TWI830798B - Smoking substitute consumable, aerosol-forming article, smoking substitute system, and method of using smoking substitute system - Google Patents

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to aerosol-forming article comprising an aerosol-forming substrate wherein the aerosol-forming substrate comprises a pre-formed axially-extending recess adapted to receive an external heating element.

Description

Smoking substitute consumables, smoke-forming articles, smoking substitute systems, and use of smoking Smoke replacement system methods

The present disclosure relates to consumables for use in alternative smoking systems, and in particular (but not exclusively) to heat-not-burn (HNB) consumables.

It is generally believed that smoking tobacco exposes smokers to potentially harmful substances. It is generally believed that a large number of potentially harmful substances are produced by the heat caused by the combustion and/or ignition of burning tobacco components in tobacco and the tobacco smoke itself.

Conventional combustible smoking articles (such as cigarettes) generally include a cylindrical tobacco rod and usually also include a cylindrical filter. The cylindrical tobacco rod includes shredded tobacco surrounded by a wrapper, and the filter is formed with the wrapped tobacco rod. axially aligned in adjacent relationship. Filters generally include filter material enclosed by a plug. The wrapped tobacco rod and filter are joined together by a wrapped tipping tape that encompasses the entire length of the filter and adjacent portions of the wrapped tobacco rod. Such conventional cigarettes are used by lighting the end opposite the filter and burning the tobacco rod. Smokers receive mainstream smoke into their mouths by puffing on the mouth end or filter end of a cigarette.

The ignition of organic materials, such as tobacco, is known to produce tar and other potentially harmful by-products. Various smoking alternative systems (or "alternative smoking systems") have been proposed to avoid smoking tobacco.

Such smoking replacement systems could form part of nicotine replacement therapy for people who wish to stop smoking and overcome their dependence on nicotine.

Smoking alternative systems include electronic systems that allow users to simulate the action of smoking by generating smoke (also called "vapor") that is drawn into the lungs through the mouth (inhalation) and then exhaled. Inhaled smoke typically contains nicotine and/or flavoring, which has none or fewer of the odors and health risks associated with traditional smoking.

Generally speaking, smoking alternative systems aim to provide an alternative to the smoking ritual while providing a similar experience to users and providing satisfaction to those who have experience with traditional smoking and combustible tobacco products. Some smoking alternative systems use a smoking alternative article that is designed to resemble a traditional cigarette and is cylindrical in form with a mouthpiece at one end.

Over the past few years, the popularity and use of smoking replacement systems has grown rapidly. Although originally marketed as an aid to assist habitual smokers who wish to quit smoking tobacco, consumers are increasingly viewing smoking replacement systems as desirable lifestyle accessories.

There are many different categories of smoking replacement systems, each utilizing different smoking replacement methods.

One method used in alternative smoking systems is the so-called "heat not burn" ("HNB") method, in which tobacco (rather than "electricity") is Sub-liquid") is heated or warmed to release vapor. The tobacco may be tobacco leaves or reconstituted tobacco. The vapor may contain nicotine and/or flavorings. In the HNB method, the intention is that the tobacco is heated but not burned, ie the tobacco does not undergo ignition.

A typical HNB smoking replacement system may include equipment and consumables. Consumables may include tobacco materials. Equipment and consumables can be configured to be physically coupled together. In use, heat may be imparted to the tobacco material by heating means of the device, wherein the flow of air through the tobacco material causes moisture in the tobacco material to be released as vapor. The vapor may also be formed from a carrier in the tobacco material and additional volatile compounds released from the tobacco (the carrier may include, for example, propylene glycol and/or vegetable glycerin). The released vapor can become entrained in the air flow drawn through the tobacco.

As the vapor passes through the filament (entrained in the air flow) from the inlet to the mouthpiece (outlet), the vapor cools and condenses to form aerosol for inhalation by the user. Smoke will typically contain volatile compounds.

In the HNB smoking alternative system, it is believed that heating rather than burning the tobacco material results in fewer or smaller amounts of the more harmful compounds typically produced during smoking. Thus, the HNB approach can reduce odor and/or health risks that may be caused by combustion, ignition, and pyrolytic degradation of tobacco.

Improvements in the design of HNB consumables are needed to enhance the user experience and improve the functionality of HNB smoking replacement systems.

This disclosure has been designed with the above considerations in mind.

In the broadest sense, the present disclosure relates to an aerosol-forming article (eg, a smoking alternative article, such as an HNB consumable including an aerosol-forming substrate adapted to facilitate deployment of an elongated heating member).

According to a first aspect, the present invention provides an aerosol-forming article (such as a smoking alternative article, such as an HNB consumable), the aerosol-forming article comprising an aerosol-forming substrate, wherein the aerosol-forming substrate includes a preheated element adapted to receive an external heating member. axially extending notch formed.

By providing an aerosol-forming substrate with a preformed (i.e., formed during manufacture of the article rather than during insertion of the external heater) axially extending recess for receiving an external heating member, smoking with an external heater Users of alternative systems can easily position the heater correctly in the aerosol-forming substrate and penetrate the aerosol-forming substrate with reduced resistance from the aerosol-forming substrate.

The optional features are now listed. These features are applicable individually or in any combination with any aspect.

As used herein, the terms "upstream" and "downstream" are intended to refer to the direction of flow of vapor/smoke, i.e. where the downstream end of the consumable is the mouth end or outlet where the smoke leaves the consumable for inhalation by the user flow direction. The upstream end of the consumable is the opposite end of the downstream end.

To generate aerosol, the aerosol-forming substrate includes at least one volatile compound that is intended to be vaporized/aerosolized and that can provide recreational and/or medical benefits to the user when inhaled. Suitable chemically and/or physiologically active volatile compounds include the following Groups of items: nicotine, cocaine, caffeine, opium and opiates, norpseudoephedrine and cathinone, kava lactone, myristyl ether, beta-carboline alkaloids, salvino Salvinorin A, and any combination, functional equivalent, and/or synthetic substitute of the foregoing items.

The aerosol-forming substrate includes, at least in part, plant material. The plant material may include at least one plant material selected from a list including: Amaranthus dubius, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (bearberry), Argemone mexicana , Amica , Artemisia vulgaris , Yellow Tees, Galea zacatechichi , Canavalia maritima (canavalia maritima) , Cecropia mexicana (Guamura), Cestrum noctumum , Cynoglossum virginianum (Cynoglossum virginianum), Cytisus scoparius , Damiana , Entada rheedii, Eschscholzia califomica (flower root), Fittonia albivenis , Hippobroma longiflora, Humulus japonica (Japanese hop), Humulus lupulus (Hops), Lactuca virosa (Poisonous Lettuce) , Laggera alata , Leonotis leonurus , Leonurus cardiaca (Leonurus), Leonurus sibiricus (Honeyweed), Lobelia cardinalis , Lobelia inflata (Indian tobacco), Lobelia siphilitica , Nepeta cataria (False Nepeta), Nicotiana species (Tobacco), Nymphaea alba (White Lily), Nymphaea caerulea (Blue Lily), Poppy, Passiflora incamata (Passion Flower), Pedicularis densiflora (Indian Warrior), Pedicularis groenlandica (Elephant Head), Salvia divinorum , Salvia dorrii (tobacco sage), Salvia species (sage), Scutellaria galericulata , Scutellaria lateriflora , Scutellaria nana , Scutellaria species (head grass), Sida acuta (wire grass), Sida rhombifolia , Silene capensis, Syzygium aromaticum (clove ), Tagetes lucida (Mexican tarragon), Tarchonanthus camphoratus, Tumera diffusa (Mexican beet), Verbascum (mullein), Zamia latifolia (Zinnia (Maconha Brava)), and any combinations, functional equivalents, and /or synthetic alternatives.

Preferably, the plant material is tobacco. Any type of tobacco can be used. This includes, but is not limited to, flue-cured, burley, Maryland, dark-cured, oriental, dark-cured, perique, and goldenrod. This also includes mixtures of the tobaccos mentioned above.

Any suitable part of the tobacco plant may be used. This includes leaves, stems, roots, bark, seeds and flowers.

Tobacco may include one or more of the following: leaf tobacco, stem tobacco, tobacco powder, tobacco dust, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, homogenized tobacco, chopped tobacco, extruded tobacco, cut tobacco, and/or reconstituted tobacco Tobacco (e.g. pulp reconstitution or paper reconstitution).

The aerosol-forming substrate may comprise aggregated sheets of homogeneous (eg paper/pulp composite) tobacco or aggregated fragments/strands formed from such sheets.

In some embodiments, the sheet used to form the aerosol-forming substrate has a grammage per square meter greater than or equal to 100 g/m ² , such as greater than or equal to 110 g/m ² , such as greater than or equal to 120 g/m ² .

The sheet may have a grammage per square meter of less than or equal to 300 g/m ² , such as less than or equal to 250 g/m ² or less than or equal to 200 g/m ² .

The sheet may have a grammage per square meter between 120 and 190 g/ ^m2 .

The aerosol-forming substrate may include extruded tobacco, which may be produced by forming a liquid of powdered tobacco and a binder, such as a gum (e.g., xanthan, guar, acacia, and/or carob gum) mixture to produce. The liquid mixture is heated and then extruded through a die to form a tubular extrudate.

The aerosol-forming substrate may comprise at least 50 weight percent plant material, such as at least 60 weight percent plant material, such as about 65 weight percent plant material. The aerosol-forming substrate may include 80 weight percent or less plant material, such as 75 or 70 weight percent or less plant material.

The aerosol-forming substrate may include one or more additives selected from the group consisting of humectants, flavorings, fillers, aqueous/non-aqueous solvents, and binders.

Moisturizers are provided as vapor generators - the vapor generated helps carry volatile active compounds and increases visible vapor. Suitable humectants include polyols (such as propylene glycol (PG), triethylene glycol, 1,2-butanediol, and vegetable glycerin (VG)) and their esters (such as glyceryl monoacetate, glyceryl diacetate, or glyceryl diacetate). triacetin). They may be present in the aerosol-forming substrate in an amount between 1 and 50 weight percent.

The humectant content of the aerosol-forming substrate may have a lower limit of at least 1 weight percent, such as at least 2 weight percent, such as at least 5 weight percent, such as at least 10 weight percent, such as at least 20 weight percent, such as at least 30 weight percent, of the plant material. Or for example at least 40 weight percent.

The humectant content of the aerosol-forming substrate may have an upper limit of at most 50% by weight of the plant material, such as at most 40% by weight, such as at most 30% by weight, or for example at most 20% by weight.

Preferably, the humectant content is from 1 to 40 weight percent of the aerosol-forming substrate, for example from 1 to 20 weight percent.

Suitable adhesives are known in the art and can be used to bind together the components of the aerosol-forming substrate. Binders may include starch and/or cellulose binders (such as methylcellulose, ethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, and methylcellulose), gums (such as xanthan gum, Guar gum, acacia gum, and/or carob gum), organic acids, and their salts (such as alginic acid/sodium alginate, agar, and pectin).

Preferably, the binder content is 5 to 10 weight percent of the aerosol-forming substrate, for example about 6 to 8 weight percent.

Suitable fillers are known in the art and can be used to strengthen the aerosol-forming substrate. Fillers may include fibrous (non-tobacco) fillers such as cellulosic fibers, lignocellulosic fibers (eg, wood fibers), jute fibers, and combinations of the foregoing.

Preferably, the filler content is 5 to 10 weight percent of the aerosol-forming substrate, for example about 6 to 9 weight percent.

The aerosol-forming substrate may include aqueous and/or non-aqueous solvents. In some embodiments, the aerosol-forming substrate has a water content of between 5 and 10 weight percent (eg, between 6-9 weight percent, such as between 7-9 weight percent).

Seasonings can be provided in solid or liquid form. This may include menthol, licorice, chocolate, fruit flavors (including, for example, citrus, cherry, etc.), vanilla, spices (eg, ginger, cinnamon), and tobacco flavors. The flavoring may be evenly dispersed/distributed throughout the aerosol forming substrate, for example the flavoring may be added to the liquid mixture of plant material prior to extrusion.

The aerosol-forming substrate can be formed in a substantially cylindrical shape such that the consumable resembles a conventional cigarette. It may have a diameter of between 5 and 10 mm (for example between 6 and 9 mm or between 6 and 8 mm, for example about 7 mm).

It may have an axial length of between 10 and 15 mm.

The aerosol-forming substrate may have an axial length of between 10 and 15 mm. The axially extending recess may extend up to the entire axial length of the aerosol-forming substrate, for example it may have an axial length of between 10 and 15 mm. In other embodiments, the axially extending recess may have an axial downstream end that terminates within the aerosol-generating substrate. The axially upstream end of the axially extending notch is located at the axially upstream end of the article/consumable. The axial distance between the upstream and downstream axial ends of the axially extending recess may be greater than 1 mm, for example greater than 2 mm or 3 mm or 4 mm or 5 mm or 6 mm or 7 mm or 8 mm or 9 mm.

The axially extending recess in the aerosol-generating substrate may have a substantially circular radial cross-section at an upstream axial end of the axially extending recess and may have a diameter of between 1 and 3 mm (eg, about 2 mm) .

The axially upstream end of the axially extending recess may be provided at the axial center of the upstream axial end of the aerosol-forming substrate.

The axially extending recess may have a substantially uniform radial cross-section along the axial length of the axially extending recess (e.g., wherein the downstream axial end has substantially the same cross-sectional shape/area as the upstream axial end), or The axially extending recess may be tapered to a reduced cross-sectional area/diameter at the downstream axial end. For example, an axially extending notch may taper to a point.

The axially extending recess may be formed by debossing the upstream axial end of the aerosol-forming substrate, or the aerosol-forming substrate may be formed around a removable insert that once removed Just leave the notch shape.

The aerosol-forming substrate may be surrounded by a wrapper, such as a paper wrapper. The wrapping layer may cover the inner foil layer, or may include a paper/foil laminate structure (with the foil being innermost).

The article/consumable may include at least one filter member. There may be a terminal filter member at the downstream/oral end of the article/consumable. There may be upstream filtering components upstream of the terminal filtering component. The terminal filter member and the upstream filter member may be axially adjacent or axially spaced apart from each other. The upstream filter element may be surrounded by a (paper) wrapping layer.

The filter member or at least one of the filter members (eg, terminal filter member and/or upstream filter member) may include cellulose acetate or polypropylene fiber tows. The filter member or at least one of the filter members (eg, terminal filter member and/or upstream filter member) may include activated carbon. The filter member or at least one of the filter members (eg, terminal filter member and/or upstream filter member) may comprise paper. The filter member or at least one of the filter members (eg, terminal filter member and/or upstream filter member) may comprise extruded plant material. The or each filter member may be at least partially (eg completely) enclosed by a plug (eg a paper plug).

The or each filter member may have a substantially cylindrical shape, with a diameter that substantially matches the diameter of the aerosol-forming substrate (with or without its associated wrapping layer). The or each filter member may have an axial length of less than 20 mm, such as between 8 and 15 mm, such as between 9 and 13 mm, such as between 10 and 12 mm.

The filter member or at least one of the filter members may be a solid filter member. The filter member or at least one of the filter members may be a hollow pore filter member. The hollow cavity filter or each Each hollow pore filter member may have a pore diameter of between 1 and 5 mm (eg between 2 and 4 mm or between 2 and 3 mm).

The terminal filter member (located at the downstream end of the article/consumable) may be joined to the upstream member forming the article/consumable by a surrounding binding layer (eg, a layer of binding paper). The tipping paper may have an axial length that is greater than the axial length of the terminal filtration member such that the tipping paper completely surrounds the terminal filtration member plus the wrapping around any adjacent upstream members.

The filter member or at least one of the filter members (e.g. a terminal filter member) may comprise a capsule (e.g. a crushable capsule (crushing ball)) containing a liquid flavoring (e.g. as described above) liquid seasoning as described above). The capsules can be crushed by the user during smoking of the consumable to release the flavoring. The capsule may be located at the axial center of the terminal filter member.

In some embodiments, the article/consumable may include an aerosol cooling member adapted to cool aerosol generated (by heat exchange) from the aerosol-forming substrate prior to inhalation by a user.

The smoke cooling member will be located downstream of the smoke forming substrate. For example, it may be located between the aerosol-forming substrate and the upstream filter member and/or between two filter members. The smoke cooling member may be at least partially (eg completely) surrounded by a (paper) wrapping layer.

The smoke cooling member may be formed from a plastic material selected from the group consisting of: polylactic acid (PLA), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) ). The smoke cooling member may be formed from sheets of rolled/gathered material to form A structure with high surface area and multiple longitudinal channels to maximize heat exchange and cooling of the smoke.

The article/consumable may include a spacing member defining a space or cavity between the aerosol-forming substrate and the downstream end of the consumable. The spacing member may comprise a cardboard tube. It may be provided between the aerosol-forming substrate and the upstream filter member and/or between two filter members. The spacing members may be surrounded by a (paper) wrapping layer.

The spacing member may have an outer diameter of between 5 and 10 mm, such as between 6 and 9 mm or between 6 and 8 mm, such as about 7 mm. It may have an axial length of between 10 and 15 mm, such as between 12 and 14 mm or 13 and 14 mm, such as about 14 mm.

In a second aspect, a system is provided that includes an article/consumable as described in the first aspect, and a device including a heating member.

The device may be a HNB device, ie a device adapted to heat but not ignite the smoke-forming substrate.

The device may include a body for housing the heating member. The heating member may include an elongated (eg, rod-shaped, tube-shaped, or blade-shaped) heating member. The heating member may project into or surround the cavity within the body for receiving article/consumables.

The cross-section of the axially extending recess of the aerosol-forming substrate may substantially match the cross-sectional area of the elongated heater. For example, where the heater is a rod/tube heater, the diameter of the axially extending recess may substantially match the diameter of the rod/tube heater.

The device (eg the body) may further comprise a power source (eg a (rechargeable) battery) for powering the heating member. It may further include a control unit to control the power supply to the heating member.

In a third aspect, there is provided a method of using the system of the second aspect, the method comprising the steps of: inserting the article/consumable into the device such that the heating member is received in the aerosol forming in the axially extending recess of the substrate; and using the heating member to heat the article/consumable.

The skilled person will understand that, except where mutually exclusive, features or parameters described with respect to any one of the above aspects may be applied to any other aspect. Furthermore, except where mutually exclusive, any feature or parameter described herein may be applied in any aspect and/or combined with any other feature or parameter described herein.

1: Consumables

2:Smoke forming substrate

3: Wrapping layer

4: Filter components

5: Filter components

6: Cardboard spacer tube

7: Connecting layer

8:Capsule

9: Annular gap

10:HNB equipment

11:Cavity

12:Subject

13: Axial extension notch

20:Heating rod

1': consumables

1": Consumables

13': Axial extension notch

13": Axial extension notch

2':Smoke forming substrate

Embodiments illustrating the principles of the invention, enabling an understanding of the invention, and enabling understanding of further aspects and features of the invention will now be discussed in more detail, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows an HNB A first embodiment of a consumable; Figure 2 shows a second embodiment of an HNB consumable; Figure 3 shows a third embodiment of an HNB consumable; and Figure 4 shows a first embodiment within a device forming an HNB system.

As shown in FIG. 1 , the HNB consumable 1 includes an aerosol-forming substrate 2 at the upstream end of the consumable 1 .

The aerosol-forming substrate 2 includes rod-shaped tobacco extrudates, and 20% by weight of a humectant (such as propylene glycol (PG) or vegetable glycerin (VG)) is added.

The aerosol-forming substrate 2 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape so that the consumable resembles a conventional cigarette. It has a diameter of approximately 7 mm and an axial length of approximately 12 mm. The extrudate includes an axially extending recess with an axially upstream end located at an axially upstream end of the aerosol-forming substrate 2 . The axially extending recess 13 extends up to approximately one third of the length of the aerosol-forming substrate 2 and therefore has an axial length of approximately 4 mm. It has a bore diameter of approximately 2 mm and a blunt downstream axial end.

The aerosol-generating substrate 2 is surrounded by a paper wrapping layer 3 .

The consumable 1 includes an upstream filter member 4 and a downstream (terminal) filter member 5 . The two filter elements 4, 5 are separated by a cardboard spacer tube 6. The two filter elements 4, 5 are formed from cellulose acetate fiber bundles and are wrapped with corresponding paper plug layers (not shown).

Both filter members have a substantially cylindrical shape. The diameter of the upstream filter 4 matches the diameter of the aerosol forming substrate 2 . The diameter of the terminal filter member 5 is slightly larger and matches the combined diameter of the aerosol-forming substrate 2 and wrapping layer 3 . The axial length of the upstream filter element is slightly shorter than that of the terminal filter element, and is 10 mm in axial length compared to 12 mm of the terminal filter element.

The cardboard tube spacers are longer than each of the two filter sections and have an axial length of approximately 14 mm.

Each filter element 4,5 is a hollow pore filter element having a hollow, longitudinally extending pore cavity. The diameter of the pores in the upstream filter is slightly larger than the diameter of the pores in the final filter and has a diameter of 3 mm compared to 2 mm of the final filter member.

The cardboard spacer tube 6 and the upstream filter section 4 are surrounded by the wrapping layer 3 .

The final filter element 5 is joined to the upstream element forming the consumable by means of a surrounding paper binding layer 7 . The tipping layer 7 surrounds the terminal filter section and has an axial length of approximately 20 mm so that it covers part of the cardboard tube spacer 6 .

Figure 2 shows a second embodiment of a consumable 1', which is the same as that shown in Figure 1, except that the final filter element 5 is a solid filter element and includes a crushable capsule 8 (crush balls), the crushable capsules have shell walls and contain liquid menthol or cherry or vanilla flavorings. The capsule 8 is spherical and has a diameter of 3.5 mm. It is positioned in the axial center of the terminal filter section 5 . The capsule 8 may be omitted from the embodiment of FIG. 2 and may be included in the embodiment of FIG. 1 . The axially extending recess 13' in the embodiment of Figure 2 tapers from a diameter of approximately 2 mm to a diameter of approximately 1 mm.

Figure 3 shows a third embodiment of the consumable 1", which is the same as the first embodiment, except for the following conditions: the wrapping layer 3 does not completely surround the cardboard spacer tube 6, so that there is a gap between the connecting layer 7 and the wrapping layer 3 Cardboard downstream of end An annular gap 9 exists between the spacer tubes 6 . Also, the axially extending recess 13" tapers from a diameter of approximately 2 mm to a point. Finally, the extruded tobacco rod is replaced with an aerosol-forming substrate 2', which aerosol-forming substrate includes 65% by weight of tobacco that is Supplied in the form of aggregated chips produced from a piece of pulp/paper reconstituted tobacco. The tobacco has an added humectant (such as propylene glycol (PG) or vegetable glycerin) of 20% by weight and has a moisture content of between 7-9% by weight. gas content. The smoke-forming substrate also includes cellulose pulp filler and guar gum binder.

Figure 4 shows a first embodiment inserted into a HNB device 10, which HNB device includes a rod-shaped heating member (not shown). The heating member projects into a cavity 11 within the body 12 of the device.

The consumable 1 is inserted into the cavity 11 of the body 12 of the device 10 so that the heating rod 20 is received in the axially extending recess 13 of the aerosol-forming substrate 2 . Heating of the reconstituted tobacco in the aerosol-forming substrate 2 is achieved by energizing the heating means, for example with a rechargeable battery (not shown). As the tobacco heats, moisture and volatile compounds (such as nicotine) within the tobacco and humectant are released as vapor and become entrained in the air flow generated by the inhalation by the user at the terminal filter section 5 .

As the vapor cools within the upstream filter member 4 and cardboard spacer 6, it condenses to form a smoke containing volatile compounds for inhalation by the user.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or in the following claims, or in the drawings may be used individually or in any combination of such features to implement the invention in its various forms, as the case may be. Expressed in their specific form or in terms of means for performing a disclosed function, or a method or process for obtaining a disclosed result.

While the invention has been described in connection with the above-described exemplary embodiments, many equivalent variations and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art given this disclosure. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments of the invention set forth above are to be regarded as illustrative and not restrictive. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

For the avoidance of any doubt, any theoretical explanations provided in this article are provided for the purpose of improving the reader's understanding. The inventors do not wish to be bound by any of these theoretical explanations.

Any section headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not to be construed as limiting the subject matter described.

Throughout this specification (including the claims below), unless the context requires otherwise, the words "have," "includes," and "includes," and variations thereof will be understood to imply the inclusion of stated integers or steps. , or a group of integers or steps, but does not exclude any other integer or step, or group of integers or steps.

It must be noted that, as used in this specification and the accompanying claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Ranges may be expressed herein as from "about" one particular value and/or to "about" another particular value. When such ranges are expressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular value and /or to that other specific value. Similarly, when a value is expressed as an approximation by use of the antecedent "about," it will be understood that the particular value forms another embodiment. The word "about" with respect to a numerical value is optional and means, for example, +/-10%.

The words "preferred" and "preferably" are used herein to refer to embodiments of the invention that may provide certain benefits under certain circumstances. However, it is to be understood that other embodiments may be preferred under the same or different circumstances. Therefore, recitation of one or more preferred embodiments does not mean or imply that other embodiments are not useful, and is not intended to exclude other embodiments from the scope of the present disclosure or from the scope of the claims.

1: Consumables

2:Smoke forming substrate

3: Wrapping layer

4: Filter components

5: Filter components

6: Cardboard spacer tube

7: Connecting layer

10:HNB equipment

11:Cavity

12:Subject

13: Axial extension notch

20:Heating rod

Claims (10)

An aerosol-forming article includes an aerosol-forming base material, a filter member, and a terminal mouth filter member. The aerosol-forming base material is located at an axial upstream end of the article. The filter member is located at the aerosol-forming base. downstream of and axially adjacent the aerosol-forming base material, the terminal mouth filter member is located at an axially downstream end of the article, wherein the aerosol-forming base material includes a preformed axially extending recess, The preformed axially extending recess has an axially downstream end terminating within the aerosol-forming substrate and is adapted to receive an external heating member, and wherein the filter member and the terminal mouth filter member are cooled by a cooling member or axially separated by spacers. The product as claimed in claim 1, wherein the product is a heat-not-burn consumable. The article of claim 1, wherein the axially extending recess has an upstream axial end and a downstream axial end, wherein the downstream axial end is spaced from the downstream axial end of the substrate. The article of claim 3, wherein the axial spacing between the upstream axial end and the downstream axial end of the axially extending recess is between 1 and 7 mm. The article of claim 3, wherein the axially extending recess has a substantially circular shape at an upstream axial end of the axially extending recess. Radial cross-section, the substantially circular radial cross-section having a diameter between 1 and 3 mm. The article of claim 3, wherein the axially extending recess has a substantially uniform radial cross-sectional area along the axial length of the axially extending recess. The article of claim 3, wherein the axially extending notch tapers to a reduced cross-sectional area/diameter at the downstream axial end. The article of claim 1, wherein the filter component and/or the terminal mouth filter component is a hollow cavity component. An alternative smoking system comprising an article as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, and an apparatus comprising an elongated heating member. A method of using the system of claim 9, the method comprising the steps of: inserting the article into the apparatus such that the heating member is received in the axially extending recess; and using the heating member to heat the products.