Aerosol-generating apparatus mouthpiece

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a mouthpiece portion for an aerosol generating apparatus, the aerosol-generating apparatus comprising an aerosol generator. The mouthpiece portion comprises: a shell defining a mouthpiece outlet; a primary airflow path for fluid communication between the aerosol generator and the mouthpiece outlet; and a bypass airflow path extending from an air inlet to the mouthpiece outlet, the bypass airflow path bypassing the aerosol generator. A carrier material for containing flavourant, is positioned within, or defines at least a portion of, the bypass airflow path. The mouthpiece portion further comprises a mixing chamber within the shell, the mixing chamber bounded by one or more sidewalls extending from an upstream end of the mixing chamber to the mouthpiece outlet at a downstream end of the mixing chamber. The primary and bypass airflow paths coincide at the upstream end of the mixing chamber.

Description

FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a mouthpiece portion for an aerosol-generating apparatus and an aerosol-generating apparatus comprising a mouthpiece portion.BACKGROUND

[0002] A typical aerosol-generating apparatus may comprise a power supply, an aerosol generator that is driven by the power supply, an aerosol precursor, which in use is aerosolised by the aerosol generator to generate an aerosol, and a delivery system for delivery of the aerosol to a user.

[0003] A drawback with known aerosol-generating apparatus is that flavourants for the aerosol provided to a user of the apparatus need to be contained in the aerosol precursor. However, regulation around the inclusion of flavourants in the aerosol precursor means that it is desired to provide flavour to the user in a different manner (i.e. without the aerosol precursor containing that flavourant).

[0004] A further drawback with known aerosol-generating apparatus is that flavourants contained in the aerosol precursor undergo heating and vaporisation in order to be carried in the aerosol. This can degrade the flavourant (i.e. due to chemical reaction (oxidation) of the flavourants at elevated temperatures necessary for vaporisation), and limits the flavours that can be provided, because the flavourants contained in the aerosol precursor are required to vaporise at similar temperatures to other compounds contained in the aerosol precursor.

[0005] Further improvements in aerosol-generating apparatus are desirable.SUMMARY

[0006] In a first aspect of the present disclosure, a mouthpiece portion for an aerosol generating apparatus is provided, the aerosol-generating apparatus comprising an aerosol generator, the mouthpiece portion comprising: a shell defining a mouthpiece outlet; a primary airflow path for fluid communication between the aerosol generator and the mouthpiece outlet; a bypass airflow path extending from an air inlet to the mouthpiece outlet, the bypass airflow path bypassing the aerosol generator; and a carrier material for containing flavourant, the carrier material being positioned within, or defining at least a portion of, the bypass airflow path.

[0007] In some examples, the mouthpiece portion further comprises a mixing chamber within the shell, the mixing chamber bounded by one or more sidewalls extending from an upstream end of the mixing chamber to the mouthpiece outlet at a downstream end of the mixing chamber. In these examples, the primary and bypass airflow paths coincide at the upstream end of the mixing chamber.

[0008] In this way, the mouthpiece portion may allow flavoured aerosols to be generated from flavourant contained in the carrier material without the flavourant being heated (i.e. the flavourant is not heated with aerosol precursor material in the aerosol-generator and / or the flavourant is not exposed to the temperature that a heating system within the aerosol-generating apparatus reaches during operation). This is advantageous in allowing a wider range of flavourants to be used, because the flavourants do not need to be resistant to degrading at the high temperatures of the heating system of the aerosol-generating apparatus, since they are never exposed to such temperatures. Moreover, the likelihood of flavourant molecules aerosolised by the bypass airflow decomposing into other chemical species is reduced, because they are not heated in order to form the flavoured aerosol, and the temperature reached when the bypass airflow mixes with the primary airflow in the mixing chamber will be substantially lower than if the flavourant were heated in combination with the aerosol precursor that generates the aerosol flowing through the primary airflow path.

[0009] It is also desired to provide the user with a consistent experience and consequently it is important for the flavourant aerosol flowing along the bypass airflow path to mix with the aerosol from the aerosol generator flowing along the primary airflow path before reaching the mouthpiece outlet. By providing the mouthpiece portion with a mixing chamber that is bounded by one or more sidewalls, and where the bypass airflow path and primary airflow path coincide at an upstream end (i.e. distal the mouthpiece outlet), the mixing of the flows is facilitated by providing a constrained, combined airflow path where the flow of aerosol and flavourant are coincident and able to mix by convection and diffusion. Moreover, because the airflow along the bypass airflow path has not been heated by the aerosol generator, the bypass airflow is able to cool the primary airflow such that it is at the desired temperature for user inhalation.

[0010] The shell may define a cavity. The one or more sidewalls may depend from the shell and may extend inwardly into the cavity. The one or more sidewalls may circumscribe the mouthpiece outlet. For example, there may be an annular e.g. tubular sidewall which may circumscribe the mouthpiece outlet and which may extend inwardly into the shell cavity.

[0011] An inner surface of sidewall(s) may diverge i.e. taper outwardly, from a maximum constriction of the mixing chamber towards the mouthpiece outlet i.e. the mixing chamber may comprise a divergent portion from the maximum constriction to the mouthpiece outlet. At the maximum constriction, the transverse cross-sectional area of the mixing chamber (i.e. the cross sectional area perpendicular to the combined primary / bypass airflow paths in the mixing chamber) will be minimum. Where there is a tubular sidewall bounding the mixing chamber, the transverse cross-sectional area (i.e. the cross-sectional area perpendicular to the combined primary / bypass airflow paths in the mixing chamber) may increase from a minimum diameter of the mixing chamber towards the mouthpiece outlet.

[0012] The primary airflow path and bypass airflow path may coincide at or upstream of the maximum constriction (minimum diameter) of the mixing chamber i.e. at or upstream of the divergent portion of the mixing chamber. The combined primary / bypass airflow paths will diverge within the divergent portion i.e. will diverge from the maximum constriction of the mixing chamber to the mouthpiece outlet.

[0013] The inner surface of the sidewall(s) upstream of the maximum constriction may converge i.e. taper inwardly (i.e. converge) towards the maximum constriction (minimum diameter) of the mixing chamber (i.e. may diverge away (upstream) from the maximum constriction). Thus the mixing chamber may comprise a convergent portion upstream of the maximum constriction. Where there is a tubular sidewall bounding the mixing chamber, the transverse cross-sectional area may decrease (e.g. from the upstream end of the sidewalls) towards the maximum constriction (minimum diameter) of the mixing chamber (i.e. may increase in an upstream direction away from the maximum constriction).

[0014] The inner surface of the portion of the sidewall defining the convergent portion may have a differing gradient of convergence than the inner surface of the portion of the sidewall defining the bypass flow path where it enters the mixing chamber. For example, the inner surface of the portion of the sidewall defining the convergent portion may have a smaller gradient of convergence than the inner surface of the portion of the sidewall defining the bypass flow path where it enters the mixing chamber.

[0015] The primary airflow path and bypass airflow path may coincide at or upstream of the convergent portion of the mixing chamber. In these embodiments, the combined primary / bypass airflow paths will converge to the maximum constriction of the mixing chamber and then diverge to the mouthpiece outlet.

[0016] In some embodiments, the primary airflow path may be defined by an inner surface (e.g. a tubular inner surface) of a chimney. The chimney having a chimney outlet opening to the mixing chamber. Aerosol from the aerosol generator can enter the mixing chamber via the chimney outlet.

[0017] As described above, the chimney outlet may be positioned at or upstream of the maximum constriction (minimum diameter) of the mixing chamber. It may be positioned within the upstream diverging portion of the mixing chamber.

[0018] The bypass airflow path may be partly defined between an outer surface of the chimney and the inner surface of the sidewall(s). The inner surface of the sidewalls defining the bypass airflow path may converge towards the mixing chamber i.e. may converge in the downstream direction.

[0019] The outer surface of the chimney defining the bypass airflow path may be angled e.g. angled to match the angle of convergence of the inner surface of the portion of the sidewall(s) defining the bypass airflow path. In this way, the transverse cross section (i.e. the cross section perpendicular to the bypass airflow path) between the inner surface of the sidewall(s) and the outer surface of the chimney is substantially constant. In some examples, the transverse cross sectional area of the bypass airflow path where it enters the mixing chamber (e.g. the cross-sectional area between the inner surface of the sidewall(s) and the outer surface of the chimney) may be less than a cross-sectional area of primary airflow path (e.g. defined by the inner surface of the chimney). This may be advantageous in appropriately setting the ratio of the amount of flavourant aerosol delivered via the bypass airflow path to the aerosol from the aerosol generator delivered by the primary airflow path. It may also influence the cooling effect of the bypass airflow on the primary airflow.

[0020] The bypass airflow path may circumscribe the primary airflow path as they enter the mixing chamber. That is, the bypass airflow path may be an annular air flow path and the primary airflow path may pass through a central region bounded by the annulus. In these embodiments, the outer surface of the chimney defining the bypass airflow path as it enters the mixing chamber may be a substantially frustoconical outer surface. The inner surface of the sidewall(s) of the mixing chamber opposing the outer surface of the chimney to define the bypass airflow path as it enters the mixing chamber may also be a frustoconical surface.

[0021] The angle between the primary airflow path and the bypass airflow path where they enter the mixing chamber (e.g. the angle between the axis of the chimney and the angle of the outer surface of the chimney where it defines the bypass airflow path) may be less than 90 degrees. In this way, the bypass airflow is provided at an angle to the primary airflow that is less than 90 degrees at the point these airflows coincide at the upstream end of the mixing chamber. The angle between the primary airflow path and bypass airflow path being less than 90 degrees results in these airflow paths being more closely aligned in direction with each other, and thus can result in the flow velocities along the primary and bypass airflow paths towards the mouthpiece outlet being closer in value to each other.

[0022] The angle between the primary airflow path and the bypass airflow path where they enter the mixing chamber (e.g. the angle between the axis of the chimney and the angle of the outer surface of the chimney where it defines the bypass airflow path) may be greater than 0 degrees. In this way, the bypass airflow is provided at an angle to the primary airflow that is greater than 0 degrees at the point these airflows coincide at the upstream end of the mixing chamber. That is, the bypass airflow path and primary airflow path are not parallel to each other as they coincide at the upstream end of the mixing chamber. In this way, mixing between the primary airflow path and bypass airflow path within the mixing chamber can be improved by one airflow impinging on the other.

[0023] Accordingly, it can be understood that is beneficial for the angle between the primary airflow path and the bypass airflow path where they enter the mixing chamber (e.g. the angle between the axis of the chimney and the angle of the outer surface of the chimney where it defines the bypass airflow path) to be less than 90 degrees and greater than 0 degrees. By way of example, said angle may be between 5 degrees and 70 degrees, preferably between 10 degrees and 45 degrees, e.g. between 15 and 35 degrees.

[0024] The mouthpiece portion may be elongate and have a longitudinal axis extending along the elongate dimension of the mouthpiece portion. The mouthpiece portion may be rotationally symmetrical about the longitudinal axis (i.e. the longitudinal axis may be a central axis of the mouthpiece portion).

[0025] In some examples, the primary airflow path (e.g. the axis of the chimney) may be aligned with the longitudinal axis of the mouthpiece portion. A central axis of the mixing chamber may also be colinear with the longitudinal axis of the mouthpiece portion. The mouthpiece outlet may also have a central axis aligned with the central axis of the mixing chamber and the longitudinal axis of the mouthpiece portion.

[0026] The mouthpiece portion may further comprise a support. The support may comprise a support surface which may be substantially perpendicular to the primary airflow path. The carrier material may be provided (e.g. within the cavity of the shell) on the support e.g. on the support surface. The chimney may be upstanding from the support e.g. from the support surface.

[0027] In some examples, the carrier material is positioned within, or defines at least a portion of, the bypass airflow path upstream of the mixing chamber. Accordingly, the bypass airflow is able to aerosolise flavourant from the carrier material prior to the bypass airflow mixing with the aerosol flowing along the primary airflow path.

[0028] In further examples where the carrier material is positioned within the bypass airflow path, the carrier material may extend along at least a portion of the bypass airflow path in the airflow direction.

[0029] In examples where the carrier material defines at least a portion of the bypass airflow path, it may be a surface of the carrier material that defines said at least a portion of the bypass airflow path. In this way, the air flowing along the bypass airflow path flows past a surface of the carrier material, rather than through the carrier material. In this way the bypass airflow can still aerosolise flavourant contained in the carrier material and the pressure drop along the bypass airflow path can be reduced compared to examples where the bypass airflow path passes through the carrier material. In some examples, the carrier material is porous. In this way, flavourant can be transported through the carrier material e.g. by wicking (i.e. capillary action). The carrier material may be of any porous construction, e.g. fibrous or foamed. For example, the carrier material may be formed of cellulose acetate, or polyethylene foam or ceramic. By being porous, the carrier material allows an airflow to be drawn therethrough by inhalation of the user on the mouthpiece at the mouthpiece outlet. The carrier material can be formed in a variety of shapes and may be shaped to increase flavour transfer or reduce total particulate matter (TPM) loss (e.g. by having a high macro-surface area to volume ratio).

[0030] The flavourant may be provided in solid, gel or liquid form. The flavourant may be a water-based (e.g. aqueous or water soluble) flavourant. The flavourant may include menthol, liquorice, chocolate, fruit flavour (including e.g. citrus, cherry etc.), vanilla, spice (e.g. ginger, cinnamon) and tobacco flavour. The flavourant may modify a flavour of an aerosol or airflow upon contacting or being aerosolised by said aerosol / airflow.

[0031] The mouthpiece portion may further comprise a reservoir containing the flavourant, and the carrier material may be fluidly connected to the reservoir such that the flavourant can be wicked into the carrier material from the reservoir. In this way, the carrier material may initially be provided without any flavourant pre-imbued therein. In other examples, the carrier material may contain flavourant, for example, the carrier material may be pre-imbued with flavourant prior to insertion into the cavity of the shell.

[0032] In some examples, the carrier material may comprise a first portion comprising a first flavourant and a second portion comprising a second flavourant. The first flavourant and second flavourant may be different. Advantageously, this allows the provision of a combination of flavourants aerosolised by the bypass airflow. Moreover, the flavourants can be provided separately to each other in the different portions of the carrier material, which may be advantageous, for example, where the first flavourant may react with the second flavourant if stored in the same portion of the carrier material as each other.

[0033] The first and second portions of the carrier material may be positioned within / define at least a portion of different passages of the bypass airflow path. For example, the bypass airflow path may comprise a first passage extending between the air inlet and the mixing chamber and the first portion of the carrier material may be positioned within, or define at least a portion of, the first passage; and the bypass airflow path may further comprise a second passage extending between the air inlet and the mixing chamber and the second portion of the carrier material may be positioned within, or define at least a portion of, the second passage.

[0034] In examples where the bypass airflow path circumscribes the primary airflow path as they enter the mixing chamber, the first and second portions of the carrier material may be provided on opposite (e.g. diametrically opposed) sides of the primary airflow path / chimney.

[0035] The support may further comprise side portions extending downward relative to the support surface. The side portions of the support may be housed within the shell. One or more channels may be provided between the side portions of the support and the shell, the bypass airflow path extending from the air inlet along the channel(s) to the carrier material (e.g. the carrier material on the support surface). Thus, in these embodiments, the air inlet is provided as a gap between a lower edge of the shell and the side portions of the support.

[0036] In some embodiments, the mouthpiece portion forms the mouthpiece of the aerosol-generating apparatus. In these examples, the shell may be fitted over the support. That is, the shell may be reversibly attachable to the support e.g. by way of snap fit means and / or an interference fit therebetween. In this way, the source of flavourant (e.g. the carrier material) can be removed and replaced / replenished when the source of flavourant is exhausted, or when the user desires a different flavour. In these embodiments, the support may have an inner surface defining a tank for housing an aerosol precursor. In these embodiments, the side portions of the support may comprise a flange and the air inlet may be defined between the flange and the shell.

[0037] In other embodiments, the mouthpiece portion is configured to fit over a pre-existing mouthpiece of an aerosol generating apparatus. A pre-existing mouthpiece may be understood to mean a part of the aerosol-generating apparatus that it is intended for the user to abut their lips to an external surface of and inhale on in order to draw an aerosol from the apparatus, and which is already part of the aerosol-generating apparatus. Accordingly, the pre-existing mouthpiece may comprise an aerosol outlet, through which aerosol generated by the aerosol-generating apparatus can flow out of the pre-existing mouthpiece. The pre-existing mouthpiece of the aerosol-generating apparatus may be a mouthpiece that is integrally formed with, permanently attached to, and / or not intended for user removal from, of the aerosol generator (e.g. not separable from the tank and heating system). Accordingly, the mouthpiece portion may be considered a cap for mounting over the pre-existing mouthpiece.

[0038] In these embodiments, the support comprises an inner surface for seating against (e.g. forming a frictional / interference fit with) an outer surface of the pre-existing mouthpiece. The chimney may have a chimney inlet for aligning with the aerosol outlet of the pre-existing mouthpiece.

[0039] In a second aspect there is provided an aerosol-generating apparatus comprising an aerosol generator, and a mouthpiece portion according to the first aspect.

[0040] Any of the optional features set out above in relation to the first aspect, unless explicitly incompatible, are equally applicable to the second aspect.

[0041] In some examples, the aerosol generator may be an active aerosol generator (e.g. may comprise a heating system).

[0042] In some examples, the aerosol-generating apparatus may comprise a device body and a consumable. The consumable may comprise the mouthpiece portion and the aerosol generator. Alternatively, where the mouthpiece portion is configured to fit over a pre-existing mouthpiece, the consumable may comprise the pre-existing mouthpiece and the aerosol generator. The body may comprise one or more of, a power supply (e.g. a battery), electrical circuitry, a memory, and a controller (e.g. a microprocessor) for controlling one or more operations of the body and consumable.

[0043] In a third aspect there is provided a consumable comprising: a tank containing aerosol precursor material, and a mouthpiece portion according to the first aspect.

[0044] Any of the optional features set out above in relation to the first and second aspects, unless explicitly incompatible, are equally applicable to the third aspect.

[0045] The preceding summary is provided for purposes of summarizing some examples to provide a basic understanding of aspects of the subject matter described herein. Accordingly, the above-described features should not be construed to narrow the scope or spirit of the subject matter described herein in any way. Moreover, the above and / or proceeding examples may be combined in any suitable combination to provide further examples, except where such a combination is clearly impermissible or expressly avoided. Other features, aspects, and advantages of the subject matter described herein will become apparent from the following text and the accompanying drawings.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0046] Aspects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following description of examples in reference to the appended drawings in which like numerals denote like elements. Fig. 1 is a block system diagram showing an example aerosol-generating apparatus. Fig. 2 is a block system diagram showing an example implementation of the apparatus of Fig. 1, where the aerosol-generating apparatus is configured to generate aerosol from a liquid precursor. Figs. 3A and 3B are schematic diagrams showing an example implementation of the apparatus of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a block system diagram showing an example implementation of the apparatus of Fig. 1, where the aerosol-generating apparatus is configured to generate aerosol from a solid precursor. Fig. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a first aerosol-generating apparatus comprising a mouthpiece and an aerosol generator. Fig. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a third aerosol-generating apparatus comprising a mouthpiece and an aerosol generator. Fig. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a second aerosol-generating apparatus comprising a mouthpiece mounted over a pre-existing mouthpiece, and an aerosol generator. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0047] Before describing several examples implementing the present disclosure, it is to be understood that the present disclosure is not limited by specific construction details or process steps set forth in the following description and accompanying drawings. Rather, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the present disclosure that the systems, apparatuses and / or methods described herein could be embodied differently and / or be practiced or carried out in various alternative ways.

[0048] Unless otherwise defined herein, scientific and technical terms used in connection with the presently disclosed inventive concept(s) shall have the meanings that are commonly understood by those of ordinary skill in the art, and known techniques and procedures may be performed according to conventional methods well known in the art and as described in various general and more specific references that may be cited and discussed in the present specification.

[0049] Any patents, published patent applications, and non-patent publications mentioned in the specification are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

[0050] All examples implementing the present disclosure can be made and executed without undue experimentation in light of the present disclosure. While particular examples have been described, it will be apparent to those of skill in the art that variations may be applied to the systems, apparatus, and / or methods and in the steps or in the sequence of steps of the methods described herein without departing from the concept, spirit, and scope of the inventive concept(s). All such similar substitutions and modifications apparent to those skilled in the art are deemed to be within the spirit, scope, and concept of the inventive concept(s) as defined by the appended claims.

[0051] The use of the term "a" or "an" in the claims and / or the specification may mean "one," as well as "one or more," "at least one," and "one or more than one." As such, the terms "a," "an," and "the," as well as all singular terms, include plural referents unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Likewise, plural terms shall include the singular unless otherwise required by context.

[0052] The use of the term "or" in the present disclosure (including the claims) is used to mean an inclusive "and / or" unless explicitly indicated to refer to alternatives only or unless the alternatives are mutually exclusive. For example, a condition "A or B" is satisfied by any of the following: A is true (or present) and B is false (or not present), A is false (or not present) and B is true (or present), and both A and B are true (or present).

[0053] As used in this specification and claim(s), the words "comprising, "having," "including," or "containing" (and any forms thereof, such as "comprise" and "comprises," "have" and "has," "includes" and "include," or "contains" and "contain," respectively) are inclusive or open-ended and do not exclude additional, unrecited elements or method steps.

[0054] Unless otherwise explicitly stated as incompatible, or the physics or otherwise of the embodiments, examples, or claims prevent such a combination, the features of examples disclosed herein, and of the claims, may be integrated together in any suitable arrangement, especially ones where there is a beneficial effect in doing so. This is not limited to only any specified benefit, and instead may arise from an "ex post facto" benefit. This is to say that the combination of features is not limited by the described forms, particularly the form (e.g. numbering) of example(s), embodiment(s), or dependency of claim(s). Moreover, this also applies to the phrase "in one embodiment," "according to an embodiment," and the like, which are merely a stylistic form of wording and are not to be construed as limiting the following features to a separate embodiment to all other instances of the same or similar wording. This is to say, a reference to 'an,' 'one,' or 'some' embodiment(s) may be a reference to any one or more, and / or all embodiments, or combination(s) thereof, disclosed. Also, similarly, the reference to "the" embodiment may not be limited to the immediately preceding embodiment. Further, all references to one or more embodiments or examples are to be construed as non-limiting to the claims.

[0055] The present disclosure may be better understood in view of the following explanations, wherein the terms used that are separated by "or" may be used interchangeably: As used herein, an "aerosol-generating apparatus" may be an apparatus configured to deliver an aerosol to a user for inhalation by the user. The apparatus may additionally / alternatively be referred to as a "smoking substitute apparatus", if it is intended to be used instead of a conventional combustible smoking article. As used herein a combustible "smoking article" may refer to a cigarette, cigar, pipe or other article, that produces smoke (an aerosol comprising solid particulates and gas) via heating above the thermal decomposition temperature (typically by combustion and / or pyrolysis). An aerosol generated by the apparatus may comprise an aerosol with particle sizes of 0.2 - 7 microns, or less than 10 microns, or less than 7 microns. This particle size may be achieved by control of one or more of: heating system temperature; cooling rate as the vapour condenses to an aerosol; flow properties including turbulence and velocity. The generation of aerosol by the aerosol-generating apparatus may be controlled by an input device. The input device may be configured to be user-activated, and may for example include or take the form of an actuator (e.g. actuation button) and / or an airflow sensor.

[0056] Each occurrence of the aerosol-generating apparatus being caused to generate aerosol for a period of time (which may be variable) may be referred to as an "activation" of the aerosol-generating apparatus. The aerosol-generating apparatus may be arranged to allow an amount of aerosol delivered to a user to be varied per activation (as opposed to delivering a fixed dose of aerosol), e.g. by activating an aerosol generator of the apparatus for a variable amount of time, e.g. based on the strength / duration of a draw of a user through a flow path of the apparatus (to replicate an effect of smoking a conventional combustible smoking article).

[0057] As used herein, an "aerosol" may include a suspension of precursor, including as one or more of: solid particles; liquid droplets; gas. Said suspension may be in a gas including air. An aerosol herein may generally refer to / include a vapour. An aerosol may include one or more components of the precursor.

[0058] As used herein, a "precursor" may include one or more of a: liquid; solid; gel; loose leaf material; other substance. The precursor may be processed by an aerosol generator of an aerosol-generating apparatus to generate an aerosol. The precursor may include one or more of: an active component; a carrier; a flavouring. The active component may include one or more of nicotine; caffeine; a cannabidiol oil; a non-pharmaceutical formulation, e.g. a formulation which is not for treatment of a disease or physiological malfunction of the human body. The active component may be carried by the carrier, which may be a liquid, including propylene glycol and / or glycerine. The term "flavouring" may refer to a component that provides a taste and / or a smell to the user. The flavouring may include one or more of: Ethylvanillin (vanilla); menthol, Isoamyl acetate (banana oil); or other. The precursor may include a substrate, e.g. reconstituted tobacco to carry one or more of the active component; a carrier; a flavouring.

[0059] As used herein, a "storage portion" may be a portion of the apparatus adapted to store the precursor. It may be implemented as fluid-holding reservoir or carrier for solid material depending on the implementation of the precursor as defined above.

[0060] As used herein, a "flow path" may refer to a path or enclosed passageway through an aerosol-generating apparatus or a mouthpiece for an aerosol generating apparatus, e.g. for delivery of an aerosol to a user. The flow path may be arranged to receive aerosol from an aerosol generator or may be arranged to receive ambient air from an air inlet. When referring to the flow path, upstream and downstream may be defined in respect of a direction of flow in the flow path, e.g. with an outlet being downstream of an inlet.

[0061] As used herein, a "delivery system" may be a system operative to deliver an aerosol to a user. The delivery system may include a mouthpiece and a flow path.

[0062] As used herein, a "flow" may refer to a flow in a flow path. A flow may include aerosol generated from the precursor. The flow may include air, which may be induced into the flow path via a puff by a user.

[0063] As used herein, a "puff" (or "inhale" or "draw ") by a user may refer to expansion of lungs and / or oral cavity of a user to create a pressure reduction that induces flow through the flow path.

[0064] As used herein, an "aerosol generator" may refer to a device configured to generate an aerosol from a precursor. The aerosol generator may include a unit to generate a vapour directly from the precursor (e.g. a heating system or other system) or an aerosol directly from the precursor (e.g. an atomiser including an ultrasonic system, a flow expansion system operative to carry droplets of the precursor in the flow without using electrical energy or other system). A plurality of aerosol generators to generate a plurality of aerosols (for example, from a plurality of different aerosol precursors) may be present in an aerosol-generating apparatus.

[0065] As used herein, a "heating system" may refer to an arrangement of at least one heating element, which is operable to aerosolise a precursor once heated. The at least one heating element may be electrically resistive to produce heat from the flow of electrical current therethrough. The at least one heating element may be arranged as a susceptor to produce heat when penetrated by an alternating magnetic field. The heating system may be configured to heat a precursor to below 300 or 350 degrees C, including without combustion.

[0066] As used herein, a "consumable" may refer to a unit that includes a precursor. The consumable may include an aerosol generator, e.g. it may be arranged as a cartomizer. The consumable may include a mouthpiece. The consumable may include an information carrying medium. With liquid or gel implementations of the precursor, e.g. an e-liquid, the consumable may be referred to as a "capsule" or a "pod" or an "e-liquid consumable". The capsule / pod may include a storage portion, e.g. a reservoir or tank, for storage of the precursor. With solid material implementations of the precursor, e.g. tobacco or reconstituted tobacco formulation, the consumable may be referred to as a "stick" or "package" or "heat-not-burn consumable". In a heat-not-burn consumable, the mouthpiece may be implemented as a filter and the consumable may be arranged to carry the precursor. The consumable may be implemented as a dosage or pre-portioned amount of material, including a loose-leaf product.

[0067] As used herein "heat-not-burn" (or "HNB" or "heated precursor ") may refer to the heating of a precursor, typically tobacco, without combustion, or without substantial combustion (i.e. localised combustion may be experienced of limited portions of the precursor, including of less than 5% of the total volume).

[0068] As used herein "pre-existing mouthpiece" may be understood to mean a part of the aerosol-generating apparatus that it is intended for the user to abut their lips to an external surface of and inhale on in order to draw an aerosol from the device, and which is already part of the aerosol-generating apparatus.

[0069] Referring to Fig. 1, an example aerosol-generating apparatus 1 includes a power supply 2, for supply of electrical energy. The apparatus 1 includes an aerosol generator 4 that is driven by the power supply 2. The power supply 2 may include an electric power supply in the form of a battery and / or an electrical connection to an external power source. The apparatus 1 includes a precursor 6, which in use is aerosolised by the aerosol generator 4 to generate an aerosol. The apparatus 2 includes a delivery system 8 for delivery of the aerosol to a user, the delivery system comprising at least one mouthpiece and at least a primary airflow path and bypass airflow path.

[0070] Electrical circuitry (not shown in figure 1) may be implemented to control the interoperability of the power supply 4 and aerosol generator 6.

[0071] In variant examples, which are not illustrated, the power supply 2 may be omitted since, e.g. an aerosol generator implemented as an atomiser with flow expansion may not require a power supply.

[0072] Fig. 2 shows an implementation of the apparatus 1 of Fig. 1, where the aerosol-generating apparatus 1 is configured to generate aerosol from a liquid precursor.

[0073] In this example, the apparatus 1 includes a device body 10 and a consumable 30.

[0074] In this example, the body 10 includes the power supply 4. The body may additionally include any one or more of electrical circuitry 12, a memory 14, a wireless interface 16, one or more other components 18.

[0075] The electrical circuitry 12 may include a processing resource for controlling one or more operations of the body 10 and consumable 30, e.g. based on instructions stored in the memory 14.

[0076] The wireless interface 16 may be configured to communicate wirelessly with an external (e.g. mobile) device, e.g. via Bluetooth.

[0077] The other component(s) 18 may include one or more user interface devices configured to convey information to a user and / or a charging port, for example (see e.g. Fig. 3A).

[0078] The consumable 30 includes a storage portion implemented here as a tank 32 which stores the liquid precursor 6 (e.g. e-liquid). The consumable 30 also includes a heating system 34, one or more air inlets 36, and a mouthpiece 38. The consumable 30 may include one or more other components 40.

[0079] The body 10 and consumable 30 may each include a respective electrical interface (not shown) to provide an electrical connection between one or more components of the body 10 with one or more components of the consumable 30. In this way, electrical power can be supplied to components (e.g. the heating system 34) of the consumable 30, without the consumable 30 needing to have its own power supply.

[0080] In use, a user may activate the aerosol-generating apparatus 1 when inhaling through the mouthpiece 38, i.e. when performing a puff. The puff, performed by the user, may initiate a flow through two flow paths in the consumable 30, one of which extends to the mouthpiece 38 via a region in proximity to the heating system 34, and the other of which extends from the air inlet(s) 36 to the mouthpiece and bypasses the heating system 34.

[0081] Activation of the aerosol-generating apparatus 1 may be initiated, for example, by an airflow sensor in the body 10 which detects airflow in the aerosol-generating apparatus 1 (e.g. caused by a user inhaling through the mouthpiece 38), or by actuation of an actuator included in the body 10. Upon activation, the electrical circuitry 12 (e.g. under control of the processing resource) may supply electrical energy from the power supply 2 to the heating system 34 which may cause the heating system 32 to heat liquid precursor 6 drawn from the tank to produce an aerosol which is carried by the flow out of the mouthpiece 38.

[0082] In some examples, the heating system 34 may include a heating filament and a wick, wherein a first portion of the wick extends into the tank 32 in order to draw liquid precursor 6 out from the tank 32, wherein the heating filament coils around a second portion of the wick located outside the tank 32. The heating filament may be configured to heat up liquid precursor 6 drawn out of the tank 32 by the wick to produce the aerosol.

[0083] In this example, the aerosol generator 4 is provided by the above-described heating system 34 and the delivery system 8 is provided by the above-described flow path and mouthpiece 38.

[0084] In variant embodiments (not shown), any one or more of the precursor 6, heating system 34, air inlet(s) 36 and mouthpiece 38, may be included in the body 10. For example, the mouthpiece 36 may be included in the body 10 with the precursor 6 and heating system 32 arranged as a separable cartomizer.

[0085] Figs. 3A and 3B show an example implementation of the aerosol-generating apparatus 1 of Fig. 2. In this example, the consumable 30 is implemented as a capsule / pod, which is shown in Fig. 3A as being physically coupled to the body 10, and is shown in Fig. 3B as being decoupled from the body 10.

[0086] In this example, the body 10 and the consumable 30 are configured to be physically coupled together by pushing the consumable 30 into an aperture in a top end 11 the body 10, with the consumable 30 being retained in the aperture via an interference fit.

[0087] In other examples (not shown), the body 10 and the consumable 30 could be physically coupled together in other ways, e.g. by screwing one onto the other, through a bayonet fitting, or through a snap engagement mechanism, for example.

[0088] The body 10 also includes a charging port (not shown) at a bottom end 13 of the body 10.

[0089] The body 10 also includes a user interface device configured to convey information to a user. Here, the user interface device is implemented as a light 15, which may e.g. be configured to illuminate when the apparatus 1 is activated. Other user interface devices are possible, e.g. to convey information haptically or audibly to a user.

[0090] In this example, the consumable 30 has an opaque cap 31, a translucent tank 32 and a translucent window 33. When the consumable 30 is physically coupled to the body 10 as shown in Fig. 3A, only the cap 31 and window 33 can be seen, with the tank 32 being obscured from view by the body 10. The body 10 includes a slot 15 to accommodate the window 33. The window 33 is configured to allow the amount of liquid precursor 6 in the tank 32 to be visually assessed, even when the consumable 30 is physically coupled to the body 10.

[0091] Fig. 4 shows an implementation of the apparatus 1 of Fig. 1, where the aerosol-generating apparatus 1 is configured to generate aerosol by a-heat not-burn process.

[0092] In this example, the apparatus 1 includes a device body 50 and a consumable 70.

[0093] In this example, the body 50 includes the power supply 4, a heating system 52, and a mouthpiece 38. The heating system 54 includes at least one heating element 54. The body 50 may additionally include any one or more of electrical circuitry 56, a memory 58, a wireless interface 60, one or more other components 62.

[0094] The electrical circuitry 56 may include a processing resource for controlling one or more operations of the body 50, e.g. based on instructions stored in the memory 58.

[0095] The wireless interface 60 may be configured to communicate wirelessly with an external (e.g. mobile) device, e.g. via Bluetooth.

[0096] The other component(s) 62 may include an actuator, one or more user interface devices configured to convey information to a user and / or a charging port, for example.

[0097] The body 50 is configured to engage with the consumable 70 such that the at least one heating element 54 of the heating system 52 penetrates into the solid precursor 6 of the consumable 70. In use, a user may activate the aerosol-generating apparatus 1 to cause the heating system 52 of the body 50 to cause the at least one heating element 54 to heat the solid precursor 6 of the consumable (without combusting it) by conductive heat transfer, to generate an aerosol which is inhaled by the user.

[0098] The mouthpiece 38 is configured to fit over the consumable 70 when the consumable 70 is engaged with the body 50 such that the user inhales on the mouthpiece 38 in order to draw an aerosol from the consumable 70 out of the mouthpiece 38.

[0099] Fig. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a downstream end of an aerosol-generating apparatus 100, the aerosol-generating apparatus 100 comprising a mouthpiece portion 110 and an aerosol generator 120. In the case of Fig. 5, some parts of the mouthpiece portion 110 are integrally formed with components of the aerosol generating apparatus, as is discussed further below.

[0100] The mouthpiece portion 110 comprises a shell 118 defining a mouthpiece outlet 112, providing an outer surface of the mouthpiece portion 110 for the user to inhale on to draw an aerosol out of the mouthpiece outlet 112, and defining a cavity 200.

[0101] Depending from the shell 118 inwardly into the cavity 200 is a tubular sidewall 116 that circumscribes the mouthpiece outlet 112. This sidewall 116 defines a mixing chamber 115 within the shell 118 and extends from an upstream end of the mixing chamber 115 to a downstream end of the mixing chamber 115 adjacent the mouthpiece outlet 112.

[0102] Within the mouthpiece portion 110 there is a primary airflow path (shown by the dash-dot arrows in Fig. 5) providing fluid communication between the aerosol generator 120 and the mouthpiece outlet 112. There is also a bypass airflow path (shown by the dashed arrows in Fig. 5) that extends from an air inlet 114 to the mouthpiece outlet 112 and that bypasses the aerosol generator 120. The primary airflow path and bypass airflow path coincide at the upstream end of the mixing chamber 115 such that the airflows are able to mix before reaching the mouthpiece outlet 112.

[0103] The mouthpiece portion further comprises a support 140 having side portions 140b parallel to a longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generating apparatus 100 (i.e. the vertical direction passing through the mouthpiece outlet 112 in Fig. 5), over which the shell 118 is fitted (i.e. the support is received in the shell cavity). The support comprises a support surface 140a that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the apparatus 100 and side portions 140b. The side portions of the support 140 comprise a shoulder 140c.

[0104] The aerosol-generating apparatus 100 further comprises a tank 130 for storing e-liquid that is defined by an inner surface of the support 140. An airflow passage is provided through the centre of the support 140 such that the tank 130 is annular. The mouthpiece portion further comprises a chimney 141 upstanding from the support surface 140a. The chimney 141 is in the form of a tube having a substantially circular transverse cross-section (i.e. transverse to the longitudinal axis) and a frustoconical outer surface. In the case of Fig. 5, the chimney 141 and the support 140 integrally formed with each other so as to form a single unitary component and may, for example, be formed by way of an injection moulding process. The chimney 141 comprises a chimney outlet 119. An inner surface of the chimney 141 defines the primary airflow path upstream of the mixing chamber 115, with aerosol from the aerosol generator 120 flowing through the chimney 141 to a chimney outlet 119 that then opens to the upstream end of the mixing chamber 115. Aerosol from the aerosol generator 120 can thus enter the upstream end of the mixing chamber 115 and flow through to the mouthpiece outlet 112 at the downstream end of the mixing chamber 115.

[0105] Turning to the bypass airflow path, the bypass airflow path upstream of the mixing chamber is defined between the shell 180 and the support 140 and chimney 141. The shell 118 is fitted over the support 140 such that the air inlet 114 from which the bypass airflow path extends is defined between the shell 118 and the shoulder 140c on the side portions of the support 140. In this way, the air inlet 114 receives ambient air that has not passed through the aerosol generator 120. An annular channel is provided between the shell 118 and the side portions 140b of the support 140 between the shoulder 140c and the support surface 140a. In order to introduce flavourant into the bypass airflow path, a carrier material 160 containing flavourant is positioned on the support surface 140a such that air flowing through the air inlet 114 and along the annular channel then flows over a surface of the carrier material 160 and can aerosolise flavourant contained therein. By providing the carrier material 160 on the bypass airflow path, the mouthpiece portion 110 allows flavoured aerosols to be generated from flavourant contained in the carrier material 160 without the flavourant being vaporised or heated during atomisation of aerosol precursor material in the aerosol-generating apparatus 100 (i.e. the flavourant is not exposed to the temperature that a heating system reaches during operation). Moreover, the likelihood of flavourant molecules aerosolised by the bypass airflow decomposing into other chemical species is reduced, because they are not heated to form the aerosol.

[0106] Having flowed over the carrier material 160, a portion of the bypass airflow immediately upstream of the mixing chamber 115 is then defined between a frustoconical outer surface of the chimney 141 and the sidewall 116 upstream of the mixing chamber 115. As can be appreciated from Fig. 5, this arrangement of the bypass airflow path and primary airflow path upstream of the mixing chamber results in the bypass airflow path circumscribing the primary airflow path as they enter the mixing chamber 115 and coincide with each other. Consequently, the mixing between the between the primary airflow and the bypass airflow within the mixing chamber 115 can be improved because the interfacial area between the two airflows within the mixing chamber 115 is increased compared to an arrangement, for example, where the primary airflow path is located on one side of the mixing chamber 115 and the bypass airflow path is located on an opposite side of the mixing chamber 115.

[0107] Between the upstream end of the mixing chamber and the downstream end of the mixing chamber at the aerosol outlet 112, the primary airflow path and bypass airflow path are able to mix together whilst constrained by the sidewall 116. The two flows are coincident and able to mix by convection and diffusion, and the sidewall 116 constrains the flow. Moreover, because the airflow along the bypass airflow path has not been heated by the aerosol generator 120, the bypass airflow is able to cool the primary airflow such that it is at the desired temperature for user inhalation.

[0108] In the case of Fig. 5, the mixing chamber 115 is divergent i.e. an inner surface of the sidewall 116 tapers outwardly from a point of maximum constriction 201 at the upstream end of the mixing chamber where the chimney outlet 119 is located to the mouthpiece outlet 112 (i.e. the transverse cross section of the mixing chamber increases from the maximum constriction 201 to the mouthpiece outlet 112.

[0109] The flowrate along the two airflow paths when a user inhales at the mouthpiece outlet 112 is influenced by the cross-sectional areas of their respective inlets 117, 119 into the mixing chamber 115. In the case of the aerosol-generating apparatus in Fig. 5, the cross-sectional area of the bypass airflow path at the upstream end of the mixing chamber 115 in a plane substantially perpendicular to the airflow therethrough is less than the cross-sectional area of the chimney outlet 119 in a plane substantially perpendicular to the airflow therethrough. Consequently, the area for flow along the bypass airflow path is less than along the primary airflow path and the resistance to draw along the bypass airflow path is greater than that along the primary airflow path, meaning that the flowrate along the bypass airflow path will be less than that along the primary airflow path.

[0110] The flowrate along the two airflow paths is also influenced by their angles upstream of the mixing chamber 115 relative to the flow direction through the mixing chamber 115. The flow through the mixing chamber 115 (i.e. between the upstream end and downstream end thereof) is coincident with the longitudinal axis of the aerosol generating apparatus 100. The chimney 141 is also coincident with the longitudinal axis of the apparatus 100 and accordingly, the portion of the primary airflow path upstream of the mixing chamber 115 that is defined by the inner surface of the chimney 141 is aligned with the flow through the mixing chamber 115. However, the portion bypass airflow path immediately upstream of the mixing chamber 115 is at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the apparatus 100, and thus at an angle to the primary airflow path at the chimney outlet 119, such that the two airflows coincide and impinge upon each other at the upstream end of the mixing chamber 115. In Fig. 5, the angle between the two airflows at the point they coincide is approximately 10 degrees.

[0111] This angle of the bypass airflow path to the primary airflow path at the upstream end of the mixing chamber 115 results from the geometry of the sidewall 116 and the chimney 141. As discussed above, the sidewall 116 extends upstream of the mixing chamber 115 in Fig. 5 such that the portion of the bypass airflow path upstream of the mixing chamber 115 is defined between the outer surface of the chimney 141 and the sidewall 116. This portion of the sidewall 116 in Fig. 5 tapers outwardly away from the mouthpiece outlet 112 and the upstream end of the mixing chamber (i.e. it converges towards the maximum constriction 201) such that it is at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the apparatus 100. The outer surface of the chimney 141 that also defines the bypass airflow path upstream of the mixing chamber 115 is frustoconical such that it is parallel to the outwardly-tapering portion of the sidewall 116.

[0112] In addition to the bypass airflow path being at an angle to the primary airflow path at the point they coincide, the bypass airflow path circumscribes the primary airflow path at the chimney outlet 119.

[0113] When power is provided to the aerosol generator 120 and a user inhales on the mouthpiece 110 at the mouthpiece outlet 112, a flow of aerosol is drawn from the aerosol generator 120 up the chimney 141 and into the mixing chamber 115 via the chimney outlet 119 and simultaneously a flow of ambient air is drawn into the mouthpiece portion 110 at the air inlet 114, past the surfaces of the carrier material 160 to aerosolise flavourant contained therein, and into the mixing chamber 115. Within the mixing chamber 115, the primary and bypass airflows mix and are constrained by the sidewall 116 to promote mixing as they diverge towards the mouthpiece outlet 112.

[0114] Fig. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a downstream end of another aerosol-generating apparatus 100, the aerosol-generating apparatus 100 comprising a mouthpiece 110 and an aerosol generator 120.

[0115] The aerosol-generating apparatus 100 in Fig. 6 is similar to that illustrated in Fig. 5 and discussed above. Accordingly, a detailed description of the features of the aerosol-generating apparatus 100 that are common to Figs. 5 and 6 is not provided and reference may be made back to the description of these features above in relation to Fig. 5. Instead, the following description of Fig. 6 discusses the differences between the aerosol-generating apparatus 100 illustrated in Fig. 6 and the aerosol-generating apparatus 100 of Fig. 5. Features that are alike between the aerosol-generating apparatus 100 in Figs. 5 and 6 are provided with the same reference numbers.

[0116] The aerosol-generating apparatus 100 in Fig. 6 firstly differs from that in Fig. 5 in that the mixing chamber 115 comprises a convergent portion 202 upstream from the point of maximum constriction 201. The bypass airflow path is provided between the sidewall 116 and the frustoconical outer surface of the chimney 141 upstream of the convergent portion.

[0117] The angle between the primary airflow path at the chimney outlet 119 and the bypass airflow path at the bypass inlet 117 into the mixing chamber 115 is greater in the aerosol-generating apparatus 100 in Fig. 6 than in Fig. 5. As in Fig. 5, the primary airflow path is substantially coincident with the longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generating apparatus 100 and mouthpiece portion 110 (i.e. the vertical direction passing up the centre of the chimney 141 and through the mouthpiece outlet 112 in Fig. 6). Thus, the increased angle between the two airflows is provided by the bypass airflow path forming a greater angle to the longitudinal axis of the mouthpiece portion 110. In the mouthpiece portion 110 in Fig. 6, the angle between the two airflows at the point they coincide and impinge upon each other at the upstream end of the mixing chamber 115 is approximately 35 degrees. As discussed in relation to this feature in Fig. 5, the larger angle in the mouthpiece portion 110 in Fig. 6 will increase turbulence and mixing generated in the mixing chamber 115 compared to the mouthpiece portion 110 in Fig. 5 but will also result in the flow velocity along the bypass airflow path differing from that along the primary airflow path by more than in the mouthpiece portion 110 in Fig. 5.

[0118] The mouthpiece portion 110 in Fig. 6 further differs from that in Fig. 5 in that the carrier material comprises a first portion 160a comprising a first flavourant and a second portion 160b comprising a second, different, flavourant. As described in relation to Fig. 5, the bypass airflow path circumscribes the primary airflow path in the mouthpiece 110 of Fig. 6 and so in Fig. 6 the first portion 160a of the carrier material is provided on a diametrically opposite side of the chimney 141 to the second portion 160b of the carrier material. In this way, the bypass airflow path can be considered to comprise a first passage that passes through the air inlet 114 on one side of the mouthpiece portion 110 and flows through the mouthpiece cavity 200 on one side of the chimney 141 to pass the first portion 160a of the carrier material and enter the mixing chamber 115 and a second passage that passes through the air inlet 114 on an opposite side of the mouthpiece portion 110 and flows through the mouthpiece cavity 200 on the opposite side of the chimney 141 to pass the second portion 160b of the carrier material and enter the mixing chamber 115.

[0119] The features of the aerosol-generating apparatus 100 in Fig. 6 that differ from those of the aerosol-generating apparatus 100 in Fig. 5 are not interrelated and one or more of such features may be separately incorporated into the aerosol-generating apparatus 100 of Fig. 5 as desired.

[0120] Fig. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a downstream end of an aerosol-generating apparatus 100, the aerosol-generating apparatus 100 comprising a pre-existing mouthpiece 170 and an aerosol generator 120, and a mouthpiece portion according to the present disclosure 110 fitted over the pre-existing mouthpiece 170.

[0121] The mouthpiece portion 110 in Fig. 7 is similar to that illustrated in Fig. 5 and discussed above. Accordingly, a detailed description of the features of the aerosol-generating apparatus that are common to Figs. 5 and 7 is not provided and reference may be made back to the description of these features above in relation to Fig. 5. Instead, the following description of Fig. 7 discusses the differences between the aerosol-generating apparatus 100 illustrated in Fig. 7 and the aerosol-generating apparatus of Fig. 5. Features that are alike between Figs. 5 and 7 are provided with the same reference numbers.

[0122] In Fig. 7, the aerosol-generating apparatus 100 comprises a pre-existing mouthpiece 170 that is integrally formed with other elements of the aerosol-generating apparatus 100 such as the tank 130. The pre-existing mouthpiece 170 is a part of the aerosol-generating apparatus 100 that it is intended for the user to abut their lips to an external surface 172 of and inhale on in order to draw an aerosol from the apparatus 100. That is, the aerosol-generating apparatus 100 in Fig. 7 may be intended to be usable without the mouthpiece portion 110 present. Accordingly, the pre-existing mouthpiece 170 comprises an aerosol outlet 171, through which aerosol generated by the aerosol-generating apparatus can flow out of the pre-existing mouthpiece 170. The external surface 172 of the pre-existing mouthpiece 170 is domed in order to provide a comfortable surface for the user to introduce into their mouth when using the aerosol-generating apparatus 100 without the mouthpiece portion 110.

[0123] The pre-existing mouthpiece 170 comprises only a single airflow path therethrough, which extends up from the aerosol generator 120 to the aerosol outlet 171. There is no airflow path in the pre-existing mouthpiece 170 that bypasses the aerosol generator 120.

[0124] The mouthpiece portion 110 for fitting over the pre-existing mouthpiece 171 comprises the support 140 inside the shell 118 that separates the shell cavity 200 into an inner cavity portion 200a and an outer cavity portion 200b, the outer cavity portion 200b being interposed between the shell 118 and support 140 (and housing the carrier material 160) and the inner cavity portion 200b being bounded by the inner surface of the support 140. The mouthpiece portion 110 is mounted over the pre-existing mouthpiece 170 by the pre-existing mouthpiece 171 being received in the inner cavity portion 200b. The inner surface of the support 140 abuts a portion of the pre-existing mouthpiece 170 to form a frictional fit therebetween to retain the mouthpiece portion 110 on the pre-existing mouthpiece 170 during use. The geometry of the internal surface of the support 140 and the pre-existing mouthpiece 170 is such that the longitudinal axis of the pre-existing mouthpiece 170 is coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the mouthpiece portion 110.

[0125] The support 140 provides an aerosol inlet 113 of the mouthpiece 110 where the primary airflow path enters the mouthpiece portion 110. As shown in Fig. 7, the aerosol inlet 113 is adjacent, and coaxial with, the aerosol outlet 171 of the pre-existing mouthpiece 170. The support 140 also comprises the chimney 141 along which the primary airflow path passes to the chimney outlet 119. Thus, aerosol from the pre-existing mouthpiece 170 may be conveyed to the mixing chamber 115 via the chimney 141. As shown in Fig. 7, the chimney 141 is substantially coaxial with the airflow from the aerosol generator 120 to the aerosol outlet 171.

[0126] Turning to the bypass airflow path in the mouthpiece portion 110 shown in Fig. 7, the air inlet 114 from which the bypass airflow path extends is positioned between an upstream edge 111 of the shell 118 and an upstream edge 140d of the support 140 such that the air inlet 114 is an annular gap extending circumferentially around the outer surface 172 of the pre-existing mouthpiece 170. In this way, the air inlet 114 is provided into the outer cavity portion 200a and the bypass airflow path extends through the outer cavity portion 200a and not the inner cavity portion 200b. Accordingly, the carrier material 160 containing flavourant is in the outer cavity portion200a such that the bypass airflow path passes over the carrier material 160 and can aerosolise flavourant therefrom prior to reaching the mixing cavity 115. In particular, in Fig. 7 the carrier material 160 is arranged on the support surface 140a of the inner shell 140.

[0127] In the mouthpiece portion 110 in Fig. 7, the mixing chamber 115 is positioned within the outer cavity portion 200a, with the bypass airflow path passing into the mixing chamber 115 at the bypass inlet 117. The primary airflow path flow from the inner cavity portion 200b to the outer cavity portion 200a via the chimney 141.

Claims

1. A mouthpiece portion (110) for an aerosol generating apparatus, the aerosol-generating apparatus comprising an aerosol generator (120), the mouthpiece portion comprising: a shell (118) defining a mouthpiece outlet (112); a primary airflow path for fluid communication between the aerosol generator (120) and the mouthpiece outlet (112); a bypass airflow path extending from an air inlet (114) to the mouthpiece outlet (112), the bypass airflow path bypassing the aerosol generator (120); and a carrier material (160) for containing flavourant, the carrier material being positioned within, or defining at least a portion of, the bypass airflow path, characterised in that the mouthpiece portion further comprises a mixing chamber (115) within the shell (118), the mixing chamber bounded by one or more sidewalls (116) extending from an upstream end of the mixing chamber (115) to the mouthpiece outlet (112) at a downstream end of the mixing chamber (115) wherein, the primary and bypass airflow paths coincide at the upstream end of the mixing chamber.

2. The mouthpiece portion according to claim 1 wherein the one or more sidewalls (116) depend inwardly from the shell (118) and circumscribe the mouthpiece outlet (112).

3. The mouthpiece portion according to claim 1 or 2 wherein an inner surface of the one or more sidewalls (116) diverges from a maximum constriction (201) of the mixing chamber (115) towards the mouthpiece outlet (112).

4. The mouthpiece portion according to claim 3 wherein the primary airflow path and bypass airflow path coincide at or upstream of the maximum constriction (201) of the mixing chamber (115).

5. The mouthpiece portion according to claim 3 or 4 wherein an inner surface of the one or more sidewalls (116) converges in a downstream direction towards the maximum constriction (201) of the mixing chamber (115) such that the mixing chamber has a convergent portion (202).

6. The mouthpiece portion according to claim 5 wherein the primary airflow path and bypass airflow path coincide within the convergent portion (202) of the mixing chamber (115).

7. The mouthpiece portion according to any one of claims 3 to 6 wherein the primary airflow path is defined by an inner surface of a chimney (141), the chimney having a chimney outlet (119) opening to the mixing chamber (115) at or upstream of the maximum constriction (201) of the mixing chamber (115).

8. The mouthpiece portion according to claim 7 wherein the bypass airflow path is partly defined between an outer surface of the chimney (141) and the inner surface of the one or more sidewalls (116).

9. The mouthpiece portion according to claim 8 wherein the outer surface of the chimney (141) defining the bypass airflow path as it enters the mixing chamber (115) is a substantially frustoconical outer surface.

10. The mouthpiece portion according to any one of the preceding claims wherein an angle between the primary airflow path and the bypass airflow path where they enter the mixing chamber (115) is greater than 0 degrees and less than 90 degrees.

11. The mouthpiece portion according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the carrier material (160) is provided on a support (140) having a support surface (140a) and side portions (140b), the shell (118) being spaced from the side portions (140b) to define at least one channel forming part of the bypass airflow path.

12. The mouthpiece portion according to claim 11 wherein the support (140) comprises an inner surface defining a tank (130) for housing an aerosol precursor.

13. The mouthpiece portion according to claim 11 wherein the support (140) comprises an inner surface for mounting on a pre-existing mouthpiece (170) of the aerosol generating apparatus.

14. An aerosol-generating apparatus comprising an aerosol generator (120), and a mouthpiece portion (110) according to any one of claims 1 to 13.

15. A consumable comprising: a tank (130) for containing aerosol precursor material, and a mouthpiece portion (110) according any one of claim 1 to 13.

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