CN113966177A

CN113966177A - Aerosol delivery device

Info

Publication number: CN113966177A
Application number: CN202080025500.4A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 彼得·洛马斯; 克里斯·洛德
Original assignee: Nerudia Ltd
Current assignee: IMPERIAL TOBACCO Ltd
Priority date: 2019-03-29
Filing date: 2020-03-06
Publication date: 2022-01-21
Also published as: EP3714714A1; EP3945880A1; WO2020200654A1

Abstract

An aerosol delivery device for a smoking-substitute system. The aerosol delivery device includes a vaporizer for vaporizing a vaporizable liquid and a pair of contact pins for electrically connecting the vaporizer to a power source. The contact pins are embedded in a base portion of the aerosol delivery device, and each of the contact pins has a circular cross-section.

Description

Aerosol delivery device

Technical Field

The present invention relates to aerosol delivery devices and more particularly, but not exclusively, to aerosol delivery devices having a vaporizer and a pair of contact pins for electrically connecting the vaporizer to a power supply.

Background

Smoking tobacco is generally considered to expose the smoker to potentially harmful substances. It is generally believed that the heat caused by the incineration and/or combustion of tobacco, as well as the components of the incinerated tobacco in the tobacco smoke itself, produces a large amount of potentially harmful substances.

The combustion of organic materials such as tobacco is known to produce tar and other potentially harmful byproducts. To avoid smoking tobacco, various smoking substitute systems have been proposed.

Such smoking replacement systems may form part of nicotine replacement therapy for persons who wish to stop smoking and overcome dependence on nicotine.

A smoking substitute system, which may also be referred to as an electronic nicotine delivery system, may include an electronic system that allows a user to simulate the behavior of smoking by generating an aerosol (also referred to as "vapor") that is inhaled into the lungs through the mouth (inhalation), and then exhaled. The inhaled aerosol typically carries nicotine and/or flavourings with no or less of the odour and health risks associated with traditional smoking.

In general, smoking substitute systems are intended to provide a substitute for smoking habits while providing a user with an experience and satisfaction similar to that experienced with traditional smoking and combustible tobacco products.

Over the past few years, the popularity and use of smoking-substitute systems has grown rapidly. Some smoking-substitute systems are designed similar to conventional cigarettes and are in the form of a cylinder with a mouthpiece at one end. Other smoking-substitute systems generally do not resemble cigarettes (e.g., the smoking-substitute system may have a generally box-like form). There are many different kinds of smoking substitute systems, each using a different smoking substitute method. The smoking alternative corresponds to a method of operating the alternative system by a user.

One method is the so-called "vaporization" method, in which a vaporizable liquid, commonly referred to as (and herein as "e-liquid"), is heated by a heating device to produce an aerosol vapor that is inhaled by the user. E-liquid typically includes a base liquid and nicotine and/or a flavoring agent. Thus, the resulting vapor also typically contains nicotine and/or flavors. The base liquid may include propylene glycol and/or vegetable glycerin.

A typical vapor-displacing device includes a mouthpiece, a power source (usually a battery), a canister or reservoir for holding e-liquid. In use, electrical energy is supplied from the power source to the heating device, which heats the e-liquid to produce an aerosol (or "vapour") which is inhaled by the user through the mouthpiece.

The vaporization smoking substitute device can be configured in a variety of ways. For example, there is a "closed system" vaporization smoking substitute system, which typically has a sealed canister and a heating element. The canister is pre-filled with e-liquid and is not intended to be refilled by the end user. One subset of closed system vaping smoking replacement systems includes a body comprising a power source, wherein the body is configured to be physically and electrically coupled to a consumable comprising a canister and a heating element. In this way, the consumable is disposed of when the canister of the consumable has been emptied. The main body may be reused by attaching it to a new, replacement consumable. Another subset of closed system vaporization smoking replacement systems are completely disposable and are intended for only one use.

There are also "open system" vaporization smoking replacement systems, which typically have a canister configured to be refilled by a user. In this way, the entire device can be used multiple times.

An exemplary vaping smoking substitute system is myblu^TMe-cigarette. myblu^TMAn e-cigarette is a closed system comprising a body and a consumable. The body and the consumable are physically and electrically coupled together by pushing the consumable into the body. The main body includes a rechargeable battery. The consumable comprises a mouthpiece, a sealed canister containing e-liquid, and a heater which for the device is a heating wire coiled around a portion of the wick. The wick is partially immersed in the e-liquid and the e-liquid is delivered from the canister to the heating wire. The device is activated when the microprocessor on the body detects that the user is inhaling through the mouthpiece. When the device is startedOn the fly, electrical energy is supplied from a power source to a heating device that heats e-liquid from the canister to produce steam that is inhaled by the user through the mouthpiece.

Another exemplary vaping substitute device is blu PRO^TMe-cigarette. blu PRO^TMAn e-cigarette is an open system device comprising a body, a (refillable) canister and a mouthpiece. The body and the canister are physically and electrically coupled together by screwing one to the other. The nozzle and the refillable canister are physically coupled together by screwing one to the other, and removal of the nozzle from the refillable canister allows the canister to be refilled with electronic liquid smoke. The device is activated by a button on the body. When the device is activated, electrical energy is supplied from the power source to the vaporizer, which heats the e-liquid from the canister to produce a vapor that is inhaled by the user through the mouthpiece.

There may be a need for an improved design of a smoking substitute system, particularly with respect to providing an improved electrical connection between the body and the consumable.

The present disclosure was devised in view of the above considerations.

Disclosure of Invention

In the most general case, the present invention relates to an aerosol delivery device for a smoking replacement system in which a pair of contact pins having a circular cross-section extend through a base of the aerosol delivery device to electrically connect a vaporizer to a power source.

According to a first aspect, there is provided an aerosol delivery device for a smoking substitute system, the aerosol delivery device comprising: a vaporizer for vaporizing a vaporizable liquid; and

a pair of contact pins for electrically connecting the vaporizer to a power source, wherein the contact pins are embedded in a base portion of the aerosol delivery device, and each of the contact pins has a circular cross-section.

Providing a contact pin embedded in the base portion of the aerosol delivery device may provide stability to the contact pin, thereby ensuring a reliable electrical connection between the power supply and a vaporizer housed within the aerosol delivery device. Such a configuration may simplify the assembly process of the aerosol delivery device and may even allow for simple automation of the assembly of the vaporizer with the base portion of the aerosol delivery device. The circular cross-section of each of the pair of contact pins may help to improve and simplify the assembly process of the aerosol delivery device and may also provide an improved seal between the contact pins and the base portion; thereby reducing the likelihood of leakage (of vaporizable liquid) through the portion of the substrate.

Optional features of the present disclosure will now be set forth. These may be used alone or in any combination with any aspect of the present disclosure.

The device has an upper end comprising an outlet and a lower end comprising at least one inlet. The base portion is disposed at a lower end of the device. The device has a longitudinal axis extending between an upper end and a lower end. The term "downstream" as used herein is intended to refer to the longitudinal direction of the device towards the outlet. The term "upstream" as used herein is intended to refer to the longitudinal direction of the device away from the outlet.

The device comprises a device airflow path extending from at least one (upstream) inlet to a (downstream) outlet.

The terms "transverse" and "laterally" as used herein are intended to refer to a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the device.

The contact pins may extend in a substantially longitudinal direction. As such, they may be considered as "spread out" contact pins. A flared contact pin may generally be considered to have a longitudinal axis without any deflection greater than 90 degrees or 80 degrees or 70 degrees or 60 degrees or 50 degrees or 40 degrees or 30 degrees or 20 degrees or 10 degrees. Preferably, the longitudinal axis of the contact pin is not deflected, i.e. the contact pin is substantially linear. The contact pin may extend through the base portion from the lower (upstream) face to the upper (downstream) face of the proximal end of the vaporizer.

The contact pins may be formed of, for example, plated metal. They may be formed of gold plated metal. By providing a spread contact pin, the plating may be less prone to wear.

The pins (e.g., upper faces of the pins) may be aligned with each other in the lateral direction.

The vaporizer may be laterally elongated, for example it may comprise a laterally elongated wick and a heating element. The contact pin may be in electrical communication with the heating element. The pin (e.g., above the pin) may be laterally aligned parallel to the vaporizer (e.g., parallel to the core). A laterally aligned pin (e.g., a laterally aligned upper face of the pin) may be aligned with the vaporizer in an axial (longitudinal) direction of the aerosol delivery device such that the wick overlies (i.e., is above) the contact pin, with the wick being downstream of the pin.

The vaporizer can be positioned such that the vaporizer covers the axial center of the base portion (e.g., it extends laterally to intersect the longitudinal axis of the device). The axial center of the base portion may be located between the two contact pins.

Thus, the contact pins (e.g., the upper faces of the contact pins) may be equally spaced in a lateral direction either side of the central longitudinal axis of the aerosol delivery device.

The lowermost (upstream) surface of the base portion may have a generally rectangular profile with opposing lateral edges spaced apart by opposing leading and trailing edges (with the front-to-back direction of the device extending perpendicular to the longitudinal and lateral directions).

The contact pins (e.g., the lower (upstream) faces of the contact pins) may be equally spaced from the leading and trailing edges on the lowermost surface of the base portion. The lateral spacing between a first one of the pair of contact pins (e.g., a first one of the pin undersides) and the proximal (first) lateral edge may be equal to the lateral spacing between a second one of the pair of contact pins (e.g., a second one of the pin undersides) and the proximal (second) lateral edge.

The at least one inlet may be disposed on a lowermost surface of the base portion. Two air inlets may be provided on the lowermost surface of the base portion.

The heating element of the vaporizer may comprise a wire, and each end of the wire may be electrically connected to (e.g., electrically connected to an upper face of) a respective contact pin. In particular, the wire may extend between the pair of contact pins.

The filaments may extend helically around the core. The contact pins (e.g., the upper face of each contact pin) may be electrically connected to respective ends of the wire upstream of the wick.

The contact pins (i.e. the upper side of each contact pin) may be directly physically and electrically connected to the wires. Optionally, the contact pins may be connected to the wires by crimping, soldering or compression.

The contact pin may have a circular cross-section along its entire length. Alternatively, the contact pin may have a circular cross-section along only a portion of its length.

Each contact pin may be substantially cylindrical. In other words, the cross-sectional shape and/or cross-sectional area of each contact pin may be substantially equal along the entire length of each respective contact pin. The contact pins may have substantially the same shape and/or size as each other.

Each contact pin may taper along at least a portion of its length towards an upper and/or lower face of each respective contact pin. In particular, the dimensions of each contact pin may be tapered towards the upper side (i.e. such that the cross-sectional area of the upper side of the contact pin is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the lower side of the contact pin). In this way, the vaporizer may be more easily electrically and physically connected to each contact pin.

The underside of each contact pin may comprise an electrical interface for connection with a respective electrical interface of the main body of the smoking substitute system.

According to some embodiments, the aerosol delivery device may further comprise a vaporization chamber. The vaporizer may be disposed within the vaporization chamber, and the upper surface of the contact pin may be exposed within the vaporization chamber.

In these embodiments, the device gas flow path comprises: at least one inlet gas flow path extending from at least one inlet (on a lowermost surface of the base portion) in a respective inlet channel to the vaporization chamber; and at least one chamber airflow path extending through the chamber.

The device gas flow path may bypass the vaporizer. In particular, the chamber airflow path may bypass a vaporizer in the vaporization chamber. In this manner, the device airflow path may not pass through the vaporizer. Thus, the likelihood of unvaporised liquid from the vaporiser becoming entrained in the gas stream and thus passing through the outlet of the device into the mouth of the user may be reduced or eliminated.

In some embodiments, the or each opening from the inlet passage to the vaporisation cavity (and the or each inlet on the lowermost surface of the device) is offset from the central longitudinal axis of the aerosol delivery device, for example in the front-to-back direction of the device (which is perpendicular to the lateral and longitudinal directions).

In the case of two inlet gas flow paths, the openings from the inlet passage into the vaporisation chamber (and each inlet on the lowermost surface of the device) may be spaced from each other in the forward or rearward direction of the device. They may be equally spaced from the central longitudinal axis of the aerosol delivery device on either side of the central longitudinal axis in the anterior-posterior direction. They may be aligned with each other in the front-to-rear direction of the device.

The opening of the/each inlet passage into the vaporisation chamber may be offset from the vaporiser in a forward or rearward direction of the device. The opening of the/each inlet passage may be located axially downstream of the vaporiser (i.e. closer to the outlet of the device).

In this way, the gas flow in the inlet gas flow path may enter the vaporization chamber downstream of the vaporizer, which may further help reduce the amount of unvaporized liquid entrained in the chamber gas flow path toward the device outlet.

The opening of the or each inlet channel may be elongate in a transverse direction such that it/they extend substantially parallel to the carburettor (i.e. the core of the carburettor). Thus, the or each inlet passage may have a transversely elongate cross-sectional profile. The or each inlet on the lowermost surface of the base portion may be elongate in a transverse direction such that it/they extend parallel to the front and rear edges of the lowermost surface of the base portion (and substantially parallel to a transverse axis aligned with (the lower surface of) the contact pins on the lowermost surface of the base portion).

The aerosol delivery device may include a canister (reservoir) for containing a vaporizable liquid (e.g., e-liquid), wherein the vaporizer is in fluid communication with the canister. For example, the e-liquid may include a base liquid and, for example, nicotine. The base liquid may include propylene glycol and/or vegetable glycerin.

The canister may be defined by a canister housing. At least a portion of the tank housing may be transparent. For example, the canister may include a window to allow a user to visually assess the amount of e-liquid in the canister. It may be referred to as a "clear atomizer" if the canister includes a window, or a "cartomizer" if the canister does not include a window.

The base portion may be a base insert defining the inlet. The base insert may be inserted into the open lower end of the tank to seal against the inner surface of the tank shell. The base insert may include an inner longitudinally extending sleeve defining a wall of the vaporization chamber. The substrate insert may be configured to support a vaporizer within a vaporization chamber. The base insert may define an inlet passage. The base insert may be formed of silicone.

The vaporization chamber may include opposing parallel sidewalls substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the device, and a downstream wall extending transversely between the sidewalls. The walls of the vaporization chamber (e.g., front and rear walls) may have at least one step formed therein such that a portion of each (front/rear) wall is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the device. The step may be disposed downstream of the vaporizer within the vaporization chamber. The opening of the/each inlet channel may be formed in a step of the wall of the vaporisation chamber (i.e. the opening of the/each inlet channel may be formed in a step portion of the wall perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the device).

The aerosol delivery device may comprise a passageway extending to an outlet of the device, for example at a mouthpiece of the aerosol delivery device. The passageway may extend from a passageway opening in the vaporization chamber to the outlet. In this regard, a user may draw fluid (e.g., air) from the inlet, through the inlet channel, and through the vaporization chamber into the passageway opening and through the passageway by inhaling at the outlet (i.e., using the mouthpiece).

The passageway may include a passageway wall extending within the canister such that the canister may surround the passageway. The passage opening may be formed in a downstream wall of the vaporization chamber. The inner sleeve of the base insert may seal against the passageway wall.

The core may comprise a porous material. The wick may be elongated and extend laterally across the vaporization chamber between walls (e.g., sidewalls) of the vaporization chamber. The wick may also include one or more portions that are in contact with the liquid stored in the tank. For example, opposite lateral ends of the wick may extend into the canister, and a central portion (between the lateral ends) may extend across the vaporization chamber. Thus, fluid may be drawn (e.g., by capillary action) from the reservoir along the wick to the central portion of the wick.

The filaments may be wound around a central portion of the core. In operation, the power source may supply power (i.e., apply a voltage) to the filaments in order to heat the filaments. This can cause the liquid stored in the wick (i.e. drawn from the canister) to be heated, thereby forming a vapour and being entrained into the device airflow path. The vapor may then cool to form an aerosol in the passage.

The aerosol delivery device may be in the form of a consumable.

In a second aspect, there is provided a smoking-substitute system comprising: the aerosol delivery device of the first aspect; and a main body including a power supply, wherein a pair of contact pins electrically connect the heating element to the power supply.

The consumable may be configured to engage with the body (i.e., to form a closed smoking-substitute system). For example, the consumable may constitute a disposable component of the system, and the body may constitute a non-disposable or non-consumable component (e.g., power source, controller, sensor, etc.) that assists the consumable in delivering the aerosol. In such embodiments, the aerosol precursor (e.g., the vaporizable e-liquid) can be replenished by replacing the used consumable with an unused consumable.

The body and the consumable may be configured to be physically coupled together. For example, the consumable may be at least partially received in a recess of the body such that there is an interference fit (e.g., a snap-fit engagement) between the body and the consumable. Alternatively, the body and consumable may be physically coupled together by screwing one onto the other or by a bayonet fitting.

Accordingly, the aerosol delivery device may comprise one or more engagement portions for engagement with the body. In this way, a lower end (e.g., base portion) of the aerosol delivery device may be coupled with the body, while an upper end of the aerosol delivery device may define a mouthpiece of the smoking-substitute system.

When engaged with the body, the power source may be electrically connected (or connectable) to the vaporizer of the aerosol delivery device. The power source may be a battery (e.g., a rechargeable battery). A connector, for example in the form of a USB port, may be provided for charging the battery.

The consumable may comprise an electrical interface for connection with a corresponding electrical interface of the main body. As mentioned above, the underside of each contact pin may comprise an electrical interface for connection with a corresponding electrical interface of the main body. One or both of the electrical interfaces may include one or more electrical contacts. The underside of the contact pin may be provided with an electrical contact. Thus, when the body is engaged with the consumable, the electrical interface may be configured to transmit power from the power source to the heating element of the consumable. The electrical interface may also be used to identify the aerosol delivery device from a list of known types. For example, the consumable may have a concentration of nicotine and the electrical interface may be used to identify this. The electrical interface may additionally or alternatively be used for identification when the consumable is connected to the main body.

The body may include an interface, which may be in the form of an RFID reader, a barcode or a QR code reader, for example. The interface is capable of identifying a characteristic (e.g., type) of the consumable engaged with the body. In this regard, the consumable may include any one or more of an RFID chip, a barcode or a QR code, or a memory having an identifier therein and accessible via an interface.

The aerosol delivery device or body may comprise a controller, which may comprise a microprocessor. The controller may be configured to control the supply of power (e.g., via the electrical contacts) from the power source to the vaporizer of the aerosol delivery device. A memory may be provided and may be operatively connected to the controller. The memory may comprise non-volatile memory. The memory may include instructions that, when implemented, cause the controller to perform certain tasks or steps of the method.

The body or aerosol delivery device mayIncluding a wireless interface that may be configured, for example, via

Communicate wirelessly with other devices, such as mobile devices. To this end, the wireless interface may comprise

An antenna. Other wireless communication interfaces (e.g. for example)

) But also possible. The wireless interface may also be configured to wirelessly communicate with a remote server.

A puff sensor (i.e., an airflow sensor) may be provided that is configured to detect a puff (i.e., inhalation by a user). The puff sensor may be operably connected to the controller so as to be capable of providing a signal to the controller indicative of the puff status (i.e., puff or no puff). The suction sensor may for example be in the form of a pressure sensor or an acoustic sensor. That is, the controller may control power supplied to the heater of the consumable in response to the puff detection by the sensor. The controller may be in the form of a trigger responsive to the detected puff. That is, the aerosol delivery device may be configured to be activated when the puff sensor detects a puff. The suction sensor may form part of the consumable or the body.

In alternative embodiments, the device may be a non-consumable device, wherein the aerosol precursor (e.g., e-liquid) of the system may be replenished by refilling the canister of the device (rather than replacing the consumable). In this embodiment, the consumable described above may instead be a non-consumable component integral with the body. Thus, the device may include the features of the body described above. In this embodiment, the only consumable portion may be e-liquid contained in the canister of the device. Access to the canister (for refilling of e-liquid) may be provided via an opening of the canister, which may be sealed with a closure (e.g., a lid), for example.

According to a second aspect, there is provided a smoking substitute system comprising: the aerosol delivery device of the first aspect; and a main body including a power supply, wherein a pair of contact pins electrically connect the heating element to the power supply.

The invention includes combinations of the described aspects and preferred features unless such combinations are clearly impossible or explicitly avoided.

Drawings

In order that the invention may be understood, and in order that other aspects and features of the invention may be understood, an embodiment illustrating the principles of the invention will now be discussed in more detail, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1A is a schematic front view of a smoking substitute system;

FIG. 1B is a schematic front view of the body of the system;

FIG. 1C is a front view schematic of a consumable of the system;

FIG. 2A is a schematic view of components of a body;

FIG. 2B is a schematic diagram of components of a consumable;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a consumable;

fig. 4A is a perspective view of a base portion of a consumable;

FIG. 4B is another perspective view of the base portion of FIG. 4A; and

fig. 4C is a cross-sectional view of the base portion of fig. 4A.

Detailed Description

Aspects and embodiments of the invention will now be discussed with reference to the figures. Other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. All documents mentioned herein are incorporated herein by reference.

Figure 1A shows a first embodiment of a smoking-substitute system 100. In this example, the smoking-substitute system 100 includes a body 102 and an aerosol delivery device in the form of a consumable 104. Consumable 104 may alternatively be referred to as a "pack," cartridge, "or" cartomizer. It is understood that in other examples (i.e., open systems), the body may be integrated with the consumable such that the aerosol delivery device is incorporated into the body. In such systems, the canister of the aerosol delivery device may be accessed for refilling the device.

In this example, the smoking-substitute system 100 is a closed-system vaporization system, where the consumable 104 includes a sealed canister 106 and is for a single use only. Consumable 104 is removably engaged with body 102 (i.e., for removal and replacement). Fig. 1A shows the smoking-substitution system 100 with the body 102 physically coupled to the consumable 104, fig. 1B shows the body 102 of the smoking-substitution system 100 without the consumable 104, and fig. 1C shows the consumable 104 of the smoking-substitution system 100 without the body 102.

Body 102 and consumable 104 are configured to be physically coupled together by pushing consumable 104 into a cavity at upper end 108 of body 102 such that there is an interference fit between body 102 and consumable 104. In other examples, body 102 and consumable 104 may be coupled by screwing one onto the other or by a bayonet fitting.

The consumable 104 includes a nozzle (not shown in fig. 1A, 1B, or 1C) at an upper end 109 of the consumable 104, and one or more air inlets (not shown) in fluid communication with the nozzle, such that air can be drawn into and through the consumable 104 when a user inhales through the nozzle. A canister 106 containing electronic liquid smoke is located at a lower end 111 of the consumable 104.

The canister 106 includes a window 112, which window 112 allows visual assessment of the amount of e-liquid in the canister 106. The body 102 includes a slot 114 so that when the consumable 104 is inserted into the cavity at the upper end 108 of the body 102, the window 112 of the consumable 104 is visible while obscuring the rest of the canister 106 from view.

The lower end 110 of the body 102 also includes a light 116 (e.g., an LED) located behind the small translucent cover. The light 116 may be configured to emit light when the smoking-substitute system 100 is activated. Although not shown, consumable 104 may identify itself to body 102 via an electrical interface, an RFID chip, or a bar code.

Fig. 2A and 2B are schematic views of body 102 and consumable 104. As shown in fig. 2A, the body 102 includes a power source 118, a controller 120, a memory 122, a wireless interface 124, an electrical interface 126, and optionally one or more additional components 128.

The power source 118 is preferably a battery, and more preferably a rechargeable battery. The controller 120 may comprise, for example, a microprocessor. The memory 122 preferably comprises a non-volatile memory. The memory may include instructions that, when implemented, cause the controller 120 to perform certain tasks or steps of the method.

The wireless interface 124 is preferably configured to wirelessly communicate with other devices (e.g., mobile devices), such as via bluetooth. To this end, the wireless interface 124 may include

An antenna. Other wireless communication interfaces (e.g. for example)

) But also possible. The wireless interface 124 may also be configured to wirelessly communicate with a remote server.

The electrical interface 126 may be located in the base of a bore in the upper end 108 of the body 102. When the body 102 is physically coupled to the consumable 104, the electrical interface 126 is configured to transmit power from the power source 118 to the consumable 104 (i.e., upon activation of the smoking-substitute system 100).

The electrical interface 126 may be configured to receive power from a charging station when the body 102 is not physically coupled to the consumable 104 but is coupled to the charging station. Electrical interface 126 may also be used to identify consumable 104 from a list of known consumables. For example, the consumable 104 may be a particular taste and/or have a particular concentration of nicotine (which may be recognized by the electrical interface 126). When consumable 104 is connected to body 102, this may be indicated to controller 120 of body 102. Additionally or alternatively, a separate communication interface may be provided in body 102 and a corresponding communication interface provided in consumable 104, such that when connected, consumable 104 may identify itself to body 102.

Additional components 128 of the body 102 may include the lights 116 discussed above.

The add-on component 128 of the body 102 may also include a charging port (e.g., a USB or micro-USB port) configured to receive power from a charging station (i.e., when the power source 118 is a rechargeable battery). The charging port may be located at a lower end 110 of the body 102. Alternatively, the electrical interface 126 discussed above may be configured to function as a charging port configured to receive power from a charging station, such that a separate charging port is not required.

If the power source 118 is a rechargeable battery, the additional components 128 of the main body 102 may include battery charge control circuitry for controlling the charging of the rechargeable battery. However, the battery charge control circuit may also be located in the charging station (if present).

The additional component 128 of the body 102 may include a sensor, such as an airflow (i.e., puff) sensor for detecting airflow in the smoking-substitute system 100, such as caused by a user inhaling through the mouthpiece 136 of the consumable 104. The smoking-substitute system 100 can be configured to be activated when the airflow sensor detects airflow. Alternatively, the sensor may be included in consumable 104. The airflow sensor may be used to determine, for example, the strength with which a user draws the nozzle or the number of times a user draws the nozzle over a particular period of time.

Additional components 128 of the body 102 may include user inputs, such as buttons. The smoking-substitute system 100 can be configured to be activated when a user interacts with a user input (e.g., presses a button). This provides an alternative to an airflow sensor as a mechanism for activating the smoking-substitute system 100.

As shown in fig. 2B, the consumable 104 includes a canister 106, an electrical interface 130, a vaporizer 132, one or more air inlets 134, a nozzle 136, and one or more additional components 138.

When the lower end 111 of the consumable 104 is inserted into the upper end 108 of the body 102 (as shown in fig. 1A), the electrical interface 126 of the body 102 and the electrical interface 130 of the consumable 104 are configured to contact each other, thereby electrically connecting the body 102 to the consumable 104. In this manner, electrical energy (e.g., in the form of electrical current) can be supplied from the power source 118 in the body 102 to the vaporizer 132 in the consumable 104.

The vaporizer 132 is configured to heat and vaporize the e-liquid contained in the canister 106 using electrical energy supplied by the power source 118. The vaporizer 132 includes a heater wire and a wick, as will be described further below. The wick draws e-liquid from the canister 106 and the heater wire heats the e-liquid to vaporize the e-liquid.

The air inlet 134 (visible in figure 4B) is preferably configured to allow air to be drawn into the smoking-substitute system 100 as a user inhales through the mouthpiece 136. When consumable 104 is physically coupled to body 102, air inlet 134 receives air flowing to air inlet 134 along the gap between body 102 and lower end 111 of consumable 104.

In operation, as described above, a user activates the smoking-substitute system 100, for example, by interacting with a user input forming part of the body 102 or by inhaling through the mouthpiece 136. Upon activation, the controller 120 may supply electrical energy from the power source 118 to the vaporizer 132 (via the electrical interface 126, 130), which may cause the vaporizer 132 to heat the e-liquid drawn from the canister 106 to generate vapor that is inhaled by the user through the mouthpiece 136.

An example of one of the one or more additional components 138 of consumable 104 is an interface for obtaining an identifier of consumable 104. As mentioned above, the interface may be, for example, an RFID reader, a barcode, a QR code reader, or an electronic interface capable of identifying a consumable. Thus, consumable 104 may include any one or more of an RFID chip, a barcode, or a QR code, or a memory having an identifier therein and accessible via an electrical interface in body 102.

It should be understood that the smoking-substitute system 100 shown in fig. 1A-2B is merely one exemplary embodiment of a smoking-substitute system. For example, the system may additionally be in the form of a fully disposable (single use) system or an open system, wherein the canister is refillable (rather than replaceable).

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of consumable 104 described above. The consumable 104 includes a canister 106 for storing e-liquid, a nozzle 136, and a passageway 140 extending along a longitudinal axis of the consumable 104. In the illustrated embodiment, the passageway 140 is in the form of a tube having a generally circular cross-section (i.e., transverse to the longitudinal axis). The canister 106 surrounds the passageway 140 such that the passageway 140 extends centrally through the canister 106.

A canister housing 142 of the canister 106 defines an outer shell of the consumable 104, while a passageway wall 144 defines the passageway 140. Canister housing 142 extends from lower end 111 of consumable 104 to nozzle 136 at upper end 109 of consumable 104. At the junction between the nozzle 136 and the canister housing 142, the nozzle 136 is wider than the canister housing 142 so as to define a lip 146 that protrudes from the canister housing 142. This lip 146 acts as a stop feature when the consumable 104 is inserted into the body 102 (i.e., by contact with the upper edge of the body 102).

The canister 106, the passageway 140, and the nozzle 136 are integrally formed with one another so as to form a single, unitary assembly. The component may be formed by an injection moulding process and may for example be formed from a thermoplastic material such as polypropylene.

Although not explicitly shown in the drawings, the canister housing 142 is tapered such that the thickness of the canister housing 142 decreases in a downward direction away from the nozzle 136. This means that, in addition to a small number of indentations (which provide a physical connection between consumable 104 and body 102), the thickness of canister housing 142 decreases with increasing distance away from nozzle 136. In particular, canister housing 142 tapers in this manner because the inner and outer surfaces of canister housing 142 are angled with respect to a downward direction away from nozzle 136. This tapering helps form the canister housing 142 and the passageway wall 144 as a single (i.e., unitary) assembly.

Similar to the canister housing 142, the passageway wall 144 is also tapered such that the thickness of the passageway wall 144 decreases in a downward direction away from the nozzle 136. Also, the thickness of the passage wall 144 is reduced due to the inner and outer surfaces of the passage wall 144 being angled relative to the downward direction. Due to the tapering of the passage wall 144, the inner diameter of the passage 140 decreases in the downstream direction (i.e., upward in fig. 3). For example, the passageway 140 has an internal width of less than 4.0mm and greater than 3.0mm (e.g., about 3.6mm) at the upstream end of the passageway 140. On the other hand, the passageway 140 has an internal width of less than 3.8mm and greater than 2.8mm (e.g., about 3.4mm) at the downstream end of the passageway 140.

The nozzle 136 includes a nozzle aperture 148 that defines an outlet of the passageway 140. Although not shown in the drawings, the nozzle aperture 148 has a radially inwardly directed inner surface that engages the outer surface of the nozzle 136 (i.e., the surface that contacts the user's lips in use) at the outer edge of the nozzle aperture 148. At this outer edge, the angle between the inner surface of the nozzle aperture 148 and the outer surface of the nozzle 136 (i.e., the "nozzle angle") is greater than 90 degrees. This may be due to the outer edge being rounded. The edge may also be chamfered or beveled.

Vaporizer 132 is located in vaporization chamber 156 of consumable 104. The vaporization chamber 156 is located downstream of the plurality of device air inlets 134 of the consumable 104 and is fluidly connected to the nozzle bore 148 (i.e., the outlet) by the passageway 140. In particular, the passageway 140 extends between the nozzle aperture 148 and an opening 158 of the cavity 156. The opening 158 is formed in a downstream (i.e., upper) wall 160 of the cavity 156.

The lower end 111 (i.e., base) of the consumable 104, which is connected to the body 102, is defined by a base insert 170. The base insert 170 is inserted into the open lower end of the canister 106 to seal against the canister housing 142.

The vaporizer 132 includes a porous core 162 and a heating wire 164 (not shown in fig. 3, but described in more detail below in connection with fig. 4A-4C) wound around the porous core 162. The wick 162 extends laterally across the cavity 156 between sidewalls of the cavity 156 forming part of the inner sleeve 168 of the base insert 170.

An inner sleeve 168 extends into canister 106 and is sealed with passageway 140 (around passageway wall 144) to separate chamber 156 from the e-liquid in canister 106. The lateral ends of the wick 162 extend into the canister 106 to contact the e-liquid in the canister 106. In this manner, e-liquid is transported along the wick 162 (e.g., by capillary action) to a central portion of the wick 162 that is exposed to the airflow through the cavity 156. The delivered e-liquid is heated by the heating wire 164 (when activated, for example, by detecting an inhalation), which causes the e-liquid to be vaporized and entrained in the air flowing through the wick 162. This vaporized liquid may cool to form an aerosol in the passageway 140, which may then be inhaled by the user.

Fig. 4A illustrates a base insert 170 of the consumable 104. Fig. 4A also illustrates the coiled heating wire 164, but the wick 162 is not shown. A pair of contact pins 200 having a circular cross section in the longitudinal direction are embedded in the base portion 170. As shown more clearly in fig. 4C, the contact pins 200 extend through the base portion 170 in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the consumable 104.

An upper (downstream) face 202 of each of a pair of contact pins 200 is electrically connected to respective ends of the heating wire 164. The upper face 202 of each of the pair of contact pins 200 is also physically connected to a respective end of the heating wire 164. The upper face 202 of the contact pin 200 may be connected to the heating wire 164 by crimping, welding or compression.

As shown in fig. 4B, the lower (upstream) face 204 of each contact pin 200 includes an electrical interface 130 for connection with a corresponding electrical interface 126 on the main body 102. Thus, when the consumable 104 is engaged with the body 102, the lower face 204 of the contact pin 200 contacts a corresponding electrical contact on the body 102. When the body electrical contact is electrically connected to the power source 118, the body 102 may supply power to the wire 164 via the contact pin 200 in order to cause the wire 164 to heat.

The contact pins 200 are aligned with each other in a lateral direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the device. The contact pin 200 is also laterally aligned parallel to the laterally extending core 162. The core 162 covers the contact pin 200 in the longitudinal direction.

Furthermore, as shown more clearly in fig. 4C, the connection between the upper face 202 of each contact pin 200 and the heating wire 164 is located upstream of the heating wire 164 and the wick 162.

As shown in fig. 4C, the heating wire 164 and the wick 162 are positioned to cover the axial center of the base insert 170. Thus, the heating wire 164 and the wick 162 are positioned in the center of the consumable 104 in a transverse plane with respect to the longitudinal axis of the consumable 104, such that the central longitudinal axis 210 of the consumable 104 intersects the heating wire 164 and the wick 162.

Each contact pin 200 is spaced in a lateral direction from a central longitudinal axis 210 of the consumable 104. In particular, each contact pin 200 is spaced the same distance from the central longitudinal axis 210 of the consumable 104 on either side of the central longitudinal axis 210.

Each contact pin 200 is substantially cylindrical. However, as shown in fig. 4A to 4C, each contact pin 200 tapers towards an upper face 202 connected to the heating wire 164.

The contact pin 200 may be formed of a metal/metal alloy having high electrical conductivity. The contact pin 200 may be formed of, for example, one or more of silver, copper, gold, platinum, palladium, tungsten, nickel, graphite, molybdenum.

As previously described, the heater wire 164 and wick 162 are positioned within the vaporization chamber 156. As shown in fig. 4A-4C, a pair of inlet passages 220 extend through the base insert 170 into the vaporization chamber 156. The inlet passage 220 extends in a substantially longitudinal direction of the device. They allow air to flow from the device inlet 134 at the lowermost surface 111 of the consumable 104 (i.e., the lowermost surface of the base portion 170) through the base insert 170, through the opening 224, and into the vaporization chamber 156. Thus, by drawing the nozzle 136, the user can draw air through the device inlet 134, the inlet passage 220, the vaporization chamber 156, the passageway 140, and out through the outlet 148 in the nozzle 136.

In fig. 4A-4C, the two openings 224 of the inlet channel 220 are laterally offset from the central longitudinal axis 210 of the consumable 104 on either side of the central longitudinal axis 210 in the front-to-back direction. The two openings 224 of the inlet channel 220 are equally spaced from the central longitudinal axis 210 of the aerosol delivery device on either side of the central longitudinal axis 210. They are aligned with each other in the front-rear direction.

The openings 224 of the inlet passages 220 are formed in vertical steps 230 in the front and rear walls of the vaporization chamber 156. The steps 230 in the front and rear walls, and thus the openings 224 of the inlet passages 220, are located axially downstream of the heating wires 164 and the wick 162.

The openings 224 of the inlet passage 220 are elongated in the transverse direction such that they extend substantially parallel to the transversely extending core 162. The device inlets 222 at the lowermost surface 111 of the base portion 170 are also elongated in the lateral direction such that they extend substantially parallel to a lateral axis through the lower face 204 of the contact pin 200 on the lowermost surface of the base portion.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

While the invention has been described in conjunction with the exemplary embodiments outlined above, many equivalent modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art when given this disclosure. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments of the invention set forth above are considered to be illustrative and not limiting. Various changes may be made to the described embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

For the avoidance of any doubt, any theoretical explanation provided herein is provided for the purpose of enhancing the reader's understanding. The inventors do not wish to be bound by any of these theoretical explanations.

Any section headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not to be construed as limiting the subject matter described.

Throughout the specification, including the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the words "having", "including" and "comprising" and variations such as "having", "including", "comprising" and "including" are to be understood as implying inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

It should be noted that, as used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Ranges may be expressed herein as from "about" one particular value, and/or to "about" another particular value. When a range is so expressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent "about," it will be understood that the particular value forms another embodiment. The term "about" in relation to a numerical value is optional and means, for example +/-10%.

The words "preferred" and "preferably" are used herein to refer to embodiments of the invention that may provide certain benefits under certain circumstances. However, it is to be understood that other embodiments may be preferred, under the same or different circumstances. Thus, recitation of one or more preferred embodiments does not imply or imply that other embodiments are not useful, and is not intended to exclude other embodiments from the scope of the disclosure or the claims.

Claims

1. An aerosol delivery device for a smoking-substitute system, the aerosol delivery device comprising:

a vaporizer for vaporizing a vaporizable liquid; and

2. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, wherein the contact pin extends in a generally longitudinal direction of the device.

3. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1 or 2, wherein the contact pin is flared.

4. The aerosol delivery device of claim 3, wherein the contact pin is formed of plated metal.

5. The aerosol delivery device of any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the contact pins are aligned with each other in a lateral direction.

6. The aerosol delivery device of claim 5, wherein the vaporizer is laterally elongated and the contact pin is laterally aligned parallel to the vaporizer.

7. The aerosol delivery device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the vaporizer covers the contact pin downstream of the longitudinal direction of the device.

8. The aerosol delivery device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the vaporizer is positioned such that it covers an axial center of the base portion.

9. The aerosol delivery device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the contact pins are equally spaced in a lateral direction either side of a central longitudinal axis of the aerosol delivery device.

10. The aerosol delivery device according to any preceding claim, wherein the vaporiser comprises a wire and each end of the wire is electrically connected to a respective contact pin.

11. The aerosol delivery device of claim 10, wherein the contact pins are directly physically and electrically connected to the filament.

12. The aerosol delivery device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the contact pin has a circular cross-section along its entire length.

13. The aerosol delivery device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the contact pin is tapered along at least a portion of its length.

14. The aerosol delivery device of any preceding claim, wherein an underside of each contact pin comprises an electrical interface for connection with a respective electrical interface of a main body of the smoking-substitute system.

15. The aerosol delivery device according to any preceding claim, wherein an airflow path extends from at least one inlet of the device to an outlet of the device, and the airflow path bypasses the vaporizer.

16. A smoking substitute system comprising:

the aerosol delivery device of any one of the preceding claims; and

comprises a main body of a power supply,

wherein a pair of contact pins electrically connect the heating element to the power supply.