Patent Application
20230320409
The present invention relates to an article for use in non-combustible aerosol provision system and a non-combustible aerosol provision system.
Smoking articles such as cigarettes, cigars and the like burn tobacco during use to create tobacco smoke. Non-combustible aerosol provision systems are provided as alternatives to these combustible products, and generate an inhalable aerosol or vapor by releasing compounds from an aerosol-generating material, typically by heating without burning.
One example of such a system is a heating device which release compounds by heating, but not burning, a solid aerosolizable material. This solid aerosolizable material may, in some cases, contain a tobacco material. The heating volatilizes at least one component of the material, typically forming an inhalable aerosol. These systems may be referred to as heat-not-burn devices, tobacco heating devices or tobacco heating products. Various different arrangements for volatilizing at least one component of the solid aerosolizable material are known.
It is known to provide flavors in non-combustible aerosol provision systems. It is known to provide derivatized flavors, such as flavor glycosides, to alter the flavor release profile, since the derivatized flavors have a different volatilization temperature from the free flavor.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an article for use in a non-combustible aerosol provision system, the article comprising an aerosol-generating segment, the aerosol-generating segment comprising a first flavor glycoside, wherein the aerosol-generating segment comprises at least two portions, wherein the concentration of the first flavor glycoside differs between the two portions.
A second of the invention provides a non-combustible aerosol provision system, the system comprising an aerosol-generating segment, the aerosol-generating segment comprising a flavor glycoside, wherein the aerosol-generating segment comprises at least two portions, wherein the concentration of the flavor glycoside differs between the two portions.
Suitably, the second aspect provides a non-combustible aerosol provision system comprising (i) an article according to the first aspect, and (ii) an aerosol provision device which receives the article in use.
Features described herein in relation to one aspect of the invention and hereby explicitly disclosed in combination with the other aspect, to the extent that they are compatible.
Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, given by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying figures.
The inventors have found that free flavor (by which is meant non-derivatized, un-encapsulated flavor) is typically volatilized quickly during use of non-combustible aerosol provision systems, with the result that the flavor is consumed quickly and may not be delivered evenly throughout product use. Flavor migration through the product and/or flavor losses prior to consumption have also been observed by the inventors.
Flavor glycosides have a higher volatilization temperature than the equivalent free flavor. The glycosidic bond is broken on heating, and only then is the flavor released. The energy input required to cleave this bond is greater than the energy required to volatilize the free flavor. Thus, flavor glycosides can be used to alter the flavor release profile and to minimize flavor migration or losses.
The inventors have now established that the flavor profile provided by an article for use in a non-combustible aerosol provision system can be advantageously altered through non-even distribution of a flavor glycoside within an aerosol-generating segment of the article. In some cases, different sections/portions of the aerosol-generating segment may be exposed to different heat profiles with the intention that parts of the aerosol-generating material are not heated initially, thereby saving the volatile components in those parts for consumption later in the product use lifetime. However, the inventors have established that heat bleed between portions may cause volatilization of free flavor from a portions before that portions is directly heated; in contrast, the inventors have found that a flavor glycoside only releases flavor when it is directly heated (since the glycosidic bond must be cleaved to release the flavor, and sufficient energy to cleave this bond is not provided by heat bleeding between portions). Thus, uneven distribution of the glycoside can be used to further control the flavor profile of an aerosol generated from such an article.
The at least two portions of aerosol-generating segment may be referred to herein as first and second aerosol-generating portions. The labels “first” and “second” are provided to ease reference to an individual portion and do not impart any restriction on the positioning of the portions within the segment, and do not imply any order of heating in use (unless otherwise explicitly stated).
In some cases, the concentration of the first flavor glycoside in a second portion of the aerosol-generating segment is less than about 80% of the concentration in a first portion, suitably less than 70%, 60%, 50%, 40%, 30%, 20% or 10%. In some cases, a second portion of the at least two portions does not include the first flavor glycoside. In such cases, the flavor glycoside is localized wholly within a first portion of the aerosol-generating segment. Typically, this first portion may be configured to be heated second in a non-combustible aerosol provision system. In some cases, the first portion may be closer to the mouth end of the article than the second portion. In some other cases, the first portion may be further from the mouth end of the article than the second portion.
In some cases, the first flavor glycoside is a flavor glucoside. In some cases, the first flavor glycoside is biotechnologically-produced; for example, the first flavor glycoside is enzymatically-produced. In some cases, the first flavor glycoside is a menthol glycoside.
In some cases, the aerosol-generating segment includes an aerosol-generating material, and wherein at least some of the first flavor glycoside is provided on or within the aerosol-generating material. In some cases, the aerosol-generating segment includes an aerosol-generating material and a wrapper arranged around the aerosol-generating material, and wherein at least some of the first flavor glycoside is provided on or within the wrapper. Suitably, the wrapper may comprise paper, or a paper-backed foil, such as a paper-aluminium foil laminate. In some cases, the first flavor glycoside may be provided on or within both the wrapper and aerosol-generating material.
In some cases, the aerosol-generating segment additionally comprises free flavor. In some such cases, the free flavor is provided in only the first portion, or only the second portion, or in the first and second portion of the at least two portions. In some cases, the concentration of the free flavor in the two portions is substantially equal. In some cases, the free flavor is the same flavor as the glycosylated flavor in the first flavor glycoside. In one particular case, the free flavor is menthol and the first flavor glycoside is a menthol glycoside such as menthol glucoside.
Thus, in one particular embodiment, only the second portion of the aerosol-generating segment includes free flavor, and only the first portion includes the first flavor glycoside which is the glycosylated version of the free flavor. The second portion is heated first in use; there may be some heat bleeding between portions but this is insufficient to liberate the flavor from the flavor glycoside in the first portion and the first flavor glycoside is not volatilized at this stage. Thus, all of the flavor present in the first portion is retained in the first potion at this point. The first portion is subsequently heated, resulting in volatilization of the flavor liberated from the flavor glycoside. Thus, this arrangement may provide sustained flavor delivery and an improved puff profile.
In another particular embodiment, both portions of the aerosol-generating segment include free flavor, and only the first portion includes the first flavor glycoside which is the glycosylated version of the free flavor. The second portion is heated first in use, volatilizing free flavor from the second portion and some heat bleeding between portions may result in some volatilization of the free flavor from the first portion. The first flavor glycoside is not volatilized at this stage. The first portion is subsequently heated, resulting in volatilization of the remaining free flavor and the flavor liberated from the flavor glycoside; in some cases, this may result in two modes of flavor delivery from the first portion, as there is a slight delivery lag from the flavor glycoside as the glycoside bond is cleaved. Thus, this arrangement may provide sustained flavor delivery and an improved puff profile.
In yet another particular embodiment, both portions of the aerosol-generating segment include free flavor, and both portions include the first flavor glycoside which is the glycosylated version of the free flavor, wherein the first potion includes a higher concentration of the first flavor glycoside than the second portion. The second portion is heated first in use and delivers two peaks in flavor delivery; the first substantially corresponds to volatilization of the free flavor and the second corresponds to the flavor liberated from the flavor glycoside. Additionally, some heat bleeding between portions may result in some volatilization of the free flavor from the first portion. The flavor glycoside in the first potion not volatilized at this stage. The first portion is subsequently heated, resulting in volatilization of the remaining free flavor and the flavor liberated from the flavor glycoside, again providing two peaks in flavor delivery. There is a higher concentration of the flavor glycoside in the first potion than in the second portion; this compensates for losses of free flavor from the first portion caused by heat bleeding. Thus, the total flavor delivery during heating of the respective zones may be approximately equal. Thus, this arrangement may provide sustained flavor delivery and an improved puff profile.
In some cases, the aerosol-generating segment comprises a second flavor glycoside which is different from the first flavor glycoside. In some such cases, the second flavor glycoside is provided in only the first portion, or only the second portion, or in the first and second portion of the at least two portions.
In some cases, the aerosol-generating segment comprises a solid aerosol-generating material. Suitably, in such cases, the aerosol-generating material may comprise one or more of a tobacco material, an aerosol-former material, an active substance and a functional material.
In some cases, the article may comprise more than two portions, such as 3, 4, 5 or 6 portions. The first flavor glycoside may be present in some or all portions, provided that the concentration of flavor glycoside in the first and second portions differs.
In some cases, the first portion of the aerosol-generating segment may be closer to the mouth end of the article of than the second portion. In some cases, the second portion of the aerosol-generating segment may be closer to the mouth end of the article than the first portion.
In some cases, the first and second portion may have essentially the same volume. In other cases, the first portion may have a larger volume than the second portion, and in yet further cases, the first potion may have a smaller volume than the second portion.
In some cases, the aerosol-generating article may be rod-shaped, and may suitably be cylindrical. In some cases, the aerosol-generating segment may be rod-shaped, and may suitably be cylindrical. In some cases, the at least two portions may be arranged axially along the length of the aerosol-generating article/segment. For example, the portions may be in the form of co-axial cylinders arranged along the length of the aerosol-generating article/segment. In other cases, the portions may be prismatic sections that are arranged to together form, for example, a cylinder. For example, in the case where there are two portions, they may be hemicylindrical and arranged with their respective planar faces in contact.
In some embodiments, the article for use with the non-combustible aerosol provision device may comprise, in addition to the aerosol-generating segment, an aerosol generator (such as a heater), a housing, a filter, a cooling element and/or a mouthpiece. One or more of these further components may carry a further flavor glycoside. In particular, in some cases, the article (which may alternatively be referred to herein as a consumable) may also comprise an aerosol generator, such as a heater, that emits heat to cause the aerosol-generating material to generate aerosol in use. The heater may, for example, comprise combustible material, a material heatable by electrical conduction, or a susceptor. The cooling element, if present, may be provided in a mouthpiece and may act or function to cool gaseous or aerosol components. In some cases, it may act to cool gaseous components such that they condense to form an aerosol. It may also act to space the very hot parts of the apparatus from the user. The filter, if present, may comprise any suitable filter known in the art such as a cellulose acetate plug.
The article may additionally comprise ventilation apertures. These may be provided in a sidewall of the article. In some cases, the ventilation apertures may be provided in the filter and/or cooling element. These apertures may allow cool air to be drawn into the article during use, which can mix with the heated volatilized components thereby cooling the aerosol.
The ventilation enhances the generation of visible heated volatilized components from the article when it is heated in use. The heated volatilized components are made visible by the process of cooling the heated volatilized components such that supersaturation of the heated volatilized components occurs. The heated volatilized components then undergo droplet formation, otherwise known as nucleation, and eventually the size of the aerosol particles of the heated volatilized components increases by further condensation of the heated volatilized components and by coagulation of newly formed droplets from the heated volatilized components.
In some cases, the ratio of the cool air to the sum of the heated volatilized components and the cool air, known as the ventilation ratio, is at least 15%. A ventilation ratio of 15% enables the heated volatilized components to be made visible by the method described above. The visibility of the heated volatilized components enables the user to identify that the volatilized components have been generated and adds to the sensory experience of the smoking experience.
In another example, the ventilation ratio is between 50% and 85% to provide additional cooling to the heated volatilized components. In some cases, the ventilation ratio may be at least 60% or 65%.
The non-combustible aerosol provision system may include an aerosol generator, such as a heater. In some cases, the heater which is configured to heat the aerosol-generating segment in use to form an aerosol, and wherein the system provides a different heat profile to the first and second portions of the at least two portions. In some such cases, the system may be configured such that heating of the first portion of the aerosol-generating segment is initiated after heating of the second portion. Suitably, the system may comprise at least two heaters, wherein the heaters are arranged to respectively heat different portions of the aerosol-generating segment.
According to the present disclosure, a “non-combustible” aerosol provision system is one where a constituent aerosol-generating material of the aerosol provision system (or component thereof) is not combusted or burned in order to facilitate delivery of at least one substance to a user. In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision system is an aerosol-generating material heating system, also known as a heat-not-burn system. An example of such a system is a tobacco heating system.
Typically, the non-combustible aerosol provision system may comprise a non-combustible aerosol provision device and an article (which may also be referred to herein as a consumable) for use with the non-combustible aerosol provision device.
In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision system, such as a non-combustible aerosol provision device thereof, may comprise a power source and a controller. The power source may, for example, be an electric power source or an exothermic power source. In some embodiments, the exothermic power source comprises a carbon substrate which may be energized so as to distribute power in the form of heat to an aerosol-generating material or to a heat transfer material in proximity to the exothermic power source.
In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision system may comprise an area for receiving the consumable, an aerosol generator (such as a heater), an aerosol generation area, a housing, a mouthpiece and/or a filter.
The heater is configured to heat not burn the aerosol-generating segment. In some cases, the heater may heat but not burn the aerosol-generating segment to between 120° C. and 350° C. in use. In some cases, the heater may heat but not burn the aerosol-generating segment to between 140° C. and 250° C. in use.
As noted above, in some cases the system may comprise at least two heaters. In some such cases, the heaters are arranged to respectively heat the first and second portions of the aerosol-generating segment. In some cases, the aerosol generating segment may comprise more than two portions, and the system may comprise further heaters, arranged such that each directly heats one or more portions of the aerosol-generating segment.
In some cases, the system may be configured such that at least a section of the aerosol-generating segment is exposed to a temperature of at least 180° C. or 200° C. for at least 50% of the heating period. In some examples, the aerosol-generating segment may be exposed to a heat profile as described in WO2018/019855, the contents of which are incorporated herein in their entirety.
In some particular cases, a system is provided which is configured to heat the at least two portions of the aerosol-generating segment separately. By controlling the temperature of the first and second portions over time such that the temperature profiles of the portions are different, it is possible to control the puff profile of the aerosol during use. The heat provided to the two portions of the aerosol-generating segment may be provided at different times or rates; staggering the heating in this way may allow for both fast aerosol production and longevity of use.
In one particular example, the system may be configured such that on initiation of the consumption experience, a first heating element corresponding to a first portion of the aerosol-generating segment is immediately heated to a temperature of 240° C. This first heating element is maintained at 240° C. for 145 seconds and then drops to 135° C. (where it remains for the rest of the consumption experience). 75 seconds after initiation of the consumption experience, a second heating element corresponding to a second portion of the aerosol-generating segment is heated to a temperature of 160° C. 135 seconds after initiation of the consumption experience, the temperature of the second heating element is raised to 240° C. (where it remains for the rest of the consumption experience). The consumption experience lasts 280 seconds, at which point both heaters are cool to room temperature.
The heater may be, in some cases, a thin film, electrically resistive heater. In other cases, the heater may comprise an induction heater or the like (and the susceptor may be in the article or device of the system). The heater may be a combustible heat source or a chemical heat source which undergoes an exothermic reaction to product heat in use. Where more than one heater is present, each heater may be the same or different.
Generally, the or each heater is powered by a battery, which may be a rechargeable battery or a non-rechargeable battery. Examples of suitable batteries include for example a lithium-ion battery, a nickel battery (such as a nickel—cadmium battery), an alkaline battery and/or the like. The battery is electrically coupled to the heater to supply electrical power when required to heat the aerosol-generating segment (to volatilize components of aerosolizable material within the aerosol-generating segment without causing the aerosolizable material to burn).
In one example, the heater is generally in the form of a hollow cylindrical tube, having a hollow interior heating chamber into which the aerosol-generating segment is inserted for heating in use. Different arrangements for the heater are possible. For example, the heater may be formed as a single heater or may be formed of plural heaters aligned along the longitudinal axis of the heater. (For simplicity, reference to a “heater” herein shall be taken to include plural heaters, unless the context requires otherwise.) The heater may be annular or tubular. The heater may be is dimensioned so that substantially the whole of aerosol-generating segment when inserted is located within the heating element(s) of the heater so that substantially the whole of the aerosol-generating segment is heated in use. The heater may be arranged so that selected zones of the aerosol-generating segment can be independently heated, for example in turn (sequentially) or together (simultaneously) as desired.
The heater may be surrounded along at least part of its length by a thermal insulator which helps to reduce heat passing from the heater to the exterior of the aerosol generating assembly. This helps to keep down the power requirements for the heater as it reduces heat losses generally. The insulator also helps to keep the exterior of the aerosol generating assembly cool during operation of the heater.
Referring to
The article 101 of one example is in the form of a substantially cylindrical rod that includes an aerosol-generating segment 103 and a filter assembly 105 in the form of a rod. The filter assembly 105 includes three segments, a cooling segment 107, a filter segment 109 and a mouth end segment 111. The article 101 has a first end 113, also known as a mouth end or a proximal end and a second end 115, also known as a distal end. The aerosol-generating segment 103 is located towards the distal end 115 of the article 101. In one example, the cooling segment 107 is located adjacent to the aerosol-generating segment 103 between the aerosol-generating segment 103 and the filter segment 109, such that the cooling segment 107 is in an abutting relationship with the aerosol-generating segment 103 and the filter segment 109. In other examples, there may be a separation between the aerosol-generating segment 103 and the cooling segment 107 and between the aerosol-generating segment 103 and the filter segment 109. The filter segment 109 is located in between the cooling segment 107 and the mouth end segment 111. The mouth end segment 111 is located towards the proximal end 113 of the article 101, adjacent the filter segment 109. In one example, the filter segment 109 is in an abutting relationship with the mouth end segment 111. In one embodiment, the total length of the filter assembly 105 is between 37 mm and 45 mm, more preferably, the total length of the filter assembly 105 is 41 mm.
The aerosol-generating segment has two portions 103a, 103b. In one example, a first section 103a (closer to the proximal end 113 of the article 101) includes a first flavor glycoside and a second section 103b (closer to the distal end 115 of the article 101) does not include the first flavor glycoside. In some cases, both sections may include the first flavor glycoside, provided that the concentration of flavor glycoside in each section is different. In some cases, either or each section 103a, 103b may include a free flavor, corresponding to the flavor glycoside. In some cases, either or each section 103a, 103b may include an aerosol-generating material, and the flavor and/or flavor glycoside may be carried on or within the aerosol-generating material. When used in the device illustrated in
In one example, the aerosol-generating segment 103 is between 34 mm and 50 mm in length, suitably between 38 mm and 46 mm in length, suitably 42 mm in length.
In one example, the total length of the article 101 is between 71 mm and 95 mm, suitably between 79 mm and 87 mm, suitably 83 mm.
An axial end of the aerosol-generating segment 103 is visible at the distal end 115 of the article 101. However, in other embodiments, the distal end 115 of the article 101 may comprise an end member (not shown) covering the axial end of the aerosol-generating segment 103. The end member may be part of the wrapper described herein in some cases.
The aerosol-generating segment 103 is joined to the filter assembly 105 by annular tipping paper (not shown), which is located substantially around the circumference of the filter assembly 105 to surround the filter assembly 105 and extends partially along the length of the aerosol-generating segment 103. In one example, the tipping paper is made of 58 GSM standard tipping base paper. In one example the tipping paper has a length of between 42 mm and 50 mm, suitably of 46 mm.
In one example, the cooling segment 107 is an annular tube and is located around and defines an air gap within the cooling segment. The air gap provides a chamber for heated volatilized components generated from the aerosol-generating segment 103 to flow. The cooling segment 107 is hollow to provide a chamber for aerosol accumulation yet rigid enough to withstand axial compressive forces and bending moments that might arise during manufacture and whilst the article 101 is in use during insertion into the device 51. In one example, the thickness of the wall of the cooling segment 107 is approximately 0.29 mm.
The cooling segment 107 provides a physical displacement between the aerosol-generating segment 103 and the filter segment 109. The physical displacement provided by the cooling segment 107 will provide a thermal gradient across the length of the cooling segment 107. In one example the cooling segment 107 is configured to provide a temperature differential of at least 40 degrees Celsius between a heated volatilized component entering a first end of the cooling segment 107 and a heated volatilized component exiting a second end of the cooling segment 107. In one example the cooling segment 107 is configured to provide a temperature differential of at least 60 degrees Celsius between a heated volatilized component entering a first end of the cooling segment 107 and a heated volatilized component exiting a second end of the cooling segment 107. This temperature differential across the length of the cooling element 107 protects the temperature sensitive filter segment 109 from the high temperatures of the aerosol-generating segment 103 when it is heated by the device 51. If the physical displacement was not provided between the filter segment 109 and the aerosol-generating segment 103 and the heating elements of the device 51, then the temperature sensitive filter segment 109 may become damaged in use, so it would not perform its required functions as effectively.
In one example the length of the cooling segment 107 is at least 15 mm. In one example, the length of the cooling segment 107 is between 20 mm and 30 mm, more particularly 23 mm to 27 mm, more particularly 25 mm to 27 mm, suitably 25 mm.
The cooling segment 107 is made of paper, which means that it is comprised of a material that does not generate compounds of concern, for example, toxic compounds when in use adjacent to the heater of the device 51. In one example, the cooling segment 107 is manufactured from a spirally wound paper tube which provides a hollow internal chamber yet maintains mechanical rigidity. Spirally wound paper tubes are able to meet the tight dimensional accuracy requirements of high-speed manufacturing processes with respect to tube length, outer diameter, roundness and straightness.
In another example, the cooling segment 107 is a recess created from stiff plug wrap or tipping paper. The stiff plug wrap or tipping paper is manufactured to have a rigidity that is sufficient to withstand the axial compressive forces and bending moments that might arise during manufacture and whilst the article 101 is in use during insertion into the device 51.
The filter segment 109 may be formed of any filter material sufficient to remove one or more volatilized compounds from heated volatilized components from the aerosol-generating segment. In one example the filter segment 109 is made of a mono-acetate material, such as cellulose acetate. The filter segment 109 provides cooling and irritation-reduction from the heated volatilized components without depleting the quantity of the heated volatilized components to an unsatisfactory level for a user.
In some embodiments, a capsule (not illustrated) may be provided in filter segment 109. It may be disposed substantially centrally in the filter segment 109, both across the filter segment 109 diameter and along the filter segment 109 length. In other cases, it may be offset in one or more dimension. The capsule may in some cases, where present, contain a volatile component such as a flavorant or aerosol generating agent.
The density of the cellulose acetate tow material of the filter segment 109 controls the pressure drop across the filter segment 109, which in turn controls the draw resistance of the article 101. Therefore the selection of the material of the filter segment 109 is important in controlling the resistance to draw of the article 101. In addition, the filter segment performs a filtration function in the article 101.
In one example, the filter segment 109 is made of a 8Y15 grade of filter tow material, which provides a filtration effect on the heated volatilized material, whilst also reducing the size of condensed aerosol droplets which result from the heated volatilized material.
The presence of the filter segment 109 provides an insulating effect by providing further cooling to the heated volatilized components that exit the cooling segment 107. This further cooling effect reduces the contact temperature of the user's lips on the surface of the filter segment 109.
In one example, the filter segment 109 is between 6 mm to 10 mm in length, suitably 8 mm.
The mouth end segment 111 is an annular tube and is located around and defines an air gap within the mouth end segment 111. The air gap provides a chamber for heated volatilized components that flow from the filter segment 109. The mouth end segment 111 is hollow to provide a chamber for aerosol accumulation yet rigid enough to withstand axial compressive forces and bending moments that might arise during manufacture and whilst the article is in use during insertion into the device 51. In one example, the thickness of the wall of the mouth end segment 111 is approximately 0.29 mm. In one example, the length of the mouth end segment 111 is between 6 mm to 10 mm, suitably 8 mm.
The mouth end segment 111 may be manufactured from a spirally wound paper tube which provides a hollow internal chamber yet maintains critical mechanical rigidity. Spirally wound paper tubes are able to meet the tight dimensional accuracy requirements of high-speed manufacturing processes with respect to tube length, outer diameter, roundness and straightness.
The mouth end segment 111 provides the function of preventing any liquid condensate that accumulates at the exit of the filter segment 109 from coming into direct contact with a user.
It should be appreciated that, in one example, the mouth end segment 111 and the cooling segment 107 may be formed of a single tube and the filter segment 109 is located within that tube separating the mouth end segment 111 and the cooling segment 107.
Referring to
In the example of the article 301 shown in
In one example, there are between one to four rows of ventilation holes to provide ventilation for the article 301. Each row of ventilation holes may have between 12 to 36 ventilation holes 317. The ventilation holes 317 may, for example, be between 100 to 500 μm in diameter. In one example, an axial separation between rows of ventilation holes 317 is between 0.25 mm and 0.75 mm, suitably 0.5 mm.
In one example, the ventilation holes 317 are of uniform size. In another example, the ventilation holes 317 vary in size. The ventilation holes can be made using any suitable technique, for example, one or more of the following techniques: laser technology, mechanical perforation of the cooling segment 307 or pre-perforation of the cooling segment 307 before it is formed into the article 301. The ventilation holes 317 are positioned so as to provide effective cooling to the article 301.
In one example, the rows of ventilation holes 317 are located at least 1 lmm from the proximal end 313 of the article, suitably between 17 mm and 20 mm from the proximal end 313 of the article 301. The location of the ventilation holes 317 is positioned such that user does not block the ventilation holes 317 when the article 301 is in use.
Providing the rows of ventilation holes between 17 mm and 20 mm from the proximal end 313 of the article 301 enables the ventilation holes 317 to be located outside of the device 51, when the article 301 is fully inserted in the device 51, as can be seen in
The length of the cooling segment 307 is such that the cooling segment 307 will be partially inserted into the device 51, when the article 301 is fully inserted into the device 51. The length of the cooling segment 307 provides a first function of providing a physical gap between the heater arrangement of the device 51 and the heat sensitive filter arrangement 309, and a second function of enabling the ventilation holes 317 to be located in the cooling segment, whilst also being located outside of the device 51, when the article 301 is fully inserted into the device 51. As can be seen from
Referring now to
A first end 53 is sometimes referred to herein as the mouth or proximal end 53 of the device 51 and a second end 55 is sometimes referred to herein as the distal end 55 of the device 51. The device 51 has an on/off button 57 to allow the device 51 as a whole to be switched on and off as desired by a user.
The device 51 comprises a housing 59 for locating and protecting various internal components of the device 51. In the example shown, the housing 59 comprises a uni-body sleeve 11 that encompasses the perimeter of the device 51, capped with a top panel 17 which defines generally the ‘top’ of the device 51 and a bottom panel 19 which defines generally the ‘bottom’ of the device 51. In another example the housing comprises a front panel, a rear panel and a pair of opposite side panels in addition to the top panel 17 and the bottom panel 19.
The top panel 17 and/or the bottom panel 19 may be removably fixed to the uni-body sleeve 11, to permit easy access to the interior of the device 51, or may be “permanently” fixed to the uni-body sleeve 11, for example to deter a user from accessing the interior of the device 51. In an example, the panels 17 and 19 are made of a plastics material, including for example glass-filled nylon formed by injection moulding, and the uni-body sleeve 11 is made of aluminium, though other materials and other manufacturing processes may be used.
The top panel 17 of the device 51 has an opening 20 at the mouth end 53 of the device 51 through which, in use, the article 101, 301 including the aerosol-generating segment may be inserted into the device 51 and removed from the device 51 by a user.
The housing 59 has located or fixed therein a heater arrangement 23, control circuitry 25 and a power source 27. In this example, the heater arrangement 23, the control circuitry 25 and the power source 27 are laterally adjacent (that is, adjacent when viewed from an end), with the control circuitry 25 being located generally between the heater arrangement 23 and the power source 27, though other locations are possible.
The control circuitry 25 may include a controller, such as a microprocessor arrangement, configured and arranged to control the heating of the aerosol-generating segment in the article 101, 301 as discussed further below.
The power source 27 may be for example a battery, which may be a rechargeable battery or a non-rechargeable battery. Examples of suitable batteries include for example a lithium-ion battery, a nickel battery (such as a nickel—cadmium battery), an alkaline battery and/or the like. The battery 27 is electrically coupled to the heater arrangement 23 to supply electrical power when required and under control of the control circuitry 25 to heat the aerosol-generating segment in the article (as discussed, to volatilize aerosolizable material in the aerosol-generating segment without causing the aerosolizable material to burn).
An advantage of locating the power source 27 laterally adjacent to the heater arrangement 23 is that a physically large power source 25 may be used without causing the device 51 as a whole to be unduly lengthy. As will be understood, in general a physically large power source 25 has a higher capacity (that is, the total electrical energy that can be supplied, often measured in Amp-hours or the like) and thus the battery life for the device 51 can be longer.
In one example, the heater arrangement 23 is generally in the form of a hollow cylindrical tube, having a hollow interior heating chamber 29 into which the article 101, 301 comprising the aerosol-generating segment is inserted for heating in use. Different arrangements for the heater arrangement 23 are possible. For example, the heater arrangement 23 may comprise a single heating element or may be formed of plural heating elements aligned along the longitudinal axis of the heater arrangement 23. The or each heating element may be annular or tubular, or at least part-annular or part-tubular around its circumference. In an example, the or each heating element may be a thin film heater. In another example, the or each heating element may be made of a ceramics material. Examples of suitable ceramics materials include alumina and aluminium nitride and silicon nitride ceramics, which may be laminated and sintered. Other heating arrangements are possible, including for example inductive heating, infrared heater elements, which heat by emitting infrared radiation, or resistive heating elements formed by for example a resistive electrical winding.
The heater arrangement 23 may be programmed to provide different heat profiles to the respective portions 103a, 103b, 303a, 303b of the aerosol-generating segment.
In one particular example, the heater arrangement 23 is supported by a stainless steel support tube and comprises a polyimide heating element. The heater arrangement 23 is dimensioned so that substantially the whole of the body of aerosol-generating segment 103, 303 of the article 101, 301 is inserted into the heater arrangement 23 when the article 101, 301 is inserted into the device 51.
The or each heating element may be arranged so that selected zones of the aerosol-generating segment can be independently heated, for example in turn (over time, as discussed above) or together (simultaneously) as desired.
The heater arrangement 23 in this example is surrounded along at least part of its length by a thermal insulator 31. The insulator 31 helps to reduce heat passing from the heater arrangement 23 to the exterior of the device 51. This helps to keep down the power requirements for the heater arrangement 23 as it reduces heat losses generally. The insulator 31 also helps to keep the exterior of the device 51 cool during operation of the heater arrangement 23. In one example, the insulator 31 may be a double-walled sleeve which provides a low pressure region between the two walls of the sleeve. That is, the insulator 31 may be for example a “vacuum” tube, i.e. a tube that has been at least partially evacuated so as to minimize heat transfer by conduction and/or convection. Other arrangements for the insulator 31 are possible, including using heat insulating materials, including for example a suitable foam-type material, in addition to or instead of a double-walled sleeve.
The housing 59 may further comprises various internal support structures 37 for supporting all internal components, as well as the heating arrangement 23.
The device 51 further comprises a collar 33 which extends around and projects from the opening 20 into the interior of the housing 59 and a generally tubular chamber 35 which is located between the collar 33 and one end of the vacuum sleeve 31. The chamber 35 further comprises a cooling structure 35f, which in this example, comprises a plurality of cooling fins 35f spaced apart along the outer surface of the chamber 35, and each arranged circumferentially around outer surface of the chamber 35. There is an air gap 36 between the hollow chamber 35 and the article 101, 301 when it is inserted in the device 51 over at least part of the length of the hollow chamber 35. The air gap 36 is around all of the circumference of the article 101, 301 over at least part of the cooling segment 307.
The collar 33 comprises a plurality of ridges 60 arranged circumferentially around the periphery of the opening 20 and which project into the opening 20. The ridges 60 take up space within the opening 20 such that the open span of the opening 20 at the locations of the ridges 60 is less than the open span of the opening 20 at the locations without the ridges 60. The ridges 60 are configured to engage with an article 101, 301 inserted into the device to assist in securing it within the device 51. Open spaces (not shown in the Figures) defined by adjacent pairs of ridges 60 and the article 101, 301 form ventilation paths around the exterior of the article 101, 301. These ventilation paths allow hot vapors that have escaped from the article 101, 301 to exit the device 51 and allow cooling air to flow into the device 51 around the article 101, 301 in the air gap 36.
In operation, the article 101, 301 is removably inserted into an insertion point 20 of the device 51, as shown in
In operation, the heater arrangement 23 will heat the article 101, 301 to volatilize at least one component of aerosolizable material from the aerosol-generating segment 103, 303.
The primary flow path for the heated volatilized components from the aerosol-generating segment 103, 303 is axially through the article 101, 301, through the chamber inside the cooling segment 107, 307, through the filter segment 109, 309, through the mouth end segment 111, 313 to the user. In one example, the temperature of the heated volatilized components that are generated from the aerosol-generating segment is between 60° C. and 250° C., which may be above the acceptable inhalation temperature for a user. As the heated volatilized component travels through the cooling segment 107, 307, it will cool and some volatilized components will condense on the inner surface of the cooling segment 107, 307.
In the examples of the article 301 shown in
As used herein, the terms “flavor” and “flavorant” refer to materials which, where local regulations permit, may be used to create a desired taste, aroma or other somatosensorial sensation in a product for adult consumers. They may include naturally occurring flavor 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), flavor 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 gas.
In some embodiments, the flavor comprises menthol, spearmint and/or peppermint. In some embodiments, the flavor comprises flavor components of cucumber, blueberry, citrus fruits and/or redberry. In some embodiments, the flavor comprises eugenol. In some embodiments, the flavor comprises flavor components extracted from tobacco. In some embodiments, the flavor comprises flavor components extracted from cannabis.
In some embodiments, the flavor 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 eucolyptol, WS-3.
As used herein, the term “aerosol-generating material” refers to a material that is capable of generating aerosol, for example when heated, irradiated or energized in any other way. The aerosol-generating material may, for example, be in the form of a solid, and may comprise one or more active substances and/or flavors, a tobacco material, one or more aerosol-former materials, and optionally one or more other functional material.
As used herein, the term “active substance” refers to a physiologically active material, which is a material intended to achieve or enhance a physiological response. The active substance may for example be selected from nutraceuticals, nootropics, psychoactives. The active substance may be naturally occurring or synthetically obtained. The active substance may comprise for example nicotine, caffeine, taurine, theine, vitamins such as B6 or B12 or C, melatonin, cannabinoids, or constituents, derivatives, or combinations thereof. The active substance may comprise one or more constituents, derivatives or extracts of tobacco, cannabis or another botanical. In some embodiments, the active substance comprises nicotine. In some embodiments, the active substance comprises caffeine, melatonin or vitamin B12.
As noted herein, the active substance may comprise one or more constituents, derivatives or extracts of cannabis, such as one or more cannabinoids or terpenes.
As noted herein, the active substance may comprise or be derived from one or more botanicals or constituents, derivatives or extracts thereof. As used herein, the term “botanical” includes any material derived from plants including, but not limited to, extracts, leaves, bark, fibers, stems, roots, seeds, flowers, fruits, pollen, husk, shells or the like. Alternatively, the material may comprise an active compound naturally existing in a botanical, obtained synthetically. The material may be in the form of liquid, gas, solid, powder, dust, crushed particles, granules, pellets, shreds, strips, sheets, or the like. Example botanicals are tobacco, eucalyptus, star anise, hemp, cocoa, cannabis, fennel, lemongrass, peppermint, spearmint, rooibos, chamomile, flax, ginger, Ginkgo biloba, hazel, hibiscus, laurel, licorice (liquorice), matcha, mate, orange skin, papaya, rose, sage, tea such as green tea or black tea, thyme, clove, cinnamon, coffee, aniseed (anise), basil, bay leaves, cardamom, coriander, cumin, nutmeg, oregano, paprika, rosemary, saffron, lavender, lemon peel, mint, juniper, elderflower, vanilla, wintergreen, beefsteak plant, curcuma, turmeric, sandalwood, cilantro, bergamot, orange blossom, myrtle, cassis, valerian, pimento, mace, damien, marjoram, olive, lemon balm, lemon basil, chive, carvi, verbena, tarragon, geranium, mulberry, ginseng, theanine, theacrine, maca, ashwagandha, damiana, guarana, chlorophyll, baobab or any combination thereof. The mint may be chosen from the following mint varieties: Mentha Arventis, Mentha c.v., Mentha niliaca, Mentha piperita, Mentha piperita citrata c.v., Mentha piperita c.v, Mentha spicata crispa, Mentha cardifolia, Mentha longifolia, Mentha suaveolens variegata, Mentha pulegium, Mentha spicata c.v. and Mentha suaveolens
In some embodiments, the active substance comprises or is derived from one or more botanicals or constituents, derivatives or extracts thereof and the botanical is tobacco.
In some embodiments, the active substance comprises or derived from one or more botanicals or constituents, derivatives or extracts thereof and the botanical is selected from eucalyptus, star anise, cocoa and hemp.
In some embodiments, the active substance comprises or derived from one or more botanicals or constituents, derivatives or extracts thereof and the botanical is selected from rooibos and fennel.
As used herein, the term “tobacco material” refers to any material comprising tobacco or derivatives therefore. The term “tobacco material” may include one or more of tobacco, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco or tobacco substitutes. The tobacco material may comprise one or more of ground tobacco, tobacco fiber, cut tobacco, extruded tobacco, tobacco stem, reconstituted tobacco and/or tobacco extract.
The tobacco used to produce tobacco material may be any suitable tobacco, such as single grades or blends, cut rag or whole leaf, including Virginia and/or Burley and/or Oriental. It may also be tobacco particle ‘fines’ or dust, expanded tobacco, stems, expanded stems, and other processed stem materials, such as cut rolled stems. The tobacco material may be a ground tobacco or a reconstituted tobacco material. The reconstituted tobacco material may comprise tobacco fibers, and may be formed by casting, a Fourdrinier-based paper making-type approach with back addition of tobacco extract, or by extrusion.
As used, herein, the term “aerosol-former material” refers to one or more constituents capable of forming an aerosol. In some embodiments, the aerosol-former material 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.
As used herein, the term “functional materials” may refer to pH regulators, coloring agents, preservatives, binders, fillers, stabilizers, and/or antioxidants.
For the avoidance of doubt, where in this specification the term “comprises” is used in defining the invention or features of the invention, embodiments are also disclosed in which the invention or feature can be defined using the terms “consists essentially of” or “consists of” in place of “comprises”.
The above embodiments are to be understood as illustrative examples of the invention. It is to be understood that any feature described in relation to any one embodiment may be used alone, or in combination with other features described, and may also be used in combination with one or more features of any other of the embodiments, or any combination of any other of the embodiments. Furthermore, equivalents and modifications not described above may also be employed without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined in the accompanying claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013412.8 | Aug 2020 | GB | national |
The present application is a National Phase entry of PCT Application No. PCT/GB2021/052225, filed Aug. 27, 2021, which claims priority from GB Application No. 2013412.8, filed Aug. 27, 2020, each of which hereby fully incorporated herein by reference.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/GB2021/052225 | 8/27/2021 | WO |
