Classifications

• • 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
  • A24F40/40—Constructional details, e.g. connection of cartridges and battery parts
  • A24F40/42—Cartridges or containers for inhalable precursors
• • 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
  • A24F40/10—Devices using liquid inhalable precursors
• • 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
  • A24F40/40—Constructional details, e.g. connection of cartridges and battery parts
  • A24F40/48—Fluid transfer means, e.g. pumps
  • A24F40/485—Valves; Apertures

Definitions

• the present disclosure relates to aerosol provision systems such as nicotine delivery systems (e.g. electronic cigarettes and the like).
• nicotine delivery systems e.g. electronic cigarettes and the like.
• Electronic aerosol provision systems such as electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) generally contain an aerosol precursor material / aerosolisable material, such as a reservoir of a source liquid containing a formulation, typically including nicotine, or a solid material such a tobacco-based product, from which an aerosol is generated for inhalation by a user, for example through heat vaporisation.
• an aerosol provision system will typically comprise a vaporiser, e.g. a heating element, arranged to vaporise a portion of precursor material to generate an aerosol in an aerosol generation region of an air channel through the aerosol provision system.
• air is drawn into the device through one or more inlet holes and along the air channel to the aerosol generation region, where the air mixes with the vaporised precursor material and forms a condensation aerosol.
• the air drawn through the aerosol generation region continues along the air channel to a mouthpiece opening, carrying some of the aerosol with it, and out through the mouthpiece opening for inhalation by the user.
• aerosol provision systems to comprise a modular assembly, often having two main functional parts, namely a control unit and disposable / replaceable cartridge part.
• the cartridge part will comprise the consumable aerosol precursor material and the vaporiser (atomiser), while the control unit part will comprise longer-life items, such as a rechargeable battery, device control circuitry, activation sensors and user interface features.
• the control unit may also be referred to as a reusable part or battery section and the replaceable cartridge may also be referred to as a disposable part or cartomiser.
• control unit and cartridge are mechanically coupled together at an interface for use, for example using a screw thread, bayonet, latched or friction fit fixing.
• the cartridge may be removed from the control unit and a replacement cartridge may be attached to the device in its place.
• a potential drawbacks for cartridges containing aerosolisable material is that it can be often difficult to observe how much aerosolisable material is remaining in the reservoir.
• existing aerosol provision systems which employ a partially transparent reservoir for the aerosolisable material, so a user can view into the reservoir to determine a remaining amount of aerosolisable material therein, such transparent portions may often be obscured whilst the cartridge is engaged with the corresponding control unit / body to which the cartridge is engageable with.
• aerosol provision systems which exist, such as that disclosed in WO 2021/038189 , which employ one or more window portions on the mouthpiece of the cartridge from the aerosol provision system, so a user can observe into the reservoir for ascertaining how much aerosolisable material is remaining.
• the implementation of such windows may make it more challenging to manufacture the cartridge/mouthpiece from the aerosol provision system as a whole, and may also make it more challenging to view into the reservoir about a plurality of different angles or rotational positions relative to the position of the cartridge, or to see levels aerosolisable material in the reservoir which are closer to the empty end of the spectrum.
• a cartridge for an aerosol provision system comprising the cartridge and a control unit, wherein the system comprises a vaporiser for vaporising an aerosolisable material, wherein the cartridge comprises:
• a cartridge for an aerosol provision system comprising:
• a fourth aspect of certain embodiments there is provided a method of directing air into an aerosol provision system according to the second aspect, wherein the method comprises:
• non-combustible aerosol provision systems which may also be referred to as aerosol provision systems, such as e-cigarettes.
• a "non-combustible" aerosol provision system is one where a constituent aerosolisable material of the aerosol provision system (or component thereof) is not combusted or burned in order to facilitate delivery to a user.
• Aerosolisable material which also may be referred to herein as aerosol generating material or aerosol precursor material, is material that is capable of generating aerosol, for example when heated, irradiated or energized in any other way.
• e-cigarette or “electronic cigarette” may sometimes be used, but it will be appreciated this term may be used interchangeably with aerosol provision system / device and electronic aerosol provision system / device.
• An electronic cigarette may also known as a vaping device or electronic nicotine delivery system (END), although it is noted that the presence of nicotine in the aerosolisable material is not a requirement.
• END electronic nicotine delivery system
• the non-combustible aerosol provision system is a hybrid system to generate aerosol using a combination of aerosolisable materials, one or a plurality of which may be heated.
• the hybrid system comprises a liquid or gel aerosolisable material and a solid aerosolisable material.
• the solid aerosolisable material may comprise, for example, tobacco or a non-tobacco product.
• the non-combustible aerosol provision system may comprise a non-combustible aerosol provision device and an article for use with the non-combustible aerosol provision device.
• articles which themselves comprise a means for powering an aerosol generating component may themselves form the non-combustible aerosol provision system.
• the article for use with the non-combustible aerosol provision device may comprise an aerosolisable material (or aerosol precursor material), an aerosol generating component (or vaporiser), an aerosol generating area, a mouthpiece, and/or an area for receiving aerosolisable material.
• the aerosol generating component is a heater capable of interacting with the aerosolisable material so as to release one or more volatiles from the aerosolisable material to form an aerosol.
• the aerosol generating component is capable of generating an aerosol from the aerosolisable material without heating.
• the aerosol generating component may be capable of generating an aerosol from the aerosolisable material without applying heat thereto, for example via one or more of vibrational, mechanical, pressurisation or electrostatic means.
• the substance to be delivered may be an aerosolisable material which may comprise an active constituent, a carrier constituent and optionally one or more other functional constituents.
• the active constituent may comprise one or more physiologically and/or olfactory active constituents which are included in the aerosolisable material in order to achieve a physiological and/or olfactory response in the user.
• the active constituent may for example be selected from nutraceuticals, nootropics, and psychoactives.
• the active constituent may be naturally occurring or synthetically obtained.
• the active constituent may comprise for example nicotine, caffeine, taurine, theine, a vitamin such as B6 or B12 or C, melatonin, a cannabinoid, or a constituent, derivative, or combinations thereof.
• the active constituent may comprise a constituent, derivative or extract of tobacco or of another botanical.
• the active constituent is a physiologically active constituent and may be selected from nicotine, nicotine salts (e.g. nicotine ditartrate/nicotine bitartrate), nicotine-free tobacco substitutes, other alkaloids such as caffeine, or mixtures thereof.
• the active constituent is an olfactory active constituent and may be selected from a "flavour” and/or "flavourant” which, where local regulations permit, may be used to create a desired taste, aroma or other somatosensorial sensation in a product for adult consumers.
• a "flavour” and/or "flavourant” which, where local regulations permit, may be used to create a desired taste, aroma or other somatosensorial sensation in a product for adult consumers.
• such constituents may be referred to as flavours, flavourants, cooling agents, heating agents, and/or sweetening agents.
• flavour materials 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, whiskey, gin, tequila, rum, spearmint, peppermint, lavender, aloe vera, cardamom, celery, cascarilla, nutmeg, sandalwood, bergamot,
• They may be imitation, synthetic or natural ingredients or blends thereof. They may be in any suitable form, for example, liquid such as an oil, solid such as a powder, or gasone or more of extracts (e.g., licorice, hydrangea, Japanese white bark magnolia leaf, chamomile, fenugreek, clove, menthol, Japanese mint, aniseed, cinnamon, herb, wintergreen, cherry, berry, peach, apple, Drambuie, bourbon, scotch, whiskey, spearmint, peppermint, lavender, cardamom, celery, cascarilla, nutmeg, sandalwood, bergamot, geranium, honey essence, rose oil, vanilla, lemon oil, orange oil, cassia, caraway, cognac, jasmine, ylang-ylang, sage, fennel, piment, ginger, anise, coriander, coffee, or a mint oil from any species of the genus Mentha), flavour enhancers,
• 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 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 eucalyptol, WS-3.
• the carrier constituent may comprise one or more constituents capable of forming an aerosol.
• the carrier constituent may comprise one or more of glycerine, 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.
• the one or more other functional constituents may comprise one or more of pH regulators, colouring agents, preservatives, binders, fillers, stabilizers, and/or antioxidants.
• aerosol provision systems e-cigarettes
• e-cigarettes often comprise a modular assembly including both a reusable part (control unit) and a replaceable (disposable) cartridge part.
• Devices conforming to this type of two-part modular configuration may generally be referred to as two-part devices.
• electronic cigarettes it is also common for electronic cigarettes to have a generally elongate shape.
• certain embodiments of the disclosure described herein comprise this kind of generally elongate two-part device employing disposable cartridges.
• Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of an example aerosol provision system / device (e-cigarette) 1 in accordance with certain embodiments of the disclosure.
• Terms concerning the relative location of various aspects of the electronic cigarette e.g. terms such as upper, lower, above, below, top, bottom etc. are used herein with reference to the orientation of the electronic cigarette as shown in Figure 1 (unless the context indicates otherwise). However, it will be appreciated this is purely for ease of explanation and is not intended to indicate there is any required orientation for the electronic cigarette in use.
• the e-cigarette 1 comprises two main components, namely a cartridge 2 and a control unit 4.
• the control unit 4 and the cartridge 2 are shown separated in Figure 1 , but are coupled together when in use.
• the cartridge 2 and control unit 4 are coupled by establishing a mechanical and electrical connection between them.
• the specific manner in which the mechanical and electrical connection is established is not of primary significance to the principles described herein and may be established in accordance with conventional techniques, for example based around a screw thread, bayonet, latched or friction-fit mechanical fixing with appropriately arranged electrical contacts / electrodes for establishing the electrical connection between the two parts as appropriate.
• the cartridge comprises a mouthpiece end 52 and an interface end 54 and is coupled to the control unit by inserting an interface end portion 6 at the interface end of the cartridge into a corresponding receptacle 8 / receiving section of the control unit.
• the interface end portion 6 of the cartridge is a close fit to be receptacle 8 and includes protrusions 56 which engage with corresponding detents in the interior surface of a receptacle wall 12 defining the receptacle 8 to provide a releasable mechanical engagement between the cartridge and the control unit.
• An electrical connection is established between the control unit and the cartridge via a pair of electrical contacts on the bottom of the cartridge (not shown in Figure 1 ) and corresponding sprung contact pins in the base of the receptacle 8 (not shown in Figure 1 ).
• the specific manner in which the electrical connection is established is not significant to the principles described herein, and indeed some implementations might not have an electrical connection between the cartridge and a control unit at all, for example because the transfer of electrical power from the reusable part to the cartridge may be wireless (e.g. based on electromagnetic induction techniques).
• the electronic cigarette 1 has a generally elongate shape extending along a longitudinal axis L.
• the overall length of the electronic cigarette in this example is around 12.5 cm.
• the overall length of the control unit is around 9 cm and the overall length of the cartridge is around 5 cm (i.e. there is around 1.5 cm of overlap between the interface end portion 6 of the cartridge and the receptacle 8 of the control unit when they are coupled together).
• the electronic cigarette has a cross-section which is generally oval and which is largest around the middle of the electronic cigarette and tapers in a curved manner towards the ends.
• the cross-section around the middle of the electronic cigarette has a width of around 2.5 cm and a thickness of around 1.7 cm.
• the end of the cartridge has a width of around 2 cm and a thickness of around 0.6 mm, whereas the other end of the electronic cigarette has a width of around 2 cm and a thickness of around 1.2 cm.
• the outer housing of the electronic cigarette is in this example is formed from plastic. It will be appreciated the specific size and shape of the electronic cigarette and the material from which it is made is not of primary significance to the principles described herein and may be different in different implementations. That is to say, the principles described herein may equally be adopted for electronic cigarettes having different sizes, shapes and / or materials.
• the control unit 4 may in accordance with certain embodiments of the disclosure be broadly conventional in terms of its functionality and general construction techniques.
• the control unit 4 comprises a plastic outer housing 10 including the receptacle wall 12 that defines the receptacle 8 for receiving the end of the cartridge as noted above.
• the outer housing 10 of the control unit 4 in this example has a generally oval cross section conforming to the shape and size of the cartridge 2 at their interface to provide a smooth transition between the two parts.
• the receptacle 8 and the end portion 6 of the cartridge 2 are symmetric when rotated through 180° so the cartridge can be inserted into the control unit in two different orientations.
• the receptacle wall 12 includes two control unit air inlet openings 14 (i.e. holes in the wall).
• openings 14 are positioned to align with an air inlet 50 for the cartridge when the cartridge is coupled to the control unit.
• a different one of the openings 14 aligns with the air inlet 50 of the cartridge in the different orientations. It will be appreciated some implementations may not have any degree of rotational symmetry such that the cartridge is couplable to the control unit in only one orientation while other implementations may have a higher degree of rotational symmetry such that the cartridge is couplable to the control unit in more orientations.
• the control unit further comprises a battery 16 for providing operating power for the electronic cigarette, control circuitry 18 for controlling and monitoring the operation of the electronic cigarette, a user input button 20, an indicator light 22, and a charging port 24.
• the battery 16 in this example is rechargeable and may be of a conventional type, for example of the kind normally used in electronic cigarettes and other applications requiring provision of relatively high currents over relatively short periods.
• the battery 16 may be recharged through the charging port 24, which may, for example, comprise a USB connector.
• the input button 20 in this example is a conventional mechanical button, for example comprising a sprung mounted component which may be pressed by a user to establish an electrical contact in underlying circuitry.
• the input button may be considered an input device for detecting user input, e.g. to trigger aerosol generation, and the specific manner in which the button is implemented is not significant.
• other forms of mechanical button or touch-sensitive button e.g. based on capacitive or optical sensing techniques
• the indicator light 22 is provided to give a user with a visual indication of various characteristics associated with the electronic cigarette, for example, an indication of an operating state (e.g. on / off / standby), and other characteristics, such as battery life or fault conditions. Different characteristics may, for example, be indicated through different colours and / or different flash sequences in accordance with generally conventional techniques.
• the control circuitry 18 is suitably configured / programmed to control the operation of the electronic cigarette to provide conventional operating functions in line with the established techniques for controlling electronic cigarettes.
• the control circuitry (processor circuitry) 18 may be considered to logically comprise various sub-units / circuitry elements associated with different aspects of the electronic cigarette's operation.
• the control circuitry 18 may comprises power supply control circuitry for controlling the supply of power from the battery/power supply to the cartridge in response to user input, user programming circuitry for establishing configuration settings (e.g.
• control circuitry 18 can be provided in various different ways, for example using one or more suitably programmed programmable computer(s) and / or one or more suitably configured application-specific integrated circuit(s) / circuitry / chip(s) / chipset(s) configured to provide the desired functionality.
• FIG. 2 is an exploded schematic perspective view of the cartridge 2 (exploded along the longitudinal axis L).
• the cartridge 2 comprises a housing part 32, an air channel seal 34, a dividing wall element 36, an outlet tube 38, a vaporiser/heating element 40, an aerosolisable material transport element 42, a plug 44, and an end cap 48 with contact electrodes 46.
• Figures 3 to 6 schematically represents some of these components in more detail.
• Figure 3A is a schematic cut-away view of the housing part 32 through the longitudinal axis L where the housing part 32 is thinnest.
• Figure 3B is a schematic cut-away view of the housing part 32 through the longitudinal axis L where the housing part 32 is widest.
• Figure 3C is a schematic view of the housing part along the longitudinal axis L from the interface end 54 (i.e. viewed from below in the orientation of Figures 3A and 3B ).
• Figures 4A is a schematic perspective view of the dividing wall element 36 as seen from below.
• Figure 4B is a schematic cross-section through an upper part of the dividing wall element 36 as viewed from below.
• Figure 5A is a schematic perspective view of the plug 44 from above and Figure 5B is a schematic perspective view of the plug 44 from below.
• Figure 5C is a schematic view of the plug 44 along the longitudinal axis L seen from the mouthpiece end 52 of the cartridge (i.e. viewed from above for the orientation in Figures 1 and 2 ).
• Figure 6A is a schematic perspective view of the end cap 48 from above.
• Figure 6B is a schematic view of the end cap 48 along the longitudinal axis L seen from the mouthpiece end 52 of the cartridge (i.e. from above).
• the housing part 32 in this example comprises a housing outer wall 64 and a housing inner tube 62 which in this example are formed from a single moulding of polypropylene.
• the housing outer wall 64 defines the external appearance of the cartridge 2 and the housing inner tube 62 defines a part the air channel through the cartridge.
• the housing part is open at the interface end 54 of the cartridge and closed at the mouthpiece end 52 of the cartridge except for a mouthpiece opening / aerosol outlet 60 in fluid communication with the housing inner tube 62.
• the housing part 32 includes an opening in a sidewall which provides the air inlet 50 for the cartridge.
• the air inlet 50 in this example has an area of around 2 mm 2 .
• the outer surface of the outer wall 64 of the housing part 32 includes the protrusions 56 discussed above which engage with corresponding detents in the interior surface of the receptacle wall 12 defining the receptacle 8 to provide a releasable mechanical engagement between the cartridge and the control unit.
• the inner surface of the outer wall 64 of the housing part includes further protrusions 66 which act to provide an abutment stop for locating the dividing wall element 36 along the longitudinal axis L when the cartridge is assembled.
• the outer wall 64 of the housing part 32 further comprises holes which provide latch recesses 68 arranged to receive corresponding latch projections 70 in the end cap to fix the end cap to be housing part when the cartridge is assembled.
• the outer wall 64 of the housing part 32 includes a double-walled section 74 that defines a gap 76 in fluid communication with the air inlet 50.
• the gap 76 provides a portion of the air channel through the cartridge.
• the doubled-walled section 74 of the housing part 32 is arranged so the gap defines an air channel running within the housing outer wall 64 parallel to the longitudinal axis with a cross-section in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of around 3 mm 2 .
• the gap / portion of air channel 76 defined by the double-walled section of the housing part extends down to the open end of the housing part 32.
• the air channel seal 34 is a silicone moulding generally in the form of a tube having a through hole 80.
• the outer wall of the air channel seal 34 includes circumferential ridges 84 and an upper collar 82.
• the inner wall of the air channel seal 34 also includes circumferential ridges, but these are not visible in Figure 2 .
• the air channel seal 34 is mounted to the housing inner tube 62 with an end of the housing inner tube 62 extending partly into the through hole 80 of the air channel seal 34.
• the through hole 80 in the air channel seal has a diameter of around 5.8 mm in its relaxed state whereas the end of the housing inner tube 62 has a diameter of around 6.2 mm so that a seal is formed when the air channel seal 34 is stretched to accommodate the housing inner tube 62. This seal is facilitated by the ridges on the inner surface of the air channel seal 34.
• the outlet tube 38 comprises a tubular section, for instance made of ANSI 304 stainless steel or polypropylene, with an internal diameter of around 8.6 mm and a wall thickness of around 0.2 mm.
• the bottom end of the outlet tube 38 includes a pair of diametrically opposing slots 88 with an end of each slot having a semi-circular recess 90.
• the aerosolisable material transport element 42 comprises a capillary wick and the vaporiser 40 comprises a resistance wire heater wound around the capillary wick.
• the vaporiser comprises electrical leads 41 which pass through holes in the plug 44 to contact electrodes 46 mounted to the end cap 54 to allow power to be supplied to the vaporiser via the electrical interface the established when the cartridge is connected to a control unit.
• the vaporiser leads 41 may comprise the same material as the resistance wire wound around the capillary wick, or may comprise a different material (e.g. lower-resistance material) connected to the resistance wire wound around the capillary wick.
• the heater coil 40 comprises a nickel iron alloy wire and the wick 42 comprises a glass fibre bundle.
• the vaporiser and aerosolisable material transport element may be provided in accordance with any conventional techniques and is may comprise different forms and / or different materials.
• the wick may comprise fibrous or solid a ceramic material and the heater may comprise a different alloy.
• the heater and wick may be combined, for example in the form of a porous and a resistive material. More generally, it will be appreciated the specific nature aerosolisable material transport element and vaporiser is not of primary significance to the principles described herein.
• the wick 42 When the cartridge is assembled, the wick 42 is received in the semi-circular recesses 90 of the outlet tube 38 so that a central portion of the wick about which the heating coil is would is inside the outlet tube while end portions of the wick are outside the outlet tube 38.
• the plug 44 in this example comprises a single moulding of silicone, may be resilient.
• the plug comprises a base part 100 with an outer wall 102 extending upwardly therefrom (i.e. towards the mouthpiece end of the cartridge).
• the plug further comprises an inner wall 104 extending upwardly from the base part 100 and surrounding a through hole 106 through the base part 100.
• the outer wall 102 of the plug 44 conforms to an inner surface of the housing part 32 so that when the cartridge is assembled the plug in 44 forms a seal with the housing part 32.
• the inner wall 104 of the plug 44 conforms to an inner surface of the outlet tube 38 so that when the cartridge is assembled the plug 44 also forms a seal with the outlet tube 38.
• the inner wall 104 includes a pair of diametrically opposing slots 108 with the end of each slot having a semi-circular recess 110. Extended outwardly (i.e. in a direction away from the longitudinal axis of the cartridge) from the bottom of each slot in the inner wall 104 is a cradle section 112 shaped to receive a section of the aerosolisable material transport element 42 when the cartridge is assembled.
• the slots 108 and semi-circular recesses 110 provided by the inner wall of the plug 44 and the slots 88 and semi-circular recesses 90 of the outlet tube 38 are aligned so that the slots 88 in the outlet tube 38 accommodate respective ones of the cradles 112 with the respective semi-circular recesses in the outlet tube and plug cooperating to define holes through which the aerosolisable material transport element passes.
• the size of the holes provided by the semi-circular recesses through which the aerosolisable material transport element passes correspond closely to the size and shape of the aerosolisable material transport element, but are slightly smaller so a degree of compression is provided by the resilience of the plug 44.
• the plug 44 includes further openings 114 in the base part 100 through which the contact leads 41 for the vaporiser pass when the cartridge is assembled.
• the bottom of the base part of the plug includes spacers 116 which maintain an offset between the remaining surface of the bottom of the base part and the end cap 48. These spacers 116 include the openings 114 through which the electrical contact leads 41 for the vaporiser pass.
• the end cap 48 comprises a polypropylene moulding with a pair of gold-plated copper electrode posts 46 mounted therein.
• the ends of the electrode posts 44 on the bottom side of the end cap are close to flush with the interface end 54 of the cartridge provided by the end cap 48. These are the parts of the electrodes to which correspondingly aligned sprung contacts in the control unit connect when the cartridge is assembled and connected to the control unit.
• the ends of the electrode posts on the inside of the cartridge extend away from the end cap 48 and into the holes 114 in the plug 44 through which the contact leads 41 pass.
• the electrode posts are slightly oversized relative to the holes 114 and include a chamfer at their upper ends to facilitate insertion into the holes 114 in the plug where they are maintained in pressed contact with the contact leads for the vaporiser by virtue of the plug.
• the end cap has a base section 124 and an upstanding wall 120 which conforms to the inner surface of the housing part 32.
• the upstanding wall 120 of the end cap 48 is inserted into the housing part 32 so the latch projections 70 engage with the latch recesses 68 in the housing part 32 to snap-fit the end cap 48 to the housing part when the cartridge is assembled.
• the top of the upstanding wall 120 of the end cap 48 abuts a peripheral part of the plug 44 and the lower face of the spacers 116 on the plug also abut the base section 124 of the plug so that when the end cap 48 is attached to the housing part it presses against the resilient part 44 to maintain it in slight compression.
• the base portion 124 of the end cap 48 includes a peripheral lip 126 beyond the base of the upstanding wall 112 with a thickness which corresponds with the thickness of the outer wall of the housing part at the interface end of the cartridge.
• the end cap also includes an upstanding locating pin 122 which aligns with a corresponding locating hole 128 in the plug to help establish their relative location during assembly.
• the dividing wall element 36 comprises a single moulding of polypropylene and includes a dividing wall 130 and a collar 132 formed by projections from the dividing wall 130 in the direction towards the interface end of the cartridge.
• the dividing wall element 36 has a central opening 134 through which the outlet tube 38 passes (i.e. the dividing wall is arranged around the outlet tube 38).
• the dividing wall element 36 may be integrally formed with the outlet tube 38.
• the dividing wall 130 prevents the plug from being pushed too far into the housing part 32 - i.e. the dividing wall 130 is fixedly located along the longitudinal axis of the cartridge by the protrusions 66 in the housing part and so provides the plug with a fixed surface to push against.
• the collar 132 formed by projections from the dividing wall includes a first pair of opposing projections / tongues 134 which engage with corresponding recesses on an inner surface of the outer wall 102 of the plug 44.
• the protrusions from the dividing wall 130 further provide a pair of cradle sections 136 configured to engage with corresponding ones of the cradle sections 112 in the part 44 when the cartridge is assembled to further define the opening through which the aerosolisable material transport element passes.
• an air channel extending from the air inlet 50 to the aerosol outlet 60 through the cartridge is formed.
• a first section of the air channel is provided by the gap 76 formed by the double-walled section 74 in the outer wall 64 of the housing part 32 and extends from the air inlet 50 towards the interface end 54 of the cartridge and past the plug 44.
• a second portion of the air channel is provided by the gap between the base of the plug 44 and the end cap 48.
• a third portion of the air channel is provided by the hole 106 through the plug 44.
• a fourth portion of the air channel is provided by the region within the inner wall 104 of the plug and the outlet tube around the vaporiser 40.
• This fourth portion of the air channel may also be referred to as an aerosol/aerosol generation region, it being the primary region in which aerosol is generated during use.
• the air channel from the air inlet 50 to the aerosol generation region may be referred to as an air inlet section of the air channel.
• a fifth portion of the air channel is provided by the remainder of the outlet tube 38.
• a sixth portion of the air channel is provided by the outer housing inner tube 62 which connects the air channel to the aerosol outlet 60.
• the air channel from the aerosol generation region to be the aerosol outlet may be referred to as an aerosol outlet section of the air channel.
• a reservoir 31 for aerosolisable material is formed by the space outside the air channel and inside the housing part 32. This may be filled during manufacture, for example through a filling hole which is then sealed, or by other means.
• the specific nature of the aerosolisable material for example in terms of its composition, is not of primary significance to the principles described herein, and in general any conventional aerosolisable material of the type normally used in electronic cigarettes may be used.
• the present disclosure may refer to a liquid as the aerosolisable material, which as mentioned above may be a conventional e-liquid.
• any aerosolisable material which has the ability to flow, and may include a liquid, a gel, or a solid, where for a solid a plurality of solid particles may be considered to have the ability to flow when considered as a bulk.
• the reservoir is closed at the interface end of the cartridge by the plug 44.
• the reservoir includes a first region above the dividing wall 130 and a second region below the dividing wall 130 within the space formed between the air channel and the outer wall of the plug.
• the aerosolisable material transport element (capillary wick) 42 passes through openings in the wall of the air channel provided by the semi-circular recesses 108, 90 in the plug 44 and the outlet tube 38 and the cradle sections 112, 136 in the plug 44 and the dividing wall element 36 that engage with one another as discussed above.
• the ends of the aerosolisable material transport element extend into the second region of the reservoir from which they draw aerosolisable material through the openings in the air channel to the vaporiser 40 for subsequent vaporisation.
• the cartridge 2 is coupled to the control unit 4 and the control unit activated to supply power to the cartridge via the contact electrodes 46 in the end cap 48. Power then passes through the connection leads 41 to the vaporiser 40.
• the vaporiser is thus electrically heated and so vaporises a portion of the aerosolisable material from the aerosolisable material transport element in the vicinity of the vaporiser. This generates aerosol in the aerosol generation region of the air path. Aerosolisable material that is vaporised from the aerosolisable material transport element is replaced by more aerosolisable material drawn from the reservoir by capillary action. While the vaporiser is activated, a user inhales on the mouthpiece end 52 of the cartridge.
• a cartridge for an aerosol provision system may generally comprise a housing part having a mouthpiece end and an interface end, wherein the mouthpiece end includes an aerosol outlet for the cartridge and the interface end includes an interface for coupling the cartridge to a control unit.
• An air channel wall (which may be formed by various components of the cartridge) extends from an air inlet for the cartridge to the aerosol outlet via an aerosol generation region in the vicinity of a vaporiser.
• the cartridge has a reservoir within the housing part containing aerosolisable material for aerosolisation.
• the reservoir is defined by a region within the housing part which is outside the air channel and an end of the reservoir at the interface end of the housing part is sealed by a resilient plug comprising a base part and an outer wall, wherein the outer wall of the resilient plug forms a seal with an inner surface of the housing part.
• a resilient plug comprising a base part and an outer wall, wherein the outer wall of the resilient plug forms a seal with an inner surface of the housing part.
• FIG. 7A-7B and Figures 8A-8C there is shown schematically a modified cartridge 200 for use with a control unit 400 shown in Figures 7A-7B to form an aerosol provision system in accordance with certain embodiments of the disclosure.
• the cartridge 200 shown in Figures 7A and 7B is based on the construction of the cartridge 2 shown in Figures 1-6B in many respects, and comprises similar components as set out by the reference numerals that are common to both sets of Figures.
• the cartridge 200 defines a reservoir 31 which extends around an aerosol outlet tube 38;62.
• the reservoir 31 may be annular, and is configured for containing aerosolisable material for aerosolising.
• the cartridge 200 also employs an air inlet 50 which then forms an air channel which extends ultimately to an aerosol outlet / mouthpiece outlet 60 via an aerosol generation region 43 of the cartridge 200.
• the cartridge also employs a vaporiser 40 for vaporising the aerosolisable material, and there may be provided an aerosolisable material transport element 42 for facilitating the transport of aerosolisable material from the reservoir 31 to the vaporiser 40.
• the vaporiser 40 is located on an underside surface of the aerosolisable material transport element 42. In this way, the incoming air from the air inlet 50 mixes with aerosol generated from the vaporiser 40 to form an aerosol at the underside of the aerosolisable material transport element 42 in the aerosol generation region 43.
• the formed aerosol then passes from the underside of the aerosolisable material transport element 42, past a gap located on two sides of the aerosolisable material transport element 42 and then up through the aerosol outlet tube 38;62 to the aerosol outlet / mouthpiece outlet 60, as depicted by the dotted arrow path in Figure 8C .
• a further explanation of this vaporising system is as described in WO 2022/018403 , whose contents are incorporated by reference, whereby the porous member 16 / basin 20 as described in WO 2022/018403 corresponds to the aerosolisable material transport element 42 as herein described and as shown in Figures 8A-8C .
• this aerosolisable-material-level observation means 210 is shown in each of Figures 7A-8C , in so far as it defines a band 212 of translucent or transparent material 213. In this way, the band 212 extends around a perimeter P1 of the reservoir 31 for allowing the level of aerosolisable material inside the reservoir 31 to be observed through the band 212.
• a cartridge 200 for an aerosol provision system comprising the cartridge 200 and a control unit 400, wherein the system comprises a vaporiser 40 for vaporising an aerosolisable material, wherein the cartridge 200 comprises:
• the band 212 may preferably be annular, as shown in the embodiments shown in Figures 7A-8C for example. Phrased differently, it may be seen that the band may extend around the complete perimeter P1 of the reservoir 31.
• the band may be shaped to be fairly thin in its width direction W. By keeping the band relatively thin in this width direction, this better prevents the band 212 from encroaching into areas of the cartridge 200 where a user's lips might be typically expected to be located whilst the cartridge 200 is in use (i.e. the areas relating to the mouthpiece 37). In this way, and noting the band is intended to be translucent or transparent, this then better prevents the band from being smeared or obscured in use, for instance by lipstick or some other sticky residue (e.g. food or drink deposits) that might otherwise transfer onto the band from the user's mouth in use.
• sticky residue e.g. food or drink deposits
• the band 212 is to be discern the level of aerosolisable material inside the reservoir 31, being able to discern low levels of aerosolisable material inside the reservoir 31 is particularly advantageous. That being the case, locating the band as close to the end of the base/bottom end of the reservoir 31 (i.e. the end closest to the vaporiser 40) is advantageous, yet in such a way that the band 212 still remains visible even when the cartridge 200 is releasably engaged with the cartridge receiving section / receptacle from the associated control unit 400 from the aerosol provision system.
• the band 212 may comprise a first edge 214 located on a first side 212A of the band 212, and a second edge 216 located on a second side 212B of the band 212 which is opposite the first side 212A of the band 212.
• the first edge 214 may be adjacent to the second end 37B of the mouthpiece 37.
• this in some embodiments may have an additional advantage in at least partially defining the start of an air inlet channel A1 for allowing air to pass toward the air inlet 50 of the cartridge 200, when the cartridge 200 is releasably engaged with the cartridge receiving section / receptacle 8 from the associated control unit 400 from the aerosol provision system.
• this may arise through the band 212 being configured to be adjacent to the cartridge receiving section 8 when the cartridge receiving section 8 is releasably engaging the portion of the cartridge with the control unit 400.
• the air inlet channel A1 is configured to be defined between the portion of the cartridge 200 which is releasably engaged with the cartridge receiving section 8 when the cartridge receiving section 8 is releasably engaging the portion of the cartridge 200 with the control unit 400. In this way, air may be allowed to pass through the air inlet channel A1, via a gap G defined between the portion of the cartridge and the cartridge receiving section 8, and then into the air inlet 50 of the cartridge 200 at the bottom end of the cartridge 200.
• this may help in terms of the second edge 216 helping to prevent detritus or wind driven rain from otherwise permeating into this air inlet channel A1 when the cartridge 200 is engaged with the control unit 400.
• the band may have any required shaped to facilitate any observing into the reservoir 31. That being said, in some embodiments (such as those shown in Figures 7A-8C ), the band 212 may define at least one, or a plurality of (such as a pair of) chevron shape(s) 218. The purpose of each such chevron shape 218 is to facilitate the band 212 to undulate about a length direction L of the cartridge 200 as the band extends around the perimeter P1 of the reservoir 31.
• the undulations in the band 212 may allow for a greater visibility along a greater portion of the overall length of the reservoir 31, to mean the user can better observe a greater number of levels L 1 ;L 2 ;L 3 of aerosolisable material inside the reservoir 31 - all via a single band 212. That is, in comparison to a band 212 whose position about the length direction L of the cartridge 200 otherwise does not vary as the band extends around the perimeter of the reservoir 31.
• the undulating band may comprise two peak portions 220 and two trough portions 222, whereby the peak portions 220 are located on a first set of opposing sides 224A;224B of the cartridge 200. In this way, the trough portions 222 may be then located on a second set of opposing sides 224C;224D of the cartridge.
• the band 212 effectively defines a defines a pair of chevron shapes 218, wherein each chevron shape 218 is effectively pointed towards the outlet 60 of the cartridge 200. This is beneficial, since this shape then better matches the shape of the second, bottom, end 37B of the mouthpiece 37, and hence better matches with the generally curved shape of the first end of the mouthpiece 37A.
• the band 212 comprises a substantially uniform width W as the band 212 extends around the perimeter of the reservoir.
• the width of the band 212 in accordance with some embodiments may not change as the band 212 extends around the perimeter P1 of the reservoir 31 ,as can be seen in the embodiments relating to Figures 7A-8C for example.
• the band may be symmetrical, for instance by having at least one (or two) planes of symmetry SYM 1 ;SYM 2 , or by having at least one degree of rotation symmetry. Such symmetry may also then facilitate the cartridge being inserted 200 about two different orientations O 1 ;O 2 in use, relative to the control unit 400.
• the band 212 may preferably be configured to comprise an outermost surface 213 which is flush with an outermost surface 408 of the cartridge receiving section 8 from the control unit 8, and/or flush with an outermost surface 37C of the mouthpiece 37.
• the band 212 ideally forms a first wall portion of the reservoir 31. In this way, the user then only has to observe through a single piece of material (i.e. the band 212) to be able to observe inside the reservoir 31, rather than otherwise then needing to observe through multiple pieces of material. Related to this, keeping the thickness of the band to be as thin as possible has been found to further facilitate any viewing through the band 212.
• such materials may be made of glass or plastic. That being said, the provision of plastic for these parts of the cartridge 200 makes the cartridge 200 lightweight and easy to manufacture.
• a cartridge for an aerosol provision system comprising the cartridge and a control unit, wherein the system comprises a vaporiser for vaporising an aerosolisable material, wherein the cartridge comprises:
• an aerosol provision system comprising:
• a cartridge 200 for an aerosol provision system 1 comprising the cartridge 200 and a control unit 400.
• the cartridge comprises a reservoir 31 for containing an aerosolisable material for aerosolising, and an aerosolisable-material-level observation means for allowing a user to observe a level of aerosolisable material inside the reservoir 31.
• the observation means 210 defines a band 212 of translucent or transparent material, and extends around a perimeter P1 of the reservoir 31 for allowing the level of aerosolisable material inside the reservoir 31 to be observed through the band 212.
• the band 212 may be an undulating band which undulates about a length direction of the cartridge 200 as the band 212 extends around the perimeter P1 of the reservoir 31, or in some cases the band 212 may define at least one chevron shape 218.

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• 2024
  • 2024-03-05 EP EP24386024.4A patent/EP4613126A1/fr active Pending

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