Aerosol Delivering System Comprising a Priming Bulb, and Cartridge and Aerosol Generating Device Comprising Such an Aerosol Delivering System

Abstract

An aerosol delivering system for an aerosol generating device and/or a cartridge is provided herein. The aerosol delivering system includes a main reservoir storing a liquid vaporisable material, a vaporising unit configured to vaporise the vaporisable material and a priming bulb arranged between the main reservoir and the vaporising unit.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns an aerosol delivering system comprising a priming bulb.

The present invention also concerns a cartridge comprising at least partially such an aerosol delivering system and configured to operate with an aerosol generating device. Alternatively or complementary, the present invention concerns an aerosol generating device comprising at least partially such an aerosol delivering system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Different types of aerosol generating devices are already known in the art. Generally, such devices comprise a storage portion for storing an aerosol forming precursor (also called vaporisable material), which can comprise for example a liquid or a solid. A heating system is formed of one or more electrically activated resistive heating elements arranged to heat said precursor to generate the aerosol. The aerosol is released into a flow path extending between an inlet and outlet of the device. The outlet may be arranged as a mouthpiece, through which a user inhales for delivery of the aerosol during a vaping session.

In some aerosol generating devices, the precursor is stored in a removable cartridge. Thus, when the precursor is consumed, the cartridge can be easily removed and replaced. In order to attach the removable cartridge to the device body, a screw-threaded or magnetic connection or any other type of connection can for example be used.

Most of the modern aerosol generating devices are reduced-risk devices. Particularly, these devices present an aid to assist habitual smokers wishing to quit smoking traditional tobacco products such as cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos, and rolling tobacco. However, for some users of aerosol generating devices, it is difficult to control their consumption since this type of devices can be used more easily than a traditional tobacco product. For example, it becomes difficult for the users to define the start and end of a vaping session This can lead the adult smokers who have turned to vaping as a reduced risk alternative vaping for longer than they would smoke. Dosage control of the precursor consumed by the user is now becoming more prevalent to help define shorter sessions for adult smokers to use vaping as a tool to help them quit traditional smoking.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention aims to propose an aerosol delivering system which ensures a very accurate dosage control when the vaporisable material is in liquid form. This can help the users to control their consumption to reduce it or quit definitely traditional smoking.

For this purpose, the invention relates to an aerosol delivering system for an aerosol generating device and/or a cartridge, the aerosol delivering system comprising a main reservoir storing a liquid vaporisable material, a vaporising unit configured to vaporise the vaporisable material and a priming bulb arranged between the main reservoir and the vaporising unit;

• • the priming bulb comprising a bulb inlet connected to the main reservoir and a bulb outlet connected to the vaporising unit, and being configured, upon its actuating, to expel a predetermined quantity of vaporizable material from the bulb outlet and suck the same quantity of vaporizable material from the bulb inlet.

Particularly, the priming bulb can operate as a dosing unit which can determine a predetermined quantity of vaporisable material which can be consumed by the user within a predetermined period. This predetermined period can correspond for example to a single vaping session, a day, a week, etc. For example, a user can be required to actuate the priming bulb daily and when the expelled quantity of the vaporisable material is exhausted, the user should avoid actuating it again the same day. Of course, it is possible to provide additional controlling means preventing the user from actuating the priming bulb at “non-authorized” periods. These controlling means can be operated for example by a micro-controller using a consumption scheduling.

According to some embodiments, comprising a secondary reservoir arranged between the vaporising unit and the priming bulb, the secondary reservoir being connected to the bulb outlet.

According to some embodiments, the secondary reservoir defines an internal volume configured to receive the predetermined quantity of vaporisable material.

Thanks to these features, the vaporising unit can be connected directly to the secondary reservoir and perform vaporisation only of the quantity of the vaporisable material comprised in the secondary reservoir. This quantity can be distributed over several vaping sessions that makes it possible to define consumption scheduling extending throughout a period longer than a single vaping session, like for example a day or a week.

According to some embodiments, the predetermined quantity of vaporisable material corresponds to a dose of the vaporisable material for a single vaping session.

Thanks to these features, the priming bulb is actuated at the beginning of each vaping session to provide a quantity of the vaporisable material suitable for a single vaping session. Thus, the vaping session can be limited in time for the user. This limits consumption of the vaporisable material during a single session. This embodiment can be carried out using a secondary reservoir as defined above or not. In this last case, the predetermined quantity of the vaporisable material can be directly injected into the vaporising unit.

According to some embodiments, the priming bulb is configured to be actuated by a user before starting a vaping session.

Thanks to these features, using of the aerosol generating device can be simple and intuitive to the user. Particularly, as in the case of a traditional tobacco product, the user defines his/her consumption at the beginning of the vaping session.

According to some embodiments, the priming bulb comprises a housing defining an internal volume of the priming bulb.

According to some embodiments, the priming bulb further comprises an inlet valve allowing a flow passage from the bulb inlet to the internal volume of the priming bulb and an outlet valve allowing a flow passage from the internal volume of the priming bulb to the bulb outlet.

Using a double valve system, upon a single actuating, the priming bulb can expel the predetermined quantity of vaporisable material and at the same time, suck the same quantity of vaporisable material to be expelled upon the next actuating. Thus, only a single actuating of the priming bulb is required each time.

According to some embodiments, the inlet valve and the outlet valve form one single piece.

According to some embodiments, said piece comprises a support part and a flexible part extending around the support part, the support part defining a through hole.

Thanks to these features, the double valve system can be arranged in a compact and simple way inside the priming bulb.

According to some embodiments, the housing of the priming bulb is made at least partially from an elastic material.

Thanks to these features, the suck action of the priming valve can be performed by its elastic force, without requiring any external force.

According to some embodiments, actuating the priming bulb corresponds to a compression of its housing.

Thanks to these features, the priming valve can be easily actuated by the user or using appropriated mechanical means.

According to some embodiments, the bulb inlet and the bulb outlet are formed by two concentric conduits.

Thanks to these features, only one side of the priming valve is connected to the internal components of the aerosol generating device or cartridge. Thus, the priming bulb can protrude from an external surface of the device/cartridge and can be easily actuated by the user.

The invention also relates to a cartridge configured to operate with an aerosol generating device, the cartridge comprising an aerosol delivering system as defined above.

The invention also relates to an aerosol generating device comprising an aerosol delivering system as defined above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

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

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an aerosol delivering system according to a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a detailed view of a priming bulb of the aerosol delivering system of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an aerosol delivering system according to a second embodiment of the invention.

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.

As used herein, the term “aerosol generation device” or “device” may include a vaping device to deliver aerosol to a user, including aerosol for vaping, by means of a vaporising unit (e.g. an aerosol generating element which generates vapour which condenses into aerosol before delivery to an outlet of the device at, for example, a mouthpiece, for inhalation by a user). 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 a heater system for a variable amount of time, which can be controlled by a trigger. The trigger may be user activated, such as a vaping button and/or inhalation sensor. 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 droplets of a vaporisable material. 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 vaporisable material.

As used herein, the term “vaporisable material” or “aerosol-forming precursor” may refer to one or more substantially liquid substances. The vaporisable material may be processable by the vaporising unit of the device to form aerosol as defined herein. The vaporisable material may comprise one or more of: nicotine; caffeine or other active components. The active component may be carried with a carrier, which may be a liquid. The carrier may include propylene glycol or glycerin. A flavouring may also be present. The flavoring may include Ethylvanillin (vanilla), menthol, Isoamyl acetate (banana oil) or similar.

First Embodiment of the Invention

FIG. 1 shows an aerosol delivering system 10 according to the first embodiment of the invention. Particularly, according to this embodiment, the aerosol delivering system 10 is integrated entirely in a removable cartridge 12 which is adapted to operate with an aerosol generating device 11.

As it is shown on FIG. 1, the aerosol generating device 11 extends along a device axis X and comprises a device body 21 delimiting a cavity 23 configured to receive, at least partially, the removable cartridge 12. The device body 21 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 power block for powering the device 11, a control module for controlling the operation of the device 11 and at least a device part of heating system configured to heat a vaporisable material contained in the removable cartridge 12 as it will be explained in further detail below. In the example of FIG. 1, the device part of heating system is formed by a pair of contacts designed to be powered by the power block through the control module. This pair of contacts can protrude from an external surface of the cavity 23. The internal space of the device body 21 may further comprise other internal components performing different functionalities of the device 11 known per se. These internal components will not be explained in detail below.

It should also be noted that FIG. 1 presents only a schematic diagram of different components of the aerosol generating device 11 and cartridge 12, and does not necessarily show the real physical arrangement and dimensions of these components. Particularly, such an arrangement can be chosen according to the design of the aerosol generating device 11 or the cartridge 12 and technical features of their components.

As mentioned above, according to the first embodiment of the invention, the aerosol delivering system 10 is entirely integrated in the cartridge 12. For example, this aerosol delivering system 10 can be arranged at least partially inside a cartridge body 25 delimiting the cartridge 12.

Referring to FIG. 1, the aerosol delivering system 10 comprises a main reservoir 31 storing a liquid vaporisable material, a vaporising unit 32 configured to vaporise the vaporisable material and a priming bulb 33 arranged between the main reservoir 31 and the vaporising unit 32. Advantageously, according to the invention, the aerosol delivering system 10 further comprises a secondary reservoir 34 arranged between the vaporising unit 32 and the priming bulb 33.

The main reservoir 31 can form any appropriate shape able to store the liquid vaporisable material. The vaporising unit 32 is connected to the main reservoir 31 as it will be explained in further detail below and is configured to vaporise at least a part of this vaporisable material. In the example of FIG. 1, the vaporising unit 32 forms a cartridge part of heating system configured to cooperate with the device part of heating system to heat the vaporisable material. Particularly, the vaporising unit 32 can comprise a pair of contacts (not shown on FIG. 1), a wick 41 in fluid communication with the secondary reservoir 34 and a heating element 42 connected to said pair of contacts and for example arranged around the wick 41. The wick 41 and the heating element 42 can thus be exposed in an airflow channel guiding the vaporised material to an outlet. The pair of contacts can protrude from an external surface of the cartridge body 25 and are designed to be in contact with the contacts of the device part of heating system when the cartridge 12 is received at least partially in the cavity 23. Other examples of the vaporising unit able to vaporise liquid vaporisable material are still possible. According to one example, the vaporising unit 32 can comprise an ultrasonic vibrating mesh.

The priming bulb 33 is arranged between the main reservoir 31 and the secondary reservoir 34 and is in fluid communication with each one of these reservoirs 31, 34. The priming bulb 33 is configured to expel a predetermined quantity of vaporisable material to the secondary reservoir 34 and suck the same quantity of vaporisable material from the main reservoir 31. The secondary reservoir 34 is adapted to receive the vaporisable material expelled by the priming bulb 33 and defines for this purpose at least substantially a same internal volume as the priming bulb 33. In some embodiments, the priming bulb 33 may be configured to expel said quantity of vaporisable material directly to the vaporising unit 32. In this case, no secondary reservoir is needed.

A detailed view of the priming bulb 33 is shown on FIG. 2. In reference to this FIG. 2, the priming bulb 33 comprises a housing 50 defining a bulb inlet 51 connected to the main reservoir 31 and a bulb outlet 54 connected to the secondary reservoir 34. The housing 50 is made at least partially from a compressible material, advantageously from an elastically compressible material. For example, the housing 50 may comprise at least one flexible wall 57 and at least one solid wall 58. In its uncompressed state, the housing 50 defines an internal volume 60 configured to receive a predetermined quantity of vaporisable material. Particularly, upon compressing the internal volume 60, the housing 50 is adapted to expel this predetermined quantity of vaporisable material from the bulb outlet 54. Further, upon returning to the uncompressed state, the housing 50 is adapted to suck the same predetermined quantity of vaporisable material via the bulb inlet 51.

For perform expelling/sucking, the priming bulb 33 comprises an inlet valve allowing a flow passage from the bulb inlet 51 to the internal volume 60 and an outlet valve allowing a flow passage from the internal volume 60 to the bulb outlet 54. In the example of FIG. 2, the inlet valve and the outlet valve form one single piece, designated hereinafter as valve 62. Particularly, in this case, the bulb inlet 51 and the bulb outlet 54 of the priming bulb 33 are formed by two concentric conduits, respectfully an outer conduit and an inner conduit. These conduits can extend from the solid wall 58 of the housing 50 in the direction opposite to the internal volume 60. The valve 62 can thus comprise a support part 64 inserted in the inner conduit and a flexible part 66 extending around the support part 64 and covering the outer conduit when the housing 50 is in the uncompressed state. For example, in this state, the flexible part 66 can be in contact with the solid wall 58 of the housing 50 preserving thus the vaporisable material from flowing toward the bulb inlet 51 upon compressing the housing 50. The support part 64 defines a through hole 69 allowing the vaporisable material to flow toward the bulb outlet 54 upon compressing the housing 50. Upon returning the housing 50 to the uncompressed state, the flexible part 66 is configured to move out from the solid wall 58 allowing thus the vaporisable material to flow from the bulb inlet 51 to the internal volume 60.

The internal volume 60 of the housing 50 can be compressed by compressing the flexible wall 57. This flexible wall 57 can for example protrude from an external surface of the cartridge body 25 and is adapted to be actuated by the user. Alternatively, the flexible wall 57 can be adapted to be actuated by mechanical/electrical means. These means may be controlled by the control module of the device 11 or by the user. In some cases, the operation of these means can be mechanically/electronically restricted so as only the predetermined quantity of the vaporisable material can be distributed to the user within a predetermined period.

The operation of the aerosol delivering system 10 will now be explained. Initially, it is considered that the priming bulb 33 is empty of vaporisable material and is filled for example with air. When the user wishes to operate the aerosol generating device 11 to generate aerosol, he/she actuates the priming bulb 33 for example by compressing the flexible wall 57 of its housing 50. This leads to air expulsion from the internal volume 60 of the priming bulb 33 via the bulb outlet 54. When the user releases the flexible wall 57, the housing 50 takes its initial shape and exerts a pumping action from the main reservoir 31 via the bulb inlet 51. Thus, the internal volume 60 of the priming bulb 33 is filled with the vaporisable material. It is clear that this first actuating of the priming bulb 33 is necessary only initially, for example with a new cartridge 12. Then, the user actuates again the priming bulb 33. Upon this second actuating, the vaporisable material is expelled from the internal volume 60 of the priming bulb 33 to the secondary reservoir 34 and another dose of the vaporisable material is sucked from the main reservoir 31. The user can thus start a vaping section. The quantity of the vaporisable material consumed during this vaping session and eventually during several consecutive vaping sessions is limited by the quantity of the vaporisable material expelled by the priming bulb 33. By controlling the number of actuation of the priming bulb 33 within a predetermined period (a vaping session, a day, a week, etc.), the user can control his/her consumption.

Second Embodiment of the Invention

An aerosol delivering system 110 according to a second embodiment of the invention is shown on FIG. 3. According to this embodiment, the aerosol delivering system 110 comprises the same components as the aerosol distributing system 10 according to the first embodiment of the invention. These components will be not be explained in further detail.

Contrary to the first embodiment, the aerosol delivering system 110 according to the second embodiment is integrated in an aerosol generating device 111. In this case, the aerosol generating device 111 is designed to operate without a replaceable cartridge and the main reservoir can be refilled by the user when the vaporisable material is exhausted. In this case, at least a part of the priming bulb as described below can protrude from an external surface of the device body to be actuated by the user.

Third Embodiment of the Invention

According to a third embodiment of the invention (not shown), an aerosol delivering system as defined above is distributed between an aerosol generating device and removable cartridge. In this case, the main reservoir of the aerosol delivering system can for example be integrated in the removable cartridge and the other components of the aerosol delivering system can be integrated in the aerosol generating device.

Claims

1. An aerosol delivering system for an aerosol generating device and/or a cartridge, the aerosol delivering system comprising a main reservoir storing a liquid vaporisable material, a vaporising unit configured to vaporise the vaporisable material and a priming bulb arranged between the main reservoir and the vaporising unit, the priming bulb comprising a bulb inlet connected to the main reservoir and a bulb outlet connected to the vaporising unit, and being configured, upon its actuating, to expel a predetermined quantity of the liquid vaporizable material from the bulb outlet and suck an equal quantity of the liquid vaporizable material from the bulb inlet.

2. The aerosol delivering system according to claim 1, further comprising a secondary reservoir arranged between the vaporising unit and the priming bulb, the secondary reservoir being connected to the bulb outlet.

3. The aerosol delivering system according to claim 2, wherein the secondary reservoir defines an internal volume configured to receive the predetermined quantity of vaporisable material.

4. The aerosol delivering system according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined quantity of vaporisable material corresponds to a dose of the vaporisable material for a single vaping session.

5. The aerosol delivering system according to claim 1, wherein the priming bulb is configured to be actuated by a user before starting a vaping session.

6. The aerosol delivering system according to claim 1, wherein the priming bulb comprises a housing defining an internal volume of the priming bulb.

7. The aerosol delivering system according to claim 6, wherein the priming bulb further comprises an inlet valve allowing a flow passage from the bulb inlet to the internal volume of the priming bulb and an outlet valve allowing a flow passage from the internal volume of the priming bulb to the bulb outlet.

8. The aerosol delivering system according to claim 7, wherein the inlet valve and the outlet valve are formed as one single piece.

9. The aerosol delivering system according to claim 8, wherein said piece comprises a support part and a flexible part extending around the support part, the support part defining a through hole.

10. The aerosol delivering system according to claim 6, wherein the housing of the priming bulb is made at least partially from an elastic material.

11. The aerosol delivering system according to claim 10, wherein actuating the priming bulb corresponds to a compression of the housing of the priming bulb.

12. The aerosol delivering system according to claim 1, wherein the bulb inlet and the bulb outlet are formed by two concentric conduits.

13. A cartridge configured to operate with an aerosol generating device, the cartridge comprising the aerosol delivering system according to claim 1.

14. An aerosol generating device comprising an aerosol delivering system according to claim 1.