ALEXANDRIA, Va., July 23 -- United States Patent no. 12,364,826, issued on July 22, was assigned to Altria Client Services LLC (Richmond, Va.).
"Electronic cigarette" was invented by Christopher S. Tucker (Midlothian, Va.), Geoffrey Brandon Jordan (Midlothian, Va.), Barry S. Smith (Hopewell, Va.), Ali A. Rostami (Richmond, Va.) and Charles E. B. Glenn Sr. (Richmond, Va.).
According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "An electronic cigarette includes a liquid supply including liquid material, a heater operable to heat the liquid material to a temperature sufficient to vaporize the liquid material and form an aerosol, a wick in communication with the liquid material and in communication with the heater such tha...