AEROSOL GENERATING ARTICLE INCLUDING LIQUID COMPOSITION AND AEROSOL GENERATING SYSTEM INCLUDING THE AEROSOL GENERATING ARTICLE

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosure relates to an aerosol generating article including a liquid composition and an aerosol generating system including the aerosol generating article.

BACKGROUND ART

Recently, the demand for alternative methods to overcome the disadvantages of traditional aerosol generating article has increased. For example, there is growing demand for an aerosol generating device which generates aerosol by heating an aerosol generating material, rather than by combusting aerosol generating articles.

A disposable aerosol generating article including a liquid composition is required to improve the hygiene. Also, an aerosol generating article including a liquid composition having a different composition for each of a plurality of segments is required to improve a smoking impression, the amount of smoke, etc.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
Technical Problem

The disclosure provides an aerosol generating article, which is realized as a disposable liquid-type aerosol generating article, which may improve the hygiene and elevate the user convenience with its low weight and increased portability.

The technical objectives of the disclosure are not limited to the description above, and other technical tasks may be derived from the embodiments to be described hereinafter.

Solution to Problem

According to a first aspect of the disclosure, there is provided an aerosol generating article including: a first segment arranged at an upstream end inserted into an aerosol generating device; a second segment arranged at a downstream end of the first segment; a cooler arranged at a downstream end of the second segment and including a cooling element; and a filter arranged at a downstream end of the cooler and including a filter element, wherein the first segment includes a paper sheet impregnated with a first liquid composition, the second segment includes a paper sheet impregnated with a second liquid composition, each of the first liquid composition and the second liquid composition includes at least one of a tobacco material, a moisturizer, and a flavor material, and the first liquid composition and the second liquid composition have different compositions from each other.

According to a second aspect of the disclosure, there is provided an aerosol generating system including: an aerosol generating article; and an aerosol generating device into which the aerosol generating article is inserted, wherein the aerosol generating device includes battery and a heater heated by power supplied from the battery, and the aerosol generating article includes: a first segment arranged at an upstream end inserted into the aerosol generating device; a second segment arranged at a downstream end of the first segment; a cooler arranged at a downstream end of the second segment and including a cooling element; and a filter arranged at a downstream end of the cooler and including a filter element, wherein the first segment includes a paper sheet impregnated with a first liquid composition, the second segment includes a paper sheet impregnated with a second liquid composition, each of the first liquid composition and the second liquid composition includes at least one of a tobacco material, a moisturizer, and a flavor material, and the first liquid composition and the second liquid composition have different compositions from each other.

Advantageous Effects of Disclosure

An aerosol generating article according to the disclosure may include a paper sheet impregnated with a liquid composition. The paper sheet may be impregnated with a predetermined amount of liquid composition, and thus, the aerosol generating article may be formed to be disposable. Accordingly, the hygiene may be improved, and because a user may conveniently keep and carry the aerosol generating article, the user convenience may be elevated. Each aerosol generating article may be impregnated with an appropriate amount of liquid composition, and thus, for each aerosol generating article, the number of puffs of a user may be constant. Also, because an additional mouthpiece is not required, a sense of difference is not experienced when the user inhales aerosol, and thus, the smoking satisfaction may be improved.

Effects of the disclosure are not limited to the examples described above and may include all the other various effects to be derived from the disclosures in the specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a first embodiment in which an aerosol generating article is inserted into an aerosol generating device.

FIG. 2 is a view illustrating a second embodiment in which an aerosol generating article is inserted into an aerosol generating device.

FIG. 3 is a view illustrating a third embodiment in which an aerosol generating article is inserted into an aerosol generating device.

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating a fourth embodiment in which an aerosol generating article is inserted into an aerosol generating device.

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating an example of an aerosol generating article including one or more segments.

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating an example of an aerosol generating article including one or more filter segments.

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating an example of an aerosol generating article including a capsule.

BEST MODE

The first liquid composition may include nicotine salts, and the second liquid composition may include free nicotine.

The paper sheet impregnated with the first liquid composition and the paper sheet impregnated with the second liquid composition may have different filling densities from each other.

An amount of the second liquid composition impregnated in the paper sheet of the second segment may be greater than or equal to an amount of the first liquid composition impregnated in the paper sheet of the first segment.

Each of the first segment and the second segment may have a length in a range of about 7 mm to about 15 mm, and each of the cooler and the filter may have a length in a range of about 9 mm to about 17 mm.

At least one of the first liquid composition and the second liquid composition may include a tobacco material, and a content of the tobacco material included in the first liquid composition and the second liquid composition may be less than or equal to about 6 wt % of the total liquid composition of the first liquid composition and the second liquid composition.

Any one of the first liquid composition and the second liquid composition may include a tobacco material, and the other of the first liquid composition and the second liquid composition may include a moisturizer.

The first liquid composition may include a tobacco material and a moisturizer, and the second liquid composition may include a tobacco material, a moisturizer, and a flavor material.

At least one of the first liquid composition and the second liquid composition may include free nicotine, and the filter may include an organic acid.

The organic acid may be included in a capsule.

The filter may include a plurality of filter segments, and each of the plurality of filter segments may include at least one of an acetate filter, a tube filter, and a recess filter.

When the aerosol generating article is inserted into the aerosol generating device, the heater may surround at least a portion of an external surface of the first segment and the second segment.

Mode of Disclosure

With respect to the terms used to describe in the various embodiments, the general terms which are currently and widely used are selected in consideration of functions of structural elements in the various embodiments of the present disclosure.

However, meanings of the terms can be changed according to intention, a judicial precedence, the appearance of a new technology, and the like. In addition, in certain cases, a term which is not commonly used can be selected. In such a case, the meaning of the term will be described in detail at the corresponding portion in the description of the present disclosure. Therefore, the terms used in the various embodiments of the present disclosure should be defined based on the meanings of the terms and the descriptions provided herein.

In addition, unless explicitly described to the contrary, the word “comprise” and variations such as “comprises” or “comprising” will be understood to imply the inclusion of stated elements but not the exclusion of any other elements.

Also, while the terms used in this specification that include ordinal numbers such as “first,” “second,” etc. may be used to describe various components, the terms shall not limit the components. The terms may be used for distinguishing one component from another component.

Also, in the embodiments hereinafter, the terms “upstream” and “downstream” respectively refer to a region at which air is introduced into an aerosol generating article from the outside and a region at which air is discharged to the outside from the aerosol generating article when a user inhales air by using a smoking article. The terms “upstream” and “downstream” are used to indicate relative locations or directions among segments included in the aerosol generating article. However, the disclosure is not necessarily limited to the description above.

Hereinafter, the present disclosure will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are shown such that one of ordinary skill in the art may easily work the present disclosure. The disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1 through 4 are diagrams showing examples in which an aerosol generating article 2 is inserted into an aerosol generating device 1.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3, an aerosol generating system 100 may include an aerosol generating device 1 and an aerosol generating article 2 inserted into the aerosol generating device 1.

The aerosol generating device 1 may include a battery 11, a controller 12, and a heater 13. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the aerosol generating device 1 may further include a vaporizer 14. Also, the aerosol generating article 2 may be inserted into an inner space of the aerosol generating device 1.

FIGS. 1 through 3 illustrate components of the aerosol generating device 1, which are related to the present embodiment. Therefore, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art related to the present embodiment that other general-purpose components may be further included in the aerosol generating device 1, in addition to the components illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3.

FIG. 1 illustrates that the battery 11, the controller 12, and the heater 130 are arranged in series. Also, FIG. 2 illustrates that the battery 11, the controller 12, the vaporizer 14, and the heater 13 are arranged in series. Also, FIG. 3 illustrates that the vaporizer 14 and the heater 13 are arranged in parallel. However, the internal structure of the aerosol generating device 1 is not limited to the structures illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3. In other words, according to the design of the aerosol generating device 1, the battery 11, the controller 12, the heater 13, and the vaporizer 14 may be differently arranged.

When the aerosol generating article 2 is inserted into the aerosol generating device 1, the aerosol generating device 1 may operate the heater 13 and/or the vaporizer 14 to generate aerosol from the aerosol generating article 2 and/or the vaporizer 14. The aerosol generated by the heater 13 and/or the vaporizer 14 is delivered to a user by passing through the aerosol generating article 2.

As necessary, even when the aerosol generating article 2 is not inserted into the aerosol generating device 1, the aerosol generating device 1 may heat the heater 13.

The battery 11 may supply power to be used for the aerosol generating device 1 to operate. For example, the battery 11 may supply power to heat the heater 13 or the vaporizer 14, and may supply power for operating the controller 12. Also, the battery 11 may supply power for operations of a display, a sensor, a motor, etc. mounted in the aerosol generating device 1.

The controller 12 may generally control operations of the aerosol generating device 1. In detail, the controller 12 may control not only operations of the battery 11, the heater 13, and the vaporizer 14, but also operations of other components included in the aerosol generating device 1. Also, the controller 12 may check a state of each of the components of the aerosol generating device 1 to determine whether or not the aerosol generating device 1 is able to operate.

The controller 12 may include at least one processor. A processor can be implemented as an array of a plurality of logic gates or can be implemented as a combination of a general-purpose microprocessor and a memory in which a program executable in the microprocessor is stored. It will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the processor can be implemented in other forms of hardware.

The heater 13 may be heated by the power supplied from the battery 11. For example, when the aerosol generating article 2 is inserted into the aerosol generating device 1, the heater 13 may be located outside the aerosol generating article 2. Thus, the heated heater 13 may increase a temperature of an aerosol generating material in the aerosol generating article 2.

The heater 13 may include an electro-resistive heater. For example, the heater 13 may include an electrically conductive track, and the heater 13 may be heated when currents flow through the electrically conductive track. However, the heater 13 is not limited to the example described above and may include all heaters which may be heated to a desired temperature. Here, the desired temperature may be pre-set in the aerosol generating device 1 or may be set by a user.

As another example, the heater 13 may include a tube-type heating element, a plate-type heating element, a needle-type heating element, or a rod-type heating element, and may heat the inside or the outside of the aerosol generating article 2, according to the shape of the heating element.

Also, the aerosol generating device 1 may include a plurality of heaters 13. Here, the plurality of heaters 13 may be inserted into the aerosol generating article 2 or may be arranged outside the aerosol generating article 2. Also, some of the plurality of heaters 13 may be inserted into the aerosol generating article 2 and the others may be arranged outside the aerosol generating article 200. In addition, the shape of the heater 13 is not limited to the shapes illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3 and may include various shapes.

The vaporizer 14 may generate aerosol by heating a liquid composition and the generated aerosol may pass through the aerosol generating article 2 to be delivered to a user. In other words, the aerosol generated via the vaporizer 14 may move along an air flow passage of the aerosol generating device 1 and the air flow passage may be configured such that the aerosol generated via the vaporizer 14 passes through the aerosol generating article 2 to be delivered to the user.

For example, the vaporizer 14 may include a liquid storage, a liquid delivery element, and a heating element, but it is not limited thereto. For example, the liquid storage, the liquid delivery element, and the heating element may be included in the aerosol generating device 1 as independent modules.

The liquid storage may store a liquid composition. For example, the liquid composition may be a liquid including a tobacco-containing material having a volatile tobacco flavor component, or a liquid including a non-tobacco material. The liquid storage may be formed to be detachable from the vaporizer 14 or may be formed integrally with the vaporizer 14.

For example, the liquid composition may include water, a solvent, ethanol, plant extract, spices, flavorings, or a vitamin mixture. The spices may include menthol, peppermint, spearmint oil, and various fruit-flavored ingredients, but are not limited thereto. The flavorings may include ingredients capable of providing various flavors or tastes to a user. Vitamin mixtures may be a mixture of at least one of vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin C, and vitamin E, but are not limited thereto. Also, the liquid composition may include an aerosol forming substance, such as glycerin and propylene glycol.

The liquid delivery element may deliver the liquid composition of the liquid storage to the heating element. For example, the liquid delivery element may be a wick such as cotton fiber, ceramic fiber, glass fiber, or porous ceramic, but is not limited thereto.

The heating element is an element for heating the liquid composition delivered by the liquid delivery element. For example, the heating element may be a metal heating wire, a metal hot plate, a ceramic heater, or the like, but is not limited thereto. In addition, the heating element may include a conductive filament such as nichrome wire and may be positioned as being wound around the liquid delivery element. The heating element may be heated by a current supply and may transfer heat to the liquid composition in contact with the heating element, thereby heating the liquid composition. As a result, aerosol may be generated.

For example, the vaporizer 14 may be referred to as a cartomizer or an atomizer, but it is not limited thereto.

The aerosol generating device 100 may further include general-purpose components in addition to the battery 11, the controller 12, the heater 13, and the vaporizer 14. For example, the aerosol generating device 1 may include a display capable of outputting visual information and/or a motor for outputting haptic information. Also, the aerosol generating device 1 may include at least one sensor. Also, the aerosol generating device 1 may be formed as a structure that, even when the aerosol generating article 2 is inserted into the aerosol generating device 1, may introduce external air or discharge internal air.

Referring to FIG. 4, the aerosol generating device 1 may include a susceptor 15 and an induction coil 16. The aerosol generating system 100, the aerosol generating device 1, the aerosol generating article 2, the battery 11, and the controller 12 may correspond to the aerosol generating system 100, the aerosol generating device 1, the aerosol generating article 2, and the battery 11 of FIGS. 1 through 3, respectively, and thus, the same aspects are omitted.

The battery 11 may supply power so that the induction coil 16 may generate a variable magnetic field. The battery 11 may be a rechargeable battery or a disposable battery. For example, the battery 11 may be a lithium polymer (LiPoly) battery, but is not limited thereto.

The controller 12 may control operations of not only the battery 11, the susceptor 15, and the induction coil 16, but also other components included in the aerosol generating device 1.

The susceptor 15 may include a material that is heated when a variable magnetic field is applied thereto. For example, the susceptor 15 may include metal or carbon. The susceptor 15 may include at least one of a ferrite, a ferromagnetic alloy, stainless steel, and Al. Also, the susceptor 15 may include at least one of ceramics, such as graphite, Mo, silicon carbide, Nb, a nickel alloy, a metal film, zirconia, etc., a transition metal, such as Ni, Co, etc., and a metalloid, such as B or P. However, it is not limited thereto.

For example, the susceptor 15 may be tubular or cylindrical and may be arranged to surround an accommodation space into which the aerosol generating article 2 is inserted. When the aerosol generating article 2 is inserted into the accommodation space of the aerosol generating device 1, the susceptor 15 may be arranged to surround the aerosol generating article 2. Thus, a temperature of an aerosol generating material in the aerosol generating article 2 may be increased by heat that is transferred from the susceptor 15 arranged on the outside. Also, the susceptor 15 may be arranged in a multiple number in the aerosol generating device 1. A shape of the susceptor 15 is not limited to the shape illustrated in FIG. 4 and may have one of various shapes.

The induction coil 16 may generate a variable magnetic field when power is supplied thereto from the battery 11. The variable magnetic field generated by the induction coil 16 may be applied to the susceptor 15 to heat the susceptor 15. The power supplied to the induction coil 16 may be adjusted according to control of the controller 12, and thus, a temperature to which the susceptor 15 is heated may be appropriately maintained.

The aerosol generating device 1 may further include a cigarette insertion sensor 17 and other sensors (for example, a temperature sensor, a puff sensor, etc.), a user interface, and a memory. For example, the cigarette insertion sensor 17 may sense whether or not the aerosol generating article 2 is inserted into the accommodation space of the aerosol generating device 1. The aerosol generating article 2 may include a metal material, such as Al, and the cigarette insertion sensor may include an inductive sensor configured to sense a change in magnetic field, occurring when the aerosol generating article 2 is inserted into the accommodation space. However, it is not necessarily limited thereto. The cigarette insertion sensor may include a light sensor, a temperature sensor, a resistance sensor, etc.

The user interface may provide the user with information about the state of the aerosol generating device 1. The user interface may include various interfacing devices, such as a display or a light emitter for outputting visual information, a motor for outputting haptic information, a speaker for outputting sound information, input/output (I/O) interfacing devices (e.g., a button or a touch screen) for receiving information input from the user or outputting information to the user. Also, the user interface may include terminals for performing data communication or receiving charging power, and communication interfacing modules for performing wireless communication (e.g., Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi direct, Bluetooth, near-field communication (NFC), etc.) with external devices.

However, the aerosol generating device 1 may be implemented by selecting only some of the above-described examples of various user interface. Also, at least one or more of the variety of user interfaces described above as examples may be combined in the aerosol generating device 1. For example, the aerosol generating device 1 may include a touch screen display configured to output visual information on a front side and also receive a user input. The touch screen display may include a fingerprint sensor, and user authentication may be performed through the fingerprint sensor.

For example, the aerosol generating article 2 may have a structure of a general combustible cigarette. In this case, a cigarette may include a pipe tobacco, a filter, etc. A general combustible cigarette may be inserted into the aerosol generating device 1 according to an embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating an example of an aerosol generating article 500 including one or more segments.

As an example different from a general combustible cigarette, the aerosol generating article 500 illustrated in FIG. 5 may include a first segment 510, a second segment 520, a cooler 530, and a filter 540. The first segment 510 may be arranged at an upstream end that is inserted into an aerosol generating device (not shown), the second segment 520 may be arranged at a downstream end of the first segment 510, the cooler 530 may be arranged at a downstream end of the second segment 520, and the filter 540 may be arranged at a downstream end of the cooler 530.

According to an embodiment, the first segment 510 may include a paper sheet impregnated with a first liquid composition. The second segment 520 may include a paper sheet impregnated with a second liquid composition. Each of the first liquid composition and the second liquid composition may include at least one of a tobacco material, a moisturizer, and a flavor material.

The liquid composition may be a liquid including a tobacco-containing material having a volatile tobacco flavor component, or a liquid including a non-tobacco material. For example, the liquid composition may include one component of water, solvents, ethanol, plant extracts, spices, flavorings, and vitamin mixtures, or a mixture of these components.

The tobacco material may include at least one of nicotine, nicotine salts, and free nicotine, but is not limited thereto. Nicotine may include natural nicotine extracted from a tobacco leaf, etc., synthetic nicotine artificially generated through chemical manipulation, etc.

The flavor material may include spice, flavor, etc. The spices may include menthol, peppermint or spear mint oil, various fruit aroma components, etc., but are not limited thereto. The flavorings may include a component providing various spices or flavors to a user. The vitamin mixtures may include a mixture of at least one of vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin C, and vitamin E, but are not limited thereto.

The liquid composition may include a moisturizer, such as glycerin, propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, and oleyl alcohol, but is not limited thereto.

For example, the liquid composition may include any weight ratio of glycerin and propylene glycol solution to which nicotine salts are added. The liquid composition may include two or more types of nicotine salts. Nicotine salts may be formed by adding suitable acids, including organic or inorganic acids, to nicotine. Nicotine may be a naturally generated nicotine or synthetic nicotine and may have any suitable weight concentration relative to the total solution weight of the liquid composition.

According to an embodiment, at least one of the first liquid composition and the second liquid composition may include a tobacco material, and the content of the tobacco material included in the first liquid composition and the second liquid composition may be less than or equal to about 6 wt % of the total liquid composition of the first liquid composition and the second liquid composition.

For example, the content of nicotine included in the first liquid composition and the second liquid composition may be about 1 wt % of the total liquid composition of the first liquid composition and the second liquid composition. The content of nicotine included in the first liquid composition and the second liquid composition may be about 2 wt % of the total liquid composition of the first liquid composition and the second liquid composition. The content of nicotine salts and free nicotine included in the first liquid composition and the second liquid composition may be about 1 wt % of the total liquid composition of the first liquid composition and the second liquid composition. However, it is not necessarily limited thereto.

The amount of the first liquid composition impregnated in the paper sheet of the first segment 510 may be the same as or different from the amount of the second liquid composition impregnated in the paper sheet of the second segment 520. For example, when the first liquid composition and the second liquid composition are impregnated by about 80 mg, the amount of the first liquid composition impregnated in the paper sheet of the first segment 510 may be about 40 mg and may be the same as the amount of the second liquid composition, which is about 40 mg, impregnated in the paper sheet of the second segment 520. When the first liquid composition and the second liquid composition are impregnated by about 83 mg, the amount of the first liquid composition impregnated in the paper sheet of the first segment 510 may be about 45 mg and may be the different from the amount of the second liquid composition impregnated in the paper sheet of the second segment 520, the amount being about 38 mg.

According to an embodiment, the amount of the second liquid composition impregnated in the paper sheet of the second segment 520 may be greater than or equal to the amount of the first liquid composition impregnated in the paper sheet of the first segment 510.

For example, when the first liquid composition and the second liquid composition are impregnated by about 80 mg, the amount of the first liquid composition impregnated in the paper sheet of the first segment 510 may be about 35 mg, and the amount of the second liquid composition impregnated in the paper sheet of the second segment 520 may be about 45 mg. When the first liquid composition and the second liquid composition are impregnated by about 80 mg, the amount of the first liquid composition impregnated in the paper sheet of the first segment 510 may be about 30 mg, and the amount of the second liquid composition impregnated in the paper sheet of the second segment 520 may be about 50 mg. However, it is not limited thereto.

When the amount of the second liquid composition impregnated in the paper sheet of the second segment 520 is greater than the amount of the first liquid composition impregnated in the paper sheet of the first segment 510, nicotine may be uniformly fulfilled even when an exhaustion speed of the first liquid composition is greater than an exhaustion speed of the second liquid composition.

The first liquid composition impregnated in the paper sheet included in the first segment 510 may have a different composition from the second liquid composition impregnated in the paper sheet included in the second segment 520.

According to an embodiment, the first liquid composition may include nicotine salts, and the second liquid composition may include free nicotine. However, it is not necessarily limited thereto. For example, the first liquid composition may include nicotine salts, and the second liquid composition may include nicotine salts and free nicotine. The first liquid composition may include nicotine salts and free nicotine, and the second liquid composition may include free nicotine.

Nicotine salts may indicate a type of nicotine naturally formed from a tobacco leaf. Nicotine salts may be formed by the combination of nicotine and specific acid. Nicotine salts may include various types and may differ from each other according to a combination acid.

The acid for forming the nicotine salts may be appropriately selected in consideration of the rate of nicotine absorption in the blood, the operating temperature of an aerosol generating device, the flavor or savor, the solubility, or the like. For example, the acid for the formation of nicotine salts may be a single acid selected from the group consisting of benzoic acid, lactic acid, salicylic acid, lauric acid, sorbic acid, levulinic acid, pyruvic acid, formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, valeric acid, caproic acid, caprylic acid, capric acid, citric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, phenylacetic acid, tartaric acid, succinic acid, fumaric acid, gluconic acid, saccharic acid, malonic acid or malic acid, or a mixture of two or more acids selected from the group, but is not limited thereto.

Free nicotine may indicate free base nicotine and may indicate neutral nicotine not protonated. Nicotine salts may carry a positive charge, and when a strong alkali is added to nicotine salts, the strong alkali may be converted into positive ions, and nicotine salts may have a neutral state. Nicotine in a neutral state as described above may indicate free nicotine.

Nicotine salts have a high thermal stability, and thus, may provide a smoking impression during puffing at a middle phase and a latter phase, and free nicotine has a relatively low thermal stability, and thus, may provide a smoking impression during puffing at an initial phase and a middle phase. Accordingly, when the first segment 510 includes nicotine salts, and the second segment 520 includes free nicotine, a uniform smoking impression may be provided during the whole phases of puffing.

According to an embodiment, any one of the first liquid composition and the second liquid composition may include a tobacco material, and the other of the first liquid composition and the second liquid composition may include only a moisturizer. For example, the first liquid composition may include nicotine salts, and the second liquid composition may include glycerin. As another example, the first liquid composition may include propylene glycol, and the second liquid composition may include free nicotine. However, it is not limited thereto.

According to an embodiment, the first liquid composition may include a tobacco material and a moisturizer, and the second liquid composition may include a tobacco material, a moisturizer, and a flavor material. For example, the first liquid composition may include nicotine salts and glycerin, and the second liquid composition may include nicotine salts, glycerin, and menthol spices. As another example, the first liquid composition may include free nicotine salts and glycerin, and the second liquid composition may include nicotine salts, glycerin, and menthol spices. Also, the first liquid composition may include nicotine salts and glycerin, and the second liquid composition may include free nicotine, propylene glycol, and menthol spices. However, the first liquid composition and the second liquid composition are not necessarily limited thereto.

The paper sheet may be formed by a crimping process, a pleating process, a folding process, a gathering process, etc. and through these processes, the paper sheet that are wrinkled or folded may be formed. The liquid composition may be impregnated in the wrinkled or folded paper sheet. The paper sheet may be formed of a plurality of paper strands. The paper sheet impregnated with the first liquid composition and the paper sheet impregnated with the second liquid composition may be a single paper sheet or a plurality of paper sheets.

The paper sheet included in the first segment 510 may have a different size from the paper sheet included in the second segment 520. The first segment 510 may include the paper sheet impregnated with the first liquid composition, and the second segment 520 may include the paper sheet impregnated with the second liquid composition. The paper sheet included in the first segment 510 and the paper sheet included in the second segment 520 may have different widths, thicknesses, filling densities, weights, lengths, etc. from each other.

For example, the paper sheet included in the first segment 510 may have a relatively high filling density, and the paper sheet included in the second segment 520 may have a relatively low filling density. When the filling density is high, an absorption resistance may be high, and when the filling density is low, the absorption resistance may be low. That is, because the filling density of the first segment 510 is higher than the filling density of the second segment 520, an absorption resistance of the first segment 510 may be higher than an absorption resistance of the second segment 520.

Because the first segment 510 includes the paper sheet having the high filling density, an accommodation space may not be cross-sectionally visible from the outside, and because the second segment 520 includes the paper sheet having the low filling density, the initial amount of smoke may become smooth.

According to an embodiment, the paper sheet impregnated with the first liquid composition and the paper sheet impregnated with the second liquid composition may have different widths from each other. For example, each width of the paper sheet included in the first segment 510 may be about 120 mm, and each width of the paper sheet included in the second segment 520 may be about 90 mm. Also, each width of the paper sheet included in the first segment 510 may be about 120 mm, and each width of the paper sheet included in the second segment 520 may be about 100 mm. Also, each width of the paper sheet included in the first segment 510 may be about 120 mm, and each width of the paper sheet included in the second segment 520 may be about 110 mm. However, it is not limited thereto.

According to an embodiment, the paper sheet impregnated with the first liquid composition and the paper sheet impregnated with the second liquid composition may have different thicknesses from each other. For example, the thickness of the paper sheet included in the first segment 510 may be about 200 μm, and the thickness of the paper sheet included in the second segment 520 may be about 210 μm. Also, the width of the paper sheet included in the first segment 510 may be about 210 μm, and the width of the paper sheet included in the second segment 520 may be about 230 μm. However, it is not limited thereto.

According to an embodiment, the paper sheet impregnated with the first liquid composition and the paper sheet impregnated with the second liquid composition may have different weights from each other. For example, the weight per 1 m²of the paper sheet included in the first segment 510 may be about 80 g, and the weight per 1 m²of the paper sheet included in the second segment 520 may be about 85 g. However, it is not limited thereto. The weight per 1 m²of the paper sheet included in the first segment 510 may be about 80 g and may be the same as the weight per 1 m²of the paper sheet included in the second segment 520, the weight being about 80 g.

The liquid composition may be impregnated in the paper sheet by various methods. The liquid composition may be injected through a nozzle to impregnate the paper sheet. Also, when the paper sheet is formed, the liquid composition may be applied thereto to form a type of water plant. However, it is not limited thereto.

By forming the paper sheet included in the first segment 510 and the paper sheet included in the second segment 520 to have different sizes from each other, the amount of smoke may vary according to a phase, and the amount of smoke and a smoking impression at an initial phase may increase.

The cooler 530 may include a cooling element. The cooler 530 may be formed of a polymer material or a bio-degradable polymer material. For example, the cooler 530 may include pure polylactic acid alone, but the material for forming the cooling segment is not limited thereto. Alternatively, the cooler 530 may include a cellulose acetate filter having a plurality of holes. However, the cooler 530 is not limited to the examples described above, and materials of the cooler 530 are not limited, as long as the materials may be used to cool aerosol.

The filter 540 may include a filter element. The filter 540 may include a cellulose acetate filter. A shape of the filter 540 is not limited. For example, the filter 540 may include a cylindrical-type rod and a tubular-type rod including holes inside. Also, the filter 540 may include a recess-type rod. When the filter 540 includes a plurality of filter segments, at least one of the plurality of filter segments may be formed to have a different shape from the other filter segments.

The filter 540 may be formed to generate spices. For example, an aromatic liquid may be injected into the filter 540, an additional fiber coated with an aromatic liquid may be inserted into the filter 540, and a flavor material having a solid shape, such as granules, etc., may be inserted into the filter 540.

Also, the filter 540 may include at least one capsule. Here, the capsule may perform a function of generating spices or a function of generating aerosol. For example, the capsule may have a structure in which a liquid containing spices is wrapped with a film. The capsule may have a spherical or cylindrical shape, but is not limited thereto.

When a segment for cooling aerosol is included in the filter 540, the cooling segment may be formed of a polymer material or a bio-degradable polymer material. For example, the cooling segment may include pure polylactic acid alone, but the material for forming the cooling segment is not limited thereto.

Each of the first segment 510, the second segment 520, the cooler 530, and the filter 540 may be determined to have a predetermined length. For example, a percentage of the lengths of the first segment 510 and the second segment 520 to the total length of the aerosol generating article 500 may be about 40% to about 50%, and a percentage of the lengths of the cooler 530 and the filter 540 to the total length of the aerosol generating article 500 may be about 50% to about 60%. However, it is not limited thereto.

According to an embodiment, each of the first segment 510 and the second segment 520 may have the length in a range of about 7 mm to about 15 mm, and each of the cooler 530 and the filter 540 may have the length in a range of about 9 mm to about 17 mm. Preferably, each of the first segment 510 and the second segment 520 may have the length in a range of about 10 mm to about 12 mm, and each of the cooler 530 and the filter 540 may have the length in a range of about 12 mm to about 14 mm. However, it is not limited thereto.

For example, when the total length of the aerosol generating article 500 is about 48 mm, the length of the first segment 510 may be about 12 mm, the length of the second segment 520 may be about 10 mm, the length of the cooler 530 may be about 14 mm, and the length of the filter 540 may be about 12 mm. When the total length of the aerosol generating article 500 is about 48 mm, the length of the first segment 510 may be about 10 mm, the length of the second segment 520 may be about 12 mm, the length of the cooler 530 may be about 12 mm, and the length of the filter 540 may be about 14 mm. Also, when the total length of the aerosol generating article 500 is about 54 mm, the length of the first segment 510 may be about 12 mm, the length of the second segment 520 may be about 12 mm, the length of the cooler 530 may be about 15 mm, and the length of the filter 540 may be about 15 mm. However, it is not necessarily limited thereto.

The aerosol generating article 500 may be wrapped by at least one wrapper 550. At least one hole through which external air is introduced or internal gas is discharged may be formed in the wrapper 550. For example, the aerosol generating article 500 may be wrapped by one wrapper 550. As another example, the aerosol generating article 500 may be wrapped by two or more wrappers 550 in an overlapping manner. For example, the first segment 510 and the second segment 520 may be wrapped by a first wrapper, and the cooler 530 and the filter 540 may be wrapped by a second wrapper. Also, the first segment 510 and the second segment 520 and the cooler 530 and the filter 540, wrapped by the separate wrappers, may be combined, and the entire aerosol generating article 500 may be wrapped again by a third wrapper. Also, each of the first segment 510, the second segment 520, the cooler 530, and the filter 540 may be wrapped by a separate wrapper. Also, the entire aerosol generating article 500 combining the first segment 510, the second segment 520, the cooler 530, and the filter 540, each of which is wrapped by the separate wrapper, may be wrapped again by another wrapper.

At least one of the first segment 510 and the second segment 520 may be surrounded by a heat-conducting wrapper. For example, the heat-conducting wrapper may include a metal foil such as an Al foil, but is not limited thereto.

The entire first and second segments 510 and 520 may be inserted into the aerosol generating device, and the cooler 530 and the filter 540 may be exposed to the outside. Alternatively, only portions of the first segment 510 and the second segment 520 may be inserted into the aerosol generating device 1, or the entire first and second segments 510 and 520 and a portion of the cooler 530 may be inserted into the aerosol generating device 1. A user may puff aerosol while holding the filter 540 by the mouth. Here, aerosol may be generated when external air passes through the first segment 510, and the generated aerosol may be delivered to the mouth of the user by passing through the second segment 520, the cooler 530, and the filter 540.

For example, external air may be introduced through at least one air passage formed in the aerosol generating device. For example, opening and closing and/or a size of the air passage formed in the aerosol generating device may be adjusted by the user. Accordingly, the amount of smoke and a smoking impression may be adjusted by the user. As another example, external air may be introduced into the aerosol generating article 500 through at least one hole formed on a surface of the aerosol generating article 500.

When the aerosol generating article 500 is inserted into the aerosol generating device, a heater of the aerosol generating device may surround at least a portion of an external surface of the first segment 510 and the second segment 520. For example, the heater may surround the entire external surface of the first segment 510 and the second segment 520 or may surround the entire external surface of the first segment 510 and a portion of the external surface of the second segment 520.

Although not illustrated in FIG. 5, the aerosol generating article 500 according to an embodiment may further include a front-end filter. The front-end filter may be located at an upstream end of the first segment 510. The front-end filter may prevent the first liquid composition or the paper sheet of the first segment 510 from being detached to the outside and may prevent liquefied aerosol from flowing into the aerosol generating device from the first segment 510 and the second segment 520 during smoking.

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating an example of an aerosol generating article 600 including one or more filter segments.

Referring to FIG. 6, the filter 640 may include a first filter segment 641 and a second filter segment 642. The filter 640 illustrated in FIG. 6 may include two filter segments, namely, the first filter segment 641 and the second filter segment 642. However, the filter 640 may include more than two filter segments. The aerosol generating article 600, a first segment 610, a second segment 620, a cooler 630, and the filter 640 of FIG. 6 may correspond to the aerosol generating article 500, the first segment 510, the second segment 520, the cooler 530, and the filter 540. Thus, the same aspects are omitted.

According to an embodiment, the filter 640 may include a plurality of filter segments, and each of the plurality of filter segments may include at least one of an acetate filter, a tube filter, and a recess filter. For example, the first filter segment 641 may include a tube filter, and the second filter segment 642 may include a recess filter. As another example, the first filter segment 641 may include a recess filter, and the second filter segment 642 may include a tube filter.

According to an embodiment, the filter 640 may include a plurality of filter segments, and each of the plurality of filter segments may have the same length as each other or a different length from each other. For example, when a length of the filter 640 is about 12 mm, the length of the first filter segment 641 may be about 7 mm, and the length of the second filter segment 642 may be about 5 mm, or the length of the first filter segment 641 may be about 5 mm, and the length of the second filter segment 642 may be about 7 mm. Also, when a length of the filter 640 is about 14 mm, the length of the first filter segment 641 may be about 9 mm and the length of the second filter segment 642 may be about 5 mm, or the length of the first filter segment 641 may be about 5 mm, and the length of the second filter segment 642 may be about 9 mm.

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating an example of an aerosol generating article 700 including a capsule 741.

Referring to FIG. 7, the filter 740 may include an organic acid. The aerosol generating article 700, a first segment 710, a second segment 720, a cooler 730, and the filter 740 of FIG. 7 may correspond to the aerosol generating article 600, the first segment 610, the second segment 620, the cooler 630, and the filter 640. Thus, the same aspects are omitted.

According to an embodiment, at least one of a first liquid composition and a second liquid composition may include free nicotine, and the filter 740 may include an organic acid. At least one of the first liquid composition impregnated in a paper sheet included in the first segment 710 and the second liquid composition impregnated in a paper sheet included in the second segment 720 may include free nicotine, and the filter 740 may include the organic acid.

At least one of the first segment 710 and the second segment 720 may be heated and may generate aerosol, and the generated aerosol may be delivered to the mouth of a user through the cooler 730 and the filter 740. Free nicotine included in at least one of the first segment 710 and the second segment 720 may be heated and converted into nicotine salts through gas phase reaction or liquid phase reaction with the organic acid in the filter 740, and the nicotine salts may be delivered to the mouth of the user.

According to an embodiment, the organic acid may be included in a capsule. For example, the first segment 710 may include a paper sheet impregnated with free nicotine, a capsule containing benzoic acid may be included in the filter 740, and after a user breaks the capsule, nicotine salts may be generated through gas phase reaction between free nicotine and benzoic acid. The second segment 720 may include a paper sheet impregnated with free nicotine, and a capsule containing lactic acid may be included in the filter 740. However, it is not limited thereto, and the organic acid may be impregnated in a paper sheet, etc.

Also, as an example not illustrated in FIG. 7, the filter 740 may include a plurality of filter segments, and each filter segment may include a capsule. Each filter segment may include a capsule including a different organic acid from each other. For example, the filter 740 may include a first filter segment and a second filter segment, and a first capsule containing benzoic acid may be included in the first filter segment, and a second capsule including citric acid may be included in the second filter segment. Also, each filter segment may include a capsule including the same organic acid as each other. For example, the filter 740 may include a first filter segment and a second filter segment, and a first capsule containing pyruvic acid may be included in the first filter segment, and a second capsule including pyruvic acid may be included in the second filter segment.

The organic acid may be impregnated in at least one of the first segment 710, the second segment 720, and the filter 740 or may be contained in a capsule. For example, the first segment 710 may include a paper sheet impregnated with free nicotine, and the second segment 720 may include a paper sheet impregnated with benzoic acid. When free nicotine included in aerosol generated by heating the first segment 710 passes through the second segment 720, gas phase reaction may occur between the free nicotine and the benzoic acid included in the second segment 720, and thus, nicotine salts may be generated.

Also, the first segment 710 may include a paper sheet impregnated with a tobacco material, and the second segment 720 may include a paper sheet impregnated with an organic acid and a paper sheet impregnated with a tobacco material. The organic acid and the tobacco material may not be impregnated together in the paper sheet. For example, the first segment 710 may include a paper sheet impregnated with free nicotine, and the second segment 720 may include a paper sheet impregnated with an acetic acid and a paper sheet impregnated with nicotine salts.

The aerosol generating article 700 may include an organic acid, and thus, nicotine salts may be generated through gas phase reaction between the organic acid and free nicotine. An organic acid and free nicotine have lower boiling points than nicotine salts, and thus, sufficient nicotine fulfillment may be possible at a relatively low temperature.

The descriptions of the above-described embodiments are merely examples, and it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that various changes and equivalents thereof may be made. Therefore, the scope of the disclosure should be defined by the appended claims, and all differences within the scope equivalent to those described in the claims will be construed as being included in the scope of protection defined by the claims.

AEROSOL GENERATING ARTICLE INCLUDING LIQUID COMPOSITION AND AEROSOL GENERATING SYSTEM INCLUDING THE AEROSOL GENERATING ARTICLE

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