US20240180234A1

US20240180234A1 - Article for use in an aerosol provision system

Info

Publication number: US20240180234A1
Application number: US18/286,512
Authority: US
Inventors: Steven Holford; Chelsea BAILEY
Original assignee: Nicoventures Trading Ltd
Current assignee: Nicoventures Trading Ltd
Priority date: 2021-04-12
Filing date: 2022-04-12
Publication date: 2024-06-06
Also published as: JP2025143416A; KR20230170942A; CN117769362A; IL307588A; GB202105210D0; BR112023021262A2; CA3214944A1; EP4322777A1; AU2022259633A1; WO2022219318A1; MX2023011973A; JP2024517380A

Abstract

An article for use as or as part of a non-combustible aerosol provision system includes an aerosol generating material including at least one aerosol forming material, a hollow tubular member disposed downstream of the aerosol generating material, a first substantially cylindrical body disposed downstream of the hollow tubular body and a second substantially cylindrical body adjacent to and downstream of the first substantially cylindrical body, the second substantially cylindrical body being disposed at the mouth end of the article. A method of forming an article and a non-combustible aerosol provision system including the article are also provided.

Description

PRIORITY CLAIM

The present application is a National Phase entry of PCT Application No. PCT/GB2022/050909, filed Apr. 12, 2022, which claims priority from GB Application No. 2105210.5, filed Apr. 12, 2021, each of which hereby fully incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The following relates to an article for use in a non-combustible aerosol provision system, a method of forming an article and a non-combustible aerosol provision system including an article.

BACKGROUND

Certain tobacco industry products produce an aerosol during use, which is inhaled by a user. For example, tobacco heating devices heat an aerosol generating substrate such as tobacco to form an aerosol by heating, but not burning, the substrate. Such tobacco industry products commonly include mouthpieces through which the aerosol passes to reach the user's mouth.

SUMMARY

In some embodiments described herein, in a first aspect there is provided an article for use as or as part of a non-combustible aerosol provision system, the article comprising: an aerosol generating material comprising at least one aerosol forming material; a hollow tubular member disposed downstream of the aerosol generating material; a first substantially cylindrical body disposed downstream of the hollow tubular body; and a second substantially cylindrical body adjacent to and downstream of the first substantially cylindrical body, the second substantially cylindrical body being disposed at the mouth end of the article.
In some embodiments described herein, in a second aspect there is provided a method of forming an article according to the first aspect, the method comprising: providing an aerosol-generating material comprising at least one aerosol forming material; disposing a hollow tubular member downstream of the aerosol generating material; disposing a first substantially cylindrical body downstream of the hollow tubular body; and disposing a second substantially cylindrical body adjacent to and downstream of the first substantially cylindrical body, the second substantially cylindrical body being disposed at the mouth end of the article.
In some embodiments described herein, in a third aspect there is provided a system comprising: an article according to the first aspect above, and a non-combustible aerosol provision device comprising a heater.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an article for use as or as part of a non-combustible aerosol provision system, the article comprising a mouth end section comprising a cylindrical body.

FIG. 2 illustrates an article for use as or as part of a non-combustible aerosol provision system, the mouth end section comprising a capsule.

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a method of manufacturing an article.

FIG. 4 illustrates an article for use as or as part of a non-combustible aerosol provision system, including a tubular body between a tubular member and a first cylindrical body.

FIG. 5 is a perspective illustration of a non-combustible aerosol provision device for generating aerosol from the aerosol generating material of the articles of FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 .

FIG. 6 illustrates the device of FIG. 5 with the outer cover removed and without an article present.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the device of FIG. 6 in partial cross-section.

FIG. 8 is an exploded view of the device of FIG. 6 , with the outer cover omitted.

FIG. 9 a is a cross sectional view of a portion of the device of FIG. 6 .

FIG. 9 b is a close-up illustration of a region of the device of FIG. 9 a.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As used herein, the term “delivery system” is intended to encompass systems that deliver at least one substance to a user, and includes:

- combustible aerosol provision systems, such as cigarettes, cigarillos, cigars, and tobacco for pipes or for roll-your-own or for make-your-own cigarettes (whether based on tobacco, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco, tobacco substitutes or other smokable material);
- non-combustible aerosol provision systems that release compounds from an aerosol-generating material without combusting the aerosol-generating material, such as electronic cigarettes, tobacco heating products, and hybrid systems to generate aerosol using a combination of aerosol-generating materials; and
- aerosol-free delivery systems that deliver the at least one substance to a user orally, nasally, transdermally or in another way without forming an aerosol, including but not limited to, lozenges, gums, patches, articles comprising inhalable powders, and oral products such as oral tobacco which includes snus or moist snuff, wherein the at least one substance may or may not comprise nicotine.

According to the present disclosure, a “combustible” aerosol provision system is one where a constituent aerosol-generating material of the aerosol provision system (or component thereof) is combusted or burned during use in order to facilitate delivery of at least one substance to a user.
According to the present disclosure, 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.
In embodiments described herein, the delivery system is a non-combustible aerosol provision system, such as a powered non-combustible aerosol provision system.
In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision system is an electronic cigarette, also known as a vaping device or electronic nicotine delivery system (END), although it is noted that the presence of nicotine in the aerosol-generating material is not a requirement.
In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision system is an aerosol-generating material heating system, also known as a heat-not-burn system. An example of such a system is a tobacco heating system.
In one embodiment, the non-combustible aerosol provision system is a hybrid system to generate aerosol using a combination of aerosolizable materials, one or a plurality of which may be heated. Each of the aerosolizable materials may be, for example, in the form of a solid, liquid or gel and may or may not contain nicotine. In one embodiment, the hybrid system comprises a liquid or gel aerosolizable material and a solid aerosolizable material. The solid aerosolizable material may comprise, for example, tobacco or a non-tobacco product.
Typically, 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.
In some embodiments, the disclosure relates to consumables comprising aerosol-generating material and configured to be used with non-combustible aerosol provision devices. These consumables are sometimes referred to as articles throughout the disclosure.
A consumable is an article comprising or consisting of aerosol-generating material, part or all of which is intended to be consumed during use by a user. A consumable may comprise one or more other components, such as an aerosol-generating material storage area, an aerosol-generating material transfer component, an aerosol generation area, a housing, a wrapper, a mouthpiece, a filter and/or an aerosol-modifying agent. A consumable may also comprise an aerosol generator, such as a heater, that emits heat to cause the aerosol-generating material to generate aerosol in use. The heater may, for example, comprise combustible material, a material heatable by electrical conduction, or a susceptor.
In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision system, such as a non-combustible aerosol provision device thereof, may comprise a power source and a controller. The power source may, for example, be an electric power source or an exothermic power source. In some embodiments, the exothermic power source comprises a carbon substrate which may be energized so as to distribute power in the form of heat to an aerosol-generating material or to a heat transfer material in proximity to the exothermic power source.
In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision system may comprise an area for receiving the consumable, an aerosol generator, an aerosol generation area, a housing, a mouthpiece, a filter and/or an aerosol-modifying agent.
In some embodiments, the consumable for use with the non-combustible aerosol provision device may comprise aerosol-generating material, an aerosol-generating material storage area, an aerosol-generating material transfer component, an aerosol generator, an aerosol generation area, a housing, a wrapper, a filter, a mouthpiece, and/or an aerosol-modifying agent.
In some embodiments, the substance to be delivered may be an aerosol-generating material or a material that is not intended to be aerosolized. As appropriate, either material may comprise one or more active constituents, one or more flavors, one or more aerosol-former materials, and/or one or more other functional materials.
An aerosol generator is an apparatus configured to cause aerosol to be generated from the aerosol-generating material. In some embodiments, the aerosol generator is a heater configured to subject the aerosol-generating material to heat energy, so as to release one or more volatiles from the aerosol-generating material to form an aerosol. In some embodiments, the aerosol generator is configured to cause an aerosol to be generated from the aerosol-generating material without heating. For example, the aerosol generator may be configured to subject the aerosol-generating material to one or more of vibration, increased pressure, or electrostatic energy.
Aerosol-generating material is a material that is capable of generating aerosol, for example when heated, irradiated or energized in any other way. Aerosol-generating material may, for example, be in the form of a solid, liquid or gel which may or may not contain an active substance and/or flavorants. In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material may comprise an “amorphous solid”, which may alternatively be referred to as a “monolithic solid” (i.e. non-fibrous). In some embodiments, the amorphous solid may be a dried gel. The amorphous solid is a solid material that may retain some fluid, such as liquid, within it. In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material may for example comprise from about 50 wt %, 60 wt % or 70 wt % of amorphous solid, to about 90 wt %, 95 wt % or 100 wt % of amorphous solid.
The aerosol-generating material may comprise one or more active substances and/or flavors, one or more aerosol-former materials, and optionally one or more other functional material.
The aerosol-former material may comprise one or more constituents capable of forming an aerosol. In some embodiments, the aerosol-former material 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 materials may comprise one or more of pH regulators, coloring agents, preservatives, binders, fillers, stabilizers, and/or antioxidants.
The material 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. In some embodiments, the support comprises a susceptor. In some embodiments, the susceptor is embedded within the material. In some alternative embodiments, the susceptor is on one or either side of the material.
An aerosol-modifying agent is a substance, typically located downstream of the aerosol generation area, that is configured to modify the aerosol generated, for example by changing the taste, flavor, acidity or another characteristic of the aerosol. The aerosol-modifying agent may be provided in an aerosol-modifying agent release component, that is operable to selectively release the aerosol-modifying agent.
The aerosol-modifying agent may, for example, be an additive or a sorbent. The aerosol-modifying agent may, for example, comprise one or more of a flavorant, a colorant, water, and a carbon adsorbent. The aerosol-modifying agent may, for example, be a solid, a liquid, or a gel. The aerosol-modifying agent may be in powder, thread or granule form. The aerosol-modifying agent may be free from filtration material.
A susceptor is a material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field, such as an alternating magnetic field. The susceptor may be an electrically-conductive material, so that penetration thereof with a varying magnetic field causes induction heating of the heating material. The heating material may be magnetic material, so that penetration thereof with a varying magnetic field causes magnetic hysteresis heating of the heating material. The susceptor may be both electrically-conductive and magnetic, so that the susceptor is heatable by both heating mechanisms. The device that is configured to generate the varying magnetic field is referred to as a magnetic field generator, herein.
Induction heating is a process in which an electrically-conductive object is heated by penetrating the object with a varying magnetic field. The process is described by Faraday's law of induction and Ohm's law. An induction heater may comprise an electromagnet and a device for passing a varying electrical current, such as an alternating current, through the electromagnet. When the electromagnet and the object to be heated are suitably relatively positioned so that the resultant varying magnetic field produced by the electromagnet penetrates the object, one or more eddy currents are generated inside the object. The object has a resistance to the flow of electrical currents. Therefore, when such eddy currents are generated in the object, their flow against the electrical resistance of the object causes the object to be heated. This process is called Joule, ohmic, or resistive heating. An object that is capable of being inductively heated is known as a susceptor.
In one embodiment, the susceptor is in the form of a closed circuit. It has been found that, when the susceptor is in the form of a closed circuit, magnetic coupling between the susceptor and the electromagnet in use is enhanced, which results in greater or improved Joule heating.
Magnetic hysteresis heating is a process in which an object made of a magnetic material is heated by penetrating the object with a varying magnetic field. A magnetic material can be considered to comprise many atomic-scale magnets, or magnetic dipoles. When a magnetic field penetrates such material, the magnetic dipoles align with the magnetic field. Therefore, when a varying magnetic field, such as an alternating magnetic field, for example as produced by an electromagnet, penetrates the magnetic material, the orientation of the magnetic dipoles changes with the varying applied magnetic field. Such magnetic dipole reorientation causes heat to be generated in the magnetic material.
When an object is both electrically-conductive and magnetic, penetrating the object with a varying magnetic field can cause both Joule heating and magnetic hysteresis heating in the object. Moreover, the use of magnetic material can strengthen the magnetic field, which can intensify the Joule heating.
In each of the above processes, as heat is generated inside the object itself, rather than by an external heat source by heat conduction, a rapid temperature rise in the object and more uniform heat distribution can be achieved, particularly through selection of suitable object material and geometry, and suitable varying magnetic field magnitude and orientation relative to the object. Moreover, as induction heating and magnetic hysteresis heating do not require a physical connection to be provided between the source of the varying magnetic field and the object, design freedom and control over the heating profile may be greater, and cost may be lower.
Articles, for instance those in the shape of rods, are often named according to the product length: “regular” (typically in the range 68-75 mm, e.g. from about 68 mm to about 72 mm), “short” or “mini” (68 mm or less), “king-size” (typically in the range 75-91 mm, e.g. from about 79 mm to about 88 mm), “long” or “super-king” (typically in the range 91-105 mm, e.g. from about 94 mm to about 101 mm) and “ultra-long” (typically in the range from about 110 mm to about 121 mm).
They are also named according to the product circumference: “regular” (about 23-25 mm), “wide” (greater than 25 mm), “slim” (about 22-23 mm), “demi-slim” (about 19-22 mm), “super-slim” (about 16-19 mm), and “micro-slim” (less than about 16 mm).
Accordingly, an article in a king-size, super-slim format will, for example, have a length of about 83 mm and a circumference of about 17 mm.
Each format may be produced with mouthpieces of different lengths. The mouthpiece length will be from about 30 mm to 50 mm. A tipping paper connects the mouthpiece to the aerosol generating material and will usually have a greater length than the mouthpiece, for example from 3 to 10 mm longer, such that the tipping paper covers the mouthpiece and overlaps the aerosol generating material, for instance in the form of a rod of substrate material, to connect the mouthpiece to the rod.
Articles and their aerosol generating materials and mouthpieces described herein can be made in, but are not limited to, any of the above formats.
The terms ‘upstream’ and ‘downstream’ used herein are relative terms defined in relation to the direction of mainstream aerosol drawn though an article or device in use.
The filamentary tow material described herein can comprise cellulose acetate fiber tow. The filamentary tow can also be formed using other materials used to form fibers, such as polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH), polylactic acid (PLA), polycaprolactone (PCL), poly(1-4 butanediol succinate) (PBS), poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)(PBAT), starch based materials, cotton, aliphatic polyester materials and polysaccharide polymers or a combination thereof. The filamentary tow may be plasticized with a suitable plasticizer for the tow, such as triacetin where the material is cellulose acetate tow, or the tow may be non-plasticized. The tow can have any suitable specification, such as fibers having a cross section which is ‘Y’ shaped, ‘X’ shaped or ‘O’ shaped. The fibers of the tow may have filamentary denier values between 2.5 and 15 denier per filament, for example between 8.0 and 11.0 denier per filament and total denier values of 5,000 to 50,000, for example between 10,000 and 40,000. When viewed in cross section, the fibers may have an isoperimetric ratio L²/A of 25 or less, such as 20 or less, and for example 15 or less, where L is the length of the perimeter of the cross section and A is the area of the cross section.
As used herein, the term “tobacco material” refers to any material comprising tobacco or derivatives or substitutes thereof. The term “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 fiber, cut tobacco, extruded tobacco, tobacco stem, tobacco lamina, reconstituted tobacco and/or tobacco extract.
In some embodiments, the substance to be delivered comprises an active substance.
The active substance as used herein may be a physiologically active material, which is a material intended to achieve or enhance a physiological response. The active substance may for example be selected from nutraceuticals, nootropics, psychoactives. The active substance may be naturally occurring or synthetically obtained. The active substance may comprise for example nicotine, caffeine, taurine, theine, vitamins such as B6 or B12 or C, melatonin, cannabinoids, or constituents, derivatives, or combinations thereof. The active substance may comprise one or more constituents, derivatives or extracts of tobacco, cannabis or another botanical.
In some embodiments, the active substance comprises nicotine. In some embodiments, the active substance comprises caffeine, melatonin or vitamin B12.
As noted herein, the active substance may comprise or be derived from one or more botanicals or constituents, derivatives or extracts thereof. As used herein, the term “botanical” includes any material derived from plants including, but not limited to, extracts, leaves, bark, fibers, stems, roots, seeds, flowers, fruits, pollen, husk, shells or the like. Alternatively, the material may comprise an active compound naturally existing in a botanical, obtained synthetically. The material may be in the form of liquid, gas, solid, powder, dust, crushed particles, granules, pellets, shreds, strips, sheets, or the like. Example botanicals are tobacco, eucalyptus, star anise, hemp, cocoa, cannabis, fennel, lemongrass, peppermint, spearmint, rooibos, chamomile, flax, ginger, Ginkgo biloba, hazel, hibiscus, laurel, licorice (liquorice), matcha, mate, orange skin, papaya, rose, sage, tea such as green tea or black tea, thyme, clove, cinnamon, coffee, aniseed (anise), basil, bay leaves, cardamom, coriander, cumin, nutmeg, oregano, paprika, rosemary, saffron, lavender, lemon peel, mint, juniper, elderflower, vanilla, wintergreen, beefsteak plant, curcuma, turmeric, sandalwood, cilantro, bergamot, orange blossom, myrtle, cassis, valerian, pimento, mace, damien, marjoram, olive, lemon balm, lemon basil, chive, carvi, verbena, tarragon, geranium, mulberry, ginseng, theanine, theacrine, maca, ashwagandha, damiana, guarana, chlorophyll, baobab or any combination thereof. The mint may be chosen from the following mint varieties: Mentha Arventis, Mentha c.v., Mentha niliaca, Mentha piperita, Mentha piperita citrata c.v., Mentha piperita c.v, Mentha spicata crispa, Mentha cardifolia, Mentha longifolia, Mentha suaveolens variegata, Mentha pulegium, Mentha spicata c.v. and Mentha suaveolens
In some embodiments, the active substance comprises or is derived from one or more botanicals or constituents, derivatives or extracts thereof and the botanical is tobacco.
In some embodiments, the active substance comprises or is derived from one or more botanicals or constituents, derivatives or extracts thereof and the botanical is selected from eucalyptus, star anise, cocoa and hemp.
In some embodiments, the active substance comprises or derived from one or more botanicals or constituents, derivatives or extracts thereof and the botanical is selected from rooibos and fennel.
In some embodiments, the substance to be delivered comprises a flavor.
As used herein, the terms “flavor” and “flavorant” 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 flavor 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, geranium, khat, naswar, betel, shisha, pine, honey essence, rose oil, vanilla, lemon oil, orange oil, orange blossom, cherry blossom, cassia, caraway, cognac, jasmine, ylang-ylang, sage, fennel, wasabi, piment, ginger, coriander, coffee, hemp, a mint oil from any species of the genus Mentha, eucalyptus, star anise, cocoa, lemongrass, rooibos, flax, Ginkgo biloba, hazel, hibiscus, laurel, mate, orange skin, rose, tea such as green tea or black tea, thyme, juniper, elderflower, basil, bay leaves, cumin, oregano, paprika, rosemary, saffron, lemon peel, mint, beefsteak plant, curcuma, cilantro, myrtle, cassis, valerian, pimento, mace, damien, marjoram, olive, lemon balm, lemon basil, chive, carvi, verbena, tarragon, limonene, thymol, camphene), flavor enhancers, bitterness receptor site blockers, sensorial receptor site activators or stimulators, sugars and/or sugar substitutes (e.g., sucralose, acesulfame potassium, aspartame, saccharine, cyclamates, lactose, sucrose, glucose, fructose, sorbitol, or mannitol), and other additives such as charcoal, chlorophyll, minerals, botanicals, or breath freshening agents. 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 gas.
In some embodiments, the flavor comprises menthol, spearmint and/or peppermint. In some embodiments, the flavor comprises flavor components of cucumber, blueberry, citrus fruits and/or redberry. In some embodiments, the flavor comprises eugenol. In some embodiments, the flavor comprises flavor components extracted from tobacco. In some embodiments, the flavor comprises flavor components extracted from cannabis.
In some embodiments, the flavor 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, WS-3.
In the figures described herein, like reference numerals are used to illustrate equivalent features, articles or components.
FIG. 1 illustrates an article 1 for use as or as part of a non-combustible aerosol provision system. The article 1 may be a non-combustible aerosol provision system itself, or alternatively, may be for use with a non-combustible aerosol provision device to form a non-combustible aerosol provision system. One suitable non-combustible aerosol provision device 100 comprising a heater 101 is illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 8B. In other examples, other non-combustible aerosol provision devices may be used.
The article 1 comprises: a rod of aerosol generating material 2 comprising at least one aerosol forming material; and a mouth end section 20 disposed downstream of the aerosol generating material 2. The mouth end section 20 comprises a hollow tubular member 5. A first cylindrical body 21 is disposed downstream of the hollow tubular member 5. A second cylindrical body 22 is disposed adjacent to and downstream of the first cylindrical body 21.
In the present example, the article 1 includes a first body of material 21. The first body of material 21 is substantially cylindrical, and positioned downstream of the hollow tubular member 5. In the present example, the first body of material 21 is directly adjacent to the hollow tubular member 5.
The article 1 further includes a second body of material 22 adjacent to and downstream of the first body of material 21. In the present example, the second body of material 22 is disposed at the mouth end of the article 1 such that the downstream end of the second body of material 22 forms the downstream end of the article 1.
In some embodiments, the length of the first body of material 21 is less than about 15 mm. In one embodiment, the length of the first body of material 21 is less than about 12 mm. In addition, or as an alternative, the length of the first body of material 21 is at least about 5 mm. In some embodiments, the length of the first body of material 21 is at least about 6 mm. In some embodiments, the length of the first body of material 21 is from about 5 mm to about 15 mm, such as from about 7 mm to about 13 mm, for example from about 9 mm to about 11 mm, in particular about 9 mm, 10 mm, 11 mm, or 12 mm. In the present example, the length of the first body of material 21 is 10 mm. In other examples, the second body of material 22 has a length as described above in relation to the first body of material 21.
In some embodiments, the length of the second body of material 22 is less than about 10 mm. In one embodiment, the length of the second body of material is less than about 9 mm, less than about 8 mm, or less than about 7 mm. In addition, or as an alternative, the length of the second body of material is at least about 3 mm. In some embodiments, the length of the first body is at least about 4 mm, such as at least about 5 mm, for example about 5 mm, 6 mm, or 7 mm. In some embodiments, the length of the second body of material 22 is between 3 and 9 mm, between 5 mm and 7 mm, such as about 5 mm, 6 mm, or 7 mm. In the present example, the length of the second body of material 22 is 6 mm. In other examples, the first body of material 21 has a length as described above in relation to the second body of material 22.
In some embodiments, the first body of material 21 is longer than the second body of material 22. However, in some examples, the length of the first body of material 21 and the second body of material 22 are the same. In other examples, the length of the first body of material 21 is shorter than the length of the second body of material 22.
In some embodiments, the combined length of the first body of material 21 and the second body of material 22 is at least 10 mm, such as at least 12 mm, and for example at least 14 mm. In some embodiments, the combined length of the first body of material 21 and the second body of material 22 is less than about 20 mm, such as than about 18 mm. In some embodiments, the combined length of the first body of material 21 and the second body of material 22 is between 12 and 20 mm, such as between 14 and 18 mm. In the present example, the combined length of the first body of material 21 and the second body of material 22 is about 16 mm.
An article according to any of claims 1 to 19, wherein the combined length of the first and second cylindrical bodies is between 10 and 20 mm, between 12 and 18 mm, between 14 and 17 mm, or approximately 16 mm.
By providing second body of material 22 in addition to the first body of material 21, having lengths within the ranges described above, the percentage reduction of toxicant levels from the article emissions can be increased, compared to a single body of material 21. That is, a greater reduction in toxicants can be achieved through provision of a second body of material 22 in addition to the first body of material 21.
It has also been found that, by providing second body of material 22 in addition to the first body of material 21, the length of hollow tubular member 5 can be reduced while achieving desirable percentage reductions in toxicant levels of the article emissions.
In the present example, the first body of material 21 and second body of material 22 are each formed from filamentary tow. In the present example, the tow used in the first body of material 21 and the second body of material 22 are the same. However, in other embodiments, the tow used for the first body of material 21 may be different to the tow used for the second body of material 22.
In the present example, the tow used in the body of material 21 and body of material 22 each have a denier per filament (d.p.f.) of 8.4 and a total denier of 21,000. Alternatively, the tow can, for instance, have a denier per filament (d.p.f.) of 9.5 and a total denier of 12,000. Alternatively, the tow can, for instance, have a denier per filament (d.p.f.) of 8 and a total denier of 15,000. In the present example, the tow comprises plasticized cellulose acetate tow. The plasticizer used in the tow comprises about 7% by weight of the tow. In the present example, the plasticizer is triacetin.
In other examples, different materials can be used to form the first body of material 21 and/or the second body of material 22. For instance, rather than tow, the first body of material 21 and/or the second body of material 22 can be formed from paper, for instance in a similar way to paper filters known for use in cigarettes. Alternatively, the first body 21 and/or second body 22 can be formed from tows other than cellulose acetate, for instance polylactic acid (PLA), other materials described herein for filamentary tow or similar materials, such as paper filter material.
The tow can be formed from cellulose acetate. The tow, whether formed from cellulose acetate or other materials, can have a d.p.f. of at least 5, such as at least 6 and for example at least 7. These values of denier per filament provide a tow which has relatively coarse, thick fibers with a lower surface area which result in a lower pressure drop across the first body of material 21 and/or second body of material 22 than tows having lower d.p.f. values. In some embodiments, to achieve a sufficiently uniform first body of material 21 and/or second body of material 22, the tow has a denier per filament of no more than 12 d.p.f., such as no more than 11 d.p.f. and for example no more than 10 d.p.f.
In the present example, the first body of material 21 has the same denier per filament value as the second body of material 22. However, in other examples, the first body of material 21 may have a different denier per filament value to the second body of material 22.
The total denier of the tow forming the first body of material 21 and/or second body of material 22 can be at most 30,000, such as at most 28,000 and for example at most 25,000. These values of total denier provide a tow which takes up a reduced proportion of the cross sectional area of the article 1 which results in a lower pressure drop across the article 1 than tows having higher total denier values. For appropriate firmness of the body of material 21 and/or second body of material 22, the tow can have a total denier of at least 8,000 and for example at least 10,000.
In the present example, the first body of material 21 has the same total denier value as the second body of material 22. However, in other examples, the first body of material 21 may have a different total denier value to the second body of material 22. For example, the first body of material 21 may have a lower total denier value than the second body of material 22. This may result in the second body of material 22 being more firm than the first body of material. The first body of material 21 may have a lower total denier than the second body of material 21 providing for improved cooling.
Therefore, the aerosol may retain desirable cooling characteristics while the article retains its shape at the mouth end of the article.
In another example, the first body of material 21 may have a higher total denier value than the second body of material 22. This may result in the first body of material 21 being more firm than the first body of material. Having a high level of firmness of the first body of material may provide for greater rigidity and support of the article 1. The, the second body of material 22 may be provided with a lower total denier than the first body of material 21 and may provide for improved cooling of the aerosol passing through the second body of material 22. Therefore, the rigidity of the article 1 can be improved while retaining desirable cooling characteristics of the aerosol.
In some embodiments, the denier per filament of each of first body of material 21 and second body of material 22 is between 5 and 12 while the total denier is between 10,000 and 25,000. In one embodiment, the denier per filament is between 6 and 10 while the total denier is between 11,000 and 22,000. In some embodiments the cross-sectional shape of the filaments of tow are ‘Y’ shaped, although in other embodiments other shapes such as ‘X’ shaped or ‘O’ shaped filaments can be used, with the same d.p.f. and total denier values as provided herein. The tow may comprise filaments having a cross-section with an isoperimetric ratio of 25 or less, such as 20 or less, and for example 15 or less. In some examples, the first body of material 21 and/or second body of material 22 may comprise an adsorbent material (e.g. charcoal) dispersed within the tow.
Irrespective of the material used to form the first body 21 and/or second body 22, the pressure drop across first body 21 and/or second body 22, can, for instance, be between 0.2 and 5 mmWG per mm of length of the first body 21 and/or second body 22, for instance between 0.5 mmWG and 3 mmWG per mm of length of the body 21, 22. The pressure drop can, for instance, be between 0.5 and 2.5 mmWG/mm of length, between 1 and 1.5 mmWG/mm of length or between 1.5 and 2.5 mmWG/mm of length. The total pressure drop across first body 21 and/or second body 22 can, for instance, be between 2 mmWG and 8 mWG, or between 4 mmWG and 7 mmWG. The total pressure drop across body 21 and/or second body 22 can be about 5, 6 or 7 mmWG.
The first body of material 21 and/or second body of material 22, also referred to as cylindrical body 21 and cylindrical body 22 respectively, can be formed without any cavities or hollow portions, for instance without cavities or hollow portions having a dimension greater than 0.5 mm therein. For instance, the cylindrical body of material 21 and/or cylindrical body of material 22 can comprise material which extends substantially continuously throughout its volume. They can, for instance, have a density which is substantially uniform across its diameter and/or along its length.
The first body of material 21 is wrapped in an additional wrapping material, such as a first plug wrap 23. In the present example, the second body of material 22 is also wrapped with the first plug wrap 23, such that the first plug wrap 23 joins the first body of material 21 to the second body of material 22. Alternatively, in other examples, the first body of material 21 and the second body of material 22 may be individually wrapped in a plug wrap 23. In case the first body of material 21 and the second body of material 22 are wrapped individually, the first and second bodies of material 21, 22 may be combined by wrapper 6 and/or wrapper 6′.
In some examples, the first plug wrap 23 has a basis weight of less than 50 gsm, for instance between about 20 gsm and 40 gsm. For instance, the first plug wrap 23 can have a thickness of between 30 μm and 60 μm, or between 35 μm and 45 μm.
In other examples, the first plug wrap 23 has a basis weight greater than 65 gsm, for instance greater than 80 gsm, or greater than 95 gsm. In some examples, the first plug wrap 23 has a basis weight of about 100 gsm.
In some examples, the first plug wrap 23 is provided with an embossed pattern. The embossed pattern may be provided on the plug wrap in a region surrounding the first cylindrical body 21 and/or the second cylindrical body 22. It has advantageously been found that providing a first plug wrap having a basis weight in the ranges specified above and comprising an embossed pattern can reduce the temperature of the external surface of the article 1 at a position overlying the first cylindrical body 21 and/or the second cylindrical body 22. For instance, first plug wrap 23 may be provided with an embossed pattern comprising a hexagonal repeating pattern, a linear repeating pattern, or a series of raised areas having any suitable shape. Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is thought that providing an embossed first plug wrap 23 can provide an air gap between the plug wrap and the additional wrapper 10, which can reduce heat transfer to the external surface of the article 1.
In some embodiments, the first plug wrap 23 is a non-porous plug wrap, for instance having a permeability of less than 100 Coresta units, for instance less than 50 Coresta units. However, in other embodiments, the first plug wrap 23 can be a porous plug wrap, for instance having a permeability of greater than 200 Coresta units.
The hollow tubular member 5 is provided between the aerosol generating material 2 and the cylindrical body 21. The hollow tubular member 5 may also be referred to herein as a cooling section. The length of the hollow tubular member 5 may be such that the cylindrical body 21 is spaced away from the aerosol generating material 2 by a maximum distance d. In the present example, the hollow tubular member 5 has a length of 21 mm. The cylindrical body 21 is therefore separated from the aerosol generating material by a distance d of 21 mm. In some embodiments, the maximum distance between the cylindrical body 21 and the aerosol generating material 2 is 22 mm. Suitably, the distance d may be 21 mm. It has been surprisingly found that by providing a cooling section configured to extend a maximum of 22 mm from the aerosol generating material, an improved aerosol may be provided. It is hypothesized that limiting the combined length of the cooling sections to less than 22 mm may reduce the condensation of desirable components of the aerosol on the inner surfaces of the cooling section.
In some embodiments, the hollow tubular member 5 has a wall thickness of at least 300 microns and/or a permeability of at least 100 Coresta units. By constructing the hollow tubular member 5 to have a permeability of at least 100 Coresta units, the hollow tubular member takes up moisture from aerosol generated by the aerosol generating material 2 when the article 1 is heated by the non-combustible aerosol provision device 100. Furthermore, papers with permeability greater than 100 Coresta units are generally low weight and easier to work with during manufacturing.
In the present example the hollow tubular member 5 is formed from paper. Specifically, the hollow tubular member 5 is formed from a plurality of layers of paper which are parallel wound, with butted seams, to form the tubular member 5, which underlies a wrapper 6. The paper tube provides additional rigidity to the first cavity 5 a. In the present example, first and second paper layers are provided in a two-ply tube, although in other examples 3, 4 or more paper layers can be used forming 3, 4 or more ply tubes.
Other constructions can be used, such as spirally wound layers of paper, cardboard tubes, tubes formed using a papier-mâché type process, molded or extruded plastic tubes or similar.
The hollow tubular member 5 can also be formed using a stiff plug wrap and/or tipping paper, for instance as the wrapper 6 and/or further wrapper 6′ described in more detail below, meaning that a separate tubular element is not required. The stiff plug wrap and/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 1 is in use. For instance, the stiff plug wrap and/or tipping paper can have a basis weight between 70 gsm and 120 gsm, such as between 80 gsm and 110 gsm. Additionally or alternatively, the stiff plug wrap and/or tipping paper can have a thickness between 80 μm and 200 μm, such as between 100 μm and 160 μm, or from 120 μm to 150 μm. It can be desirable for both the wrapper 6 and/or further wrapper 6′ to have values in these ranges, to achieve an acceptable overall level of rigidity for the hollow tubular member 5.
In other examples, the hollow tubular member 5 may be formed from other materials, such as a molded or extruded plastic tube, or a fibrous material, as described in relation to the tow of cylindrical bodies 21 and 22.
The hollow tubular member 5 can have a wall thickness, which can be measured, for example using a caliper, of at least about 100 μm and up to about 1.5 mm, such as between 100 μm and 1 mm and for example between 150 μm and 500 μm, or about 300 μm. In the present example, the hollow tubular member 5 has a wall thickness of about 250 μm.
In some embodiments, the length of the hollow tubular member 5 is less than about 26 mm. In one embodiment, the length of the hollow tubular member 5 is less than about 22 mm. Additionally or alternatively, the length of the hollow tubular member 5 can be at least about 5 mm. In some embodiments, the length of the hollow tubular member 5 is at least about 10 mm. In some embodiments, the length of the hollow tubular member 5 is from about 18 mm to about 24 mm, such as from about 20 mm to about 22 mm, for example about 21 mm. In the present example, the length of the hollow tubular member 5 is 21 mm.
The hollow tubular member 5 is located around and defines an air gap within the mouthpiece 20 which act as a cooling segment. The air gap provides a chamber through which heated volatilized components generated by the aerosol generating material 2 flow.
The cavity 5 a can, for instance, have an internal volume greater than 100 mm³, for instance greater than 200 mm³, 300 mm³, 350 m³, 400 mm³, or 500 mm³, allowing further improvement of the aerosol. In some examples, the cavity 5 a comprises a volume of between about 400 mm³and about 600 mm³, or between about 450 mm³and about 550 mm³, for instance about 500 mm³.
In some embodiments, the cavity 5 a has an internal volume greater than about 400 mm³. Providing cavities of at least these volumes has been found to enable the formation of an improved aerosol, as well as providing the cooling function described herein. Such cavity size provides sufficient space within the mouthpiece 20 to allow heated volatilized components to cool, therefore allowing the exposure of the aerosol generating material 2 to higher temperatures than would otherwise be possible, since they may result in an aerosol which is too warm.
The hollow tubular member 5 can be configured to provide a temperature differential of at least 40 degrees Celsius between a heated volatilized component entering a first, upstream end of the hollow tubular member 5 and a heated volatilized component exiting a second, downstream end of the hollow tubular member 5. The hollow tubular member 5 can be configured to provide a temperature differential of at least 60 degrees Celsius, such as at least 80 degrees Celsius and for example at least 100 degrees Celsius between a heated volatilized component entering a first, upstream end of the hollow tubular member 5 and a heated volatilized component exiting a second, downstream end of the hollow tubular member 5. This temperature differential across the length of the hollow tubular member 5 protects the first and second bodies of material 21, 22 from the high temperatures of the aerosol generating material 3 when they are heated.
In each embodiment, the article further comprises the wrapper 6 at least partially surrounding the aerosol generating material 2 and the hollow tubular member 5 to connect the aerosol generating material 2 to the hollow tubular member 5. In some examples the wrapper may extend along the full length of the article 1 to attach the aerosol generating material 2 to the components of the mouth end section 20. In the present example, a further wrapper 6′ underlies the wrapper 6, and extends along the mouth end section 20. Further wrapper 6′ combines the hollow tubular member 5, first cylindrical body 21, and second cylindrical body 22. In the present example, wrapper 6 extends partially along the length of the aerosol generating material 2 to attach the aerosol generating material to the wrapped mouth end section 20.
A plug wrap 23 circumscribes the cylindrical body 21. Further wrapper 6′ circumscribes and attaches the second cylindrical body 22 to the first cylindrical body of material 21, and the hollow tubular member 5. The wrapped second cylindrical body 22, first cylindrical body 21, and hollow tubular member 5 are attached to the aerosol generating material 2 by wrapper 6.
The wrapper 6 may be a paper material comprising a citrate, such as sodium nitrate or potassium nitrate. In such examples, the wrapper 6 may have a citrate content of 2% by weight or less, or 1% by weight or less. This reduces charring of the wrapper 6 when the article 1 is heated in the non-combustible aerosol provision device 100.
In some embodiments, the aerosol generating material 2 described herein is a first aerosol generating material 2 and the hollow tubular body 3 may comprise a second aerosol generating material. For example, the second aerosol generating material may be disposed on an inner surface of the hollow tubular member 5.
The second aerosol generating material comprises at least one aerosol former material, and may also comprise at least one aerosol modifying agent, or other sensate material.
The aerosol former material and/or aerosol modifying agent can be any aerosol former material or aerosol modifying agent as described herein, or a combination thereof.
In use, as the aerosol generated from the first aerosol generating material 2 is drawn through the hollow tubular member 5, heat from the first aerosol may aerosolize the aerosol forming material of the second aerosol generating material, to form a second aerosol. The second aerosol may comprise a flavorant, which may be additional or complementary to the flavor of the first aerosol.
Providing a second aerosol generating material on the hollow tubular member 5 can result in generation of a second aerosol which boosts or complements the flavor or visual appearance of the first aerosol.
The article 1 may further comprise at least one ventilation area 12 arranged to allow external air to flow into the article. In the illustrated embodiments, the ventilation area 12 comprises a row of ventilation apertures, or perforations, cut into the wrapper 6. The ventilation apertures may extend in a line around the circumference of the article 1. The ventilation area 12 may comprise two or more rows of ventilation apertures. By providing a ventilation area 12, ambient air may be drawn into the article during use to further cool the aerosol.
In the illustrated embodiments, the at least one ventilation area 12 is arranged to provide external air into the cavity 5 a of the hollow tubular member 5. To achieve this, the one or more rows of ventilation apertures extend around the circumference of the article over the hollow tubular member 5.
Suitably, the ventilation area 12 may be provided at a position between 14 mm and 20 mm downstream of the aerosol generating material 2. For instance, the ventilation area may be provided at a position about 14.5 mm or 18.5 mm downstream of the aerosol generating material 2. In other examples, ventilation may be provided at a position 22.5 mm upstream of the mouth end of the article.
In one example, the ventilation area 12 comprises a single row of perforations formed as laser perforations. In some other examples, the ventilation area comprises first and second parallel rows of perforations formed as laser perforations, for instance at positions 17.925 mm and 18.625 mm respectively from the mouth end. These perforations pass though the wrapper 6 and hollow tubular member 5. In alternative embodiments, the ventilation can be provided at other locations.
It has been surprisingly found that by locating the ventilation area 12 closer to the mouth end of the article, and particularly at approximately 18.5 mm, the reduction in certain toxicants from the generated aerosol passing through the article and exiting the mouth end is greater than the reduction in those toxicants when a ventilation area is provided closer to the aerosol generating material.
However, it has also been found that providing ventilation closer to the mouth end results in higher nicotine delivery compared to articles having ventilation provided closer to the aerosol generating material.
Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is also believed that providing ventilation closer to the mouth end also results in higher delivery of aerosol forming agent (e.g. glycerol) to the user, compared to articles having ventilation provided closer to the aerosol generating material.
Therefore, an article 1 as illustrated in FIG. 1 can provide higher deliveries of nicotine and aerosol while reducing the levels of undesirable toxicants by providing a ventilation area closer to the mouth end of the article.
In some examples, the perforations pass through the full thickness of the wall of the hollow tubular member 5. In other examples, the ventilations may be formed through only a portion of the wall thickness of the tubular member 5. For example, the ventilation perforation may extend into the tubular member by a depth of up to about 0.2 mm, or up to about 0.3 mm, or up to about 0.4 mm.
Alternatively, the ventilation can be provided via a single row of perforations, for instance laser perforations, into the portion of the article 1 in which the hollow tubular member 5 is located. This has been found to result in improved aerosol formation, which is thought to result from the airflow through the perforations being more uniform than with multiple rows of perforations, for a given ventilation level. In the present example, the ventilation area 12 comprises a single row of laser perforations 18.5 mm downstream of the aerosol generating material 2.
It shall be appreciated that the exact location of the at least one ventilation area 12 is not essential. In another embodiment, the at least one ventilation area 12 is arranged to provide external air into the aerosol generating material 2. To achieve this, the one or more rows of ventilation apertures extend around the circumference of the article over the rod of aerosol generating material 2.
The level of ventilation provided by the at least one ventilation area 12 is within the range of 40% to 70% of the volume of aerosol generated by the aerosol generating material 2 passing through the article 1, when the article 1 is heated in the non-combustible aerosol provision device 100.
Aerosol temperature has been found to generally increase with a drop in the ventilation level. However the relationship between aerosol temperature and ventilation level does not appear to be linear, with variations in ventilation, for instance due to manufacturing tolerances, having less impact at lower target ventilation levels. For instance, with a ventilation tolerance of +15%, for a target ventilation level of 75%, the aerosol temperature could increase by approximately 6ºC at the lower ventilation limit (60% ventilation). However, with a target ventilation level of 60% the aerosol temperature may only increase by approximately 3.5ºC at the lower vent limit (45% ventilation). The target ventilation level of the article can therefore be within the range 40% to 70%, for instance, 45% to 65%. The mean ventilation level of at least 20 articles can be between 40% and 70%, for instance between 45% and 70% or between 51% and 59%.
In some embodiments, an additional wrapper 10 at least partially surrounds the aerosol generating material 2, between the aerosol generating material 2 and the wrapper 6. In particular, during manufacture of the article, the aerosol generating material is first wrapped by additional wrapper 10 before being attached in combination with the other components of the article 1 by wrapper 6.
In some embodiments, the additional wrapper 10 surrounding the aerosol generating material has a high level of permeability, for example greater than about 1000 Coresta Units, or greater than about 1500 Coresta Units, or greater than about 2000 Coresta Units. The permeability of the additional wrapper 10 can be measured in accordance with ISO 2965:2009 concerning the determination of air permeability for materials used as cigarette papers, filter plug wrap and filter joining paper.
The additional wrapper 10 may be formed from a material with a high inherent level of permeability, an inherently porous material, or may be formed from a material with any level of inherent permeability where the final level of permeability is achieved by providing the additional wrapper 10 with a permeable zone or area. Providing a permeable additional wrapper 10 provides a route for air to enter the smoking article. The additional wrapper 10 can be provided with a permeability such that the amount of air entering through the rod of aerosol generating material 2 is relatively more than the amount of air entering the article 1 through the ventilation area 12 in the mouthpiece. An article 1 having this arrangement may produce a more flavorsome aerosol which may be more satisfactory to the user.
FIG. 2 illustrates an article 1′ for use as or as part of a non-combustible aerosol provision system. Article 1′ is the same as article 1, except that cylindrical body 21 of the mouth end section 20′ comprises a capsule 24. The capsule 24 can comprise a breakable capsule, for instance a capsule which has a solid, frangible shell surrounding a liquid payload. In the present example, a single capsule is used. The capsule is entirely embedded within the body of material 21′. In other words, the capsule is completely surrounded by the material forming the body. In other examples, a plurality of breakable capsules may be disposed within the body of material 21′, for instance 2, 3 or more breakable capsules. The length of the body of material 21′ can be increased to accommodate the number of capsules required. In examples where a plurality of capsules is used, the individual capsules may be the same as each other, or may differ from one another in terms of size and/or capsule payload. In other examples, a capsule may be provided within second body of material 22 in addition/alternatively to the first body of material 21′. In other examples, more than two bodies of material may be provided, with each body containing one or more capsules.
The capsule 24 has a core-shell structure. In other words, the capsule 24 comprises a shell encapsulating a liquid agent, for instance a flavorant or other agent, which can be any one of the flavorants or aerosol modifying agents described herein. The shell of the capsule 24 can be ruptured by a user to release the flavorant or other agent into the body of material 21. The first plug wrap 23 can comprise a barrier coating to make the material of the plug wrap substantially impermeable to the liquid payload of the capsule. Alternatively or in addition, the further wrapper 6′ and/or wrapping material 6 can comprise a barrier coating to make the material of that further wrapper 6′ and/or wrapping material 6 substantially impermeable to the liquid payload of the capsule.
In some examples, the capsule is spherical and has a diameter of about 3 mm. In other examples, other shapes and sizes of capsule can be used. The total weight of the capsule may be in the range about 10 mg to about 50 mg.
It is known to generate, for a given tow specification (such as 8.4Y21000), a tow capability curve which represents the pressure drop through a length of rod formed using the tow, for each of a range of tow weights. Parameters such as the rod length and circumference, wrapper thickness and tow plasticizer level are specified, and these are combined with the tow specification to generate the tow capability curve, which gives an indication of the pressure drop which would be provided by different tow weights between the minimum and maximum weights achievable using standard filter rod forming machinery. Such tow capability curves can be calculated, for instance, using software available from tow suppliers. It has been found that it is particularly advantageous to use a body of material 21′ which includes filamentary tow having a weight per mm of length of the body of material 21′ which is between about 10% and about 30% of the range between the minimum and maximum weights of a tow capability curve generated for the filamentary tow. This can provide an acceptable balance between providing enough tow weight to avoid shrinkage after the body 21′ has been formed, providing an acceptable pressure drop, while also assisting with capsule placement within the tow, for capsules of the sizes described herein.
The body of material 21′ and body of material 22′ may have different denier per filament values and/or total denier values to each other in order to achieve desirable pressure drop and firmness characteristics when the capsule 24 is included in the body of material 21′
A method of manufacturing an article for use with a non-combustible aerosol provision device 100 comprising a heater 101 will now be described with reference to FIG. 3 . The method comprises:

- S1 of providing an aerosol generating material 2 comprising at least one aerosol forming material;
- S2 of disposing a cylindrical body 21 downstream of the aerosol generating material, such that the upstream end of the cylindrical body 21 is less than about 22 mm from the downstream end of the aerosol generating material 2;
- S3 of disposing a first cylindrical body downstream of the tubular member 5;
- S4 of disposing a second cylindrical body adjacent to and downstream of the first cylindrical body.

FIG. 4 illustrates an article 1″ for use as or as part of a non-combustible aerosol provision system. Article 1″ is the same as article 1, except a tubular body 3 is further provided between the tubular member 5 and the first cylindrical body 21.
Additionally/alternatively, a second tubular body 24 may be provided at the mouth end of the article.
The hollow tubular body 3 is configured to serve as a heat dissipater to reduce the phenomena of ‘hot puff’. ‘Hot puff’ is defined as aerosol delivered to the user at an uncomfortably high temperature. Hot puff may be exacerbated when a user draws aerosol through a heated article 1 at a high rate, reducing the time for heat in the aerosol to be dissipated. When inserted into a non-combustible aerosol provision device 100, the hollow tubular body 3 separates the mouth end section from the heater 101 to provide space for heat to dissipate before the aerosol reaches the downstream end of the article. Further, it shall be appreciated that heat will be conducted away from the aerosol and into the hollow tubular body 3 as the aerosol is drawn therethrough. In this way, the hollow tubular body 3 acts as a heat sink.
In the present example, hollow tubular body 3 is formed from filamentary tow. In other embodiments, other constructions may be used, such as spirally wound layers of paper, cardboard tubes, tubes formed using a papier-mâché type process, tubes formed from paper filter material, molded or extruded plastic tubes or similar.
The hollow tubular body 3 can have a wall thickness of at least about 325 μm and up to about 2 mm, such as between 500 μm and 2 mm and for example between 750 μm and 1.5 mm. In the present example, the hollow tubular body 3 has a wall thickness of about 1.4 mm. The “wall thickness” of the hollow tubular body 3 corresponds to the thickness of the wall of the hollow tubular body 3 in a radial direction. This may be measured, for example, using a caliper. The use of filamentary tow and/or wall thicknesses in these ranges have advantage of insulating the hot aerosol passing through the second cavity 3 a from the outer surface of the hollow tubular body 3.
The wall thickness together with the external diameter of the hollow tubular body 3 together define the internal diameter or cavity size of the hollow tubular body 3.
In some embodiments, the thickness of the wall of the hollow tubular body 3 is at least 325 microns and, for example, at least 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900 or 1000 microns. In some embodiments, the thickness of the wall of the hollow tubular body 3 is at least 1250 or 1500 microns.
In some embodiments, the thickness of the wall of the hollow tubular body 3 is less than 2000 microns and, for instance, less than 1500 microns.
The increased thickness of the wall of the hollow tubular body 3 means that it has a greater thermal mass, which has been found to help reduce the temperature of the aerosol passing through the hollow tubular body 3 and reduce the surface temperature of the mouth end section 20 at locations downstream of the hollow tubular body 3. This is thought to be because the greater thermal mass of the hollow tubular body 3 allows the hollow tubular body 3 to absorb more heat from the aerosol in comparison to a hollow tubular body 3 with a thinner wall thickness. The increased thickness of the hollow tubular body 3 also channels the aerosol centrally through the mouth end section 20 such that less heat from the aerosol is transferred to the outer portions of the mouth end section 20.
In some embodiments, the density of the hollow tubular body 3 is at least about 0.25 grams per cubic centimeter (g/cc), such as at least about 0.3 g/cc. In some embodiments, the density of the hollow tubular body 3 is less than about 0.75 grams per cubic centimeter (g/cc), such as less than 0.6 g/cc. In some embodiments, the density of the hollow tubular body 3 is between 0.25 and 0.75 g/cc, such as between 0.3 and 0.6 g/cc, and for example between 0.4 g/cc and 0.6 g/cc or about 0.5 g/cc. These densities have been found to provide a good balance between improved firmness afforded by denser material and the lower heat transfer properties of lower density material. For the purposes of the present example, the “density” of the hollow tubular body 3 refers to the density of the filamentary tow forming the element with any plasticizer incorporated. For the purposes of the present disclosure, the “density” of the material forming the hollow tubular body 3 refers to the density of any filamentary tow forming the element with any plasticizer incorporated. The density may be determined by dividing the total weight of the material forming the hollow tubular body 3 by the total volume of the material forming the hollow tubular body 3, wherein the total volume can be calculated using appropriate measurements of the material forming the hollow tubular body 3 taken, for example, using calipers. Where necessary, the appropriate dimensions may be measured using a microscope.
The filamentary tow forming the hollow tubular body 3 can have a total denier of less than 45,000, such as less than 42,000. This total denier has been found to allow the formation of a tubular element 13 which is not too dense. In some embodiments, the total denier is at least 20,000, such as at least 25,000. In some embodiments, the filamentary tow forming the hollow tubular body 3 has a total denier between 25,000 and 45,000, such as between 35,000 and 45,000. In some embodiments the cross-sectional shape of the filaments of tow are ‘Y’ shaped, although in other embodiments other shapes such as ‘X’ shaped filaments can be used.
The filamentary tow forming the hollow tubular body 3 can have a denier per filament of greater than 3. This denier per filament has been found to allow the formation of a tubular element 13 which is not too dense. In some embodiments, the denier per filament is at least 4, such as at least 5. In some embodiments, the filamentary tow forming the hollow tubular body 3 has a denier per filament between 4 and 10, such as between 4 and 9. In one example, the filamentary tow forming the hollow tubular body 3 has an 8Y40,000 tow formed from cellulose acetate and comprising 18% plasticizer, for instance triacetin.
The hollow tubular body 3 can comprise from 10% to 22% by weight of plasticizer. For cellulose acetate tow, the plasticizer can be triacetin, although other plasticizers such as polyethelyne glycol (PEG) can be used. The hollow tubular body 3 can comprise less than about 18% by weight of plasticizer, such as triacetin, or less than about 17%, less than about 16% or less than about 15%. In one embodiment, the tubular body 3 comprises from 10% to 20% by weight of plasticizer, for instance about 11%, about 12%, about 13%, about 15%, about 17%, about 18% or about 19% plasticizer.
In some embodiments, the permeability of the material of the wall of the hollow tubular body 3 is at least 100 Coresta Units and, for example, at least 500 or 1000 Coresta Units.
It has been found that the relatively high permeability of the hollow tubular body 3 increases the amount of heat that is transferred to the hollow tubular body 3 from the aerosol and thus reduces the temperature of the aerosol. The permeability of the hollow tubular body 3 has also been found to increase the amount of moisture that is transferred from the aerosol to the hollow tubular body 3, which has been found to improve the feel of the aerosol in the user's mouth. A high permeability of hollow tubular body 3 also makes it easier to cut ventilation holes into the hollow tubular body 3 using a laser, meaning that a lower power of laser can be used.
The hollow tubular body 3 may comprise a filamentary tow comprising filaments having a cross-section with an isoperimetric ratio L²/A of 25 or less, 20 or less or 15 or less, where L is the length of the perimeter of the cross section and A is the area of the cross section. In other words, the filaments may comprise a substantially ‘0’ shaped cross section, or at least as close as it is possible to achieve. For a given denier per filament, filaments with a substantially ‘0’ shaped cross section have a lower surface area than other cross sectional shapes, such as ‘Y’ or ‘X’ shaped filaments. Therefore, the delivery of aerosol to the user is improved.
It shall be appreciated that aerosol drawn through the hollow tubular body 3 passes through both a central second cavity 3 a in the hollow tubular body 3 and also partly through the filaments of the hollow tubular body 3 itself. By providing filaments with a substantially ‘0’ shaped cross section, a greater proportion of aerosol will pass through the filament of the hollow tubular body 3 itself, increasing heat transfer to the hollow tubular body 3 yet further.
In the present example, hollow tubular body 3 has a length of 9 mm. In other examples, hollow tubular body may have a length up to about 12 mm, for instance 10 mm.
The hollow tubular body 3 and hollow tubular member 5 may also be referred to as cooling sections, and define respective first and second cavities 5 a, 3 a.
An example as described herein with reference to FIG. 4 may also be provided with a capsule in one or both of the first and second cylindrical bodies 21, 22.
FIG. 5 shows an example of a non-combustible aerosol provision device 100 comprising a heater 101 for generating aerosol from an aerosol generating medium/material such as the aerosol generating material 2 of any of the articles 1, 1′, 1″ described herein. In the examples described herein, a generic article 110 illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 9 can be considered to correspond to any of the articles 1, 1′, 1″ described herein. In broad outline, the device 100 may be used to heat a replaceable article comprising the aerosol generating medium, for instance the article 10 described herein, to generate an aerosol or other inhalable medium which is inhaled by a user of the device 100. The device 100 and replaceable article 110 together form a system.
The device 100 comprises a housing 102 (in the form of an outer cover) which surrounds and houses various components of the device 100. The device 100 has an opening 104 in one end, through which the article 110 may be inserted for heating by a heater 101, hereinafter referred to as the heating assembly. In use, the article 110 may be fully or partially inserted into the heating assembly where it may be heated by one or more components of the heater assembly.
The device 100 of this example comprises a first end member 106 which comprises a lid 108 which is moveable relative to the first end member 106 to close the opening 104 when no article 110 is in place. In FIG. 5 , the lid 108 is shown in an open configuration, however the lid 108 may move into a closed configuration. For example, a user may cause the lid 108 to slide in the direction of arrow “B”.
The device 100 may also include a user-operable control element 112, such as a button or switch, which operates the device 100 when pressed. For example, a user may turn on the device 100 by operating the switch 112.
The device 100 may also comprise an electrical component, such as a socket/port 114, which can receive a cable to charge a battery of the device 100. For example, the socket 114 may be a charging port, such as a USB charging port.
FIG. 6 depicts the device 100 of FIG. 5 with the outer cover 102 removed and without an article 110 present. The device 100 defines a longitudinal axis 134.
As shown in FIG. 6 , the first end member 106 is arranged at one end of the device 100 and a second end member 116 is arranged at an opposite end of the device 100. The first and second end members 106, 116 together at least partially define end surfaces of the device 100. For example, the bottom surface of the second end member 116 at least partially defines a bottom surface of the device 100. Edges of the outer cover 102 may also define a portion of the end surfaces. In this example, the lid 108 also defines a portion of a top surface of the device 100.
The end of the device closest to the opening 104 may be known as the proximal end (or mouth end) of the device 100 because, in use, it is closest to the mouth of the user. In use, a user inserts an article 110 into the opening 104, operates the user control 112 to begin heating the aerosol generating material and draws on the aerosol generated in the device. This causes the aerosol to flow through the device 100 along a flow path towards the proximal end of the device 100.
The other end of the device furthest away from the opening 104 may be known as the distal end of the device 100 because, in use, it is the end furthest away from the mouth of the user. As a user draws on the aerosol generated in the device, the aerosol flows away from the distal end of the device 100.
The device 100 further comprises a power source 118. The power source 118 may be, for example, a battery, such as a rechargeable battery or a non-rechargeable battery. Examples of suitable batteries include, for example, a lithium battery (such as a lithium-ion battery), a nickel battery (such as a nickel-cadmium battery), and an alkaline battery. The battery is electrically coupled to the heating assembly to supply electrical power when required and under control of a controller (not shown) to heat the aerosol generating material. In this example, the battery is connected to a central support 120 which holds the battery 118 in place.
The device further comprises at least one electronics module 122. The electronics module 122 may comprise, for example, a printed circuit board (PCB). The PCB 122 may support at least one controller, such as a processor, and memory. The PCB 122 may also comprise one or more electrical tracks to electrically connect together various electronic components of the device 100. For example, the battery terminals may be electrically connected to the PCB 122 so that power can be distributed throughout the device 100. The socket 114 may also be electrically coupled to the battery via the electrical tracks.
In the example device 100, the heating assembly is an inductive heating assembly and comprises various components to heat the aerosol generating material of the article 110 via an inductive heating process. Induction heating is a process of heating an electrically conducting object (such as a susceptor) by electromagnetic induction. An induction heating assembly may comprise an inductive element, for example, one or more inductor coils, and a device for passing a varying electric current, such as an alternating electric current, through the inductive element. The varying electric current in the inductive element produces a varying magnetic field. The varying magnetic field penetrates a susceptor suitably positioned with respect to the inductive element, and generates eddy currents inside the susceptor. The susceptor has electrical resistance to the eddy currents, and hence the flow of the eddy currents against this resistance causes the susceptor to be heated by Joule heating. In cases where the susceptor comprises ferromagnetic material such as iron, nickel or cobalt, heat may also be generated by magnetic hysteresis losses in the susceptor, i.e. by the varying orientation of magnetic dipoles in the magnetic material as a result of their alignment with the varying magnetic field. In inductive heating, as compared to heating by conduction for example, heat is generated inside the susceptor, allowing for rapid heating. Further, there need not be any physical contact between the inductive heater and the susceptor, allowing for enhanced freedom in construction and application.
The induction heating assembly of the example device 100 comprises a susceptor arrangement 132 (herein referred to as “a susceptor”), a first inductor coil 124 and a second inductor coil 126. The first and second inductor coils 124, 126 are made from an electrically conducting material. In this example, the first and second inductor coils 10) 124, 126 are made from Litz wire/cable which is wound in a helical fashion to provide helical inductor coils 124, 126. Litz wire comprises a plurality of individual wires which are individually insulated and are twisted together to form a single wire. Litz wires are designed to reduce the skin effect losses in a conductor. In the example device 100, the first and second inductor coils 124, 126 are made from copper Litz wire which has a rectangular cross section. In other examples the Litz wire can have other shape cross sections, such as circular.
The first inductor coil 124 is configured to generate a first varying magnetic field for heating a first section of the susceptor 132 and the second inductor coil 126 is configured to generate a second varying magnetic field for heating a second section of the susceptor 132. In this example, the first inductor coil 124 is adjacent to the second inductor coil 126 in a direction along the longitudinal axis 134 of the device 100 (that is, the first and second inductor coils 124, 126 to not overlap). The susceptor arrangement 132 may comprise a single susceptor, or two or more separate susceptors. Ends 130 of the first and second inductor coils 124, 126 can be connected to the PCB 122.
It will be appreciated that the first and second inductor coils 124, 126, in some examples, may have at least one characteristic different from each other. For example, the first inductor coil 124 may have at least one characteristic different from the second inductor coil 126. More specifically, in one example, the first inductor coil 124 may 30 have a different value of inductance than the second inductor coil 126. In FIG. 5 , the first and second inductor coils 124, 126 are of different lengths such that the first inductor coil 124 is wound over a smaller section of the susceptor 132 than the second inductor coil 126. Thus, the first inductor coil 124 may comprise a different number of turns than the second inductor coil 126 (assuming that the spacing between individual turns is substantially the same). In yet another example, the first inductor coil 124 may be made from a different material to the second inductor coil 126. In some examples, the first and second inductor coils 124, 126 may be substantially identical.
In this example, the first inductor coil 124 and the second inductor coil 126 are wound in opposite directions. This can be useful when the inductor coils are active at different times. For example, initially, the first inductor coil 124 may be operating to heat a first section/portion of the article 110, and at a later time, the second inductor coil 126 may be operating to heat a second section/portion of the article 110. Winding the coils in opposite directions helps reduce the current induced in the inactive coil when used in conjunction with a particular type of control circuit. In FIG. 5 , the first inductor coil 124 is a right-hand helix and the second inductor coil 126 is a left-hand helix. However, in another embodiment, the inductor coils 124, 126 may be wound in the same direction, or the first inductor coil 124 may be a left-hand helix and the second inductor coil 126 may be a right-hand helix.
The susceptor 132 of this example is hollow and therefore defines a receptacle within which aerosol generating material is received. For example, the article 110 can be inserted into the susceptor 132. In this example the susceptor 120 is tubular, with a circular cross section.
The susceptor 132 may be made from one or more materials. In some embodiments the susceptor 132 comprises carbon steel having a coating of Nickel or Cobalt.
In some examples, the susceptor 132 may comprise at least two materials capable of being heated at two different frequencies for selective aerosolization of the at least two materials. For example, a first section of the susceptor 132 (which is heated by the first inductor coil 124) may comprise a first material, and a second section of the susceptor 132 which is heated by the second inductor coil 126 may comprise a second, different material. In another example, the first section may comprise first and second materials, where the first and second materials can be heated differently based upon operation of the first inductor coil 124. The first and second materials may be adjacent along an axis defined by the susceptor 132, or may form different layers within the susceptor 132. Similarly, the second section may comprise third and fourth materials, where the third and fourth materials can be heated differently based upon operation of the second inductor coil 126. The third and fourth materials may be adjacent along an axis defined by the susceptor 132, or may form different layers within the susceptor 132. Third material may the same as the first material, and the fourth material may be the same as the second material, for example. Alternatively, each of the materials may be different. The susceptor may comprise carbon steel or aluminum for example.
The device 100 of FIG. 6 further comprises an insulating member 128 which may be generally tubular and at least partially surround the susceptor 132. The insulating member 128 may be constructed from any insulating material, such as plastic for example. In this particular example, the insulating member is constructed from polyether ether ketone (PEEK). The insulating member 128 may help insulate the various components of the device 100 from the heat generated in the susceptor 132.
The insulating member 128 can also fully or partially support the first and second inductor coils 124, 126. For example, as shown in FIG. 6 , the first and second inductor coils 124, 126 are positioned around the insulating member 128 and are in contact with a radially outward surface of the insulating member 128. In some examples the insulating member 128 does not abut the first and second inductor coils 124, 126. For example, a small gap may be present between the outer surface of the insulating member 128 and the inner surface of the first and second inductor coils 124, 126.
In a specific example, the susceptor 132, the insulating member 128, and the first and second inductor coils 124, 126 are coaxial around a central longitudinal axis of the susceptor 132.
FIG. 7 shows a side view of device 100 in partial cross-section. The outer cover 102 is present in this example. The rectangular cross-sectional shape of the first and second inductor coils 124, 126 is more clearly visible.
The device 100 further comprises a support 136 which engages one end of the susceptor 132 to hold the susceptor 132 in place. The support 136 is connected to the second end member 116.
The device may also comprise a second printed circuit board 138 associated within the control element 112.
The device 100 further comprises a second lid/cap 140 and a spring 142, arranged towards the distal end of the device 100. The spring 142 allows the second lid 140 to be opened, to provide access to the susceptor 132. A user may open the second lid 140 to clean the susceptor 132 and/or the support 136.
The device 100 further comprises an expansion chamber 144 which extends away from a proximal end of the susceptor 132 towards the opening 104 of the device. Located at least partially within the expansion chamber 144 is a retention clip 146 to abut and hold the article 110 when received within the device 100. The expansion chamber 144 is connected to the end member 106.
FIG. 8 is an exploded view of the device 100 of FIG. 7 , with the outer cover 102 omitted.
FIG. 9A depicts a cross section of a portion of the device 100 of FIG. 7 . FIG. 9B depicts a close-up of a region of FIG. 9A. FIGS. 9A and 9B show the article 110 received within the susceptor 132, where the article 110 is dimensioned so that the outer surface of the article 110 abuts the inner surface of the susceptor 132. This ensures that the heating is most efficient. The article 110 of this example comprises aerosol generating material 110 a. The aerosol generating material 110 a is positioned within the susceptor 132. The article 110 may also comprise other components such as a filter, wrapping materials and/or a cooling structure.
FIG. 9B shows that the outer surface of the susceptor 132 is spaced apart from the inner surface of the inductor coils 124, 126 by a distance 150, measured in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis 158 of the susceptor 132. In one particular example, the distance 150 is about 3 mm to 4 mm, about 3-3.5 mm, or about 3.25 mm.
FIG. 9B further shows that the outer surface of the insulating member 128 is spaced apart from the inner surface of the inductor coils 124, 126 by a distance 152, measured in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis 158 of the susceptor 132. In one particular example, the distance 152 is about 0.05 mm. In another example, the distance 152 is substantially 0 mm, such that the inductor coils 124, 126 abut and touch the insulating member 128.
In one example, the susceptor 132 has a wall thickness 154 of about 0.025 mm to 1 mm, or about 0.05 mm.
In one example, the susceptor 132 has a length of about 40 mm to 60 mm, about 40 mm to 45 mm, or about 44.5 mm.
In one example, the insulating member 128 has a wall thickness 156 of about 0.25 mm to 2 mm, 0.25 mm to 1 mm, or about 0.5 mm.
In use, the article 1, 1′, 1″ described herein can be inserted into a non-combustible aerosol provision device such as the device 100 described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 9 . At least a portion of the mouthpiece 20 of the article 10 protrudes from the non-combustible aerosol provision device 100 and can be placed into a user's mouth. An aerosol is produced by heating the aerosol generating material 2 using the device 100.
The aerosol produced by the aerosol generating material 2 passes through the mouthpiece 20 to the user's mouth.
The various embodiments described herein are presented only to assist in understanding and teaching the claimed features. These embodiments are provided as a representative sample of embodiments only, and are not exhaustive and/or exclusive. It is to be understood that advantages, embodiments, examples, functions, features, structures, and/or other aspects described herein are not to be considered limitations on the scope of the disclosure as defined by the claims or limitations on equivalents to the claims, and that other embodiments may be utilized and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the claims. Various embodiments of the disclosure may suitably comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of, appropriate combinations of the disclosed elements, components, features, parts, steps, means, etc., other than those specifically described herein. In addition, this disclosure may include other inventions not presently claimed, but which may be claimed in future.

Claims

1. An article for use as or as part of a non-combustible aerosol provision system, the article comprising:

an aerosol generating material comprising at least one aerosol forming material;

a hollow tubular member disposed downstream of the aerosol generating material;

a first substantially cylindrical body disposed downstream of the hollow tubular member; and

a second substantially cylindrical body adjacent to and downstream of the first substantially cylindrical body, the second substantially cylindrical body being disposed at a mouth end of the article.

2. The article according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first substantially cylindrical body or the second substantially cylindrical body is formed of filamentary tow.

3. The article according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first substantially cylindrical body or the second substantially cylindrical body is formed of cellulose acetate tow.

4. The article according to claim 1, wherein the first substantially cylindrical body is formed of cellulose acetate tow having a first denier per filament value and a first total denier value, and wherein the second substantially cylindrical body is formed of cellulose acetate tow having a second denier per filament value and a second total denier value.

5. The article according to claim 4, wherein the first denier per filament value and the second denier per filament value are the same, and wherein the first total denier value and the second total denier value are the same.

6. The article according to claim 4, wherein the first denier per filament value is different from the second denier per filament value.

7. The article according to claim 5, wherein the first total denier value is different from the second total denier value.

8. The article according to claim 1, wherein the first substantially cylindrical body is longer than the second substantially cylindrical body.

9. The article according to claim 1, wherein a length of the first cylindrical body is between 7 mm and 13 mm, between 9 mm and 11 mm, or approximately 10 mm.

10. The article according to claim 1, wherein a length of the second cylindrical body is between 3 mm and 9 mm, between 5 mm and 7 mm, or approximately 6 mm.

11. The article according to claim 1, wherein a combined length of the first cylindrical body and the second cylindrical body is between 10 mm and 20 mm, between 12 mm and 18 mm, between 14 mm and 17 mm, or approximately 16 mm.

12. The article according to claim 1, wherein the hollow tubular member comprises one or more ventilation areas.

13. The article according to claim 12, wherein the one or more ventilation areas are provided between 12 mm and 20 mm, or between 18 mm and 19 mm, from a downstream end of the article.

14. The article according to claim 13, wherein the one or more ventilation areas are provided at approximately 18.5 mm or approximately 15 mm from the downstream end of the article.

15. The article according to claim 12, wherein the one or more ventilation areas comprise one or more apertures or perforations.

16. The article according to claim 12, wherein a ventilation level is between 40% and 80%, or between 50% and 70%, or approximately 60%.

17. The article according to claim 1, wherein the first cylindrical body is disposed immediately downstream of and adjacent to the hollow tubular member.

18. The article according to claim 1, wherein the hollow tubular member is formed from paper, plastic, or filamentary tow.

19. The article according to claim 1, wherein the hollow tubular member is formed of paper and has a wall thickness of less than 0.5 mm.

20. The article according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first cylindrical body or the and/or second cylindrical body is circumscribed by a wrapping material, the wrapping material comprising an embossed pattern.

21. The article according to claim 1, wherein the cylindrical body is substantially continuous throughout a volume.

22. The article according to claim 1, wherein the aerosol generating material is a rod of aerosol generating material having a length of between 22 mm and 30 mm, between 24 mm and 28 mm, or approximately 26 mm.

23. The article according to claim 1, wherein the hollow tubular member has a length of between 17 mm and 26 mm, between 18 mm and 24 mm, between 24 mm and 26 mm, or between 20 mm and 22 mm.

24. A method of forming an article according to claim 1, the method comprising:

providing an aerosol-generating material comprising at least one aerosol forming material;

disposing a hollow tubular member downstream of the aerosol generating material;

disposing a first substantially cylindrical body downstream of the hollow tubular member; and

disposing a second substantially cylindrical body adjacent to and downstream of the first substantially cylindrical body, the second substantially cylindrical body being disposed at a mouth end of the article.

25. A non-combustible aerosol provision system, the system comprising:

the article according to claim 1, and

a non-combustible aerosol provision device comprising a heater.