Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
  • A24D—CIGARS; CIGARETTES; TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS; MOUTHPIECES FOR CIGARS OR CIGARETTES; MANUFACTURE OF TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS OR MOUTHPIECES
  • A24D1/00—Cigars; Cigarettes
  • A24D1/20—Cigarettes specially adapted for simulated smoking devices
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
  • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
  • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
  • A24F40/20—Devices using solid inhalable precursors

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a consumable for use with a non-combustible aerosol provision device and to a system for heating aerosol-generating material.
• Smoking articles such as cigarettes, cigars and the like burn tobacco during use to create tobacco smoke.
• Alternatives to these types of articles release an inhalable aerosol or vapour by releasing compounds from a substrate material by heating without burning.
• These may be referred to as non-combustible smoking articles, aerosol generating assemblies or non-combustible aerosol provision systems.
• a heating device which release compounds by heating, but not burning, a solid aerosolisable material.
• This solid aerosolisable material may, in some cases, contain a tobacco material.
• the heating volatilises at least one component of the material, typically forming an inhalable aerosol.
• These products may be referred to as heat-not-burn devices, tobacco heating devices or tobacco heating products (THP).
• THP tobacco heating products
• e-cigarette / tobacco heating product hybrid devices also known as electronic tobacco hybrid devices.
• These hybrid devices contain a liquid source (which may or may not contain nicotine) which is vaporised by heating to produce an inhalable vapour or aerosol.
• the device additionally contains a solid aerosolisable material (which may or may not contain a tobacco material) and components of this material are entrained in the inhalable vapour or aerosol to produce the inhaled medium.
• a consumable for use with a non-combustible aerosol provision device wherein the consumable comprises:
• the second section comprises a third and a fourth section upstream of the third section, wherein the pressure drop across the fourth section is higher than the pressure drop across the third section.
• the first section comprises aerosol-generating material.
• the first section comprises a body of aerosol-generating material.
• the second section comprises aerosol-generating material.
• the second section comprises a body of aerosol-generating material.
• the aerosol generating material of the first and/or second sections each comprise a continuously changing density along its length, increasing towards an upstream most end of the consumable.
• the density of aerosol generating material of the first and second sections increases continuously across a combined longitudinal length of the first and second sections.
• the aerosol generating material of the first section comprises an aerosol generating film, optionally the aerosol generating film comprises an amorphous solid.
• the mass ratio of the aerosol generating material of the second section to the aerosol generating material of the first section is more than 1, optionally from 1 to 5, for example 1.1, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 2.0, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8, 2.9, 3.0, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 3.7, 3.8, 3.9, 4.0, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 4.8, 4.9, or 5.0, or within a range defined by any two of these values.
• the aerosol generating material of the first section is arranged to comprise at least one longitudinally-extending air channel extending through the first section.
• the aerosol-generating film of the aerosol generating material of the first section is arranged to comprise at least one longitudinally-extending air channel extending through the first section.
• the at least one longitudinally-extending air channel extends entirely through the first section.
• the aerosol generating material of the first section is provided on or as a sheet material, optionally arranged to comprise at least one substantially spiral shaped cross section so as to define the at least one longitudinally-extending air channel extending through the first section.
• the substantially spiral shaped cross section defines at least one longitudinally extending air channel through the first section between each layer of the spiral.
• the sheet material is rolled so as to provide the substantially spiral shaped cross section.
• the aerosol generating material of the first section is provided on or as a sheet material gathered to comprise a plurality of folds defining at least one longitudinally-extending air channel between each fold.
• the aerosol generating material of the first section is provided on a carrier, optionally the carrier is paper or card.
• the aerosol generating material is provided as or within an aerosol-generating film, optionally wherein the aerosol-generating film comprises an amorphous solid.
• the aerosol-generating film is attached to or cast onto the carrier.
• the carrier comprises a carrier material onto which the aerosol-generating film is cast.
• the aerosol-generating film may be laminated onto the carrier.
• the aerosol generating material of the first section is provided as a layer, for example as a film, on the carrier.
• the aerosol-generating film may have a thickness of about 0.015 mm to about 1 mm.
• the thickness may be in the range of about 0.05 mm, 0.1 mm or 0.15 mm to about 0.5 mm or 0.3 mm.
• the aerosol-generating film may have a thickness of about 0.11 mm to 0.17 mm, for example of about 0.12 mm to 0.13 mm.
• the aerosol generating material of the first section is arranged to provide at least one air gap or void defining the least one longitudinally-extending air channel extending through the first section of aerosol generating material.
• the plurality of discrete bodies of aerosol generating material each comprise an aerosol generating film which may optionally comprise an amorphous solid.
• the plurality of discrete bodies are provided as strips of aerosol generating material, optionally provided on a carrier, such as paper or cardboard.
• the pressure drop across the second section of aerosol generating material is from 35 to 54 mm wg, such as 40 to 45 mm wg, 36 to 40 mm wg, 10 to 20mm wg, or 10 to 15mm wg.
• a consumable for a non-combustible aerosol provision device wherein the consumable comprises:
• the body comprises a continuously decreasing circumference along at least a portion of the length of only the first section.
• the body comprises a continuously decreasing circumference along at least a portion of the length of only the second section.
• the body comprises a continuously decreasing circumference along the entire length of the second section and along at least a portion, optionally the entirety, of the length of the first section.
• the circumference is an outer circumference of the consumable.
• the circumference is a circumference of a first of aerosol generating material section and/or of a second section of aerosol generating material.
• the body comprises a continuously decreasing circumference along at least a portion of the length of the body, decreasing towards an upstream most end of the consumable, so as to define a tapered portion of the body and optionally the tapered end comprises a distal-most end of the consumable.
• both the first and second sections each comprise aerosol generating material and wherein the mass ratio of the aerosol generating material of the second section to the aerosol generating material of the first section is more than 1, optionally from 1 to 5, for example 1.1, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 2.0, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8, 2.9, 3.0, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 3.7, 3.8, 3.9, 4.0, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 4.8, 4.9, or 5.0, or within a range defined by any two of these values, for example from 1.4 to 1.9.
• the aerosol generating material is provided as a layer, for example as a film, on the carrier.
• the aerosol-generating film may have a thickness of about 0.015 mm to about 1 mm.
• the thickness may be in the range of about 0.05 mm, 0.1 mm or 0.15 mm to about 0.5 mm or 0.3 mm.
• the aerosol-generating film may have a thickness of about 0.11 mm to 0.17 mm, for example of about 0.12 mm to 0.13 mm.
• the tapered receiving portion comprises a tapered wall and/or a tapered base and optionally the tapered wall and/or base is configured to provide the consumable with (e.g. to form) a tapered portion at a distal end of the consumable when the consumable is received within the tapered receiving portion such that the tapered portion of the consumable is correspondingly shaped with the tapered receiving portion e.g. so as to provide the continuously decreasing circumference or continuously increasing density.
• the second section comprises aerosol generating material and the non-combustible aerosol provision device is configured to heat the first section of aerosol generating material and the second section of aerosol generating material.
• the continuously changing density of the second section may contribute to the pressure drop across the second section being higher than the pressure drop across the first section of aerosol generating material.
• the continuously changing density may be provided by crushing or compressing the second section to an increasing extent toward the upstream end of the second section.
• the increased pressure drop provided by the continuously changing density of the second section allows for less aerosol-generating material to be provided, for example within the first or second sections of aerosol-generating material, as the reduction in pressure drop associated with the provision of less aerosol-generation material is compensated for by the continuously increasing density of the second section.
• the overall pressure drop may be maintained or otherwise increase.
• the aerosol-generating film may have a thickness of about 0.015 mm to about 1 mm.
• the thickness may be in the range of about 0.05 mm, 0.1 mm or 0.15 mm to about 0.5 mm or 0.3 mm.
• the aerosol-generating film may have a thickness of about 0.11 mm to 0.17 mm, for example of about 0.12 mm to 0.13 mm.
• the aerosol-generating material may comprise more than one film, and the thickness described herein may refer to the aggregate thickness of those films.
• the aerosol-generating film may be discontinuous.
• the aerosol-generating film may comprise one or more discrete portions or regions of aerosol-generating material, such as dots, stripes, strips or lines, which may be supported on a support.
• the support may be planar or non-planar.
• Each of the one or more discrete portions or regions of aerosol-generating material may comprise a combination of two or more aerosol-generating materials. Discrete portions of different aerosol-generating materials may be heated separately.
• the slurry may be heated to remove at least about 60 wt%, 70 wt%, 80 wt%, 85 wt% or 90 wt% of the solvent.
• the polysaccharide gelling agent is a cellulose derivative. Without wishing to be bound by theory, the inventors believe that such gelling agents do not react with calcium ions to form crosslinks.
• the binder is not crosslinked.
• the absence of crosslinks in the binder may facilitate quicker delivery of the constituent, derivative or extract of active substances and/or flavours) from the aerosol-generating material.
• cellulosic gelling agents include, but are not limited to, hydroxymethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, cellulose acetate (CA), cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB), and cellulose acetate propionate (CAP).
• the gelling agent comprises (or is) one or more of alginate, pectin, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, pullulan, xanthan gum guar gum, carrageenan, agarose, acacia gum, fumed silica, PDMS, sodium silicate, kaolin and polyvinyl alcohol.
• the gelling agent comprises (or is) alginate and/or pectin, and may be combined with a setting agent (such as a calcium source) during formation of the aerosol-generating material.
• a setting agent such as a calcium source
• the aerosol-generating material may comprise a calcium-crosslinked alginate and/or a calcium-crosslinked pectin.
• the gelling agent comprises (or is) alginate, optionally the alginate is present in the aerosol-generating material in an amount of from about 15 to 40 wt%, for example about 15 to 25 wt%, of the aerosol-generating material (calculated on a dry weight basis).
• alginate is the only gelling agent present in the aerosol-generating material.
• the gelling agent is carboxymethylcellulose, optionally the carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) is present in an amount of about 15 to 50 wt%, for example about 20 to 40 wt% or about 30 wt%. In some embodiments, CMC is the only gelling agent present in the aerosol-generating material.
• the weight ratio of the total amount of gelling agent to the total amount of constituents, derivatives or extracts of cannabis is from about 2:1 to 1:2, such as about 1.5:1 to 1:1.5 or 1.2:1 to 1:1.2.
• the aerosol-former material may comprise one or more constituents capable of forming an aerosol.
• the aerosol-generating film may comprise from about 0.1 wt%, 0.5 wt%, 1 wt%, 3 wt%, 5 wt%, 7 wt% or 10 wt% to about 50 wt%, 45 wt%, 40 wt%, 35 wt%, 30 wt% or 25 wt% of an aerosol-former material (all calculated on a dry weight basis).
• the aerosol-generating film may comprise 0.5 to 40 wt%, 3 to 35 wt% or 10 to 25 wt% of an aerosol-former material.
• the aerosol-former material may comprise one or more of glycerol, propylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol, erythritol, meso-Erythritol, ethyl vanillate, ethyl laurate, a diethyl suberate, triethyl citrate, triacetin, a diacetin mixture, benzyl benzoate, benzyl phenyl acetate, tributyrin, lauryl acetate, lauric acid, myristic acid, and propylene carbonate.
• glycerol propylene glycol
• diethylene glycol triethylene glycol
• tetraethylene glycol 1,3-butylene glycol
• erythritol meso-Erythritol
• ethyl vanillate ethyl laurate
• the aerosol-former material may comprise one or more of erythritol, propylene glycol, glycerol, and triacetin. In some cases, the aerosol-former material comprises, consists essentially of or consists of glycerol, or a mixture of glycerol and propylene glycol.
• the aerosol-former material comprises a mixture of glycerol and propylene glycol in a weight ratio of glycerol to propylene glycol of about 3:1 to 1:3, about 2:1 to 1:2, about 1.5:1 to 1:1.5, about 55:45 to 45:55, or about 45:55.
• the aerosol-former material may act as a plasticiser. If the content of the plasticiser is too high, the aerosol-generating material may absorb water resulting in a material that does not create an appropriate consumption experience in use. If the plasticiser content is too low, the aerosol-generating material may be brittle and easily broken.
• the plasticiser content specified herein provides an aerosol-generating material flexibility which allows a sheet of the aerosol-generating material to be wound onto a bobbin, which is useful in manufacture of aerosol generating articles (consumables).
• the aerosol-generating material may further comprise a filler.
• a filler may help to reduce tackiness of the aerosol-generating material, for example if high levels of aerosol-former material are present.
• the aerosol-generating material may comprise less than about 50 wt% of a filler, such as from about 1 wt% to 50 wt%, or 5 wt% to 40 wt%, or 5 wt% to 30 wt%, or 10 wt% to 20 wt%.
• the aerosol-generating material comprises less than 20 wt%, suitably less than 10 wt% or less than 5 wt% of a filler. In some cases, the aerosol-generating material comprises less than 1 wt% of a filler, and in some cases the aerosol-generating material comprises no filler.
• the filler may comprise one or more inorganic filler materials, such as calcium carbonate, perlite, vermiculite, diatomaceous earth, colloidal silica, magnesium oxide, magnesium sulphate, magnesium carbonate, and suitable inorganic sorbents, such as molecular sieves.
• the filler may comprise one or more organic filler materials such as wood pulp; tobacco pulp; hemp fibre; starch and starch derivatives, such as maltodextrin; chitosan; and cellulose and cellulose derivatives, such as microcrystalline cellulose and nanocrystalline cellulose.
• the aerosol-generating material comprises no calcium carbonate such as chalk.
• the aerosol-generating material may optionally comprise a flavour.
• the aerosol-generating material may comprise up to about 60 wt%, 55 wt%, 50 wt% or 45 wt% of a flavour.
• the aerosol-generating material may comprise at least about 0.1 wt%, 1 wt%, 10 wt%, 20 wt%, 30 wt%, 35 wt% or 40 wt% of a flavour (all calculated on a dry weight basis).
• the aerosol-generating material may comprise 1 to 60 wt%, 10 to 60 wt%, 20 to 50 wt%, or 30 to 40 wt% a flavour.
• the various aerosol-generating materials of the consumable include the same or different flavours, and/or flavours in different amounts.
• flavour and “flavourant” refer to materials which, where local regulations permit, may be used to create a desired taste, aroma or other somatosensorial sensation in a product for adult consumers. They may include naturally occurring flavour materials, botanicals, extracts of botanicals, synthetically obtained materials, or combinations thereof (e.g., tobacco, cannabis, licorice (liquorice), hydrangea, eugenol, Japanese white bark magnolia leaf, chamomile, fenugreek, clove, maple, matcha, menthol, Japanese mint, aniseed (anise), cinnamon, turmeric, Indian spices, Asian spices, herb, wintergreen, cherry, berry, red berry, cranberry, peach, apple, orange, mango, clementine, lemon, lime, tropical fruit, papaya, rhubarb, grape, durian, dragon fruit, cucumber, blueberry, mulberry, citrus fruits, Drambuie, bourbon, scotch,
• the flavour comprises menthol, spearmint and/or peppermint.
• the flavour comprises flavour components of cucumber, blueberry, citrus fruits and/or redberry.
• the flavour comprises eugenol.
• the flavour comprises flavour components extracted from tobacco.
• the flavour comprises flavour components extracted from cannabis.
• the flavour may comprise a sensate, which is intended to achieve a somatosensorial sensation which are usually chemically induced and perceived by the stimulation of the fifth cranial nerve (trigeminal nerve), in addition to or in place of aroma or taste nerves, and these may include agents providing heating, cooling, tingling, numbing effect.
• a suitable heat effect agent may be, but is not limited to, vanillyl ethyl ether and a suitable cooling agent may be, but not limited to eucolyptol or WS-3 (N-ethyl-2-isopropyl-5-methylcyclohexanecarboxamide).
• the aerosol-generating material may additionally comprise an emulsifying agent, which emulsified molten flavour during manufacture.
• the aerosol-generating material may comprise from about 5 wt% to about 15 wt% of an emulsifying agent (calculated on a dry weight basis), suitably about 10 wt%.
• the emulsifying agent may comprise acacia gum.
• the filler may be fibrous.
• the filler may be a fibrous organic filler material such as wood pulp, tobacco pulp, hemp fibre, cellulose or cellulose derivatives.
• the fibrous organic filler material may be wood pulp, hemp fibre, cellulose or cellulose derivatives.
• the fibrous filler is wood pulp.
• the gelling agent is CMC and is used together with wood pulp as a filler.
• the aerosol-generating film may be made from a gel, and this gel may additionally comprise a solvent, included at 0.1-50 wt%.
• a solvent in which the flavour is soluble may reduce the gel stability and the flavour may crystallise out of the gel.
• the gel does not include a solvent in which the flavour is soluble.
• one or more aerosol-generating material may further comprise one or more other functional material(s).
• the aerosol-generating material may further comprise one or more additional active substances and/or flavours, and optionally one or more other functional material.
• the one or more other functional materials may comprise one or more of pH regulators, colouring agents, preservatives, stabilizers, and/or antioxidants.
• one or more of the aerosol-generating materials are each formed as a sheet.
• the aerosol-generating material sheet may be incorporated into the system or consumable of the present invention in sheet form.
• the aerosol-generating material sheet may be incorporated as a planar sheet, as a gathered or bunched sheet, as a crimped sheet, or as a rolled sheet (i.e. in the form of a tube).
• a rolled sheet may be arranged in a spiral configuration (see Figure 2 ) in the consumable so as to provide one or more longitudinally-extending air channels.
• the aerosol-generating material may be included in the system/consumable as a sheet, such as a sheet circumscribing a rod of aerosolisable material (e.g. tobacco).
• the aerosol-generating material sheet may be formed on a wrapping paper which circumscribes an aerosolisable material such as tobacco.
• the sheet may be shredded and then incorporated into the assembly, optionally mixed into an aerosolisable material such as cut rag tobacco or a non-tobacco plant material.
• the sheets may be incorporated into the non-combustible aerosol provision system or consumable in the same manner or in different manners.
• the "thickness" of the aerosol-generating material describes the shortest distance between a first surface and a second surface.
• the thickness of the aerosol-generating material is the shortest distance between a first planar surface of the sheet and a second planar surface of the sheet which opposes the first planar surface of the sheet.
• the aerosol-generating material may be in the form of a sheet or layer having a thickness of about 0.015 mm to about 1.0 mm.
• the thickness may be in the range of about 0.05 mm, 0.1 mm or 0.15 mm to about 0.5 mm or 0.3 mm, for example 0.1-3 mm or 0.15-3 mm.
• a material having a thickness of 0.2 mm may be particularly suitable.
• the aerosol-generating film may have a thickness of about 0.11 mm to 0.17 mm, for example of about 0.12 mm to 0.13 mm.
• the aerosol-generating material may comprise more than one layer, and the thickness described herein refers to the aggregate thickness of those layers. Where the aerosol-generating material comprises two or more aerosol-generating materials in sheet form, the sheets may have the same thickness or different thicknesses.
• the aerosol-generating material is too thick, then heating efficiency may be compromised. This adversely affects the power consumption in use. Conversely, if the aerosol-generating material is too thin, it may be difficult to manufacture and handle; a very thin material is harder to cast and may be fragile, compromising aerosol formation in use.
• the thickness stipulated herein is a mean thickness for the material.
• the aerosol-generating material thickness may vary by no more than 25%, 20%, 15%, 10%, 5% or 1%.
• the aerosol-generating material in sheet form may have a tensile strength of from around 200 N/m to around 2000 N/m. In some examples, the aerosol-generating material in sheet form may have a tensile strength of from around 200 N/m to around 900 N/m. In some examples, such as where the aerosol-generating material does not comprise a filler, the aerosol-generating material in sheet form may have a tensile strength of from around 200 N/m to around 400 N/m, or around 200 N/m to around 300 N/m, or about 250 N/m.
• Such tensile strengths may be particularly suitable for embodiments wherein the aerosol-generating material and/or the aerosol-generating material is formed as a sheet and then shredded and incorporated into a consumable.
• the aerosol-generating material may have a tensile strength of from around 600 N/m to around 900 N/m, or from around 700 N/m to around 900 N/m, or around 800 N/m.
• Such tensile strengths may be particularly suitable for embodiments wherein the aerosol-generating material and/or the aerosol-generating material is included in a consumable/non-combustible aerosol provision system as a rolled sheet, suitably in the form of a tube.
• the sheets may have the same tensile strength or different tensile strengths.
• the aerosol-generating material may have any suitable area density, such as from 30 g/m2 to 120 g/m2.
• the aerosol-generating material may have a mass per unit area of 80-120 g/m2, or from about 70 to 110 g/m2, or particularly from about 90 to 110 g/m2, or suitably about 100 g/m2 (so that it has a similar density to cut rag tobacco and a mixture of these substances will not readily separate).
• Such area densities may be particularly suitable where the aerosol-generating material is included in assembly consumable/system in sheet form, or as a shredded sheet (described further hereinbelow).
• the aerosol-generating material may have a mass per unit area of about 30 to 70 g/m2, 40 to 60 g/m2, or 25 to 60 g/m2 and may be used to wrap an aerosolisable material such as tobacco.
• the sheets may have the same area density or different area densities.
• the aerosol-generating material is formed as a film on a support.
• the aerosol-generating film may be a continuous film or a discontinuous film, such as an arrangement of discrete portions of film on a support. In some cases, the aerosol-generating film does not comprise a filler.
• the aerosol-generating material for use in aerosol generation may be present on or in a support, to form a substrate.
• the support may, for example, be or comprise paper, card, paperboard, cardboard, reconstituted material, a plastics material, a ceramic material, a composite material, glass, a metal, or a metal alloy.
• the support comprises a susceptor.
• the susceptor is embedded within the material. In some alternative embodiments, the susceptor is on one or either side of the material.
• the aerosol-generating material may comprise a carrier on which the aerosol-generating material is provided.
• the carrier functions as a support on which the aerosol-generating material layer forms, easing manufacture.
• the carrier may provide tensile strength to the aerosol-generating material layer, easing handling.
• a carrier may not be provided and in these embodiments the aerosol generating material may comprise an aerosol generating film which is not provided on a carrier.
• the omission of a carrier provides for an aerosol generating material/film having a reduced thermal mass, which may provide faster aerosolization of the aerosol generating material/film.
• the omission of the carrier increases the surface area of the aerosol generating material/film which provides for faster and improved aerosolisation as aerosol can be released from a greater surface area of the aerosol generating material/film.
• the carrier may be formed from materials selected from metal foil, paper, carbon paper, greaseproof paper, ceramic, carbon allotropes such as graphite and graphene, plastic, cardboard, wood or combinations thereof.
• the carrier may comprise or consist of a tobacco material, such as a sheet of reconstituted tobacco.
• the carrier may be formed from materials selected from metal foil, paper, cardboard, wood or combinations thereof.
• the carrier itself be a laminate structure comprising layers of materials selected from the preceding lists.
• the carrier may also function as a flavour carrier.
• the carrier may be impregnated with a flavour or with tobacco extract.
• the carrier may be substantially or wholly impermeable to gas and/or aerosol. This prevents aerosol or gas passage through the carrier layer, thereby controlling the flow and ensuring it is delivered to the user. This can also be used to prevent condensation or other deposition of the gas/aerosol in use on, for example, the surface of a heater provided in an aerosol generating assembly. Thus, consumption efficiency and hygiene can be improved in some cases.
• the surface of the carrier that abuts the aerosol-generating material may be porous.
• the carrier comprises paper.
• a porous carrier such as paper has been found to be particularly suitable; the porous (e.g. paper) layer abuts the aerosol-generating material layer and forms a strong bond.
• the aerosol-generating material may be formed by drying a gel and, without being limited by theory, it is thought that the slurry from which the gel is formed partially impregnates the porous carrier (e.g. paper) so that when the gel sets, the carrier is partially bound into the gel. This provides a strong binding between the gel and the carrier (and between the dried gel and the carrier).
• the aerosol-generating material may be laminated to a carrier, such as a paper sheet.
• the layer of slurry may be formed on a carrier, such as a paper sheet.
• the carrier may be a paper-backed foil; the paper layer abuts the aerosol-generating material layer and the properties discussed in the previous paragraphs are afforded by this abutment.
• the foil backing is substantially impermeable, providing control of the aerosol flow path.
• a metal foil backing may also serve to conduct heat to the aerosol-generating material.
• the foil layer of the paper-backed foil abuts the aerosol-generating material.
• the foil is substantially impermeable, thereby preventing water provided in the aerosol-generating material from being absorbed into the paper which could weaken its structural integrity.
• the carrier is formed from or comprises metal foil, such as aluminium foil.
• a metallic carrier may allow for better conduction of thermal energy to the aerosol-generating material.
• a metal foil may function as a susceptor in an induction heating system.
• the carrier comprises a metal foil layer and a support layer, such as cardboard.
• the metal foil layer may have a thickness of less than 20 ⁇ m, such as from about 1 ⁇ m to about 10 ⁇ m, suitably about 5 ⁇ m.
• the carrier may have a thickness of between about 0.010 mm and about 2.0 mm, suitably from about 0.015 mm, 0.02 mm, 0.05 mm or 0.1 mm to about 1.5 mm, 1.0 mm, or 0.5 mm.
• the density of the aerosol-generating materials may be different.
• the aerosol-generating materials include different components or the same components in different amounts.
• the different aerosol-generating materials may be mixed to form a largely homogenous blend.
• the distribution of the different aerosol-generating materials is controlled to provide a desired distribution within the material, optionally with the materials being unmixed or substantially unmixed.
• the aerosol-generating material comprises a blend of two or more different aerosol-generating materials this may control the release of the active agents.
• the blend may provide a consistent release throughout use of the consumable, and may be configured/formulated to provide either a rapid release or a slow release.
• the consumable may alternatively be referred to herein as a cartridge or article.
• the consumable may be adapted for use in a THP, an electronic tobacco hybrid device or another aerosol generating device such as a non-combustible aerosol provision device.
• the consumable may additionally comprise a filter and/or cooling element (or cooling segment).
• the consumable may be circumscribed by a wrapping material such as paper.
• the ratio of the cool air to the sum of the heated volatilised components and the cool air is at least 15%.
• a ventilation ratio of 15% enables the heated volatilised components to be made visible by the method described above. The visibility of the heated volatilised components enables the user to identify that the volatilised components have been generated and adds to the sensory experience of the smoking experience.
• the ventilation ratio is between 50% and 85% to provide additional cooling to the heated volatilised components. In some cases, the ventilation ratio may be at least 60% or 65%.
• Articles of the present invention may be provided in any suitable shape or configuration.
• the article is provided as a rod (e.g. substantially cylindrical).
• An article provided as a rod may comprise the aerosol-generating material as shredded sheets of aerosol-generating material, for example in the first section of the consumable.
• these shredded sheets are blended with another aerosol-generating material, such as cut tobacco or another botanical material.
• the article provided as a rod may include one or more sheets of aerosol-generating material circumscribing a rod of aerosol-generating material (e.g. tobacco, an aerosol-generating material such as described herein or a combination thereof).
• a rod of aerosol-generating material e.g. tobacco, an aerosol-generating material such as described herein or a combination thereof.
• the one or more sheets of aerosol-generating material may be arranged in a spiral configuration (for example the first section of aerosol-generating material of the consumable may comprise such one or more spiral sheets), for example the one or more sheets of aerosol-generating material may be arranged in substantially spiral configuration, or having a substantially spiral-shaped cross-section.
• One or more longitudinally-extending air channels may be provided between each layer of the spiral.
• the one or more sheets may be rolled or wound into a spiral configuration.
• Figure 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a consumable (or "article") 101 according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
• Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional view of a consumable 301 according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
• the reference signs shown in Figure 4 are equivalent to the reference signs shown in Figure 1 , but with an increment of 200.
• the consumable 101 is adapted for use with a device having a power source and a heater.
• the consumable 101 of this embodiment is particularly suitable for use with the device 51 shown in Figures 5 to 7 , described below.
• the consumable 101 may be removably inserted into the device shown in Figure 5 at an insertion point 20 of the device 51.
• the total length of the article 101 is between 71 mm and 95 mm, suitably between 79 mm and 87 mm, suitably 83 mm.
• the overall mass of the consumable 101 may be 390mg or less, for example 340mg or less, 300mg or less, or 290mg or less.
• the consumable 101 of one example is in the form of a substantially cylindrical rod.
• the consumable of all embodiments of the present invention comprises a first section 102 and a second section 112 upstream of the first section 102. At least one of the first 102 and/or second sections 112 comprise aerosol generating material.
• the second section 112 comprises a continuously increasing density, continuously increasing towards an upstream-most end 115 (or distal-most end 115) most end of the consumable 101.
• the continuously increasing density causes the pressure drop of the second section 112 to continuously increase correspondingly. This increased pressure drop allows for less aerosol generating material to be provided, either in the first section 102 or the second section 112, without affecting the overall pressure drop of the consumable 101. As less aerosol generating material may be used, the overall weight of the consumable may be reduced.
• the first section 102 comprises aerosol-generating material described herein, although the first section 102 of other embodiments may be made of any other suitable material such as cellulose acetate tow.
• the sheet of aerosol generating material of the first section 302 may be provided in the form of a spiral 303 (see Fig. 2 ) and, as such, in some embodiments the aerosol generating material of the first section 302 may have a substantially spiral shaped cross section with one or more longitudinally-extending air channels 304 between, or defined by, each layer of the spiral of sheet 306 of aerosol-generating material, for example defined by opposing, or spaced-apart, surfaces of the sheet 306, or between points where opposing parts or points of the sheet 306 may touch in the spiral.
• the sheet 306 may be rolled into the spiral 303 and the spiral 303 may in some embodiments be formed by a loosely rolled sheet 306 of aerosol generating material.
• the spiral 303 may be arranged to revolve around an axis which is parallel to or collinear with a longitudinal axis of the consumable.
• the aerosol-generating material, for example the aerosol-generating film thereof, of each sheet 306 may be different from each other, for example the composition of the aerosol-generating material or aerosol-generating film of each sheet 303 may be different from each other, for example each sheet may comprise a different concentration of aerosol-generating material.
• a spiral configuration of the one or more sheets 306 may increase the pressure drop across the first section of aerosol-generating material 302 and thus may contribute to increasing the overall pressure drop across the consumable, which is particularly advantageous as less aerosol generating material may then be used in the first 302 or second 312 sections and so the overall weight of the consumable may be reduced.
• the at least one longitudinally-extending air channel 304 may be provided by a longitudinally extending tubular element (not shown) arranged within the first section 302, for example surrounded by the sheet 306.
• the first section 302 of aerosol generating material is in the form of an aerosol-generating film, for example provided on the sheet 306.
• the aerosol-generating film may be, or comprise, an amorphous solid, for example such as an amorphous solid as described above.
• the first section 102 of aerosol generating material is provided on a carrier which in the embodiment of Figures 1 and 4 is paper although any suitable carrier may instead be used as described hereinabove.
• the aerosol generating material of the first section 102 may be provided as a layer, for example as a film, on or in the carrier.
• the one or more sheets 306 may therefore comprise aerosol-generating material as an aerosol-generating layer or film (which in some embodiments may be or comprise an amorphous solid) provided on the carrier.
• the consumable of the present invention may have a reduced overall weight due to a reduction in some embodiments of the mass of aerosol-generating material in the first section 102 of aerosol generating material
• the aerosol-generating material of the first section 102 comprising an aerosol-generating film, for example on the sheet 106, allows for any sensory reduction of the consumable resulting from the reduced mass of aerosol-generation material of the portion 102 to be compensated for.
• the aerosol-generating material of the aerosol-generating film may in some embodiments be particularly concentrated per unit weight as compared to, for example, cut rag tobacco and this may compensate for any reduction in sensory performance of the consumable resulting from the reduction of mass of the section of aerosol-generating material.
• the mass ratio of the second section 112 to the aerosol generating material of the first section 102 may be more than 1, for example the mass ratio of the second section to the aerosol generating material of the first section 102 may be from 1 to 5, for example 1.1, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 2.0, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8, 2.9, 3.0, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 3.7, 3.8, 3.9, 4.0, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 4.8, 4.9, or 5.0, or may be within a range defined by any two of these values, for example from 1.5 to 1.9.
• the continuously increasing density of the second section 112 may be provided by any suitable means, for example the second section 112 may be crushed to a tapered shape in which the circumference continuously decreases towards an upstream-most end 115 of the consumable.
• the pressure drop across the second section 112 is between 35 to 54 mm wg, such as 40 to 45 mm wg, 36 to 40 mm wg, 10 to 20mm wg, or 10 to 15mm wg.
• the second section 112 may comprise any suitable material for providing a pressure drop there across and, in the embodiment of Figure 1 , the second section 112 comprises cellulose acetate tow.
• the second section 312 comprises a body 318 of aerosol generating material, which in some embodiments may be or comprise tobacco.
• the body 318 extends from an upstream-most end 310 of the first section 302 to an upstream-most end 315 of the consumable 301.
• the body 318 of aerosol generating material is provided as cut rag tobacco, however in other embodiments the body 318 aerosol generating material may be provided as discrete bodies 122, or strips 122, of aerosol generating material provided as a film (which in certain embodiments may be or comprise an amorphous solid) provided on a carrier 124, mixed or otherwise distributed within the body 318 and in some embodiments the bodies may be mixed or otherwise distributed within a body 318 of a second aerosol generating material such as tobacco, such as cut rag tobacco.
• the carrier may be omitted.
• the second section 112 of the consumable 101 comprises cellulose acetate tow (and so the second section 112 is absent of aerosol generating material) and the first section 102 comprises a body of aerosol generating material which, in this specific embodiment, comprises tobacco such as cut rag tobacco, although any other aerosol generating material could instead be used.
• the aerosol generating material of the first section 102 are a plurality of discrete bodies 122 of aerosol generating material, which may in some embodiments be strips 122 of shredded aerosol generating material.
• the body of aerosol generating material may be substituted for a body of non-aerosol generating material (such as cellulose acetate tow) and a plurality of discrete bodies 122 (such as strips) of aerosol generating material may be dispersed within the body of non-aerosol generating material - in such embodiments, the second section 112 may comprise aerosol generating material, for example provided as a body of aerosol generating material.
• a body of aerosol generating material such as cellulose acetate tow
• a plurality of discrete bodies 122 such as strips
• the consumable further comprises a filter assembly 105 downstream of the first section 102.
• the filter assembly 105 includes three segments: a cooling segment 107, a filter segment 109 and a mouth end segment 111.
• a cooling segment 107 includes three segments: a cooling segment 107, a filter segment 109 and a mouth end segment 111.
• the article 101 has a first end 113, also known as a mouth end or a proximal end and a second end 115, also known as a distal end.
• the first section 102 and second section 112 are located towards the distal end 115 of the article 101.
• the cooling segment 107 is located adjacent the first section 102 of aerosol-generating material between the first section 102 of aerosol-generating material and the filter segment 109, such that the cooling segment 107 is in an abutting relationship with the first section 102 of aerosol-generating material and the filter segment 109. In other examples, there may be a separation between the first section 102 of aerosol-generating material and the cooling segment 107 and between the first section 102 of aerosol-generating material and the filter segment 109.
• the filter segment 109 is located in between the cooling segment 107 and the mouth end segment 111.
• the mouth end segment 111 is located towards the proximal end 113 of the consumable 101, adjacent the filter segment 109.
• the filter segment 109 is in an abutting relationship with the mouth end segment 111.
• the total length of the filter assembly 105 is between 37 mm and 45 mm, more preferably, the total length of the filter assembly 105 is 41 mm. In another embodiment, the total length of the filter assembly 105 is between 30 mm to 40 mm, such as 34 mm or 35 mm.
• the filter segment 109 may be formed of any filter material sufficient to remove one or more volatilised compounds from heated volatilised components from the aerosol-generating material.
• the filter segment 109 is made of a mono-acetate material, such as cellulose acetate.
• the filter segment 109 provides cooling and irritation-reduction from the heated volatilised components without depleting the quantity of the heated volatilised components to an unsatisfactory level for a user.
• a capsule (not illustrated) may be provided in filter segment 109. It may be disposed substantially centrally in the filter segment 109, both across the filter segment 109 diameter and along the filter segment 109 length. In other cases, it may be offset in one or more dimension.
• the capsule may in some cases, where present, contain a volatile component such as a flavour or aerosol-former material.
• the density of the cellulose acetate tow material of the filter segment 109 controls the pressure drop across the filter segment 109, which in turn controls the draw resistance of the article 101. Therefore the selection of the material of the filter segment 109 is important in controlling the resistance to draw of the article 101. In addition, the filter segment performs a filtration function in the article 101.
• the filter segment 109 is made of a 8Y15 grade of filter tow material, which provides a filtration effect on the heated volatilised material, whilst also reducing the size of condensed aerosol droplets which result from the heated volatilised material.
• the presence of the filter segment 109 provides an insulating effect by providing further cooling to the heated volatilised components that exit the cooling segment 107. This further cooling effect reduces the contact temperature of the user's lips on the surface of the filter segment 109.
• the filter segment 109 is between 6 mm to 10 mm in length, suitably 8 mm. In another example, the length of the filter assembly 105 is between 30 mm to 40 mm, such as 34 mm or 35 mm.
• the first section 102 of aerosol-generating material may in some embodiments be joined to the second section 112 by annular tipping paper (not shown), which is located substantially around the circumference of the second section 112 to surround the filter assembly 105 and extends partially along the length of the first section 102 of aerosol-generating material.
• the tipping paper is made of 58 GSM standard tipping base paper.
• the tipping paper has a length of between 42 mm and 50 mm, suitably of 46 mm.
• the first section 102 of aerosol-generating material may in some embodiments be provided within or extend at least partially within the cooling segment 107 - advantageously this may improve the firmness of the section of the consumable 101 containing the first section 102.
• the cooling segment 107 is an annular tube and is located around and defines an air gap within the cooling segment.
• the air gap provides a chamber for heated volatilised components generated from the first section 102 of aerosol-generating material to flow.
• the cooling segment 107 is hollow to provide a chamber for aerosol accumulation yet rigid enough to withstand axial compressive forces and bending moments that might arise during manufacture and whilst the article 101 is in use during insertion into the device 51.
• the thickness of the wall of the cooling segment 107 is approximately 0.29 mm.
• the cooling segment 107 provides a physical displacement between the first section 102 of aerosol-generating material and the filter segment 109.
• the physical displacement provided by the cooling segment 107 will provide a thermal gradient across the length of the cooling segment 107.
• the cooling segment 107 is configured to provide a temperature differential of at least 40°C between a heated volatilised component entering a first end of the cooling segment 107 and a heated volatilised component exiting a second end of the cooling segment 107.
• the cooling segment 107 is configured to provide a temperature differential of at least 60 °C between a heated volatilised component entering a first end of the cooling segment 107 and a heated volatilised component exiting a second end of the cooling segment 107.
• This temperature differential across the length of the cooling element 107 protects the temperature sensitive filter segment 109 from the high temperatures of the aerosol-generating material when it is heated by the device 51. If the physical displacement was not provided between the filter segment 109 and the first section 102 of aerosol-generating material and the heating elements of the device 51, then the temperature sensitive filter segment 109 may become damaged in use, so it would not perform its required functions as effectively.
• the length of the cooling segment 107 is at least 15 mm. In one example, the length of the cooling segment 107 is between 20 mm and 30 mm, more particularly 23 mm to 27 mm, more particularly 25 mm to 27 mm, suitably 25 mm. In another embodiment, the length of the cooling segment 107 is between 30 mm to 40 mm, such as 34 mm or 35 mm.
• the cooling segment 107 is made of paper, which means that it is comprised of a material that does not generate compounds of concern, for example, toxic compounds when in use adjacent to the heater of the device 51.
• the cooling segment 107 is manufactured from a spirally wound paper tube which provides a hollow internal chamber yet maintains mechanical rigidity. Spirally wound paper tubes are able to meet the tight dimensional accuracy requirements of high-speed manufacturing processes with respect to tube length, outer diameter, roundness and straightness.
• the cooling segment 107 is a recess created from stiff plug wrap or tipping paper.
• the stiff plug wrap or tipping paper is manufactured to have a rigidity that is sufficient to withstand the axial compressive forces and bending moments that might arise during manufacture and whilst the article 101 is in use during insertion into the device 51.
• the mouth end segment 111 may be manufactured from a spirally wound paper tube which provides a hollow internal chamber yet maintains critical mechanical rigidity. Spirally wound paper tubes are able to meet the tight dimensional accuracy requirements of high-speed manufacturing processes with respect to tube length, outer diameter, roundness and straightness.
• the mouth end segment 111 and the cooling segment 107 may be formed of a single tube and the filter segment 109 is located within that tube separating the mouth end segment 111 and the cooling segment 107.
• the ventilation holes 117 are of uniform size. In another example, the ventilation holes 117 vary in size.
• the ventilation holes can be made using any suitable technique, for example, one or more of the following techniques: laser technology, mechanical perforation of the cooling segment 107 or pre-perforation of the cooling segment 107 before it is formed into the article 101.
• the ventilation holes 117 are positioned so as to provide effective cooling to the article 101.
• Providing the rows of ventilation holes between 17 mm and 20 mm from the proximal end 113 of the article 101 enables the ventilation holes 117 to be located outside of the device 51, when the article 101 is fully inserted in the device 51, as can be seen in Figures 6 and 7 .
• By locating the ventilation holes outside of the device non-heated air is able to enter the article 101 through the ventilation holes from outside the device 51 to aid with the cooling of the article 101.
• the second embodiment shown in Fig. 4 is substantially the same as the first embodiment discussed above with the exception that, in addition to the first section 302, the second section 312 also comprises aerosol-generating material which may be or comprise tobacco such as cut-rag tobacco.
• the aerosol-generating material of the second embodiment is provided as a body of aerosol generating material.
• the aerosol-generating material of the second section 312 may extend from an upstream-most end of the first section 302 of aerosol generating material to an upstream-most end of the consumable 301.
• the first and second embodiments may also comprise a further component such as an end cap or plug provided at (for example at an extremity of) the distal-most end 315 of the article 301.
• the end cap or plug may be configured to prevent the material of the first section 208, for example aerosol generating material, from escaping the article 301.
• first 102 and second 112 sections together define a body having a continuously increasing density across both the first 102 and second sections 112 combined (that is, there is no discrete step change in density between the first 102 and second sections 112).
• both the first section 102 and the second section 112 are tapered.
• only a portion of the axial length of second section 112 is tapered whereas in other embodiments the entire axial length of the second section 112 is tapered and a portion of the axial length of the first section 102 is tapered.
• the entire axial length of both the first 102 and second 112 sections is tapered and in some embodiments the tapered portion may extend downstream of the first section 102 such that, for example, at least a portion of the filter assembly 305 may be tapered.
• the second section 112 may taper all the way to the distal-most end 115 of the consumable 101, that is the circumference of the second section 112 may continuously reduce all the way to the distal-most end 115 of the consumable 101.
• a wrapper of the first 102; 302 and/or second sections 112;312 may be continuously tapered such as to have a continuously reducing circumference (or increasing thickness).
• a system for heating aerosol-generating material to volatilise at least one component of the aerosol generating material comprising: the consumable as described herein; and a non-combustible aerosol provision device for heating the first section and/or the second section to volatilise at least one component of the aerosol-generating material thereof, the non-combustible aerosol provision device comprising a tapered receiving portion for receiving the consumable as described herein.
• the system may be a non-combustible aerosol provision system comprising the consumable described herein and a non-combustible aerosol provision device.
• a "non-combustible" aerosol provision system is one where a constituent aerosol-generating material of the aerosol provision system (or component thereof) is not combusted or burned in order to facilitate delivery of at least one substance to a user.
• the delivery system is a powered non-combustible aerosol provision system.
• the non-combustible aerosol provision system is an aerosol-generating material heating system, also known as a heat-not-burn system.
• a heat-not-burn system is a tobacco heating system.
• the non-combustible aerosol provision device is a heat-not-burn device.
• the non-combustible aerosol provision system is a hybrid system to generate aerosol using a combination of aerosol-generating materials, one or a plurality of which may be heated.
• the hybrid system comprises the aerosol-generating material described herein comprising or consisting of the aerosol-generating material and an additional liquid or gel aerosol-generating material.
• the non-combustible aerosol provision device is an electronic tobacco hybrid device.
• the non-combustible aerosol provision system may comprise a non-combustible aerosol provision device and a consumable for use with the non-combustible aerosol provision device.
• the non-combustible aerosol provision system may additionally comprise a cooling element and/or a filter.
• the cooling element if present, may act or function to cool gaseous or aerosol components. In some cases, it may act to cool gaseous components such that they condense to form an aerosol. It may also act to space the very hot parts of the apparatus from the user.
• the filter if present, may comprise any suitable filter known in the art such as a cellulose acetate plug.
• the non-combustible aerosol provision system may be a heat-not-burn system. That is, it may contain a solid material (and no liquid aerosolisable material).
• a heat-not-burn device is disclosed in WO 2015/062983 A2 , which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.
• a first end 53 is sometimes referred to herein as the mouth or proximal end 53 of the device 51 and a second end 55 is sometimes referred to herein as the distal end 55 of the device 51.
• the device 51 has an on/off button 57 to allow the device 51 as a whole to be switched on and off as desired by a user.
• the device 51 comprises a housing 59 for locating and protecting various internal components of the device 51.
• the housing 59 comprises a uni-body sleeve 11 that encompasses the perimeter of the device 51, capped with a top panel 17 which defines generally the 'top' of the device 51 and a bottom panel 19 which defines generally the 'bottom' of the device 51.
• the housing comprises a front panel, a rear panel and a pair of opposite side panels in addition to the top panel 17 and the bottom panel 19.
• the top panel 17 and/or the bottom panel 19 may be removably fixed to the uni-body sleeve 11, to permit easy access to the interior of the device 51, or may be "permanently" fixed to the uni-body sleeve 11, for example to deter a user from accessing the interior of the device 51.
• the panels 17 and 19 are made of a plastics material, including for example glass-filled nylon formed by injection moulding, and the uni-body sleeve 11 is made of aluminium, though other materials and other manufacturing processes may be used.
• the top panel 17 of the device 51 has an opening 20 at the mouth end 53 of the device 51 through which, in use, the article 101, 301 including the aerosol-generating material may be inserted into the device 51 and removed from the device 51 by a user.
• the housing 59 has located or fixed therein a heater arrangement 23, control circuitry 25 and a power source 27.
• the heater arrangement 23, the control circuitry 25 and the power source 27 are laterally adjacent (that is, adjacent when viewed from an end), with the control circuitry 25 being located generally between the heater arrangement 23 and the power source 27, though other locations are possible.
• the control circuitry 25 may include a controller, such as a microprocessor arrangement, configured and arranged to control the heating of the aerosol-generating material in the article 101, 301 as discussed further below.
• a controller such as a microprocessor arrangement
• the power source 27 may be for example a battery, which may be a rechargeable battery or a non-rechargeable battery.
• suitable batteries include for example a lithium-ion battery, a nickel battery (such as a nickel-cadmium battery), an alkaline battery and/ or the like.
• the battery 27 is electrically coupled to the heater arrangement 23 to supply electrical power when required and under control of the control circuitry 25 to heat the aerosol-generating material in the article (as discussed, to volatilise the aerosol-generating material without causing the aerosol-generating material to burn).
• An advantage of locating the power source 27 laterally adjacent to the heater arrangement 23 is that a physically large power source 25 may be used without causing the device 51 as a whole to be unduly lengthy.
• a physically large power source 25 has a higher capacity (that is, the total electrical energy that can be supplied, often measured in Amp-hours or the like) and thus the battery life for the device 51 can be longer.
• the heater arrangement 23 is generally in the form of a hollow cylindrical tube, having a hollow interior heating chamber 29 into which the article 101, 301 comprising the aerosol-generating material is inserted for heating in use.
• the heater arrangement 23 may comprise a single heating element or may be formed of plural heating elements aligned along the longitudinal axis of the heater arrangement 23.
• the or each heating element may be annular or tubular, or at least part-annular or part-tubular around its circumference.
• the or each heating element may be a thin film heater.
• the or each heating element may be made of a ceramics material.
• suitable ceramics materials include alumina and aluminium nitride and silicon nitride ceramics, which may be laminated and sintered.
• Other heating arrangements are possible, including for example inductive heating, infrared heater elements, which heat by emitting infrared radiation, or resistive heating elements formed by for example a resistive electrical winding.
• the heater arrangement 23 is supported by a stainless steel support tube and comprises a polyimide heating element.
• the heater arrangement 23 is dimensioned so that substantially the whole of the portion 102 of aerosol-generating material of the article 101, 301 is inserted into the heater arrangement 23 when the article 101, 301 is inserted into the device 51.
• the or each heating element may be arranged so that selected zones of the aerosol-generating material can be independently heated, for example in turn (over time, as discussed above) or together (simultaneously) as desired.
• the heater arrangement 23 in this example is surrounded along at least part of its length by a thermal insulator 31.
• the insulator 31 helps to reduce heat passing from the heater arrangement 23 to the exterior of the device 51. This helps to keep down the power requirements for the heater arrangement 23 as it reduces heat losses generally.
• the insulator 31 also helps to keep the exterior of the device 51 cool during operation of the heater arrangement 23.
• the insulator 31 may be a double-walled sleeve which provides a low pressure region between the two walls of the sleeve. That is, the insulator 31 may be for example a "vacuum" tube, i.e. a tube that has been at least partially evacuated so as to minimise heat transfer by conduction and/or convection.
• Other arrangements for the insulator 31 are possible, including using heat insulating materials, including for example a suitable foam-type material, in addition to or instead of a double-walled sleeve.
• the device 51 further comprises a collar 33 which extends around and projects from the opening 20 into the interior of the housing 59 and a generally tubular chamber 35 which is located between the collar 33 and one end of the vacuum sleeve 31.
• the chamber 35 further comprises a cooling structure 35f, which in this example, comprises a plurality of cooling fins 35f spaced apart along the outer surface of the chamber 35, and each arranged circumferentially around outer surface of the chamber 35.
• the air gap 36 is around all of the circumference of the article 101, 301 over at least part of the cooling segment 307.
• the collar 33 comprises a plurality of ridges 60 arranged circumferentially around the periphery of the opening 20 and which project into the opening 20.
• the ridges 60 take up space within the opening 20 such that the open span of the opening 20 at the locations of the ridges 60 is less than the open span of the opening 20 at the locations without the ridges 60.
• the ridges 60 are configured to engage with an article 101, 301 inserted into the device to assist in securing it within the device 51.
• Open spaces (not shown in the Figures) defined by adjacent pairs of ridges 60 and the article 101, 301 form ventilation paths around the exterior of the article 101, 301. These ventilation paths allow hot vapours that have escaped from the article 101, 301 to exit the device 51 and allow cooling air to flow into the device 51 around the article 101, 301 in the air gap 36.
• the article 101, 301 is removably inserted into an insertion point 20 of the device 51, as shown in Figures 5 to 7 .
• the portion 102; 302 of aerosol-generating material which may be located towards the distal end 115, 315 of the article 101, 301, is entirely received within the heater arrangement 23 of the device 51.
• the proximal end 113, 313 of the article 101, 301 extends from the device 51 and acts as a mouthpiece assembly for a user.
• the heater arrangement 23 will heat the article 101, 301 to volatilise at least one component of the aerosol-generating material from the portion 102 of aerosol-generating material.
• the primary flow path for the heated volatilised components from the portion 102 of aerosol-generating material is axially through the article 101, 301, through the chamber inside the cooling segment 107, 307, through the filter segment 109, 309, through the mouth end segment 111, 313 to the user.
• the temperature of the heated volatilised components that are generated from the portion 102 of aerosol-generating material is between 60°C and 250°C, which may be above the acceptable inhalation temperature for a user.
• the heated volatilised component travels through the cooling segment 107, 307, it will cool and some volatilised components will condense on the inner surface of the cooling segment 107, 307.
• cool air will be able to enter the cooling segment 307 via the ventilation holes 117; 317 formed in the cooling segment 107; 307 or filter segment 109; 309. This cool air will mix with the heated volatilised components to provide additional cooling to the heated volatilised components.
• tobacco material refers to any material comprising tobacco or derivatives therefore.
• tobacco material may include one or more of tobacco, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco or tobacco substitutes.
• the tobacco material may comprise one or more of ground tobacco, tobacco fibre, cut tobacco, extruded tobacco, tobacco stem, reconstituted tobacco and/or tobacco extract.
• the tobacco used to produce tobacco material may be any suitable tobacco, such as single grades or blends, cut rag or whole leaf, including Virginia and/or Burley and/or Oriental. It may also be tobacco particle 'fines' or dust, expanded tobacco, stems, expanded stems, and other processed stem materials, such as cut rolled stems.
• the tobacco material may be a ground tobacco or a reconstituted tobacco material.
• the reconstituted tobacco material may comprise tobacco fibres, and may be formed by casting, a Fourdrinier-based paper making-type approach with back addition of tobacco extract, or by extrusion.

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  • 2024-02-12 EP EP24157161.1A patent/EP4599708A1/fr active Pending
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