WO2024223831A1

WO2024223831A1 - Tobacco article for a heat-not-burn aerosol generating device and associated aerosol generating system

Info

Publication number: WO2024223831A1
Application number: PCT/EP2024/061552
Authority: WO
Inventors: Herman HIJMA
Original assignee: JT International SA
Current assignee: JT International SA
Priority date: 2023-04-28
Filing date: 2024-04-26
Publication date: 2024-10-31
Anticipated expiration: 2025-10-28

Abstract

The present invention concerns a tobacco article (12) for a heat-not-burn aerosol generating device (11), comprising a tobacco part (15) and a non-tobacco part (16); the tobacco part (15) between a distal tobacco end and a proximal tobacco end, the non-tobacco part (16) extending between a distal non-tobacco end and a proximal non- tobacco end; the tobacco article (12) defining an upstream airflow path and a downstream airflow path; the downstream airflow path extending from the distal tobacco end to the proximal non-tobacco end in contact with the tobacco part (15) and the non-tobacco part (16); the upstream airflow path extending from an air inlet to the distal tobacco end at least partially in contact with the tobacco part (15) and at least partially parallel to the downstream airflow path upstream of the distal tobacco end.

Description

Tobacco article for a heat-not-burn aerosol generating device and associated aerosol generating system

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns a tobacco article for a heat-not-burn aerosol generating device. The present invention also concerns an aerosol generating system comprising such a tobacco article.

Particularly, the tobacco article according to the invention comprises for example a solid substrate able to form aerosol when being heated. Thus, the aerosol generating devices operating with such type of tobacco articles, also known as heat-not-burn devices, are adapted to heat, rather than burn, the substrate by conduction, convection and/or radiation, to generate aerosol for inhalation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The popularity and use of reduced-risk or modified-risk devices (also known as vaporisers) has grown rapidly in the past few years as an aid to assist habitual smokers wishing to quit smoking traditional tobacco products such as cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos, and rolling tobacco. Various devices and systems are available that heat or warm vaporizable substances as opposed to burning tobacco in conventional tobacco products.

A commonly available reduced-risk or modified-risk device is the heated substrate aerosol generation device or heat-not-burn device. Devices of this type generate aerosol or vapour by heating an aerosol substrate that typically comprises moist leaf tobacco or other suitable vaporizable material to a temperature typically in the range 150°C to 350°C. Heating an aerosol substrate, but not combusting or burning it, releases aerosol that comprises the components sought by the user but not the toxic and carcinogenic byproducts of combustion and burning. Furthermore, the aerosol produced by heating the tobacco or other vaporizable material does not typically comprise the burnt or bitter taste resulting from combustion and burning that can be unpleasant for the user and so the substrate does not therefore require the sugars and other additives that are typically added to such materials to make the smoke and/or vapour more palatable for the user. Tobacco articles, usable with such type of aerosol generating devices can take various forms. Some of them can present an elongated stick or any other suitable shape, like for example a flat shape. Generally, such a tobacco article is received at least partially in a heating chamber of the device which comprises one or several heaters to heat the tobacco article.

When received at least partially in the heating chamber, the aerosol generating article is configured to generate aerosol which is delivered to the user via the mouthpiece. In some devices, when received in the heating chamber, a tobacco article generates pollution and condensation inside the device during its operation. Thus, the device should be regularly cleaned by the user. Additionally, air flow distribution and pressure drop of some tobacco articles are not satisfying and should be improved. These issues of some conventional tobacco articles and aerosol generating devices conduct to a poor user experience.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One of the aims of the invention is to propose a tobacco article making it possible to avoid pollution and condensation generated by aerosol in the heating chamber of an aerosol generating device. This provides a more reliable and cleaner aerosol generating system. Additionally, airflow distribution and pressure drop are improved inside the tobacco article. The user experience can thus be considerably improved.

For this purpose, the invention relates to a tobacco article for a heat-not-burn aerosol generating device, the tobacco article extending along an article axis, and comprising a tobacco part and a non-tobacco part arranged successively along the article axis; the tobacco part extending along the article axis between a distal tobacco end and a proximal tobacco end, the non-tobacco part extending along the article axis between a distal non-tobacco end and a proximal non-tobacco end, the proximal tobacco end being adjacent to the distal non-tobacco end; the tobacco article defining an upstream airflow path and a downstream airflow path; the downstream airflow path extending from the distal tobacco end to the proximal non-tobacco end in contact with the tobacco part and the non-tobacco part; the upstream airflow path extending from an air inlet to the distal tobacco end at least partially in contact with the tobacco part and at least partially parallel to the downstream airflow path upstream of the distal tobacco end. an aerosol generating device. Provided with these features, airflow used to generate aerosol can be guided mainly through the tobacco article. Thus, any contact of the airflow with the heating chamber can be avoided or at least minimized. Thanks to these features, pollution and condensation which can be generated while operating the tobacco article, remain inside the article itself and can be easily evacuated from the heat-not-burn aerosol generating device (the device) when the tobacco article is extracted. Additionally, the airflow used to generate aerosol can be entirely controlled inside the tobacco article by respective arrangements of the downstream and upstream airflow paths inside the article. Thus, airflow distribution inside the tobacco article can be optimized and an optimal pressure drop can be achieved.

It is thus an object of the disclosure to ensure that the article is not only capable of delivering a qualitative vaporised aerosol, but also that the article can allow the air stream entering the heat not burn device to flow to the user's mouth while minimising the pollution inside the device or the heating chamber. The life of the device is thus significantly increased.

In general, this is achieved by constructing the article in such a way that it guides the air coming from outside the device, defining inlet lines, also called airflow paths. These airflow paths guide the upstream air towards the portion containing tobacco, which when heated in contact with the tobacco or other vaporizable material produces the aerosol, the device also defining outlet lines for the vaporised airflow towards the user's mouth.

Guides, also called paths, are therefore constructed within the article, to guide the airflow throughout the process of vaporisation and then cooling of the airflow so that it arrives correctly vaporised and at the correct temperature to the user's mouth. Various configurations can be used to achieve this result according to the disclosure.

As used herein, the term “in contact with the tobacco part” means to be in contact with the material forming the tobacco part. Thus, this term can mean to extend at least partially through the tobacco part and/or to be in contact at least partially with at least one of the surfaces of the tobacco part. Advantageously, when the tobacco part comprises or consists of a vaporizable material, the term “in contact with the tobacco part” means to be in contact with the vaporizable material. In some embodiments, the upstream airflow path is formed by one or several upstream channels extending along the article axis.

Provided with these features, the airflow can enter the upstream airflow path through one or several inlets arranged close to the proximal end of the tobacco article. Then, the airflow can be guided by the upstream airflow path for example until the distal end of the tobacco article. At the distal end, the airflow is guided to the downstream airflow path through for example a U-turn. The or each upstream channel formed by the upstream airflow path can for example extend along a lateral wall of the tobacco article.

According to some embodiments, at least the tobacco part of the tobacco article is contained in a wrapper. In some embodiments, both tobacco part and non-tobacco part are contained in a common wrapper.

In some embodiments, the wrapper can comprise paper. Alternatively or additionally, the wrapper can comprise a heat conducting material such as aluminium. This can improve or optimize heat transfer from the heating chamber to the tobacco part.

In some embodiments, the wrapper is porous.

In some other embodiments, the wrapper is fluidically impermeable. This can be achieved using an appropriate material or coating. The coating may be a water-based lacquer or a hot melt adhesive. For example, the wrapper, the barrier coating may have a water vapour transmission rate of 0 - 10 g/m²/day (at 23°C, 50% RH) and an oxygen transmission rate of <10 ccm/m²/day (at 23°C, 50% RH). Suitable materials for the outer wrapper and/or inner wrapper may be high barrier paper such as Avantguard S Gloss or Avantguard S Nature. Provided with these features, the wrapper can prevent any leakage from inside of the tobacco article. For example, such type of wrapper can contain condensation or other type of pollution inside the tobacco article. Thus, pollution of the heating chamber can be avoided.

According to some embodiments, the tobacco article forms a flat shape.

This shape of the tobacco article can be particularly advantageous since it allows a very fast pre-heating of the tobacco substrate to generate aerosol, while ensuring a good vapor generation during a vaping phase. In the further description, a flat shape of the tobacco article may signify that at least one cross-sectional dimension of the tobacco article, called hereinafter width, is at least 3 times, advantageously 5 times and preferably 10 times, greater than another cross-sectional dimension of the tobacco article, called hereinafter depth. Preferably, these dimensions are measured according to perpendicular axes, each of said axes being perpendicular to the article axis.

According to some embodiments, the flat shape of the tobacco article defines at least two narrow lateral walls and two wide lateral walls.

In this case, the flat shape of the tobacco article means that the distance between its narrow lateral walls is at least 3 times, advantageously 5 times and preferably 10 times, greater than the distance between its wide lateral walls.

According to some embodiments, at least a portion of the downstream airflow path and at least a portion of the upstream airflow path extend in contact with a same wide surface of the tobacco part.

This allows maximizing the surface of the air that enters in contact with the tobacco part, which in turn allows vaporizing more product while using less energy.

According to some embodiments: said portion of the downstream airflow path is formed by a plurality of downstream channels and said portion of the upstream airflow is formed by a plurality of upstream channels; said downstream channels extend symmetrically to said upstream channels in respect with a central plane perpendicular to both opposite wide surfaces.

This allows defining a kind of mandatory form for the airflow. The consequence is that the volume of air is controlled so as the path by which the airflow is guided.

According to some embodiments, said portion of the downstream airflow path is formed by a plurality of downstream channels and said portion of the upstream airflow is formed by one or several upstream channels; said upstream channel(s) extend(s) between the downstream channels on the corresponding wide surface. Thanks to these features, it is possible to ensure a substantially homogenous heating of the tobacco part. Particularly, since the upstream channel(s) is(are) arranged between the downstream channels, the tobacco part is not significantly cooled by the fresh air entering through the upstream airflow path.

According to some embodiments, the tobacco article further defines a transition airflow path connecting at the distal tobacco end on the corresponding wide surface the upstream airflow path with the downstream airflow path.

In this case, the upstream and downstream channels are closed at the distal tobacco end and none gap is needed beyond the tobacco part to ensure transition between the paths.

According to some embodiments, at least a portion of the transition airflow path extends perpendicularly to the article axis.

According to some embodiments, the transition airflow path comprises at least one rounded portion to ensure a smooth transition with the upstream airflow path or the downstream airflow path.

The consequence is that the airflow is guided smoothly without creating a turbulent flow that would lead to inhomogeneous vaporization.

According to some embodiments, at least a portion of the downstream airflow path and at least a portion of the upstream airflow path extend in contact with opposite wide surfaces of the tobacco part.

This embodiment is advantageous in that it is possible to ensure a substantially homogeneous heating of the tobacco part on at least one of its surfaces. For example, the airflow can be pre-heated on the side of the tobacco part corresponding to the upstream airflow path and enter the downstream airflow path on the other side of the tobacco part with a homogeneous temperature. This temperature can be kept substantially constant along the whole wide surface of the tobacco part defining the downstream airflow path.

According to some embodiments: a portion of the downstream airflow path extending in contact with the tobacco part is formed by a plurality of downstream channels; a portion of the upstream airflow path extending in contact with the tobacco part is formed by one or several upstream channels; said downstream and upstream channels open in a gap formed at the distal tobacco end.

The gap is advantageous to ensure transition between the upstream and downstream airflow paths. The gap is advantageously formed by a wrapper or shell covering at least the tobacco part.

According to some embodiments, the air inlet presents a lateral opening in the nontobacco part.

This allows defining an effective way of guiding the airflow coming from outside of the article. According to different examples, several lateral openings can be provided. The or each opening can be formed in the wrapper or shell.

In some embodiments, the upstream airflow path extends partially through the nontobacco part.

It is thus possible to change the speed or pressure of the air flow before it reaches the tobacco part in order to be vaporized.

In some embodiments, the upstream airflow path is fluidically separated from the downstream airflow path inside the non-tobacco part.

This allows ensuring that the airflow is efficiently use to create vapor and preventing that non vaporized air reaches the user’s mouth.

In some embodiments: the tobacco part is receivable in a heating chamber of the aerosol generating device; and the lateral opening is designed to be arranged outside the heating chamber. Thus, fresh air from outside of the heating chamber and advantageously outside of the aerosol generating device can enter the upstream airflow path. In order to position the lateral opening outside the heating chamber, the tobacco article can be provided with a stop. The stop can be formed by a shouldered transition between the tobacco and nontobacco parts.

The disclosure also relates to an aerosol generating system. According to the disclosure, the system comprises: a tobacco article according to any one of the preceding disclosed feature or embodiment; a heat-not-burn aerosol generating device configured to operate with the tobacco article.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention and its advantages will be better understood upon reading the following description, which is given by way of non-limiting example and which is made with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an aerosol generating system, the aerosol generating system comprising an aerosol generating device and a tobacco article usable with the aerosol generating device;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the aerosol generating system of Figure 1 according to plane II where the tobacco article is inserted into the aerosol generating device;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a tobacco article according to a first exemplary embodiment;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a tobacco article according to a second exemplary embodiment;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a tobacco article according to a third exemplary embodiment;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a tobacco article according to a fourth exemplary embodiment;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a tobacco article according to a fifth exemplary embodiment; Figure 8 is a perspective view of a tobacco article according to a sixth exemplary embodiment;

Figure 9 is a side view of a tobacco article according to another example of the sixth embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Before describing the invention, it is to be understood that it is not limited to the details of construction set forth in the following description. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the present disclosure that the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways.

The expression “substantially equal to” is understood hereinafter as an equality at plus or minus 10% and preferably at plus or minus 5%.

As used herein, the term “aerosol generating device” or “device” may include a vaping device to deliver an aerosol to a user, including an aerosol for vaping, by means of a heater element explained in further detail below. The device may be portable. “Portable” may refer to the device being for use when held by a user. The device may be adapted to generate a variable amount of aerosol, e.g. by activating the heater element for a variable amount of time (as opposed to a metered dose of aerosol), which can be controlled by a trigger. The trigger may be activated by a user action, such as actuating a vaping button and/or inhalation sensor or for example inserting a tobacco article into the heating chamber. The inhalation sensor may be sensitive to the strength of inhalation as well as the duration of inhalation to enable a variable amount of vapour to be provided (so as to mimic the effect of smoking a conventional combustible smoking article such as a cigarette, cigar or pipe, etc.). The device may include a temperature regulation control to drive the temperature of the heater and/or the heated aerosol generating substance (aerosol precursor) to a specified target temperature and thereafter to maintain the temperature at the target temperature that enables efficient generation of aerosol.

As used herein, the term “aerosol” may include a suspension of vaporizable material as one or more of: solid particles; liquid droplets; gas. Said suspension may be in a gas including air. Aerosol herein may generally refer to/include a vapour. Aerosol may include one or more components of the vaporizable material. As used herein, the term “vaporizable material” or “precursor” may refer to a smokable material which may for example comprise nicotine or tobacco and an aerosol former. Tobacco may take the form of various materials such as shredded tobacco, granulated tobacco, tobacco leaf and/or reconstituted tobacco. Suitable aerosol formers include: a polyol such as sorbitol, glycerol, and glycols like propylene glycol or triethylene glycol; a non-polyol such as monohydric alcohols, acids such as lactic acid, glycerol derivatives, esters such as triacetin, triethylene glycol diacetate, triethyl citrate or vegetable glycerin. In some embodiments, the aerosol generating agent may be glycerol, propylene glycol, or a mixture of glycerol and propylene glycol. The substrate may comprise at least one of a gelling agent, a binding agent, a stabilizing agent, and a humectant such as glycerol and propylene glycol.

As used herein, the term “end” used in relation with an object extending according to an axis, such for example a tobacco part or a non-tobacco part, refers to an ending region of this object which is adjacent to an edge delimiting this object according to this axis and which extends according to a predetermined length along this axis. This predetermined length can be less than 30% of the total length of the object according to the corresponding axis, advantageously less than 20%, preferably less than 15% and more preferably less than 10%.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Figure 1 shows an aerosol generating system 10 comprising an aerosol generating device 11 , also called heat-not-burn aerosol generating device, and an aerosol generating article 12, also called tobacco article 12. The aerosol generating device 11 is intended to operate with the tobacco article 12. In the example of Figure 1 , the tobacco article 12 is extracted from the aerosol generating device 1 1. In the example of Figure 2, the tobacco article 12 is inserted into the aerosol generating device 11 .

The tobacco article 12 extends between a proximal end 14 and a distal end 13 along an article axis X. The proximal end 14 is intended to be closer to a user than the distal end 13 when the tobacco article 12 is operated with the aerosol generating device 1 1 to generate aerosol. The distal end 13 is designed to be received inside the aerosol generating device 11 as it will be explained in further detail below. As it is shown in Figure 2, the tobacco article 12 comprises a tobacco part 15 and a non-tobacco part 16 arranged along the article axis X. The tobacco part 15 comprises a first end 18 adjacent to or facing the distal end 13 of the tobacco article 12. Particularly, as it will be explained below in reference to different embodiments of the tobacco article 12, the first end 18 of the tobacco part 15 can be adjacent to the distal end 13 of the tobacco article 12 or can be spaced from this distal end 13 to form a gap. The non-tobacco part 16 comprises a second end 19 adjacent to or facing the proximal end 14 of the tobacco article 12, depending on the embodiments. In any case, the first end 18 is closer to the distal end 13 comparing to the second end 19 and the second end 19 is closer to the proximal end 14 comparing to the first end 18.

According to different embodiments, the tobacco article 12 has a generally flat shape. In some embodiments, both tobacco part 15 and the non-tobacco part 16 present a generally flat shape. In this case, the tobacco part 15 and the non-tobacco part 16 can have similar cross-sections having for example substantially the same cross-sectional area. In a variant, the cross-sectional area of the non-tobacco part 16 is greater than the cross- sectional area of the tobacco part 15. In some other embodiments, only the tobacco part 15 presents a generally flat shape and the non-tobacco part 16 presents any other suitable shape, for example substantially circular cylindrical shape. The flat shape of the tobacco article 12 forms at least a pair of narrow lateral walls and a pair of lateral wide walls, extending along the tobacco article 12. Advantageously, the flat shape of at least the tobacco part 15 has a rectangular cross-section so as it is delimited by said pairs of narrow and wide lateral walls.

The tobacco part 15 may for example be slightly longer than the non-tobacco part 16. For example, the length of the tobacco part 15 according to the article axis X may be comprised between 10 and 25 mm, for example, substantially equal to 10 mm or 18 mm. The width and/or the depth of the tobacco part 15 may be substantially equal to or less than respectfully the width and/or the depth of the non-tobacco part 16. In some embodiments, the width of the tobacco part 15 can be comprised between 10 and 25 mm, and be for example substantially equal to 12 mm or 21 mm. The length of the non-tobacco part 16 according to the article axis X may be substantially comprised between 8 and 20 mm, for example be equal to 15 mm. The above-mentioned length values for both tobacco and non- tobacco parts 15, 16 can be selected within a range of +/- 40%, for example. The tobacco part 15 and the non-tobacco part 16 may be fixed one to the other by one or several wrappers as it will be explained in reference to different embodiments of the tobacco article 12.

The non-tobacco part 16 comprises a core intended to act for example as a cooling element to cool slightly the vapour before it is inhaled by the user. The core may comprise for this purpose for example corrugated paper. The core may be formed through an extrusion and/or rolling process into a stable shape. Advantageously, the core is arranged inside the non-tobacco part 16 to be entirely in contact with the internal surface of the wrapper delimiting this non-tobacco part 16. Additionally or alternatively, the core acts as a filter. The core may be formed by a flow guiding element having a corrugated cross- sectional shape.

The tobacco part 15 comprises a vaporizable material and is intended to be heated by a heating chamber, as it will be explained in further detail below. Advantageously, the tobacco part 15 consists of the vaporizable material as defined above. Particularly, the tobacco part 15 is designed to be received in the heating chamber, advantageously entirely received in the heating chamber. The non-tobacco part 16 is designed to protrude from the heating chamber, and protrude for example at least partially from the aerosol generating device 1 1 . In the example of Figure 2, the non-tobacco part 16 is positioned entirely outside the aerosol generating device 1 1 . According to another example, the non-tobacco part is positioned entirely inside the aerosol generating device 1 1 . In some examples, a portion of the non-tobacco part 16 is designed to be also received in the heating chamber. This portion is adjacent to the tobacco part 15 and can correspond to at most 10% of the total length of the non-tobacco part 16. The tobacco part 15 may have a corrugated cross-sectional shape.

Referring to Figure 1 , the aerosol generating device 11 comprises a device body 40 extending along a device axis Y between an open end 41 and a closed end 42. The open end 41 is designed to receive at least partially the tobacco article 12, notably the tobacco part 15 of the tobacco article 12. In some embodiments, the aerosol generating device 1 1 may further comprise a mouthpiece designed to be mounted on the open end 41 of the device body 40, for example once the tobacco article 12 is inserted in the device body 40 through the open end 41. In this case, the mouthpiece may for example be designed to receive the non-tobacco part 16. In some other embodiments, no mouthpiece is provided with the device. In this case, the non-tobacco part 16 can act as a mouthpiece or an external mouthpiece can be used. The device body 40 comprises various internal components of the aerosol generating device 1 1. Particularly, these internal components can comprise in particular a battery, a controller and at least one heating element (e.g., a resistive ceramic or film heater or a magnetic coil) for heating tobacco article when inserted in a heating chamber, etc. Among these components, only a heating chamber 60 will be explained in further detail in reference to Figure 2.

As it is shown in this Figure 2, the heating chamber 60 is adapted to receive and heat the tobacco part 15 of the tobacco article 12. The heating chamber 60 extends according to the device axis Y between an open end 61 adjacent to the open end 41 of the device body 40 and a closed end 62 opposite to the open end 61 . The heating chamber 60 has a cross-sectional shape complementary to the cross-sectional shape of the tobacco part 15 of the tobacco article 11 . For example, when the tobacco part 15 is flat-shaped, the heating chamber 60 has also a flat shape. In this case, the heating chamber 60 can for example be delimited at least by a pair of wide walls and a pair of narrow walls extending parallel to the device axis Y. The heating chamber 60 further includes a heating element powered by the battery in order to heat the tobacco part 15. The heating element can comprise for example one or several resistive elements attached for example to the wide walls of the heating chamber. In this case, the wide walls can act as heat transferring elements from the heating elements to the tobacco part. The wide walls can be designed to be in contact with at least one wrapper wrapping the tobacco part 15 to heat it by conduction and in some cases, slightly compress the tobacco part 15 between the wide walls. According to other embodiments, a gap can be formed between the lateral wide walls the tobacco article 12 to heat the tobacco part 15 by convection. According to still another embodiment, at least one heating element presents a coil arranged around the heating chamber 60 and designed to heat the tobacco part 15 by induction.

As it will be detailed below in reference to different embodiments of Figures 3 to 8, the tobacco part 15 is extending along the article axis X between a distal tobacco end 15-2 and a proximal tobacco end 15-1. In addition, the non-tobacco part 16 is extending along the article axis X between a distal non-tobacco end 16-2 and a proximal non-tobacco end 16-1 , the proximal tobacco end 15-1 being adjacent to the distal non-tobacco end 16-2. The the tobacco article 12 also defines an upstream airflow path and a downstream airflow path. The downstream airflow path extends from the distal tobacco end 15-2 to the proximal tobacco end 15-1 in contact with or adjacent to the tobacco part 15 and the non-tobacco part 16. The upstream airflow path extends from an air inlet to the distal tobacco end 15-2 at least partially in contact with the tobacco part and at least partially parallel to the downstream airflow path upstream of the distal tobacco end 15-2. In some embodiments explained in more detail below, the upstream airflow path can also extend at least partially through the non-tobacco part 16. The upstream airflow path comprises one or several upstream channels guiding fresh air from the outside of the tobacco article 12 until the tobacco part 15. The downstream airflow path comprises one or several downstream channels guiding aerosol formed further to heating the tobacco part 15. Advantageously, the or each downstream channel extends through both tobacco and non-tobacco parts 15, 16. Additionally, the or each upstream channel is fluidically isolated from the or each downstream channel. As a result, air is forced to flow through the upstream channel and through the downstream channel without possible shortcut from one to the other. According to different embodiments, the upstream channels can be separated from the downstream channels using a special separator (divider) formed for example from the same material as the non-tobacco part 16 or by the vaporizable material as such. In this last case, it is considered that the vaporizable material is sufficiently dense to not allow airflow passing through it.

FIRST EMBODIMENT OF THE TOBACCO ARTICLE

Figure 3 shows a tobacco article 12 according to a first embodiment. According to this embodiment, the tobacco part forms a flat-shape defining two opposite wide surfaces.

As exposed in Figure 3, the or a portion of the downstream airflow path 21 and the or a portion of the upstream airflow path 20 extend in contact with a same wide surface of the tobacco part 15. This is particularly suitable for maximizing the production of the aerosol. In a possible example of this embodiment, the or a portion of the downstream airflow path 21 and the or a portion of the upstream airflow path 20 extend on either side of the tobacco part, i.e. on each wide surface of the tobacco part. For example, the tobacco article 12 can by symmetric in respect with a longitudinal plane parallel to the opposite wide surfaces of the tobacco article 12.

In addition, part or the entire downstream airflow path 21 is formed by a plurality of downstream channels and part or the entire upstream airflow path 20 is formed by a plurality of upstream channels. These channels may be formed directly on the surface of the tobacco part 15 and on the surface of the non-tobacco part 16. These channels are closed, upward or downward, by a wrapper wrapping at least the tobacco part (not shown). In addition, the downstream channels extend symmetrically to the upstream channels in respect with a central plane perpendicular to both opposite wide surfaces.

According to this embodiment, the tobacco part 15 and the non-tobacco part 16 form, in cross-section, a corrugated shape. This corrugated shape defines airflow valleys (which allows creating the upstream and downstream channels, along with the inner wrapper). Each valley extends advantageously along the article axis X from the proximal end 14 to the distal end 13. In this example, the corrugated shape of the non-tobacco part 16 may form some triangles while the corrugated shape of the tobacco part 15 may form some rectangles. This allows maximizing the surface of the tobacco part 15 which enters in contact with the airflow, and thus maximizing the production of the aerosol. Particularly, the corrugated shape of the non-tobacco part 16 helps in keeping the tobacco article structure and creates aligned inner airflows. The corrugated shape of the tobacco part 15 creates inner airflows through the tobacco substrate and reduces its thickness thus improving the heat transfer.

Alternatively or additionally, the tobacco article 12 further defines a transition airflow path connecting at the distal tobacco end 15-2 on the corresponding wide surface the upstream airflow path 20 with the downstream airflow path 21. Thus, at the distal tobacco end 15-2 the upstream and the downstream channels are closed. Further, the or a portion of the transition airflow path extends substantially perpendicularly to the article axis X.

Finally, in this embodiment, the transition airflow path comprises at least one rounded portion 22. This ensures a smooth transition with the upstream airflow path 20 or the downstream airflow path 21 .

SECOND EMBODIMENT OF THE TOBACCO ARTICLE

Figure 4 shows a tobacco article 12 according to a second embodiment, similar to the first embodiment. According to this embodiment, the tobacco part forms a flat-shape defining two opposite wide surfaces.

As exposed in Figure 4, the or a portion of the downstream airflow path 21 and the or a portion of the upstream airflow path 20 extend in contact with a same wide surface of the tobacco part. As in the previous embodiment, the or a portion of the downstream airflow path 21 and the or a portion of the upstream airflow path can extend on both wide sides of the tobacco part 15.

Similarly to the previous embodiment, the downstream airflow path 21 is formed by a plurality of downstream channels and the upstream airflow path 20 is formed by a plurality of upstream channels. In addition, the downstream channels extend symmetrically to the upstream channels in respect with a central plane perpendicular to both opposite wide surfaces.

According to this embodiment, the tobacco part 15 and the non-tobacco part 16 form, in cross-section, a corrugated shape. This corrugated shape defines airflow valleys (which allows creating the upstream and downstream channels, along with the inner wrapper). The corrugated shape of the tobacco part 15 and the corrugated shape of the non-tobacco part 16 may be different. As exposed in Figure 4, the corrugated shape of the non-tobacco part 16 may form some triangles while the corrugated shape of the tobacco part 15 may form some rectangles.

Alternatively or additionally, the tobacco article 12 further defines a transition airflow path connecting at the distal tobacco end 15-2 on the corresponding wide surface the upstream airflow path 20 with the downstream airflow path 21 .

Further, the or a portion of the transition airflow path extends perpendicularly to the article axis X.

Finally, in this embodiment, the transition airflow path comprises at least one U-turn portion 23. Particularly, the transition airflow path can be connected to the corresponding portion of the downstream airflow path 21 and/or the upstream airflow path 20 with an angle connection forming an angle substantially equal to 90°. In other words, according to this embodiment, the whole transition airflow path extends perpendicularly to the article axis X. This helps ensuring a controlled transition with the upstream airflow path 20 or the downstream airflow path 21 .

THIRD EMBODIMENT OF THE TOBACCO ARTICLE Figure 5 shows a tobacco article 12 according to a third embodiment. According to this embodiment, the tobacco part 15 forms a flat-shape defining two opposite wide surfaces.

As exposed in Figure 5, the or a portion of the downstream airflow path 21 and the or a portion of the upstream airflow path 20 extend in contact with a same wide surface of the tobacco part 15. As in the previous embodiment, the or a portion of the downstream airflow path 21 and the or a portion of the upstream airflow path 20 can extend on both wide sides of the tobacco part 15. This is particularly suitable for maximizing the production of the aerosol. This configuration also allows controlling more efficiently the size of the article 12.

In addition, the downstream airflow path 21 is formed by a plurality of downstream channels and the upstream airflow path 20 is formed by one or several upstream channels, whereby the upstream channel(s) extend(s) between the downstream channels on the corresponding wide surface. These downstream and upstream channels are substantially parallel and open in a gap 24 formed at the distal tobacco end 15-2. Particularly, this gap 24 can be formed by an external wrapper (non-shown in Figure 5) wrapping at least the tobacco part 15 and sealing the distal tobacco end 15-2.

Additionally, in this example, the or each upstream channel extends substantially through the center of the tobacco part 15 between the downstream channels. Advantageously, the upstream airflow path 20 forms a single upstream channel extending between the downstream channels. The single upstream channel can define a greater cross-sectional area in comparison with the cross-sectional area of each downstream channel. Advantageously, the cross-sectional area of the single upstream channel is substantially equal to the sum of the cross-sectional areas of all of the downstream channels.

The or each upstream channel can for example extend from an air inlet formed on the corresponding lateral wide wall of the tobacco article 12. This air inlet can be formed in the part of the wrapper extending around the non-tobacco part 16 in a transition zone between the tobacco part 15 and the non-tobacco part 16. This arrangement of the air inlet can be advantageous in comparison with a side arrangement (i.e. on a narrow lateral wall) since it allows reducing the width of tobacco article 12. As it is shown in Figure 5, the gap 24 can have a substantially triangular shape in a top or bottom view of the tobacco article 12. This shape is defined by a notch formed in the tobacco part 15 at the distal tobacco end 15-2. Particularly, one of the vertices of the triangle can correspond to the opening of the or each upstream channel and the edges adjacent to this vertex can comprise openings of the corresponding downstream channels. Thus, the part of each downstream channel extending in contact with the tobacco part 15 can be longer than the part of the or each upstream channel extending in contact with the tobacco part 15. Provided with this shape, the gap 24 can efficiently distribute airflow entering at the center by the or each upstream channel and turning then to the periphery of the gap 24 before passing through the corresponding upstream channels.

FOURTH EMBODIMENT OF THE TOBACCO ARTICLE

Figure 6 shows a tobacco article 12 according to a fourth embodiment. According to this embodiment, the tobacco part 15 forms a flat-shape defining two opposite wide surfaces.

Furthermore, the downstream airflow path 21 (or at least portions of this path) and the upstream airflow path 20 (or at least portions of this path) extend in contact with opposite wide surfaces of the tobacco part 15. In addition, in this exemplary embodiment, it can be noted that the downstream airflow path 21 extending in contact with the tobacco part 15 is formed by a plurality of downstream channels and one or several upstream channels form the upstream airflow path 20 extending in contact with the tobacco part 15. These airflow paths are substantially parallel and open in a gap 25 formed at the distal tobacco end 15-2 by an external wrapper sealed at the distal tobacco end 15-2.

Like in the previous embodiment, the or each upstream channel can for example extend from an air inlet formed on the corresponding lateral wide wall of the tobacco article 12. This air inlet can be formed in the part of the wrapper extending around the non-tobacco part 16.

According to this embodiment, the non-tobacco part 16 can comprise a substantially flat core dividing longitudinally the non-tobacco part 16 on an upstream portion and a downstream portion. The core can be formed by a sheet, for example a sheet of paper. The upstream portion can form partially the upstream airflow path 20, comprise the air inlet and be closed at the proximal non-tobacco end 16-1 (for example by a mouthpiece or using any other suitable mean). The downstream portion can form partially the downstream airflow path 21 and be open at the proximal non-tobacco end 16-1 . Thus, during a vaping session, air can enter from the air inlet arranged on the corresponding lateral wall, then flow through one surface of the tobacco part 15, then pass to the opposite surface of the tobacco part 15 via the gap 25, then flow through the downstream portion of the non-tobacco part 16 and be delivered to the user through the open proximal non-tobacco end 16-1 .

FIFTH EMBODIMENT OF THE TOBACCO ARTICLE

Figure 7 shows a tobacco article 12 according to a fifth embodiment. As exposed in Figure 7, the or a portion of the downstream airflow path 21 and the or a portion of the upstream airflow path 20 extend in contact with a same wide surface of the tobacco part. In a possible variant, the or a portion of the downstream airflow path 21 and the or a portion of the upstream airflow path 20 can also extend in contact with either side of the tobacco part 15.

The downstream airflow path 21 is formed by a plurality of downstream channels and said portion of the upstream airflow path 20 is formed by a plurality of upstream channels. In addition, the downstream channels extend symmetrically to said upstream channels in respect with a central plane perpendicular to both opposite wide surfaces. A portion of the downstream airflow path 21 extends in contact with the tobacco part 15 which is formed by a plurality of downstream channels of the tobacco part 15 and a portion of the upstream airflow path 20 extends in contact with the tobacco part 15, which is formed by one or several upstream channels. These channels open in a gap 25 formed at the distal tobacco end 15-2. As in the previous cases, the gap 25 is formed by an external wrapper (non-shown) sealed at the tobacco end 15-2.

In this embodiment, in other words, article 12 is split in two by the length along the article axis X. This separation can be physically marked by the use of a divider 27, as shown in Figure 7. This divider 27 may be made of the same materials as the non-tobacco part 16. The divider 27 can present a hollow tube extending to the gap 25. In this way, the upstream channels and the downstream channels can extends on different sides of the divider 27 and be fluidically isolated by this divider. In this case, the airflow from different paths cannot be diverted and necessarily passes through the tobacco part to be vaporized. Additionally, as it is shown in Figure 7, the upstream channels can also extend through the non-tobacco part 16 where they are separated from the downstream channels by the divider 27. Particularly, in this case, the non-tobacco part 16 is divided on an upstream portion defining the upstream channels and a downstream portion defining the downstream channels. The upstream portion can be shorter than the downstream portion. Thus, when the tobacco article 12 is in use, only the downstream portion of the non-tobacco part 16 can be in contact with the user’s lips whereas the upstream portion can form a gap 26 or connected to a mouthpiece that isolate the upstream channels while allowing a fluidic connection with the downstream channels. This gap 26 is advantageously used as an air inlet. In a variant, the upstream portion can be sealed at the proximal end and an air inlet can be formed on a lateral wall.

SIXTH EMBODIMENT OF THE TOBACCO ARTICLE

Figure 8 shows a tobacco article 12 according to a sixth embodiment which is similar to the fifth embodiment explained below. Particularly, as in the previous embodiment, a divider splits the tobacco article 12 or at least the non-tobacco part 16 along the article axis X. Additionally, as in the previous case, the non-tobacco part 16 is split on an upstream portion and a downstream portion. Like in the previous embodiment, the upstream portion of the non-tobacco part 16 can be transversally sealed at the proximal end 14 of the article 12 and define a lateral opening 28 forming an air inlet. This opening 28 allowing thus the airflow entering in the upstream airflow path 20 can be made in the wrapper surrounding the tobacco article 12.

This embodiment is suitable with the example of the tobacco article 12 shown in Figure 9. In this example, instead of the wrapper as explained above, a shell is used for receiving both tobacco and non-tobacco parts 15, 16. A lateral opening 28 communicating with the upstream portion of the non-tobacco part 16 is formed on a lateral narrow wall of the shell. A similar shell can also be used in relation with the other embodiments by adapting the position of the opening 28 to the air inlet of the upstream airflow path. Additionally, such a shell can define two or more lateral openings 28 communicating for example with different upstream channels.

For example, when a shell is used in combination with the first, second, third and fourth embodiments, it can comprise one or several openings arranged advantageously on the part of a wide lateral wall of the shell corresponding to the upstream channels. In the case of the first and second embodiments, this part is a peripheral part. In case of the third embodiment, this part is a central part. In case of the forth embodiment, this part can be situated in any place of the wide lateral wall corresponding to the upstream portion of the non-tobacco part 16. Finally, when a shell is used in combination with the fifth embodiment, one or several lateral openings can be arranged on the same narrow lateral wall of the shell, as for the sixth embodiment.

Moreover, the shell can form a stop 50 for accurate positioning the tobacco article in respect with the heating chamber 60. For example, the stop 50 can be configured so as to position the or each lateral opening 28 outside the heating chamber 60 when the tobacco part 15 is received in the chamber 60. In the example of Figure 9, the stop 50 is formed as a shoulder in the transition zone between the tobacco and non-tobacco parts 15, 16.

OTHER EMBODIMENTS OF THE TOBACCO ARTICLE

Other embodiments are still possible. These embodiments can comprise any suitable combination of the features disclosed in relation with the previously mentioned embodiments. It should also be noted that the embodiments disclosed above are described only by differences. Thus, features that may be common for at least some embodiments are not specified in relation with each embodiment.

Claims

1. A tobacco article (12) for a heat-not-burn aerosol generating device (1 1 ), the tobacco article (12) extending along an article axis (X), and comprising a tobacco part (15) and a non-tobacco part (16) arranged successively along the article (12) axis; the tobacco part (15) extending along the article axis (X) between a distal tobacco end (15-2) and a proximal tobacco end (15-1 ), the non-tobacco part (16) extending along the article axis (X) between a distal non-tobacco end (16-2) and a proximal non-tobacco end (16-1 ), the proximal tobacco end (15-1 ) being adjacent to the distal non-tobacco end (16- 2); the tobacco article (12) defining an upstream airflow path (20) and a downstream airflow path (21 ); the downstream airflow path (21 ) extending from the distal tobacco end (15-2) to the proximal non-tobacco end (16-1 ) in contact with the tobacco part (15) and the non-tobacco part (16); the upstream airflow path (20) extending from an air inlet to the distal tobacco end (15-2) at least partially in contact with the tobacco part (15) and at least partially parallel to the downstream airflow path (21 ) upstream of the distal tobacco end (15-2).

2. The tobacco article (12) according to claim 1 , wherein the tobacco part (15) forms a flat-shape defining two opposite wide surfaces.

3. The tobacco article (12) according to claim 2, wherein at least a portion of the downstream airflow path (21 ) and at least a portion of the upstream airflow path (20) extend in contact with a same wide surface of the tobacco part (15).

4. The tobacco article (12) according to claim 3, wherein:

- said portion of the downstream airflow path (21 ) is formed by a plurality of downstream channels and said portion of the upstream airflow path (20) is formed by a plurality of upstream channels;

- said downstream channels extend symmetrically to said upstream channels in respect with a central plane perpendicular to both opposite wide surfaces.

5. The tobacco article (12) according to claim 3, wherein: - said portion of the downstream airflow path (21 ) is formed by a plurality of downstream channels and said portion of the upstream airflow path (20) is formed by one or several upstream channels;

- said upstream channel(s) extend(s) between the downstream channels on the corresponding wide surface.

6. The tobacco article (12) according to any one of claims 3 to 5, further defining a transition airflow path connecting at the distal tobacco end (15-2) on the corresponding wide surface the upstream airflow path (20) with the downstream airflow path (21 ).

7. The tobacco article (12) according to claim 6, wherein at least a portion of the transition airflow path extends perpendicularly to the article axis (X).

8. The tobacco article (12) according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the transition airflow path comprises at least one rounded portion to ensure a smooth transition with the upstream airflow path (20) or the downstream airflow path (21 ).

9. The tobacco article (12) according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein at least a portion of the downstream airflow path (21 ) and at least a portion of the upstream airflow path (20) extend in contact with opposite wide surfaces of the tobacco part (15).

10. The tobacco article (12) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein:

- a portion of the downstream airflow path (21 ) extending in contact with the tobacco part (15) is formed by a plurality of downstream channels;

- a portion of the upstream airflow path (20) extending in contact with the tobacco part (15) is formed by one or several upstream channels;

- said downstream and upstream channels open in a gap (25) formed at the distal tobacco end (15-2).

1 1 . The tobacco article (12) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the air inlet presents a lateral opening (28) in the non-tobacco part (16).

12. The tobacco article (12) according to claim 11 , wherein the upstream airflow path (20) extends partially through the non-tobacco part (16).

13. The tobacco article (12) according to claim 12, wherein the upstream airflow path (20) is fluidically separated from the downstream airflow path (21 ) inside the non-tobacco part (16).

14. The tobacco article (12) according to any of claims 1 1 to 13, wherein:

- the tobacco part (15) is receivable in a heating chamber (60) of the aerosol generating device (1 1 ); and

- the lateral opening (28) is designed to be arranged outside the heating chamber (60).

15. An aerosol generating system (10) comprising:

- a tobacco article (12) according to any one of the preceding claims;

- a heat-not-burn aerosol generating device (11 ) configured to operate with the tobacco article (12).