Patents by Inventor Benjamin Illidge

Benjamin Illidge has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20260144302
    Abstract: A smoking substitute apparatus for generating an aerosol, comprising: an air inlet and an outlet; a passage extending between the air inlet and the outlet, air flowing in use along the passage for inhalation by a user drawing on the apparatus; and an aerosol generation chamber containing an aerosol generator being operable to generate an aerosol from an aerosol precursor; wherein the aerosol generation chamber comprises at least one chamber outlet in fluid communication with the passage at a junction, the at least one chamber outlet permitting, in use, aerosol generated by the aerosol generator to be entrained into an air flow along the passage; and wherein the passage has a constriction configured to induce, in use, a localized reduced pressure in the air flow at the junction for drawing out the aerosol from the aerosol generation chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2026
    Publication date: May 28, 2026
    Inventors: Benjamin Illidge, Benjamin Astbury, Nikhil Aggarwal
  • Patent number: 12628874
    Abstract: A smoking substitute apparatus for generating an aerosol, comprising: an air inlet and an outlet; a passage extending between the air inlet and the outlet, air flowing in use along the passage for inhalation by a user drawing on the apparatus; and an aerosol generation chamber containing an aerosol generator being operable to generate an aerosol from an aerosol precursor; wherein the aerosol generation chamber comprises at least one chamber outlet in fluid communication with the passage at a junction, the at least one chamber outlet permitting, in use, aerosol generated by the aerosol generator to be entrained into an air flow along the passage; and wherein the passage has a constriction configured to induce, in use, a localized reduced pressure in the air flow at the junction for drawing out the aerosol from the aerosol generation chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2026
    Assignee: Imperial Tobacco Limited
    Inventors: Benjamin Illidge, Benjamin Astbury, Nikhil Aggarwal
  • Patent number: 12604929
    Abstract: A smoking substitute system is provided. The apparatus comprises a housing having an air inlet; an outlet communicating with the air inlet through a flow passage; a liquid reservoir to store an aerosol precursor; and a vaporization chamber to generate an aerosol from the aerosol precursor. The vaporization chamber delivers aerosol and is in communication with the flow passage. A wick extends from the liquid reservoir into the vaporization chamber. The wick comprises a heatable portion disposed outside of an air flow path along the flow passage, such that air flowing through the flow passage bypasses the heatable portion of the wick. A base is in contact with the heatable portion of the wick to receive a heater configured to heat the heatable portion of the wick to generate the aerosol. The device comprises a heater and removably engages with the apparatus via the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2026
    Assignee: Imperial Tobacco Limited
    Inventors: Benjamin Illidge, Benjamin Astbury
  • Patent number: 12582159
    Abstract: A smoking substitute apparatus comprises: a vaporization chamber having a longitudinal axis, the vaporization chamber having an inlet at a first end and an outlet at a second end opposite the first end. The inlet is configured to be in fluid communication with an outlet though a flow channel extending along the longitudinal axis of the vaporization chamber. A heater is located in the vaporization chamber at a position along the flow channel. The heater is configured to generate an aerosol from an aerosol precursor. The heater is spaced from the inlet by a distance of at least 5 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2026
    Assignee: Imperial Tobacco Limited
    Inventors: Benjamin Illidge, Benjamin Astbury, Nikhil Aggarwal
  • Publication number: 20250338895
    Abstract: A smoking substitute apparatus comprises: a housing having a longitudinal axis; an air outlet provided at a first end of the housing; an air inlet provided at a second end of the housing opposite to the first end; an air flow channel extending through the housing between the air inlet and the air outlet; a heater in fluid communication with the air flow channel. The heater is configured to generate an aerosol from an aerosol precursor. Electrical contacts are provided on a sidewall of the housing and are electrically connected with the heater. The electrical contacts are configured to engage with corresponding electrical terminals on a main body of a smoking substitute system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2025
    Publication date: November 6, 2025
    Inventors: Benjamin Illidge, Benjamin Astbury, Nikhil Aggarwal, Andrew Duckworth
  • Patent number: 12453377
    Abstract: A smoking substitute apparatus. The smoking substitute apparatus comprising: an air inlet, and a vapor outlet; a vaporization chamber the vaporization chamber including: a first vaporizer, for vaporizing aerosol precursor and providing vaporized precursor; and a second vaporizer, located downstream of the first vaporizer, for vaporizing aerosol precursor and providing vaporized precursor; wherein the smoking substitute apparatus also includes a bypass airflow path, which bypasses the vaporization chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2025
    Assignee: Imperial Tobacco Limited
    Inventors: Benjamin Illidge, Benjamin Astbury, Nikhil Aggarwal, Huanghai Lu
  • Patent number: 12396486
    Abstract: A smoking substitute apparatus comprises: a housing having a longitudinal axis; an air outlet provided at a first end of the housing; an air inlet provided at a second end of the housing opposite to the first end; an air flow channel extending through the housing between the air inlet and the air outlet; a heater in fluid communication with the air flow channel. The heater is configured to generate an aerosol from an aerosol precursor. Electrical contacts are provided on a sidewall of the housing and are electrically connected with the heater. The electrical contacts are configured to engage with corresponding electrical terminals on a main body of a smoking substitute system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2025
    Assignee: Imperial Tobacco Limited
    Inventors: Benjamin Illidge, Benjamin Astbury, Nikhil Aggarwal, Andrew Duckworth
  • Publication number: 20250234921
    Abstract: A smoking substitute apparatus comprises: a housing having a longitudinal axis; an air inlet and an air outlet; a vaporization chamber having a vaporization chamber inlet and a heater. The air inlet and air outlet are in fluid communication through an airflow channel. The airflow channel passes through the vaporization chamber inlet and the vaporization chamber. The heater extends across the airflow channel. The vaporization chamber inlet receives airflow from a radial direction and changes an airflow direction to an axial direction into the vaporization chamber. The vaporization chamber inlet reduces a rate of airflow direction change from the substantially radial direction to the axial direction. The housing comprises a radially-extending wall and the vaporization chamber inlet comprises an axial aperture through the wall. A part of a perimeter of an upstream edge of the axial aperture is filleted to reduce the rate of change of airflow direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2025
    Publication date: July 24, 2025
    Inventors: Benjamin Illidge, Benjamin Astbury, Nikhil Aggarwal
  • Publication number: 20250169543
    Abstract: A smoking substitute apparatus for generating an aerosol, comprising: a housing; an air inlet and an outlet formed at the housing; a passage extending between the air inlet and outlet, air flowing in use along the passage for inhalation by a user drawing on the apparatus; and an aerosol generation chamber containing an aerosol generator being operable to generate an aerosol from an aerosol precursor; wherein the aerosol generator is in fluid communication with a downstream portion of the passage for allowing the aerosol to entrain into an air flow along the passage; wherein the downstream portion of the passage comprises a flow converging section having a curved sidewall tapered towards the outlet, and wherein an upstream end of the flow converging section substantially conforms to a cross sectional profile of the aerosol generation chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2025
    Publication date: May 29, 2025
    Inventors: Benjamin ILLIDGE, Huanghai LU, Benjamin ASTBURY, Nikhil AGGARWAL
  • Patent number: 12295414
    Abstract: A smoking substitute apparatus comprises: a housing having a longitudinal axis; an air inlet and an air outlet; a vaporization chamber having a vaporization chamber inlet and a heater. The air inlet and air outlet are in fluid communication through an airflow channel. The airflow channel passes through the vaporization chamber inlet and the vaporization chamber. The heater extends across the airflow channel. The vaporization chamber inlet receives airflow from a radial direction and changes an airflow direction to an axial direction into the vaporization chamber. The vaporization chamber inlet reduces a rate of airflow direction change from the substantially radial direction to the axial direction. The housing comprises a radially-extending wall and the vaporization chamber inlet comprises an axial aperture through the wall. A part of a perimeter of an upstream edge of the axial aperture is filleted to reduce the rate of change of airflow direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2025
    Assignee: Imperial Tobacco Limited
    Inventors: Benjamin Illidge, Benjamin Astbury, Nikhil Aggarwal
  • Publication number: 20250064121
    Abstract: Provided is a vapour generating system with a heatable ceramic wick (300) for vaporizing a liquid. The wick (300) has an aerofoil shape to provide laminar air flow over the wick (300).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2022
    Publication date: February 27, 2025
    Inventors: Matthew Pilkington, Phillip Taylor, Alexander Edwards, Jonathan Davies, Benjamin Illidge, James Keefe, Conor Kelly, Carlos Fabrellas-Garcia
  • Publication number: 20250064114
    Abstract: A smoking substitute apparatus is disclosed, having: an air inlet; an outlet; and a flow passage formed between the air inlet and the outlet. A vaporization chamber is in communication with the flow passage, the vaporization chamber having an aerosol generator configured to generate an aerosol from an aerosol precursor by heating. The aerosol generator comprises a vaporizer element loaded with aerosol precursor, the vaporizer element being heatable by a heater and presenting a vaporizer element surface to air in the vaporization chamber. The air inlet, flow passage, outlet and the vaporization chamber are configured so that the cooling rate of the vapor is such that the time taken to cool to 50° C. is not less than 16 ms under certain conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2024
    Publication date: February 27, 2025
    Inventors: Benjamin Illidge, Huanghai Lu, Benjamin Astbury, Nikhil Aggarwal, John McKeon, Stephen Jones
  • Publication number: 20250040599
    Abstract: Provided is vapour generating system having a wick (162) comprising a first wicking material (162a) in contact with a second wicking material (162b). The first wicking material (162a) has a greater porosity than the second wicking material (162b), such that liquid is transported preferentially through the first wicking material (162a).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2022
    Publication date: February 6, 2025
    Inventors: Matthew Pilkington, Phillip Taylor, Alexander Edwards, Jonathan Davies, Benjamin Illidge, James Keefe
  • Patent number: 12213530
    Abstract: A smoking substitute apparatus for generating an aerosol, comprising: a housing; an air inlet and an outlet formed at the housing; a passage extending between the air inlet and outlet, air flowing in use along the passage for inhalation by a user drawing on the apparatus; and an aerosol generation chamber containing an aerosol generator being operable to generate an aerosol from an aerosol precursor; wherein the aerosol generator is in fluid communication with a downstream portion of the passage for allowing the aerosol to entrain into an air flow along the passage; wherein the downstream portion of the passage comprises a flow converging section having a curved sidewall tapered towards the outlet, and wherein an upstream end of the flow converging section substantially conforms to a cross sectional profile of the aerosol generation chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: Imperial Tobacco Limited
    Inventors: Benjamin Illidge, Huanghai Lu, Benjamin Astbury, Nikhil Aggarwal
  • Patent number: 12167751
    Abstract: A smoking substitute apparatus is disclosed, having: an air inlet; an outlet; and a flow passage formed between the air inlet and the outlet. A vaporization chamber is in communication with the flow passage, the vaporization chamber having an aerosol generator configured to generate an aerosol from an aerosol precursor by heating. The aerosol generator comprises a vaporizer element loaded with aerosol precursor, the vaporizer element being heatable by a heater and presenting a vaporizer element surface to air in the vaporization chamber. The air inlet, flow passage, outlet and the vaporization chamber are configured so that the cooling rate of the vapor is such that the time taken to cool to 50° C. is not less than 16 ms under certain conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2024
    Assignee: Imperial Tobacco Limited
    Inventors: Benjamin Illidge, Huanghai Lu, Benjamin Astbury, Nikhil Aggarwal, John Mckeon, Stephen Jones
  • Patent number: 12108789
    Abstract: A smoking substitute apparatus is disclosed, having: an air inlet; an outlet; and a flow passage formed therebetween. A vaporization chamber is in communication with the flow passage, the vaporization chamber having an aerosol generator configured to generate an aerosol from an aerosol precursor by heating. The aerosol generator comprises a vaporizer element loaded with aerosol precursor, the vaporizer element being heatable by a heater and presenting a vaporizer element surface to air in the vaporization chamber. A vaporizer element region is defined as a volume extending outwardly from the vaporizer element surface to a distance of 1 mm from the vaporizer element surface. The air inlet, flow passage, outlet and the vaporization chamber are configured so that, when the air flow rate inhaled by the user through the apparatus is 1.3 L min?1, the turbulence intensity in the vaporizer element region is not more than 1%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: Imperial Tobaco Limited
    Inventors: Benjamin Illidge, Benjamin Astbury, Nikhil Aggarwal, Huanghai Lu, John McKeon
  • Publication number: 20230180842
    Abstract: A smoking substitute apparatus comprises: an air inlet; an outlet; an aerosol generator for generating an aerosol from an aerosol precursor for inhalation by a user, the aerosol generator comprising a heating element; an air flow path between the air inlet and the outlet for conveying the aerosol to the user. An upstream portion of the air flow path is disposed between the air inlet and the aerosol generator. The upstream portion is defined at least in part by an inner wall of the apparatus, the inner wall being formed from plastics material by moulding. Electrical connectors are provided for electrically connecting the heating element to a power source. The electrical connectors are at least partially moulded into, and extend along, the inner wall of the upstream portion of the air flow path, thereby increasing the available cross sectional area for air flow and reducing the flow velocity in the upstream portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2021
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Inventors: Matthew Pilkington, Benjamin Illidge, Phillip Taylor, Connor Kelly, Carlos Fabrellas-Garcia
  • Publication number: 20220378105
    Abstract: A smoking substitute apparatus is disclosed, comprising a housing comprising a base portion, a mouthpiece portion, and one or more walls extending longitudinally from the base portion towards the mouthpiece portion. An air inlet is formed in a wall of the housing and spaced longitudinally from the base portion. An outlet is formed in the mouthpiece portion. An airflow path extends from the air inlet to the outlet, the airflow path comprising a first portion downstream of the air inlet and extending longitudinally towards the base portion of the housing, and a transversely extending second portion that is downstream of the first portion. The apparatus has a vaporizer comprising a wick and a heating element for heating a heatable portion of the wick. The heatable portion of the wick is elongated in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of airflow in the second portion of the airflow path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Inventors: Benjamin Illidge, Huanghai Lu
  • Publication number: 20220256919
    Abstract: A smoking substitute apparatus for generating an aerosol, comprising: an aerosol generation chamber containing an aerosol generator being operable to generate an aerosol from an aerosol precursor, the aerosol generation chamber having a chamber outlet and at least one chamber inlet, air flowing in use from said at least one chamber inlet into the aerosol generation chamber towards the chamber outlet to entrain generated aerosol for inhalation by a user drawing on the apparatus; wherein, when the apparatus is oriented upright, said at least one chamber inlet is positioned higher than the position of the aerosol generator and configured so that substantially all of the airflow entering the aerosol generation chamber is directed away from the aerosol generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2022
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Inventors: Benjamin ILLIDGE, Benjamin ASTBURY, Andrew DUCKWORTH
  • Publication number: 20220256926
    Abstract: A smoking substitute apparatus comprising: a housing; an air inlet and an air outlet formed in the housing, wherein the air inlet is in fluid communication with the air outlet through an air flow passage; and a heater located in the air flow passage configured to generate an aerosol from an aerosol precursor. There is also provided a flow modifying device which extends across the air flow passage at a position between the air inlet and the heater. The flow modifying device is configured to incite a laminar property to the air flow to the heater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2022
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Inventors: Benjamin ILLIDGE, Benjamin ASTBURY, Nikhil AGGARWAL