Abstract: Some example embodiments include a reservoir assembly for an e-vaping device that may include a reservoir, a first bayonet connector assembly, and a conduit extending from a vaporizer assembly and into a space defined by the first bayonet connector assembly. The first bayonet connector assembly may detachably couple with a second bayonet connector assembly of an outlet assembly to establish a bayonet interface connection between the reservoir and the outlet assembly, such that the conduit is in fluid communication with the exterior of the reservoir assembly through an interior of the outlet assembly.

Abstract: An electronic vaping device includes a liquid storage portion, an electric heater and electronic circuitry. The liquid storage portion is configured to store liquid vapor-forming substrate. The electric heater includes at least one heating element, the at least one heating element configured to heat the liquid vapor-forming substrate. The electronic circuitry is configured to self-activate the electric heater for a first time interval during a period of inactivity of the electric heater to determine depletion of the liquid vapor-forming substrate based on a relationship between a power applied to the at least one heating element and a resulting temperature change of the at least one heating element.

Abstract: A device assembly includes a controller, which is configured to control the non-nicotine electronic vaping device to output an indication of a current level of the non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation in the non-nicotine reservoir of a non-nicotine pod assembly in response to determining that an aggregate amount of non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation drawn from the non-nicotine reservoir or an aggregate amount of vaporized non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation is greater than or equal to the at least one non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation level threshold.

Abstract: A cartridge for an aerosol-generating system may comprise a liquid storage portion, which includes a housing holding a liquid aerosol-forming substrate. The housing has a first and a second opening. The cartridge may further comprise a first and a second permeable planar heater assembly, wherein the first permeable planar heater assembly is fixed to the housing and extends across the first opening of the housing, and the second permeable planar heater assembly is fixed to the housing and extends across the second opening of the housing. The first and second permeable planar heater assemblies are arranged opposite each other such that they face each other and form an airflow channel in between.

Abstract: A vapor-generating system includes a pump having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet configured to be connected to a liquid storage portion. The system includes a fluid channel fluidly connected to the pump and a fluid sensor. The fluid sensor is configured to determine a presence of liquid vapor-forming substrate in the fluid channel based on measuring an electrical property of the fluid in the fluid channel.

Abstract: A heat diffuser for use with an electrically-operated aerosol-generating device is configured to be removably coupled to the aerosol-generating device. The heat diffuser includes a non-combustible porous body for absorbing heat from an electric heating element. The porous body is thermally conductive such that, in use, air drawn through the porous body is heated by the heat absorbed by the porous body. Example embodiments also provide a heated aerosol-generating article and an aerosol-generating system, both comprising the heat diffuser.

Abstract: A sensor apparatus may include a conduit structure including an inner surface defining a conduit extending through an interior of the conduit structure, an inlet structure coupled to an end of the conduit structure, and a plurality of sensor devices in hydrodynamic contact with the conduit. The inlet structure may couple with an outlet end of an external tobacco element to hold the outlet end of the external tobacco element in fluid communication with an inlet opening of the conduit structure, such that the conduit structure may receive a generated aerosol from the external tobacco element at the inlet opening, and draw an instance of aerosol through the conduit towards an outlet opening. The instance of aerosol may include at least a portion of the generated aerosol. Each sensor device may generate sensor data indicating a pressure of the instance of aerosol through a separate portion of the conduit.

Abstract: The tray includes a base, the base including first sidewalls that are substantially cylindrically shaped, a first upper surface on an upper end of the base, a dome, the dome extending upwardly and away from the first upper surface, the first upper surface and the dome closing the upper end, a first brim, the first brim radially extending from a first lower end of the base.

Abstract: An e-vaping device may include a pre-vapor formulation tank configured to hold a pre-vapor formulation, an adaptor that includes a vaporizer assembly configured to vaporize the pre-vapor formulation, and a flavor insert positioned to receive vapors formed by the vaporizer assembly. The flavor insert may hold at least one flavorant. The tank, adaptor, and flavor insert may be a non-combustible vaping element that includes a channel into which the flavor insert may be inserted to be positioned to receive the vapors. The flavor insert and the vaporizer assembly may be at opposing ends of the channel. The flavor insert may be a detachable insert configured to be inserted into the tank element. The flavor element may be a tobacco element. The tobacco element may be at least a portion of a cigarette.

Abstract: Methods of classifying tobacco include imaging tobacco with an imaging system to obtain an image and classifying the tobacco as very low nicotine (VLN) or traditional based on the obtained image. The imaging system includes a hyperspectral camera and an image processing system.

Abstract: A closed bottom vaporizer pod prevents vaporizable material from exiting the pod and entering into a heat source of a vaporizer. A closed bottom vaporizer pod further reduces contamination and/or fouling of a vaporizer and comprises a closed bottom capsule, at least one air inlet for drawing air into the closed bottom capsule, and at least one air outlet for drawing air out of the closed bottom capsule. An air flow path is created from the at least one air inlet, the closed bottom capsule, and the air outlet which prevents contamination of the vaporizer.

Abstract: A non-nicotine e-vaping device may include a non-nicotine pod assembly and a device body. The non-nicotine pod assembly has upstream and downstream ends and is configured to hold a non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation. The upstream end may define at least one upstream recess, and the downstream end may define at least one downstream recess. The device body defines a through hole configured to receive the non-nicotine pod assembly. The through hole includes an upstream sidewall and a downstream sidewall. The upstream sidewall may include at least one upstream protrusion, and the downstream sidewall may include at least one downstream protrusion. The at least one upstream protrusion and the at least one downstream protrusion may be configured to engage with the at least one upstream recess and the at least one downstream recess, respectively, so as to retain the non-nicotine pod assembly within the through hole of the device body.

Abstract: A cartridge for an e-vaping device enables simultaneous vaporization of different pre-vapor formulations to form a vapor for vaping by an adult vaper. The cartridge includes a dispensing interface coupled to a plurality of reservoirs and a heater coupled to the dispensing interface in a housing. The dispensing interface may include a trunk and separate roots extending into separate reservoirs, such that the dispensing interface draws different pre-vapor formulations from the reservoirs to the trunk via the separate roots. The heater is coupled to the trunk, such that the heater is operable to simultaneously vaporize the different pre-vapor formulations drawn into the trunk.

Abstract: A smokeless tobacco product includes smokeless tobacco and structural fibers. The structural fibers forming a network in which the smokeless tobacco is entangled. The structural fibers have a composition different from the smokeless tobacco. The tobacco-entangled fabric can have an overall oven volatiles content of at least 10 weight percent. In some embodiments, the structural fibers form a nonwoven network. In some embodiments, fibrous structures of the smokeless tobacco are entangled with the structural fibers.

Abstract: Methods for encasing bodies including smokeless tobacco or a tobacco substitute with a polymeric casing can include coating a compressed body with microfibers, applying tubular casings to compressed bodies, printing netting and webs on compressed bodies, injection molding around compressed bodies, applying a webbing to compressed bodies, placing compressed bodies into a skin forming bath, and including thermoplastic polymers in a compressed body.

Abstract: At least one example embodiment relates to an apparatus including a dosing tube and a plate. The dosing tube is configured to receive an auger. The dosing tube includes a cylindrical sidewall extending from a first end to a second end opposite the first end. The dosing tube defines an opening in the cylindrical sidewall. The plate is coupled to the second end of the dosing tube. The dosing tube is configured to rotate with respect to the plate. In at least one example embodiment, the apparatus further includes an auger configured to rotate and move a material from the second end to the first end of the dosing tube.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a number of sequences involved in the transport of alkaloids from the root to the leaf in tobacco, methods of using such sequences, tobacco plants carrying modifications to such sequences, and tobacco products made from such plants.

Abstract: An aerosol-generating system may include a liquid storage portion configured to hold liquid aerosol-forming substrate, a vaporizer including a heating element with an internal passage at least partially defined by a surface of the heating element, and a micro pump configured to deliver liquid aerosol-forming substrate from the liquid storage portion to the internal passage of the heating element, such that the vaporizer is configured to heat the delivered liquid aerosol-forming substrate at the internal passage to a temperature sufficient to volatilize at least a part of the delivered liquid aerosol-forming substrate. The micro pump may be configured to deliver a particular amount of liquid aerosol-forming substrate to the internal passage based on the micro pump performing an individual pump cycle.

Abstract: A flavored vapor generator (100, 200, 300, 400) used for an electronic smoking apparatus (10) comprises a housing; a liquid retention material (155, 255) which is filled, soaked or immersed with a flavored liquid and received inside the housing; an electric heater (150, 350, 450) for heating the liquid retention material (155, 255) to generate flavored vapor; and a sensor (156, 356, 456) for monitoring soaking or wetness conditions of the liquid retention material (155, 255) and providing signals for determining whether the flavored liquid in the liquid retention material (155, 255) is exhausted or almost exhausted.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides tobacco having genetic modification(s) in a group of ERF genes. Also provided are tobacco plants with altered total alkaloid and nicotine levels and commercially acceptable leaf grade, their development via breeding or transgenic approaches, and production of tobacco products from these tobacco plants. Further provided are compositions and methods for producing tobacco plants having novel mutations or alleles to reduce nicotine levels. Further provided are sequence polymorphisms and molecular markers for breeding tobacco with reduced nicotine or alkaloids while maintaining tobacco leaf grade and tobacco product quality.