Mouthpiece for inhaling an aerosol having flavor granules - Patent application

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for providing a vape pen that includes an airflow path (14) for an aerosol, the airflow path communicating through a mouthpiece, and flavor granules (12) disposed within the airflow path, the flavor granules containing at least one flavorant for flavoring the aerosol, the flavor granules configured to be movable by a user's puff, the flavor granules comprising a porous matrix material containing the at least one flavorant, the porous matrix material having a density of 0.4 to 2 g / cm 3 The present invention relates to a mouthpiece (10) for inhaling an aerosol having a density of

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a mouthpiece for inhaling an aerosol.The present invention further relates to flavour granules for flavouring an aerosol. [Background technology]

[0002] Aerosol generating systems comprise either cartridges containing a liquid aerosol-forming substrate or aerosol-generating articles containing a solid aerosol-forming substrate. These products can be consumed as heat-not-burn products and often contain flavorants that cannot be altered during the use of the cartridge. Cartridges often cannot be separated from their respective aerosol generating devices without risk of cartridge leakage or breakage. The flavorants present in the liquid aerosol-forming substrate of the cartridges may have a short shelf life, mainly due to the chemically reactive nicotine component. Similarly, a user may purchase a complete set of aerosol-generating articles, all containing the same flavor. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] It is desirable to provide a user with the possibility to change the flavor of the aerosol generating system during use. Furthermore, it is desirable to provide a user with the possibility to change at will the flavor of each individual aerosol generating article included in a set of aerosol generating articles. Furthermore, it is desirable to provide a user with the possibility to obtain different flavors depending on the intensity of the user's puff. In addition, it is desirable to provide a user with the possibility to change the flavor provided by the aerosol generating system without significant energy consumption. Furthermore, it is desirable to provide a component for flavoring an aerosol, which can provide additional flavors for heat-not-burn products or conventional cigarettes. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0004] [Figure 1A]1 shows cross-sectional views of two different embodiments of a mouthpiece of the present invention. [Figure 1B] 1 shows cross-sectional views of two different embodiments of a mouthpiece of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 1 shows a cross-sectional view of an aerosol generation system including a mouthpiece, a cartridge, and an aerosol generation device of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of an assembled aerosol generation system illustrating the airflow paths through the aerosol generation system. [Figure 4] 1 shows a cross-sectional view of another aerosol generating system including an aerosol generating article and an aerosol generating device including a cavity for receiving the aerosol generating article. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0005] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a mouthpiece for inhaling an aerosol is provided. The mouthpiece may include an airflow path for the aerosol, the airflow path may pass through the mouthpiece. The mouthpiece may include flavor granules disposed within the airflow path. The flavor granules may include at least one flavoring agent for flavoring the aerosol. The flavor granules may be configured to be displaceable by a user's puff.

[0006] According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a mouthpiece for inhaling an aerosol. The mouthpiece includes an airflow path for the aerosol, the airflow path passing through the mouthpiece. The mouthpiece further includes flavor granules disposed within the airflow path. The flavor granules include at least one flavoring agent for flavoring the aerosol. The flavor granules are further configured to be movable by a user's puff.

[0007] The flavor granules may be configured to move depending on the intensity of the user's puff. The flavor granules may be floatable in the airflow generated by the user's puff. The stronger the user puffs, the more flavor granules may move along the path. The stronger the user puffs, the more flavorant may be released by the flavor granules floatable in the airflow of the user's puff. This may allow the user to control the flavor of the aerosol depending on the intensity of his puff.

[0008] The flavour granules may be configured to provide a flavour for the aerosol in proportion to the intensity of the user's puff.

[0009] The flavor granules may be configured to release at least one flavorant upon a user's puff, which may provide additional flavor to the aerosol without the need to heat the flavor granules, which may provide a simple way to flavor the aerosol simply by puffing through the mouthpiece.

[0010] The aerosol received by the mouthpiece for further flavouring may be generated from a variety of different aerosol-forming substrates, which may be one or more of a liquid, gel or solid aerosol-forming substrate.

[0011] The mouthpiece may be configured to be removably connectable to one or both of the aerosol-generating article or the cartridge containing the aerosol-forming substrate. The aerosol-generating article may comprise a substrate section containing the aerosol-forming substrate. The aerosol-forming substrate may form an aerosol upon heating or upon combustion. Flavour granules in the mouthpiece may provide additional flavours to the aerosol generated from the aerosol-forming substrate. The mouthpiece may provide the user with the opportunity to optionally select different mouthpieces having different flavourants for the same aerosol-generating article or cartridge.

[0012] The flavour granules may comprise a porous matrix material comprising at least one flavouring agent. The at least one flavouring agent may be embedded within the porous matrix material. The at least one flavouring agent may be absorbed by the porous matrix material.

[0013] This may ensure that a large amount of the at least one flavouring agent can be included in the flavour granules. This may also ensure that a large amount of the at least one flavouring agent can be released into the aerosol upon a user's puff. The porous matrix material may ensure that the flavour granules are mobile with the user's puff. This may also configure the flavour granules to be floatable in the user's puff.

[0014] The porous matrix material has a density of 0.4 to 2 g / cm 3 , preferably 0.5 to 1.1 g / cm 3 In particular, the density of the porous matrix material may be between 0.41 and 1.9 g / cm 3 , preferably 0.53 to 1.1 g / cm 3 may be also possible.

[0015] Such a density may be advantageous to allow the flavour granules to be mobile by a user's puff. The density of the matrix material may be determined according to standard methods known to those skilled in the art.

[0016] The porous matrix material may have a porosity of 0.11 to 0.8, preferably 0.4 to 0.8, more preferably 0.5 to 0.7. The porosity of a matrix material is measured using standard methods to determine the volume of voids in the material (V p ) and the total volume of the material (V t ) ratio V p / V t It may be determined as:

[0017] A porous matrix material having such porosity may allow for a large amount of at least one flavoring agent to be included in the flavor granule.

[0018] The flavor granules may comprise 40 to 80 weight percent, preferably 50 to 70 weight percent, of the total weight of the porous matrix material. The flavor granules may comprise 20 to 60 weight percent, preferably 30 to 50 weight percent, of the total weight of at least one flavoring agent.

[0019] The porous matrix material may be water soluble, which may ensure that only the at least one flavourant contained in the porous matrix material is vaporized with the user's puff, as water vapour contained in the user's puff may not be able to dissolve the porous matrix material.

[0020] The porous matrix material may comprise one or more of plastics, cellulosic materials, lignocellulosic materials, ceramic materials, minerals, and textiles. Preferably, the porous matrix material may be selected from the group consisting of basalt, bamboo fiber composites, cork, modal fiber composites, nonwovens, cellulose composites, cyclodextrins. Particularly preferred is basalt. The porous matrix material may comprise an open-cell porous material. The voids in the open-cell porous material may be easily accessible to the at least one flavoring agent. This may facilitate easy impregnation of the open-cell porous matrix material with the at least one flavoring agent.

[0021] These materials may be well suited for use as the porous matrix material. These materials may be capable of absorbing large amounts of at least one flavouring agent.

[0022] The flavor granules may have a particle size of 0.7 to 4.7 millimeters. Preferably, the particle size is 1.7 to 3.8 millimeters.

[0023] Such particle sizes may be particularly well suited for configuring the flavour granules to be displaceable by a user's puff.

[0024] The at least one flavorant may be volatile, which may facilitate evaporation of the at least one flavorant as the user inhales. The at least one flavorant may be a liquid or gel. The at least one flavorant may be selected from the group consisting of mint oil, menthol, isomenthone, and menthyl acetate.

[0025] The flavor granules may additionally comprise at least one aerosol former. The at least one aerosol former may preferably be selected from the group consisting of propanediol, propanediol, glycerol, diacetate, diethyl phthalate. These aerosol formers may be included in the aerosol in addition to the at least one flavoring agent when the user draws on the mouthpiece. These aerosol formers may also control the evaporation rate of the at least one flavoring agent.

[0026] The mouthpiece may include a longitudinal axis. The airflow path may be partially disposed in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis. The airflow path may be partially disposed at an angle to the longitudinal axis. The flavour granules may be disposed within the airflow path partially at an angle to the longitudinal axis. This may provide an extended airflow path through the mouthpiece and through the flavour granules. This may result in an extended contact time between the flavour granules and the airflow provided by the user's puff. This may aid in the volatilisation of the at least one flavourant.

[0027] The airflow path through the mouthpiece may be partially not arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis. In particular, the airflow path through the mouthpiece may partially deviate from a direction along the longitudinal axis. This may provide an extended airflow path through the mouthpiece. This may also lead to an increased contact time between the flavor granules and the airflow, as already mentioned above.

[0028] The mouthpiece may further include a flavor section containing flavor granules. The flavor section may provide a section for the flavor granules to float in the air stream of the user's puff. The flavor section may provide a space for the flavor granules to move with the user's puff. The flavor granules may occupy only a portion of the flavor section. This may provide a space in which the flavor granules can move with the user's puff.

[0029] The flavor section is 0.5 to 1.5 cm 3 , preferably 0.6 to 0.9 cm 3 Such flavour sections may contain between 0.4 and 0.7 grams of flavour granules.

[0030] The flavor section may be located in a portion of the airflow that may be disposed obliquely relative to the longitudinal axis of the mouthpiece. The flavor section may also be located in a portion of the airflow that may not be disposed parallel to the direction of the longitudinal axis. This may extend the airflow path through the flavor section that contains the flavor granules.

[0031] The flavour section may be annular in shape. This may provide an annular ring of flavour granules within the flavour section of the mouthpiece. This may provide an advantageous airflow path through the flavour section. The annular shaped flavour section may be disposed along the longitudinal axis of the mouthpiece.

[0032] The flavor section may include a wall. The wall of the flavor section may be one or both of the inner wall of the mouthpiece or the outer wall of the mouthpiece. The inner wall of the mouthpiece may be located inside the mouthpiece. The outer wall of the mouthpiece may be the outer wall of the mouthpiece. The outer wall of the mouthpiece may provide an area for a user to handle the mouthpiece and inhale the aerosol from the mouthpiece.

[0033] The walls of the flavor section may be in contact with the flavor granules. As the user draws, the flavor granules may move and bounce off the walls. This may provide vibration feedback to the user. If the flavor granules are heavy with a high content of the at least one flavorant, the vibration feedback to the user may be stronger. Thus, the vibration feedback may provide the user with information about how much of the at least one flavorant in the mouthpiece has been used.

[0034] The flavor section may include a flavor section air inlet. The flavor section air inlet may provide access into the flavor section for airflow generated by a user's puff. The flavor section air inlet may be located upstream of flavor granules located within the flavor section.

[0035] The flavor section may include a flavor section air outlet. The flavor section air outlet may provide an airflow path from the flavor section for the aerosol comprising at least one volatilized flavorant. The flavor section air outlet may be located downstream of flavor granules located within the flavor section.

[0036] The terms "upstream" and "downstream" as used herein are used to describe the relative location of components or portions of components of a mouthpiece or aerosol generating device used with a mouthpiece, relative to the direction in which air flows along an airflow path through the mouthpiece or aerosol generating device during use. A mouthpiece according to the invention includes a proximal end through which aerosol exits the mouthpiece during use. The proximal end of the aerosol generating device may also be referred to as the oral end or downstream end. The proximal end of the aerosol generating device may be the mouthpiece connected to the aerosol generating device. The oral end is downstream of the distal end. The distal end of the aerosol generating device or mouthpiece may be referred to as the upstream end. Components or portions of components of a mouthpiece or aerosol generating device may be described as being upstream or downstream of each other based on their relative location with respect to the airflow path through the mouthpiece or aerosol generating device.

[0037] The mouthpiece may include an outer wall. The outer wall may include any suitable material suitable for the mouthpiece. One or both of the outer and inner walls may include plastic, cardboard, or metal.

[0038] The mouthpiece may further include an inlet portion. The inlet portion may be configured to receive the aerosol. The mouthpiece may further include an outlet portion. The outlet portion may be configured for exit of the aerosol, for example to a user. An airflow path through the mouthpiece may be disposed between the inlet portion and the outlet portion.

[0039] The inlet portion of the mouthpiece may be configured to be removably connectable to one or more of a cartridge for an aerosol-forming substrate, an aerosol generating device, or an aerosol-generating article. The inlet portion may be configured to receive aerosol generated from an aerosol-forming substrate of the cartridge or an aerosol-generating article.

[0040] The inlet portion of the mouthpiece may include a connection tap, which may be configured to be removably connectable to one or more of a cartridge for an aerosol-forming substrate, an aerosol-generating device, or an aerosol-generating article.

[0041] The flavor section air inlet may provide an airflow path between the inlet portion of the mouthpiece and the flavor section, and thus the inlet portion may be configured to direct aerosol generated by the cartridge or aerosol-generating article into the flavor section via the flavor section air inlet.

[0042] The outlet portion of the mouthpiece may include an inner wall providing an aerosol outlet for the user. The inner wall of the outlet portion of the mouthpiece may include a flavour outlet in fluid communication with the flavour granules. The flavour outlet may be in fluid communication with the flavour section, which may provide a flow path from the flavour granules to the aerosol outlet. The flavour section air outlet of the above mentioned flavour section may correspond to the flavour outlet.

[0043] The inner wall may have a conical shape. The inner wall may have a larger cross-sectional area at the downstream end of the inner wall than at the upstream end. The rate of mixing of the aerosol and the at least one flavorant may be less at the downstream end of the inner wall compared to the upstream end. This may provide a Venturi effect. This may allow for better mixing of the aerosol and the at least one flavorant mixture before being inhaled by the user.

[0044] The inlet portion of the mouthpiece may include a tubular section. The tubular section may be configured to be removably connectable to the cartridge. The tubular section may be disposed along a longitudinal axis of the mouthpiece.

[0045] The tubular section may allow access to a central hollow portion of the cartridge, particularly an annular shaped cartridge.

[0046] The tubular section may include an opening at the upstream end. The opening at the upstream end may have a smaller diameter than the downstream end of the tubular section. This may lead to a decrease in the velocity of the aerosol at the downstream end of the tubular section compared to the upstream end. This may allow for better mixing of the air with the aerosol originating from the aerosol-forming substrate.

[0047] The mouthpiece may include an outer wall. The outer wall may include at least one mouthpiece air inlet configured to allow ambient air to enter the mouthpiece. The inlet portion of the mouthpiece may include the at least one mouthpiece air inlet.

[0048] The mouthpiece may further include an outlet sealing layer. The outlet sealing layer may seal the outlet portion of the mouthpiece. The mouthpiece may further include an inlet sealing layer. The inlet sealing layer may seal the inlet portion of the mouthpiece. The presence of one or both of the outlet sealing layer and the inlet sealing layer may prevent the at least one flavorant from evaporating from the mouthpiece. A user may remove the inlet sealing layer and the outlet sealing layer before using the mouthpiece. After removing the outlet sealing layer and the inlet sealing layer, a user may connect the mouthpiece to one or both of the aerosol-generating article or the cartridge.

[0049] The present invention also provides flavour granules for flavouring an aerosol. The flavour granules may comprise a porous matrix material containing at least one flavouring agent for flavouring the aerosol. The flavour granules may be configured to be displaceable by a user's puff.

[0050] Another embodiment of the present invention provides flavor granules for flavoring an aerosol. The flavor granules include a porous matrix material containing at least one flavoring agent for flavoring an aerosol. The flavor granules are configured to be displaceable by a user's puff.

[0051] The flavor granules may be used to provide flavor to the aerosol generated from either or both of a cartridge containing the aerosol-forming substrate or an aerosol-generating article containing the aerosol-forming substrate. The flavor granules may allow flavoring of the aerosol without the need to heat the aerosol. At least one flavoring agent of the flavor granules may be entrained in the aerosol as it floats in the air stream of the user's puff.

[0052] The flavor granules of the present invention can be produced by fluid bed processing. In particular, the flavor granules can be produced by two specific types of fluid bed processing: top spray granulation or spray dryer granulation. A fluid bed reactor may be used. In a fluid bed reactor, particles of a porous matrix material can be suspended in a fluid. The fluid can include at least one flavoring agent. This can occur at high temperature and pressure. This can allow the at least one flavoring agent to be embedded and absorbed by the porous matrix material. In both cases of fluid bed processing, hot air can be blown through a vertical tubular structure, e.g., a perforated distributor on the bottom of a vertical fluid bed tower. At least one flavoring agent can be sprayed in liquid form from the top of the fluid bed tower while the porous matrix material flows continuously in the hot air from the bottom to the top of the vertical tower. During the fluid bed processing, the particles of the porous matrix material to be impregnated with the flavoring agent flow high in the fluid bed and undergo impregnation with the flavoring agent at the top of the vertical fluid bed tower. Heavy flavor granules, including the porous matrix material impregnated with flavoring, tend to float at lower positions in the vertical fluidized bed tower due to their increased weight. The particles of the porous matrix material may be impregnated with flavoring or a flavoring coating may be provided on the particles of the porous matrix material. The particles of the porous matrix material may be porous basalt having an average diameter of 1 to 5 millimeters, preferably 1.7 to 3.5 millimeters. The flavoring may be liquid at the processing temperature. The flavoring may include salt, e.g., sea salt, liquid coloring, agar, and water. The at least one flavoring may include flavors such as citrus, lemon, grapefruit, spearmint, lavender, bergamot, cinnamon, and frankincense. The flavoring may include non-crystalline sol-gel silicon, which may enable sol-gel entrapment of sensitive flavorings within the porous matrix material. The finished flavoring granules are dried with heated air after impregnation. Fluid bed processors, including vertical fluid bed towers, are commercially available from various companies such as Diosna GmbH, Senieer, or Gea AG.

[0053] The porous matrix material of the flavor granules is 0.4 to 2 g / cm 3 , preferably 0.5 to 1.1 g / cm 3 In particular, the density of the porous matrix material may be between 0.41 and 1.9 g / cm 3 , preferably 0.53 to 1.1 g / cm 3 The porous matrix material may have a porosity of 0.11 to 0.8, preferably 0.4 to 0.8, more preferably 0.5 to 0.7. The porous matrix material may have a porosity of 0.11 to 0.45.

[0054] The porous matrix material may be water soluble, which may ensure that only the at least one flavourant contained in the porous matrix material is vaporized with the user's puff, as water vapour contained in the user's puff may not be able to dissolve the porous matrix material.

[0055] The porous matrix material may include one or more of a plastic, a cellulosic material, a lignocellulosic material, a ceramic material, a mineral, and a textile. Preferably, the porous matrix material may be selected from the group consisting of basalt, bamboo fiber composites, cork, modal fiber composites, nonwovens, cellulose composites, cyclodextrins.

[0056] The flavor granules may comprise 40 to 80 weight percent, preferably 50 to 70 weight percent, of the total weight of the porous matrix material. The flavor granules may comprise 20 to 60 weight percent, preferably 30 to 50 weight percent, of the total weight of at least one flavoring agent.

[0057] The flavour granules may include any of the components or any of the features already mentioned above in relation to the mouthpiece of the present invention.

[0058] An embodiment of the present invention also provides an aerosol generation system. The aerosol generation system may comprise a mouthpiece as described herein. The aerosol generation system may further comprise a cartridge containing an aerosol-forming substrate, or may comprise an aerosol generating device. The mouthpiece may be configured to be removably connectable to the cartridge.

[0059] Another embodiment of the present invention provides an aerosol generation system. The aerosol generation system comprises a mouthpiece as described herein. In addition, the aerosol generation system comprises a cartridge containing an aerosol-forming substrate and an aerosol generating device. The mouthpiece is configured to be removably connectable to the cartridge.

[0060] The cartridge may be configured to be removably connectable to the aerosol generation device. The mouthpiece may be removably connectable to the cartridge. The cartridge may be removably connectable to the aerosol generation device.

[0061] Such an aerosol generating system may provide an aerosol from the aerosol-forming substrate of the cartridge upon heating. The aerosol may be further flavored with at least one flavorant of flavor granules contained within the mouthpiece. The user may add additional flavor to the aerosol from the mouthpiece by simply sucking on the mouthpiece. This may not require additional heating. In particular, the heat of the aerosol generated from the aerosol-forming substrate, together with the airflow generated by the user's puff, may be sufficient to mix at least one flavorant into the aerosol.

[0062] The aerosol-forming substrate contained within the cartridge may be a liquid.

[0063] The cartridge of the aerosol generation system may comprise a vaporizer assembly for vaporizing the aerosol-forming substrate. The vaporizer assembly may include a porous evaporation element. The porous evaporation element may be in fluid communication with the aerosol-forming substrate contained within the cartridge. The porous evaporation element may be configured to absorb the aerosol-forming substrate, in particular a liquid aerosol-forming substrate. The porous evaporation element may include a porous ceramic material for absorbing the aerosol-forming substrate.

[0064] The vaporizer assembly may include a heater element. The porous evaporation element may be connected to the heater element in a thermally conductive manner. The heater element may be configured to heat the porous evaporation element. This may result in evaporation and aerosolization of the aerosol-forming substrate contained within the porous evaporation element. The heater element may include a connection pin. The connection pin may be configured for connection to an energy source of the aerosol generating device.

[0065] As used herein, the term "aerosol-forming substrate" refers to a substrate capable of releasing one or more volatile compounds capable of forming an aerosol. Such volatile compounds may be released by heating the aerosol-forming substrate.

[0066] The aerosol-forming substrate may include a liquid component. The aerosol-forming substrate may include a tobacco-containing material that contains volatile tobacco flavor compounds that are released from the substrate upon heating. The aerosol-forming substrate may include a tobacco extract. The aerosol-forming substrate may include a non-tobacco material. The aerosol-forming substrate may include an aerosol former that facilitates the formation of a dense and stable aerosol. Suitable aerosol formers are well known in the art and include, but are not limited to, polyhydric alcohols (such as triethylene glycol, 1,3-butanediol, glycerin, etc.), esters of polyhydric alcohols (such as glycerol monoacetate, diacetate, or triacetate), and aliphatic esters of mono-, di-, or polycarboxylic acids (such as dimethyl dodecanedioate, dimethyl tetradecanedioate, etc.). The aerosol former may be a polyhydric alcohol or a mixture thereof (such as triethylene glycol, 1,3-butanediol, glycerin, etc.). The aerosol former may be propylene glycol. The aerosol former may include both glycerin and propylene glycol.

[0067] The cartridge may comprise a central hollow portion.The cartridge may have an annular shape.The mouthpiece may be configured to be removably connectable to the central hollow portion of the cartridge.

[0068] The tubular section of the inlet portion of the mouthpiece may be configured to be insertable into a central hollow portion of the cartridge, thereby providing an airflow path from the cartridge, through the tubular section of the inlet portion of the mouthpiece, to the flavour granules.

[0069] The cartridge may include an inner wall. The inner wall of the cartridge may be adjacent to the central hollow portion of the cartridge. The cartridge may further include an outer wall.

[0070] Upon connection of the mouthpiece and the cartridge, an airflow channel may be formed between an outer wall of the cartridge and an inlet portion of the mouthpiece, and between an inner wall of the cartridge and a tubular section of the mouthpiece. The airflow channel may direct ambient air to a vaporizer assembly of the cartridge. The airflow channel may receive ambient air through the mouthpiece air inlet.

[0071] This may allow the airflow channel to be formed only upon connection of the cartridge and mouthpiece.

[0072] Upon connection of the mouthpiece and the cartridge, the tubular section of the inlet portion may be positioned adjacent to the vaporizer assembly of the cartridge, in particular, the upstream end of the tubular section may be positioned adjacent to the vaporizer assembly of the cartridge.

[0073] This may allow any aerosol generated in the vaporizer assembly of the cartridge to be directed through the tubular section of the mouthpiece and into the vapor granules.

[0074] The cartridge of the aerosol generation system may be configured to be removably connectable to an aerosol generation device. The aerosol generation device may further comprise electrical connections. These electrical connections may be configured to be removably connectable to the cartridge. In particular, the electrical connections may be configured to be removably connectable to connection pins of the cartridge.

[0075] The aerosol generating device may include a power source. The power source may be configured to operate the heater element of the cartridge. The power source may be a battery within the body of the aerosol generating device. In one embodiment, the power source is a lithium ion battery. Alternatively, the power source may be a nickel metal hydride battery, a nickel cadmium battery, or a lithium-based battery (e.g., a lithium cobalt battery, a lithium iron phosphate battery, a lithium titanate battery, or a lithium polymer battery). Alternatively, the power source may be another form of charge storage device, such as a capacitor. The power source may require recharging and may have a capacity that allows for storage of sufficient energy for one or more use experiences, for example, the power source may have a capacity sufficient to continuously generate aerosol for a period of approximately six minutes, or a multiple of six minutes. In another example, the power source may have a capacity sufficient to provide a predetermined number of puffs, or discontinuous activation of the heater element.

[0076] The aerosol generating device may comprise an electrical circuit. The electrical circuit may comprise a microprocessor, which may be a programmable microprocessor. The microprocessor may be part of a controller. The electrical circuit may comprise further electronic components. The electrical circuit may be configured to regulate the supply of power to the heater element.

[0077] Another embodiment of the present invention provides an aerosol generation system which may comprise a mouthpiece as described herein. Additionally, the aerosol generation system may comprise an aerosol-generating article. The aerosol generation system may comprise an aerosol generating device including a cavity for receiving the aerosol-generating article. The mouthpiece may be configured to be removably connectable to the aerosol-generating article.

[0078] The aerosol-forming substrate may conveniently be part of the aerosol-generating article or the smoking article. The aerosol-forming substrate may be part of the substrate portion of the aerosol-generating article.

[0079] Another embodiment of the present invention provides an aerosol generation system comprising a mouthpiece as described herein. The aerosol generation system further comprises an aerosol-generating article. The aerosol generation system also comprises an aerosol generating device, the aerosol generating device including a cavity for receiving the aerosol-generating article. The mouthpiece is configured to be removably connectable to the aerosol-generating article.

[0080] The mouthpiece according to the invention may also be configured to be removably connectable to an aerosol-generating article. These aerosol-generating articles may include a substrate section that includes an aerosol-forming substrate. The aerosol-generating article may have a tubular shape. The aerosol-generating article may have a rod-like shape.

[0081] The aerosol-forming substrate may be a solid. The aerosol-forming substrate is a substrate capable of releasing a volatile compound capable of forming an aerosol. The volatile compound may be released by heating the aerosol-forming substrate. The aerosol-forming substrate may comprise nicotine. The aerosol-forming substrate may comprise a plant-derived material. The aerosol-forming substrate may comprise tobacco. The aerosol-forming substrate may comprise a tobacco-containing material containing volatile tobacco flavour compounds that are released from the aerosol-forming substrate upon heating. Alternatively, the aerosol-forming substrate may comprise a non-tobacco-containing material. The aerosol-forming substrate may comprise a homogenized plant-based material (including homogenized tobacco) made, for example, by a papermaking process or a casting process.

[0082] The aerosol-forming substrate may comprise at least one aerosol former, which may be any of the aerosol formers already mentioned above in relation to the aerosol-forming substrate contained in the cartridge.

[0083] Thus, the mouthpiece of the present invention can be used by a user to change the flavor of an aerosol-generating article at will. A user can consume an aerosol-generating article using an aerosol generating system as described herein. After use, the user may remove the mouthpiece from the aerosol-generating article. A user may reuse the mouthpiece, or any other mouthpiece containing flavor granules with different flavorings, in further aerosol-generating articles.

[0084] The aerosol-generating article may generate an aerosol by heating an aerosol-forming substrate to a temperature below the combustion temperature. Such an aerosol-generating article may be referred to as a "heat-non-combustion product."

[0085] The cavity of the aerosol generating device may have an open end into which the aerosol generating article is inserted. The open end may be a proximal end. The cavity may have a closed end opposite the open end. The closed end may be a base of the cavity. The closed end may be closed except for providing an air opening disposed in the base. The base of the cavity may be flat. The base of the cavity may be circular. The base of the cavity may be disposed upstream of the cavity. The open end may be disposed downstream of the cavity. The cavity may have an elongated extension. The cavity may have a central longitudinal axis. The longitudinal axis may be a direction extending between the open end and the closed end along the central longitudinal axis. The central longitudinal axis of the cavity may be parallel to the longitudinal axis of the aerosol generating device.

[0086] The cavity may be configured as a heating chamber. The cavity may have a cylindrical shape. The cavity may have a hollow cylindrical shape. The cavity may have a shape corresponding to the shape of the aerosol-generating article to be received within the cavity. The cavity may have a circular cross-section. The cavity may have an elliptical or rectangular cross-section. The cavity may have an inner diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of the aerosol-generating article.

[0087] The aerosol-generating device may comprise a heating element. The heating element may be configured to heat the aerosol-generating article received within the cavity. The heating element may be configured to heat the aerosol-generating article to a temperature in the range of 220 degrees Celsius to 400 degrees Celsius, preferably 250 degrees Celsius to 290 degrees Celsius. At these temperatures, an aerosol may be generated from an aerosol-forming substrate contained within the aerosol-generating article.

[0088] The heating element may comprise one or both of an induction heating element and a resistive heating element. The induction heating element may comprise an inductor coil disposed around at least a portion of the cavity and connected to a power source. The power source may be configured to provide an alternating current to the inductor coil, such that in use the inductor coil generates an alternating magnetic field to heat the susceptor by creating eddy currents. The susceptor may be part of one or both of the aerosol generating device and an aerosol-generating article received in the cavity of the aerosol generating device. Preferably, the susceptor may be part of the aerosol-generating article or part of the aerosol generating device.

[0089] As described herein, induction heating may be utilized. For induction heating, an induction coil and a susceptor are provided. Generally, the susceptor is a material that has the ability to generate heat when penetrated by an alternating magnetic field. When located within the alternating magnetic field. If the susceptor is conductive, typically eddy currents are induced by the alternating magnetic field. If the susceptor is magnetic, typically another effect that contributes to heating is commonly referred to as hysteresis loss. Hysteresis loss occurs primarily due to the movement of magnetic domain blocks within the susceptor. This is because their magnetic orientation aligns with the alternating induced magnetic field. Another effect that contributes to hysteresis loss is when magnetic domains expand or contract within the susceptor. Generally, all these changes that occur within the susceptor at nanoscale or below generate heat within the susceptor, and are therefore referred to as "hysteresis loss." Thus, if the susceptor is both magnetic and conductive, both hysteresis losses and the generation of eddy currents will contribute to the heating of the susceptor. If the susceptor is magnetic but not conductive, hysteresis losses will be the only means by which the susceptor will heat up when penetrated by the alternating magnetic field. According to the present invention, the susceptor may be conductive or magnetic, or both conductive and magnetic. The alternating magnetic field generated by one or several induction coils heats the susceptor, which then transfers the heat to the aerosol-forming substrate so that the aerosol is formed. The heat transfer may be mainly by thermal conduction. Such heat transfer is best when the susceptor is in intimate thermal contact with the aerosol-forming substrate.

[0090] An airflow channel may extend through the cavity. Ambient air may be drawn into the aerosol generating device, into the cavity, and through the airflow channel towards the user. A mouthpiece may be disposed downstream of the cavity. The airflow channel may extend through the mouthpiece.

[0091] The aerosol generating device of the present invention is configured to heat the aerosol-forming substrate to a temperature below the combustion temperature of the aerosol-forming substrate but above a temperature at which one or more volatile compounds of the aerosol-forming substrate are released to form an inhalable aerosol for inhalation by a user.

[0092] The aerosol generating device may comprise an electric circuit. The electric circuit may comprise a microprocessor, which may be a programmable microprocessor. The microprocessor may be part of the controller. The electric circuit may comprise further electronic components. The electric circuit may be configured to regulate the supply of power to the heating element, in particular to the induction coil. Power may be supplied to the heating element continuously following activation of the aerosol generating device, or may be supplied intermittently (e.g. after each puff). Power may be supplied to the heating element in the form of current pulses. The electric circuit may be configured to monitor the electrical resistance of the heating element, and to control the supply of power to the heating element, preferably depending on the electrical resistance of the heating element.

[0093] The aerosol generating device may comprise a power source (typically a battery) within the main body of the aerosol generating device, which may be the same power sources as already described above in relation to the aerosol generating device configured to be removably connectable to the cartridge.

[0094] Another embodiment of the present invention provides an aerosol generation system comprising a mouthpiece as described herein, the aerosol generation system further comprising an aerosol-generating article configured to provide an aerosol upon combustion, the mouthpiece configured to be removably connectable to the aerosol-generating article.

[0095] The aerosol-generating article may generate an aerosol by igniting the article and heating the aerosol-forming substrate above combustion temperatures. The mouthpiece of the present invention may function to add flavor to the aerosol produced by burning the aerosol-generating article.

[0096] The following provides a non-exhaustive list of non-limiting examples, any one or more of the features of which may be combined with any one or more features of the other examples, embodiments, or aspects described herein.

[0097] [Example] Example A: A mouthpiece for inhaling an aerosol, comprising: an airflow path for the aerosol, the airflow path leading through the mouthpiece; flavor granules disposed within the airflow path; the flavor granules contain at least one flavoring agent for flavoring the aerosol, A mouthpiece, the mouthpiece being configured such that the flavour granules are displaceable by a user's puff. Example B: A mouthpiece according to any preceding embodiment, wherein the flavour granules comprise a porous matrix material containing at least one flavourant, preferably the at least one flavourant being embedded within the porous matrix material. Example C: The porous matrix material has a density of 0.4 to 2 g / cm 3 2. A mouthpiece according to any preceding embodiment, having a density of Example D: The mouthpiece according to any of the preceding Examples B-C, wherein the porous matrix material has a porosity of 0.11 to 0.45. Example E: The mouthpiece according to any of the preceding Examples B-D, wherein the porous matrix material is water insoluble, preferably the porous matrix material comprises one or more of plastic, cellulosic material, lignocellulosic material, ceramic material, mineral, and textile, preferably the porous matrix material is selected from the group consisting of basalt, bamboo fiber composite, cork, modal fiber composite, nonwoven fabric, cellulose composite, cyclodextrin. Example F: The mouthpiece according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the flavour granules have a particle size of 0.7 to 4.7 millimetres, preferably 1.7 to 3.8 millimetres. Example G: A mouthpiece according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the at least one flavourant is volatile, preferably the at least one flavourant is a liquid or gel, more preferably the at least one flavourant is selected from the group consisting of mint oil, menthol, isomenthone, menthyl acetate. Example H: The mouthpiece according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the flavour granules additionally comprise at least one aerosol former, preferably the at least one aerosol former being selected from the group consisting of propanediol, propanediol, glycerol, diacetate, diethyl phthalate. Example I: A mouthpiece according to any of the preceding embodiments, comprising a longitudinal axis, the airflow path being disposed partially obliquely relative to the longitudinal axis. Example J: The mouthpiece according to any of the preceding embodiments, further comprising a flavour section comprising flavour granules, preferably wherein the flavour section is annular. Example K: The mouthpiece according to any of the preceding embodiments, further comprising an inlet portion configured to receive an aerosol and an outlet portion configured for the outflow of the aerosol, the airflow path being disposed between the inlet portion and the outlet portion. Example L: The mouthpiece according to the preceding embodiment K, wherein the inlet portion is configured to be removably connectable to one or more of a cartridge for an aerosol-forming substrate, an aerosol generating device, or an aerosol generating article. Example M: A mouthpiece according to any of the preceding Examples K or L, wherein the outlet portion further comprises an inner wall providing an aerosol outlet for the user, preferably the inner wall having a conical shape, and more preferably the inner wall having a larger cross-sectional area at the downstream end of the inner wall than at the upstream end. Example N: The mouthpiece according to the preceding embodiment M, wherein the inner wall comprises a flavor outlet in fluid communication with the flavor granules, preferably the flavor outlet in fluid communication with the flavor section. Example O: A mouthpiece according to any of the preceding embodiments K-N, wherein the inlet portion includes a tubular section configured to be removably connectable to the cartridge, preferably the tubular section being disposed along a longitudinal axis of the mouthpiece. Example P: The mouthpiece according to the preceding embodiment O, wherein the tubular section includes an opening at an upstream end, preferably the opening at the upstream end having a smaller diameter than the downstream end of the tubular section. Example Q: A mouthpiece according to any of the preceding embodiments, further comprising an outer wall, the outer wall comprising at least one mouthpiece air inlet configured to allow ambient air to enter the mouthpiece, preferably as claimed in claims 10 to 14, wherein the inlet portion comprises the at least one mouthpiece air inlet. Example R: The mouthpiece according to any of the preceding Examples K-Q, further comprising one or both of an outlet sealing layer sealing the outlet portion, and an inlet sealing layer sealing the inlet portion. Example S: A flavor granule for flavoring an aerosol, comprising: - comprising a porous matrix material containing at least one flavoring agent for flavoring the aerosol, - Flavour granules, wherein the flavour granules are configured such that they are displaceable by a user's puff. Example T: The porous matrix material has a density of 0.4 to 2 g / cm 3 Flavor granules according to the preceding embodiment S having a density of Example U: A flavor granule according to any of the preceding embodiments S or T, wherein the porous matrix material has a porosity of 0.11 to 0.45. Example V: The flavor granule according to any of the preceding Examples S-U, wherein the porous matrix material is water insoluble, preferably the porous matrix material comprises one or more of plastic, cellulosic material, lignocellulosic material, ceramic material, mineral, and textile, preferably the porous matrix material is selected from the group consisting of basalt, bamboo fiber composite, cork, modal fiber composite, nonwoven fabric, cellulose composite, cyclodextrin. Example W: 1. An aerosol generation system comprising: a mouthpiece according to any of the preceding embodiments A to R; a cartridge containing an aerosol-forming substrate; - an aerosol generating device, - An aerosol generation system, wherein the mouthpiece is configured to be removably connectable to the cartridge. Example X: The aerosol-generating system according to the preceding embodiment W, wherein the aerosol-forming substrate is a liquid. Example Y: The aerosol generating system according to any of the preceding embodiments WX, wherein the cartridge includes a vaporizer assembly for vaporizing the aerosol-forming substrate. Example Z: The aerosol generation system according to any of the preceding embodiments WY, wherein the cartridge includes a central hollow portion, preferably the cartridge is annular in shape, and the mouthpiece is configured to be connectable to the central hollow portion of the cartridge. Example AA: 17. The aerosol generation system according to preceding embodiment Z, further described in claim 15 or 16, wherein the tubular section of the inlet portion is configured to be insertable into the central hollow portion of the cartridge. Example AB: An aerosol generating system according to the preceding Example AA, wherein the cartridge includes an inner wall, the inner wall adjacent to the central hollow portion, and the cartridge further includes an outer wall, and upon connection of the mouthpiece and the cartridge, airflow channels are formed between the outer wall of the cartridge and the inlet portion of the mouthpiece, and between the inner wall of the cartridge and the tubular section of the mouthpiece. Example AC: The aerosol generating system according to the preceding embodiment AB, wherein upon connection of the mouthpiece and the cartridge, the tubular section of the inlet portion is positioned adjacent to the vaporizer assembly of the cartridge. Example A-D: 1. An aerosol generation system comprising: a mouthpiece according to any of the preceding embodiments A to R; an aerosol-generating article; an aerosol generating device including a cavity for receiving an aerosol-generating article, - an aerosol generating system, wherein the mouthpiece is configured to be removably connectable to an aerosol generating article. Example AE: 1. An aerosol generation system comprising: a mouthpiece according to any of the preceding embodiments A to R; an aerosol-generating article configured to provide an aerosol upon combustion, - an aerosol generating system, wherein the mouthpiece is configured to be removably connectable to an aerosol generating article.

[0098] Features described with respect to one embodiment may be equally applied to other embodiments of the invention.

[0099] The invention will now be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0100] In the following, like elements are designated by like reference numerals throughout the figures.

[0101] FIG. 1A shows a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a mouthpiece 10 of the present invention. The mouthpiece 10 includes an inlet portion 10B configured to receive an aerosol and an outlet portion 10A configured for the flow of the aerosol to a user. The mouthpiece 10 includes a flavor section 16 containing vapor granules 12. The flavor section includes a flavor section air inlet 16A for receiving the aerosol from an aerosol-forming substrate located upstream of the mouthpiece. A flavor section air outlet 16B is present in an inner wall of the outlet portion for releasing a mixture of the aerosol and at least one flavorant into the aerosol outlet for mixing. The inlet portion 10B of the mouthpiece 10 includes a tubular section 18 configured to be removably connectable to, for example, a cartridge containing an aerosol-forming substrate (the cartridge is not shown in FIG. 1A). An airflow path 14, shown by a dashed line in the inlet portion 10B, extends along a longitudinal axis 22 of the mouthpiece and enters the flavor section 16 through the flavor section air inlet 16A. The flavor granules 12 are configured to be movable in the air stream of a user's puff, and the at least one flavorant contained in the flavor granules is entrained in the aerosol in the flavor section 16. The mixture of the aerosol and the at least one flavorant then leaves the flavor section 16 through the flavor section air outlet 16B. The airflow path 14 in the flavor section 16 is partially obliquely disposed with respect to the longitudinal axis 22 of the mouthpiece, and is shown by a dashed line. This increases the airflow path through the flavor section 16 and the flavor granules 12, and thus increases the likelihood of entraining a greater amount of the at least one flavorant in the aerosol. The inner wall 10D of the outlet portion 10A of the mouthpiece includes a conical shape. The diameter of the inner wall at the upstream end is smaller than the diameter of the inner wall at the downstream end. This reduces the velocity of the aerosol and the at least one flavorant at the downstream end, favoring the mixing of the aerosol and the at least one flavorant. The mouthpiece 10 also includes an outer wall 10C that includes a mouthpiece air inlet 20. The mouthpiece air inlet 20 allows ambient air to be vented into the mouthpiece where it can be used, for example, to generate aerosol from an aerosol-forming substrate in the cartridge.

[0102] FIG. 1B shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the mouthpiece of the present invention. In contrast to the embodiment of the mouthpiece shown in FIG. 1B, the airflow path 14 in the mouthpiece of FIG. 1B extends entirely along the longitudinal axis of the mouthpiece. Both the flavor section air inlet 16A and the flavor section air outlet 16B are located along the longitudinal axis of the mouthpiece. This mouthpiece additionally includes an inlet seal layer 10E sealing the inlet portion 10B of the mouthpiece and an outlet seal layer 10F sealing the outlet portion 10A of the mouthpiece. The seal layers prevent evaporation of at least one flavorant during storage of the mouthpiece, thereby extending the shelf life of the mouthpiece. Both seal layers can be removed by the user before using the mouthpiece.

[0103] FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional schematic diagram of an exploded aerosol generating system including a mouthpiece 10, a cartridge 24, and an aerosol generating device 32 of the present invention. As indicated by the arrows, the tubular section 18 of the inlet portion of the mouthpiece 10 can be connected to the cartridge 24 through a central hollow portion 24A of the cartridge. The cartridge 24 contains a liquid aerosol-forming substrate 23. A vaporizer assembly 30 is present in the cartridge 24 including a porous evaporation element 26 connected in a thermally conductive manner to a heater element 28. The porous evaporation element 26 can absorb the liquid aerosol-forming substrate 23. Upon heating of the heater element 28, the liquid aerosol-forming substrate can be evaporated. The heater element 28 includes connection pins 28A. These connection pins are configured to be removably connectable to an electrical connection 34 of the aerosol generating device 32 (see the respective arrows between the cartridge 24 and the aerosol generating device 32). The aerosol generating device also includes a control circuit 36 ​​and a power source 38 for the heater element 28 of the cartridge. Such an aerosol generating system allows for the generation of an aerosol from the aerosol-forming substrate 23 of the cartridge and the subsequent flavouring of the aerosol with at least one flavourant of the flavour granules 12 of the mouthpiece 10 .

[0104] FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the assembled aerosol generating system of FIG. 2. With the connection of the mouthpiece 10 and the cartridge 24, an additional airflow path 14A is formed between the inner wall of the cartridge and the wall of the inlet portion 10B of the mouthpiece 10. Ambient air can enter this newly created airflow path 14A through the mouthpiece air inlet 20 and be directed to the vaporizer assembly of the cartridge. In the vaporizer assembly of the cartridge, the liquid aerosol-forming substrate contained in the cartridge is vaporized and mixed with the ambient air to generate an aerosol. The aerosol is then directed through the tubular section 18 of the mouthpiece into the flavor section 16. The flavor granules 12 begin to move and float in the airflow of the user's puff, thereby releasing at least one flavorant. The mixture of the aerosol and the at least one flavorant leaves the flavor section through the flavor section air outlet and enters the cone-shaped aerosol outlet. This aerosol outlet allows the aerosol and the at least one flavorant to mix so that the mixture can then be inhaled by the user.

[0105] 4 shows another disassembled aerosol generating system including a mouthpiece 10 according to the present invention. In this aerosol generating system, the mouthpiece 10 may be connected to an aerosol generating article 40. The aerosol generating article 40 includes a hollow tube section 42 and a substrate section 44. The substrate section 44 may include a solid aerosol-forming substrate. The assembly of the mouthpiece 10 and the aerosol-generating article 40 may be inserted into a cavity 46 of an aerosol generating device 32. The aerosol generating device includes a heater element 48 adjacent the cavity 46 for heating the substrate section 44 of the aerosol-generating article to a temperature below the combustion temperature of the aerosol-forming substrate. The aerosol generating device also includes a control circuit 38 and a power source 36 for the heater element 48.

Claims

1. A mouthpiece for inhaling an aerosol, comprising: an airflow path for the aerosol, said airflow path leading through said mouthpiece; - flavor granules disposed within said airflow path; - the flavor granules contain at least one flavoring agent for flavoring the aerosol, the flavor granules are configured to be displaceable by a user's puff, the flavor granules comprise a porous matrix material containing the at least one flavoring agent, the porous matrix material having a density of 0.4 to 2 g / cm 3 A mouthpiece having a density of

2. The mouthpiece of claim 1 , wherein the at least one flavoring agent is embedded within the porous matrix material.

3. The porous matrix material has a density of 0.5 to 1.1 g / cm 3 The mouthpiece of claim 2 having a density of

4. The mouthpiece according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the porous matrix material has a porosity of 0.11 to 0.

45.

5. The mouthpiece of claim 2 or 3, wherein the porous matrix material is water-insoluble.

6. The mouthpiece according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the flavor granules have a particle size of 0.7 to 4.7 millimeters.

7. 3. The mouthpiece of claim 1 or 2, comprising a longitudinal axis, the airflow path being disposed partially obliquely relative to the longitudinal axis.

8. 3. The mouthpiece of claim 1, further comprising an inlet portion configured to receive the aerosol and an outlet portion configured for the aerosol to flow out, the airflow path being disposed between the inlet portion and the outlet portion.

9. The mouthpiece of claim 8 , wherein the inlet portion includes a tubular section configured to be removably connectable to a cartridge.

10. 3. The mouthpiece of claim 1 or 2, further comprising an outer wall, the outer wall including at least one mouthpiece air inlet configured to allow ambient air to enter the mouthpiece.

11. 1. An aerosol generating system comprising: a mouthpiece according to claim 1 or 2, a cartridge containing an aerosol-forming substrate; an aerosol generating device, - an aerosol generation system, wherein the mouthpiece is configured to be removably connectable to the cartridge.

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