Consumable for aerosol supply system, aerosol supply system and method

Abstract

The embodiment of the invention discloses a consumable for an aerosol supply system, the aerosol supply system and a method. Wherein the aerosol supply system has an airflow sensor, the system being configured to initiate heating the consumable when the airflow sensor is triggered; the consumable comprises a sealing element, the sealing element is provided with a closed gas space, the gas pressure of the gas space has a pressure difference relative to the atmospheric pressure, and the sealing element is configured to exhaust or intake gas when the consumable is inserted into the aerosol supply system so as to generate a gas flow pulse to trigger the gas flow sensor. According to the embodiment of the invention, the technical effect that the aerosol supply system automatically starts the heating process when the consumables are inserted is realized.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of aerosol supply, and in particular to a consumable for an aerosol supply system, an aerosol supply system and a method. Background Art

[0002] In the e-cigarette industry, an aerosol delivery system is configured to generate an aerosol-generating substrate (e.g., a tobacco-containing substrate) into an aerosol for inhalation by the user. A consumable product is an article that includes or consists of an aerosol-generating material, some or all of which is intended to be consumed by the user during use.

[0003] Currently, most aerosol supply systems require users to press a corresponding button to activate the heating element to start heating the consumables, but this operation requires the user to wait and cannot directly start the heating process when the user inserts the consumables into the aerosol supply system, providing a smooth and intuitive user experience. The extra operation steps cause operational inconvenience for the user. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present invention aims to solve at least one of the technical problems existing in the prior art. To this end, the present invention provides a consumable for an aerosol supply system, an aerosol supply system, and a method, which achieve the technical effect of automatically initiating a heating process in the aerosol supply system upon insertion of the consumable.

[0005] In a first aspect, the present invention provides a consumable for an aerosol supply system, the aerosol supply system having an airflow sensor, the system being configured to initiate heating of the consumable when the airflow sensor is triggered; the consumable comprising:

[0006] A sealing element having a sealed gas space, wherein the gas pressure of the gas space has a pressure difference relative to the atmospheric pressure, and the sealing element is configured to exhaust or inhale air when the consumable is inserted into the aerosol supply system to generate an airflow pulse to trigger the airflow sensor.

[0007] In one technical solution of the above-mentioned consumables for an aerosol supply system,

[0008] The sealing element includes a hollow portion with a closure member disposed at at least one end thereof. The hollow portion and the closure member together define the gas space; the closure member is configured to open the gas space when the consumable is inserted into the aerosol supply system. Because the internal pressure of the gas space formed by the hollow portion and the closure member is differential relative to atmospheric pressure, when the consumable is inserted, the closure member opens the gas space, causing the sealing element to exhaust or intake air, generating an airflow pulse that triggers the airflow sensor, automatically starting to heat the consumable.

[0009] In one technical solution of the above-mentioned consumables for an aerosol supply system,

[0010] The hollow portion has an upstream end and a downstream end, the downstream end being positioned toward the direction in which the consumable product is inserted into the aerosol supply system, and the closure member being positioned at the downstream end or at both the upstream and downstream ends. The orientation of the hollow portion and the closure member allows the gas space to be smoothly opened when the consumable product is inserted into the aerosol supply system.

[0011] In one technical solution of the above-mentioned consumables for an aerosol supply system,

[0012] The closure member is an elastic film or thin pressure plate, configured to be punctured to open the gas space for exhaust or intake; the hollow portion is a hollow tube. Since the closure member is an elastic film or thin pressure plate, it is easily punctured to generate airflow through the sealing element. Furthermore, the thin pressure plate is made of foil, which is easily punctured and does not degrade harmfully at high temperatures.

[0013] In one technical solution of the above-mentioned consumables for an aerosol supply system,

[0014] The sealing element includes an air bag, the air bag forming the gas space therein; the air bag is configured to be punctured to exhaust or intake air. The gas space formed by the air bag can be punctured from various directions to generate airflow, thereby triggering the airflow sensor.

[0015] In one technical solution of the above-mentioned consumables for an aerosol supply system,

[0016] The gas space is vacuum or filled with inert gas. If the gas space is vacuum, the internal pressure is less than the atmospheric pressure. When opened, the sealing element will let in air to generate airflow; if the gas space is filled with inert gas, the internal pressure is greater than the atmospheric pressure. When opened, the sealing element will exhaust air to generate airflow.

[0017] In one technical solution of the above-mentioned consumables for an aerosol supply system,

[0018] The sealing element is arranged inside the consumable or wraps the consumable, so as to open the gas space thereof for exhaust or intake when the consumable is inserted into the aerosol supply system.

[0019] In one technical solution of the above-mentioned consumables for an aerosol supply system,

[0020] The consumable includes a rod having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is the end of the consumable inserted toward the aerosol supply system; the sealing element is arranged in the middle position inside the rod, or the first end, or between the middle and the first end, and can cooperate with the heating element inside the aerosol supply system to open the gas space in the sealing element.

[0021] In one technical solution of the above-mentioned consumables for an aerosol supply system,

[0022] The consumable further comprises at least one aerosol-generating material, and the sealing element is arranged within or adjacent to the aerosol-generating material when disposed within the consumable such that the heating element is capable of piercing the sealing element.

[0023] In a second aspect, the present invention provides an aerosol supply system, comprising:

[0024] a cavity for accommodating the consumable product according to any one of the first aspects;

[0025] an airflow sensor configured to be triggered when an airflow pulse is sensed;

[0026] a heating element configured to heat the consumable during use to generate an aerosol;

[0027] The controller is configured to control the heating element to start heating the consumable when the airflow sensor is triggered.

[0028] In one technical solution of the above-mentioned aerosol supply system,

[0029] The system also includes a puncture element, which is configured to puncture the sealing element when the consumable is inserted into the aerosol supply system, so as to exhaust or inhale the gas space. Furthermore, the puncture element is arranged in the cavity, so that when the consumable is inserted into the cavity, the sealing element inside the consumable or wrapped thereon is punctured to generate airflow. Specifically, the heating element includes a heating needle, which is configured as a puncture element. Without adding additional structures and devices, the consumable can generate airflow when the cavity is inserted.

[0030] In a third aspect, the present invention provides an aerosol supply method, based on the aerosol supply system as described in any one of the second aspects, the method comprising: controlling and starting a heating element to heat the consumable to generate an aerosol when the consumable is inserted into the aerosol supply system.

[0031] The above one or more technical solutions of the present invention have at least one or more of the following beneficial effects:

[0032] In the technical solution for implementing the present invention, an airflow sensor is provided in the aerosol supply system, which can activate the system's heating function to heat the consumables when triggered. A sealing element is provided on or inside the consumables. Since the gas space of the sealing element has a pressure difference relative to the atmospheric pressure, when the consumables are inserted into the aerosol supply system, the gas space is opened to generate an airflow pulse in the aerosol supply system. The airflow pulse can trigger the airflow sensor to self-start the heating function, thereby automatically starting the heating process when the consumables are inserted, without the need for additional user operation, providing a smoother and more intuitive user experience.

[0033] Additional aspects and advantages of the present invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description which follows, or may be learned through practice of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] The disclosure of the present invention will be more easily understood with reference to the accompanying drawings. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that these drawings are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. Furthermore, similar numbers in the drawings represent similar components, wherein:

[0035] Figure 1 is a schematic structural diagram of an aerosol supply system and consumables according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0036] Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the aerosol supply system and consumables structure according to one embodiment of the present invention (the consumables are wrapped by a sealing element);

[0037] Figure 3 Schematic diagram of the aerosol supply system and consumables according to one embodiment of the present invention (the sealing element is embedded in the middle of the consumables);

[0038] Figure 4 Schematic diagram of the aerosol supply system and consumables according to one embodiment of the present invention (the sealing element is embedded in one end of the consumables);

[0039] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the hollow portion structure according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0040] Figure 6 is a schematic structural diagram of an aerosol supply system and consumables according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[0041] Marked in the figure are: 100, aerosol supply system; 101, airflow sensor; 102, heating needle; 103, cavity; 200, consumables; 201, sealing element; 2011, gas space; 2012, hollow part; 2013, closure; 2014, upstream end; 2015, downstream end; 202, first end; 203, second end; 204, aerosol generating material. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] Some embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Those skilled in the art should understand that these embodiments are only used to explain the technical principles of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0043] the term

[0044] Supply System

[0045] As used herein, the term "supply system" is intended to encompass a system that, in use, delivers at least one substance to a user, and includes:

[0046] Combustible aerosol delivery systems, such as cigarettes, cigarillos, cigars, and tobacco for pipe smoking or for rolling or making your own cigarettes (whether based on tobacco, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco, tobacco substitutes or other smokeable material);

[0047] Non-flammable aerosol delivery systems that release compounds from an aerosol-generating material without burning the aerosol-generating material, such as electronic cigarettes, tobacco heating products, and hybrid systems to generate an aerosol using a combination of aerosol-generating materials; and

[0048] An aerosol-free delivery system that delivers at least one substance to a user orally, nasally, transdermally, or otherwise without forming an aerosol, including but not limited to lozenges, chewing gum, patches, products including inhalable powders, and oral products (e.g., oral tobacco including snuff or moist snuff), wherein the at least one substance may or may not include nicotine.

[0049] According to the present disclosure, a "combustible" aerosol supply system is an aerosol supply system in which the constituent aerosol-generating material of the aerosol supply system (or components thereof) burns or ignites during use to facilitate delivery of at least one substance to a user.

[0050] In some embodiments, the delivery system is a combustible aerosol delivery system, such as a system selected from the group consisting of a cigarette, a cigarillo, and a cigar.

[0051] In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a component for use in a combustible aerosol delivery system, such as a filter, a filter rod, a filter segment, a tobacco rod, an overflow, an aerosol modifier release component (such as a capsule, a thread, or a bead), or a paper (such as a plug wrap, a tipping paper, or a cigarette paper).

[0052] According to the present disclosure, a "non-flammable" aerosol supply system is an aerosol supply system in which the constituent aerosol-generating materials of the aerosol supply system (or components thereof) do not burn or ignite to deliver at least one substance to a user.

[0053] In some embodiments, the supply system is a non-flammable aerosol supply system, for example, a powered non-flammable aerosol supply system.

[0054] In some embodiments, the non-flammable aerosol delivery system is an electronic cigarette, also known as a vapor device or an electronic nicotine delivery system (END), although it should be noted that the presence of nicotine in the aerosol-generating material is not required.

[0055] In some embodiments, the non-flammable aerosol supply system is an aerosol generating material heating system, also known as a heat-not-burn system. An example of such a system is a tobacco heating system.

[0056] In some embodiments, the non-flammable aerosol delivery system is a hybrid system that uses a combination of aerosol-generating materials to generate an aerosol, wherein one or more of the aerosol-generating materials can be heated. Each aerosol-generating material can be, for example, in the form of a solid, liquid, or gel, and may or may not contain nicotine. In some embodiments, the hybrid system includes a liquid or gel aerosol-generating material and a solid aerosol-generating material. The solid aerosol-generating material can include, for example, tobacco or non-tobacco products.

[0057] Generally, a non-flammable aerosol supply system may include a non-flammable aerosol supply device and consumables for use with the non-flammable aerosol supply device.

[0058] In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to consumables that include an aerosol-generating material and are configured for use with a non-flammable aerosol supply device. These consumables are sometimes referred to in this disclosure as articles of manufacture.

[0059] In some embodiments, a non-flammable aerosol supply system, such as a non-flammable aerosol supply device thereof, can include a power source and a controller. The power source can be, for example, an electrical source or an exothermic source. In some embodiments, the exothermic source comprises a carbon matrix that can be powered to distribute power in the form of heat to an aerosol-generating material or a heat transfer material proximate to the exothermic source.

[0060] In some embodiments, a non-flammable aerosol supply system may include an area for receiving a consumable product, an aerosol generator, an aerosol generating region, a housing, a mouthpiece, a filter, and / or an aerosol modifier.

[0061] In some embodiments, consumables for use with a non-flammable aerosol supply device may include an aerosol generating material, an aerosol generating material storage area, an aerosol generating material delivery component, an aerosol generator, an aerosol generating area, a housing, a wrapper, a filter, a mouthpiece, and / or an aerosol modifier.

[0062] In some embodiments, the delivery system is an aerosol-free delivery system that delivers at least one substance to a user orally, nasally, transdermally, or in another manner without forming an aerosol, including but not limited to lozenges, chewing gum, patches, products including inhalable powders, and oral products (e.g., oral tobacco including snuff or moist snuff), wherein the at least one substance may or may not include nicotine.

[0063] In some embodiments, the substance to be delivered can be an aerosol-generating material or a material not intended to be aerosolized. Either material can include one or more active ingredients, one or more flavoring agents, one or more aerosol-forming materials, and / or one or more other functional materials, as appropriate.

[0064] In some embodiments, the substance to be delivered includes an active substance. As used herein, the active substance can be a physiologically active material, which is a material intended to achieve or enhance physiological reactions. The active substance can, for example, be selected from a nutrient, a nootropic, a psychoactive substance. The active substance can be naturally occurring or synthetically obtained. The active substance can include, for example, nicotine, caffeine, taurine, caffeine, vitamins (such as B6 or B12 or C), melatonin, or a component, derivative, or combination thereof. The active substance can include one or more components, derivatives, or extracts of tobacco or other plants.

[0065] In some embodiments, the active substance comprises nicotine. In some embodiments, the active substance comprises caffeine, melatonin, or vitamin B12.

[0066] As described herein, active substances may include or be derived from one or more plants or components, derivatives, or extracts thereof. As used herein, the term "plant" includes any material derived from a plant, including, but not limited to, extracts, leaves, bark, fibers, stems, roots, seeds, flowers, fruits, pollen, husks, shells, and the like. Alternatively, the material may include an active compound naturally occurring in a plant, obtained synthetically. The material may be in the form of a liquid, gas, solid, powder, dust, crushed particles, granules, pellets, chips, strips, sheets, and the like.

[0067] Examples of plants are tobacco, eucalyptus, star anise, hemp, cocoa, fennel, lemongrass, mint, spearmint, red tea tree, chamomile, flax, ginger, ginkgo, hazelnut, hibiscus, bay, licorice, matcha, mate, orange peel, papaya, rose, sage, tea (e.g., green or black), thyme, cloves, cinnamon, coffee, aniseed (fennel), basil, bay leaf, cardamom, coriander, cumin, nutmeg, oregano, paprika, rosemary, saffron, lavender, Grass, lemon peel, mint, juniper, elderberry, vanilla, wintergreen, perilla plant, turmeric, turmeric root powder, sandalwood, coriander leaf, bergamot, orange blossom, myrtle, black currant, valerian, Spanish bell pepper, nutmeg, damson, marjoram, olive, lemon mint, lemon basil, chives, parsley, verbena, tarragon, geranium, mulberry, ginseng, theanine, tetramethyluric acid, maca, Indian ginseng, damson, guana tea, chlorophyll, baobab tree or any combination thereof. Mint can be selected from the following mint varieties: wild mint, mint cv, Egyptian mint, peppermint, basil mint cv, peppermint cv, spearmint, heartleaf spearmint, longleaf mint, pineapple mint, lip calyx mint, spearmint cv, and apple mint.

[0068] In some embodiments, the active substance comprises or is derived from one or more plants or components, derivatives or extracts thereof, and the plant is tobacco. In some embodiments, the active substance comprises or is derived from one or more plants or components, derivatives or extracts thereof, and the plant is selected from eucalyptus, star anise and cocoa.

[0069] In some embodiments, the active substance comprises or is derived from one or more plants or components, derivatives, or extracts thereof, and the plants are selected from the group consisting of Camellia sinensis and Fennel.

[0070] In some embodiments, the substance to be delivered includes a flavoring. As used herein, the terms "flavoring" and "flavoring" refer to materials that can be used to produce a taste, fragrance, or other physical sensation desired by adult consumers in a product, where permitted by local regulations. It can include naturally occurring flavoring materials, plants, extracts of plants, synthetically obtained materials, or combinations thereof (e.g., tobacco, licorice, hydrangea, eugenol, Japanese magnolia leaves, chamomile, fenugreek, cloves, maple, matcha, menthol, Japanese mint, aniseed (fennel), cinnamon, turmeric, Indian spices, Asian spices, herbs, wintergreen, cherry, berry, cranberry, cranberry, peach, apple, orange, mango, tangerine, lemon, lime, tropical fruits, papaya, rhubarb, grape Durian, dragon fruit, cucumber, blueberry, mulberry, citrus fruits, Durling, bourbon, scotch, whiskey, gin, tequila, rum, spearmint, mint, lavender, aloe vera, cardamom, celery, bitter bean peel, nutmeg, sandalwood, bergamot, geranium, khat, sorghum, betel leaf, coriander, pine, honey essence, rose oil, vanilla, lemon oil, orange oil, orange blossom, cherry blossom, cinnamon, coriander, cognac, jasmine, ylang-ylang, sage, fennel , mustard, green pepper, ginger, cilantro, coffee, mint oil from any species of the mint family, eucalyptus, star anise, cocoa, lemongrass, red beans, flax, ginkgo biloba, hazelnuts, hibiscus, laurel, yerba mate, orange peel, rose, tea (e.g., green or black), thyme, juniper, elderberry, basil, bay leaves, cumin, oregano, chili pepper, rosemary, saffron, lemon peel, mint, beefsteak, turmeric, coriander, myrtle, black currant, valerian, Spanish bell pepper, mace, dami The present invention also provides a kind of beverage that can be used to treat a variety of skin conditions, such as skin inflammation, rash ...

[0071] In some embodiments, flavorings include menthol, spearmint and / or peppermint. In some embodiments, flavorings include flavoring components of cucumber, blueberry, citrus fruit and / or cranberry. In some embodiments, flavorings include eugenol. In some embodiments, flavorings include flavoring components extracted from tobacco.

[0072] In some embodiments, in addition to or in place of aroma or taste nerves, flavoring agents may include sensates intended to achieve somatic sensations typically chemically induced and perceived by stimulation of the fifth cranial nerve (trigeminal nerve), and these may include agents that provide heating, cooling, tingling, or numbing effects. Suitable thermal effect agents may be, but are not limited to, vanillyl ethyl ether, and suitable cooling agents may be, but are not limited to, eucalyptol, WS-3.

[0073] An aerosol generating material is a material that is capable of generating an aerosol when heated, irradiated or energized in any other way. The aerosol generating material may, for example, be in the form of a solid, liquid or gel, which may or may not contain active substances and / or fragrances. In some embodiments, the aerosol generating material may include an "amorphous solid", which may alternatively be referred to as a "monolithic solid" (i.e., non-fibrous). In some embodiments, the amorphous solid may be a dry gel. An amorphous solid is a solid material that can retain some fluid (e.g., liquid) within it. In some embodiments, the aerosol generating material may, for example, include from about 50 wt%, 60 wt% or 70 wt% amorphous solid to about 90 wt%, 95 wt% or 100 wt% amorphous solid.

[0074] The aerosol-generating material may comprise one or more active substances and / or flavouring agents, one or more aerosol-former materials, and optionally one or more other functional materials.

[0075] The aerosol-forming material may include one or more components capable of forming an aerosol. In some embodiments, the aerosol-forming material may include one or more of glycerol, propylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol, erythritol, meso-erythritol, ethyl vanillate, ethyl laurate, diethyl suberate, triethyl citrate, triacetin, a mixture of diacetic glycerides, benzyl benzoate, benzylphenyl acetate, tributyrin, lauryl acetate, lauric acid, myristic acid, and propylene carbonate.

[0076] The one or more other functional materials may include one or more of a pH adjuster, a colorant, a preservative, a binder, a filler, a stabilizer, and / or an antioxidant.

[0077] The material may be present on or within a carrier to form a substrate. The carrier may be or include, for example, paper, cardboard, paperboard, reconstituted material, plastic material, ceramic material, composite material, glass, metal, or metal alloy. In some embodiments, the carrier includes the susceptor. In some embodiments, the susceptor is embedded within the material. In some alternative embodiments, the susceptor is on one or either side of the material.

[0078] A consumable is an article comprising or consisting of an aerosol-generating material, some or all of which is intended to be consumed by a user during use. A consumable may include one or more other components, such as an aerosol-generating material storage area, an aerosol-generating material delivery component, an aerosol-generating region, a housing, a wrapper, a mouthpiece, a filter, and / or an aerosol modifier. A consumable may also include an aerosol generator, such as a heater, which releases heat during use to cause the aerosol-generating material to generate an aerosol. The heater may, for example, comprise a combustible material, a material that can be heated by electrical conduction, or a susceptor.

[0079] A susceptor is a material that can be heated by penetrating it with a varying magnetic field (e.g., an alternating magnetic field). The susceptor can be a conductive material, such that penetration by the varying magnetic field results in inductive heating of the heated material. The heated material can be a magnetic material, such that penetration by the varying magnetic field results in hysteresis heating of the heated material. A susceptor can be both conductive and magnetic, allowing it to be heated by both heating mechanisms. A device configured to generate a varying magnetic field is referred to herein as a magnetic field generator.

[0080] An aerosol modifier is a substance typically located downstream of an aerosol generation region that is configured to modify the generated aerosol, for example, by changing the taste, flavor, acidity, or another characteristic of the aerosol. The aerosol modifier can be disposed in an aerosol modifier release component that is operable to selectively release the aerosol modifier. For example, the aerosol modifier can be an additive or an adsorbent. For example, the aerosol modifier can include one or more of a flavoring, a colorant, water, and a carbon adsorbent. For example, the aerosol modifier can be a solid, a liquid, or a gel. The aerosol modifier can be in the form of a powder, string, or granules. The aerosol modifier can be free of filter material.

[0081] An aerosol generator is a device configured to cause an aerosol to be generated from an aerosol-generating material. In some embodiments, the aerosol generator is a heater configured to subject the aerosol-generating material to thermal energy to release one or more volatiles from the aerosol-generating material to form an aerosol. In some embodiments, the aerosol generator is configured to cause an aerosol to be generated from the aerosol-generating material without heating. For example, the aerosol generator can be configured to subject the aerosol-generating material to one or more of vibration, increased pressure, or electrostatic energy.

[0082] The present disclosure relates to an aerosol supply system (which may also be referred to as a vapor supply system), such as a nebulizer or an electronic cigarette. In the following description, the term "electronic cigarette" or "electronic cigarette" may sometimes be used, but it will be understood that this term can be used interchangeably with aerosol supply system / device and electronic aerosol supply system / device. In addition, as is common in the art, the terms "aerosol" and "vapor" and related terms such as "evaporation," "atomization," and "aerosolization" are often used interchangeably.

[0083] Aerosol supply systems (electronic cigarettes) typically (although not always) include modular components that include a reusable device part and a replaceable (disposable / consumable) cartridge part. Typically, the replaceable cartridge part will include an aerosol generating material and a vaporizer (which can be collectively referred to as an "atomizer"), and the reusable device part will include a power supply (e.g., a rechargeable power supply) and a control circuit. It will be understood that these different parts may include additional elements depending on the function. For example, the reusable device part will typically include a user interface for receiving user input and displaying operating status features, and the replaceable cartridge device part includes a temperature sensor for helping to control temperature in some cases. The cartridge is electrically and mechanically connected to the control unit for use, for example, using a thread, a bayonet, or a magnetic connection with appropriately arranged electrical contacts. When the aerosol generating material in the cartridge is exhausted, or when the user wishes to switch to a different cartridge with a different aerosol generating material, the cartridge can be removed from the reusable part and a replacement cartridge attached to its appropriate position. Systems and devices that conform to this type of two-piece modular configuration may generally be referred to as two-piece systems / devices.

[0084] Electronic cigarettes typically have a generally elongated shape. To provide a specific example, some embodiments of the present disclosure will be considered to include such a generally elongated two-piece system employing a disposable cartridge. However, it will be understood that the basic principles described herein can be equally applicable to different configurations, such as a one-piece system or a modular system comprising more than two components, refillable devices and single-use disposables, as well as other overall shapes, such as high-performance devices based on so-called box-shaped models that typically have a box shape. More generally, it will be understood that certain embodiments of the present disclosure are based on an aerosol supply system that is operatively configured to provide functionality according to the principles described herein, and that the structural aspects of the system configured to provide functionality according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure are not primarily important.

[0085] As described in the background, activating the heating process requires extra steps, which is inconvenient and requires waiting. If the aerosol supply system can automatically activate the heating function when the user inserts the consumable, it will provide a better user experience. Based on this, the present invention proposes a consumable for an aerosol supply system that automatically activates the system's heating function upon insertion.

[0086] See attached Figure 1 , Figure 1 An example of an aerosol supply system and consumables used in the aerosol supply system is shown. The aerosol supply system 100 has an airflow sensor 101, and the aerosol supply system 100 starts heating the consumable 200 when the airflow sensor 101 is triggered; the consumable 200 includes a sealing element 201, and the sealing element 201 has a sealed gas space 2011. The air pressure of the gas space 2011 has a pressure difference relative to the atmospheric pressure. The sealing element 201 is configured so that when the consumable 200 is inserted into the aerosol supply system 100, the gas space 2011 opens to exhaust or intake air, so as to generate an airflow pulse to trigger the airflow sensor 101, thereby achieving the technical effect of automatically starting the heating process of the aerosol supply system 100 when the consumable 200 is inserted, providing a more intuitive user experience.

[0087] It should be noted that, in order to illustrate the present technical solution, Figure 1 The diagram only shows a portion of the structure of the aerosol supply system 100 and the consumables 200, and is not intended to convey the specific positions and fixed structural patterns of the various components. For example, the sealing element 201 can be located in any position and structure within the consumables 200, or can wrap the entire consumables 200. It only needs to be able to be opened to exhaust or intake air when the consumables 200 are inserted into the aerosol supply system 100, generating an airflow pulse, and the airflow sensor 101 can sense the airflow pulse in the aerosol supply system 100. It is not limited to the shape and position shown in the diagram. It should also be understood that the aerosol supply system 100 may include Figure 1 Other components not shown, such as heating elements, power supplies and control elements, etc., the consumables 200 may also include Figure 1Other components not shown, such as a mouthpiece, a filter and / or an aerosol modifier; the aerosol supply system 100 and the consumable 200 may further include a structural member for opening the gas space 2011, which can open the gas space 2011 to generate airflow when the consumable 200 enters. The structural member can be of any structural form and control operation mode, as long as it can open the gas space 2011. For example, if the heating element in the aerosol supply system 100 is a heating needle, when the consumable 200 is inserted, the heating needle can penetrate the sealing element 201 to open the gas space 2011; for another example, a piercing element is provided in the cavity of the aerosol supply system 100 that accommodates the consumable 200, and when the consumable 200 is inserted into the cavity of the aerosol supply system 100, the sealing element 201 is pierced to open the gas space 2011 for exhaust or intake. The piercing element can be maintained in a fixed position in the cavity, or can be operated by mechanical control or electrical control, without specific limitation.

[0088] In one embodiment, Figure 2 As shown, the present invention provides an aerosol supply system 100 and a consumable 200, wherein a sealing element 201 encloses the entire consumable 200, equivalent to the consumable 200 being enclosed in a gas space 2011. When the sealing element 201 and the consumable 200 enter the aerosol supply system 100, the gas space 2011 of the sealing element 201 can be opened. Due to the pressure difference between the internal air pressure of the gas space 2011 and the external atmospheric pressure, airflow is generated when the gas space 2011 is opened, thereby triggering the airflow sensor 101 and realizing the self-activation of the system heating function when the consumable 200 is inserted. In this example, the sealing element 201 can be pierced by the heating needle 102 in the aerosol supply system 100 to open its gas space 2011.

[0089] In one embodiment, Figure 3As shown, the present invention provides an aerosol supply system 100 and a consumable 200, wherein a sealing element 201 is arranged inside the consumable 200. Specifically, the consumable 200 can be a rod having a first end 202 and a second end 203, the first end 202 being one end of the consumable 200 inserted toward the aerosol supply system 100, and the second end 203 being the other end relatively away from the insertion direction of the aerosol supply system 100; when the sealing element 201 enters the aerosol supply system 100 along with the consumable 200, it is necessary to pass through the consumable 200 into the consumable to open the gas space 2011 of the sealing element 201, and since there is a pressure difference between the internal air pressure of the gas space 2011 and the external atmospheric pressure, airflow can be generated when it is opened, thereby triggering the airflow sensor 101, and realizing the self-starting system heating function when the consumable 200 is inserted. In this embodiment, the heating needle 102 in the aerosol supply system 100 can be used. When the consumable 200 is inserted, the heating needle 102 passes through the interior of the consumable 200 and punctures the internal sealing element 201 to open its gas space 2011. In order to enable the heating needle 102 to smoothly puncture the sealing element 201, the sealing element 201 is preferably set in the middle position of the rod (the position that the heating needle 102 can contact when the consumable 200 is fully inserted), or as shown in FIG. Figure 4 As shown, it is arranged at the first end 202, and can also be arranged at any position between the middle and the first end 202, as long as the heating needle 102 can contact the sealing element 201. For example, the consumable 200 usually has at least one aerosol generating material 204, and the sealing element 201 can be arranged in the aerosol generating material 204 or near the aerosol generating material 204, so that the tip of the heating needle 102 can pierce the sealing element 201.

[0090] In one embodiment, Figure 5As shown, the sealing element 201 includes a hollow portion 2012, with a closure member 2013 disposed at at least one end of the hollow portion 2012. The hollow portion 2012 and the closure member 2013 together define a gas space 2011. The closure member 2013 can be opened when the consumable product 200 is inserted into the aerosol supply system 100. Specifically, the hollow portion 2012 has an upstream end 2014 and a downstream end 2015. The downstream end 2015 is disposed toward the direction in which the consumable product 200 is inserted into the aerosol supply system 100. The closure member 2013 is disposed at the downstream end 2015, or both the upstream end 2014 and the downstream end 2015 are disposed with the closure member 2013. In this example, hollow portion 2012 is a sealed hollow tube, and closure member 2013 can be an elastic film or thin pressure plate. Together, the hollow tube and the elastic film or thin pressure plate form sealing element 201. The elastic film or thin pressure plate can be made of foil, and the hollow tube can be made of metal. The materials of sealing element 201 do not produce harmful degradation products at high temperatures. Furthermore, the interior of the hollow tube is vacuumed or filled with an inert gas, creating a certain pressure differential relative to atmospheric pressure, thereby generating airflow when opened.

[0091] In one embodiment, the sealing element 201 may be an air bag, forming a gas space 2011 within the air bag. The air bag can be punctured from all directions, making it easier to generate significant airflow when the consumable 200 is inserted into the aerosol supply system 100, thereby triggering the airflow sensor 101. Furthermore, the air bag may be a vacuum air bag or filled with an inert gas, so that there is a certain pressure difference within the air bag relative to atmospheric pressure, thereby generating airflow when punctured.

[0092] Furthermore, if Figure 6 As shown, the present invention provides an aerosol supply system, the system comprising:

[0093] A cavity 103 for accommodating the consumable product 200 as described in any one of the first aspects;

[0094] The airflow sensor 101 is configured to be triggered when it senses an airflow pulse;

[0095] a heating element configured to heat the consumable product 200 during use to generate an aerosol;

[0096] The controller is configured to control the heating element to start heating the consumable 200 when the airflow sensor 101 is triggered.

[0097] Specifically, the consumable 200 used with the system has a sealing element 201, which is at a negative pressure or positive pressure relative to atmospheric pressure, and an airflow sensor 101 is arranged in the cavity 103 into which the consumable 200 is inserted. When the consumable 200 is fully inserted into the cavity 103, the puncture element (such as the heating needle 102) in the cavity 103 will puncture the sealing element 201 in the consumable 200. If the sealing element 201 is a vacuum, air will begin to flow into the sealing element 201, forming an airflow pulse in the cavity 103. The airflow sensor 101 embedded in the cavity 103 will detect this airflow pulse, and then the airflow sensor 101 will send a signal to the controller. After receiving the signal, the controller will automatically start the heating element, and an aerosol can be generated from the inserted consumable 200 without the user having to input any information. Among them, other structures can also be provided in the cavity 103, so that the sealing element 201 can be opened when the consumable 200 enters the cavity. Furthermore, since the airflow sensor 101 senses the airflow and is triggered, when the user inhales, the airflow sensor 101 will also activate the heating element, thereby providing a sensitive heating function. For consumables 200 without a sealing element 201, the airflow sensor 101 can also be activated by the user's first inhalation, thereby triggering heating.

[0098] It should be understood that the heating element and controller are not shown in the figure, and their specific locations are not limited. The heating element only needs to be able to heat the consumable 200, and the controller can control the heating element to activate when the airflow sensor 101 is triggered. The specific structure and functional effects of the various components of the consumable 200 can be found in the above examples, and repeated parts will not be repeated here.

[0099] Furthermore, the present invention provides an aerosol supply method based on the above-described aerosol supply system 100. The method includes: upon insertion of a consumable 200 into the aerosol supply system 100, controlling and activating a heating element to heat the consumable 200 to generate an aerosol. This method can be executed by an external controller or by a controller within the aerosol supply system 100. The detailed description of the structure and functional effects of the various components of the aerosol supply system 100 and consumable 200 can be found in the above-described examples, and any repetitive details will not be repeated.

[0100] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the various modules in the system can be adaptively split or merged. Such splitting or merging of specific modules does not cause the technical solution to deviate from the principles of the present invention. Therefore, the technical solutions after splitting or merging will fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0101] It should be understood that various parts of the present invention can be implemented using hardware, software, firmware, or a combination thereof. In the above-described embodiments, multiple steps or methods can be implemented using software or firmware stored in a memory and executed by a suitable instruction execution system. For example, if implemented using hardware, as in another embodiment, any one of the following technologies known in the art or a combination thereof can be used: a discrete logic circuit having a logic gate circuit for implementing a logic function on a data signal, an application-specific integrated circuit having a suitable combination of logic gate circuits, a programmable gate array (PGA), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), etc.

[0102] Throughout this specification, reference to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "examples," "specific examples," or "some examples" means that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in conjunction with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. In this specification, schematic representations of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in any one or more embodiments or examples.

[0103] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of the technical features being referred to. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one such feature. In the description of the present invention, "plurality" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise specifically defined.

[0104] In the present invention, unless otherwise specified or limited, the terms "installed," "connected," "connect," "fixed," etc. should be understood in a broad sense. For example, they can refer to fixed connection, detachable connection, or integration; mechanical connection, electrical connection; direct connection, or indirect connection through an intermediate medium; internal communication between two components, or interaction between two components, unless otherwise specified. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention based on specific circumstances.

[0105] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described above, it will be understood that the above embodiments are illustrative and are not to be construed as limitations on the present invention. A person skilled in the art may change, modify, replace and modify the above embodiments within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A consumable product for an aerosol supply system, characterized in that The aerosol supply system has an airflow sensor, and the system is configured to start heating the consumable when the airflow sensor is triggered; the consumable includes: A sealing element having a sealed gas space, wherein the gas pressure of the gas space has a pressure difference relative to the atmospheric pressure, and the sealing element is configured to exhaust or inhale air when the consumable is inserted into the aerosol supply system to generate an airflow pulse to trigger the airflow sensor.

2. The consumable product for an aerosol supply system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The sealing element comprises a hollow portion, at least one end of which is provided with a closure member, the hollow portion and the closure member jointly defining the gas space; the closure member is configured to open the gas space when the consumable product is inserted into the aerosol supply system.

3. The consumable product for an aerosol supply system according to claim 2, characterized in that: The hollow portion has an upstream end and a downstream end, the downstream end is arranged toward the direction of inserting the consumable product into the aerosol supply system, and the downstream end is provided with the closure member or both the upstream end and the downstream end are provided with the closure member.

4. The consumable product for an aerosol supply system according to claim 2, characterized in that: The closure member is an elastic film or a thin pressing plate, and the elastic film or the thin pressing plate is configured to be punctured to open the gas space for exhaust or intake of air; the hollow portion is a hollow tube.

5. The consumable product for an aerosol supply system according to claim 4, characterized in that: The material of the thin pressing plate is foil.

6. The consumable product for an aerosol supply system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The sealing element includes an air bag, the gas space being formed inside the air bag; and the air bag is configured to be punctured to exhaust gas or allow gas in.

7. The consumable product for an aerosol supply system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The gas space is vacuum or filled with inert gas.

8. The consumable product for an aerosol supply system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: The sealing element is disposed inside the consumable or wraps the consumable.

9. The consumable product for an aerosol supply system according to claim 8, characterized in that: The consumable comprises a rod having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is the end of the consumable inserted toward the aerosol supply system; the sealing element is arranged in the middle position of the rod, or at the first end, or between the middle and the first end.

10. The consumable product for an aerosol supply system according to claim 8, characterized in that: The consumable product further comprises at least one aerosol-generating material, and the sealing element is arranged within or adjacent to the aerosol-generating material when disposed within the consumable product.

11. An aerosol supply system, characterized in that: The system comprises: A cavity for accommodating a consumable product according to any one of claims 1 to 10; an airflow sensor configured to be triggered when an airflow pulse is sensed; a heating element configured to heat the consumable during use to generate an aerosol; The controller is configured to control the heating element to start heating the consumable when the airflow sensor is triggered.

12. The aerosol supply system according to claim 11, characterized in that The system further comprises a puncturing element configured to puncture the sealing element when the consumable is inserted into the aerosol supply system, so as to exhaust or inhale gas into the gas space.

13. The aerosol supply system according to claim 12, characterized in that The heating element includes a heating needle configured to pierce the element.

14. An aerosol supply method, characterized in that: Based on the aerosol supply system according to any one of claims 11 to 13, the method comprises: when the consumable is inserted into the aerosol supply system, controlling to start a heating element to heat the consumable to generate aerosol.

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