CN113660875A

CN113660875A - Aerosol supply system

Info

Publication number: CN113660875A
Application number: CN202080027421.7A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 帕特里克·莫洛尼
Original assignee: Nicoventures Trading Ltd
Current assignee: Nicoventures Trading Ltd
Priority date: 2019-04-05
Filing date: 2020-03-18
Publication date: 2021-11-16
Also published as: EP3945883A1; AU2023226647A1; WO2020201705A1; US20220151288A1; BR112021019993A2; IL286351A; AU2020251307A1; GB201904846D0; CA3134473A1; KR20210134366A; JP2022528485A

Abstract

There is provided an aerosol provision system comprising: a housing having a mouthpiece with an air outlet; and a consumable unit contained within the housing, the consumable unit comprising a source of aerosol-generating medium and an airflow passage wall forming an airflow passage through the source of aerosol-generating medium and terminating adjacent the air outlet of the housing.

Description

Aerosol supply system

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an aerosol provision system, a method of providing an aerosol, a consumable unit for use in an aerosol provision system, a housing for an aerosol provision system and an aerosol provision device.

Background

Aerosol-generating devices are known. An electronic aerosol provision system, such as an electronic cigarette (e-cigarette), typically comprises a source liquid reservoir containing a formulation, typically comprising nicotine, from which an aerosol is generated, e.g. by evaporation by heating. An aerosol source for an aerosol provision system may therefore comprise a heater having a heating element arranged to receive source liquid from the reservoir, for example by wicking/capillary action. When a user draws on the device, electrical energy is supplied to the heating element to vaporize the source liquid in the vicinity of the heating element, thereby generating an aerosol for the user to draw. Such devices are typically provided with one or more air inlet apertures located at the mouthpiece end remote from the system. When a user draws on a mouthpiece connected to the mouthpiece end of the system, air is drawn through the inlet aperture and past the aerosol source. A flow path is connected between the aerosol source and the opening in the mouthpiece such that inhaled air flows along the flow path past the aerosol source to the mouthpiece opening whilst carrying some aerosol from the aerosol source. The aerosol-laden air exits the aerosol provision system through a mouthpiece opening for drawing by a user.

Various approaches are described herein that attempt to help address some of these issues.

Disclosure of Invention

Aspects of the invention are defined in the appended claims.

According to some embodiments described herein, there is provided an aerosol provision system comprising: a housing having a mouthpiece with an air outlet; and a consumable unit contained within the housing, the consumable unit comprising a source of aerosol-generating medium and an airflow channel wall forming an airflow channel passing through the source of aerosol-generating medium and terminating adjacent the air outlet of the housing.

According to some embodiments described herein, there is provided a consumable unit for use in an aerosol provision system.

According to some embodiments described herein, there is provided a housing for an aerosol provision system.

According to some embodiments described herein, there is provided a consumable unit for use with an aerosol provision system, the unit comprising a first protruding portion and a second recessed portion, wherein the first protruding portion has a conforming shape to the second recessed portion.

According to some embodiments described herein, there is provided an aerosol-providing device comprising: a housing having a mouthpiece with air outlet means; and a consumable unit contained within the housing, the consumable unit comprising a source of aerosol-generating devices and an airflow passage device forming an airflow passage through the source of aerosol-generating devices and terminating adjacent the air outlet device of the housing.

According to some embodiments described herein, there is provided a method of supplying an aerosol, the method comprising: providing a housing having a mouthpiece with an air outlet; and providing a consumable unit contained within the housing, the consumable unit comprising a source of aerosol-generating medium and an airflow channel wall forming an airflow channel passing through the source of aerosol-generating medium and terminating adjacent the air outlet of the housing; passing air through an air flow channel in an air flow channel wall; passing air over a source of aerosol-generating medium; and an air outlet for passing air through the housing.

According to some embodiments described herein, there is provided an aerosol provision device configured to receive a consumable unit contained within a housing, the consumable unit comprising a source of aerosol-generating medium and an airflow channel wall forming an airflow channel through the source of aerosol-generating medium, the aerosol provision device comprising: a housing having a mouthpiece with an air outlet, wherein, in use, the airflow passage terminates adjacent the air outlet of the housing.

Drawings

The present teachings will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following drawings, in which like parts are designated by like reference numerals.

Figure 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a portion of an aerosol provision apparatus according to an embodiment;

figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a portion of an aerosol provision apparatus according to an embodiment;

figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a portion of an aerosol provision apparatus according to an embodiment;

fig. 4 (i) is a schematic cross-sectional view of a consumable unit for use in an aerosol provision device according to an embodiment;

fig. 4 (ii) is a schematic cross-sectional view of three consumable units for use in an aerosol provision device according to an embodiment;

figure 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a portion of an aerosol provision apparatus according to an embodiment; and

fig. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a portion of an aerosol provision apparatus according to an embodiment.

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and have been described in detail herein. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and drawings of specific embodiments are not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Detailed Description

Aspects and features of certain embodiments and implementations are discussed/described herein. Some aspects and features of certain embodiments and implementations may be practiced conventionally and, for the sake of brevity, will not be discussed/described in detail. It will thus be appreciated that aspects and features of the apparatus and methods discussed herein that are not described in detail may be implemented in accordance with any conventional technique for implementing such aspects and features.

The present disclosure relates to an aerosol provision system, which may also be referred to as an aerosol provision system, such as an e-cigarette. Throughout the following description, the term "electronic cigarette" or "electronic cigarette" may sometimes be used, but it should be appreciated that the term may be used interchangeably with aerosol provision system/device and electronic aerosol provision system/device. Furthermore, as is common in the art, the terms "aerosol" and "vapor" and related terms, such as "evaporating", "volatilizing", and "aerosolizing" may generally be used interchangeably.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of a part of an aerosol provision system 100. The system 100 includes an aerosol provision device and a consumable unit 120 configured to be received in the aerosol provision device (however, for brevity, the system may sometimes be referred to herein as a device). The device 100 is designed to simulate a cigarette and thus may have a substantially cylindrical shape and may be approximately the same size as a cigarette. The device 100 has a housing 110 with a mouthpiece 112. The mouthpiece 112 has an air outlet 113. The device 100 also has a consumable unit 120 housed within the housing 110. The consumable unit 120 has a source 122 of aerosol-generating medium and an airflow passage wall 124 forming an airflow passage 125 through the source 122 of aerosol-generating medium and terminating adjacent the air outlet 113 of the housing 110. In one embodiment of the present apparatus, mouthpiece 112 is an air outlet 113. The air outlet 113 may be located on a protrusion so that it is more easily received in the mouth of a user, or it may be an opening located on the surface of the housing 110, thereby providing fluid communication between the interior of the device 100 and the exterior of the device 100.

In the embodiment shown in figure 1, the airflow into the consumable unit 120 is constrained within an airflow passage wall 124 that enables air to flow through the consumable unit 120 and past the aerosol-generating media source 122 to the air outlet 113 of the mouthpiece 112. As the air flow passes through the aerosol-generating medium source 122, constituents of the aerosol-generating medium source 122 may be entrained in the air flow. The aerosol or mist is delivered to the end of the airflow passage (near the air outlet 113 of the mouthpiece 112) and the aerosol may then exit the device 100 and be drawn by the user. Thus, the device 100 significantly prevents the level of deposition of condensed aerosol on the interior of the housing 110 of the device 100. Such condensed aerosols may damage components on which the aerosols condense, and as such, the present arrangement extends the useful life of the apparatus 100. In a similar manner, this arrangement allows for improved cleanliness of the device 100, since the consumable unit 120 can be removed after the aerosol-generating medium source 122 is exhausted: the removal of the consumable unit 120 simultaneously removes the condensed aerosol from the airflow passage wall 124. The airflow passage wall 124 of the consumable unit 120 is made of an aerosol impermeable material.

In embodiments, the shape and size of the airflow passage wall 124 of the consumable unit 120 may vary. The present apparatus 100 is capable of reducing the likelihood of the occurrence of a "hot pump" phenomenon in which the aerosol is not sufficiently cooled before being pumped by the user. The airflow passage wall 124 may be formed to be relatively long so as to increase the time between the airflow entering the consumable unit 120 and exiting the air outlet 113. This will allow heat to better dissipate from the airflow before the user draws and thus reduce the likelihood of a hot draw.

In an embodiment, a portion of the airflow passage wall 124 may be disposed along a side of the housing 110. Heat loss through the airflow passage wall 124 and subsequently through the housing 110 to the environment outside the apparatus 100 is generally more efficient than heat loss emanating from the center of the apparatus 100. As such, this arrangement of the gas flow passage walls 124 may also help reduce the likelihood of heat pumping.

In an embodiment, the airflow passage wall 124 may be centrally housed in the apparatus 100 and not proximate to the housing 110. Although heat loss to the environment outside the device 100 is beneficial in reducing the likelihood of heat pumping, users may injure themselves while holding the device 100 if a significant amount of thermal energy passes through the housing 110 of the device 100. As such, this arrangement of the airflow passage wall 124 may reduce the likelihood of a user injuring themselves while holding the device 100 due to an overheated housing 110.

The gas flow passage wall 124 may be a wall or walls in which a gas flow passage may be formed.

Fig. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of a part of the aerosol provision device 100. Fig. 2 shows an arrangement similar to that of fig. 1. Reference numerals indicating the same features as those shown in fig. 1 are the same as those used in fig. 1. These same features will not be discussed in detail here. The embodiment of the apparatus 100 shown in figure 2 differs from the embodiment of the apparatus described in figure 1 in the location of the source 122 of aerosol-generating medium. The source 122 of aerosol-generating medium in the embodiment shown terminates in the vicinity of the air outlet 113. An aerosol is formed as the incoming airflow passes through the aerosol-generating medium source 122. As such, the aerosol is formed substantially in the vicinity of the air outlet 113. This reduces the area inside the device 100 on which aerosols can condense. Thus, as described above, this arrangement increases the useful life and cleanliness of the apparatus 100.

Fig. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of a part of the aerosol provision device 100. Reference numerals indicating the same features as those shown in fig. 1 and 2 are the same as those used in fig. 1 and 2. These same features will not be discussed in detail here. In the embodiment shown in fig. 3, the consumable unit 120 has a source 122 of aerosol-generating medium and a filter material 126. The filter material 126 is disposed toward the air outlet 113. The filter material 126 is arranged downstream of the aerosol-generating medium source 122 such that aerosol generated from air flowing through the aerosol-generating medium source 122 passes through the filter material 126 before passing through the air outlet 113 of the mouthpiece 112. Thereby, particles in the air stream may be removed before being sucked by the user.

Fig. 3 shows the incoming air with arrows C. The air may pass through or past the aerosol-generating medium source 122. The gas stream will entrain constituents from the aerosol-generating medium source 122 to form an aerosol. The device 100 may comprise a heater for heating the airflow and/or the aerosol-generating medium source 122 to facilitate release of the constituents from the aerosol-generating medium source 122.

In the embodiment of fig. 3, the filter material 126 is in the airflow channel 125. As such, the airflow through the consumable unit 120 will pass through the filter material 126. The filter material 126 may fill a portion of the airflow channels 125 within the airflow channel wall 124. The filter material may alternatively form all or a portion of the airflow passage wall 124.

Fig. 3 shows two areas, a first area a and a second area B, of the consumable unit 120. In the second region B, the filter material 126 is connected to the first region a and may form an airflow channel wall 124, within which an airflow channel 125 may be formed. The air flowing through the section is filtered to remove particles and the like prior to suction.

The consumable unit 120 may be inserted into the device 100 before the device 100 is used. Inserting the consumable unit 120 into the mouthpiece 112 portion of the housing 110 may compress the consumable unit 120. In embodiments where the filter material 126 forms the airflow passage wall 124, the filter material 126 may be compressed by the housing 110 when the consumable unit 120 is inserted into the housing 110. The filter material 126 may be made of an elastic material such that damage to the interior of the mouthpiece 112 due to improper insertion of the consumable unit 120 into the mouthpiece 112 by a user is less likely to occur. This increases the lifetime of the device 100 and the consumable unit 120.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 3, the exterior portion of the consumable unit 120 has a shape conforming to the housing 110 near the air outlet 113. Thereby, the direction of insertion of the consumable unit 120 into the mouthpiece 112 is more apparent and erroneous insertion of the consumable unit 120 may be avoided. As used herein, "conforming" may be considered to mean that the consumable unit 120 is complementary in shape to the housing 110. The consumable unit 120 can also be shaped to conform to the shape of the housing 110. The consumable unit 120 may have a shape matching the shape of the housing 110. The consumable unit 120 may fit tightly within the housing 110.

The filter material 126 may be any of the following materials: tobacco, cellulose acetate, tow fibers, or nicotine-containing materials. In other implementations, the filter material 126 may include any suitable material capable of filtering an airflow.

The consumable unit 120 may have a plurality of different aerosol-generating medium sources 122. To prevent the aerosol-generating media sources 122 from being exhausted at the same rate, the airflow through the consumable unit 120 may be controlled to pass through a selected aerosol-generating media source 122. This can be controlled by the presence of the wall within the consumable unit 120 and the air inlet to the consumable unit 120 and the arrangement of the wall within the consumable unit and the air inlet to the consumable unit. The device 100 may have a movement mechanism to rotate the consumable unit 120 relative to the housing 110. This may enable a user to selectively activate the aerosol-generating medium source 122 located within the device 100. In use, a user will contact the mouthpiece 112 of the device 100. As such, the user may not perceive the movement of the consumable unit 120. This arrangement prevents an uncomfortable user experience.

Fig. 4 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a consumable unit 120 according to an embodiment. A portion of the consumable unit 120 shown in the embodiment of (i) of fig. 4 has a truncated cone shape. The consumable unit 120 may have a first protruding portion and a second recessed portion. The first protruding portion may have a shape conforming to the second recessed portion.

In the embodiment of fig. 4 (i), the consumable unit 120 is shown having a protruding upper portion substantially represented by section P and a recessed bottom portion substantially represented by section R.

The airflow through the consumable unit 120 is indicated by arrow C'. The airflow entering the consumable unit passes through the aerosol-generating medium source 122 to entrain the ingredients from the aerosol-generating medium source and exits the consumable unit 120 as an aerosol for inhalation by the user. When the recessed bottom section R is present, the volume for air to pass through within the consumable unit 120 is reduced.

The shape of the consumable unit 120 may be selected to correspond to or complement the shape of the mouthpiece 112 of the housing 110. Thereby facilitating insertion into the mouthpiece 112, as mentioned above. A common mouthpiece shape is a frustoconical shape, and as such, the consumable unit 120 of fig. 4 (i) may be advantageous. Other shapes may be used to achieve similar benefits. Similarly, after the aerosol generating medium source 122 is exhausted, the consumable unit 120 may be removed from the device 100 and replaced. The device 100 may have a removable section (such as a door or cover that is part of the housing) through which the consumable unit 120 may be inserted and removed. Alternatively, the device 100 may be discarded after the source of the consumable unit 120 is exhausted.

Fig. 4 (ii) illustrates an embodiment of a plurality of consumable units of the shape illustrated in fig. 4 (i). The consumable units 120 ', 120 "' shown in fig. 4 (ii) can be stacked or nested on top of each other. This may provide a space saving measure. In the illustrated embodiment, there are three consumable units 120 ', 120 ", 120'" stacked together. The lowermost consumable unit 120' is shown disposed below the middle consumable unit 120 ", which is itself below the uppermost consumable unit 120". In the stacked arrangement shown, the protruding upper portion of the lowermost consumable unit 120' protrudes into the recess formed by the bottom portion of the recess of the middle consumable unit 120 ". Similarly, the protruding upper portion of the middle consumable unit 120 "protrudes into the recess formed by the recessed bottom portion of the middle consumable unit 120".

Fig. 5 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a part of an aerosol provision device 100 according to an embodiment. Reference numerals indicating the same features as those shown in fig. 1, 2 and 3 are the same as those used in fig. 1, 2 and 3. These same features will not be discussed in detail here. The illustrated embodiment has an incoming airflow, indicated by arrow C, that enters the consumable unit 100. The gas stream passes through the aerosol-generating medium source 110 and entrains the components to form the aerosol. The flow of aerosol through the consumable unit 120 is shown by arrow C'. The aerosol passes along an air passage arranged adjacent the housing 102 and exits the device 100 at the air outlet 113 of the mouthpiece 112. The consumable unit 120 has a shape corresponding to a portion of the housing 110 where the consumable unit 120 is disposed. This portion includes a mouthpiece 112 and an air outlet 113. In the illustrated embodiment, the consumable unit 120 has an air inlet for allowing airflow into the consumable unit 120. The consumable unit has an air outlet for allowing the aerosol to flow out of the consumable unit 120.

Fig. 6 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a part of an aerosol-generating device 100 according to an embodiment. Reference numerals indicating the same features as those shown in fig. 1, 2, 3 and 5 are the same as those used in fig. 1, 2, 3 and 5. These same features will not be discussed in detail here. The consumable unit 120 shown in fig. 6 is different from the consumable unit shown in fig. 5 in that a bottom portion of the recess is absent. Fig. 6 shows a consumable unit 120 with a slightly different arrangement of air inlets and outlets. The air flow paths through the consumable unit 120, shown by arrows C and C', are also different.

The air flow path enters the consumable unit 120 in the vicinity of the aerosol-generating medium source 122 and flows through the aerosol-generating medium source 122 to form an aerosol. The aerosol continues along the base portion Q of the consumable unit 120. The aerosol then flows into the upper portion S of the consumable unit 120. The aerosol then passes through the upper section S and exits the air outlet 113 of the device 100.

The base portion Q may be a flat disc-shaped element, which may be multilayered. The layers of the base portion Q may carry a plurality of aerosol-generating medium sources 122. The base portion Q may be rotated by a movement mechanism within the device 100 to control which particular aerosol-generating medium source 122 is used during a use session.

The upper portion S may be attached to the base portion Q. The upper portion S may be a hollow structure to enable airflow through and out of the air outlet 113 of the device 100. The upper portion S may be a substantially conical shaped element 128 and may be filled with a filter material or the like. The upper portion S may be made of paper or card or the like. The upper portion S may be made of a filter material to reduce condensation of aerosols inside the device 100. The upper portion S may have a size and shape that conforms to the inner surface of the mouthpiece 112.

The aerosol-generating medium source 122 in the consumable unit 120 may have a plurality of doses of aerosol-generating medium. In other embodiments, the base portion Q of the consumable unit 120 may have a plurality of aerosol-generating medium sources 122. In some embodiments, the consumable unit 120 may cause the doses of aerosol-generating medium to be arranged in discrete doses. In other embodiments, the dose may be in the form of a continuous or discontinuous disc and disposed on one or more surfaces of the multi-layered consumable unit 120. In still other embodiments, the dose may be in the form of a ring, or any other shape. The consumable unit 120 may or may not have a rotationally symmetrically distributed dose or aerosol generating medium source 122 on any surface of the consumable unit 120. If arranged accordingly, a symmetric distribution of the aerosol-generating medium sources 122 can enable the aerosol-generating medium sources 122 to be positioned equidistantly (within a rotationally symmetric distribution) to receive an equal heating profile from a heater within the device 100 while rotating about a central axis.

The apparatus 100 may have multiple chambers or regions that may or may not be separated from each other. The apparatus 100 may have a power supply compartment (not shown) including an energy storage portion for supplying electrical energy to the heater and/or the moving mechanism. The heater may be a resistive heater. The heater may be a chemically activated heater that may or may not operate by an exothermic reaction or the like. The heater provides thermal energy, heat, to the environment surrounding the heater. The heater may heat the aerosol generating medium source 122 or heat the airflow before entering the consumable unit 120. The heater may be part of an induction heating system in which the heater is an induction heater and the consumable unit 120 may be or may include a susceptor or the like. The susceptor may be, for example, a sheet of aluminum foil or the like.

The shape of the device 100 may be cigarette-shaped (longer in one dimension than the other two dimensions) or may be other shapes. In an embodiment, the device 100 may have a shape that is longer in two dimensions than the other dimension, e.g., similar to an optical disc player or the like. Alternatively, the shape may be any shape suitable for accommodating the consumable unit 120.

The aerosol-generating medium source of the consumable unit 120 may comprise at least one of tobacco and ethylene glycol, and may comprise an extract (e.g., licorice, hydrangea, japanese white bark magnolia leaf, chamomile, fenugreek, clove, menthol, japanese mint, anise, cinnamon, vanilla, wintergreen, cherry, berry, peach, apple, jungle brandy, bourbon whisky, scotch whisky, whiskey, spearmint, peppermint, lavender, cardamom, celery, balsam, nutmeg, sandalwood, bergamot, geranium, honey essence, rose oil, vanilla, lemon oil, orange oil, cinnamon, caraway, brandy, jasmine, ylang, sage, fennel, allspice, ginger, anise, coriander, coffee, or any type of mint oil from the genus mentha), flavor enhancers, bitter receptor site blockers, bitter taste receptors sites blockers, and/or any type of mint oil from the genus mentha Sensory receptor site activators or stimulators, sugars and/or sugar substitutes (e.g., sucralose, potassium acesulfame, aspartame, saccharin, cyclamate, lactose, sucrose, glucose, fructose, sorbitol, or mannitol), and other additives, such as charcoal, chlorophyll, minerals, botanicals, or breath fresheners. They may be imitation preparations, synthetic or natural ingredients or mixtures thereof. They may be in any suitable form, for example oil, liquid or powder. The aerosol-generating media sources 110 may be separate, adjacent or overlapping.

The aerosol-forming layers described herein comprise "amorphous solids," which may alternatively be referred to as "monolithic solids" (i.e., non-fibrous) or as "xerogels. An amorphous solid is a solid material that can retain some fluid (such as a liquid) within its interior. In some cases, the aerosol-forming layer comprises from about 50 wt%, 60 wt%, or 70 wt% amorphous solids to about 90 wt%, 95 wt%, or 100 wt% amorphous solids. In some cases, the aerosol-forming layer is comprised of an amorphous solid.

In some cases, the amorphous solid may comprise 1 to 50 wt% gelling agent, wherein the weights are calculated on a dry weight basis.

Suitably, the amorphous solid may comprise from about 1 wt%, 5 wt%, 10 wt%, 15 wt%, 20 wt% or 25 wt% to about 50 wt%, 45 wt%, 40 wt%, 35 wt%, 30 wt% or 27 wt% gelling agent (all on a dry weight basis). For example, the amorphous solid may contain 5 to 40 wt%, 10 to 30 wt%, or 15 to 27 wt% gelling agent.

In some embodiments, the gelling agent comprises a hydrocolloid. In some embodiments, the gelling agent comprises one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of alginate, pectin, starch (and derivatives), cellulose (and derivatives), gums, silica gel or silicon compounds, clays, polyvinyl alcohol, and combinations thereof. For example, in some embodiments, the gelling agent comprises one or more of alginate, pectin, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, pullulan, xanthan gum, guar gum, carrageenan, agarose, gum arabic, fumed silica, PDMS, sodium silicate, kaolin, and polyvinyl alcohol. In some cases, the gelling agent comprises alginate and/or pectin, and may be combined with a hardening agent (such as a calcium source) during the formation of the amorphous solid. In some cases, the amorphous solid may comprise calcium-crosslinked alginate and/or calcium-crosslinked pectin.

Suitably, the amorphous solid may comprise from about 5 wt%, 10 wt%, 15 wt% or 20 wt% to about 80 wt%, 70 wt%, 60 wt%, 55 wt%, 50 wt%, 45 wt%, 40 wt% or 35 wt% aerosol generating agent (all calculated on a dry weight basis). The aerosol generating agent may act as a plasticizer. For example, the amorphous solid may comprise 10 to 60 wt%, 15 to 50 wt% or 20 to 40 wt% of the aerosol generating agent. In some cases, the aerosol-generating agent comprises one or more compounds selected from erythritol, propylene glycol, glycerol, triacetin, sorbitol, and xylitol. In some cases, the aerosol-generating agent comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of glycerol. The present inventors have determined that if the level of plasticizer is too high, the amorphous solid may absorb water, resulting in a material that does not produce a comfortable consumer experience in use. The inventors have also determined that if the plasticizer content is too low, the amorphous solid may be brittle and easily broken. The plasticizer content specified herein provides amorphous solid flexibility that allows amorphous solid sheets to be wound onto bobbins, which is useful in the manufacture of aerosol-generating formulations.

In some cases, the amorphous solid may contain flavoring agents. Suitably, the amorphous solid may comprise up to about 60, 50, 40, 30, 20, 10 or 5 wt% flavour. In some cases, the amorphous solid can comprise at least about 0.5 wt%, 1 wt%, 2 wt%, 5 wt%, 10 wt%, 20 wt%, or 30 wt% flavor (all on a dry weight basis). For example, the amorphous solid may contain 10 to 60 wt%, 20 to 50 wt%, or 30 to 40 wt% of a flavoring agent. In some cases, the flavoring agent (if present) comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of menthol. In some cases, the amorphous solid does not contain a flavoring agent.

In some cases, the amorphous solid additionally comprises tobacco material and/or nicotine. For example, the amorphous solid may additionally comprise powdered tobacco and/or nicotine and/or a tobacco extract. In some cases, the amorphous solid can comprise from about 1 wt%, 5 wt%, 10 wt%, 15 wt%, 20 wt%, or 25 wt% to about 70 wt%, 60 wt%, 50 wt%, 45 wt%, or 40 wt% (by dry weight) of tobacco material and/or nicotine.

In some cases, the amorphous solid comprises a tobacco extract. In some cases, the amorphous solid may comprise 5-60 wt% (dry weight basis) of the tobacco extract. In some cases, the amorphous solid can comprise from about 5 wt%, 10 wt%, 15 wt%, 20 wt%, or 25 wt% to about 55 wt%, 50 wt%, 45 wt%, or 40 wt% (by dry weight) of the tobacco extract. For example, the amorphous solid may comprise 5-60 wt%, 10-55 wt%, or 25-55 wt% of the tobacco extract. The tobacco extract can comprise nicotine at a concentration such that the amorphous solid comprises from 1 wt%, 1.5 wt%, 2 wt%, or 2.5 wt% to about 6 wt%, 5 wt%, 4.5 wt%, or 4 wt% (on a dry weight basis) nicotine. In some cases, nicotine may not be present in the amorphous solid except for nicotine produced from the tobacco extract.

In some embodiments, the amorphous solid does not comprise tobacco material but comprises nicotine. In some cases, the amorphous solid can comprise from about 1 wt%, 2 wt%, 3 wt%, or 4 wt% to about 20 wt%, 15 wt%, 10 wt%, or 5 wt% (by dry weight) nicotine. For example, the amorphous solid may comprise 1-20 wt% or 2-5 wt% nicotine.

In some cases, the total content of tobacco material, nicotine, and flavoring can be at least about 1 wt%, 5 wt%, 10 wt%, 20 wt%, 25 wt%, or 30 wt%. In some cases, the total content of tobacco material, nicotine, and flavoring may be less than about 70 wt%, 60 wt%, 50 wt%, or 40 wt% (all on a dry weight basis).

In some embodiments, the amorphous solid is a hydrogel and comprises less than about 20 wt% water (based on wet weight). In some cases, the hydrogel can contain less than about 15 wt%, 12 wt%, or 10 wt% water (based on Wet Weight (WWB)). In some cases, the hydrogel can comprise at least about 2 wt% or at least about 5 wt% water (WWB).

The amorphous solid may be made of a gel, and the gel may additionally comprise a solvent, the solvent being comprised between 0.1 and 50 wt%. However, the present inventors have determined that inclusion of a solvent in which the flavour is soluble may reduce the stability of the gel and that the flavour may crystallise out of the gel. Thus, in some cases, the gel does not contain a solvent in which the flavor is soluble.

The amorphous solid contains less than 20 wt%, suitably less than 10 wt% or less than 5 wt% filler. The filler may comprise one or more inorganic filler materials such as calcium carbonate, perlite, vermiculite, diatomaceous earth, silica gel, magnesium oxide, magnesium sulphate, magnesium carbonate and suitable inorganic sorbents such as molecular sieves. The filler may include one or more organic filler materials such as wood pulp, cellulose, and cellulose derivatives. In some cases, the amorphous solid contains less than 1 wt% filler, and in some cases, the amorphous solid does not contain filler. In particular, in some cases, the amorphous solid does not contain calcium carbonate such as chalk.

In some cases, the amorphous solid may consist essentially of or consist of: a gelling agent, an aerosol-generating agent, a tobacco material and/or a nicotine source, water and optionally a flavouring agent.

Accordingly, there has been described an aerosol provision device comprising: a housing having a mouthpiece with an air outlet; and a consumable unit contained within the housing, the consumable unit comprising a source of aerosol-generating medium and an airflow channel wall forming an airflow channel passing through the source of aerosol-generating medium and terminating adjacent the air outlet of the housing.

The aerosol provision system may be used in tobacco industry products, such as non-combustible aerosol provision systems.

In one embodiment, the tobacco industry product comprises one or more components of a non-combustible aerosol provision system, such as a heater or an aerosolizable substrate.

In one embodiment, the aerosol provision system is an electronic cigarette, also referred to as a smoking device.

In one embodiment, an electronic cigarette includes a heater, a power source capable of supplying electrical energy to the heater, an aerosolizable substrate (such as a liquid or gel), a housing, and an optional mouthpiece.

In one embodiment, the aerosolizable substrate is contained in or on a substrate container. In one embodiment, the substrate container is combined with or includes a heater.

In one embodiment, the tobacco industry product is a heated product that releases one or more compounds by heating rather than burning the base material. The base material may be an aerosolizable material, which may be, for example, tobacco or other non-tobacco products that may or may not contain nicotine. In one embodiment, the heating device product is a tobacco heating product.

In one embodiment, the heating product is an electronic device.

In one embodiment, the tobacco heating product comprises a heater, a power source capable of supplying electrical energy to the heater, an aerosolizable substrate such as a solid or gel material.

In one embodiment, the heating product is a non-electronic device.

In one embodiment, heating the product comprises: an aerosolizable substrate, such as a solid or gel material; and a heat source capable of supplying thermal energy to the aerosolizable substrate, such as by burning combustible material (such as charcoal), without any electronic means.

In one embodiment, the heating product further comprises a filter capable of filtering aerosols generated by heating the aerosolizable substrate.

In some embodiments, the aerosolizable substrate material can include an aerosol or aerosol generating agent or humectant, such as glycerol, propylene glycol, triacetin, or diethylene glycol.

In one embodiment, the tobacco industry product is a hybrid system that generates an aerosol by heating rather than burning a combination of base materials. The base material may, for example, comprise a solid, liquid or gel, which may or may not contain nicotine. In one embodiment, the mixing system includes a liquid or gel substrate and a solid substrate. The solid substrate may be, for example, tobacco or other non-tobacco products that may or may not contain nicotine. In one embodiment, the mixing system includes a liquid or gel substrate and tobacco.

To address the various problems and advance the art, the entirety of the present disclosure shows by way of illustration a number of embodiments in which the claimed invention may be practiced and which provide an excellent electronic aerosol provision system. The advantages and features of the present disclosure are merely representative examples of implementations and are not exhaustive and/or exclusive. These embodiments are provided merely to facilitate an understanding and teaching of the claimed features. It is to be understood that advantages, implementations, embodiments, functions, features, structures, and/or other aspects of the present disclosure are not to be considered limitations on the present disclosure as defined by the claims or limitations on equivalents to the claims, and that other implementations may be utilized and modifications may be made without departing from the scope and/or spirit of the present disclosure. Various embodiments may suitably comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of various combinations of the disclosed elements, components, features, components, steps, means, and the like. Moreover, this disclosure includes other inventions not presently claimed, but which may be claimed in the future.

Claims

1. An aerosol provision system comprising:

a housing having a mouthpiece with an air outlet; and

a consumable unit housed within the housing, the consumable unit comprising:

a source of aerosol-generating medium; and

an airflow channel wall forming an airflow channel passing through the aerosol-generating medium source and terminating adjacent the air outlet of the housing.

2. The aerosol provision system of claim 1, wherein the consumable unit comprises a filter material.

3. The aerosol provision system of claim 2, wherein the filter material is located in the airflow passage.

4. The aerosol provision system of claim 2, wherein the filter material forms the airflow channel wall.

5. The aerosol provision system of any of claims 2 to 4, wherein the filter material is compressed by the housing when the consumable unit is inserted into the housing.

6. The aerosol provision system of any of claims 2 to 5, wherein the filter material is at least one of: tobacco, cellulose acetate, and porous paper.

7. The aerosol provision system of any of claims 1 to 6, comprising a movement mechanism that rotates the consumable unit relative to the housing.

8. The aerosol provision system of any of claims 1 to 7, wherein, proximate the air outlet, an outer portion of the consumable unit has a shape conforming to the housing.

9. The aerosol provision system of any of claims 1 to 8, wherein a portion of the consumable unit has a frusto-conical shape.

10. The aerosol provision system of any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the aerosol-generating medium source terminates in the vicinity of the air outlet.

11. A consumable unit for use in the aerosol provision system of claims 1 to 10.

12. A housing for an aerosol provision system according to claims 1 to 10.

13. A consumable unit for use with an aerosol provision system, the unit comprising a first protruding portion and a second recessed portion, wherein the first protruding portion has a shape that conforms to the second recessed portion.

14. The consumable unit of claim 13, wherein the unit comprises an aerosol generating medium disposed in the second recessed portion.

15. The consumable unit of claim 14, wherein the unit comprises at least two portions of the aerosol-generating medium disposed in the second recessed portion.

16. An aerosol provision device comprising:

a housing having a mouthpiece with air outlet means; and

a consumable unit housed within the housing, the consumable unit comprising:

an aerosol-generating device source; and

airflow passage means forming an airflow passage through the aerosol-generating device source and terminating adjacent the air outlet means of the housing.

17. A method of supplying an aerosol, comprising:

providing a housing having a mouthpiece with an air outlet; and is

Providing a consumable unit housed within the housing, the consumable unit comprising:

a source of aerosol-generating medium; and

an air flow passage wall forming an air flow passage through the aerosol-generating medium source and terminating adjacent the air outlet of the housing,

passing air through the airflow channel within the airflow channel wall;

passing air over the source of aerosol-generating medium; and

passing air through the air outlet of the housing.

18. An aerosol provision device configured to receive a consumable unit contained within a housing, the consumable unit comprising a source of aerosol-generating medium and an airflow channel wall forming an airflow channel through the source of aerosol-generating medium, the aerosol provision device comprising:

a housing having a mouthpiece, the mouthpiece having an air outlet,

wherein, in use, the airflow passage terminates adjacent the air outlet of the housing.