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the first compartment has a larger capacity than the second compartment. 
     
     
         17 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the second compartment contains a capillary material in direct contact with the second surface. 
     
     
         18 . The cartridge of  claim 17 , wherein the reservoir is configured to allow the pre-vapor formulation in the first compartment to replenish an amount of the pre-vapor formulation in the second compartment at least in part due to capillary forces provided by the capillary material. 
     
     
         19 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the first surface and the second surface are planar surfaces that directly oppose each other on the fluid permeable heater. 
     
     
         20 . An aerosol-generating system, comprising:
 the cartridge of  claim 1 ; and   a control body connected to the cartridge, the control body configured to control a supply of electrical power to the fluid permeable heater.