WO2025021907A1

WO2025021907A1 - Aerosol generating article

Info

Publication number: WO2025021907A1
Application number: PCT/EP2024/071091
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alec WRIGHT
Original assignee: JT International SA
Current assignee: JT International SA
Priority date: 2023-07-25
Filing date: 2024-07-25
Publication date: 2025-01-30
Anticipated expiration: 2026-01-25

Abstract

The present invention concerns an aerosol generating article (12) configured to operate with an aerosol generating device, extending along an article axis (X) and comprising: - a substrate part (25) comprising an aerosol generating substrate; - a cooling part (26) arranged successively with the substrate part (25) along the article axis (X); - a wrapper (31) wrapping together the substrate part (25) and the cooling part (26), and extending around the article axis (X); wherein the wrapper (31) comprises a wrapper substrate portion (45) covering the substrate part (25) and a wrapper cooling portion (46) covering the cooling part (26); wherein the wrapper substrate portion (45) comprises a textured pattern defining a plurality of voids between the wrapper (31) and the aerosol generating substrate.

Description

Aerosol generating article

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns an aerosol generating article configured to operate with an aerosol generating device.

Particularly, the aerosol generating article comprises for example a solid substrate able to form aerosol when being heated. Thus, the aerosol generating devices configured to operate with such a type of aerosol generating 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.

Aerosol generating 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 an aerosol generating article is received at least partially in a heating chamber of the device which comprises one or several heaters to heat the aerosol generating article. During the heating, the aerosol generating article forms vapour which transports the taste of the aerosol generating substrate to the user. The vapour can also be perceived by the user as smoke formed by a conventional cigarette.

Vapour generating efficiency is thus an important operation parameter of the aerosol generating article. In some aerosol generating articles, the vapour generating can be not sufficient to efficiently transport the taste and/or give an impression of smoking a conventional cigarette. Additionally, it might be difficult for the user to rightly position some aerosol generating articles, especially those having reduced dimensions, inside the aerosol generating device. Both issues can conduct to a poor user experience.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One of the aims of the invention is to propose an aerosol generating article able to provide an efficient vapour generating while being able to be easily positioned inside the aerosol generating device. Thus, the aerosol generating article according to the invention provides a better user experience.

For this purpose, the invention relates to an aerosol generating article configured to operate with an aerosol generating device, the aerosol generating article extending along an article axis and comprising:

- a substrate part comprising an aerosol generating substrate ;

- a cooling part arranged successively with the substrate part along the article axis ;

- a wrapper wrapping together the substrate part and the cooling part, and extending around the article axis; wherein the wrapper comprises a wrapper substrate portion covering the substrate part and a wrapper cooling portion covering the cooling part; wherein the wrapper substrate portion comprises a textured pattern defining a plurality of voids between the wrapper and the aerosol generating substrate.

Thanks to these features, the voids provided by the textured pattern form air gaps between the wrapper and the aerosol generating substrate. Since the aerosol generating substrate can present a relatively solid structure in the aerosol generating articles (notably those having a flat shape), the air gaps provided between the wrapper and the substrate increase the vapour generation. An optimized distribution of the voids on the wrapper substrate portion can lead to an efficient vapour generation from the whole surface of the aerosol generating substrate. Additionally, comparing to a flat surface, embossed surface (i.e. the wrapper part provided with the textured pattern) presents an increased thermal absorption from the heater and consequently, a better heat transfer to the aerosol generating substrate. In other words, a textured pattern provides a better emissivity coefficient in comparison with a flat surface. This also leads to a better vapour generation.

Additionally, the textured pattern provided on the wrapper substrate portion can be used by the user to distinguish the substrate part from the cooling part of the aerosol generating article. Thus, the user can easily determine the end of the aerosol generating device corresponding to the substrate part and position this end inside the heating chamber. Moreover, inside the heating chamber, the aerosol generating device can be firmly retained by friction of the textured pattern with the walls of the heating chamber. Thus, it is possible to avoid sliding or any other type of misalignment of the aerosol generating article inside the chamber. Thus, the positioning of the aerosol generating article can be simplified and its accuracy improved. An accurate positioning of the aerosol generating article inside the chamber also improves the vapour generation.

All these advantages lead to a better user experience.

In some embodiments, the wrapper is formed by a single sheet. Additionally, the wrapper substrate and cooling portions form a single sheet. This means that the wrapper substrate and cooling portions can constitute the wrapper which is formed by a single sheet.

Thus, the wrapper can be manufactured and assembled with the aerosol generating substrate to form an aerosol generating article, in a particularly simple way. Additionally, this single sheet can be only partially textured to form the textured pattern on the wrapper substrate portion. The untextured part of the sheet can form the wrapper cooling portion.

For example, the textured pattern can be formed on the wrapper substrate portion by a bossing/debossing process. In this case, only a part of the wrapper can pass through a bossing/debossing roller to form the textured pattern whereas the other part can pass through a roller having a smooth surface. Alternatively, a same roller having a partially embossed surface can be used to form simultaneously the wrapper substrate portion and wrapper cooling portion. In some alternative embodiments, the wrapper comprises at least two different sheets: one forming the wrapper substrate portion and the other forming the wrapper cooling portion. The sheets can comprise an overlapping zone where they are fixed between them, for example by gluing. The overlapping zone can extend at least partially over the substrate part and at least partially over the cooling part of the aerosol generating article. In some examples, the overlapping zone extends over only one part, for example the cooling part of the aerosol generating device.

The sheet forming the wrapper substrate portion defines a textured pattern as defined above. The sheet forming the wrapper cooling portion can form for example a substantially smooth external surface. Advantageously, the sheets are made from different materials or from a same material having different properties. For example, both sheets can comprise paper having different properties, like density, grammage, thickness, etc.

The textured pattern is formed on an internal surface of the wrapper substrate portion. For example, the textured pattern can extend according to substantially the whole internal surface of the wrapper substrate portion.

Thanks to these features, the voids can be formed along the whole surface of the aerosol generating substrate. Thus, the whole surface of the aerosol generating substrate can generate aerosol so as its generation can be optimized.

According to some embodiments, the textured pattern is further formed on an external surface of the wrapper substrate portion.

In this case, the textured pattern is visible by the user or at least can be identified by touching. The user can thus simply distinguish the substrate part from the cooling part and rightly position the aerosol generating article within the device.

According to some embodiments, the wrapper comprises paper, advantageously made of paper.

A textured pattern can be easily formed on paper, using for example a bossing/debossing process as previously explained. Additionally, the grammage and the density of the paper can be adapted to ensure the necessary rigidity of the wrapper. For example, in some embodiments, at least the cooling part of the article can be at least partially hollow. In this case, the grammage and the density of the paper can be adapted to maintain the external shape of the article.

In some embodiments, the aerosol generating article has a flat shape. It can thus be called a flat-shaped aerosol generating article. Alternatively, the aerosol generating article has any other suitable cross-sectional shape which can for example be compressible upon inserting into the aerosol generating device.

In some embodiments, the wrapper forms a pair of opposite lateral walls and a pair of opposite wider walls of the shaped aerosol generating article; the textured pattern extending on the part of both wider walls corresponding to the wrapper substrate portion.

Thanks to these features, heat transfer to the aerosol generating substrate is optimized when each wide wall is heated directly by a heater. For example, such a heater can be formed by a wall of the heating chamber facing the corresponding wider wall of the article.

According to some embodiments, the wrapper cooling portion defines a smooth external and/or internal surface(s).

Thanks to these features, the wrapper cooling portion can be visually and/or tactually different from the wrapper substrate portion. It is thus possible to distinguish easily the substrate part from the cooling part.

In some other embodiments, the wrapper cooling portion can also have a textured pattern which is different from the textured pattern of the wrapper substrate portion.

In some embodiments, different textured patterns of the wrapper substrate portion can be applied to different tastes and/or flavorings and/or contents of the aerosol generating substrate. In other words, a particular textured pattern can be associated to a particular taste and/or flavoring and/or content of the aerosol generating substrate. Additionally or alternatively, a visual characteristic (such as color, drawing, etc.) can also be used for this purpose. According to some embodiments, the textured pattern comprises a plurality of dimples forming an array comprising a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns. The rows of dimples can be aligned between them or in offset.

The dimples can for example be arranged homogenously along the wrapper substrate portion. This allows a homogenous vapor generation along the whole surface of the aerosol generating substrate.

According to some embodiments, the textured pattern comprises a plurality of slots extending along the article axis between opposite ends of the wrapper substrate portion.

These slots can thus form aerosol channels transporting aerosol to the user. According to one example, the slots can be combined with aerosol channels formed on a surface of the aerosol generating substrate. Thus, it is possible to obtain a greater cross- sectional area of these channels and consequently, a better capacity of aerosol conduction by these channels. According to another example, the slots as such can form aerosol conducting channels. In this case, the aerosol generation substrate can have a substantially flat surface and can thus be easily manufactured.

According to some embodiment, each dimple or/and each slot faces an aerosol channel formed in the aerosol generating substrate.

Thanks to these features, the cross-sectional area of the aerosol channel can be increased. Thus, a greater quantity of aerosol can be delivered to the user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

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

- Figure 1 is a schematic view of an aerosol generating assembly, the aerosol generating assembly comprising an aerosol generating device and an aerosol generating article usable with the aerosol generating device;

- Figure 2 is a perspective view of the aerosol generating article of Figure 1 ; - Figure 3 is a partially exploded view of the aerosol generating article of Figure 2;

- Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the aerosol generating article of Figure 2; and

- Figures 5 and 6 show other examples of the aerosol generating article of Figure 1 (A: perspective view; B: cross-sectional view; C: top view).

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 user activated, such as a vaping button and/or inhalation sensor. 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 pre-cursor) 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, glycerin 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 also comprise at least one of a gelling agent, a binding agent, a stabilizing agent, and a humectant.

By “flat shape” of the aerosol generating article or the heating cup, it is understood that it extends between two first parallel longitudinal planes and two second parallel longitudinal planes perpendicular to the first parallel longitudinal planes, the distance between the second parallel longitudinal planes being at least 3 times, advantageously 5 times and preferably 10 times, greater than the distance between the first parallel longitudinal planes.

Figure 1 shows an aerosol generating assembly 10 comprising an aerosol generating device 11 and an aerosol generating article 12. The aerosol generating article 12 is intended to operate with the aerosol generating device 1 1 to generate aerosol as it will be explained in further detail below.

Referring to Figure 1 , the aerosol generating device 11 comprises a device body 15 extending along a device axis Y between a closed end 16 and an open end 17. The open end 17 presents an opening from which the aerosol generating article 12 can be inserted inside the device 1 1. The device body 15 delimits an internal space of the device 11 receiving various elements designed to carry out different functionalities of the device 11. This internal space can for example receive a battery for powering the device 1 1 , a control module for controlling the operation of the device 11 , a heating chamber 60 for heating the aerosol generating article 12, etc. In the example of Figure 1 , only the heating chamber 60 is shown. Particularly, the heating chamber 60 is designed to receive at least partially the aerosol generating article 12. In the example of Figure 1 , the heating chamber 60 may be for example arranged adjacent to the opening formed by the open end 17 of the device body 15. The heating chamber 60 may for example extend according to the device axis Y and present a cup shape. The heating chamber 60 may comprise a heater designed to heat at least a part of the aerosol generating article 12. The heater comprises for example a pair of heating plates facing each other and designed to heat opposite walls of the aerosol generating article 12 as it will be explained in further detail below. Each heating plate may comprise metal or ceramics or be made from metal or ceramics. Metal is preferably stainless steel (e.g., SAE 316L). According to other embodiments, the heater comprises any other mean or material suitable for heating the aerosol generating article, as for example a heating blade or a magnetic coil interacting with a heat-inductive element in contact with the aerosol substrate.

As it is shown in Figure 2, the aerosol generating article 12 presents advantageously a flat shape. In other words, in this example, the aerosol generating article 12 is a flatshaped cuboid extending along an article axis X between an inlet end 18 and an outlet end 19, and having external dimensions LxWxD. In a typical example, the length L of the article 12 according to the article axis X equals substantially to 33 mm while its width W and depth D are substantially equal respectively to 12 mm and 1 ,2 mm. According to different examples, the values L, W and D can be selected within a range of +/- 40%, for example. The depth D of the aerosol generating article 12 is formed by a pair of parallel walls 23A, 23B, called hereinafter lateral walls 23A, 23B, and the width W of the aerosol generating article 12 is formed by a pair of parallel walls 24A, 24B, called hereinafter wider walls 24A, 24B. Since in the example of Figure 2 the aerosol generating article 12 presents a flat shape, each wider wall 24A, 24B is for example at least 5 times, advantageously 10 times, wider than each lateral wall 23A, 23B. The flat shape of the aerosol generating article 12 is thus defined by the ratio between each wider wall 24A, 24B and each lateral wall 23A, 23B, which is greater than 5, advantageously greater than 10. In some embodiments, the edges between the wide and lateral walls 23A, 23B, 24A, 24B can be rounded. Other shapes of the aerosol generating article are still possible (for example rounded, rectangular, oval, etc.). The aerosol generating article can be compressible upon inserting in the aerosol generating device where it can take a flat shape.

The aerosol generating article 12 comprises a substrate part 25 and a cooling part 26 arranged successively along the article axis X, as it is shown in Figures 2 and 3. The substrate part 25 may for example be slightly longer than the cooling part 26. For example, the length L2 of the substrate part 25 according to the article axis X may be substantially equal to 18 mm and the length L1 of the cooling part 26 according to the article axis X may be substantially equal to 15 mm. The substrate part 25 defines the inlet end 18 of the article 12 and the cooling part 16 defines the outlet end 19 of the article 12. The substrate 25 and the cooling part 26 may be fixed one to the other by a wrapper 31 extending around the article axis X. In this case, the wrapper 31 forms the lateral and wider walls 23A, 23B, 24A, 24B of the aerosol generating article 12.

The substrate part 25 of the aerosol generating article 12 is designed to be received (for example through the opening formed by the device body 15) in the heating chamber 60 of the aerosol generating device 1 1 so as the article and device axes X, Y coincides, as it is shown in Figure 1 . The part of each wider wall 24A, 24B corresponding to the substrate part 25 of the article 12 is designed to be heated by the heating chamber 60 of the device 11 . Particularly, according to some embodiments, each of these parts is designed to be in contact with the heating plate forming the heater, as explained above. In some embodiments, the corresponding part of only one of the wider walls 24A, 24B is designed to be heated by the heater. Still according to some other embodiments, at least a part of at least one of the walls 23A, 23B, 24A, 24B, is designed to be heated distantly (i.e. without contact) by the heater of the heating chamber 6, for example by convection.

The substrate part 25 comprises an aerosol generating substrate 35 shown in Figure 3. The aerosol generating substrate 35 extends according to the whole length of the substrate part 25 and forms a solid structure which is able to release aerosol upon heating. The solid structure can for example be formed by compression of a mixture of materials (such as tobacco leafs/particles, suitable aerosol formers, binders, a gelling agent etc.) This solid structure can for example form a substantially cuboid shape. In some examples, the solid structure forms on its surface aerosol channels 34 conducting aerosol. In some examples, the solid structure can have a corrugated shape in each its cross-section as shown in Figure 3. In this example, the corrugated shape defines a plurality of protruding regions and a plurality of valley regions. Each valley region forms an aerosol channel 34 between its surface and an internal surface 36 of the wrapper 31 . Each protruding region is for example at least partially in direct contact with the internal surface 36 of the wrapper 31 . In some other embodiments, the aerosol generating substrate 35 forms advantageously a substantially flat external surface. It should be noted that Figure 3 presents only schematically the aerosol channels 34. In a general case, their number and dimensions can be chosen to optimize vapour transport to the user. For example, in some embodiments, each aerosol channel 34 can present a recess formed on a surface of the aerosol generating substrate 35. The depth of this recess can for example be comprised between 1% and 20%, advantageously between 1 % and 10% and preferably between 1% and 5%, of the total depth of the aerosol generating substrate 35.

According to different embodiments, the cooling part 26 is designed to form itself a mouthpiece or be received inside an external mouthpiece mountable on the device body 15. The cooling part 26 is intended to act as a cooler to cool the vapour before it is inhaled by the user. In one embodiment, the cooling part 26 is hollow, advantageously entirely hollow. In other words, in this embodiment, the cooling part 26 is delimited only by the internal surface 36 of the wrapper 31. According to another embodiment, the cooling part 26 comprises at least one internal wall extending along the article axis X and forming one or several airflow channels. For example, the internal wall can be entirely adjacent to the internal surface 36 of the wrapper 31 or extend between a pair of walls, lateral or wider 23A, 23B, 24A, 24B. In this last case, several airflow channels can be formed in the cooling part 26. In still another embodiment, the cooling part 26 comprises a core. The core can have for example a corrugated shape and form one or several airflow channels. The core can be made of cellulosic material, such as corrugated paper or moulded pulp, or a combination of natural cellulosic material (e.g. paper) and acetate or polymer material. Still in another embodiment, the cooling part 26 is essentially made of acetate or polymer material and comprises voids to allow aerosol to flow through the part. This material can also act as a filter.

According to one embodiment, the wrapper 31 is formed of a single sheet made of or comprising paper. This paper sheet forms thus the internal surface 36 of the wrapper 31 as explained above and its external surface 37 designed to be heated by the heater. According to another embodiment, the wrapper 31 is formed of at least two sheets made of or comprising paper. For example, one sheet can form the wrapper substrate portion and the other can form the wrapper cooling portion, as explained below.

The wrapper 31 extends according the article axis X between the inlet end 18 and the outlet end 19. In other words, the wrapper 31 extends according to the whole length of the substrate part 25 and the cooling part 26 of the aerosol generating article 12. Thus, the wrapper 31 covers entirely the aerosol generating substrate 35 and the cooling part 26 while keeping the ends 18, 19 transversally uncovered. In particular, the wrapper is for example tightly wrapped to the substrate part 25 without adhesive. The wrapper 31 can be glued with an adhesive for example to the core comprised in the cooling part 26.

In reference to Figure 2, the wrapper 31 comprises a wrapper substrate portion 45 covering the substrate part 25 and a wrapper cooling portion 46 covering the cooling part 26. Particularly, the wrapper substrate portion 45 forms the inlet end 18 and the wrapper cooling portion forms the outlet end 19 of the aerosol generating article 12. Additionally, the wrapper substrate portion 45 is adjacent to the wrapper cooling portion 46 and is formed from a single sheet with this wrapper cooling portion 46.

The wrapper substrate portion 45 comprises a textured pattern defining a plurality of voids between the wrapper 31 and the aerosol generating substrate 35. For example, each void forms at least partially an aerosol channel 34 as explained above. In other words, in case of a corrugated shape of the aerosol generating substrate 35, each void is formed between the internal surface 36 of the wrapper 31 and a valley region of the aerosol generating substrate 35. Additionally or alternatively, in this case, at least some voids are formed between the internal surface 36 of the wrapper 31 and a protruding region of the aerosol generating substrate 35. In case of a substantially flat external surface of the aerosol generating substrate 35, the voids formed by the textured pattern can be the unique voids between the internal surface 36 of the wrapper 31 and this aerosol generating substrate 36. In this case, aerosol channels for transporting aerosol to the user are formed by the wrapper 31.

A same textured pattern is advantageously formed on both surfaces of the wrapper 31 . In other words, it can present a plurality of recesses on one of the surfaces 36, 37 of the wrapper 31 and a plurality of protrusions on the other surface 36, 37 of the wrapper 31 . This pattern can be formed by a bossing/debossing process applied only on the part of the sheet designed to form the wrapper substrate portion 45. The part of the sheet designed to form the wrapper cooling portion 46 can be kept smooth.

The textured pattern is applied on at least one wall 23A, 23B, 24A, 24B of the aerosol generating article 12. Advantageously, the textured pattern is applied on at least one wider wall 24A, 24B, preferably both wider walls 24A, 24B of the aerosol generating article 12. Alternatively or additionally, the textured pattern is applied on at least one lateral wall 23A, 23B, preferably both lateral walls 24A, 24B of the aerosol generating article 12. Additionally, the textured pattern is applied along the whole internal and/or external surfaces 36, 37 of the wrapper substrate portion 45.

In the example of Figures 2 to 4, the textured pattern presents a plurality of dimples 50 forming an array comprising a plurality of columns extending along the article axis X and a plurality of rows extending perpendicularly to the article axis X. In this example, each row and each column comprises six dimples 50. Each dimple 50 presents a recess on the internal surface 36 of the wrapper 31 and a protrusion on the external surface 37 of the wrapper 31 . Each dimple 50 can have a substantially circular shape which can for example be elongated along the article axis X. The dimples 50 can be equispaced between them in each column and each row. Each dimple 50 can face an aerosol channel 34. Additionally, as it is shown in Figure 4, the dimples 50 can be arranged on each wider wall 24A, 24B of the aerosol generating device 12 and can be aligned according to a transversal axis perpendicular to both walls 24A, 24B. According to another example, the dimples 50 can be in offset according to this axis.

Figure 5 shows another example of the textured pattern arranged on each wider wall 24A, 24B of the aerosol generating device 12. As in the previous case, the textured pattern presents a plurality of dimples 50 similar to those disclosed above. Particularly, the dimples 50 form an array comprising a plurality of columns extending along the article axis X and a plurality of rows extending perpendicularly to the article axis X. According to this example, each row presents an offset with an adjacent row. Within each row, the dimples 50 can be equispaced. Additionally, the rows can be equispaced between them according to the article axis X. According to this example, at least some dimples 50 can face an aerosol channel 34 formed in the aerosol generating substrate 35. Additionally, as it is shown in part B of Figure 5, the dimples 50 arranged on the opposite wider walls 24A, 24B can be in offset according to a transversal axis perpendicular to both wider walls 24A, 24B.

Figure 6 shows another example of the textured pattern arranged on each wider wall 24A, 24B of the aerosol generating device 12. According to this example, the textured pattern presents a plurality of slots 50 extending along the article axis X between the ends of the wrapper substrate portion 45. Particularly, each slot 50 presents a recess on the internal surface 36 of the wrapper 31 and a protrusion of the external surface 37 of the wrapper 31 . Advantageously, each slot 50 is arranged to face an aerosol channel 34 formed in the aerosol generating substrate 35. Thus, the number of slots 50 formed on each wider wall 24A, 24B of the aerosol generating device 12 corresponds advantageously to the number of aerosol channels 34 formed on the corresponding side of the aerosol generating substrate 35. Additionally, as it is shown in Figure 6, the slots 50 arranged on different wider walls 24A, 24B, can be aligned according to a transversal axis perpendicular to both walls 24A, 24B. According to another example, the slots 50 can be in offset according to this axis.

Other examples of textured patterns are still possible. For example, a textured pattern can comprise a mixture of the textured patterns explained above or any other types of geometrical shapes. In some embodiments, different textured patterns can be used to distinguish different tastes and/or flavors and/or compositions of the aerosol generating substrate. Additionally or alternatively, a visual characteristic (like a color or drawing) can be used in combination with the textured pattern, for this purpose.

Claims

1. An aerosol generating article (12) configured to operate with an aerosol generating device (11 ), the aerosol generating article (12) extending along an article axis (X) and comprising:

- a substrate part (25) comprising an aerosol generating substrate (35);

- a cooling part (26) arranged successively with the substrate part (25) along the article axis (X);

- a wrapper (31 ) wrapping together the substrate part (25) and the cooling part (26), and extending around the article axis (X); wherein the wrapper (31 ) comprises a wrapper substrate portion (45) covering the substrate part (25) and a wrapper cooling portion (46) covering the cooling part (26); wherein the wrapper substrate portion (45) comprises a textured pattern defining a plurality of voids between the wrapper (31 ) and the aerosol generating substrate (35).

2. The aerosol generating article (12) according to claim 1 , wherein the aerosol generating article (12) has a flat shape or is intended to take a flat shape upon inserting in the aerosol generating device (11 ).

3. The aerosol generating article (12) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the wrapper (31 ) is formed by a single sheet.

4. The aerosol generating article (12) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the wrapper substrate and cooling portions (45, 46) form a single sheet.

5. The aerosol generating article (12) according to claim 4, wherein said single sheet is partially textured to form the textured pattern on the wrapper substrate portion (45).

6. The aerosol generating article (12) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the textured pattern is formed by a bossing/debossing process.

7. The aerosol generating article (12) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the textured pattern is formed on an internal surface (36) of the wrapper substrate portion (45).

8. The aerosol generating article (12) according to claim 7, wherein the textured pattern extends according to substantially the whole internal surface (36) of the wrapper substrate portion (45).

9. The aerosol generating article (12) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the textured pattern is further formed on an external surface (37) of the wrapper substrate portion (45).

10. The aerosol generating article (12) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the wrapper (31 ) comprises paper, advantageously made of paper.

1 1 . The aerosol generating article (12) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the wrapper (31 ) forms a pair of opposite lateral walls (23A, 23B) and a pair of opposite wider walls (24A, 24B) of the aerosol generating article (12); the textured pattern extending on the part of both wider walls (24A, 24B) corresponding to the wrapper substrate portion (45).

12. The aerosol generating article (12) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the wrapper cooling portion (46) defines a smooth external and/or internal surface(s).

13. The aerosol generating article (12) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the textured pattern comprises a plurality of dimples (50) forming an array comprising a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns.

14. The aerosol generating article (12) according to claim 13, wherein the rows of dimples (50) are aligned between them or in offset.

15. The aerosol generating article (12) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the textured pattern comprises a plurality of slots (50) extending along the article axis (X) between opposite ends of the wrapper substrate portion (45).

16. The aerosol generating article (12) according to any one of claims 13 to 15, wherein each dimple (50) or/and each slot (50) faces an aerosol channel (34) formed in the aerosol generating substrate (35); preferably, the aerosol generating substrate (35) presenting a compressed mixture of materials.