Nicotine electronic vaping device including a reservoir assembly

Abstract

A reservoir assembly for a nicotine e-vaping device includes an outer shell, a wick, and a membrane. The outer shell includes a first opening, an inner surface of the outer shell at least partially defining a reservoir configured to hold a nicotine pre-vapor formulation. The wick extends from an interior of the reservoir to an exterior of the reservoir. The wick is configured to draw the nicotine pre-vapor formulation held in the reservoir to the exterior of the reservoir. The first membrane covers the first opening. The first membrane is one or more layers of a fabric that is liquid impermeable and air permeable.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A reservoir assembly for a nicotine e-vaping device, the reservoir assembly comprising:
 an outer shell including,
 a first opening, an inner surface of the outer shell at least partially defining a reservoir configured to hold a nicotine pre-vapor formulation, the nicotine pre-vapor formulation including nicotine; 
   a wick configured to draw the nicotine pre-vapor formulation held in the reservoir to the exterior of the reservoir; and   a first membrane covering the first opening, the first membrane including,
 one or more layers of a fabric that is liquid impermeable and air permeable. 
   
     
     
         2 . The reservoir assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the fabric includes woven hydrophobic fibers. 
     
     
         3 . The reservoir assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first opening is a slit. 
     
     
         4 . The reservoir assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plurality of openings, the plurality of openings including the first opening, each opening of the plurality of openings being a pinhole.   
     
     
         5 . The reservoir assembly of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a plurality of membranes, the plurality of membranes including the first membrane, each membrane of the plurality of membranes covering a respective opening of the plurality of openings.   
     
     
         6 . The reservoir assembly of  claim 1 , wherein
 the outer shell includes a second opening, and   the wick extends through the second opening.   
     
     
         7 . The reservoir assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a conduit extending through the outer shell, the conduit and the outer shell collectively defining the reservoir as a space between an outer surface of the conduit and the inner surface of the outer shell.   
     
     
         8 . The reservoir assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the wick extends between the outer surface of the conduit and the inner surface of the outer shell. 
     
     
         9 . A cartridge, comprising:
 the reservoir assembly of  claim 1 ; and   a vaporizer assembly including a heater, the vaporizer assembly configured to generate a nicotine vapor based on heating the nicotine pre-vapor formulation drawn from the reservoir by the wick.   
     
     
         10 . A nicotine e-vaping device, comprising:
 the cartridge of claim  9 ; and   a power source configured to supply electrical power to the vaporizer assembly.