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WO2024260765A1 - Aerosol-generating article with downstream fabric - Google Patents

Aerosol-generating article with downstream fabric Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2024260765A1
WO2024260765A1 PCT/EP2024/065881 EP2024065881W WO2024260765A1 WO 2024260765 A1 WO2024260765 A1 WO 2024260765A1 EP 2024065881 W EP2024065881 W EP 2024065881W WO 2024260765 A1 WO2024260765 A1 WO 2024260765A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
fabric layer
aerosol
mouthpiece portion
generating article
article according
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
PCT/EP2024/065881
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Matteo Bologna
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Philip Morris Products SA
Original Assignee
Philip Morris Products SA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Philip Morris Products SA filed Critical Philip Morris Products SA
Publication of WO2024260765A1 publication Critical patent/WO2024260765A1/en
Pending legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24D—CIGARS; CIGARETTES; TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS; MOUTHPIECES FOR CIGARS OR CIGARETTES; MANUFACTURE OF TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS OR MOUTHPIECES
    • A24D1/00—Cigars; Cigarettes
    • A24D1/20—Cigarettes specially adapted for simulated smoking devices
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24D—CIGARS; CIGARETTES; TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS; MOUTHPIECES FOR CIGARS OR CIGARETTES; MANUFACTURE OF TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS OR MOUTHPIECES
    • A24D3/00—Tobacco smoke filters, e.g. filter-tips, filtering inserts; Filters specially adapted for simulated smoking devices; Mouthpieces for cigars or cigarettes
    • A24D3/04—Tobacco smoke filters characterised by their shape or structure
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24D—CIGARS; CIGARETTES; TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS; MOUTHPIECES FOR CIGARS OR CIGARETTES; MANUFACTURE OF TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS OR MOUTHPIECES
    • A24D3/00—Tobacco smoke filters, e.g. filter-tips, filtering inserts; Filters specially adapted for simulated smoking devices; Mouthpieces for cigars or cigarettes
    • A24D3/18—Mouthpieces for cigars or cigarettes; Manufacture thereof
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
    • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
    • A24F40/20—Devices using solid inhalable precursors

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an aerosol-generating article
  • Such articles may comprise aerosol-forming substrate which is heated to a temperature at which one or more components of the aerosol-forming substrate are volatilised without burning the aerosol-forming substrate.
  • Aerosol-forming substrate may be provided as part of a substrate portion of the aerosol-generating article.
  • the aerosol-generating article may have a rod shape for insertion of the aerosol-generating article into a cavity, such as a heating chamber, of an aerosol-generating device. Due to the relatively low temperatures utilized for vaporizing the aerosol-forming substrate, it may not be necessary to provide a filter downstream of the substrate portion. However, it may be unpleasant for user to have a hollow portion downstream of the substrate portion. Further, it may be unpleasant for user to have lose aerosol-forming substrate potentially falling out of the downstream open end of the aerosol-forming article.
  • an aerosol-generating article comprising a mouthpiece portion.
  • the mouthpiece portion may be hollow and cylindrical.
  • the aerosol-generating article may further comprise a fabric layer.
  • the fabric layer may be arranged abutting the mouthpiece portion or arranged within the mouthpiece portion.
  • the fabric layer may extend perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the aerosolgenerating article or the fabric layer may be arranged angled with respect to the longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generating article.
  • an aerosol-generating article comprising a mouthpiece portion.
  • the mouthpiece portion is hollow and cylindrical.
  • the aerosol-generating article further comprises a fabric layer.
  • the fabric layer is arranged abutting the mouthpiece portion or arranged within the mouthpiece portion.
  • the fabric layer extends perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generating article or the fabric layer is arranged angled with respect to the longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generating article.
  • the fabric layer may forgo the need of a downstream filter. Particularly, the fabric layer may prevent lose residues of aerosol-forming substrate of the aerosol-generating article from falling out of the mouthpiece portion.
  • the fabric layer may have a filtration effect sufficient to replace the downstream filter. This may be the case due to heat not burn aerosol-generating articles creating only a little amount of unwanted constituents that may be sufficiently filtered by the fabric layer.
  • the fabric layer may preventing an unobstructed view of a substrate portion of the aerosol-generating article. This may be desirable as a user may prefer a clean optic of the aerosol-generating article instead of directly viewing the aerosolforming substrate when looking into the hollow mouthpiece portion.
  • the fabric layer may be arranged directly abutting the mouthpiece portion. In other words, no further component of the aerosol-generating article may be arranged between the fabric layer and the mouthpiece portion.
  • the fabric layer may be arranged at least partly surrounding the mouthpiece portion.
  • the fabric layer may be arranged at least partly surrounding an upstream circumference of the mouthpiece portion.
  • the fabric layer may be arranged partly or fully covering the upstream end face of the mouthpiece portion as well as the upstream circumference of the mouthpiece portion.
  • the fabric layer may be pulled over the upstream end face and upstream circumference of the mouthpiece portion.
  • the fabric layer may be arranged in a similar way covering a downstream end face of the mouthpiece portion.
  • the fabric layer may have one or both of a length and a width corresponding to or larger than an outer diameter of the mouthpiece portion.
  • the fabric layer may be arranged abutting an upstream end of the mouthpiece portion.
  • the fabric layer may be fluid permeable. Particularly, the fabric layer may be permeable to volatilized aerosol-forming substrate.
  • the fabric layer may be impermeable to solid components of aerosol-forming substrate.
  • the fabric layer may enable aerosol or volatilized aerosol-forming substrate to be drawn through the fabric layer while at the same time preventing solid components of the aerosol-forming substrate from passing through the fabric layer.
  • the aerosol-generating article may further comprise a substrate portion comprising the aerosol-forming substrate.
  • the substrate portion may be arranged upstream of the mouthpiece portion and upstream of the fabric layer.
  • the substrate portion may be arranged directly abutting the fabric layer of the mouthpiece portion.
  • the substrate portion may be arranged directly abutting the mouthpiece portion.
  • no further component of the aerosol-generating article may be arranged between the substrate portion and mouthpiece portion, particularly between the substrate portion and the fabric layer of the mouthpiece portion.
  • the fabric layer may be opaque.
  • An opaque fabric layer may enable a view of the aerosol-forming substrate of the substrate portion through the fabric layer, if this is desired.
  • the fabric layer may be disk-shaped, square-shaped or cross-shaped.
  • the fabric layer is preferably disk-shaped.
  • the fabric layer may also be disk-shaped if one or both of the width and the length of the fabric layer is larger than the outer diameter of the mouthpiece portion. These dimensions of the fabric layer are preferred if the fabric layer is pulled or arranged over the upstream end face of the mouthpiece portion and at least partly over the outer circumference of the mouthpiece portion adjacent the upstream end face.
  • a squareshaped or cross-shaped fabric layer may be utilized instead of a disk-shaped fabric layer.
  • Providing the fabric layer as a squareshaped or cross-shaped fabric layer may be beneficial for securing the fabric layer onto the circumference of the mouthpiece portion. More specifically, the edges of the fabric layer may be secured to the circumference of the mouthpiece portion in case the fabric layer is provided as a square-shaped fabric layer.
  • the elongate “cross” parts of the fabric layer may be secured to the outer circumference of the mouthpiece portion. The fabric layer may thus be securely held in place to cover the upstream end face of the mouthpiece portion. Further, wrinkles or creases of the fabric layer may be prevented during attachment of the fabric layer to the outer circumference of the mouthpiece portion.
  • the thickness of the fabric layer may be substantially smaller than one or both of the length and the width of the fabric layer.
  • one or both of the length and the width of the fabric layer may be larger than the thickness of the fabric layer by a factor of 10, more preferably by a factor of 50, more preferably by a factor of 100, most preferably by a factor of 200.
  • An outer diameter of the fabric layer may correspond to or may be larger than an outer diameter of the mouthpiece portion.
  • the outer diameter of the fabric layer may correspond to one or both of the width and the length of the fabric layer.
  • the width of the fabric layer may be identical to the length of the fabric layer.
  • the fabric layer may be glued to the mouthpiece portion.
  • a glue layer may be provided on the fabric layer.
  • the glue layer may have a cross-sectional shape corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the mouthpiece portion.
  • a ringshaped glue layer may be provided to correspond to the upstream end face of the hollow cross-sectional shape of the mouthpiece portion.
  • the glue may be provided in the form of glue dots or glue points. These may be sufficient to secure the fabric layer to the mouthpiece portion.
  • this cross-sectional shape may be established in a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal central axis of the aerosolgenerating article.
  • the glue layer may be provided instead of or in addition to attaching the fabric layer to the circumference of the mouthpiece portion.
  • the glue layer may be the only attachment means for attaching the fabric layer to the mouthpiece portion. This may particularly be the case when the fabric layer has an outer diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of the upstream end face of the mouthpiece portion. In case the fabric layer has a larger outer diameter (or a larger width or length), the fabric layer may be attached to the outer circumference of the mouthpiece portion. In this case, the glue layer may be provided to additionally secure the fabric layer to the upstream end face of the mouthpiece portion.
  • glue may in this case only be provided at the outer circumference of the mouthpiece portion to hold the fabric layer to the outer circumference of the mouthpiece portion. In all instances where it is discussed herein that the fabric layer is attached to the outer circumference of the mouthpiece portion, this may be facilitated by a separate glue layer.
  • This glue layer may be arranged at the outer circumference of the mouthpiece portion so that the fabric layer sticks to the outer circumference of the mouthpiece portion.
  • the glue layer may be arranged on respective parts of the fabric layer that come into contact with the outer circumference of the mouthpiece portion during attachment of the fabric layer to the outer circumference of the mouthpiece portion.
  • a central portion of the fabric layer may be free of glue. This may facilitate the fluid permeability of the fabric layer. In other words, only the parts of the fabric layer that come into direct contact with the mouthpiece portion (not only with the hollow inner of the mouthpiece portion) may be provided with glue or with a glue layer.
  • the fabric layer may be attached to, preferably glued to, an upstream end face of the mouthpiece portion.
  • the fabric layer may be configured as a mesh layer.
  • the fabric layer may consist of a single layer. Alternatively, the fabric layer may comprise multiple layers.
  • the fabric layer may comprise individual threats.
  • the fabric layer may be provided as a threaded fabric.
  • the fabric may be made of eco-friendly and sustainable material.
  • the fabric layer may have a resistance to draw appropriate to simulate a more conventional downstream cigarette filter.
  • the fabric layer may have a resistance to draw that is substantially higher than a layer through which fluid can flow essentially unhindered.
  • the fabric layer may be a coloured fabric layer.
  • the colour of the fabric layer may be visible by a user when looking through the hollow mouthpiece portion.
  • the colour of the fabric layer may indicate the type of aerosol-forming substrate of the aerosol-generating article.
  • the mouthpiece portion may, apart from the fabric layer, be provided as a cardboard tube.
  • the sidewall of the mouthpiece portion may be made of cardboard.
  • the mouthpiece portion may only, apart from the fabric layer, comprise the sidewall made of cardboard and no further elements.
  • the fabric layer may have the same cross-sectional shape as the mouthpiece portion.
  • the fabric layer may be at least partly wrapped around or pulled over the mouthpiece portion. In this case, preferably only an upstream portion of the outer circumference of the mouthpiece portion is covered by the fabric layer.
  • the fabric layer may comprise a circumferential pocket or groove into which an upstream end face of the mouthpiece portion may be slotted.
  • the circumferential groove may be ring-shaped.
  • the cross-sectional shape of the circumferential groove may correspond to the cross-sectional shape of the upstream end face of the mouthpiece portion.
  • the fabric layer may be arranged spanning the mouthpiece portion.
  • the hollow shape of the mouthpiece portion leads to a hollow core of the mouthpiece portion.
  • the fabric layer may be arranged spanning this hollow core.
  • the fabric layer may be arranged to cover the hollow core of the mouthpiece portion.
  • the arrangement of the fabric layer may be similar to a lid closing the jar.
  • the part of the fabric layer spanning the hollow core may be planar. If the outer circumference of the fabric layer corresponds to the outer circumference of the mouthpiece portion, preferably the whole fabric layer is planner. If the fabric layer is pulled over the mouthpiece portion, at least the part of the fabric layer spanning the hollow core of the mouthpiece portion may be planner.
  • the part of the fabric layer spanning the hollow core may be angled with respect to the longitudinal central axis of the aerosol-generating article.
  • This embodiment is particularly preferred in case the fabric layer is provided with a circumferential groove into which the upstream end face of the mouthpiece portion may be slotted.
  • the part of the fabric layer that spans the hollow core of the mouthpiece portion may be provided having a conical shape.
  • the conically shaped part of the fabric layer may abut the circumferential groove.
  • the conically shaped part of the fabric layer may form the central part of the fabric layer.
  • the conically shaped part of the fabric layer may be arranged to penetrate into the hollow core of the mouthpiece portion.
  • the fabric layer may be provided by suing or gluing edges of the fabric layer together to form a “pocket” with the edge of this pocket being rolled up on the outside surface of the mouthpiece portion.
  • the aerosol-generating article may further comprise a cardboard tube.
  • the cardboard tube may have an outer diameter which may correspond to or which may be smaller than an inner diameter of the mouthpiece portion.
  • the fabric layer may be arranged abutting or covering an upstream end face of the cardboard tube.
  • the cardboard tube may be arranged within the mouthpiece portion.
  • the cardboard tube may be glued to the inside of the mouthpiece portion or attached to the inside of the mouthpiece portion by an interference fit.
  • the cardboard tube may assist in arranging the fabric layer with respect to the mouthpiece portion.
  • This embodiment is essentially an alternative to gluing the fabric layer to the upstream end face of the mouthpiece portion or to pulling the fabric layer over the upstream end face of the mouthpiece portion and the outer circumference of the mouthpiece portion.
  • the cardboard tube may prevent any deformation of the outer shape of the aerosolgenerating article due to the arrangement of the fabric layer on the outer circumference of the mouthpiece portion.
  • the cardboard tube may be positioned at any desired position within the hollow inner of the mouthpiece portion. In other words, the positioning of the cardboard tube within the mouthpiece portion is not limited to positioning the cardboard tube to the upstream end face of the mouthpiece portion.
  • the cardboard tube may have a tubular shape.
  • the cardboard tube may have a length substantially smaller than the length of the mouthpiece portion.
  • the length of the cardboard tube and the length of the mouthpiece portion may be measured along the longitudinal central axis of the aerosol-generating article.
  • the fabric layer may be glued to an upstream end face of the cardboard tube similarly as described herein with respect to gluing the fabric layer to the upstream end face of the mouthpiece portion. Similarly, the fabric layer may be pulled over the upstream end face of the cardboard tube and an outer circumference of the cardboard tube similarly to the description herein of pulling the fabric layer over the upstream end face of the mouthpiece portion and the outer circumference of the mouthpiece portion.
  • the cardboard tube may be placed inside of the mouthpiece portion.
  • the mouthpiece portion may be glued to the substrate portion.
  • a wrapping paper or tipping paper may be arranged surrounding at least parts of the mouthpiece portion and at least parts of the substrate portion thereby attaching the mouthpiece portion and the substrate portion together.
  • the invention further relates to a method of attaching the fabric layer as described herein to the mouthpiece portion as described herein.
  • the invention further relates to a method of attaching the fabric layer as described herein to the cardboard tube as described herein.
  • the invention further relates to one or more of the following method steps: attaching the fabric layer to the mouthpiece portion; attaching the fabric layer to the cardboard tube; attaching the mouthpiece portion comprising the fabric layer to the substrate portion; attaching the cardboard tube to the mouthpiece portion.
  • the aerosol-generating article may be used in an aerosol-generating device.
  • the aerosol-generating article may be inserted into a cavity of the aerosol-generating device.
  • the aerosol-generating device may heat the aerosol-forming substrate of the aerosol-generating article thereby creating an inhalable aerosol.
  • proximal As used herein, the terms ‘proximal’, ‘distal’, ‘downstream’ and ‘upstream’ are used to describe the relative positions of components, or portions of components, of the aerosolgenerating device in relation to the direction in which a user draws on the aerosol-generating device during use thereof.
  • the aerosol-generating device may comprise a mouth end through which in use an aerosol exits the aerosol-generating device and is delivered to a user.
  • the mouth end may also be referred to as the proximal end.
  • a user draws on the proximal or mouth end of the aerosol-generating device in order to inhale an aerosol generated by the aerosolgenerating device.
  • a user may directly draw on an aerosol-generating article inserted into an opening at the proximal end of the aerosol-generating device.
  • the opening at the proximal end may be an opening of the cavity.
  • the cavity may be configured to receive the aerosol-generating article.
  • the aerosol-generating device comprises a distal end opposed to the proximal or mouth end.
  • the proximal or mouth end of the aerosol-generating device may also be referred to as the downstream end and the distal end of the aerosolgenerating device may also be referred to as the upstream end.
  • Components, or portions of components, of the aerosol-generating device may be described as being upstream or downstream of one another based on their relative positions between the proximal, downstream or mouth end and the distal or upstream end of the aerosol-generating device.
  • an ‘aerosol-generating device’ relates to a device that interacts with an aerosol-forming substrate to generate an aerosol.
  • the aerosol-forming substrate may be part of an aerosol-generating article, for example part of a smoking article.
  • An aerosolgenerating device may be a smoking device that interacts with an aerosol-forming substrate of an aerosol-generating article to generate an aerosol that is directly inhalable into a user’s lungs thorough the user's mouth.
  • An aerosol-generating device may be a holder.
  • the device may be an electrically heated smoking device.
  • the aerosol-generating device may comprise a housing, electric circuitry, a power supply, a heating chamber and a heating element.
  • the term ‘smoking’ with reference to a device, article, system, substrate, or otherwise does not refer to conventional smoking in which an aerosol-forming substrate is fully or at least partially combusted.
  • the aerosol-generating device of the present invention is arranged to heat the aerosol-forming substrate to a temperature below a combustion temperature of the aerosol-forming substrate, but at or above a temperature at which one or more volatile compounds of the aerosolforming substrate are released to form an inhalable aerosol.
  • the aerosol-generating device may comprise electric circuitry.
  • the electric circuitry may comprise a microprocessor, which may be a programmable microprocessor.
  • the microprocessor may be part of a controller.
  • the electric circuitry may comprise further electronic components.
  • the electric circuitry may be configured to regulate a supply of power to the heating element. Power may be supplied to the heating element continuously following activation of the aerosol-generating device or may be supplied intermittently, such as on a puff-by-puff basis. The power may be supplied to the heating element in the form of pulses of electrical current.
  • the electric circuitry may be configured to monitor the electrical resistance of the heating element, and preferably to control the supply of power to the heating element dependent on the electrical resistance of the heating element.
  • the aerosol-generating device may comprise a power supply, typically a battery, within a main body of the aerosol-generating device.
  • the power supply is a Lithium-ion battery.
  • the power supply may be a Nickel-metal hydride battery, a Nickel cadmium battery, or a Lithium based battery, for example a Lithium-Cobalt, a Lithium-lron-Phosphate, Lithium Titanate or a Lithium-Polymer battery.
  • the power supply may be another form of charge storage device such as a capacitor.
  • the power supply may require recharging and may have a capacity that enables to store enough energy for one or more usage experiences; for example, the power supply may have sufficient capacity to continuously generate aerosol for a period of around six minutes or for a period of a multiple of six minutes. In another example, the power supply may have sufficient capacity to provide a predetermined number of puffs or discrete activations of the heating element.
  • the cavity of the aerosol-generating device may have an open end into which the aerosol-generating article is inserted.
  • the open end may be a proximal end.
  • the cavity may have a closed end opposite the open end.
  • the closed end may be the base of the cavity.
  • the closed end may be closed except for the provision of air apertures arranged in the base.
  • the base of the cavity may be flat.
  • the base of the cavity may be circular.
  • the base of the cavity may be arranged upstream of the cavity.
  • the open end may be arranged downstream of the cavity.
  • the cavity may have an elongate extension.
  • the cavity may have a longitudinal central axis.
  • a longitudinal direction may be the direction extending between the open and closed ends along the longitudinal central axis.
  • the longitudinal central axis of the cavity may be parallel to the longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generating device.
  • the cavity may be configured as a heating chamber.
  • the cavity may have a cylindrical shape.
  • the cavity may have a hollow cylindrical shape.
  • the cavity may have a shape corresponding to the shape of the aerosol-generating article to be received in the cavity.
  • the cavity may have a circular cross-section.
  • the cavity may have an elliptical or rectangular cross-section.
  • the cavity may have an inner diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of the aerosol-generating article.
  • An airflow channel may run through the cavity. Ambient air may be drawn into the aerosol-generating device, into the cavity and towards the user through the airflow channel. Downstream of the cavity, a mouthpiece may be arranged or a user may directly draw on the aerosol-generating article. The airflow channel may extend through the mouthpiece.
  • the heating element may comprise an electrically resistive material.
  • Suitable electrically resistive materials include but are not limited to: semiconductors such as doped ceramics, electrically "conductive" ceramics (such as, for example, molybdenum disilicide), carbon, graphite, metals, metal alloys and composite materials made of a ceramic material and a metallic material.
  • Such composite materials may comprise doped or undoped ceramics.
  • suitable doped ceramics include doped silicon carbides.
  • suitable metals include titanium, zirconium, tantalum platinum, gold and silver.
  • suitable metal alloys include stainless steel, nickel-, cobalt-, chromium-, aluminium- titanium- zirconium-, hafnium-, niobium-, molybdenum-, tantalum-, tungsten-, tin-, gallium-, manganese-, gold- and iron- containing alloys, and super-alloys based on nickel, iron, cobalt, stainless steel, Timetai® and iron-manganese-aluminium based alloys.
  • the electrically resistive material may optionally be embedded in, encapsulated or coated with an insulating material or vice-versa, depending on the kinetics of energy transfer and the external physicochemical properties required.
  • the heating element may be part of an aerosol-generating device.
  • the aerosol-generating device may comprise an internal heating element or an external heating element, or both internal and external heating elements, where "internal” and “external” refer to the aerosol-forming substrate.
  • An internal heating element may take any suitable form.
  • an internal heating element may take the form of a heating blade.
  • the internal heater may take the form of a casing or substrate having different electro-conductive portions, or an electrically resistive metallic tube.
  • the internal heating element may be one or more heating needles or rods that run through the center of the aerosol- forming substrate.
  • the internal heating element may be deposited in or on a rigid carrier material.
  • the electrically resistive heating element may be formed using a metal having a defined relationship between temperature and resistivity.
  • the metal may be formed as a track on a suitable insulating material, such as ceramic material, and then sandwiched in another insulating material, such as a glass. Heaters formed in this manner may be used to both heat and monitor the temperature of the heating elements during operation.
  • An external heating element may take any suitable form.
  • an external heating element may take the form of one or more flexible heating foils on a dielectric substrate, such as polyimide.
  • the flexible heating foils can be shaped to conform to the perimeter of the substrate receiving cavity.
  • an external heating element may take the form of a metallic grid or grids, a flexible printed circuit board, a molded interconnect device (MID), ceramic heater, flexible carbon fibre heater or may be formed using a coating technique, such as plasma vapour deposition, on a suitable shaped substrate.
  • An external heating element may also be formed using a metal having a defined relationship between temperature and resistivity. In such an exemplary device, the metal may be formed as a track between two layers of suitable insulating materials. An external heating element formed in this manner may be used to both heat and monitor the temperature of the external heating element during operation.
  • the heating element may be configured as an induction heating element.
  • the induction heating element may comprise an induction coil and a susceptor.
  • a susceptor is a material that is capable of generating heat, when penetrated by an alternating magnetic field. When located in an alternating magnetic field. If the susceptor is conductive, then typically eddy currents are induced by the alternating magnetic field. If the susceptor is magnetic, then typically another effect that contributes to the heating is commonly referred to hysteresis losses. Hysteresis losses occur mainly due to the movement of the magnetic domain blocks within the susceptor, because the magnetic orientation of these will align with the magnetic induction field, which alternates.
  • hysteresis losses Another effect contributing to the hysteresis loss is when the magnetic domains will grow or shrink within the susceptor.
  • the susceptor is both magnetic and electrically conductive, both hysteresis losses and the generation of eddy currents will contribute to the heating of the susceptor.
  • the susceptor is magnetic, but not conductive, then hysteresis losses will be the only means by which the susceptor will heat, when penetrated by an alternating magnetic field.
  • the susceptor may be electrically conductive or magnetic or both electrically conductive and magnetic.
  • An alternating magnetic field generated by one or several induction coils heat the susceptor, which then transfers the heat to the aerosol-forming substrate, such that an aerosol is formed.
  • the heat transfer may be mainly by conduction of heat. Such a transfer of heat is best, if the susceptor is in close thermal contact with the aerosol-forming substrate.
  • an aerosol-generating article refers to an article comprising an aerosol-forming substrate that is capable of releasing volatile compounds that can form an aerosol.
  • an aerosol-generating article may be a smoking article that generates an aerosol that is directly inhalable into a user’s lungs through the user's mouth.
  • An aerosolgenerating article may be disposable.
  • aerosol-forming substrate relates to a substrate capable of releasing one or more volatile compounds that can form an aerosol. Such volatile compounds may be released by heating the aerosol-forming substrate.
  • An aerosol-forming substrate may conveniently be part of an aerosol-generating article or smoking article.
  • the aerosol-forming substrate may be a solid aerosol-forming substrate.
  • the aerosolforming substrate may be arranged in the substrate portion.
  • the aerosol-forming substrate may comprise both solid and liquid components.
  • the aerosol-forming substrate may comprise a tobacco-containing material containing volatile tobacco flavour compounds which are released from the substrate upon heating.
  • the aerosol-forming substrate may comprise a non-tobacco material.
  • the aerosol-forming substrate may comprise an aerosol former that facilitates the formation of a dense and stable aerosol. Examples of suitable aerosol formers are glycerine and propylene glycol.
  • the aerosol-generating substrate preferably comprises homogenised tobacco material, an aerosol-former and water.
  • Providing homogenised tobacco material may improve aerosol generation, the nicotine content and the flavour profile of the aerosol generated during heating of the aerosol-generating article.
  • the process of making homogenised tobacco involves grinding tobacco leaf, which more effectively enables the release of nicotine and flavours upon heating.
  • Example 1 An aerosol-generating article comprising: a mouthpiece portion, wherein the mouthpiece portion is hollow and cylindrical; and a fabric layer, wherein the fabric layer is arranged abutting the mouthpiece portion or arranged within the mouthpiece portion, and wherein the fabric layer extends perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generating article or wherein the fabric layer is arranged angled with respect to the longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generating article.
  • Example 2 The aerosol-generating article according to example 1 , wherein the fabric layer is arranged directly abutting the mouthpiece portion.
  • Example 3 The aerosol-generating article according to any of the preceding examples, wherein the fabric layer is arranged at least partly surrounding the mouthpiece portion.
  • Example 4 The aerosol-generating article according to any of the preceding examples, wherein the fabric layer is arranged abutting an upstream end of the mouthpiece portion.
  • Example 5 The aerosol-generating article according to any of the preceding examples, wherein the fabric layer is fluid permeable.
  • Example 6 The aerosol-generating article according to any of the preceding examples, wherein the fabric layer is impermeable to solid components of aerosol-forming substrate.
  • Example 7 The aerosol-generating article according to any of the preceding examples, wherein the aerosol-generating article further comprises a substrate portion comprising aerosol-forming substrate, wherein the substrate portion is arranged upstream of the mouthpiece portion and upstream of the fabric layer.
  • Example 8 The aerosol-generating article according to any of the preceding examples, wherein the fabric layer is opaque.
  • Example 9 The aerosol-generating article according to any of the preceding examples, wherein the fabric layer is disk-shaped, square-shaped or cross-shaped.
  • Example 10 The aerosol-generating article according to any of the preceding examples, wherein an outer diameter of the fabric layer corresponds to or is larger than an outer diameter of the mouthpiece portion.
  • Example 11 The aerosol-generating article according to any of the preceding examples, wherein the fabric layer is glued to the mouthpiece portion.
  • Example 12 The aerosol-generating article according to any of the preceding examples, wherein the fabric layer is attached to, preferably glued to, an upstream end face of the mouthpiece portion.
  • Example 13 The aerosol-generating article according to any of the preceding examples, wherein the fabric layer has the same cross-sectional shape as the mouthpiece portion.
  • Example 14 The aerosol-generating article according to any of the preceding examples, wherein the fabric layer is at least partly wrapped around the mouthpiece portion.
  • Example 15 The aerosol-generating article according to any of the preceding examples, wherein the fabric layer comprises a circumferential pocket or groove into which an upstream end face of the mouthpiece portion is slotted.
  • Example 16 The aerosol-generating article according to any of the preceding examples, wherein the aerosol-generating article further comprises a cardboard tube, wherein the cardboard tube has an outer diameter which corresponds to or which is smaller than an inner diameter of the mouthpiece portion, wherein the fabric layer is arranged abutting or covering an upstream end face of the cardboard tube, and wherein the cardboard tube is arranged within the mouthpiece portion, preferably wherein the cardboard tube is glued to the inside of the mouthpiece portion or attached to the inside of the mouthpiece portion by an interference fit.
  • Fig. 1 shows an explosion side view of an aerosol-generating article according to the invention
  • Fig. 2 shows a first embodiment of a fabric layer of a mouthpiece portion of the aerosol-generating article
  • Fig. 3 shows the attachment of the fabric layer to the mouthpiece portion in the first embodiment
  • Fig. 4 shows a second embodiment of the fabric layer of the mouthpiece portion of the aerosol-generating article
  • Fig. 5 shows the attachment of the fabric layer to the mouthpiece portion in the second embodiment
  • Fig. 6 shows an alternative shape of the fabric layer to be used in the second embodiment
  • Fig. 7 shows attachment of the alternatively shaped fabric layer shown in figure 6 in the second embodiment
  • Fig. 8 shows a third embodiment of the fabric layer of the mouthpiece portion of the aerosol-generating article
  • Fig. 9 shows the attachment of the fabric layer to the mouthpiece portion in the third embodiment
  • Fig. 10 shows a fourth embodiment of the fabric layer of the mouthpiece portion of the aerosol-generating article; and Fig. 11 shows the attachment of the fabric layer to the mouthpiece portion in the fourth embodiment.
  • FIG. 1 shows an aerosol-generating article 10.
  • the aerosol-generating article 10 comprises multiple components.
  • the components shown in figure 1 are a mouthpiece portion 12, a fabric layer 14 of the mouthpiece portion 12, a substrate portion 16, a front plug 18 and an optional portion 20.
  • the optional portion 20 and the mouthpiece portion 12 including the fabric layer 14 are attached together using a tipping paper 24.
  • the optional portion 20 can be omitted so that the mouthpiece portion 12 directly abuts the substrate portion 16.
  • the optional portion 20 may be provided as a cooling portion to enable formation of an inhalable aerosol the condensation of droplets of volatilized aerosol-forming substrate and the cooling portion.
  • a downstream direction 26 is indicated in figure 1 using arrows.
  • a user may inhale the aerosol generated in the aerosol-generating article 10 downstream of the aerosolgenerating article 10.
  • the user may take the mouthpiece portion 12 between his or her lips to inhale the aerosol directly from the mouthpiece portion 12.
  • Figure 2 shows the fabric layer 14 and an upstream portion 28 of the mouthpiece portion 12 in more detail. Particularly, Figure 2 shows the fabric layer 14 before the fabric layer 14 is attached to the mouthpiece portion 12.
  • the fabric layer 14 has a circular crosssection. The outer diameter of the fabric layer 14 corresponds to the outer diameter of the mouthpiece portion 12.
  • the fabric layer 14 is attached to the mouthpiece portion 12 by gluing the fabric layer 14 to an upstream end face 30 of the mouthpiece portion 12.
  • the glue may be provided in the form of a ring of glue corresponding to the cross- sectional shape of the hollow mouthpiece portion 12. In other words, a central portion of the fabric layer 14 is left free of glue to enable fluid permeability of the fabric layer 14.
  • the glue may be provided as gluing dots or glue patch 40es on the fabric layer 14 or on the upstream end face 30 of the mouthpiece portion 12.
  • Figure 3 shows the fabric layer 14 of figure 2 attached to the mouthpiece portion 12.
  • the mouthpiece portion 12 is thus created with a closed upstream end face 30. Due to the hollow nature of the mouthpiece portion 12, the mouthpiece portion 12 comprises a hollow core 32.
  • the fabric layer 14 enables airflow through the mouthpiece portion 12 as indicated by the arrows. At the same time, the fabric layer 14 prevents large particles of the aerosolforming substrate from reaching into the hollow core 32 of the mouthpiece portion 12. These large particles of the aerosol-forming substrate are prevented from reaching the mouth of a user, which may be undesired.
  • Figure 4 shows a further embodiment of the fabric layer 14.
  • the fabric layer 14 has a square-shaped cross-section.
  • a length 34 and a width 36 of the fabric layer 14 are each larger than the outer diameter of the mouthpiece portion 12.
  • Figure 5 shows a glue patch 40 securely holding the fabric layer 14 to the outer circumference 38 of the upstream portion 28 of the mouthpiece portion 12.
  • the number of glue patch 40es is of course only exemplary end may be varied accordingly.
  • Figure 6 shows an embodiment of the fabric layer 14 in which the fabric layer 14 is cross-shaped.
  • the fabric layer 14 comprises “cross” parts or legs 42. These legs 42 are created by providing cutout portions 44 in which no fabric layer 14 is present. As indicated by the circular dashed line in figure 6, the cutout portions 44 are dimensioned such that the fabric layer 14 can cover the upstream end face 30 of the mouthpiece portion 12.
  • Figure 7 shows the attachment of the cross-shaped fabric layer 14 of Figure 6 to the upstream end face 30 of the mouthpiece portion 12.
  • the legs 42 of the fabric layer 14 are attached to the outer circumference 38 of the mouthpiece portion 12 with glue patch 40es.
  • This arrangement of the fabric layer 14 creates a secure connection between the fabric layer 14 and the mouthpiece portion 12 while at the same time preventing creases or folds in the area where the fabric layer 14 covers the outer circumference 38 of the mouthpiece portion 12.
  • Figure 8 shows a further embodiment of the fabric layer 14.
  • the fabric layer 14 has a circumferential groove 46 into which the upstream end face 30 of the mouthpiece portion 12 can be slotted.
  • the central part of the fabric layer 14 has a conical shape 48 so that the central part of the fabric layer 14 can be inserted into the hollow core 32 of the mouthpiece portion 12.
  • the fabric layer 14 can be securely attached to the mouthpiece portion 12 due to the slotting action of the upstream end face 30 of the mouthpiece portion 12 into the circumferential groove 46 of the fabric layer 14.
  • an overlap is created between the outer periphery of the fabric layer 14 and the outer circumference 38 of the mouthpiece portion 12.
  • Figure 10 shows a further embodiment in which the fabric layer 14 is, before being attached to the mouthpiece portion 12, attached to a cardboard tube 50.
  • the cardboard tube 50 has an outer diameter that corresponds to or is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the mouthpiece portion 12.
  • the fabric layer 14 is attached to an upstream end face of the cardboard tube 50.
  • the attachment of the fabric layer 14 to the upstream end face of the cardboard tube 50 may be similar to described herein with respect to the attachment of the fabric layer 14 to the upstream end face 30 of the mouthpiece portion 12.
  • the attachment of the fabric layer 14 to the upstream end face of the cardboard tube 50 is similar to the attachment of the fabric layer 14 to the upstream end face 30 of the mouthpiece portion 12 shown in Figure 5.
  • the cardboard tube 50 can be inserted into the hollow core 32 of the mouthpiece portion 12.
  • Figure 11 shows the arrangement of the cardboard tube 50 comprising the fabric layer 14 inside of the hollow core 32 of the mouthpiece portion 12.
  • This embodiment may facilitate a particularly secure holding action of the fabric layer 14 inside of the mouthpiece portion 12.
  • the placement of the fabric layer 14 within the mouthpiece portion 12 can be flexibly adjusted in a downstream or upstream direction as desired.
  • the outer appearance of the aerosol-generating article 10 is not impeded by the fabric layer 14 which my potentially be an issue when the fabric layer 14 is arranged on the outer circumference 38 of the mouthpiece portion 12.

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  • Containers And Packaging Bodies Having A Special Means To Remove Contents (AREA)

Abstract

The invention relates to an aerosol-generating article comprising a mouthpiece portion. The mouthpiece portion is hollow and cylindrical. The aerosol-generating article further comprises a fabric layer. The fabric layer is arranged abutting the mouthpiece portion or arranged within the mouthpiece portion. The fabric layer extends perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generating article or the fabric layer is arranged angled with respect to the longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generating article.

Description

AEROSOL-GENERATING ARTICLE WITH DOWNSTREAM FABRIC
The present invention relates to an aerosol-generating article
It is known to provide an aerosol-generating article for generating an inhalable vapor. Such articles may comprise aerosol-forming substrate which is heated to a temperature at which one or more components of the aerosol-forming substrate are volatilised without burning the aerosol-forming substrate. Aerosol-forming substrate may be provided as part of a substrate portion of the aerosol-generating article. The aerosol-generating article may have a rod shape for insertion of the aerosol-generating article into a cavity, such as a heating chamber, of an aerosol-generating device. Due to the relatively low temperatures utilized for vaporizing the aerosol-forming substrate, it may not be necessary to provide a filter downstream of the substrate portion. However, it may be unpleasant for user to have a hollow portion downstream of the substrate portion. Further, it may be unpleasant for user to have lose aerosol-forming substrate potentially falling out of the downstream open end of the aerosol-forming article.
It would be desirable to have an aerosol-generating article without the need of a downstream filter. It would be desirable to have an aerosol-generating article preventing aerosol-forming substrate from falling out of the aerosol-generating article downstream of a substrate portion of the aerosol-generating article. It would be desirable to have an aerosolgenerating article preventing an unobstructed view of a substrate portion of the aerosolgenerating article.
According to an embodiment of the invention there is provided an aerosol-generating article comprising a mouthpiece portion. The mouthpiece portion may be hollow and cylindrical. The aerosol-generating article may further comprise a fabric layer. The fabric layer may be arranged abutting the mouthpiece portion or arranged within the mouthpiece portion. The fabric layer may extend perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the aerosolgenerating article or the fabric layer may be arranged angled with respect to the longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generating article.
According to an embodiment of the invention there is provided an aerosol-generating article comprising a mouthpiece portion. The mouthpiece portion is hollow and cylindrical. The aerosol-generating article further comprises a fabric layer. The fabric layer is arranged abutting the mouthpiece portion or arranged within the mouthpiece portion. The fabric layer extends perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generating article or the fabric layer is arranged angled with respect to the longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generating article.
The fabric layer may forgo the need of a downstream filter. Particularly, the fabric layer may prevent lose residues of aerosol-forming substrate of the aerosol-generating article from falling out of the mouthpiece portion. The fabric layer may have a filtration effect sufficient to replace the downstream filter. This may be the case due to heat not burn aerosol-generating articles creating only a little amount of unwanted constituents that may be sufficiently filtered by the fabric layer.
Additionally or alternatively, the fabric layer may preventing an unobstructed view of a substrate portion of the aerosol-generating article. This may be desirable as a user may prefer a clean optic of the aerosol-generating article instead of directly viewing the aerosolforming substrate when looking into the hollow mouthpiece portion.
The fabric layer may be arranged directly abutting the mouthpiece portion. In other words, no further component of the aerosol-generating article may be arranged between the fabric layer and the mouthpiece portion.
The fabric layer may be arranged at least partly surrounding the mouthpiece portion.
The fabric layer may be arranged at least partly surrounding an upstream circumference of the mouthpiece portion. The fabric layer may be arranged partly or fully covering the upstream end face of the mouthpiece portion as well as the upstream circumference of the mouthpiece portion. The fabric layer may be pulled over the upstream end face and upstream circumference of the mouthpiece portion.
As an alternative to arranging the fabric layer at an upstream end face of the mouthpiece portion as described herein, the fabric layer may be arranged in a similar way covering a downstream end face of the mouthpiece portion.
The fabric layer may have one or both of a length and a width corresponding to or larger than an outer diameter of the mouthpiece portion.
The fabric layer may be arranged abutting an upstream end of the mouthpiece portion.
The fabric layer may be fluid permeable. Particularly, the fabric layer may be permeable to volatilized aerosol-forming substrate.
The fabric layer may be impermeable to solid components of aerosol-forming substrate.
In other words, the fabric layer may enable aerosol or volatilized aerosol-forming substrate to be drawn through the fabric layer while at the same time preventing solid components of the aerosol-forming substrate from passing through the fabric layer.
The aerosol-generating article may further comprise a substrate portion comprising the aerosol-forming substrate. The substrate portion may be arranged upstream of the mouthpiece portion and upstream of the fabric layer.
The substrate portion may be arranged directly abutting the fabric layer of the mouthpiece portion. The substrate portion may be arranged directly abutting the mouthpiece portion. In other words, no further component of the aerosol-generating article may be arranged between the substrate portion and mouthpiece portion, particularly between the substrate portion and the fabric layer of the mouthpiece portion.
The fabric layer may be opaque. An opaque fabric layer may enable a view of the aerosol-forming substrate of the substrate portion through the fabric layer, if this is desired.
The fabric layer may be disk-shaped, square-shaped or cross-shaped.
If one or both of the width and the length of the fabric layer correspond to an outer diameter of the mouthpiece portion, the fabric layer is preferably disk-shaped. However, the fabric layer may also be disk-shaped if one or both of the width and the length of the fabric layer is larger than the outer diameter of the mouthpiece portion. These dimensions of the fabric layer are preferred if the fabric layer is pulled or arranged over the upstream end face of the mouthpiece portion and at least partly over the outer circumference of the mouthpiece portion adjacent the upstream end face.
In case the fabric layer is pulled or arranged over the upstream end face of the mouthpiece portion and at least partly over the outer circumference of the mouthpiece portion adjacent the upstream end face, instead of a disk-shaped fabric layer, a squareshaped or cross-shaped fabric layer may be utilized. Providing the fabric layer as a squareshaped or cross-shaped fabric layer may be beneficial for securing the fabric layer onto the circumference of the mouthpiece portion. More specifically, the edges of the fabric layer may be secured to the circumference of the mouthpiece portion in case the fabric layer is provided as a square-shaped fabric layer. In case the fabric layer is provided as a crossshaped fabric layer, the elongate “cross” parts of the fabric layer may be secured to the outer circumference of the mouthpiece portion. The fabric layer may thus be securely held in place to cover the upstream end face of the mouthpiece portion. Further, wrinkles or creases of the fabric layer may be prevented during attachment of the fabric layer to the outer circumference of the mouthpiece portion.
The thickness of the fabric layer may be substantially smaller than one or both of the length and the width of the fabric layer. Exemplarily, one or both of the length and the width of the fabric layer may be larger than the thickness of the fabric layer by a factor of 10, more preferably by a factor of 50, more preferably by a factor of 100, most preferably by a factor of 200.
An outer diameter of the fabric layer may correspond to or may be larger than an outer diameter of the mouthpiece portion. The outer diameter of the fabric layer may correspond to one or both of the width and the length of the fabric layer.
The width of the fabric layer may be identical to the length of the fabric layer.
The fabric layer may be glued to the mouthpiece portion.
To facilitate attachment of the fabric layer to the mouthpiece portion, a glue layer may be provided on the fabric layer. The glue layer may have a cross-sectional shape corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the mouthpiece portion. Particularly, a ringshaped glue layer may be provided to correspond to the upstream end face of the hollow cross-sectional shape of the mouthpiece portion. Alternatively to providing the glue in the form of the glue layer, the glue may be provided in the form of glue dots or glue points. These may be sufficient to secure the fabric layer to the mouthpiece portion.
When referring to the cross-sectional shape of cross-section of components such as the substrate portion, the mouthpiece portion and the glue layer, this cross-sectional shape may be established in a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal central axis of the aerosolgenerating article.
Providing a glue layer may facilitate securely holding the fabric layer attached to the mouthpiece portion. The glue layer may be provided instead of or in addition to attaching the fabric layer to the circumference of the mouthpiece portion. The glue layer may be the only attachment means for attaching the fabric layer to the mouthpiece portion. This may particularly be the case when the fabric layer has an outer diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of the upstream end face of the mouthpiece portion. In case the fabric layer has a larger outer diameter (or a larger width or length), the fabric layer may be attached to the outer circumference of the mouthpiece portion. In this case, the glue layer may be provided to additionally secure the fabric layer to the upstream end face of the mouthpiece portion. Alternatively, glue may in this case only be provided at the outer circumference of the mouthpiece portion to hold the fabric layer to the outer circumference of the mouthpiece portion. In all instances where it is discussed herein that the fabric layer is attached to the outer circumference of the mouthpiece portion, this may be facilitated by a separate glue layer. This glue layer may be arranged at the outer circumference of the mouthpiece portion so that the fabric layer sticks to the outer circumference of the mouthpiece portion. Alternatively, the glue layer may be arranged on respective parts of the fabric layer that come into contact with the outer circumference of the mouthpiece portion during attachment of the fabric layer to the outer circumference of the mouthpiece portion.
A central portion of the fabric layer may be free of glue. This may facilitate the fluid permeability of the fabric layer. In other words, only the parts of the fabric layer that come into direct contact with the mouthpiece portion (not only with the hollow inner of the mouthpiece portion) may be provided with glue or with a glue layer.
The fabric layer may be attached to, preferably glued to, an upstream end face of the mouthpiece portion.
The fabric layer may be configured as a mesh layer. The fabric layer may consist of a single layer. Alternatively, the fabric layer may comprise multiple layers.
The fabric layer may comprise individual threats. The fabric layer may be provided as a threaded fabric. The fabric may be made of eco-friendly and sustainable material.
The fabric layer may have a resistance to draw appropriate to simulate a more conventional downstream cigarette filter. In other words, the fabric layer may have a resistance to draw that is substantially higher than a layer through which fluid can flow essentially unhindered.
The fabric layer may be a coloured fabric layer. The colour of the fabric layer may be visible by a user when looking through the hollow mouthpiece portion. The colour of the fabric layer may indicate the type of aerosol-forming substrate of the aerosol-generating article.
The mouthpiece portion may, apart from the fabric layer, be provided as a cardboard tube. The sidewall of the mouthpiece portion may be made of cardboard. The mouthpiece portion may only, apart from the fabric layer, comprise the sidewall made of cardboard and no further elements.
The fabric layer may have the same cross-sectional shape as the mouthpiece portion.
The fabric layer may be at least partly wrapped around or pulled over the mouthpiece portion. In this case, preferably only an upstream portion of the outer circumference of the mouthpiece portion is covered by the fabric layer.
The fabric layer may comprise a circumferential pocket or groove into which an upstream end face of the mouthpiece portion may be slotted.
The circumferential groove may be ring-shaped. The cross-sectional shape of the circumferential groove may correspond to the cross-sectional shape of the upstream end face of the mouthpiece portion.
The fabric layer may be arranged spanning the mouthpiece portion. Particularly, the hollow shape of the mouthpiece portion leads to a hollow core of the mouthpiece portion. The fabric layer may be arranged spanning this hollow core. In other words, the fabric layer may be arranged to cover the hollow core of the mouthpiece portion. As described herein, the arrangement of the fabric layer may be similar to a lid closing the jar.
The part of the fabric layer spanning the hollow core may be planar. If the outer circumference of the fabric layer corresponds to the outer circumference of the mouthpiece portion, preferably the whole fabric layer is planner. If the fabric layer is pulled over the mouthpiece portion, at least the part of the fabric layer spanning the hollow core of the mouthpiece portion may be planner.
In an alternative embodiment, the part of the fabric layer spanning the hollow core may be angled with respect to the longitudinal central axis of the aerosol-generating article. This embodiment is particularly preferred in case the fabric layer is provided with a circumferential groove into which the upstream end face of the mouthpiece portion may be slotted. In this case, the part of the fabric layer that spans the hollow core of the mouthpiece portion may be provided having a conical shape. The conically shaped part of the fabric layer may abut the circumferential groove. The conically shaped part of the fabric layer may form the central part of the fabric layer. The conically shaped part of the fabric layer may be arranged to penetrate into the hollow core of the mouthpiece portion. In other words, the fabric layer may be provided by suing or gluing edges of the fabric layer together to form a “pocket” with the edge of this pocket being rolled up on the outside surface of the mouthpiece portion.
The aerosol-generating article may further comprise a cardboard tube. The cardboard tube may have an outer diameter which may correspond to or which may be smaller than an inner diameter of the mouthpiece portion. The fabric layer may be arranged abutting or covering an upstream end face of the cardboard tube. The cardboard tube may be arranged within the mouthpiece portion. The cardboard tube may be glued to the inside of the mouthpiece portion or attached to the inside of the mouthpiece portion by an interference fit.
The cardboard tube may assist in arranging the fabric layer with respect to the mouthpiece portion. This embodiment is essentially an alternative to gluing the fabric layer to the upstream end face of the mouthpiece portion or to pulling the fabric layer over the upstream end face of the mouthpiece portion and the outer circumference of the mouthpiece portion. The cardboard tube may prevent any deformation of the outer shape of the aerosolgenerating article due to the arrangement of the fabric layer on the outer circumference of the mouthpiece portion. As a further advantage, the cardboard tube may be positioned at any desired position within the hollow inner of the mouthpiece portion. In other words, the positioning of the cardboard tube within the mouthpiece portion is not limited to positioning the cardboard tube to the upstream end face of the mouthpiece portion.
The cardboard tube may have a tubular shape. The cardboard tube may have a length substantially smaller than the length of the mouthpiece portion. The length of the cardboard tube and the length of the mouthpiece portion may be measured along the longitudinal central axis of the aerosol-generating article.
The fabric layer may be glued to an upstream end face of the cardboard tube similarly as described herein with respect to gluing the fabric layer to the upstream end face of the mouthpiece portion. Similarly, the fabric layer may be pulled over the upstream end face of the cardboard tube and an outer circumference of the cardboard tube similarly to the description herein of pulling the fabric layer over the upstream end face of the mouthpiece portion and the outer circumference of the mouthpiece portion.
After the attachment of the fabric layer to the cardboard tube, the cardboard tube may be placed inside of the mouthpiece portion.
The mouthpiece portion may be glued to the substrate portion. Alternatively, a wrapping paper or tipping paper may be arranged surrounding at least parts of the mouthpiece portion and at least parts of the substrate portion thereby attaching the mouthpiece portion and the substrate portion together.
The invention further relates to a method of attaching the fabric layer as described herein to the mouthpiece portion as described herein. The invention further relates to a method of attaching the fabric layer as described herein to the cardboard tube as described herein. The invention further relates to one or more of the following method steps: attaching the fabric layer to the mouthpiece portion; attaching the fabric layer to the cardboard tube; attaching the mouthpiece portion comprising the fabric layer to the substrate portion; attaching the cardboard tube to the mouthpiece portion.
The aerosol-generating article may be used in an aerosol-generating device. The aerosol-generating article may be inserted into a cavity of the aerosol-generating device. The aerosol-generating device may heat the aerosol-forming substrate of the aerosol-generating article thereby creating an inhalable aerosol.
As used herein, the terms ‘proximal’, ‘distal’, ‘downstream’ and ‘upstream’ are used to describe the relative positions of components, or portions of components, of the aerosolgenerating device in relation to the direction in which a user draws on the aerosol-generating device during use thereof.
The aerosol-generating device may comprise a mouth end through which in use an aerosol exits the aerosol-generating device and is delivered to a user. The mouth end may also be referred to as the proximal end. In use, a user draws on the proximal or mouth end of the aerosol-generating device in order to inhale an aerosol generated by the aerosolgenerating device. Alternatively, a user may directly draw on an aerosol-generating article inserted into an opening at the proximal end of the aerosol-generating device. The opening at the proximal end may be an opening of the cavity. The cavity may be configured to receive the aerosol-generating article. The aerosol-generating device comprises a distal end opposed to the proximal or mouth end. The proximal or mouth end of the aerosol-generating device may also be referred to as the downstream end and the distal end of the aerosolgenerating device may also be referred to as the upstream end. Components, or portions of components, of the aerosol-generating device may be described as being upstream or downstream of one another based on their relative positions between the proximal, downstream or mouth end and the distal or upstream end of the aerosol-generating device.
As used herein, an ‘aerosol-generating device’ relates to a device that interacts with an aerosol-forming substrate to generate an aerosol. The aerosol-forming substrate may be part of an aerosol-generating article, for example part of a smoking article. An aerosolgenerating device may be a smoking device that interacts with an aerosol-forming substrate of an aerosol-generating article to generate an aerosol that is directly inhalable into a user’s lungs thorough the user's mouth. An aerosol-generating device may be a holder. The device may be an electrically heated smoking device. The aerosol-generating device may comprise a housing, electric circuitry, a power supply, a heating chamber and a heating element.
As used herein with reference to the present invention, the term ‘smoking’ with reference to a device, article, system, substrate, or otherwise does not refer to conventional smoking in which an aerosol-forming substrate is fully or at least partially combusted. The aerosol-generating device of the present invention is arranged to heat the aerosol-forming substrate to a temperature below a combustion temperature of the aerosol-forming substrate, but at or above a temperature at which one or more volatile compounds of the aerosolforming substrate are released to form an inhalable aerosol.
The aerosol-generating device may comprise electric circuitry. The electric circuitry may comprise a microprocessor, which may be a programmable microprocessor. The microprocessor may be part of a controller. The electric circuitry may comprise further electronic components. The electric circuitry may be configured to regulate a supply of power to the heating element. Power may be supplied to the heating element continuously following activation of the aerosol-generating device or may be supplied intermittently, such as on a puff-by-puff basis. The power may be supplied to the heating element in the form of pulses of electrical current. The electric circuitry may be configured to monitor the electrical resistance of the heating element, and preferably to control the supply of power to the heating element dependent on the electrical resistance of the heating element.
The aerosol-generating device may comprise a power supply, typically a battery, within a main body of the aerosol-generating device. In one embodiment, the power supply is a Lithium-ion battery. Alternatively, the power supply may be a Nickel-metal hydride battery, a Nickel cadmium battery, or a Lithium based battery, for example a Lithium-Cobalt, a Lithium-lron-Phosphate, Lithium Titanate or a Lithium-Polymer battery. As an alternative, the power supply may be another form of charge storage device such as a capacitor. The power supply may require recharging and may have a capacity that enables to store enough energy for one or more usage experiences; for example, the power supply may have sufficient capacity to continuously generate aerosol for a period of around six minutes or for a period of a multiple of six minutes. In another example, the power supply may have sufficient capacity to provide a predetermined number of puffs or discrete activations of the heating element.
The cavity of the aerosol-generating device may have an open end into which the aerosol-generating article is inserted. The open end may be a proximal end. The cavity may have a closed end opposite the open end. The closed end may be the base of the cavity. The closed end may be closed except for the provision of air apertures arranged in the base. The base of the cavity may be flat. The base of the cavity may be circular. The base of the cavity may be arranged upstream of the cavity. The open end may be arranged downstream of the cavity. The cavity may have an elongate extension. The cavity may have a longitudinal central axis. A longitudinal direction may be the direction extending between the open and closed ends along the longitudinal central axis. The longitudinal central axis of the cavity may be parallel to the longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generating device.
The cavity may be configured as a heating chamber. The cavity may have a cylindrical shape. The cavity may have a hollow cylindrical shape. The cavity may have a shape corresponding to the shape of the aerosol-generating article to be received in the cavity. The cavity may have a circular cross-section. The cavity may have an elliptical or rectangular cross-section. The cavity may have an inner diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of the aerosol-generating article.
An airflow channel may run through the cavity. Ambient air may be drawn into the aerosol-generating device, into the cavity and towards the user through the airflow channel. Downstream of the cavity, a mouthpiece may be arranged or a user may directly draw on the aerosol-generating article. The airflow channel may extend through the mouthpiece.
In any of the aspects of the disclosure, the heating element may comprise an electrically resistive material. Suitable electrically resistive materials include but are not limited to: semiconductors such as doped ceramics, electrically "conductive" ceramics (such as, for example, molybdenum disilicide), carbon, graphite, metals, metal alloys and composite materials made of a ceramic material and a metallic material. Such composite materials may comprise doped or undoped ceramics. Examples of suitable doped ceramics include doped silicon carbides. Examples of suitable metals include titanium, zirconium, tantalum platinum, gold and silver. Examples of suitable metal alloys include stainless steel, nickel-, cobalt-, chromium-, aluminium- titanium- zirconium-, hafnium-, niobium-, molybdenum-, tantalum-, tungsten-, tin-, gallium-, manganese-, gold- and iron- containing alloys, and super-alloys based on nickel, iron, cobalt, stainless steel, Timetai® and iron-manganese-aluminium based alloys. In composite materials, the electrically resistive material may optionally be embedded in, encapsulated or coated with an insulating material or vice-versa, depending on the kinetics of energy transfer and the external physicochemical properties required.
As described, in any of the aspects of the disclosure, the heating element may be part of an aerosol-generating device. The aerosol-generating device may comprise an internal heating element or an external heating element, or both internal and external heating elements, where "internal" and "external" refer to the aerosol-forming substrate. An internal heating element may take any suitable form. For example, an internal heating element may take the form of a heating blade. Alternatively, the internal heater may take the form of a casing or substrate having different electro-conductive portions, or an electrically resistive metallic tube. Alternatively, the internal heating element may be one or more heating needles or rods that run through the center of the aerosol- forming substrate. Other alternatives include a heating wire or filament, for example a Ni-Cr (Nickel-Chromium), platinum, tungsten or alloy wire or a heating plate. Optionally, the internal heating element may be deposited in or on a rigid carrier material. In one such embodiment, the electrically resistive heating element may be formed using a metal having a defined relationship between temperature and resistivity. In such an exemplary device, the metal may be formed as a track on a suitable insulating material, such as ceramic material, and then sandwiched in another insulating material, such as a glass. Heaters formed in this manner may be used to both heat and monitor the temperature of the heating elements during operation.
An external heating element may take any suitable form. For example, an external heating element may take the form of one or more flexible heating foils on a dielectric substrate, such as polyimide. The flexible heating foils can be shaped to conform to the perimeter of the substrate receiving cavity. Alternatively, an external heating element may take the form of a metallic grid or grids, a flexible printed circuit board, a molded interconnect device (MID), ceramic heater, flexible carbon fibre heater or may be formed using a coating technique, such as plasma vapour deposition, on a suitable shaped substrate. An external heating element may also be formed using a metal having a defined relationship between temperature and resistivity. In such an exemplary device, the metal may be formed as a track between two layers of suitable insulating materials. An external heating element formed in this manner may be used to both heat and monitor the temperature of the external heating element during operation.
As an alternative to an electrically resistive heating element, the heating element may be configured as an induction heating element. The induction heating element may comprise an induction coil and a susceptor. In general, a susceptor is a material that is capable of generating heat, when penetrated by an alternating magnetic field. When located in an alternating magnetic field. If the susceptor is conductive, then typically eddy currents are induced by the alternating magnetic field. If the susceptor is magnetic, then typically another effect that contributes to the heating is commonly referred to hysteresis losses. Hysteresis losses occur mainly due to the movement of the magnetic domain blocks within the susceptor, because the magnetic orientation of these will align with the magnetic induction field, which alternates. Another effect contributing to the hysteresis loss is when the magnetic domains will grow or shrink within the susceptor. Commonly all these changes in the susceptor that happen on a nano-scale or below are referred to as “hysteresis losses”, because they produce heat in the susceptor. Hence, if the susceptor is both magnetic and electrically conductive, both hysteresis losses and the generation of eddy currents will contribute to the heating of the susceptor. If the susceptor is magnetic, but not conductive, then hysteresis losses will be the only means by which the susceptor will heat, when penetrated by an alternating magnetic field. According to the invention, the susceptor may be electrically conductive or magnetic or both electrically conductive and magnetic. An alternating magnetic field generated by one or several induction coils heat the susceptor, which then transfers the heat to the aerosol-forming substrate, such that an aerosol is formed. The heat transfer may be mainly by conduction of heat. Such a transfer of heat is best, if the susceptor is in close thermal contact with the aerosol-forming substrate.
As used herein, the term ‘aerosol-generating article’ refers to an article comprising an aerosol-forming substrate that is capable of releasing volatile compounds that can form an aerosol. For example, an aerosol-generating article may be a smoking article that generates an aerosol that is directly inhalable into a user’s lungs through the user's mouth. An aerosolgenerating article may be disposable.
As used herein, the term ‘aerosol-forming substrate’ relates to a substrate capable of releasing one or more volatile compounds that can form an aerosol. Such volatile compounds may be released by heating the aerosol-forming substrate. An aerosol-forming substrate may conveniently be part of an aerosol-generating article or smoking article.
The aerosol-forming substrate may be a solid aerosol-forming substrate. The aerosolforming substrate may be arranged in the substrate portion. The aerosol-forming substrate may comprise both solid and liquid components. The aerosol-forming substrate may comprise a tobacco-containing material containing volatile tobacco flavour compounds which are released from the substrate upon heating. The aerosol-forming substrate may comprise a non-tobacco material. The aerosol-forming substrate may comprise an aerosol former that facilitates the formation of a dense and stable aerosol. Examples of suitable aerosol formers are glycerine and propylene glycol.
The aerosol-generating substrate preferably comprises homogenised tobacco material, an aerosol-former and water. Providing homogenised tobacco material may improve aerosol generation, the nicotine content and the flavour profile of the aerosol generated during heating of the aerosol-generating article. Specifically, the process of making homogenised tobacco involves grinding tobacco leaf, which more effectively enables the release of nicotine and flavours upon heating.
Below, there is provided a non-exhaustive list of non-limiting examples. Any one or more of the features of these examples may be combined with any one or more features of another example, embodiment, or aspect described herein.
Example 1 . An aerosol-generating article comprising: a mouthpiece portion, wherein the mouthpiece portion is hollow and cylindrical; and a fabric layer, wherein the fabric layer is arranged abutting the mouthpiece portion or arranged within the mouthpiece portion, and wherein the fabric layer extends perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generating article or wherein the fabric layer is arranged angled with respect to the longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generating article.
Example 2. The aerosol-generating article according to example 1 , wherein the fabric layer is arranged directly abutting the mouthpiece portion.
Example 3. The aerosol-generating article according to any of the preceding examples, wherein the fabric layer is arranged at least partly surrounding the mouthpiece portion.
Example 4. The aerosol-generating article according to any of the preceding examples, wherein the fabric layer is arranged abutting an upstream end of the mouthpiece portion.
Example 5. The aerosol-generating article according to any of the preceding examples, wherein the fabric layer is fluid permeable.
Example 6. The aerosol-generating article according to any of the preceding examples, wherein the fabric layer is impermeable to solid components of aerosol-forming substrate.
Example 7. The aerosol-generating article according to any of the preceding examples, wherein the aerosol-generating article further comprises a substrate portion comprising aerosol-forming substrate, wherein the substrate portion is arranged upstream of the mouthpiece portion and upstream of the fabric layer.
Example 8. The aerosol-generating article according to any of the preceding examples, wherein the fabric layer is opaque.
Example 9. The aerosol-generating article according to any of the preceding examples, wherein the fabric layer is disk-shaped, square-shaped or cross-shaped.
Example 10. The aerosol-generating article according to any of the preceding examples, wherein an outer diameter of the fabric layer corresponds to or is larger than an outer diameter of the mouthpiece portion.
Example 11 . The aerosol-generating article according to any of the preceding examples, wherein the fabric layer is glued to the mouthpiece portion.
Example 12. The aerosol-generating article according to any of the preceding examples, wherein the fabric layer is attached to, preferably glued to, an upstream end face of the mouthpiece portion.
Example 13. The aerosol-generating article according to any of the preceding examples, wherein the fabric layer has the same cross-sectional shape as the mouthpiece portion.
Example 14. The aerosol-generating article according to any of the preceding examples, wherein the fabric layer is at least partly wrapped around the mouthpiece portion. Example 15. The aerosol-generating article according to any of the preceding examples, wherein the fabric layer comprises a circumferential pocket or groove into which an upstream end face of the mouthpiece portion is slotted.
Example 16. The aerosol-generating article according to any of the preceding examples, wherein the aerosol-generating article further comprises a cardboard tube, wherein the cardboard tube has an outer diameter which corresponds to or which is smaller than an inner diameter of the mouthpiece portion, wherein the fabric layer is arranged abutting or covering an upstream end face of the cardboard tube, and wherein the cardboard tube is arranged within the mouthpiece portion, preferably wherein the cardboard tube is glued to the inside of the mouthpiece portion or attached to the inside of the mouthpiece portion by an interference fit.
Features described in relation to one embodiment may equally be applied to other embodiments of the invention.
The invention will be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Fig. 1 shows an explosion side view of an aerosol-generating article according to the invention;
Fig. 2 shows a first embodiment of a fabric layer of a mouthpiece portion of the aerosol-generating article;
Fig. 3 shows the attachment of the fabric layer to the mouthpiece portion in the first embodiment;
Fig. 4 shows a second embodiment of the fabric layer of the mouthpiece portion of the aerosol-generating article;
Fig. 5 shows the attachment of the fabric layer to the mouthpiece portion in the second embodiment;
Fig. 6 shows an alternative shape of the fabric layer to be used in the second embodiment;
Fig. 7 shows attachment of the alternatively shaped fabric layer shown in figure 6 in the second embodiment;
Fig. 8 shows a third embodiment of the fabric layer of the mouthpiece portion of the aerosol-generating article;
Fig. 9 shows the attachment of the fabric layer to the mouthpiece portion in the third embodiment;
Fig. 10 shows a fourth embodiment of the fabric layer of the mouthpiece portion of the aerosol-generating article; and Fig. 11 shows the attachment of the fabric layer to the mouthpiece portion in the fourth embodiment.
Figure 1 shows an aerosol-generating article 10. The aerosol-generating article 10 comprises multiple components. The components shown in figure 1 are a mouthpiece portion 12, a fabric layer 14 of the mouthpiece portion 12, a substrate portion 16, a front plug 18 and an optional portion 20. The front plug 18, the substrate portion 16 and the optional portion 20 or attached together with a wrapping paper 22. The optional portion 20 and the mouthpiece portion 12 including the fabric layer 14 are attached together using a tipping paper 24. The optional portion 20 can be omitted so that the mouthpiece portion 12 directly abuts the substrate portion 16. The optional portion 20 may be provided as a cooling portion to enable formation of an inhalable aerosol the condensation of droplets of volatilized aerosol-forming substrate and the cooling portion.
A downstream direction 26 is indicated in figure 1 using arrows. A user may inhale the aerosol generated in the aerosol-generating article 10 downstream of the aerosolgenerating article 10. The user may take the mouthpiece portion 12 between his or her lips to inhale the aerosol directly from the mouthpiece portion 12.
Figure 2 shows the fabric layer 14 and an upstream portion 28 of the mouthpiece portion 12 in more detail. Particularly, Figure 2 shows the fabric layer 14 before the fabric layer 14 is attached to the mouthpiece portion 12. The fabric layer 14 has a circular crosssection. The outer diameter of the fabric layer 14 corresponds to the outer diameter of the mouthpiece portion 12. The fabric layer 14 is attached to the mouthpiece portion 12 by gluing the fabric layer 14 to an upstream end face 30 of the mouthpiece portion 12.
The glue may be provided in the form of a ring of glue corresponding to the cross- sectional shape of the hollow mouthpiece portion 12. In other words, a central portion of the fabric layer 14 is left free of glue to enable fluid permeability of the fabric layer 14. Alternatively to providing the glue in the form of a ring-shaped glue layer on the fabric layer 14 or on an upstream end face 30 of the mouthpiece portion 12, the glue may be provided as gluing dots or glue patch 40es on the fabric layer 14 or on the upstream end face 30 of the mouthpiece portion 12.
Figure 3 shows the fabric layer 14 of figure 2 attached to the mouthpiece portion 12. The mouthpiece portion 12 is thus created with a closed upstream end face 30. Due to the hollow nature of the mouthpiece portion 12, the mouthpiece portion 12 comprises a hollow core 32. The fabric layer 14 enables airflow through the mouthpiece portion 12 as indicated by the arrows. At the same time, the fabric layer 14 prevents large particles of the aerosolforming substrate from reaching into the hollow core 32 of the mouthpiece portion 12. These large particles of the aerosol-forming substrate are prevented from reaching the mouth of a user, which may be undesired.
Figure 4 shows a further embodiment of the fabric layer 14. In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, the fabric layer 14 has a square-shaped cross-section. A length 34 and a width 36 of the fabric layer 14 are each larger than the outer diameter of the mouthpiece portion 12.
This enables, as shown in Figure 5, that the fabric layer 14 is pulled over the upstream end face 30 of the mouthpiece portion 12 to also cover parts of an outer circumference 38 of the mouthpiece portion 12. Further, Figure 5 shows a glue patch 40 securely holding the fabric layer 14 to the outer circumference 38 of the upstream portion 28 of the mouthpiece portion 12. The number of glue patch 40es is of course only exemplary end may be varied accordingly.
Figure 6 shows an embodiment of the fabric layer 14 in which the fabric layer 14 is cross-shaped. As a consequence, the fabric layer 14 comprises “cross” parts or legs 42. These legs 42 are created by providing cutout portions 44 in which no fabric layer 14 is present. As indicated by the circular dashed line in figure 6, the cutout portions 44 are dimensioned such that the fabric layer 14 can cover the upstream end face 30 of the mouthpiece portion 12.
Figure 7 shows the attachment of the cross-shaped fabric layer 14 of Figure 6 to the upstream end face 30 of the mouthpiece portion 12. The legs 42 of the fabric layer 14 are attached to the outer circumference 38 of the mouthpiece portion 12 with glue patch 40es. This arrangement of the fabric layer 14 creates a secure connection between the fabric layer 14 and the mouthpiece portion 12 while at the same time preventing creases or folds in the area where the fabric layer 14 covers the outer circumference 38 of the mouthpiece portion 12.
Figure 8 shows a further embodiment of the fabric layer 14. In this embodiment, the fabric layer 14 has a circumferential groove 46 into which the upstream end face 30 of the mouthpiece portion 12 can be slotted. The central part of the fabric layer 14 has a conical shape 48 so that the central part of the fabric layer 14 can be inserted into the hollow core 32 of the mouthpiece portion 12. The fabric layer 14 can be securely attached to the mouthpiece portion 12 due to the slotting action of the upstream end face 30 of the mouthpiece portion 12 into the circumferential groove 46 of the fabric layer 14. At the same time, an overlap is created between the outer periphery of the fabric layer 14 and the outer circumference 38 of the mouthpiece portion 12.
The insertion action of the conical inner of the fabric layer 14 into the hollow core 32 of the mouthpiece portion 12 is shown in figure 9. At the same time, the outer periphery of the fabric layer 14 can be attached to the outer circumference 38 of the mouthpiece portion 12, preferably by gluing.
Figure 10 shows a further embodiment in which the fabric layer 14 is, before being attached to the mouthpiece portion 12, attached to a cardboard tube 50. The cardboard tube 50 has an outer diameter that corresponds to or is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the mouthpiece portion 12. The fabric layer 14 is attached to an upstream end face of the cardboard tube 50. The attachment of the fabric layer 14 to the upstream end face of the cardboard tube 50 may be similar to described herein with respect to the attachment of the fabric layer 14 to the upstream end face 30 of the mouthpiece portion 12. In the example shown in Figure 10, the attachment of the fabric layer 14 to the upstream end face of the cardboard tube 50 is similar to the attachment of the fabric layer 14 to the upstream end face 30 of the mouthpiece portion 12 shown in Figure 5. After the attachment of the fabric layer 14 to the upstream end face of the cardboard tube 50, the cardboard tube 50 can be inserted into the hollow core 32 of the mouthpiece portion 12.
Figure 11 shows the arrangement of the cardboard tube 50 comprising the fabric layer 14 inside of the hollow core 32 of the mouthpiece portion 12. This embodiment may facilitate a particularly secure holding action of the fabric layer 14 inside of the mouthpiece portion 12. Further, the placement of the fabric layer 14 within the mouthpiece portion 12 can be flexibly adjusted in a downstream or upstream direction as desired. Finally, the outer appearance of the aerosol-generating article 10 is not impeded by the fabric layer 14 which my potentially be an issue when the fabric layer 14 is arranged on the outer circumference 38 of the mouthpiece portion 12.

Claims

1 . An aerosol-generating article comprising: a mouthpiece portion, wherein the mouthpiece portion is hollow and cylindrical; and a fabric layer, wherein the fabric layer is arranged abutting the mouthpiece portion or arranged within the mouthpiece portion, and wherein the fabric layer extends perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generating article or wherein the fabric layer is arranged angled with respect to the longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generating article, and wherein the fabric layer is arranged at least partly surrounding the mouthpiece portion.
2. The aerosol-generating article according to claim 1 , wherein the fabric layer is arranged directly abutting the mouthpiece portion.
3. The aerosol-generating article according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the fabric layer is arranged abutting an upstream end of the mouthpiece portion.
4. The aerosol-generating article according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the fabric layer is fluid permeable.
5. The aerosol-generating article according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the fabric layer is impermeable to solid components of aerosol-forming substrate.
6. The aerosol-generating article according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the aerosol-generating article further comprises a substrate portion comprising aerosol-forming substrate, wherein the substrate portion is arranged upstream of the mouthpiece portion and upstream of the fabric layer.
7. The aerosol-generating article according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the fabric layer is opaque.
8. The aerosol-generating article according to any of the preceding claims, wherein an outer diameter of the fabric layer corresponds to or is larger than an outer diameter of the mouthpiece portion.
9. The aerosol-generating article according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the fabric layer is glued to the mouthpiece portion.
10. The aerosol-generating article according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the fabric layer is attached to, preferably glued to, an upstream end face of the mouthpiece portion.
11. The aerosol-generating article according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the fabric layer has the same cross-sectional shape as the mouthpiece portion.
12. The aerosol-generating article according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the fabric layer is at least partly wrapped around the mouthpiece portion.
13. The aerosol-generating article according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the fabric layer comprises a circumferential pocket or groove into which an upstream end face of the mouthpiece portion is slotted.
14. The aerosol-generating article according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the aerosol-generating article further comprises a cardboard tube, wherein the cardboard tube has an outer diameter which corresponds to or which is smaller than an inner diameter of the mouthpiece portion, wherein the fabric layer is arranged abutting or covering an upstream end face of the cardboard tube, and wherein the cardboard tube is arranged within the mouthpiece portion, preferably wherein the cardboard tube is glued to the inside of the mouthpiece portion or attached to the inside of the mouthpiece portion by an interference fit.
PCT/EP2024/065881 2023-06-19 2024-06-10 Aerosol-generating article with downstream fabric Pending WO2024260765A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP23180110.1 2023-06-19
EP23180110 2023-06-19

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Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2020089155A1 (en) * 2018-10-29 2020-05-07 Nerudia Ltd. Elongated smoking article
WO2020142004A1 (en) * 2018-12-31 2020-07-09 Ysq International Pte. Ltd. Tobacco product and method of producing the same
WO2022270737A1 (en) * 2021-06-21 2022-12-29 주식회사 케이티앤지 Aerosol-generating article and aerosol-generating device used therewith

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2020089155A1 (en) * 2018-10-29 2020-05-07 Nerudia Ltd. Elongated smoking article
WO2020142004A1 (en) * 2018-12-31 2020-07-09 Ysq International Pte. Ltd. Tobacco product and method of producing the same
WO2022270737A1 (en) * 2021-06-21 2022-12-29 주식회사 케이티앤지 Aerosol-generating article and aerosol-generating device used therewith

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