AEROSOL PROVISION SYSTEM

Abstract

A consumable (2) configured to be releasably received by an aerosol provision device (4) from an aerosol provision system (1) for generating an aerosol. The consumable (2) comprises a first reservoir (31) for storing a first aerosol-generating material, and an aerosol generator (40) configured to generate an aerosol using the first aerosol-generating material from the first reservoir (31). The consumable also comprises a base portion 75 comprising a plurality of electrodes (46A: 46B) for transferring electrical power to the aerosol generator. The base portion (75) further comprises a control electrode (83) which is configured to be selectively engaged for implementing a predetermined operation from the aerosol provision system (1).

Description

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to aerosol provision systems such as, but not limited to, nicotine delivery systems (e.g. electronic cigarettes and the like).

BACKGROUND

Electronic aerosol provision systems often employ an electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) or more generally an aerosol provision device. Such an aerosol provision system typically contains aerosolisable material (also called aerosol-generating material), such as a reservoir of fluid or liquid containing a formulation, typically but not necessarily including nicotine, or a solid material such as a tobacco-based product, from which a vapour/aerosol is generated for inhalation by a user, for example through heat vaporisation. Thus, an aerosol provision system will typically comprise a vaporiser (also called an aerosol generator), e.g. a heating element, arranged to aerosolise a portion of aerosolisable material to generate a vapour.

Once a vapour has been generated, the vapour may be passed through flavouring material to add flavour to the vapour (if the aerosolisable material was not itself flavoured), after which the (flavoured) vapour may be then delivered to a user via a mouthpiece from the aerosol provision system.

A potential drawback of existing aerosol provision systems and associated aerosol provision devices is of their relative inflexibility to operate in more than one way/operation in a quick and effective manner.

Various approaches are therefore described herein which seek to help address or mitigate some of these issues, through the implementation of an aerosol provision system in which a consumable therefrom can be selectively moved between a first position and a second position (e.g. moved to respective first and second rotational positions relative to the aerosol provision device) for respectively allowing for first and second predetermined operations to be performed in either of these first or second positions. In this way therefore, by changing the position of the consumable, a quick and effective change in the operation of the aerosol provision system may be effected.

Also provided herein is the provision of consumable which may employ an additional control electrode, alongside any power electrodes, which may be used to assist with the implementation of such predetermined operations, based on whether or not the control electrode from the consumable is determined as being engaged with a corresponding control electrode from an aerosol provision device to which the consumable is configured to be engaged with.

SUMMARY

According to a first aspect of certain embodiments there is provided a consumable configured to be releasably received by an aerosol provision device from an aerosol provision system for generating an aerosol, wherein the consumable comprises:

• • a first reservoir for storing a first aerosol-generating material;
  • an aerosol generator configured to generate an aerosol using the first aerosol-generating material from the first reservoir; and
  • a base portion comprising a plurality of electrodes for transferring electrical power to the aerosol generator;
  • wherein the base portion further comprises a control electrode which is configured to be selectively engaged for implementing a predetermined operation from the aerosol provision system.

According to a second aspect of certain embodiments there is provided an aerosol provision system for generating an aerosol, wherein the aerosol provision system comprises:

• • the consumable according to the first aspect; and
  • an aerosol provision device for releasably receiving the consumable, wherein the aerosol provision device comprises:
    • a power source; and
    • a plurality of electrodes, for engaging with the plurality of electrodes from the consumable when the consumable is releasably received by the aerosol provision device, for transferring electrical power from the power source of the aerosol provision device to the consumable when the consumable is releasably received by the aerosol provision device; and
    • a control electrode, which is configured to be selectively engaged by the control electrode from the consumable, for implementing the predetermined operation from the aerosol provision system.

It will be appreciated that features and aspects of the invention described above in relation to the various aspects of the invention are equally applicable to, and may be combined with, embodiments of the invention according to other aspects of the invention as appropriate, and not just in the specific combinations described herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 schematically represents in perspective view an aerosol provision system comprising a cartridge and aerosol provision device (shown separated) in accordance with certain embodiments of the disclosure;

FIG. 2 schematically represents in exploded perspective view of components of the cartridge of the aerosol provision system of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3A to 3C schematically represent various cross-section views of a housing part of the cartridge of the aerosol provision system of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 4A and 4B schematically represent a perspective view and a plan view of a dividing wall element of the cartridge of the aerosol provision system of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 5A to 5C schematically represent two perspective views and a plan view of a resilient plug of the cartridge of the aerosol provision system of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 6A and 6B schematically represent a perspective view and a plan view of a bottom cap of the cartridge of the aerosol provision system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7A schematically represents an embodiment of aerosol provision system in accordance with certain embodiments of the disclosure, where a consumable therefrom is located in a first position.

FIG. 7B schematically represents the embodiment of aerosol provision system from FIG. 7A, in accordance with certain embodiments of the disclosure, where the consumable therefrom is located in a second position.

FIG. 8A schematically represents an embodiment of aerosol provision system in accordance with certain embodiments of the disclosure, where a consumable therefrom is located in a first position.

FIG. 8B schematically represents the embodiment of aerosol provision system from FIG. 8A, in accordance with certain embodiments of the disclosure, where the consumable therefrom is located in a second position.

FIG. 9A schematically represents an embodiment of aerosol provision system in accordance with certain embodiments of the disclosure, where a consumable therefrom is located in a first position.

FIG. 9B schematically represents the embodiment of aerosol provision system from FIG. 9A, in accordance with certain embodiments of the disclosure, where the consumable therefrom is located in a second position.

FIG. 10A schematically represents an embodiment of aerosol provision system in accordance with certain embodiments of the disclosure, where a consumable therefrom is located in a first position, and wherein the consumable comprises an additional control electrode.

FIG. 10B schematically represents the embodiment of aerosol provision system from FIG. 10A, in accordance with certain embodiments of the disclosure, where the consumable therefrom is located in a second position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Aspects and features of certain examples and embodiments are discussed/described herein. Some aspects and features of certain examples and embodiments may be implemented conventionally and these are not discussed/described in detail in the interests of brevity. It will thus be appreciated that aspects and features of apparatus and methods discussed herein which are not described in detail may be implemented in accordance with any conventional techniques for implementing such aspects and features.

The present disclosure relates to non-combustible aerosol provision systems (such as an e-cigarette). According to the present disclosure, a “non-combustible” aerosol provision system is one where a constituent aerosolisable material of the aerosol provision system (or component thereof) is not combusted or burned in order to facilitate delivery to a user. Aerosolisable material, which also may be referred to herein as aerosol generating material or aerosol precursor material, is material that is capable of generating aerosol, for example when heated, irradiated or energized in any other way. The aerosolisable material may also be flavoured, in some embodiments.

Throughout the following description the term “e-cigarette” or “electronic cigarette” may sometimes be used, but it will be appreciated this term may be used interchangeably with an aerosol provision system. An electronic cigarette may also known as a vaping device or electronic nicotine delivery system (END), although it is noted that the presence of nicotine in the aerosolisable material is not a requirement.

In some embodiments, the aerosol provision system is a hybrid device configured to generate aerosol using a combination of aerosolisable materials, one or a plurality of which may be heated. In some embodiments, the hybrid device comprises a liquid or gel aerosolisable material and a solid aerosolisable material. The solid aerosolisable material may comprise, for example, tobacco or a non-tobacco product.

Typically, the (non-combustible) aerosol provision system may comprise a cartridge/consumable part and a body/reusable/aerosol provision device part, which is configured to releasably engage with the cartridge/consumable part.

The aerosol provision system may be provided with a means for powering a vaporiser therein, and there may be provided an aerosolisable material transport element for receiving the aerosolisable material that is to be vaporised. The aerosol provision system may also be provided with a reservoir for containing aerosolisable material, and in some embodiments a further reservoir for containing flavouring material for flavouring a generated vapour from the aerosol provision system.

In some embodiments, the vaporiser may be a heater/heating element capable of interacting with the aerosolisable material so as to release one or more volatiles from the aerosolisable material to form a vapour/aerosol. In some embodiments, the vaporiser is capable of generating an aerosol from the aerosolisable material without heating. For example, the vaporiser may be capable of generating a vapour/aerosol from the aerosolisable material without applying heat thereto, for example via one or more of vibrational, mechanical, pressurisation or electrostatic means.

In some embodiments, the substance to be delivered may be an aerosolisable material which may comprise an active constituent, a carrier constituent and optionally one or more other functional constituents.

The active constituent may comprise one or more physiologically and/or olfactory active constituents which are included in the aerosolisable material in order to achieve a physiological and/or olfactory response in the user. The active constituent may for example be selected from nutraceuticals, nootropics, and psychoactives. The active constituent may be naturally occurring or synthetically obtained. The active constituent may comprise for example nicotine, caffeine, taurine, thiene, a vitamin such as B6 or B12 or C, melatonin, a cannabinoid, or a constituent, derivative, or combinations thereof. The active constituent may comprise a constituent, derivative or extract of tobacco or of another botanical. In some embodiments, the active constituent is a physiologically active constituent and may be selected from nicotine, nicotine salts (e.g. nicotine ditartrate/nicotine bitartrate), nicotine-free tobacco substitutes, other alkaloids such as caffeine, or mixtures thereof.

In some embodiments, the active constituent is an olfactory active constituent and may be selected from a “flavour” and/or “flavourant” which, where local regulations permit, may be used to create a desired taste, aroma or other somatosensorial sensation in a product for adult consumers. In some instances such constituents may be referred to as flavours, flavourants, flavouring material, cooling agents, heating agents, and/or sweetening agents. They may include naturally occurring flavour materials, botanicals, extracts of botanicals, synthetically obtained materials, or combinations thereof (e.g., tobacco, cannabis, licorice (liquorice), hydrangea, eugenol, Japanese white bark magnolia leaf, chamomile, fenugreek, clove, maple, matcha, menthol, Japanese mint, aniseed (anise), cinnamon, turmeric, Indian spices, Asian spices, herb, wintergreen, cherry, berry, red berry, cranberry, peach, apple, orange, mango, clementine, lemon, lime, tropical fruit, papaya, rhubarb, grape, durian, dragon fruit, cucumber, blueberry, mulberry, citrus fruits, Drambuie, bourbon, scotch, whiskey, gin, tequila, rum, spearmint, peppermint, lavender, aloe vera, cardamom, celery, cascarilla, nutmeg, sandalwood, bergamot, geranium, khat, naswar, betel, shisha, pine, honey essence, rose oil, vanilla, lemon oil, orange oil, orange blossom, cherry blossom, cassia, caraway, cognac, jasmine, ylang-ylang, sage, fennel, wasabi, piment, ginger, coriander, coffee, hemp, a mint oil from any species of the genus Mentha, eucalyptus, star anise, cocoa, lemongrass, rooibos, flax, Ginkgo biloba, hazel, hibiscus, laurel, mate, orange skin, rose, tea such as green tea or black tea, thyme, juniper, elderflower, basil, bay leaves, cumin, oregano, paprika, rosemary, saffron, lemon peel, mint, beefsteak plant, curcuma, cilantro, myrtle, cassis, valerian, pimento, mace, damien, marjoram, olive, lemon balm, lemon basil, chive, carvi, verbena, tarragon, limonene, thymol, camphene), flavour enhancers, bitterness receptor site blockers, sensorial receptor site activators or stimulators, sugars and/or sugar substitutes (e.g., sucralose, acesulfame potassium, aspartame, saccharine, cyclamates, lactose, sucrose, glucose, fructose, sorbitol, or mannitol), and other additives such as charcoal, chlorophyll, minerals, botanicals, or breath freshening agents. They may be imitation, synthetic or natural ingredients or blends thereof. They may be in any suitable form, for example, liquid such as an oil, solid such as a powder, or gasone or more of extracts (e.g., licorice, hydrangea, Japanese white bark magnolia leaf, chamomile, fenugreek, clove, menthol, Japanese mint, aniseed, cinnamon, herb, wintergreen, cherry, berry, peach, apple, Drambuie, bourbon, scotch, whiskey, spearmint, peppermint, lavender, cardamom, celery, cascarilla, nutmeg, sandalwood, bergamot, geranium, honey essence, rose oil, vanilla, lemon oil, orange oil, cassia, caraway, cognac, jasmine, ylang-ylang, sage, fennel, piment, ginger, anise, coriander, coffee, or a mint oil from any species of the genus Mentha), flavour enhancers, bitterness receptor site blockers, sensorial receptor site activators or stimulators, sugars and/or sugar substitutes (e.g., sucralose, acesulfame potassium, aspartame, saccharine, cyclamates, lactose, sucrose, glucose, fructose, sorbitol, or mannitol), and other additives such as charcoal, chlorophyll, minerals, botanicals, or breath freshening agents. They may be imitation, synthetic or natural ingredients or blends thereof. They may be in any suitable form, for example, oil, liquid, or powder.

In some embodiments, the flavouring material (flavour) may comprise menthol, spearmint and/or peppermint. In some embodiments, the flavour comprises flavour components of cucumber, blueberry, citrus fruits and/or redberry. In some embodiments, the flavour comprises eugenol. In some embodiments, the flavour comprises flavour components extracted from tobacco. In some embodiments, the flavour may comprise a sensate, which is intended to achieve a somatosensorial sensation which are usually chemically induced and perceived by the stimulation of the fifth cranial nerve (trigeminal nerve), in addition to or in place of aroma or taste nerves, and these may include agents providing heating, cooling, tingling, numbing effect. A suitable heat effect agent may be, but is not limited to, vanillyl ethyl ether and a suitable cooling agent may be, but not limited to eucalyptol, WS-3.

The carrier constituent may comprise one or more constituents capable of forming an aerosol. In some embodiments, the carrier constituent may comprise one or more of glycerine, glycerol, propylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol, erythritol, meso-Erythritol, ethyl vanillate, ethyl laurate, a diethyl suberate, triethyl citrate, triacetin, a diacetin mixture, benzyl benzoate, benzyl phenyl acetate, tributyrin, lauryl acetate, lauric acid, myristic acid, and propylene carbonate.

The one or more other functional constituents may comprise one or more of pH regulators, colouring agents, preservatives, binders, fillers, stabilizers, and/or antioxidants.

As noted above, aerosol provision systems (e-cigarettes) may often comprise a modular assembly including both a reusable part (body- or aerosol provision device) and a replaceable consumable (cartridge) part. Devices conforming to this type of two-part modular configuration may generally be referred to as two-part devices. It is also common for electronic cigarettes to have a generally elongate shape. For the sake of providing a concrete example, certain embodiments of the disclosure described herein may comprise this kind of generally elongate two-part device employing consumable parts. However, it will be appreciated the underlying principles described herein may equally be adopted for other electronic cigarette configurations, for example modular devices comprising more than two parts, as devices conforming to other overall shapes, for example based on so-called box-mod high performance devices that typically have a more boxy shape.

From the forgoing therefore, and with reference to FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an example aerosol provision system (e-cigarette) 1 in accordance with certain embodiments of the disclosure. Terms concerning the relative location of various aspects of the electronic cigarette (e.g. terms such as upper, lower, above, below, top, bottom etc.) are used herein with reference to the orientation of the electronic cigarette as shown in FIG. 1 (unless the context indicates otherwise). However, it will be appreciated this is purely for ease of explanation and is not intended to indicate there is any required orientation for the electronic cigarette in use.

The e-cigarette 1 (aerosol provision system 1) comprises two main components, namely a cartridge 2 and an aerosol provision device 4. The aerosol provision device 4 and the cartridge 2 are shown separated in FIG. 1, but are coupled together when in use.

The cartridge 2 and aerosol provision device 4 are coupled by establishing a mechanical and electrical connection between them. The specific manner in which the mechanical and electrical connection is established is not of primary significance to the principles described herein and may be established in accordance with conventional techniques, for example based around a screw thread, bayonet, latched or friction-fit mechanical fixing with appropriately arranged electrical contacts/electrodes for establishing the electrical connection between the two parts as appropriate. For example electronic cigarette 1 represented in FIG. 1, the cartridge comprises a mouthpiece 33, a mouthpiece end 52 and an interface end 54 and is coupled to the aerosol provision device by inserting an interface end portion 6 at the interface end of the cartridge into a corresponding receptacle 8/receiving section of the aerosol provision device. The interface end portion 6 of the cartridge is a close fit to be receptacle 8 and includes protrusions 56 which engage with corresponding detents in the interior surface of a receptacle wall 12 defining the receptacle 8 to provide a releasable mechanical engagement between the cartridge and the aerosol provision device. An electrical connection is established between the aerosol provision device and the cartridge via a pair of electrical contacts on the bottom of the cartridge (not shown in FIG. 1) and corresponding sprung contact pins in the base of the receptacle 8 (not shown in FIG. 1). As noted above, the specific manner in which the electrical connection is established is not significant to the principles described herein, and indeed some implementations might not have an electrical connection between the cartridge and a aerosol provision device at all, for example because the transfer of electrical power from the reusable part to the cartridge may be wireless (e.g. based on electromagnetic induction techniques).

The electronic cigarette 1 (aerosol provision system) has a generally elongate shape extending along a longitudinal axis L. When the cartridge is coupled to the aerosol provision device, the overall length of the electronic cigarette in this example (along the longitudinal axis) is around 12.5 cm. The overall length of the aerosol provision device is around 9 cm and the overall length of the cartridge is around 5 cm (i.e. there is around 1.5 cm of overlap between the interface end portion 6 of the cartridge and the receptacle 8 of the aerosol provision device when they are coupled together). The electronic cigarette has a cross-section which is generally oval and which is largest around the middle of the electronic cigarette and tapers in a curved manner towards the ends. The cross-section around the middle of the electronic cigarette has a width of around 2.5 cm and a thickness of around 1.7 cm. The end of the cartridge has a width of around 2 cm and a thickness of around 0.6 mm, whereas the other end of the electronic cigarette has a width of around 2 cm and a thickness of around 1.2 cm. The outer housing of the electronic cigarette is in this example is formed from plastic. It will be appreciated the specific size and shape of the electronic cigarette and the material from which it is made is not of primary significance to the principles described herein and may be different in different implementations. That is to say, the principles described herein may equally be adopted for electronic cigarettes having different sizes, shapes and/or materials.

The aerosol provision device 4 may in accordance with certain embodiments of the disclosure be broadly conventional in terms of its functionality and general construction techniques. In the example of FIG. 1, the aerosol provision device 4 comprises a plastic outer housing 10 including the receptacle wall 12 that defines the receptacle 8 for receiving the end of the cartridge as noted above. The outer housing 10 of the aerosol provision device 4 in this example has a generally oval cross section conforming to the shape and size of the cartridge 2 at their interface to provide a smooth transition between the two parts. The receptacle 8 and the end portion 6 of the cartridge 2 are symmetric when rotated through 180° so the cartridge can be inserted into the aerosol provision device in two different orientations. The receptacle wall 12 includes two aerosol provision device air inlet openings 14 (i.e. holes in the wall). These openings 14 are positioned to align with an air inlet 50 for the cartridge when the cartridge is coupled to the aerosol provision device. A different one of the openings 14 aligns with the air inlet 50 of the cartridge in the different orientations. It will be appreciated some implementations may not have any degree of rotational symmetry such that the cartridge is couplable to the aerosol provision device in only one orientation while other implementations may have a higher degree of rotational symmetry such that the cartridge is couplable to the aerosol provision device in more orientations.

The aerosol provision device further comprises a battery 16 for providing operating power for the electronic cigarette, control circuitry 18 for controlling and monitoring the operation of the electronic cigarette, a user input button 20, an indicator light 22, and a charging port 24.

The battery 16 in this example is rechargeable and may be of a conventional type, for example of the kind normally used in electronic cigarettes and other applications requiring provision of relatively high currents over relatively short periods. The battery 16 may be recharged through the charging port 24, which may, for example, comprise a USB connector.

The input button 20 in this example is a conventional mechanical button, for example comprising a sprung mounted component which may be pressed by a user to establish an electrical contact in underlying circuitry. In this regard, the input button may be considered an input device for detecting user input, e.g. to trigger aerosol generation, and the specific manner in which the button is implemented is not significant. For example, other forms of mechanical button or touch-sensitive button (e.g. based on capacitive or optical sensing techniques) may be used in other implementations, or there may be no button and the device may rely on a puff detector for triggering aerosol generation.

The indicator light 22 is provided to give a user with a visual indication of various characteristics associated with the electronic cigarette, for example, an indication of an operating state (e.g. on/off/standby), and other characteristics, such as battery life or fault conditions. Different characteristics may, for example, be indicated through different colours and/or different flash sequences in accordance with generally conventional techniques.

The control circuitry 18 is suitably configured/programmed to control the operation of the electronic cigarette to provide conventional operating functions in line with the established techniques for controlling electronic cigarettes. The control circuitry (processor circuitry) 18 may be considered to logically comprise various sub-units/circuitry elements associated with different aspects of the electronic cigarette's operation. For example, depending on the functionality provided in different implementations, the control circuitry 18 may comprises power supply control circuitry for controlling the supply of power from the battery/power supply to the cartridge in response to user input, user programming circuitry for establishing configuration settings (e.g. user-defined power settings) in response to user input, as well as other functional units/circuitry associated functionality in accordance with the principles described herein and conventional operating aspects of electronic cigarettes, such as indicator light display driving circuitry and user input detection circuitry. It will be appreciated the functionality of the control circuitry 18 can be provided in various different ways, for example using one or more suitably programmed programmable computer(s) and/or one or more suitably configured application-specific integrated circuit(s)/circuitry/chip(s)/chipset(s) configured to provide the desired functionality.

FIG. 2 is an exploded schematic perspective view of the cartridge 2 (exploded along the longitudinal axis L). The cartridge 2 comprises a housing part 32, an air channel seal 34, a dividing wall element 36, an outlet tube 38, a vaporiser/heating element 40, an aerosolisable material transport element 42, a plug 44, and an end cap 48 with contact electrodes 46. FIGS. 3 to 6 schematically represents some of these components in more detail.

FIG. 3A is a schematic cut-away view of the housing part 32 through the longitudinal axis L where the housing part 32 is thinnest. FIG. 3B is a schematic cut-away view of the housing part 32 through the longitudinal axis L where the housing part 32 is widest. FIG. 3C is a schematic view of the housing part along the longitudinal axis L from the interface end 54 (i.e. viewed from below in the orientation of FIGS. 3A and 3B).

FIG. 4A is a schematic perspective view of the dividing wall element 36 as seen from below. FIG. 4B is a schematic cross-section through an upper part of the dividing wall element 36 as viewed from below.

FIG. 5A is a schematic perspective view of the plug 44 from above and FIG. 5B is a schematic perspective view of the plug 44 from below. FIG. 5C is a schematic view of the plug 44 along the longitudinal axis L seen from the mouthpiece end 52 of the cartridge (i.e. viewed from above for the orientation in FIGS. 1 and 2).

FIG. 6A is a schematic perspective view of the end cap 48 from above. FIG. 6B is a schematic view of the end cap 48 along the longitudinal axis L seen from the mouthpiece end 52 of the cartridge (i.e. from above).

The housing part 32 in this example comprises a housing outer wall 64 and a housing inner tube 62 which in this example are formed from a single moulding of polypropylene. The housing outer wall 64 defines the external appearance of the cartridge 2 and the housing inner tube 62 defines a part the air channel through the cartridge. The housing part is open at the interface end 54 of the cartridge and closed at the mouthpiece end 52 of the cartridge except for a mouthpiece opening/aerosol outlet 60, from the mouthpiece 33, which is in fluid communication with the housing inner tube 62. The housing part 32 includes an opening in a sidewall which provides the air inlet 50 for the cartridge. The air inlet 50 in this example has an area of around 2 mm². The outer surface of the outer wall 64 of the housing part 32 includes the protrusions 56 discussed above which engage with corresponding detents in the interior surface of the receptacle wall 12 defining the receptacle 8 to provide a releasable mechanical engagement between the cartridge and the aerosol provision device. The inner surface of the outer wall 64 of the housing part includes further protrusions 66 which act to provide an abutment stop for locating the dividing wall element 36 along the longitudinal axis L when the cartridge is assembled. The outer wall 64 of the housing part 32 further comprises holes which provide latch recesses 68 arranged to receive corresponding latch projections 70 in the end cap to fix the end cap to be housing part when the cartridge is assembled.

The outer wall 64 of the housing part 32 includes a double-walled section 74 that defines a gap 76 in fluid communication with the air inlet 50. The gap 76 provides a portion of the air channel through the cartridge. In this example the doubled-walled section 74 of the housing part 32 is arranged so the gap defines an air channel running within the housing outer wall 64 parallel to the longitudinal axis with a cross-section in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of around 3 mm². The gap/portion of air channel 76 defined by the double-walled section of the housing part extends down to the open end of the housing part 32.

The air channel seal 34 is a silicone moulding generally in the form of a tube having a through hole 80. The outer wall of the air channel seal 34 includes circumferential ridges 84 and an upper collar 82. The inner wall of the air channel seal 34 also includes circumferential ridges, but these are not visible in FIG. 2. When the cartridge is assembled the air channel seal 34 is mounted to the housing inner tube 62 with an end of the housing inner tube 62 extending partly into the through hole 80 of the air channel seal 34. The through hole 80 in the air channel seal has a diameter of around 5.8 mm in its relaxed state whereas the end of the housing inner tube 62 has a diameter of around 6.2 mm so that a seal is formed when the air channel seal 34 is stretched to accommodate the housing inner tube 62. This seal is facilitated by the ridges on the inner surface of the air channel seal 34.

The outlet tube 38 comprises a tubular section, for instance made of ANSI 304 stainless steel or polypropylene, with an internal diameter of around 8.6 mm and a wall thickness of around 0.2 mm. The bottom end of the outlet tube 38 includes a pair of diametrically opposing slots 88 with an end of each slot having a semi-circular recess 90. When the cartridge is assembled the outlet tube 38 mounts to the outer surface of the air channel seal 34. The outer diameter of the air channel seal is around 9.0 mm in its relaxed state so that a seal is formed when the air channel seal 34 is compressed to fit inside the outlet tube 38. This seal is facilitated by the ridges 84 on the outer surface of the air channel seal 34. The collar 80 on the air channel seal 34 provides a stop for the outlet tube 38.

The aerosolisable material transport element 42 comprises a capillary wick and the vaporiser (aerosol generator) 40 comprises a resistance wire heater wound around the capillary wick. In addition to the portion of the resistance wire wound around the capillary wick, the vaporiser comprises electrical leads 41 which pass through holes in the plug 44 to contact electrodes 46 mounted to the end cap 54 to allow power to be supplied to the vaporiser via the electrical interface the established when the cartridge is connected to an aerosol provision device. The vaporiser leads 41 may comprise the same material as the resistance wire wound around the capillary wick, or may comprise a different material (e.g. lower-resistance material) connected to the resistance wire wound around the capillary wick. In this example the heater coil 40 comprises a nickel iron alloy wire and the wick 42 comprises a glass fibre bundle. The vaporiser and aerosolisable material transport element may be provided in accordance with any conventional techniques and is may comprise different forms and/or different materials. For example, in some implementations the wick may comprise fibrous or solid a ceramic material and the heater may comprise a different alloy. In other examples the heater and wick may be combined, for example in the form of a porous and a resistive material. More generally, it will be appreciated the specific nature aerosolisable material transport element and vaporiser is not of primary significance to the principles described herein.

When the cartridge is assembled, the wick 42 is received in the semi-circular recesses 90 of the outlet tube 38 so that a central portion of the wick about which the heating coil is would is inside the outlet tube while end portions of the wick are outside the outlet tube 38.

The plug 44 in this example comprises a single moulding of silicone, may be resilient. The plug comprises a base part 100 with an outer wall 102 extending upwardly therefrom (i.e. towards the mouthpiece end of the cartridge). The plug further comprises an inner wall 104 extending upwardly from the base part 100 and surrounding a through hole 106 through the base part 100.

The outer wall 102 of the plug 44 conforms to an inner surface of the housing part 32 so that when the cartridge is assembled the plug in 44 forms a seal with the housing part 32. The inner wall 104 of the plug 44 conforms to an inner surface of the outlet tube 38 so that when the cartridge is assembled the plug 44 also forms a seal with the outlet tube 38. The inner wall 104 includes a pair of diametrically opposing slots 108 with the end of each slot having a semi-circular recess 110. Extended outwardly (i.e. in a direction away from the longitudinal axis of the cartridge) from the bottom of each slot in the inner wall 104 is a cradle section 112 shaped to receive a section of the aerosolisable material transport element 42 when the cartridge is assembled. The slots 108 and semi-circular recesses 110 provided by the inner wall of the plug 44 and the slots 88 and semi-circular recesses 90 of the outlet tube 38 are aligned so that the slots 88 in the outlet tube 38 accommodate respective ones of the cradles 112 with the respective semi-circular recesses in the outlet tube and plug cooperating to define holes through which the aerosolisable material transport element passes. The size of the holes provided by the semi-circular recesses through which the aerosolisable material transport element passes correspond closely to the size and shape of the aerosolisable material transport element, but are slightly smaller so a degree of compression is provided by the resilience of the plug 44. This allows aerosolisable material to be transported along the aerosolisable material transport element by capillary action while restricting the extent to which aerosolisable material which is not transported by capillary action can pass through the openings. As noted above, the plug 44 includes further openings 114 in the base part 100 through which the contact leads 41 for the vaporiser pass when the cartridge is assembled. The bottom of the base part of the plug includes spacers 116 which maintain an offset between the remaining surface of the bottom of the base part and the end cap 48. These spacers 116 include the openings 114 through which the electrical contact leads 41 for the vaporiser pass.

The end cap 48 comprises a polypropylene moulding with a pair of gold-plated copper electrode posts 46 mounted therein.

The ends of the electrode posts 44 on the bottom side of the end cap are close to flush with the interface end 54 of the cartridge provided by the end cap 48. These are the parts of the electrodes to which correspondingly aligned sprung contacts in the aerosol provision device 4 connect when the cartridge 2 is assembled and connected to the aerosol provision device 4. The ends of the electrode posts on the inside of the cartridge extend away from the end cap 48 and into the holes 114 in the plug 44 through which the contact leads 41 pass. The electrode posts are slightly oversized relative to the holes 114 and include a chamfer at their upper ends to facilitate insertion into the holes 114 in the plug where they are maintained in pressed contact with the contact leads for the vaporiser by virtue of the plug.

The end cap has a base section 124 and an upstanding wall 120 which conforms to the inner surface of the housing part 32. The upstanding wall 120 of the end cap 48 is inserted into the housing part 32 so the latch projections 70 engage with the latch recesses 68 in the housing part 32 to snap-fit the end cap 48 to the housing part when the cartridge is assembled. The top of the upstanding wall 120 of the end cap 48 abuts a peripheral part of the plug 44 and the lower face of the spacers 116 on the plug also abut the base section 124 of the plug so that when the end cap 48 is attached to the housing part it presses against the resilient part 44 to maintain it in slight compression.

The base portion 124 of the end cap 48 includes a peripheral lip 126 beyond the base of the upstanding wall 112 with a thickness which corresponds with the thickness of the outer wall of the housing part at the interface end of the cartridge. The end cap also includes an upstanding locating pin 122 which aligns with a corresponding locating hole 128 in the plug to help establish their relative location during assembly.

The dividing wall element 36 comprises a single moulding of polypropylene and includes a dividing wall 130 and a collar 132 formed by projections from the dividing wall 130 in the direction towards the interface end of the cartridge. The dividing wall element 36 has a central opening 134 through which the outlet tube 38 passes (i.e. the dividing wall is arranged around the outlet tube 38). In some embodiments, the dividing wall element 36 may be integrally formed with the outlet tube 38. When the cartridge is assembled, the upper surface of the outer wall 102 of the plug 44 engages with the lower surface of the dividing wall 130, and the upper surface of the dividing wall 130 in turn engages with the projections 66 on the inner surface of the outer wall 64 of the housing part 32. Thus, the dividing wall 130 prevents the plug from being pushed too far into the housing part 32—i.e. the dividing wall 130 is fixedly located along the longitudinal axis of the cartridge by the protrusions 66 in the housing part and so provides the plug with a fixed surface to push against. The collar 132 formed by projections from the dividing wall includes a first pair of opposing projections/tongues 134 which engage with corresponding recesses on an inner surface of the outer wall 102 of the plug 44. The protrusions from the dividing wall 130 further provide a pair of cradle sections 136 configured to engage with corresponding ones of the cradle sections 112 in the part 44 when the cartridge is assembled to further define the opening through which the aerosolisable material transport element passes.

When the cartridge 2 is assembled an air channel extending from the air inlet 50 to the aerosol outlet 60 through the cartridge is formed. Starting from the air inlet 50 in the side wall of the housing part 32, a first section of the air channel is provided by the gap 76 formed by the double-walled section 74 in the outer wall 64 of the housing part 32 and extends from the air inlet 50 towards the interface end 54 of the cartridge and past the plug 44. A second portion of the air channel is provided by the gap between the base of the plug 44 and the end cap 48. A third portion of the air channel is provided by the hole 106 through the plug 44. A fourth portion of the air channel is provided by the region within the inner wall 104 of the plug and the outlet tube around the vaporiser 40. This fourth portion of the air channel may also be referred to as an aerosol/aerosol generation region, it being the primary region in which aerosol is generated during use. The air channel from the air inlet 50 to the aerosol generation region may be referred to as an air inlet section of the air channel. A fifth portion of the air channel is provided by the remainder of the outlet tube 38. A sixth portion of the air channel is provided by the outer housing inner tube 62 which connects the air channel to the aerosol outlet 60, which is located at an end of the mouthpiece 33. The air channel from the aerosol generation region to be the aerosol outlet may be referred to as an aerosol outlet section of the air channel.

Also, when the cartridge is assembled a reservoir 31 for aerosolisable material is formed by the space outside the air channel and inside the housing part 32. This may be filled during manufacture, for example through a filling hole which is then sealed, or by other means. The specific nature of the aerosolisable material, for example in terms of its composition, is not of primary significance to the principles described herein, and in general any conventional aerosolisable material of the type normally used in electronic cigarettes may be used. The present disclosure may refer to a liquid as the aerosolisable material, which as mentioned above may be a conventional e-liquid. However, the principles of the present disclosure apply to any aerosolisable material which has the ability to flow, and may include a liquid, a gel, or a solid, where for a solid a plurality of solid particles may be considered to have the ability to flow when considered as a bulk.

The reservoir is closed at the interface end of the cartridge by the plug 44. The reservoir includes a first region above the dividing wall 130 and a second region below the dividing wall 130 within the space formed between the air channel and the outer wall of the plug. The aerosolisable material transport element (capillary wick) 42 passes through openings in the wall of the air channel provided by the semi-circular recesses 108, 90 in the plug 44 and the outlet tube 38 and the cradle sections 112, 136 in the plug 44 and the dividing wall element 36 that engage with one another as discussed above. Thus, the ends of the aerosolisable material transport element extend into the second region of the reservoir from which they draw aerosolisable material through the openings in the air channel to the vaporiser 40 for subsequent vaporisation.

In normal use, the cartridge 2 is coupled to the aerosol provision device 4 and the aerosol provision device activated to supply power to the cartridge via the contact electrodes 46 in the end cap 48. Power then passes through the connection leads 41 to the vaporiser 40. The vaporiser is thus electrically heated and so vaporises a portion of the aerosolisable material from the aerosolisable material transport element in the vicinity of the vaporiser. This generates aerosol in the aerosol generation region of the air path. Aerosolisable material that is vaporised from the aerosolisable material transport element is replaced by more aerosolisable material drawn from the reservoir by capillary action. While the vaporiser is activated, a user inhales on the mouthpiece end 52 of the cartridge. This causes air to be drawn through whichever aerosol provision device air inlet 14 aligns with the air inlet 50 of the cartridge (which will depend on the orientation in which the cartridge was inserted into the aerosol provision device receptacle 8). Air then enters the cartridge through the air inlet 50, passes along the gap 76 in the double-walled section 74 of the housing part 32, passes between the plug 44 and the end cap 48 before entering the aerosol generation region surrounding the vaporiser 40 through the hole 106 in the base part 100 of the plug 44. The incoming air mixes with aerosol generated from the vaporiser to form a condensation aerosol, which is then drawn along the outlet tube 38 and the housing part inner 62 before exiting through the mouthpiece outlet/aerosol outlet 60 for user inhalation.

From the above FIGS. 1-6B, it can be seen a possible embodiment construction of aerosol provision system 1 which is configured for generating an aerosol, which is suitable for use in the context of the present disclosure (alongside potentially other forms of aerosol provision system).

Turning now to FIGS. 7A-10B, the present disclosure also provides for other applications and embodiments of aerosol provision system 1 which may complement those embodiments of aerosol provision system illustrated and described above with reference to FIGS. 1-6B.

Thus with initial reference to FIGS. 7A-10B, there is provided in accordance with some embodiments an aerosol provision system for generating an aerosol, wherein the aerosol provision system 1 comprises an aerosol provision device 4, and a consumable 2 configured to be releasably received by the aerosol provision device 4. At a general level, any such consumable 2 may be configured to be releasably received by the aerosol provision device 4 in a first position P1 (as shown in any of the embodiments of FIG. 7A, 8A, 9A or 10A) for allowing the aerosol provision system 1 to perform a first predetermined operation. The consumable 2 in some embodiments may then be configured to be releasably received by the aerosol provision device 4 in a second position P2 (as shown in any of the embodiments of FIG. 7B, 8B, 9B or 10B) for allowing the aerosol provision system 1 to perform a second predetermined operation which is different from the first predetermined operation.

Thus at a general level therefore, by changing the position of the consumable 2 between either the first position P1 and/or the second position P2 relative to the aerosol provision device 4, and/or relative to an interface (such as the receptacle 8) from the aerosol provision device 4 where the consumable 2 is configured to be received in both the first and second positions P1; P2, a user of the aerosol provision system 1 may be able to effect a quick and effective change in the operation of the aerosol provision system 1, as will be described.

As to the exact nature regarding how the consumable 2 may move between the two positions P1 and P2, it will be appreciated that this movement may take a variety of different forms, depending on the construction of the aerosol provision system, and/or the construction of the aerosol provision device 4 and the consumable 2. For instance, and in accordance with some embodiments, the consumable may be configured to slide between the first position P1 and the second positon P2 for moving the consumable between the first position P1 and the second position P2. Equally, in accordance with some embodiments, the consumable may be configured to twist, or rotate, between the first position P1 and the second positon P2 for moving the consumable between the first position P1 and the second position P2.

In accordance with some embodiments, such as those shown in the embodiments from FIGS. 7A-10B, the first position P1 of the consumable 2 may comprise the consumable 2 being received by the aerosol provision device 4 in a first rotational position relative to the aerosol provision device 4 (as shown in any of the embodiments of FIG. 7A, 8A, 9A or 10A). In this way, the second position P2 of the consumable 2 may comprise the consumable 2 being received by the aerosol provision device 4 in a second rotational position relative to the aerosol provision device (as shown in any of the embodiments of FIG. 7B, 8B, 9B or 10B) which is different from the first rotational position. In this way, the user may be able to choose at the point of coupling the consumable 2 with the aerosol provision device 4, to either locate the consumable in the first position P1, for allowing the aerosol provision system to perform the first predetermined operation; or to locate the consumable 2 in the second position P2, for allowing the aerosol provision system to perform the second predetermined operation.

For assisting the user in being able to move the consumable 2 between each of these different positions, which each are configured for allowing the aerosol provision system 1 to perform a respective predetermined operation, in accordance with some embodiments, the consumable 2 may comprise a symmetrical portion 71 with rotational symmetry of order ‘n’, wherein ‘n’ is a positive integer number of at least 2. Depending on the shape of the symmetrical portion 71, it will be appreciated that in accordance with some embodiments, ‘n’ may be a positive integer number of at least 2 (e.g. where the symmetrical portion 71 comprises an elliptical, or rectangular, cross section); at least 3 (e.g. where the symmetrical portion 71 comprises an equilateral triangle cross section); and/or at least 4 (e.g. where the symmetrical portion 71 comprises a square cross section); or at least any other integer number, such as 6 or 8 (such as where the symmetrical portion 71 comprises a hexagonal or octagonal cross section, for example).

To be clear therefore, it is to be appreciated that the above teachings may be employed to allow the consumable to be effectively configured to be releasably received by the aerosol provision device about a plurality of different positions (e.g. a third position and/or a fourth position, and/or an nth position) for allowing the aerosol provision system to perform a predetermined (nth) operation which is different from the predetermined operation for each of the other/remaining positions from the plurality of different positions.

To place all the above into context, a potential first application of this teaching, in accordance with some embodiments, might be where the aerosol provision system is configured to generate an aerosol comprising a first flavour (e.g. menthol, mint, and/or grapefruit) when the consumable is in the first position P1. In this way, the aerosol provision system 1 may be then configured to generate an aerosol comprising a second flavour (e.g. not menthol, not mint, and/or not grapefruit, such as coffee, or lemon, or strawberry) when the consumable is in the second position P2, wherein the first flavour is different from the second flavour. In this way, the user may be able to conveniently switch the flavour of aerosol which is generated, by appropriately locating the consumable in either the first position P1 and/or the second position P2. This embodiment is illustrated, for instance, in the embodiment of FIGS. 9A and 9B.

Related to that embodiment from FIGS. 9A and 9B, in accordance with some embodiments, the consumable may comprise a first reservoir 31A for storing a first aerosol-generating material, wherein the aerosol provision system is configured to generate an aerosol using the first aerosol-generating material when the consumable is in the first position P1 (as shown in the embodiment of FIG. 9A). In such embodiments, the consumable in accordance with some more particular embodiments may then comprise a second reservoir 31B for storing a second aerosol-generating material, wherein the aerosol provision system 1 is configured to generate an aerosol using the second aerosol-generating material when the consumable is in the second position P2 (as shown in the embodiment of FIG. 9B). With respect to these embodiments, the composition of the first aerosol-generating material may be the same as the composition of the second aerosol-generating material (e.g. to allow for the same composition of aerosol-generating material to be aerosolised in different ways, using the different reservoirs 31A; 31B). Equally however, and in accordance with some embodiments, the composition of the first aerosol-generating material (e.g. menthol, mint, and/or grapefruit) may be different to the composition of the second aerosol-generating material (e.g. not menthol, not mint, and/or not grapefruit, such as coffee, or lemon, or strawberry).

Additional/alternative applications of the above, in accordance with some embodiments, such as in the embodiment of FIGS. 8A and 8B, might be where the aerosol provision device 4 is configured to supply air to the consumable 2, for generating the aerosol, at a first rate when the consumable 2 is in the first position P1. In this way, the aerosol provision device 4 in accordance with some embodiments thereof, may be then configured to supply air to the consumable 2, for generating the aerosol, at a second rate when the consumable 2 is in the second position P2, wherein the first rate is different from (e.g. greater than, and/or less than) the second rate. For achieving this change in rate, it will be appreciated that this may be achieved in a plurality of different ways. One possible example, for instance, may be from the aerosol provision device 4 comprising a first inlet channel (and/or first air inlet) 14A for supplying air to the consumable, for generating the aerosol, when the consumable is in the first position P1. In this way, the aerosol provision device 4 may comprise a second inlet channel (and/or second air inlet) 14B for supplying air to the consumable 2, for generating the aerosol, when the consumable 2 is in the second position P2, wherein the first air inlet channel (and/or first air inlet) 14A is different from the second air inlet channel (and/or second air inlet) 14B, as shown for instance in the embodiment of FIGS. 8A-8B.

Related to the above embodiments as well, for varying the rate at which air is supplied to the consumable, the aerosol provision device 4 may comprise a throttling member 72, such as valve, or a pipe with a reduced/variable/increased cross sectional area in at least one of the air inlet channels 14A; 14B. Additionally/alternatively, the consumable in the first position P1 may be configured to define an air inlet into the consumable 2 comprising a first predetermined size, and the consumable in the second position P2 may be configured to define an air inlet 50 into the consumable 2 comprising a second predetermined size, which is different from the first predetermined size. This change in size may be achieved for instance, in accordance with some embodiments, by the air inlet 50 from the consumable being covered by a first amount by a portion of the aerosol provision device 4 in the first position P1, and the air inlet 50 from the consumable being covered by a second amount by a portion of the aerosol provision device 4 in the second position P2. Such a portion of the aerosol provision device 4, in a very particular embodiment, could comprise a wall 12 of a receptacle 8 from the aerosol provision device 4, wherein the receptacle 8 is for receiving at least a portion 73 of the consumable 2 when the consumable 2 is in the first position P1 and/or the second position P2.

As noted above, in accordance with some embodiments, any provided aerosol provision system 1 may comprise the receptacle 8 for receiving at least a portion 73 of the consumable 2 when the consumable 2 is in the first position P1 or the second position P2. In a more particular embodiment, the portion 73 of the consumable may comprise a base portion 75 of the consumable 2, and/or may be such that the portion 73 comprises the symmetrical portion 71 (as shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 7A-7B at least). With respect to these embodiments, the receptacle 8 may thus act to better accommodate and guide the positioning and retaining of the consumable 2 in its first position P1 and second position P2.

Irrespective of whether any receptacle 8 or portion 73 is employed in the aerosol provision system 1, for better directing aerosol which is generated in the consumable 2 towards a mouth of the user of the aerosol provision system 1, in accordance with some embodiments, the consumable 2 may comprise a mouthpiece portion 33. However, where the receptacle 8 is employed, in some embodiments thereof, any employed mouthpiece portion/mouthpiece 33 may be configured to be located outside of the receptacle 9 when the consumable 2 is in the first position P1 or the second position P2. In this way, portions which may be located outside of the receptacle 8 may be conveniently restricted in some cases to only the mouthpiece portion (mouthpiece) 33, which may thus assist with preventing damage to the remaining portions accommodated in the receptacle 8.

With respect to minimising any inadvertent damage to any employed electrodes from the consumable 2, in accordance with some embodiments, at least some or all of the electrodes from the consumable 2 may be configured to be located in the receptacle when the consumable 2 is in the first position P1 or the second position P2. In this way, and/or put differently in embodiments where the base portion 75 is employed, the base portion 75 of the consumable 2 may in some embodiments further comprise at least some or all of the electrodes from the consumable 2.

In relation to any such electrodes which are employed as part of the aerosol provision system, the aerosol provision device 4 as shown in the embodiments of FIGS. 7A-10B may comprise a first plurality of electrodes 78 for transferring electrical power from a power source 16 (such as a battery, in a particular set of embodiments) of the aerosol provision device 4 to the consumable 2 when the consumable 2 is releasably received by the aerosol provision device 4. In this way, the consumable 2 may then comprise a second plurality of electrodes 46 for contacting the first plurality of electrodes 78 from the aerosol provision device.

Concerning any such electrode arrangements which may be employed, in some embodiments, the second plurality of electrodes 46 may be configured to contact the first plurality of electrodes 78 about a first configuration in the first position P1 for allowing the aerosol provision system 1 to perform the first predetermined operation. Such a first configuration is shown, for instance, in the embodiment of FIG. 7A for instance. In this way, the second plurality of electrodes 46 may be then configured to contact the first plurality of electrodes 78 about a second configuration, which is different from the first configuration, in the second position P2, for allowing the aerosol provision system 1 to perform the second predetermined operation. Such a second configuration is shown, for instance, in the embodiment of FIG. 7B. Relating to such embodiments, and in accordance with some more specific embodiments, the first plurality of electrodes 78 may comprise a first electrode 78A and a second electrode 78B, and the second plurality of electrodes 46 may comprise a first electrode 46A and a second electrode 46B. In this way, and in some embodiments specifically (such as that shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, for instance), in the first position P1 (as shown in FIGS. 10A, for example), the first electrode 78A of the first plurality of electrodes 78 may be configured to contact the first electrode 46A of the second plurality of electrodes 46. In this way, and in the second position P2, the first electrode 78A of the first plurality of electrodes 78 may be configured to contact the second electrode 46B of the second plurality of electrodes 46 (as shown in FIG. 10B, for example). Put differently, and in some more limited embodiments, with respect to the positioning of such electrodes, it may be then seen in some embodiments that in the first position P1, the second electrode 78B of the first plurality of electrodes 78 may be configured to contact the second electrode 46B of the second plurality of electrodes 46, and such that in the second position P2, the second electrode 78B of the first plurality of electrodes 78 may be configured to contact the first electrode 46A of the second plurality of electrodes 46. With respect to any of the above electrode arrangements therefore, it may be seen that their relative positioning on each of the aerosol provision device 4 and the consumable 2 may thus allow the user to conveniently move the consumable about each of the first and second (and any other nth) predetermined positions to respectively allow the aerosol provision system to perform the pertinent predetermined operation which is associated with each such predetermined position.

Appreciably in at least some of the above embodiments, and where the symmetrical portion 71 from the consumable 2 is employed, the symmetrical portion may comprise at least one of the electrodes 46A; 46B from the second plurality of electrodes 46, such to facilitate the correct positioning of these electrodes about the various positions P1; P2 of the consumable 2.

Returning to some of the potential applications for the consumable 2 being moveable between the first and second positions P1; P2 for allowing the aerosol provision system to perform the pertinent predetermined operation which is associated with each such predetermined position, in accordance with some embodiments (as shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 9A and 9B, for example), the aerosol provision device 4 may be configured to heat air, which is supplied to the consumable from the aerosol provision device 4, for generating the aerosol, when the consumable 2 is in one of the first and second positions P1; P2, but not the other of the first and second positions (as shown in FIG. 9A, for example). With respect to such embodiments, any suitable heater may be employed to implement this heat ‘H’ to the air which is supplied to the consumable. For instance, and in some embodiments, the heat ‘H’ may be configured to be supplied by the aerosol generator from the aerosol provision system 1 (noting the aerosol generator 40 may be implemented in either the aerosol provision device 4 and/or the consumable 2, as required). Thus with these embodiments, a system may be provided whereby the air may be preheated in certain positions of the consumable 2 (e.g. the first position P1), but not necessarily in other positions (e.g. the second position P2), such to cater for potential different aerosol generating materials-some of which may be better configured to be heated beforehand (e.g. in instances where a ‘hot’ flavour is desired to be provided, such as a coffee or chocolate flavoured aerosol is desired), as opposed to other where such preheating may not be desirable (e.g. in instances where a ‘cool’ flavour is desired to be provided, such as a menthol or mint flavoured aerosol). The provision of such heating in certain instances, depending on how the user positions the consumable 2 in its first position P1 or second position P2, may be further beneficial in allowing the aerosol provision system to better accommodate for different environmental conditions. For instance, where the aerosol provision system 1 is employed in a relatively cooler environment, the consumable may be located in the position where the heat H is provided to the air, such to compensate for the cooler ambient air for providing a more optimised aerosol temperature. Similarly, where the aerosol provision system 1 is instead employed in a relatively hotter environment, the consumable may be located in the position where the heat H is not provided to the air, for otherwise maintaining a generated aerosol with more optimised thermal properties.

Rather than modifying the temperature of air which is initially supplied to the consumable 2 and/or any aerosol generator 40 therefrom, in some instances the aerosol provision system 1 may be configured to modify (such as increase or decrease) the temperature of aerosol, which is generated by the aerosol provision system 1 and/or the aerosol generator 40, when the consumable 2 is in one of the first and second positions P1; P2, but not the other of the first and second positions P1; P2. With respect to such embodiments, any suitable heater or cooler (thermal component) may be employed to implement this temperature modification to the generated aerosol. For instance, in accordance with some embodiments, any increase in temperature may be configured to be supplied by heat from the aerosol generator 40 and/or from some other separate heater or thermal component. In accordance with some embodiments, the aerosol provision system 1 may be configured to modify the temperature of the aerosol in the aerosol outlet tube 38, such as by using a heat from either a separate heater near this outlet tube 38, and/or via using some of the heat generated by the aerosol generator 40.

Where the aerosol provision system 1 is configured to modify the temperature of aerosol, which is generated by the aerosol provision system 1; and/or configured modify the temperature of air, which is supplied to the consumable 2 or its aerosol generator 40 from the aerosol provision device 4, for generating the aerosol; when the consumable is in one of the first and second positions, but not the other of the first and second positions, for completeness it may be appreciated that this change in temperature between the two positions P1; P2 may be effected automatically/directly as a result of the differing positions of the consumable 2 in either of these two positions, and/or could be indirectly effected as a result of the aerosol provision system 1 first determining whether the consumable 2 is in the first position P1 and/or the second position P2, and then the aerosol provision system 1 modifying the temperature accordingly based on this determination (e.g. by modifying the power provided to the aerosol generator 40 and/or to any heater or thermal component used to modify the temperature in the relevant location of the aerosol provision system). In some embodiments where a control electrode 83 is employed on the consumable 2 (as will be described below), it may also be appreciated that this control electrode 83 may be used to effect the modification of the temperature (for instance, by connecting the control electrode 83 to a heater surrounding the aerosol outlet tube 38) when the control electrode 83 is engaged in one of the first and second positions P1; P2, but not the other of these two positions.

Appreciating the foregoing therefore, it may be seen that the aerosol provision system 1 may be configured to implement varying different operations when the consumable is located in its respective different positions P1; P2. For instance, in some embodiments the different positions may provide for different rates of aerosol-generation such that the aerosol provision system may be configured to generate the aerosol at a first aerosol-generation rate when the consumable 2 is in the first position P1 (and/or provide a first amount of power to the aerosol generator 40 when the consumable 2 is in the first position P1), and such that the aerosol provision system 1 is configured to generate the aerosol at a second aerosol generation rate when the consumable 2 is in the second position P2 (and/or provide a second amount of power to the aerosol generator 40 when the consumable 2 is in the second position P2), wherein the first aerosol-generation rate (or the first power) is different from, such as greater than, or less than, the second aerosol-generation rate (or second power).

Equally, in accordance with some embodiments, the aerosol provision system 1 may be operable to provide at least one feedback signal when the consumable 2 is in the first position P1, yet operable to not provide the at least one feedback signal when the consumable 2 is in the second position P2. In this way therefore, it may be appreciated that in accordance with some embodiments, the second predetermined operation may comprise configuring the aerosol provision system to operate in a silent mode of operation. By the phrase ‘silent mode’ in this context, this may be interpreted as meaning that the aerosol provision system (and/or the aerosol provision device) may be configured to not emit any audio prompts and/or audio notifications, and/or be configured to emit relatively fewer audio prompts and/or relatively fewer audio notifications than when then the aerosol provision system (and/or the aerosol provision device) is in other positions of the consumable (e.g. the first position P1).

Related embodiments also include the first predetermined operation comprising configuring the aerosol provision system 1 to operate in a first mode of operation for providing at least one notification to a user of the aerosol provision system, and with the second predetermined operation comprising configuring the aerosol provision system 1 to operate in a second mode of operation in which the aerosol provision system is configured to not provide the at least one notification to the user of the aerosol provision system. As to what such a notification may comprise, this may appreciably comprise an audio notification, and/or a visual notification, or even a haptic notification, depending on the embodiment/application of the aerosol provision system 1. With respect to any such notification(s) which may be employed, the first predetermined operation may comprise the aerosol provision system being configured to provide the at least one notification to the user of the aerosol provision system whilst the aerosol provision system is generating the aerosol. So again, through the provision of the different positions P1; P2 of the consumable, some embodiments may thus allow the position of the consumable to be determinative on whether, and/or how many, notifications are provided to the user during use of the aerosol provision system 1.

For assisting the aerosol provision device (and/or the aerosol provision system 1) to detect whether the consumable 2 is located in either the first position P1 or the second position P2 (or any other position), it will be appreciated that a variety of different apparatuses or mechanisms could be employed, e.g. using one or more sensors as part of the aerosol provision device 4. Equally, and in accordance with some embodiments, the aerosol provision device may comprise a tertiary electrode (or a control electrode) 81 which is configured to be engaged by an electrode (such as a corresponding control electrode 83, and/or one of electrodes 46 from the second plurality of electrodes 46) from the consumable 2 when the consumable is in one of the first and second positions P1; P2 (as shown in the embodiment of FIG. 10A, for instance), but not the other of the first and second positions (as shown in the embodiment of FIG. 10B, for instance). In this way, and in accordance with some embodiments, control circuitry 18 from the aerosol provision device 4 may be configured to detect when the consumable is in the first position P1 and/or the second position P2 using the control electrode 81 from the aerosol provision device 4. Yet further still, the control circuitry 18 in response to determining that the consumable is in the first position P1 (and/or the second position P2), may be then configured to allow the aerosol provision system to perform the first predetermined operation (and/or the second predetermined operation).

Equally, where the tertiary electrode (control electrode) 81 from the aerosol provision device 4 is configured to be engaged by the control electrode 83 in only one of the first and second positions P1; P2, it may be appreciated in accordance with some embodiments thereof that the engaging of this control electrode 83 may be used to effect supplemental functionality of the aerosol provision system 1 in that position, such as the effecting of an operation of a heater or some other thermal component, electrically connected to the control electrode 83, for increasing/modifying the temperature of aerosol in the aerosol outlet tube 38 whilst aerosol is being generated in this particular position (but not the other position where the contact electrode 83 is not engaged), as discussed previously.

Whatever the mechanism used to detect whether the consumable 2 is located in either the first position P1 or the second position P2 however, in terms of other potential applications for the respective first and second predetermined operations, in accordance with some embodiments, the first predetermined operation may comprise the aerosol provision system being configured to not generate an aerosol, and the second predetermined operation comprising the aerosol provision system being configured to generate an aerosol. In this way, the system may be configured to require the consumable to be moved from the first position P1 to the second position P2 to implement any aerosol generation from the aerosol provision system. Such an arrangement may therefore act as a convenient safety mechanism for inhibiting any inadvertent or accidental aerosol generation from the aerosol provision system.

In accordance with some embodiments, the first predetermined operation may equally comprise the aerosol provision device 4 being configured to supply power to a power source from the consumable 2. In this way for instance, the first position P1 may thus correspond to a charging position for the consumable, whereby a power source 2 from the consumable can be charged. In this way, the first position P1 could effectively also correspond to a standby position in which aerosol generation from the consumable 2 is prevented by the aerosol provision system, but which also corresponds to a position in which power is operable to be provided to the consumable 2 by the aerosol provision device 4.

Mindful of the above disclosure, it may be seen that this disclosure may also provide for a corresponding method for controlling the operation of an aerosol provision system for generating an aerosol, wherein the method comprises: moving a consumable, from the aerosol provision system, between a first position in which the consumable is releasably received by an aerosol provision device of the aerosol provision system, and a second position in which the consumable is releasably received by the aerosol provision device, wherein the second position is different from the first position; wherein the first position, the aerosol provision system is configured to perform a first predetermined operation; and wherein the second position, the aerosol provision system is configured to perform a second predetermined operation which is different from the first predetermined operation.

With respect to such methods, it may be appreciated that the method may further comprise performing the second predetermined operation after the consumable 2 has been moved to the second position P2. As required, and depending on what the second predetermined operation is, the second predetermined operation may be performed at a predetermined time after the consumable 2 has been moved to the second position P2, or could be performed as soon as the consumable 2 has been moved to the second position P2.

From the foregoing description therefore, it may be seen that provided herein are various apparatus, systems, and corresponding methods in which a consumable from an aerosol provision system may be located about a plurality of different positions for allowing the aerosol provision system to perform a particular predetermined operation which is particular to each such position.

Related to this disclosure is also the provision of a consumable 2 which may employ a tertiary or control electrode, whereby the control electrode in these instances can be used as a mechanism for the aerosol provision system 1 to decide when to implement a particular predetermined operation from the aerosol provision system 1, based on whether or not the control electrode 83 from the consumable 2 is engaged by a corresponding control electrode 81 from an aerosol provision device 4 from the aerosol provision system. Mindful of this additional disclosure, it may also be appreciated that disclosed herein may be a consumable 2 configured to be releasably received by an aerosol provision device 4 from an aerosol provision system 1 for generating an aerosol, wherein the consumable 2 comprises:

• • a first reservoir 31 for storing a first aerosol-generating material;
  • an aerosol generator 40 configured to generate an aerosol using the first aerosol-generating material from the first reservoir 31;
  • a base portion 75 comprising a plurality of electrodes 46A; 46B for transferring electrical power to the aerosol generator 40;
  • wherein the base portion 75 further comprises a control electrode 83 which is configured to be selectively engaged for implementing a predetermined operation from the aerosol provision system 1.

Any such consumable 2 may then be received with any of the aerosol provision devices 4 as described herein, as required, to provide for an equivalent aerosol provision system 1 which comprises such a consumable 2. For instance, such an aerosol provision system 1 may comprise the consumable 2 as set out above, and an aerosol provision device 4 for releasably receiving the consumable, wherein the aerosol provision device comprises: the power source 16; and the plurality of electrodes 78; 78A; 78B, for engaging with the plurality of electrodes 46; 46A; 46B from the consumable 2 when the consumable is releasably received by the aerosol provision device 4, for transferring electrical power from the power source 16 of the aerosol provision device 4 to the consumable 2 when the consumable 2 is releasably received by the aerosol provision device 4. The aerosol provision device in these instances may then also comprise a control electrode 81, which is configured to be selectively engaged by the control electrode 83 from the consumable 2, for implementing the predetermined operation from the aerosol provision system 1. Such a predetermined operation, appreciably, could be any of the herein described potential predetermined operations, as described above or below, as required.

Appreciating the foregoing therefore, there has been described an aerosol provision system for generating an aerosol, wherein the aerosol provision system comprises:

• • an aerosol provision device; and
  • a consumable configured to be releasably received by the aerosol provision device;
  • wherein the consumable is configured to be releasably received by the aerosol provision device in a first position for allowing the aerosol provision system to perform a first predetermined operation; and
  • wherein the consumable is configured to be releasably received by the aerosol provision device in a second position for allowing the aerosol provision system to perform a second predetermined operation which is different from the first predetermined operation.

There has also been described an aerosol provision device for generating an aerosol in an aerosol provision system comprising the aerosol provision device and consumable;

• • wherein the aerosol provision device is configured to releasably receive a consumable, for generating the aerosol, in a first position for allowing the aerosol provision system to perform a first predetermined operation;
  • wherein the aerosol provision device is configured to releasably receive the consumable, for generating the aerosol, in a second position for allowing the aerosol provision system to perform a second predetermined operation which is different from the first predetermined operation.

There has also been described a consumable configured to be releasably received by an aerosol provision device for generating an aerosol;

• • wherein the consumable is configured to be releasably received, by the aerosol provision device, in a first position for allowing the aerosol provision system to perform a first predetermined operation; and
  • wherein the consumable is configured to be releasably received, by the aerosol provision device, in a second position for allowing the aerosol provision system to perform a second predetermined operation which is different from the first predetermined operation.

There has also been described a method for controlling the operation of an aerosol provision system for generating an aerosol, wherein the method comprises:

• • moving a consumable, from the aerosol provision system, between a first position in which the consumable is releasably received by an aerosol provision device of the aerosol provision system, and a second position in which the consumable is releasably received by the aerosol provision device, wherein the second position is different from the first position;
  • wherein the first position, the aerosol provision system is configured to perform a first predetermined operation; and
  • wherein the second position, the aerosol provision system is configured to perform a second predetermined operation which is different from the first predetermined operation.

There has also been described a consumable configured to be releasably received by an aerosol provision device from an aerosol provision system for generating an aerosol, wherein the consumable comprises:

• • a first reservoir for storing a first aerosol-generating material;
  • an aerosol generator configured to generate an aerosol using the first aerosol-generating material from the first reservoir; and
  • a base portion comprising a plurality of electrodes for transferring electrical power to the aerosol generator;
  • wherein the base portion further comprises a control electrode which is configured to be selectively engaged for implementing a predetermined operation from the aerosol provision system.

There has also been described an aerosol provision system for generating an aerosol, wherein the aerosol provision system comprises:

• • the consumable as described above; and
  • an aerosol provision device for releasably receiving the consumable, wherein the aerosol provision device comprises:
    • a power source; and
    • a plurality of electrodes, for engaging with the plurality of electrode from the consumable when the consumable is releasably received by the aerosol provision device, for transferring electrical power from the power source of the aerosol provision device to the consumable when the consumable is releasably received by the aerosol provision device; and
    • a control electrode, which is configured to be selectively engaged by the control electrode from the consumable, for implementing the predetermined operation from the aerosol provision system.

There has also been described a consumable 2 configured to be releasably received by an aerosol provision device 4 from an aerosol provision system 1 for generating an aerosol. The consumable 2 comprises a first reservoir 31 for storing a first aerosol-generating material, and an aerosol generator 40 configured to generate an aerosol using the first aerosol-generating material from the first reservoir 31. The consumable also comprises a base portion 75 comprising a plurality of electrodes 46A; 46B for transferring electrical power to the aerosol generator. The base portion 75 further comprises a control electrode 83 which is configured to be selectively engaged for implementing a predetermined operation from the aerosol provision system 1.

In order to address various issues and advance the art, this disclosure shows by way of illustration various embodiments in which the claimed invention(s) may be practiced. The advantages and features of the disclosure are of a representative sample of embodiments only, and are not exhaustive and/or exclusive. They are presented only to assist in understanding and to teach the claimed invention(s). It is to be understood that advantages, embodiments, examples, functions, features, structures, and/or other aspects of the disclosure are not to be considered limitations on the disclosure as defined by the claims or limitations on equivalents to the claims, and that other embodiments may be utilised and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the claims. Various embodiments may suitably comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of, various combinations of the disclosed elements, components, features, parts, steps, means, etc. other than those specifically described herein, and it will thus be appreciated that features of the dependent claims (or any herein recited dependent clauses) may be combined with features of the independent claims (or independent clauses) in combinations other than those explicitly set out in the claims or clauses. The disclosure may include other inventions not presently claimed, but which may be claimed in future. Accordingly, any permutation of the features from the claims may be combined as required, and/or may be combined with any permutation of the features from the herein recited clauses at the end of this specification.

Purely for completeness, in respect of any consumable employed herein which comprises multiple air inlet (or air inlet channels) 50, and/or multiple reservoirs 31A; 31B of aerosol-generating material (e.g. as shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 9A and 9B), it will be appreciated in the context of these embodiments that appropriate fluid directing components may be provided in the aerosol provision system 1 to facilitate any appropriate directing of air and/or generated aerosol through the aerosol provision system 1 towards the aerosol outlet 60, such as via the use as appropriate one way-valves or uni-directional flow members 89 for preventing air and/or aerosol from passing in an upstream direction towards any provided air inlet 50 or air inlets 50 from the aerosol provision system 1.

Purely for completeness as well, it will also be appreciated that with respect to any consumable 2 herein provided, the consumable 2 need not necessarily be configured for allowing the aerosol provision system 1 to perform a second predetermined operation which is different from the first predetermined operation when the consumable 2 is releasably received, by the aerosol provision device 4, in the second position P2.

However, that the consumable 2 may nonetheless be configured to be releasably received by the aerosol provision device in both a first position P1, and a second position P2 (which is different from the first position P1), at a more general level, may nonetheless have its own advantages, at least in so far as this arrangement might then allow the consumable 2 to be more interchangeably used with the aerosol provision device 4 about more than one position. This can be seen, at least in the embodiments as shown in the Figures for instance, where the equivalent base portion 75 of the consumable 2 may notionally be inserted into the receptacle 8 of the aerosol provision device 4 in two different rotational positions/orientations P1; P2, as a result of the base portion 75 also being/comprising the symmetrical portion 71 with rotational symmetry of order 2. In this way, irrespective of which rotational position P1; P2 is employed, an aerosol may still be generated by the aerosol provision system 1 in either of these two rotational positions P1; P2, such to help provide some versatility to the aerosol provision system 1 as a whole.

With respect to any base portion 75 which may be employed, in accordance with some embodiments in which it has been found to better support the consumable 2 in use with respect to the aerosol provision device 4, the base portion 75 of the consumable in some embodiments may comprise a maximum length, which is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the consumable 2, wherein the maximum length is at least 10 mm. This minimum for the maximum length has been found to help provide a long enough base portion about which the consumable 2 can be adequately supported by the aerosol provision device 4. Equally, and in accordance with some embodiments, the maximum length may be no more than 40 mm to avoid making the overall length of the consumable 2 excessively long. By the term ‘maximum length’ here, this may be understood as meaning that the maximum length of the base portion 75 of the consumable 2 must be at least, and/or no more than, the quoted amount in millimetres.

Staying with the shape of any provided base portion 75, where employed, it may be seen that in accordance with some embodiments (such as those shown in the embodiments from the Figures, as shown in FIG. 6B for instance), to help define the distinct different positions P1; P2, the base portion 75 may comprise a non-circular cross section. With respect to any such non-circular cross section which might be employed, to yet further help define the distinct different positions P1: P2, the base portion 75 may comprise a maximum width (which may be parallel to the horizontal dotted line from FIG. 6B, for example) which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L of the consumable 2. Equally, the base portion 75 in accordance with some embodiments may comprise a maximum depth (which is parallel to the vertical dotted line from FIG. 6B, for example), wherein the maximum depth is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L of the consumable 2 and also perpendicular to the maximum width, wherein the maximum width is larger than the maximum depth. In this way, this arrangement might then better restrict the ability of the base portion 75/consumable 2 to be engaged by the aerosol provision device 4 in a few number of rotational positions, and may further assist with the user being able to more easily identify what these rotational positions are.

With respect to any base portion 75 which may be provided as well, it may be appreciated too that in so far as this base portion 75 comprises an air inlet(s) 50 for allowing air into the consumable 2, in some embodiments each air inlet 50 may intersect the maximum width of the base portion (as can be seen in the embodiments of FIGS. 2 and 7A; 7B, for example). This arrangement has been found to be beneficial, not least due to it making it easier to manufacture the consumable 2 as a result of locating each air inlet 50 in a portion of the consumable 2 where there is more material to work with.

1. An aerosol provision system for generating an aerosol, wherein the aerosol provision system comprises:

• • an aerosol provision device; and
  • a consumable configured to be releasably received by the aerosol provision device;
  • wherein the consumable is configured to be releasably received by the aerosol provision device in a first position for allowing the aerosol provision system to perform a first predetermined operation; and
  • wherein the consumable is configured to be releasably received by the aerosol provision device in a second position.

2. An aerosol provision system according to clause 1, wherein the consumable is configured to be releasably received by the aerosol provision device in the second position for allowing the aerosol provision system to perform a second predetermined operation which is different from the first predetermined operation.

3. An aerosol provision system according to any preceding clause, wherein the first position is different from the second position.

4. An aerosol provision system according to any preceding clause, wherein the first position of the consumable comprises the consumable being received by the aerosol provision device in a first rotational position relative to the aerosol provision device, and the second position comprises the consumable being received by the aerosol provision device in a second rotational position relative to the aerosol provision device which is different from the first rotational position.

5. An aerosol provision system according to any preceding clause, wherein the consumable comprises a symmetrical portion with rotational symmetry of order ‘n’, wherein n is a positive integer number of at least 2.

6. An aerosol provision system according to clause 5, wherein ‘n’ is a positive integer number of at least 3.

7. An aerosol provision system according to clause 6, wherein ‘n’ is a positive integer number of at least 4.

8. An aerosol provision system according to any preceding clause, wherein the aerosol provision device comprises a power source.

9. An aerosol provision system according to clause 8, wherein the aerosol provision device comprises a first plurality of electrodes for transferring electrical power from the power source of the aerosol provision device to the consumable when the consumable is releasably received by the aerosol provision device.

10. An aerosol provision system according to clause 9, wherein the consumable comprises a second plurality of electrodes for contacting the first plurality of electrodes from the aerosol provision device when the consumable is releasably received by the aerosol provision device.

11. An aerosol provision system according to clause 10, wherein the second plurality of electrodes are configured to contact the first plurality of electrodes about a first configuration, in the first position, for allowing the aerosol provision system to perform the first predetermined operation; and

• • wherein the second plurality of electrodes are configured to contact the first plurality of electrodes about a second configuration, which is different from the first configuration, in the second position, for allowing the aerosol provision system to perform the second predetermined operation.

12. An aerosol provision system according to clause 10 or 11, wherein the first plurality of electrodes comprises a first electrode and a second electrode, and the second plurality of electrodes comprises a first electrode and a second electrode;

• • wherein the first position, the first electrode of the first plurality of electrodes is configured to contact the first electrode of the second plurality of electrodes; and
  • wherein the second position, the first electrode of the first plurality of electrodes is configured to contact the second electrode of the second plurality of electrodes.

13. An aerosol provision system according to clause 12;

• • wherein the first position, the second electrode of the first plurality of electrodes is configured to contact the second electrode of the second plurality of electrodes; and
  • wherein the second position, the second electrode of the first plurality of electrodes is configured to contact the first electrode of the second plurality of electrodes.

14. An aerosol provision system according to any of clauses 10-13, when further dependent on any of clauses 5-7 at least, wherein the symmetrical portion comprises at least one of the electrodes from the second plurality of electrodes.

15. An aerosol provision system according to clause 9, when further dependent on any of clauses 5-7 at least, wherein the symmetrical portion comprises at least one of the electrodes from the first plurality of electrodes.

16. An aerosol provision system according to any preceding clause, wherein the aerosol provision device further comprises a receptacle for receiving at least a portion of the consumable when the consumable is in the first position and/or the second position.

17. An aerosol provision system according to clause 16, wherein the portion of the consumable comprises a base portion of the consumable.

18. An aerosol provision system according to clause 17, wherein the base portion of the consumable comprises a maximum length, which is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the consumable, wherein the maximum length is at least 10 mm and/or no more than 40 mm.

19. An aerosol provision system according to clause 17 or 18, wherein the base portion comprises a non-circular cross section.

20. An aerosol provision system according to any of clauses 17-19, wherein the non-circular cross section comprises a maximum width which is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the consumable, and comprises a maximum depth, wherein the maximum depth is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the consumable and also perpendicular to the maximum width, wherein the maximum width is larger than the maximum depth.

21. An aerosol provision system according to any of clauses 17-20, wherein the non-circular cross section comprises a maximum width which is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the consumable, and comprises a maximum depth, wherein the maximum depth is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the consumable and also perpendicular to the maximum width, wherein the maximum width is larger than the maximum depth.

22. An aerosol provision system according to any of clauses 17-21, wherein the base portion comprises an air inlet for allowing air into the consumable, for generating the aerosol, when the consumable is in the first position.

23. An aerosol provision system according to clause 22, when further dependent on clause 21 at least, wherein the air inlet intersects the maximum width of the base portion.

24. An aerosol provision system according to any of clauses 16-23, when further dependent on any of clauses 5-7 at least, wherein the portion comprises the symmetrical portion.

25. An aerosol provision system according to any of clauses 16-24, wherein the consumable further comprises a mouthpiece portion which is configured to be located outside of the receptacle when the consumable is in the first position or the second position.

26. An aerosol provision system according to clause 24 or 25, when further dependent on clause 9, wherein the base portion of the consumable further comprises the first plurality of electrodes.

27. An aerosol provision system according to any of clauses 24-26, when further dependent on clause 10, wherein the base portion of the consumable further comprises the second plurality of electrodes.

28. An aerosol provision system according to any preceding clause, wherein the aerosol provision system is configured to supply air to the consumable via a first arrangement of the aerosol provision system when the consumable is in the first position; and wherein the aerosol provision system is configured to supply air to the consumable via a second arrangement of the aerosol provision system when the consumable is in the second position, wherein the second arrangement is different from the first arrangement.

29. An aerosol provision system according to any preceding clause, wherein the aerosol provision system is configured to modify the temperature of aerosol, which is generated by the aerosol provision system, when the consumable is in one of the first and second positions, but not the other of the first and second positions.

30. An aerosol provision system according to any preceding clause, wherein the aerosol provision system is configured to modify the temperature of air, which is supplied to the consumable from the aerosol provision device, for generating the aerosol, when the consumable is in one of the first and second positions, but not the other of the first and second positions.

31. An aerosol provision system according to clause 29 or 30, wherein modifying the temperature comprises increasing the temperature.

32. An aerosol provision system according to any preceding clause, wherein the aerosol provision system further comprises an aerosol generator for generating the aerosol.

33. An aerosol provision system according to clause 32, wherein the consumable comprises the aerosol generator.

34. An aerosol provision system according to clause 32 or 33, wherein the aerosol provision device comprises the aerosol generator.

35. An aerosol provision system according to any of clauses 32-34, when further dependent on clause 31, wherein the increase in temperature is configured to be supplied by heat from the aerosol generator.

36. An aerosol provision system according to any of clauses 32-35, further comprising an aerosol outlet tube for receiving aerosol generated by the aerosol generator, and an outlet for receiving the aerosol from the aerosol outlet tube.

37. An aerosol provision system according to clause 36, when further dependent on clause 29 at least, wherein the aerosol provision system is configured to modify the temperature of the aerosol in the aerosol outlet tube.

38. An aerosol provision system according to any preceding clause, wherein the aerosol provision device is configured to supply air to the consumable, for generating the aerosol, at a first rate when the consumable is in the first position; and

• • wherein the aerosol provision device is configured to supply air to the consumable, for generating the aerosol, at a second rate when the consumable is in the second position, wherein the first rate is different from the second rate.

39. An aerosol provision system according to any preceding clause, wherein the aerosol provision system comprises a first air inlet channel for supplying air to the consumable, for generating the aerosol, when the consumable is in the first position;

• • wherein the aerosol provision system comprises a second air inlet channel for supplying air to the consumable, for generating the aerosol, when the consumable is in the second position, wherein the first air inlet channel is different from the second air inlet channel.

40. An aerosol provision system according to any preceding clause, wherein the consumable is configured to slide between the first position and the second positon for moving the consumable between the first position and the second position.

41. An aerosol provision system according to any preceding clause,

• • wherein the aerosol provision system is configured to generate the aerosol at a first aerosol-generation rate when the consumable is in the first position, and
  • wherein the aerosol provision system is configured to generate the aerosol at a second aerosol generation rate when the consumable is in the second position, wherein the first aerosol-generation rate is different from the second aerosol-generation rate.

42. An aerosol provision system according to any preceding clause,

• • wherein the aerosol provision system is configured to generate an aerosol comprising a first flavour when the consumable is in the first position, and
  • wherein the aerosol provision system is configured to generate an aerosol comprising a second flavour when the consumable is in the second position, wherein the first flavour is different from the second flavour.

43. An aerosol provision system according to any preceding clause,

• • wherein the consumable comprises a first reservoir for storing a first aerosol-generating material, wherein the aerosol provision system is configured to generate an aerosol using the first aerosol-generating material when the consumable is in the first position.

44. An aerosol provision system according to clause 43, wherein the consumable comprises a second reservoir for storing a second aerosol-generating material, wherein the aerosol provision system is configured to generate an aerosol using the second aerosol-generating material when the consumable is in the second position.

45. An aerosol provision system according to clause 44, wherein the composition of the first aerosol-generating material is different to the composition of the second aerosol-generating material.

46. An aerosol provision system according to any preceding clause,

• • wherein the aerosol provision system is operable to provide at least one feedback signal when the consumable is in the first position.

47. An aerosol provision system according to clause 46, wherein the aerosol provision system is operable to not provide the at least one feedback signal when the consumable is in the second position.

48. An aerosol provision system according to any preceding clause,

• • wherein the aerosol provision device comprises a tertiary electrode which is configured to be engaged by an electrode from the consumable when the consumable is in one of the first and second positions, but not the other of the first and second positions.

49. An aerosol provision system according to clause 48, wherein the electrode from the consumable comprises a control electrode from the consumable.

50. An aerosol provision system according to any preceding clause, when dependent on clause 2 at least, wherein the second predetermined operation comprises configuring the aerosol provision system to operate in a silent mode of operation.

51. An aerosol provision system according to any preceding clause;

• • wherein the first predetermined operation comprises configuring the aerosol provision system to operate in a first mode of operation for providing at least one notification to a user of the aerosol provision system.

52. An aerosol provision system according to clause 51, when further dependent on clause 2 at least, wherein the second predetermined operation comprises configuring the aerosol provision system to operate in a second mode of operation in which the aerosol provision system is configured to not provide the at least one notification to the user of the aerosol provision system.

53. An aerosol provision system according to clause 51 or 52;

• • wherein the first predetermined operation comprises the aerosol provision system being configured to provide the at least one notification to the user of the aerosol provision system whilst the aerosol provision system is generating the aerosol.

54. An aerosol provision system according to any preceding clause;

• • wherein the first predetermined operation comprises the aerosol provision system being configured to not generate an aerosol.

55. An aerosol provision system according to clause 54, when further dependent on clause 2 at least, wherein the second predetermined operation comprises the aerosol provision system being configured to generate an aerosol.

56. An aerosol provision system according to any preceding clause;

• • wherein the first predetermined operation comprises the aerosol provision device being configured to supply power to a power source from the consumable.

57. An aerosol provision device for generating an aerosol in an aerosol provision system comprising the aerosol provision device and consumable;

• • wherein the aerosol provision device is configured to releasably receive a consumable, for generating the aerosol, in a first position for allowing the aerosol provision system to perform a first predetermined operation;
  • wherein the aerosol provision device is configured to releasably receive the consumable, for generating the aerosol, in a second position.

58. An aerosol provision system according to clause 57, wherein the aerosol provision device is configured to releasably receive the consumable, for generating the aerosol, in the second position for allowing the aerosol provision system to perform a second predetermined operation which is different from the first predetermined operation.

59. A consumable configured to be releasably received by an aerosol provision device for generating an aerosol;

• • wherein the consumable is configured to be releasably received, by the aerosol provision device, in a first position for allowing the aerosol provision system to perform a first predetermined operation; and
  • wherein the consumable is configured to be releasably received, by the aerosol provision device, in a second position.

60. A consumable according to clause 59, wherein the consumable is configured to be releasably received, by the aerosol provision device, in the second position, for allowing the aerosol provision system to perform a second predetermined operation which is different from the first predetermined operation.

61. A method for controlling the operation of an aerosol provision system for generating an aerosol, wherein the method comprises:

• • moving a consumable, from the aerosol provision system, between a first position in which the consumable is releasably received by an aerosol provision device of the aerosol provision system, and a second position in which the consumable is releasably received by the aerosol provision device, wherein the second position is different from the first position;
  • wherein the first position, the aerosol provision system is configured to perform a first predetermined operation.

62. A method according to clause 61, wherein the second position, the aerosol provision system is configured to perform a second predetermined operation which is different from the first predetermined operation.

63. A method according to clause 62, wherein the method further comprises:

• • performing the second predetermined operation after the consumable has been moved to the second position.

64. A method according to clause 62 or 63, wherein the method further comprises:

• • performing the second predetermined operation as soon as the consumable has been moved to the second position.

65. A method according to any of clauses 61-64, wherein the second position, the consumable comprises a portion which is received in a receptacle of the aerosol provision device.

Claims

1. A consumable configured to be releasably received by an aerosol provision device from an aerosol provision system for generating an aerosol, wherein the consumable comprises: a first reservoir for storing a first aerosol-generating material;an aerosol generator configured to generate an aerosol using the first aerosol-generating material from the first reservoir; anda base portion comprising a plurality of electrodes for transferring electrical power to the aerosol generator;wherein the base portion further comprises a control electrode which is configured to be selectively engaged for implementing a predetermined operation from the aerosol provision system.

2. A consumable according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of electrodes and the control electrode are located at a first end of the consumable.

3. A consumable according to claim 1, wherein the control electrode comprises the same shape as each of the plurality of electrodes.

4. A consumable according to claim 1, wherein the consumable further comprises a mouthpiece portion comprising an aerosol outlet for receiving an aerosol generated by the aerosol generator.

5. A consumable according to claim 1, wherein the consumable comprises a symmetrical portion with rotational symmetry of order ‘n’, wherein n is a positive integer number of at least 2.

6. (canceled)

7. (canceled)

8. A consumable according to claim 5, wherein the base portion comprises the symmetrical portion.

9. (canceled)

10. A consumable according to claim 1, wherein the consumable further comprises a second reservoir for storing a second aerosol-generating material, wherein the aerosol generator is configured to generate an aerosol using the second aerosol-generating material from the second reservoir and the composition of the first aerosol-generating material is different to the composition of the second aerosol-generating material.

11. (canceled)

12. (canceled)

13. A consumable according to claim 10, wherein the consumable is configured to not generate an aerosol using the first aerosol-generating material at the same time as generating an aerosol using the second aerosol-generating material.

14. A consumable according to claim 1, wherein the consumable is configured to selectively heat air which passes through an air inlet channel of the consumable.

15. A consumable according to claim 1, wherein the consumable further comprises a first air inlet channel for supplying air towards the aerosol generator, and a second air inlet channel for supplying air towards the aerosol generator, wherein the consumable is configured to heat air which passes through the first air inlet channel of the consumable.

16. (canceled)

17. A consumable according to claim 14, wherein the heat is configured to be supplied from the aerosol generator.

18. A consumable according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined operation comprises the aerosol provision system being configured to modify the temperature of aerosol, which is generated by the aerosol generator.

19. (canceled)

20. (canceled)

21. A consumable according to claim 1, further comprising an aerosol outlet tube for receiving aerosol generated by the aerosol generator, and an outlet for receiving the aerosol from the aerosol outlet tube.

22. (canceled)

23. An aerosol provision system for generating an aerosol, wherein the aerosol provision system comprises: a consumable comprising: a first reservoir for storing a first aerosol-generating material;an aerosol generator configured to generate an aerosol using the first aerosol-generating material from the first reservoir; anda base portion comprising a plurality of electrodes for transferring electrical power to the aerosol generator and a control electrode which is configured to be selectively engaged for implementing a predetermined operation from the aerosol provision system; andan aerosol provision device for releasably receiving the consumable, wherein the aerosol provision device comprises: a power source; anda plurality of electrodes, for engaging with the plurality of electrodes from the consumable when the consumable is releasably received by the aerosol provision device, for transferring electrical power from the power source of the aerosol provision device to the consumable when the consumable is releasably received by the aerosol provision device; anda control electrode, which is configured to be selectively engaged by the control electrode from the consumable, for implementing the predetermined operation from the aerosol provision system.

24. An aerosol provision system according to claim 23, wherein the aerosol provision device further comprises a receptacle for receiving the base portion of the consumable when the consumable is received by the aerosol provision device.

25. An aerosol provision system according to claim 23, wherein the consumable is configured to be releasably received by the aerosol provision device in a first position, in which the control electrode from the consumable is configured to engage with the control electrode from the aerosol provision device, for allowing the aerosol provision system to perform the first predetermined operation; wherein the consumable is configured to be releasably received by the aerosol provision device in a second position, in which the control electrode from the consumable is configured to not engage with the control electrode from the aerosol provision device, for preventing the aerosol provision system from performing the first predetermined operation; andin both the first position and the second position, the plurality of electrodes from the consumable are configured to engage with the plurality of electrodes from the aerosol provision device.

26. (canceled)

27. An aerosol provision system according to claim 23, wherein the predetermined operation comprises configuring the aerosol provision system to switch between a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation; wherein at least one of the first and second modes of operation is configured to provide at least one notification to a user of the aerosol provision system whilst the aerosol provision system is generating the aerosol; wherein the other of the first and second modes of operation is configured to not provide the at least one notification to the user of the aerosol provision system whilst the aerosol provision system is generating the aerosol.

28. (canceled)

29. An aerosol provision system according to claim 27, wherein at least one of the first and second modes of operation is configured to generate aerosol at a first rate;wherein the other of the first and second modes of operation is configured to generate aerosol at a second rate, wherein the first rate is different from the second rate.

30. An aerosol provision system according to claim 27, wherein at least one of the first and second modes of operation is configured to supply heat to air, for generating the aerosol, which is supplied towards the aerosol generator;wherein the other of the first and second modes of operation is configured to not supply heat to air, for generating the aerosol, which is supplied towards the aerosol generator.

31. An aerosol provision system according to claim 30, wherein the heat is configured to be supplied to air located in an air inlet channel which is located upstream of the aerosol generator the air inlet channel is located in the consumable.

32. (canceled)

33. (canceled)