Adaptable Aerosol Generation Systems for Diverse Industries
Legal Citation
Summary of the Inventive Concept
This inventive concept explores novel applications of aerosol generation technology, expanding its use beyond traditional aerosol generating systems to tackle diverse problems in agriculture, odor elimination, personal humidification, environmental remediation, and flavor enhancement.
Background and Problem Solved
Traditional aerosol generating systems have been limited to specific industries, neglecting the potential for this technology to address a broader range of challenges. The original patent's assembly, comprising a sheet heating element and delivery device, has been primarily focused on aerosol generation for smoking articles. However, this inventive concept seeks to overcome these limitations by adapting the core technology to solve problems in new and unrelated fields.
Detailed Description of the Inventive Concept
The inventive concept involves modifying the original assembly to accommodate various aerosol-forming substrates and delivery mechanisms tailored to specific industries. For instance, in agricultural pest control, the assembly is configured to spray pesticides onto crops. In odor elimination, the assembly generates an aerosol from a fragrance, directing it towards malodorous areas. Similarly, in personal humidification, the assembly uses water as the aerosol-forming substrate, directing the aerosol towards a user's face. In environmental remediation, multiple assemblies are distributed throughout contaminated areas to generate aerosols from pollutant-removing substances. Finally, in flavor enhancement, the assembly generates an aerosol from a flavoring agent, directing it towards food or beverages.
Novelty and Inventive Step
The novelty of this inventive concept lies in its ability to adapt the core aerosol generation technology to diverse industries, solving specific problems and overcoming limitations of traditional aerosol generating systems. The inventive step is in recognizing the potential for this technology to be applied beyond its original scope, requiring a deep understanding of the underlying principles and a creative approach to reconfiguring the assembly for new use cases.
Alternative Embodiments and Variations
Alternative embodiments of this inventive concept could include using different types of heating elements, such as coil heaters or ceramic heaters, or modifying the delivery device to accommodate various aerosol-forming substrates. Additionally, the assembly could be integrated with sensors and control systems to optimize aerosol generation and delivery for specific applications.
Potential Commercial Applications and Market
This inventive concept has significant commercial potential, as it offers a versatile solution for various industries. The market for adaptable aerosol generation systems is vast, with potential applications in agriculture, consumer goods, environmental remediation, and food processing, among others. The ability to tailor the assembly to specific industries and problems enables a broad range of commercial opportunities, from partnerships with industry leaders to the development of new products and services.
CPC Classifications
| Section | Class | Group |
|---|---|---|
| A | A61 | A61M15/06 |
| A | A24 | A24F40/46 |
| A | A24 | A24F40/48 |
| A | A24 | A24F40/10 |
| A | A24 | A24F40/50 |
| A | A24 | A24F40/53 |
Section 103 Obviousness Analysis (PHOSITA)
Field of Art
Aerosol generation systems, electronic vaporization devices, and multi-purpose fluid delivery technologies, with expertise in thermal vaporization, fluid transport mechanisms, and cross-industry device adaptation
Person of Ordinary Skill (PHOSITA) Profile
A technical professional with advanced engineering or materials science background, familiar with thermal transfer principles, fluid dynamics, heating element design, and capable of adapting core technologies across different application domains
Obviousness Rationale
A PHOSITA would recognize that the fundamental aerosol generation mechanism disclosed in US 11857722 can be readily adapted to diverse industrial applications by systematically substituting aerosol-forming substrates and modifying delivery configurations. The core heating element and fluid transport principles remain consistent across variations, with predictable performance outcomes. The disclosed adaptations represent straightforward engineering modifications within the established technological framework of aerosol generation systems.
Obvious Combinations & Variations
Original Patent Information
| Patent Number | US 11,857,722 |
|---|---|
| Title | Assembly comprising sheet heating element and delivery device |
| Assignee(s) | Altria Client Services LLC |