Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
  • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
  • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
  • A24F40/40—Constructional details, e.g. connection of cartridges and battery parts
  • A24F40/42—Cartridges or containers for inhalable precursors
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
  • A24B—MANUFACTURE OR PREPARATION OF TOBACCO FOR SMOKING OR CHEWING; TOBACCO; SNUFF
  • A24B15/00—Chemical features or treatment of tobacco; Tobacco substitutes, e.g. in liquid form
  • A24B15/18—Treatment of tobacco products or tobacco substitutes
  • A24B15/28—Treatment of tobacco products or tobacco substitutes by chemical substances
  • A24B15/30—Treatment of tobacco products or tobacco substitutes by chemical substances by organic substances
  • A24B15/32—Treatment of tobacco products or tobacco substitutes by chemical substances by organic substances by acyclic compounds
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
  • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
  • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
  • A24F40/40—Constructional details, e.g. connection of cartridges and battery parts
  • A24F40/46—Shape or structure of electric heating means
  • A24F40/465—Shape or structure of electric heating means specially adapted for induction heating
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
  • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
  • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
  • A24F40/40—Constructional details, e.g. connection of cartridges and battery parts
  • A24F40/48—Fluid transfer means, e.g. pumps
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
  • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
  • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
  • A24F40/90—Arrangements or methods specially adapted for charging batteries thereof
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
  • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
  • A24F7/00—Mouthpieces for pipes; Mouthpieces for cigar or cigarette holders
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
  • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
  • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
  • A24F40/10—Devices using liquid inhalable precursors
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
  • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
  • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
  • A24F40/20—Devices using solid inhalable precursors
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
  • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
  • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
  • A24F40/40—Constructional details, e.g. connection of cartridges and battery parts
  • A24F40/48—Fluid transfer means, e.g. pumps
  • A24F40/485—Valves; Apertures

Definitions

• the present invention relates to an aerosol generation device, and more precisely to a consumable article intended for equipping an aerosol generation device.
• Some aerosol generation devices comprise a consumable article that is manually inserted by a user in a dedicated cavity of an electrical and control device further comprising a power source, possibly a rechargeable battery.
• This type of aerosol generation device is generally portable, i.e. usable when held by a user.
• some consumable articles comprise a receptacle (or container) containing an aerosol-forming substance arranged for generating an aerosol when it is heated and mixed with air.
• the receptacle is closed by a lid to form a capsule that can be inserted in the dedicated cavity of the electrical and control device of an aerosol generation device, before being coupled to a nozzle or tip comprising a mouthpiece through which a user sucks the generated aerosol to inhale it during a vaping session.
• the lid Before use, the lid must be torn off by the user or punctured by a tubular member of the nozzle (or tip) that defines a channel through which the generated aerosol can flow towards the mouthpiece.
• the heating of the aerosol-forming substance is generally carried out by conduction, convection and/or radiation by a heating device of the electrical and control device of the aerosol generation device.
• a heating device may comprise one or more electrically activated resistive and/or inductive heating elements.
• the term “aerosol-forming substance” may refer to a paste or possibly a fluid.
• the (aerosol-forming) substance may be processable by the heating of the aerosol generation device to form an aerosol, and may comprise components such as one or more nicotinoids, one or more polyols, one or more cannabinoids, or caffeine.
• a flavoring may be present in the (aerosol-forming) substance.
• the flavoring may include Ethylvanillin (vanilla), menthol, Isoamyl acetate (banana oil) or similar, for instance.
• aerosol may include a suspension of substance as one or more of solid particles, liquid droplets and gas. Such a suspension may be in a gas including air. Aerosol herein may generally refer to, or include, a vapor, and may include one or more components of the substance.
• an object of this invention is to improve the situation.
• the proposed invention provides notably an embodiment of a consumable article intended for equipping an aerosol generation device and comprising a receptacle containing an aerosol-forming substance arranged for generating an aerosol when it is heated and mixed with air.
• This consumable article is characterized in that it further comprises a first tubular member having a peripheral wall comprising:
• the invention offers a new type of consumable article, with a receptacle connected to a first tubular member, which guarantees not only that the user will not have to touch a hot receptacle, and therefore does not risk to be burnt, but also that there is no risk that a remaining part of the aerosol-forming substance or generated aerosol can fall inside the electrical and control device, and therefore prevents the user from regular cleanings.
• the receptacle may comprise an inductively heatable material intended for being inductively heated by an induction heating device of the aerosol generation device;
• the receptacle may comprise a heat conductive material intended for being heated by a heating device of the aerosol generation device;
• the second tubular member may further comprise a second tubular member attached inside the first tubular member between the second end and each air inlet, and comprising an outer surface defining with an inner surface of the peripheral wall of the first tubular member a first channel through which the air coming from each air inlet can flow towards the receptacle through its open end;
• the second tubular member may comprise an inner surface defining a second channel through which the aerosol generated in the receptacle can flow towards the second end of the first tubular member;
• the aerosol-forming substance may be a paste adhering to an inner surface of the receptacle and delineating a concave cavity opening towards the first tubular member;
• the concave cavity may receive a first end of the second tubular member which comprises an inlet of the second channel;
• the second tubular member may comprise an annular part defining partly the first channel and connected fixedly to an inner surface of the first tubular member to prevent the air coming from each air inlet to reach directly the second end of the first tubular member before accessing to the receptacle;
• the second tubular member may be made of molded paper
• the first tubular member may be made of molded paper
• the second end of the first tubular member may form a mouthpiece through which a user sucks the generated aerosol during a vaping session;
• the aerosol-forming substrate may comprise a tobacco material or at least one polyol.
• the proposed invention provides also an embodiment of an aerosol generation device comprising an electrical and control device and a consumable article such as the one above introduced and coupled to this electrical and control device.
• the embodiment of aerosol generation device may comprise other features, considered separately or combined, as defined hereafter:
• the electrical and control device may comprise a power source storing electrical energy
• the power source may be a rechargeable battery
• the aerosol generation device may constitute an electronic cigarette.
• FIG.1 schematically and functionally illustrates an example of embodiment of an aerosol generation device comprising an example of embodiment of a consumable article according to the invention.
• the invention aims, notably, at offering a consumable article 1 intended for being coupled to an electrical and control device 2 to define together an aerosol generation device 3.
• the aerosol generation device 3 is an electronic cigarette. But an aerosol generation device according to the invention could be of another type, as soon as it comprises a consumable article 1 according to the invention and allows the generation of an aerosol by heating an aerosol-forming substance. So, for instance, the aerosol generation device 3 could be an inhaler.
• an “aerosol-forming substance” may be a paste or possibly but not preferably a fluid (for instance a liquid), and may comprise one or more components such as nicotinoid(s), polyol(s), cannabinoid(s), or caffeine, and/or a flavoring.
• the aerosol-forming substance may comprise a tobacco material.
• a polyol, which is an aerosol precursor may be a glycerin or a propylene glycol.
• the aerosol-forming substance When the aerosol-forming substance is a liquid, it may be retained in an absorbent material having a porous or spongy structure.
• an absorbent material may comprise a porous ceramic, a heat-resistant polymer foam, or porous cellulose beads, for instance.
• the term “aerosol” may include a suspension of substance as one or more of solid (very small) particles, liquid droplets, vapor and gas, and that such a suspension may be in a gas including air.
• a consumable article 1 As illustrated in figure 1 a consumable article 1 , according to the invention and intended for equipping an aerosol generation device 3, comprises at least a receptacle 4 and a first tubular member 5 coupled to each other. Such a consumable article 1 is intended for being coupled to the body of an electrical and control device 2 which is the fully reusable part of the aerosol generation device 3. To this effect, the body of the electrical and control device 2 comprises a dedicated cavity 15 arranged for temporarily housing at least the receptacle 4.
• the receptacle 4 contains an aerosol-forming substance 6 arranged for generating an aerosol when it is heated and mixed with air. This heating is performed by a heating device 7 belonging to the electrical and control device 2 and fed with electrical energy originating from a power source 8 of the electrical and control device 2.
• the power source 8 may be a rechargeable battery.
• the body of the electrical and control device 2 may comprise an electrical connector to which a charger cable may be connected during a charging session of the rechargeable battery 8.
• a charger cable may be coupled to an (AC) adapter or to a wall socket.
• the charger cable and/or the (AC) adapter may belong to the aerosol generation device 3.
• the first tubular member 5 has a peripheral wall 9 comprising first 10 and second 11 opposite ends and at least one air inlet 12.
• the first end 10 of the peripheral wall 9 is connected to an open end 13 of the receptacle 4. It is important to note that in a new consumable article 1 the receptacle 4 does not comprise any lid, which means that the receptacle 4 is permanently open and therefore the user does not have to perform any operation on it before coupling the consumable article 1 to the body of the electrical and control device 2. [27] The connection between the first end 10 and the receptacle open end
• the screwing is of interest because it may allow replacement of an empty receptacle 4 by a new and filled one, and/or an easy recycling of the empty receptacle 4.
• Each air inlet 12 is defined in the peripheral wall 9 for allowing entry of air into the first tubular member 5 for feeding the receptacle open end 13.
• the peripheral wall 9 may comprise several air inlets 12 circumferentially distributed, and notably two, three or four.
• the second end 11 of the first tubular member 5 comprises an outlet
• the coupling between the consumable article 1 and the body of the electrical and control device 2 can be done by screwing by means of two corresponding threaded portions, or by forced fitting, or else by magnetization. So, the consumable article 1 may be mechanically coupled to the body of the electrical and control device 2, but this is not mandatory.
• the outer surface of the receptacle 4 or the outer surface of the first end 10 of the peripheral wall 9 may comprise a first threaded portion arranged for being screwed relatively to a corresponding second threaded portion of the dedicated cavity 15 of the electrical and control device 2.
• the receptacle 4 or the first end 10 of the peripheral wall 9 may be fitted into the dedicated cavity 15 of the electrical and control device 2.
• the receptacle 4 may comprise magnets interacting with magnets of the dedicated cavity 15 of the electrical and control device 2.
• the receptacle 4 may comprise an inductively heatable material intended for being inductively heated by an induction heating device 7 of the aerosol generation device 3.
• the inductively heatable material may be a metal.
• the induction heating device 7 may comprise a coil surrounding the dedicated cavity 15 and generating an electromagnetic field in the latter (15) when it is fed by an electrical current. This electromagnetic field induces an electromagnetic induction in the inductively heatable material of the receptacle 4 which heats the latter (4) without any contact.
• the receptacle 4 may comprise a heat conductive material intended for being heated by the heating device of the aerosol generation device 3 (and more precisely of the electrical and control device 2).
• the heating device may be a resistive heater, such as a resistive coil.
• the consumable article 1 may further comprise a second tubular member 16 attached inside the first tubular member 5 between the second end 11 and each air inlet 12.
• this second tubular member 16 comprises an outer surface defining with an inner surface of the peripheral wall 9 of the first tubular member 5 a first channel 17 through which the air coming from each air inlet 12 can flow towards the receptacle 4 through its open end 13.
• the path followed by the incoming air between the air inlet(s) 12 and the receptacle 4, through the first channel 17, is indicated by the white arrows.
• the second tubular member 16 may comprise an inner surface defining a second channel 18 through which the aerosol generated in the receptacle 4 can flow towards the second end 11 of the first tubular member 5.
• the path followed by the generated aerosol between the receptacle 4 and the first tubular member outlet 14, through the second channel 18, is indicated by the grey arrows.
• the aerosol-forming substance 6 is a paste adhering to the inner surface of the receptacle 4 and delineating a concave cavity 19 opening towards the first tubular member 5. This allows to optimize the mixing between the air and aerosol-forming substance 6 during heating, and therefore the stability of the generated aerosol.
• This concave cavity 19 may receive a first end 20 of the second tubular member 16 which comprises the inlet 21 of the second channel 18. This allows to collect the aerosol very near from the place where it is generated and therefore to minimize its mixing with the air arriving from the air inlet(s) 12 and not yet heated.
• the second tubular member 16 may comprise an annular part 22 defining partly the first channel 17 and connected fixedly to an inner surface of the first tubular member 5.
• This arrangement prevents the air coming from each air inlet 12 to reach directly the second end 11 of the first tubular member 5 before accessing to the receptacle 4, and therefore avoids any mixing between the air arriving from the air inlet(s) 12 and the generated aerosol which would induce a concentration decrease.
• annular part 22 extends the second tubular member 16 at the level of its outlet 27 which communicates with the downstream part of the first tubular member 5. But in a variant of embodiment the annular part 22 could extend the second tubular member 16 before its outlet 27 (i.e. between its inlet 21 and outlet 27).
• its second tubular member 16 may be made of molded paper.
• its first tubular member 5 may be made of molded paper.
• first 5 and second 16 tubular members may be integral. But in a variant the second tubular member 16 could be an insert stuck inside the first tubular member 5.
• the second end 11 of the first tubular member 5 may form a mouthpiece 23 through which the user sucks the generated aerosol during a vaping session to inhale it.
• the mouthpiece 23 could be an insert that is coupled to the second end 11 of the first tubular member 5, possibly by the user. This allows the user to use and reuse an appreciated mouthpiece 23, but also to couple to the second end 11 of the first tubular member 5 mouthpieces 23 that are more comfortable than standard integral mouthpieces formed during moulding.
• the body of the electrical and control device 2 may comprise at least a controller (or control device) 24 and a user interface 25 in addition to the power source 8 (storing electrical energy).
• the controller 24 is electrically coupled to the power source 8 and controls operation of the consumable article 1 (and notably its heating device 7) during a vaping session and also during a possible charging session.
• the controller 24 may be fixed onto a printed circuit board 26.
• controller should not be construed to refer exclusively to hardware capable of executing software, and may implicitly include, without limitation, digital signal processor (DSP) hardware, processor, application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), field programmable gate array (FPGA), read only memory (ROM) for storing software, random access memory (RAM), and non volatile storage. Other hardware, conventional and/or custom, may also be included.
• DSP digital signal processor
• ASIC application specific integrated circuit
• FPGA field programmable gate array
• ROM read only memory
• RAM random access memory
• controller 24 may be carried out through the operation of program logic, through dedicated logic, through the interaction of program control and dedicated logic, or even manually (by the user). These functions may be provided through the use of dedicated hardware as well as hardware capable of executing software in association with appropriate software.
• the user interface 25 is coupled to the controller 24 and the power source 8 and allows the user to control at least partly the controller 24.
• the user interface 25 may comprise a display (such as a screen or light emitting diode (or LED)-type interface) arranged for displaying information relative to a current vaping session or a possible current charging session and for allowing the user to control the controller 24.
• the displayed information may be a current status representing the current percentage of remaining (or elapsed) vaping time (with respect to a programmed (or chosen) vaping duration) during a vaping session, or the current percentage of charge (with respect to the full charge) of the power source 8 during a possible charging session.
• the current percentage may be represented by the length of a straight line or by a number of parallel bars or else by a value, for instance.
• the user interface 25 may be fixed partly to the printed circuit board 26 to ease and simplify its connections with the controller 24.
• the user interface 25 may have its own printed circuit board connected to the printed circuit board 26 by wires of flexible circuit(s) in order to be deported anywhere.

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• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Toxicology (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
• General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Containers And Packaging Bodies Having A Special Means To Remove Contents (AREA)
• Nozzles (AREA)

Priority Applications (4)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=74871170

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (6)

Citations (4)

• 2022
  • 2022-03-03 KR KR1020237033932A patent/KR20230155513A/ko unknown
  • 2022-03-03 WO PCT/EP2022/055385 patent/WO2022189248A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2022-03-03 EP EP22710074.0A patent/EP4304398A1/en active Pending
  • 2022-03-03 US US18/279,338 patent/US20240225105A9/en active Pending
  • 2022-03-03 JP JP2023541654A patent/JP2024509665A/ja active Pending
  • 2022-03-04 TW TW111108040A patent/TW202235021A/zh unknown

Patent Citations (4)

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