Patent Application
20230016525
The present invention relates to the field of tobacco, especially to tobacco vapour. More specifically, the invention relates to a method for producing a biodegradable cartridge for tobacco vapour delivering electronic devices and a biodegradable cartridge obtained accordingly.
Different kinds of vaping and smoking devices exist currently on the market. Over the recent years, vaping devices such as e-cigarettes and tobacco-vapour generating devices, among which heat-not-burn (HNB) systems are most common, have had a lot of traction and their market share have been increasing significantly.
Electronic cigarettes, or e-cigarettes, are also called vapes, e-hookahs, vape pens, tank systems, mods, and electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS). E-cigarettes work by heating a substance such as a liquid to produce an aerosol that users inhale as opposed to HNB, wherein a tobacco containing substrate is heated directly or indirectly or infused with a neutral aerosol produced from to generate an inhalable aerosol.
This growing market will inevitably lead to millions of devices which will be disposed of improperly. Even more so, the accompanied disposable and single use waste such as capsules and containers which are used to contain the vaping material will potentially create massive recycling disaster.
It would therefore be advantageous to provide consumers with an alternative where the consumables or the disposable single use products have a reduced impact to the environment while maintaining the quality and characteristics of the aerosol generating products consumed therewith. It would also be advantageous to allow the users have a higher degree of freedom to provide themselves with smoking substance of their choice.
The inventors of the present invention have found solutions to the above-discussed problems through the present invention as defined in the claims.
A first aspect of the invention relates to a method of producing a biodegradable cartridge for tobacco vapour system, wherein the biodegradable cartridge has cylindrical defining an inner cavity, comprising the steps of
A second aspect of the invention relates to a biodegradable cartridge obtainable according to the present invention.
A third aspect of the invention relates to a biodegradable cartridge for tobacco vapour system, wherein the cartridge has a predominantly elongated cylindrical shape having a cavity, comprising a wall, a first end and a second end, wherein the wall is made of a first element, wherein two identical second elements are provided each to the each end of the elongated cartridge, a third element is provided to the second end of the elongated cartridge such that the periphery of the second end is larger than the periphery of the first end of the elongated cartridge, wherein the first element, the second element and the third element are made of biodegradable materials, wherein the cartridge is designed in such a way that an air flow is capable of flowing from the first end to the second end of the elongated cylindrical shape cartridge, and/or vice versa.
The inventors of the present invention have found a method of producing a cartridge for tobacco vapour system allows the cartridge to be produced in a more ecological and environmentally friendly manner, wherein all the materials are made with biodegradable material. Moreover, the method of production allows an easy and straight-forward manufacturing process. A lower production cost can thereby be achieved.
It is also disclosed herein that the biodegradable cartridge and its manufacturing method disclosed herein enables users to “custom-made” the cartridges for tobacco vapour, wherein the ingredients for vapour can be selected and mixed according to their favourite and taste.
Moreover, the biodegradable cartridge itself can also be “custom-made” in such a way that each of the cartridges can be fitted differently i.e. more tightly or loosely to the e-vapour device, or provide one or more elements having more air channels or different porosities, according to the preference of the users, such that a stronger vapour or a milder vapour (as vapour is blended with more air) can be produced.
According to some embodiments, the method comprising a further step of filling the cavity of the cartridge with one or more filling materials, preferably tobacco-containing granules, liquids, tobacco foams, gels or semi-solid matrix.
According to some embodiments, the filling of the filling material is performed after the first end of the cavity of the cartridge is provided with the second element. This allows the filling material to be filled up while one end being closed or sealed by the second element.
According to some embodiments, the third element is provided in form of a sheet to wrap around the second end of the elongated cartridge, preferably the portion being wrapped has an additional thickness of about 1 mm to about 10 mm, more preferably about 2 mm to 5 mm.
According to some embodiments, the third element is provided in form of a cap to encase the second end of the elongated cartridge. The cap is preferably a cylindrical cap having both open ends. Alternatively, both ends of the cap may have mesh or net such that air is capable of flowing freely from one end to another end.
According to some embodiments, the second element is provided to the third element before being placed to the cavity of the second end of the elongated cartridge, wherein the third element is provided in form of a cap to encase the second end of the elongated cartridge. The cap is preferably a cylindrical cap having both open ends. Alternatively, both ends of the cap may have mesh or net such that air is capable of flowing freely from one end to another end.
According to some embodiments, the cap provided to the second end of the elongated cartridge has a periphery larger than the periphery of the elongated cylindrical cartridge. This additional periphery of the cap may be served as an abutment point when the first element is being inserted into a smoking device e.g. a vapour device. In other words, when the biodegradable cartridge is inserted into a vaping device, the third element e.g. cap, due to its periphery is larger than the mouth of the vaping device, will not be accommodated within the vaping device.
According to some preferred embodiments, the first element is formed by rolling of a sheet material, such as card or paper, about a longitudinal axis.
According to some preferred embodiments, the first element (10) and one of the second element (20a, 20b) are attached to each other in an end-to-end abutment with wrapper, preferably a paper wrapper.
According to some embodiments, the periphery of the cap is about 5% to 40%, preferably about 10% to 30% more than the periphery of the first end of the elongated cylindrical cartridge. This additional periphery of the cap or the third element allows part of the cartridge to stay outside of the device.
According to some embodiments, further comprising of a sealing step and/or a joining step. This embodiment is particularly useful when the filling material is a liquid such that the filling material can be safely contained within the cartridge.
According to some embodiments, one or more filling materials, zo preferably tobacco-containing granules, gel, liquid, foam, mousse or semi-solid matrix are provided into the cavity of the elongated cylindrical cartridge.
According to some embodiments, the biodegradable materials is paper, cotton, natural fibres, and/or recycled biomaterials.
By “about” or “approximately” in relation to a given numerical value, it is meant to include numerical values within 10% of the specified value. All values given in the present disclosure are to be understood to be complemented by the word “about”, unless it is clear to the contrary from the context.
The indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality, thus should be treated broadly.
Unless defined otherwise, technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs.
The term “element” as used herein e.g. “first element”, “second element” and “third element” referred to element which is made up of one or several parts e.g. mechanical parts. In other words, the element can be a part that combines with other parts to be functioned or to form something bigger, or to render a specific function when work together with other components.
As used herein, the terms “cartridge” or “container” referred to a hollow object, in form of such as a box, a rod or a housing which can be used for housing one or more elements therein, especially for carrying or storing. The material forming the cartridge/container may be similar or different to the material which is contained within the container.
As used herein, the term “filling material” referred to substance e.g. biological substance that is composed of one or more materials. In other words, it refers to one or more ingredients which made up of a composition.
As used herein, the term “aerosol-generating material” refers to a material, upon heating, capable of releasing volatile compounds, which can form an aerosol. The aerosol generated from aerosol-generating material of aerosol-generating articles described herein may be visible or invisible and may include vapours (for example, fine particles of substances, which are in a gaseous state, that are ordinarily liquid or solid at room temperature) as well as gases and liquid droplets of condensed vapours.
Throughout the forthcoming description of the invention, the term “tobacco” refers to any part of a tobacco plant or mixtures of tobacco plants arising from the same or different species as well as being genetically modified (GMO). The tobacco plant belongs to the family Solanaceae and the genus Nicotiana. Examples of parts are leaves, stems, roots etc., which may be obtained by any method such as being fresh, frozen, deep-frozen, freeze dried or cured.
The biodegradable cartridge 100 of the present invention can be manufactured according to several methods.
Filling material such as tobacco-containing material as well as aerosol-generating substrates and materials can be provided within the cavity of the elongated tubular first element 10 before a second end thereof is being closed. According to the first embodiment of the present invention as shown in
According to a second embodiment of the present invention (
In a third embodiment (
To this end, it is disclosed that the first element 10, second element 20a, 20b and the third element 30 are biodegradable and that they can be provided with similar material. Of course, different kind of materials or a mixed of a several materials in an element have been contemplated. The biodegradable materials can be for instance paper, natural fibre, cotton, recycled biomaterials.
The two second elements 20a, 20b can be provided with the same material or can be made up of different materials. The second element 20a, 20b is preferably made of a material that is air permeable or has a structure that is air permeable. For instance, the material can be porous and has a sponge-like microstructure, or it can be provided with plurality of air channels to allow for an airflow. Alternatively, the second element 20a, 20b can be provided with a micro-mesh or micro-net such that air is capable of flowing within the body of the elements. In some embodiments, the second element 20a, 20b can be provided using for instance a filter plug of a cigarette which is made of biodegradable materials.
In any of the first, second or third embodiments previously described the first element 10 and first second element 20a may alternatively by adjoined and attached to each other in an end-to-end abutment with a wrapper, in particular a paper wrapper know as a plugwrap in the smoking article making industry to attach together multiple filter segments for instance. Such alternative attachment method for the first element 10 and first second element 20a provides the advantage to allow for simultaneous formation of multiple tubular bodies for the cartridges by attachment end to end of a plurality of tubular rods to form first elements 10 and rods of filter material of at least twice the length of a second elements 20a, 20b in alternance, and to wrap them altogether with a single plugwrap. The attached rod thus formed can then be cut, by laser or sawing for example, in the middle of the filter rods in order to cut individual cartridge bodies comprised of one first element 10 and one second element 20a attached to each other with plugwrap and then directly fillable with filling material according to various processes previously described.
It is also disclosed herein that the biodegradable cartridge 100 of the present invention can also be provided with one or more additional segments. For instance, a segment which is made up of a plurality of elongated rods, each rod having cavity within, are provided to the elongated cylindrical shape cartridge 100 (e.g. in between the two second elements 20a, 20b). This segment may serve to facilitate an air flow or may serve as an air-cooling section.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19212237.2 | Nov 2019 | EP | regional |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2020/083722 | 11/27/2020 | WO |
