Aerosol delivery device including segregated substrate

Abstract

To provide an aerosol delivery device that can provide the sensations of cigarette, cigar or pipe smoking without burning a substrate material.SOLUTION: An aerosol source member 104 includes a segmented substrate portion that includes a first substrate segment and a second substrate segment. The first substrate segment includes a first aerosol former, the second substrate segment includes a second aerosol former different from the first aerosol former, and the second substrate segment is positioned between the first substrate segment and a downstream end of the aerosol source member. The first substrate segment and the second substrate segment are configured such that when heated by a heat source, the first substrate segment is heated to a first temperature and the second substrate segment is heated to a second temperature that is lower than the first temperature.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This application claims priority to and benefit of U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 850,802, filed April 16, 2020, entitled Aerosol Delivery Device Including a Segregated Substrate, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. [Background technology]

[0002] The present disclosure relates to an aerosol delivery device and its use for generating an aerosol precursor composition in inhalable form. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to an aerosol source member, including a substrate material, for aerosol delivery devices and systems, such as smoking articles, that utilize electrically generated heat or a combustible heat source to heat an aerosol precursor composition, preferably without significant combustion, to provide an inhalable substance in the form of an aerosol for human consumption.

[0003] Many smoking articles have been proposed over the years as improvements or replacements for smoking products based on burning tobacco for use. Some exemplary alternatives include devices in which a solid or liquid fuel is burned to transfer heat to the tobacco, or a chemical reaction is used to provide such a heat source. A further exemplary alternative uses electrical energy to heat tobacco and / or other aerosol-generating substrate materials, as described in U.S. Patent No. 9,078,473 to Worm et al., the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0004] The goal of some improvements or replacements for smoking articles has been to provide the sensation associated with cigarette, cigar, or pipe smoking without delivering a significant amount of incomplete combustion and pyrolysis products.For this purpose, there are many smoking products, flavor generators, and medicinal inhalers that utilize electrical energy to vaporize or heat volatile substances, or attempt to provide the sensation of cigarette, cigar, or pipe smoking without significantly burning tobacco.For example, see the various alternative smoking articles, aerosol delivery devices, and heating sources described in the background art in U.S. Patent No. 7,726,320 to Robinson et al., U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2013 / 0255702 to Griffith Jr. et al., and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014 / 0096781 to Sears et al., which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] U.S. Patent No. 9,078,473 [Patent Document 2] U.S. Patent No. 7,726,320 [Patent Document 3] US Patent Application Publication No. 2013 / 0255702 [Patent Document 4] US Patent Application Publication No. 2014 / 0096781 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] Articles that produce the taste and sensation of smoking by electrically heating tobacco, tobacco-derived materials, or other plant-derived materials suffer from inconsistent performance characteristics. For example, some articles suffer from inconsistent release of flavors or other inhalable materials and insufficient loading of the substrate with aerosol precursor compositions. Therefore, it is desirable to provide a smoking article that can provide the sensation of smoking a cigarette, cigar, or pipe without burning the substrate material and with advantageous performance characteristics. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In various embodiments, the present disclosure provides an aerosol source member configured to generate an aerosol for delivery, and an aerosol delivery device including the aerosol source member. The present disclosure includes, but is not limited to, the following exemplary embodiments:

[0008] Exemplary embodiment 1: An aerosol source member configured to generate an aerosol for delivery, the aerosol source member comprising a segmented substrate portion, the segmented substrate portion comprising a first substrate segment including a first aerosol-forming agent and a second substrate segment including a second aerosol-forming agent different from the first aerosol-forming agent, the second substrate segment being disposed between the first substrate segment and a downstream end of the aerosol source member, the first and second substrate segments being configured such that, when heated by a heating source, the first substrate segment is heated to a first temperature and the second substrate segment is heated to a second temperature lower than the first temperature.

[0009] Exemplary Embodiment 2: The aerosol source member of Exemplary Embodiment 1, or any combination of any preceding exemplary embodiment, wherein the first substrate segment contains a tobacco-free material and the second substrate segment contains a tobacco material.

[0010] Exemplary Embodiment 3: The aerosol source member of any of Exemplary Embodiments 1-2, or any combination of any preceding exemplary embodiments, wherein the first temperature is set to aerosolize the first aerosol-forming agent without substantially decomposing the first aerosol-forming agent, and the second temperature is set to aerosolize the second aerosol-forming agent without substantially decomposing the second aerosol-forming agent.

[0011] Exemplary Embodiment 4: The aerosol source member of any of Exemplary Embodiments 1-3, or any combination of any preceding exemplary embodiments, wherein the first temperature is capable of decomposing the second aerosol-forming agent.

[0012] Exemplary Embodiment 5: The aerosol source member of any of Exemplary Embodiments 1-4, or any combination of any preceding exemplary embodiments, wherein the first aerosol-forming agent comprises at least one of maltol, vanillin, ethyl vanillin, cinnamic acid, phenylacetic acid, levulinic acid, nerolidol, citronellyl phenyl acetate, caryophyllene oxide, gamma-nonalactone, isoamyl phenyl acetate, phenylethyl isovalerate, heliotropin, nicotine lactate, nicotine levulinate, or nicotine benzoate.

[0013] Exemplary Embodiment 6: The aerosol source member of any of Exemplary Embodiments 1-5, or any combination of any preceding exemplary embodiments, wherein the second aerosol forming agent comprises at least one of 2-acetylpyrrole, methylcyclopentenolone, α-ionone, geraniol, β-damascene, menthol, caryophyllene, caproic acid, phenethyl alcohol, anethole, phenethyl butyrate, α-terpineol, ethyl phenylacetate, 3-methylvaleric acid, propylene glycol, benzyl alcohol, nicotine L-malate, or nicotine mucate.

[0014] Exemplary Embodiment 7: The aerosol source member of any of Exemplary Embodiments 1-6, or any combination of any preceding exemplary embodiments, wherein the first aerosol forming agent comprises a nanocellulose material impregnated with an aerosol precursor composition.

[0015] Exemplary Embodiment 8: The aerosol source member of any of Exemplary Embodiments 1-7, or any combination of any preceding exemplary embodiments, wherein the second aerosol forming agent comprises a nanocellulose material impregnated with another aerosol precursor composition.

[0016] Exemplary Embodiment 9: The aerosol source member of any of Exemplary Embodiments 1-8, or any combination of any preceding exemplary embodiments, wherein the segmented substrate portion comprises a third substrate segment comprising a third aerosol-forming agent, the third substrate segment being disposed between the second substrate segment and the downstream end of the aerosol source member.

[0017] Exemplary Embodiment 10: The aerosol source member of any of Exemplary Embodiments 1-9, or any combination of any preceding exemplary embodiments, wherein the third substrate segment contains tobacco material.

[0018] Exemplary Embodiment 11: The aerosol source member of any of Exemplary Embodiments 1-10, or any combination of any preceding Exemplary Embodiments, wherein the third aerosol forming agent comprises at least one of 3-acetylpyridine, tetramethylpyrazine, methyl salicylate, linalool, ethyl caproate, gamma-valerolactone, para-tolylaldehyde, 2-methylbutyric acid, isovaleric acid, benzaldehyde, limonene, or 2-methylpyrazine.

[0019] Exemplary Embodiment 12: The aerosol source member of any of Exemplary Embodiments 1-11, or any combination of any preceding exemplary embodiments, further comprising a heating source disposed proximate to the first substrate segment, wherein the heating source is integral with the aerosol source member.

[0020] Exemplary Embodiment 13: The aerosol source member of any of Exemplary Embodiments 1-12, or any combination of any preceding exemplary embodiments, wherein the heat source is a combustible heat source.

[0021] Exemplary Embodiment 14: The aerosol source member of any of Exemplary Embodiments 1-13, or any combination of any preceding exemplary embodiments, further comprising a filter disposed proximate the downstream end of the aerosol source member.

[0022] Exemplary Embodiment 15: The aerosol source member of any of Exemplary Embodiments 1-14, or any combination of any preceding exemplary embodiments, further comprising a first barrier disposed between the heating source and the first substrate segment, the first barrier configured to prevent the first substrate segment from exceeding a first temperature.

[0023] Exemplary Embodiment 16: The aerosol source member of any of Exemplary Embodiments 1-15, or any combination of any preceding exemplary embodiments, further comprising a second barrier disposed between the first substrate segment and the second substrate segment, the second barrier configured to prevent the second substrate segment from exceeding a second temperature.

[0024] Exemplary Embodiment 17: The aerosol source member of any of Exemplary Embodiments 1-16, or any combination of any preceding exemplary embodiments, wherein the first temperature is in the range of about 200°C to about 300°C and the second temperature is in the range of about 100°C to about 200°C.

[0025] Exemplary Embodiment 18: The aerosol source member of any of Exemplary Embodiments 1-17, or any combination of any preceding exemplary embodiments, wherein the heating source comprises a first heating segment and a second heating segment, the first heating segment configured to heat the first substrate segment to a first temperature, and the second heating segment configured to heat the second substrate segment to a second temperature.

[0026] Exemplary Embodiment 19: The aerosol source member of any of Exemplary Embodiments 1-18, or any combination of any preceding exemplary embodiments, wherein the first heating segment is disposed along at least a portion of the first substrate segment and the second heating segment is disposed along at least a portion of the second substrate segment.

[0027] Exemplary Embodiment 20: The aerosol source member of any of Exemplary Embodiments 1-19, or any combination of any preceding exemplary embodiments, wherein the first heating segment is disposed around the first substrate segment and the second heating segment is disposed around the second substrate segment.

[0028] Exemplary Embodiment 21: The aerosol source member of any of Exemplary Embodiments 1-20, or any combination of any preceding exemplary embodiments, wherein the first and second heating segments are electric heating elements.

[0029] Exemplary Embodiment 22: The aerosol source member of any of Exemplary Embodiments 1-21, or any combination of any preceding exemplary embodiments, wherein at least one of the first or second heating segments comprises a resistive heating element.

[0030] Exemplary Embodiment 23: The aerosol source member of any of Exemplary Embodiments 1-22, or any combination of any preceding exemplary embodiments, wherein at least one of the first or second heating segments comprises an inductive heating element.

[0031] Exemplary Embodiment 24: The aerosol source member of any of Exemplary Embodiments 1-23, or any combination of any preceding exemplary embodiments, wherein the substrate portion defines an aerosol path extending toward the downstream end of the aerosol source member.

[0032] Exemplary Embodiment 25: The aerosol source member of any of Exemplary Embodiments 1-24, or any combination of any preceding exemplary embodiments, wherein the heating source comprises a first heating segment, the first heating segment configured to heat the first substrate segment to a first temperature and the second substrate segment to a second temperature.

[0033] Exemplary embodiment 26: An aerosol delivery device comprising: a control body configured to receive at least a portion of an aerosol source member; and a heating source, wherein the aerosol source member comprises a segmented substrate portion comprising a first substrate segment comprising a first aerosol-forming agent and a second substrate segment comprising a second aerosol-forming agent different from the first aerosol-forming agent, the second substrate segment being disposed between the first substrate segment and a downstream end of the aerosol source member; and the heating source being configured to heat the first substrate segment to a first temperature and the second substrate segment to a second temperature lower than the first temperature.

[0034] Exemplary embodiment 27: An aerosol delivery device as described in exemplary embodiment 26, or any combination of any preceding exemplary embodiment, wherein the control body includes a heating source, the heating source having a first heating segment and a second heating segment, the first heating segment configured to heat the first substrate segment to a first temperature, and the second heating segment configured to heat the second substrate segment to a second temperature.

[0035] Exemplary embodiment 28: An aerosol delivery device described in any of exemplary embodiments 26-27, or any combination of any preceding exemplary embodiments, wherein the control body includes a power source configured to supply energy to the first and second heating segments.

[0036] Exemplary embodiment 29: An aerosol delivery device described in any of exemplary embodiments 26-28, or any combination of any preceding exemplary embodiments, wherein the control body includes a controller configured to control energy transmitted to the first and second heating segments.

[0037] Exemplary embodiment 30: An aerosol delivery device as described in any of exemplary embodiments 26-29, or any combination of any preceding exemplary embodiment, wherein the first heating segment is disposed along the first substrate segment and the second heating segment is disposed along the second substrate segment.

[0038] Exemplary embodiment 31: The aerosol delivery device of any of exemplary embodiments 26-30, or any combination of any preceding exemplary embodiment, wherein the first heating segment is disposed around the first substrate segment and the second heating segment is disposed around the second substrate segment.

[0039] Exemplary embodiment 32: The aerosol delivery device of any of exemplary embodiments 26-31, or any combination of any preceding exemplary embodiment, wherein the first and second heating segments are electric heating elements.

[0040] Exemplary embodiment 33: An aerosol delivery device described in any of exemplary embodiments 26-32, or any combination of any preceding exemplary embodiment, wherein at least one of the first or second heating segments comprises a resistive heating element.

[0041] Exemplary embodiment 34: The aerosol delivery device of any of exemplary embodiments 26-33, or any combination of any preceding exemplary embodiment, wherein at least one of the first or second heating segments comprises an inductive heating element.

[0042] Exemplary embodiment 35: An aerosol delivery device described in any of exemplary embodiments 26-34, or any combination of any preceding exemplary embodiment, wherein the substrate portion defines an aerosol path extending toward the downstream end of the aerosol source member.

[0043] Exemplary Embodiment 36: The aerosol delivery device of any of Exemplary Embodiments 26-35, or any combination of any preceding exemplary embodiments, wherein the heating source comprises a first heating segment, the first heating segment configured to heat the first substrate segment to a first temperature and the second substrate segment to a second temperature.

[0044] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are briefly described below. The present invention includes any combination of two, three, four, or more of the above-described embodiments, as well as combinations of any two, three, four, or more features or elements described in this disclosure, regardless of whether such features or elements are explicitly combined in the description of a specific embodiment herein. The present disclosure, in any of its various aspects and embodiments, is intended to be read as a whole, such that any separable features or elements of the disclosed invention are intended to be combinable unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0045] Having thus described aspects of the present disclosure in general terms above, reference is now made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0046] [Figure 1] 1 shows a perspective view of an aerosol delivery device comprising a control body and an aerosol source member, wherein the aerosol source member and the control body are coupled to one another, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. [Figure 2] 2 shows a perspective view of the aerosol delivery device of FIG. 1, with the aerosol source member and control body separated from each other, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 3] 3 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the aerosol source member of FIG. 2 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] 1 illustrates a perspective view of another aerosol source member according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 5] 5 shows a schematic cross-sectional view taken along section line 5-5 of FIG. 4. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0047] The present disclosure will be described more fully below with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof. These exemplary embodiments are described so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art. Indeed, the present disclosure may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," "the," and the like include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, while references may be made herein to quantitative measures, values, geometric relationships, and the like, unless otherwise specified, any one or more, if not all, of these may be absolute or approximate to account for acceptable variations that may occur, such as those due to technical tolerances and the like. As used herein, "substantially free" refers to a concentration of a given substance of less than 1% by weight, or less than 0.5% by weight, or less than 0.1% by weight, based on the total weight of the material.

[0048] Some embodiments of aerosol source members according to the present disclosure use electrical energy to heat a material to form an inhalable substance (e.g., an electrically heated tobacco product). Other embodiments of aerosol source members according to the present disclosure use an ignitable heat source to heat a material to form an inhalable substance (e.g., a carbon-heated tobacco product). The material may be heated without burning the material to a significant extent. Components of such systems have the form of an article compact enough to be considered a handheld device. That is, use of the components of the aerosol delivery device does not result in the production of smoke, in the sense that the aerosol arises primarily from by-products of tobacco combustion or pyrolysis, but rather, use of the systems results in the production of vapor resulting from the volatilization or vaporization of certain components incorporated therein. In some exemplary embodiments, the components of the aerosol delivery device can be characterized as electronic cigarettes, which incorporate tobacco and / or tobacco-derived components and are therefore capable of delivering tobacco-derived components in aerosol form.

[0049] In some embodiments, the heat source may be configured to generate heat upon ignition. For example, in some embodiments, the heat source may contain a combustible fuel element incorporating a combustible carbonaceous material. In other embodiments, the heat source may incorporate elements other than a combustible carbonaceous material (e.g., tobacco components such as powdered tobacco or tobacco extract, flavorings, salts such as sodium chloride, potassium chloride, and sodium carbonate, thermostable graphite hollow cylindrical (e.g., tubular) fibers, iron oxide powder, glass filaments, powdered calcium carbonate, alumina granules, an ammonia source such as an ammonia salt, and / or binders such as guar gum, ammonium alginate, and sodium alginate). In other embodiments, the heat source may contain multiple ignitable objects, such as multiple ignitable beads. In other embodiments, the heat source may differ in composition or relative content from those described above. For example, in some embodiments, different forms of carbon, such as graphite or graphene, may be used as the heat source. In other embodiments, the heat source may have high levels of activated carbon, different carbon porosities, different amounts of carbon, blends of any of the above-mentioned components, etc. In still other embodiments, the heat source may comprise a non-carbon heat source, such as, for example, a flammable liquefied gas configured to generate heat upon ignition. For example, in some embodiments, the liquefied gas may include one or more of petroleum gas (LPG or LPG), propane, propylene, butylene, butane, isobutene, methylpropane, or n-butane. In still other embodiments, the heat source may comprise a chemical reaction-based heat source, where ignition of the heat source involves the interaction of two or more individual components. For example, a chemical reaction-based heat source may contain a metal agent and an activating solution, where contact between the metal agent and the activating solution activates the heat source. Some examples of chemical-based heat sources can be found in U.S. Patent No. 7,290,549 to Banerjee et al., which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Combinations of heat sources are also possible.

[0050] The aerosol-generating component of a particular aerosol delivery device and / or aerosol source member can provide many of the sensations (e.g., inhalation and exhalation rituals, flavor or flavor varieties, sensory stimulating effects, physical feel, usage rituals, visual cues such as those provided by a visible aerosol, etc.) of cigarette, cigar, or pipe smoking by lighting and burning tobacco (and thus inhaling tobacco smoke) without any appreciable combustion of any of its components. For example, a user of an aerosol delivery device according to some exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure can hold and use the component as a smoker would use a traditional type of smoking article, draw on one end of the component to inhale the aerosol generated by the component, puff or draw on the tobacco for selected time intervals, etc.

[0051] Although the systems are generally described herein with respect to embodiments relating to aerosol delivery devices and / or aerosol source members, such as so-called "electronic cigarettes" or "tobacco heating products," it should be understood that the features, components, features, and methods may be embodied in many different forms and associated with a variety of items. For example, the descriptions provided herein can be employed in combination with traditional smoking articles (e.g., cigarettes, cigars, pipes, etc.), non-combustion heated cigarettes, and related packaging embodiments for any of the products disclosed herein. Accordingly, it should be understood that the descriptions of the features, components, features, and methods disclosed herein are described with respect to embodiments relating to aerosol delivery devices by way of example only, and may be embodied and used in a variety of other products and methods.

[0052] The aerosol delivery device and / or aerosol source member of the present disclosure may also be characterized as a vapor product or drug delivery article. Accordingly, such articles or devices may be configured to provide one or more substances (e.g., flavorings and / or active pharmaceutical ingredients) in an inhalable form or state. For example, the inhalable substance may be substantially in vapor form (i.e., a substance in the gas phase at a temperature below its critical point). Alternatively, the inhalable substance may be in the form of an aerosol (i.e., a suspension of fine solid particles or liquid droplets in a gas). For simplicity, the term "aerosol" as used herein is meant to include vapors, gases, and aerosols in any form or type suitable for human inhalation, regardless of whether they are visible and whether they are in a form that can be considered smoke-like. The physical form of the inhalable substance is not necessarily limited by the nature of the device of the present invention, but may depend on the nature of the medium and the inhalable substance itself, as to whether it exists in a vapor or aerosol state. In some embodiments, the terms "vapor" and "aerosol" may be interchangeable. Thus, for simplicity, the terms "vapor" and "aerosol" used to describe aspects of the present disclosure will be understood to be interchangeable unless otherwise specified.

[0053] In some embodiments, the aerosol delivery device of the present disclosure may comprise some combination of a power source (e.g., an electrical power source); at least one control component (e.g., a means for activating, controlling, regulating, and deactivating power for heat generation, such as by controlling the flow of current from the power source to other components of the article (e.g., a microprocessor, individually or as part of a microcontroller)); a heating source (e.g., an electrical resistive heating element or other component and / or an induction coil or other associated component and / or one or more radiant heating elements); and an aerosol source member including a substrate portion capable of generating an aerosol upon application of sufficient heat. Note that one or more of the above components can be physically combined. For example, in certain embodiments, conductive heater traces can be printed onto the surface of a substrate material described herein (e.g., a nanocellulose substrate film) using conductive ink such that the heater traces can be powered by a power source and used as resistive heating elements. Examples of conductive inks include graphene inks and inks containing various metals, such as inks containing silver, gold, palladium, platinum, and alloys or other combinations thereof (e.g., silver-palladium or silver-platinum inks), which can be printed onto a surface using processes such as gravure printing, flexography, offset printing, screen printing, inkjet printing, or other suitable printing methods.

[0054] In various embodiments, several of these components may be provided within an outer body or shell, which in some embodiments may be referred to as a housing. The overall design of the outer body or shell may vary, and the type or configuration of the outer body, which may define the overall size and shape of the aerosol delivery device, may also vary. In some embodiments, the elongated body resembling the shape of a cigarette or cigar may be formed from a single, integral housing, or the elongated housing may be formed from two or more separable bodies, although other configurations are possible. For example, the aerosol delivery device may be generally tubular in shape and thus may include an elongated shell or body resembling the shape of a traditional cigarette or cigar. In embodiments, all components of the aerosol delivery device are contained within a single housing or body. In other embodiments, the aerosol delivery device may include two or more housings that are joined and separable. For example, the aerosol delivery device may have at one end a control body comprising a housing containing one or more reusable components (e.g., an accumulator such as a rechargeable battery and / or a rechargeable supercapacitor, and various electronics for controlling the operation of the item), and at the other end and removably connectable thereto, an outer body or shell including a disposable portion (e.g., a disposable flavorant-containing aerosol source member).

[0055] In other embodiments, the aerosol source members of the present disclosure may generally include a combustible heat source configured to heat a substrate material. At least a portion of the substrate material and / or heat source may be covered by an outer wrap or packaging, a casing, a component, a module, a member, or the like. The overall design of the enclosure may vary, as may the appearance or configuration of the enclosure, which defines the overall size and shape of the aerosol source member. The overall design, size, and / or shape of these embodiments may resemble that of a traditional cigarette or cigar, although other configurations are possible. In various aspects, the heat source may generate heat to aerosolize substrate materials containing tobacco and / or tobacco-related materials, such as materials naturally found in tobacco, isolated directly from tobacco or synthetically prepared, in the form of an extruded structure and / or substrate, solid or liquid form (e.g., beads, sheets, strips, wraps), etc., associated with an aerosol precursor composition.

[0056] Although the aerosol delivery device and / or aerosol source member according to the present disclosure may take on various embodiments, as described in detail below, the uses of the aerosol delivery device and / or aerosol source member by consumers are similar in scope. The foregoing description of the use of the aerosol delivery device and / or aerosol source member is applicable to the various embodiments described through minor modifications apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the further disclosure provided herein. However, the description of use is not intended to limit the uses of the articles of the present disclosure, but is provided to fulfill all necessary requirements of the disclosure herein.

[0057] More specific configurations, configurations, and arrangements of the various substrate materials, aerosol source members, and components within the aerosol delivery devices of the present disclosure will be apparent in light of the further disclosure provided below. Furthermore, the selection of various aerosol delivery device components will be understood in light of commercially available electronic aerosol delivery devices. Furthermore, the arrangement of components within the aerosol delivery device will also be understood in light of commercially available electronic aerosol delivery devices.

[0058] In this regard, FIG. 1 illustrates an aerosol delivery device 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. In the illustrated embodiment, the aerosol delivery device 100 includes a control body 102 and an aerosol source member 104. In various embodiments, the aerosol source member 104 and the control body 102 may be permanently or removably aligned in a functional relationship. In this regard, FIG. 1 illustrates the aerosol delivery device 100 in a coupled configuration, while FIG. 2 illustrates the aerosol delivery device 100 in a separated configuration. Various mechanisms may connect the aerosol source member 104 to the control body 102, providing a threaded engagement, a press-fit engagement, an interference fit, a slip fit, a magnetic engagement, etc.

[0059] In various embodiments, the aerosol delivery device 100 according to the present disclosure may have a variety of overall shapes, including, but not limited to, those that may be defined as substantially rod-shaped, substantially tubular, or substantially cylindrical. The device 100 may have a generally circular cross-section. However, other cross-sectional shapes (e.g., oval, square, triangular, etc.) are also encompassed by the present disclosure. For example, in some embodiments, one or both of the control body 102 or the aerosol source member 104 (and / or any subcomponents) may have a generally rectangular shape, such as a generally rectangular cuboid shape. In other embodiments, one or both of the control body 102 or the aerosol source member 104 (and / or any subcomponents) may have other handheld shapes. For example, in some embodiments, the control body 102 may have a small box shape, various pod mod shapes, or a fob shape. Accordingly, such language describing the physical shape of an article may also apply to its individual components, including the control body 102 and the aerosol source member 104.

[0060] The alignment of components within the aerosol delivery device of the present disclosure may vary across various embodiments. In some embodiments, the substrate may be positioned in close proximity to the heat source to facilitate aerosol delivery to the user. However, other configurations are not excluded. Generally, the heat source may be positioned sufficiently close to the substrate so that heat from the heat source can volatilize the substrate (as well as, in some embodiments, one or more flavorings, medicinal agents, etc., which may also be provided for delivery to the user) and form an aerosol for delivery to the user. When the heat source heats the substrate, an aerosol is formed, released, or generated in a physical form suitable for inhalation by the consumer. It should be noted that references to release, releasing, releases, or released are meant to be interchangeable, including form or generate, forming or generating, forms or generates, and formed or generated. Specifically, the inhalable substance is released in the form of a vapor, an aerosol, or a mixture thereof, and such terms are also used interchangeably herein unless otherwise specified.

[0061] As described above, various embodiments of the aerosol delivery device 100 may incorporate a battery and / or other power source to provide sufficient current to provide various functions for the aerosol delivery device, such as powering the heating source, powering the control system, and powering the indicators. As described in more detail below, the power source may take various embodiments. The power source may be capable of delivering sufficient power to rapidly activate the heating source to provide aerosol formation and to power the aerosol delivery device for a desired duration of use. In some embodiments, the power source is sized to fit conveniently within the aerosol delivery device so that the aerosol delivery device can be easily handled. Examples of useful power sources include lithium-ion batteries (e.g., rechargeable lithium-manganese dioxide batteries), which may be rechargeable. In particular, lithium polymer batteries may be used because such batteries can enhance safety. Other types of batteries (e.g., N50-AAA CADNICA nickel-cadmium batteries) may also be used. Furthermore, the power source may be lightweight enough so as not to impair the desired smoking experience. Some example power supplies are described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,484,155 to Peckerar et al. and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0112191 to Sur et al., filed October 21, 2015, the disclosures of each of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

[0062] In certain embodiments, one or both of the control body 102 and the aerosol source member 104 may be referred to as disposable or reusable. For example, the control body 102 can have a replaceable or rechargeable battery, a solid-state battery, a thin-film solid-state battery, a rechargeable supercapacitor, or the like, and thus may be combined with any type of charging technology, including connection to a wall charger, a car charger (e.g., a cigarette lighter receptacle), a computer via a universal serial bus (USB) cable or connector (e.g., USB 2.0, 3.0, 3.1, USB Type-C), or the like, a photovoltaic cell (sometimes called a solar cell) or solar panel, a charger using inductive wireless charging (e.g., including wireless charging compliant with the Qi wireless charging standard from the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC)), or a wireless charger such as a radio frequency (RF)-based charger. An example of an inductive wireless charging system is described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0112196 by Sur et al., which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Additionally, in some embodiments, the control body 102 and / or the aerosol source member 104 may comprise a disposable device. Disposable components for use with the control body are disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 8,910,639 to Chang et al., which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0063] In further embodiments, the power source may also include a capacitor. A capacitor can discharge faster than a battery and be charged between puffs, allowing the battery to discharge into the capacitor at a slower rate than if it were used to directly power the heating source. For example, a supercapacitor (e.g., an electric double layer capacitor (EDLC)) may be used separately from or in combination with a battery. When used alone, the supercapacitor may be recharged before using the article. Thus, the device may also include a charger component that can be attached to the smoking article during use to replenish the supercapacitor.

[0064] Additional components may be utilized in the aerosol delivery device of the present disclosure. For example, the aerosol delivery device may include a flow sensor (e.g., a puff-activated switch) that is sensitive to either pressure or airflow changes when a consumer inhales on the article. Other possible current activation / deactivation mechanisms may include a temperature-activated on / off switch or a lip pressure-activated switch. An example of a mechanism that can provide such puff activation functionality includes the Model 163PC01D36 silicon sensor manufactured by the MicroSwitch division of Honeywell, Inc. of Freeport, Illinois. Representative flow sensors, current regulation components, and other current control components, including various microcontrollers, sensors, and switches, for aerosol delivery devices are described in U.S. Patent No. 4,735,217 to Gerth et al., U.S. Patent Nos. 4,922,901, 4,947,874, and 4,947,875, all to Brooks et al., U.S. Patent No. 5,372,148 to McCafferty et al., U.S. Patent No. 6,040,560 to Fleischhauer et al., U.S. Patent No. 7,040,314 to Nguyen et al., and U.S. Patent No. 8,205,622 to Pan, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. See also the control scheme described in U.S. Patent No. 9,423,152 to Ampolini et al., which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0065] In another example, an aerosol delivery device may include a first conductive surface configured to contact a first body part of a user holding the device, and a second conductive surface conductively insulated from the first conductive surface and configured to contact a second body part of the user. Thus, when the aerosol delivery device detects a change in conductivity between the first and second conductive surfaces, the vaporizer is activated to vaporize the substance, resulting in vapor that can be inhaled by the user holding the unit. The first and second body parts may be the lips or a portion of the hand. The two conductive surfaces may also be used to charge a battery included in the personal vaporizer unit. The two conductive surfaces may also form or be part of a connector that can be used to output data stored in the memory. See U.S. Pat. No. 9,861,773 to Terry et al., incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0066] Further, U.S. Patent No. 5,154,192 to Sprinkel et al. discloses a smoking article indicator, U.S. Patent No. 5,261,424 to Sprinkel, Jr. discloses a piezoelectric sensor that can be associated with the mouth end of a device to trigger heating of the heating device after detecting lip activity of a user associated with taking a draw, U.S. Patent No. 5,372,148 to McCafferty et al. discloses a puff sensor for controlling the flow of energy to a heating load array in response to a pressure drop through a mouthpiece, U.S. Patent No. 5,967,148 to Harris et al. discloses a receptacle in a smoking device that includes an identifier that detects non-uniformity in infrared transmittance of an inserted component and a controller that executes a detection routine when a component is inserted into the receptacle, U.S. Patent No. 6,040,560 to Fleischhauer et al. describes a predefined executable power cycle having multiple differential phases, and U.S. Patent No. 6,040,560 to Watkins et al. No. 5,934,289 to Counts et al. discloses photonic-optronic components; U.S. Pat. No. 5,954,979 to Counts et al. discloses means for modifying the resistance of draw through a smoking device; U.S. Pat. No. 6,803,545 to Blake et al. discloses certain battery configurations for use in smoking devices; U.S. Pat. No. 7,293,565 to Griffen et al. discloses various charging systems for use in smoking devices; U.S. Pat. No. 8,402,976 to Fernando et al. discloses computer interface means for smoking devices to facilitate charging and enable computer control of the device; U.S. Pat. No. 8,689,804 to Fernando et al. discloses an identification system for smoking devices; and WO 2010 / 003480 to Flick discloses a fluid flow detection system for indicating puffs in an aerosol generating system, all of the foregoing disclosures are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

[0067] Further examples of components associated with electronic aerosol delivery articles and disclosed materials or components that can be used in the present devices include U.S. Pat. No. 4,735,217 to Gerth et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,249,586 to Morgan et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,666,977 to Higgins et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,053,176 to Adams et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,164,287 to White, U.S. Pat. No. 6,196,218 to Voges, U.S. Pat. No. 6,810,883 to Felter et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,854,461 to Nichols, U.S. Pat. No. 7,832,410 to Hon, U.S. Pat. No. 7,513,253 to Kobayashi, U.S. Pat. No. 7,896,006 to Hamano, U.S. Pat. No. 6,772,756 to Shayan, U.S. Pat. No. 6,772,756 to Hon, U.S. Pat. No. 6,832,410 to Hon, U.S. Pat. No. 6,513,253 to Kobayashi, U.S. Pat. No. 6,896,006 to Hamano, U.S. Pat. No. 6,772,756 to Shayan, U.S. Pat. No. 6,832,410 to Hon, U.S. Pat. No. 6,832,410 to Hon, U.S. Pat. No. 6,513,253 to Kobayashi, U.S. Pat. No. 6,896,006 to Hamano, U.S. Pat. No. U.S. Patent Nos. 8,156,944 and 8,375,957 by Thorens et al., U.S. Patent No. 8,794,231 by Thorens et al., U.S. Patent No. 8,851,083 by Oglesby et al., U.S. Patent Nos. 8,915,254 and 8,925,555 by Monsees et al., U.S. Patent No. 9,220,302 by DePiano et al., U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2002 / 0024044 by Hon

[0006] US Patent Application Publication Nos. 006 / 0196518 and 2009 / 0188490, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010 / 0024834 to Oglesby et al., U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010 / 0307518 to Wang, WO 2010 / 091593 to Hon, and WO 2013 / 089551 to Foo, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Additionally, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0099877 to Worm et al., filed October 13, 2015, discloses a capsule that can be included in an aerosol delivery device and a fob-shaped configuration for an aerosol delivery device, and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.The various materials disclosed by the aforementioned documents can be incorporated into the present device in various embodiments, and all of the foregoing disclosures are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

[0068] Referring to FIG. 2 , in the illustrated embodiment, the aerosol source member 104 includes a heating portion 106 configured to be inserted into the control body 102 and a mouth portion 108 through which a user inhales to generate aerosol. At least a portion of the heating portion 106 may include a substrate portion 110. As described in more detail below, in various embodiments, the substrate portion 110 may contain a cellulose material (e.g., a nanocellulose material, etc.) impregnated with an aerosol precursor composition (e.g., an aerosol-forming agent). In various embodiments, the aerosol source member 104, or a portion thereof, may be wrapped in an outer overwrap material 112. In various embodiments, the mouth portion 108 of the aerosol source member 104 may include a filter 114, which may be made from, for example, a cellulose acetate or polypropylene material. The filter 114 may additionally or alternatively include strands of tobacco-containing material, such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,025,814 to Raker et al., incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. In various embodiments, the filter 114 can increase the structural integrity of the mouth 108 of the aerosol source member 104 and / or provide filtering capabilities as needed and / or provide resistance to suction. In some embodiments, the filter 114 can comprise individual segments. For example, some embodiments can include a segment that provides filtration, a segment that provides resistance to suction, a hollow segment that provides space for the aerosol to cool, a segment that provides increased structural integrity, other filter segments, and any one or any combination of the above.

[0069] In some embodiments, the material of the outer overwrap material 112 may comprise a material that resists heat transfer, which may include paper or other fibrous materials such as cellulose materials. The outer overwrap material may also include at least one filler material embedded or dispersed within the fibrous material. In various embodiments, the filler material may have the form of water-insoluble particles. Additionally, the filler material may incorporate inorganic components. In various embodiments, the outer overwrap may be formed from multiple layers, such as an underlying bulk layer, and an overlying layer, such as a typical cigarette wrapper. Such materials may include, for example, lightweight "rag fibers" such as flax, hemp, sisal, rice straw, and / or esparto. The outer overwrap may also include materials commonly used in conventional cigarette filter elements, such as cellulose acetate. Additionally, the excess length of outer overlap at the mouth portion 108 of the aerosol source member may function simply to separate the substrate portion 110 from the consumer's mouth, as described below, or to provide space for placement of a filter material, or to affect inhalation of the article or the flow characteristics of the vapor or aerosol exiting the device during inhalation. Further description of the configuration of outer overlap materials that can be used in the present disclosure can be found in U.S. Patent No. 9,078,473 to Worm et al., which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0070] In various embodiments, other components may be present between the substrate portion 110 and the mouth portion 108 of the aerosol source member 104. For example, in some embodiments, one or any combination of the following may be disposed between the substrate portion 110 and the mouth portion 108 of the aerosol source member 104: an air gap; a hollow tubular structure; a phase change material for cooling air; a flavorant-releasing medium; an ion-exchange fiber capable of selective chemical adsorption; aerogel particles as a filter medium; or other suitable materials. Some examples of possible phase change materials include, but are not limited to, salts such as AgNO, AlCl, TaCl, InCl, SnCl, AlI, and TiI; metals or metal alloys such as selenium, tin, indium, tin-zinc, indium-zinc, and indium-bismuth; and organic compounds such as D-mannitol, succinic acid, p-nitrobenzoic acid, hydroquinone, and adipic acid. Other examples are described in US Pat. No. 8,430,106 to Potter et al., which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0071] As described in more detail below, the present disclosure is configured for use with conductive and / or inductive heating sources to heat substrate materials and form aerosols. In some embodiments, the conductive heating source may comprise a heating assembly including a resistive heating source. A resistive heating source can be configured to generate heat when an electric current is passed through it. Conductive materials useful as resistive heating sources can have low mass, low density, and moderate resistivity, and be thermally stable at temperatures experienced during use. Useful heating sources heat and cool rapidly, thus providing efficient use of energy. Rapid heating of a member can be beneficial for providing nearly instantaneous volatilization of aerosol precursor material in close proximity thereto. Rapid cooling prevents substantial volatilization (and thus waste) of aerosol precursor material during periods when aerosol formation is undesirable. Such heating sources can also enable relatively precise control of the temperature range experienced by the aerosol precursor material, especially when time-based current control is used. Useful conductive materials may be chemically non-reactive with the materials being heated (e.g., aerosol precursor materials and other inhalable materials) so as not to adversely affect the flavor or content of the aerosol or vapor produced. Some non-limiting examples of materials that can be used as conductive materials include carbon, graphite, carbon / graphite composites, metals, ceramics such as metal and non-metal carbides, nitrides, oxides, silicides, intermetallic compounds, cermets, metal alloys, and metal foils. Refractory materials may be particularly useful. Various different materials can be mixed to achieve desired properties of resistivity, mass, and thermal conductivity. In certain embodiments, usable metals include, for example, nickel, chromium, alloys of nickel and chromium (e.g., nichrome), and steel.Materials that may be useful for providing resistive heating are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,060,671 to Counts et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,093,894 to Deevi et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,224,498 to Deevi et al., Sprinkel et al. No. 5,322,075 to Deevi et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,353,813 to Deevi et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,468,936 to Deevi et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,498,850 to Das, U.S. Pat. No. 5,659,656 to Das, U.S. Pat. No. 5,498,855 to Deevi et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,530,225 to Hajaligol, U.S. Pat. No. 5,665,262 to Hajaligol, U.S. Pat. No. 5,573,692 to Das et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 5,591,368 to Fleischhauer et al., the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

[0072] In various embodiments, the heating source may be provided in various forms, such as in the form of a foil, foam, mesh, hollow ball, half-ball, disk, spiral, fiber, wire, film, thread, strip, ribbon, or cylinder. Such heating sources often contain metallic materials and are configured to generate heat as a result of electrical resistance associated with passing an electric current therethrough. Such resistive heating sources may be positioned in close proximity to and / or in direct contact with the substrate portion 110. For example, in one embodiment, the heating source may comprise a cylinder or other heating device disposed within the control body 102, the cylinder being composed of one or more electrically conductive materials, including, but not limited to, copper, aluminum, platinum, gold, silver, iron, steel, brass, bronze, carbon (e.g., graphite), or any combination thereof. In various embodiments, the heating source may also be coated with any of these or other electrically conductive materials. The heating source may be positioned adjacent to the engagement end of the control body 102 and configured to substantially surround a portion of the heating portion 106 of the aerosol source member 104, including the substrate portion 110. In this manner, the heating source may be disposed adjacent to the substrate portion 110 of the aerosol source member 104 when the aerosol source member is inserted into the control body 102. In other examples, at least a portion of the heating source may penetrate at least a portion of the aerosol source member (e.g., one or more prongs and / or spikes that penetrate the aerosol source member, etc.) when the aerosol source member is inserted into the control body 102. Note that while in some embodiments the heating source may comprise a cylinder, in other embodiments the heating source may take various forms and, in some embodiments, may directly contact and / or penetrate the substrate portion 110. As described above, in addition to being configured for use with conductive heating sources, the present disclosure can also be configured for use with induction heating sources to heat the substrate portion and form an aerosol. In various embodiments, the induction heating source may comprise a resonant transformer, which may comprise a resonant transmitter and a resonant receiver (e.g., a susceptor). In some embodiments, the resonant transmitter and the resonant receiver may be disposed in the control body 102.In other embodiments, the resonant receiver, or a portion thereof, may be located within the aerosol source member 104. For example, in some embodiments, the control body 102 may include a resonant transmitter, which may comprise, for example, a foil material, a coil, a cylinder, or other structure configured to generate an oscillating magnetic field, and a resonant receiver, which may comprise one or more prongs extending into or surrounded by the substrate portion 110.

[0073] According to some exemplary embodiments, a change in current directed from a power source to the resonant transmitter, for example by a control component, can generate an alternating electromagnetic field that penetrates the resonant receiver, thereby generating eddy currents within the resonant receiver. The alternating electromagnetic field may be generated by directing an alternating current to the resonant transmitter. In some embodiments, the control component may include an inverter or inverter circuit configured to convert direct current provided by the power source to alternating current provided to the resonant transmitter.

[0074] Eddy currents flowing through the material defining the resonant receiver can heat the resonant receiver through the Joule effect, with the amount of heat generated being proportional to the square of the current times the electrical resistance of the resonant receiver material. In resonant receiver embodiments containing ferromagnetic materials, heat may be generated through magnetic hysteresis losses. Several factors contribute to the temperature rise of a resonant receiver, including, but not limited to, proximity to the resonant transmitter, distribution of the magnetic field, electrical resistivity of the resonant receiver material, saturation magnetic flux density of the material, skin effect or depth, hysteresis losses, magnetic susceptibility, magnetic permeability, and dipole moment.

[0075] In this regard, in some embodiments, both the resonant receiver and the resonant transmitter may include conductive materials. By way of example, the resonant transmitter and / or the resonant receiver may contain various conductive materials, including metals such as copper and aluminum, alloys of conductive materials (e.g., diamagnetic, paramagnetic, or ferromagnetic materials), or other materials such as ceramic or glass embedded with one or more conductive materials. In another embodiment, the resonant receiver may contain conductive particles. In some embodiments, the resonant receiver may be coated with or otherwise include a thermally conductive passivation layer (e.g., a thin layer of glass).

[0076] In some embodiments, the resonant transmitter may include a helical coil configured to surround the cavity in which the aerosol source member, particularly the substrate portion of the aerosol source member, is received. In some embodiments, the helical coil may be disposed between the outer wall of the device and the receiving cavity. In one embodiment, the coil winding may have a circular cross-sectional shape, while in other embodiments, the coil winding may have various other cross-sectional shapes, including, but not limited to, oval, rectangular, L-shaped, T-shaped, triangular, and combinations thereof. In another embodiment, a pin may extend into a portion of the receiving cavity, and the pin may comprise a resonant transmitter, such as by including a coil structure around or within the pin. In various embodiments, the aerosol source member may be received within the receiving cavity, and one or more components of the aerosol source member may function as a resonant receiver. Other possible resonant transformer components, including resonant transmitters and resonant receivers, are described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2019 / 0124979, entitled "Induction Heated Aerosol Delivery Device," which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0077] As described above, in various embodiments, the substrate 110 may contain a cellulose material (e.g., nanocellulose material, etc.) at least partially formed from cellulose fibers (e.g., nanocellulose) impregnated with an aerosol precursor composition. As used herein, nanocellulose material refers to a cellulose material having at least one average particle size dimension in the range of 1 nm to 100 nm. Larger cellulose material sizes can be used, but reduced aerosol precursor loading is likely to occur. By way of non-limiting example, suitable nanocellulose materials may be fibrous materials prepared from any of a variety of cellulose-containing materials, such as wood (e.g., eucalyptus), grasses (e.g., bamboo), cotton, tobacco, algae, and other plant-based materials, where the fibers are further refined to produce nanofibrillated cellulose fibers. In various embodiments, the nanocellulose material may include one or more tobacco-derived nanocellulose fibers and / or non-tobacco-derived nanocellulose fibers, optionally in combination with one or more additional cellulose materials, such as tobacco-derived cellulose pulp and / or wood pulp-based cellulose fibers. In some embodiments, the substrate 110 may further contain hydrophobic additive components, flame retardant materials, flavorings, and conductive fibers or particles for heat conduction / induction, or any combination thereof. Furthermore, in various embodiments, the form of the substrate 110 may include gels, strips, films, suspensions, extrudates, shavings, capsules, and / or particles (including pellets, beads, strips, or any desired particle shape of various sizes), as well as combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the substrate 110 may be tobacco-free. In various other embodiments, the substrate 110 may be nicotine-free. In some embodiments, the substrate 110 may further contain one or more of non-tobacco-derived nicotine and flavorings. In certain embodiments, the substrate 110 may further contain one or more pharmaceuticals. In some embodiments, the substrate 110 may further contain one or more non-tobacco plants.

[0078] Pharmaceutical agents can be any known agent adapted for therapeutic, prophylactic, or diagnostic use, and can include, for example, synthetic organic compounds, proteins and peptides, polysaccharides and other sugars, lipids, inorganic compounds, and nucleic acid sequences with therapeutic, prophylactic, or diagnostic activity.

[0079] In some embodiments, the aerosol precursor composition may incorporate nicotine, which may be present in various concentrations. The source of the nicotine may vary, and the nicotine incorporated in the aerosol precursor composition may be derived from a single source or a combination of two or more sources. For example, in some embodiments, the aerosol precursor composition may include nicotine derived from tobacco. In other embodiments, the aerosol precursor composition may include nicotine derived from other organic plant sources, such as non-tobacco plant sources, including plants of the Solanaceae family. In other embodiments, the aerosol precursor composition may include synthetic nicotine. In some embodiments, the nicotine incorporated in the aerosol precursor composition may be derived from non-tobacco plant sources, such as other members of the Solanaceae family. The aerosol precursor composition may additionally or alternatively contain other active ingredients, including, but not limited to, botanicals (e.g., lavender, peppermint, chamomile, basil, rosemary, thyme, eucalyptus, ginger, cannabis, ginseng, maca, and tisanes), stimulants (e.g., caffeine and guarana), amino acids (e.g., taurine, theanine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan), and / or pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and medicinal ingredients (e.g., vitamins such as B6, B12, and C, and cannabinoids such as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD)). It is noted that the aerosol precursor composition may contain any component, derivative, or combination of any of the above.

[0080] As used herein, the terms "botanical material" or "botanical" refer to any plant or fungal-derived material, including plant material in its natural form and plant material derived from natural plant material, such as extracts or isolates from plant material or processed plant material (e.g., plant material subjected to heat treatment, fermentation, or other treatment processes that can alter the chemical properties of the material). For purposes of this disclosure, "plant material" includes, but is not limited to, "herbal material," which refers to seed-producing plants that do not develop persistent woody tissue and are often valued for their medicinal or sensory properties (e.g., tea or tisane). Reference to plant material as "non-tobacco" is intended to exclude tobacco material (i.e., not containing Nicotiana species). Plant material used in the present invention can include, but is not limited to, any of the compounds and sources described herein, including mixtures thereof. Certain botanical materials of this type are sometimes referred to as dietary supplements, nutraceuticals, "phytochemicals," or "functional foods."

[0081] Exemplary plant materials, many of which are associated with antioxidant properties, include, but are not limited to, acai berry, alfalfa, allspice, annatto seed, apricot oil, basil, bergamot, wild bergamot, black pepper, blueberry, borage seed oil, cilantro, cacao, calamus root, catnip, catuaba, red chili pepper, birch mushroom, chervil, cinnamon, dark chocolate, potato skin, grape seed, ginseng, ginkgo, St. John's wort, saw palmetto, green tea, black tea, black cohosh, cayenne pepper, chamomile, Cloves, cocoa powder, cranberries, dandelions, grapefruit, honeybush, echinacea, garlic, evening primrose, feverfew, ginger, goldenseal, hawthorn, hibiscus flowers, sweet tea vine, birch, lavender, licorice, origanum vulgare, milk thistle, mint, oolong tea, beetroot, orange, oregano, papaya, nightshade, peppermint, red clover, rooibos (red or green), rosehips, rosemary, sage, clary sage, savory, mint, spirulina, slippery elm bark, sorghum These include bran high tannin, sorghum grain high tannin, sumac bran, comfrey leaf and root, goji berry, gutsukola, thyme, turmeric, uva ursi, valerian, wild yam root, wintergreen, yacon root, yellow dock, yerba mate, yerba santa, bacopa monniera, ashwagandha, lion's mane, and milk thistle.

[0082] In certain embodiments, the nanocellulose material is mixed with the reconstituted tobacco material, for example, using various casting and papermaking techniques known in the art. The reconstituted tobacco material can include, in addition to the nanocellulose material, wood pulp, tobacco fiber, plant components, or other cellulose components. In some embodiments, the addition of nanocellulose material to the reconstituted tobacco material can help increase both the absorbency and mechanical strength of the resulting material. Reconstituted tobacco materials and methods for providing such materials are described in U.S. Patent No. 4,674,519 to Keritsis et al., U.S. Patent No. 4,807,809 to Pryor et al., U.S. Patent No. 4,889,143 to Pryor et al., U.S. Patent No. 4,941,484 to Clapp et al., U.S. Patent No. 4,972,854 to Kiernan et al., U.S. Patent No. 4,987,906 to Young et al., U.S. Patent No. 5,025,000 to Raker, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. No. 814, U.S. Pat. No. 5,099,864 to Young et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,143,097 to Sohn et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,159,942 to Brinkley et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,322,076 to Brinkley et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,339,838 to Young et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,377,698 to Litzinger et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,501,237 to Young et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 6,216,707 to Kumar.

[0083] In one particular embodiment, tobacco-derived nanocellulose material can be formed by receiving tobacco pulp in a dilute form, such that the tobacco pulp is a tobacco pulp suspension having a consistency of less than 5%, and mechanically fibrillating the tobacco pulp suspension to produce the tobacco-derived nanocellulose material. The method for producing tobacco pulp generally involves heating the tobacco material in a strong base to separate undesirable components, such as hemicellulose and lignin, present in the tobacco feedstock from the cellulose, and filtering the resulting mixture to obtain the desired cellulose material with minimal impurities. The resulting tobacco pulp can be further modified to produce a number of nanocellulose materials, such as cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs), cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), and cellulose microfibrils (CMFs), which differ from one another primarily based on the method of isolation from the tobacco pulp. The nanocellulose materials described herein typically include materials in which particles within a given particle distribution (either unbound or as part of aggregates or agglomerates) exhibit at least one average particle size dimension in the range of 1 nm to 100 nm. The average particle size can be determined by examining a selected number of particle images using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and averaging the results. Materials and methods that may be useful for providing tobacco-derived nanocellulose are described in U.S. Patent No. 10,196,778 to Sebastian et al., which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. In some embodiments, nanocellulose material and conventional wood pulp-based cellulose fibers can be used in combination to form the substrate material.

[0084] In some embodiments, the nanocellulose material has an apparent viscosity in the range of 5,000-40,000 mPa*s, 20,000-35,000 mPa*s, or 20,000-30,000 mPa*s at 1.5% consistency, as measured using a Brookfield rheometer RVDV-III at 10 rpm with a vane spindle at 1.5% static viscosity.

[0085] In some embodiments, the tensile strength of the nanocellulose substrate material is greater than 120 MPa, or greater than 130 MPa, or greater than 140 MPa (e.g., in the range of 140-180 MPa or 150-170 MPa). In some embodiments, the strain of the nanocellulose-based substrate material is at least 11% or at least 12%, e.g., in the range of 10%-15%, or 11%-14%. In some embodiments, the tensile modulus of the nanocellulose-based substrate material is at least 4 GPa, e.g., in the range of 4-6 GPa. Tensile properties can be measured using a modified SCN P 38:80 Paper and board—Determination of tensile strength—procedure; Vartiainen et al., “Hydrophobization of cellophane and cellulose nanofibrils films by supercritical state carbon dioxide impregnation with walnut oil,” Biorefinery, vol. 31 no. (4) 2016, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The crosshead speed during the test is 2 mm / min, the sample width is 15 mm, and the gauge length is 20 mm.

[0086] In some embodiments, the oxygen permeability of the nanocellulose-based substrate material is 0.2 cc×mm / m at 23° C. and 0% relative humidity (RH). 2 Less than x days or 0.1cc x mm / m 2 Less than x days or 0.05cc x mm / m 2 x days, and 20cc x mm / m at 23°C and 80% relative humidity (RH). 2 Less than x days or 10cc x mm / m 2 Less than x days or 5cc x mm / m 2The oxygen permeability can be measured using ASTM D3985; Vartiainen et al., "Hydrophobization of cellophane and cellulose nanofibrils films by supercritical state carbon dioxide impregnation with walnut oil," Biorefinery, vol. 31 no. (4) 2016.

[0087] In some embodiments, the substrate 110 is loaded with the aerosol precursor composition. In various embodiments, loading of the substrate 110 is achieved by impregnating the nanocellulose material with the aerosol precursor composition. In some embodiments, the nanocellulose material is impregnated with the aerosol precursor composition at a loading of at least 20 wt%, at least 25 wt%, or at least 30 wt%, at least 35 wt%, at least 40 wt%, at least 45 wt%, or at least 50 wt%, based on the total weight of the impregnated material. Exemplary ranges of the aerosol precursor material include 20 wt% to 60 wt%, e.g., 25 wt% to 50 wt%, or 30 wt% to 45 wt%, based on the total weight of the impregnated material. Methods of loading a substrate portion with an aerosol precursor composition are described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,974,334 to Dooly et al., U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015 / 0313283 to Collett et al., and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0279673 to Sebastian et al., the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

[0088] Nanocellulose materials are inherently hydrophilic (although such materials can be rendered inherently hydrophobic using certain manufacturing processes) and therefore exhibit a high degree of absorption of hydrophilic aerosol precursor materials, such as glycerin. In certain embodiments, the hydrophobicity of nanocellulose substrate materials can be increased to improve chemical compatibility between the substrate material and the hydrophobic components of the aerosol precursor materials, such as menthol. Enhancing the hydrophobicity of nanocellulose material surfaces typically involves either physical interaction / adsorption of hydrophobic molecules onto the surface, or grafting of hydrophobic molecules onto the surface via chemical bonding, or a combination of such techniques. Examples of agents that can be physically adsorbed or otherwise associated with nanocellulose surfaces include poly-DADMAC (polydiallyldimethylammonium chloride), cetrimonium bromide, and perfluorooctadecanoic acid. Examples of chemical modification / grafting agents include acetic anhydride, hexamethyldisilazane, and hydroxyethyl methacrylate. Methylation and silylation are examples of grafting techniques that can increase the hydrophobicity of surfaces. See also Missoum et al., Nanofibrillated Cellulose Surface Modifications: A Review, Materials, 2013, 6, 1745-1766; Dufresne et al., Nanocellulose: a new ageless bio nanomaterial, Materials Today, 16(6), 2013, 220-227; Peng et al., Chemistry and applications of nanocrystalline cellulose and its derivatives: A nanotechnology perspective, Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering, 9999, 2011, 1-16; and the additives described in Wang and Piao, From hydrophilicity to hydrophobicity: a critical review - part II: hydrophobic conversion, Wood and Fiber Science, 43(1), 2011, 41-46.

[0089] As described above, in various embodiments, the substrate portion 110 may include an additive component that increases the hydrophobicity of the substrate. In various embodiments, the additive component of the substrate portion 110 is added to the nanocellulose material prior to impregnation with the nanocellulose material, where the additive component chemically or physically modifies the nanocellulose material to make it more hydrophobic and further enable the nanocellulose material to receive increased loading of hydrophobic aerosol precursor materials, such as menthol. Examples of suitable hydrophobic aerosol precursor compositions for loading nanocellulose materials include fragrances selected from the group consisting of esters, terpenes (including cyclic terpenes), aromatic compounds, and lactones. Additional examples of suitable hydrophobic aerosol precursor compositions include, but are not limited to, methyl butyrate, ethyl butyrate, isoamyl acetate, pentyl pentanoate, citral, nerol, limonene, citronella, menthol, carvone, eugenol, anisole, benzaldehyde, massoialactone, sotolon, jasmine lactone, gamma-decalactone, geraniol, and delta-decalactone. The hydrophobic component can also be an essential oil (eg, peppermint oil, orange oil, etc.) or other plant extract, absolute, or oleoresin (eg, fenugreek, ginger, etc.).

[0090] In certain other embodiments, the substrate portion 110 may be divided into various subportions. In some embodiments, one or more of the subportions may include an additive component (hereinafter referred to as a "treated portion") that increases the hydrophobicity of that subportion, and one or more of the subportions may be free of a hydrophobic additive component (hereinafter referred to as an "untreated subportion"). Advantageously, this allows for one or more untreated subportions containing hydrophilic nanocellulose material and one or more treated subportions containing hydrophobic nanocellulose material. In some embodiments, the untreated subportions may be positioned closer to the heat source than the treated subportions to facilitate more heat to the untreated subportions. In certain other embodiments, the substrate portion 110 may comprise a segmented configuration of treated and untreated subportions such that the subportions are closely arranged in an end-to-end configuration. Such a configuration allows for a gradient substrate in which the hydrophobicity of each subportion increases the further the subportion is proximate from the heat source. Generally, subportions with a higher hydrophobic concentration require less heat to release the aerosol precursor composition within the subportion. In various embodiments, the treated and untreated subportions may be chopped and dispersed amongst one another such that the substrate portion 110 contains a mixture of treated and untreated subportions in chopped form.

[0091] As mentioned above, the substrate portion 110 can also include a flame-retardant material. One example of such a material is ammonium phosphate. In some embodiments, other flame-retardant / combustion-suppressing materials and additives may be included within the substrate portion 110, including organophosphorus compounds, borax, hydrated alumina, graphite, potassium, silica, tripolyphosphates, dipentaerythritol, pentaerythritol, and polyols. Others, such as nitrogen-containing phosphonates, monoammonium phosphate, ammonium polyphosphate, ammonium bromide, ammonium borate, ethanolammonium borate, ammonium sulfamate, halogenated organic compounds, thiourea, and antimony oxide, may also be used. In each aspect of the flame-retardant, flame-retardant, and / or scorch-retardant materials used in the substrate material and / or other components (alone or in combination with each other and / or other materials), the desired property is independence from and resistance to undesirable outgassing or melt-type behavior. Various methods and techniques for incorporating tobacco into smoking articles, particularly smoking articles designed to intentionally prevent the combustion of substantially all of the tobacco within those smoking articles, are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,947,874 to Brooks et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,647,932 to Cantrell et al., U.S. Pat. No. 8,079,371 to Robinson et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,290,549 to Banerjee et al., and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2007 / 0215167 to Crooks et al., the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

[0092] As described above, the substrate portion 110 may be impregnated with an aerosol precursor composition. In some embodiments, the aerosol precursor composition may contain glycerin, propylene glycol, or a medium-chain triglyceride. Aerosol-forming materials include polyhydric alcohols (e.g., glycerin, propylene glycol, and triethylene glycol) and / or water, as well as any other material that produces a visible aerosol, and any combination thereof. Representative types of aerosol-forming materials are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,793,365 to Sensabaugh, Jr. et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,101,839 to Jakob et al., WO 98 / 57556 to Biggs et al., and Chemical and Biological Studies on New Cigarette Prototypes that Heat Instead of Burn Tobacco, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company Monograph (1988), which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. Other representative types of aerosol precursor components and formulations are also described and characterized in U.S. Pat. No. 7,726,320 to Robinson et al., U.S. Pat. No. 8,881,737 to Collett et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 9,254,002 to Chong et al., U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2013 / 0008457 to Zheng et al., U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2015 / 0020823 to Lipowicz et al., and 2015 / 0020830 to Koller, and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0367386 to McElvany et al., and WO 2014 / 182736 to Bowen et al., the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.Other aerosol precursors that can be used include the aerosol precursors incorporated into VUSE® products by RJ Reynolds Vapor Company, BLU™ products by Fontem Ventures BV, MISTIC MENTHOL products by Mistic Ecigs, MARK TEN products by Nu Mark LLC, JUUL products by Juul Labs, Inc., and VYPE products by British American Tobacco. Also desirable are so-called "smoke juices" for e-cigarettes available from Johnson Creek Enterprises LLC. Further exemplary aerosol precursor compositions are sold under the trade names BLACK NOTE, COSMIC FOG, MILKMAN E-LIQUID, FIVE PAWNS, VAPOR CHEF, VAPE WILD, BOOSTED, STEAM FACTORY, MECH SAUCE, CASEY JONES MAINLINE RESERVE, MITTEN VAPORS, DR. CRIMMY'S V-LIQUID, SMILEY E LIQUID, BEANTOWN VAPOR, CUTTWOOD, CYCLOPS VAPOR, SICBOY, GOOD LIFE VAPOR, TELEOS, PINUP VAPORS, SPACE JAM, MT. BAKER VAPOR, and JIMMY THE JUICE MAN. Embodiments of the effervescent material that can be used with the aerosol precursor compositions are described, by way of example, in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2012 / 0055494 to Hunt et al., which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.Additionally, the use of foamable materials is described in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,639,368 to Niazi et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,178,878 to Wehling et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,223,264 to Wehling et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,974,590 to Pather et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,381,667 to Bergquist et al., U.S. Pat. No. 8,424,541 to Crawford et al., U.S. Pat. No. 8,627,828 to Strickland et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 9,307,787 to Sun et al., as well as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010 / 0018539 to Brinkley et al., and WO 97 / 06786 to Johnson et al., all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. Additional description of embodiments of aerosol precursor compositions, including descriptions of tobacco or tobacco-derived components contained therein, is provided in U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2018 / 0020722 and 2018 / 0020723, respectively, by Davis et al., each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0093] As mentioned above, the substrate portion 110 may also include a flavoring. As used herein, reference to a "flavoring" refers to a compound or ingredient that can be aerosolized and delivered to a user and that provides a sensory experience in terms of taste and / or aroma. Some exemplary flavorings include, but are not limited to, vanillin, ethyl vanillin, cream, tea, coffee, fruit (e.g., apple, cherry, strawberry, peach, and citrus flavors including lime and lemon), maple, menthol, mint, peppermint, spearmint, wintergreen, nutmeg, clove, lavender, cardamom, ginger, honey, anise, sage, rosemary, hibiscus, rosehip, erbamate, guayusa, honeybush, rooibos, erba santa, bacopa monniera, ginkgo biloba, withania somnifera, cinnamon, sandalwood, jasmine, cascarilla, cocoa, licorice, and flavors and flavor packages of the type and characteristics traditionally used in flavoring cigarettes, cigars, and pipe tobacco. Syrups, such as high fructose corn syrup, can also be used. Some exemplary plant-derived compositions are disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 9,107,453 and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2012 / 0152265, both by Dube et al., the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. The selection of such additional ingredients can vary based on factors such as the sensory characteristics desired in the smoking article, their affinity for the substrate material, their solubility, and other physicochemical properties. The present disclosure is intended to encompass any such additional ingredients readily apparent to those skilled in the art of tobacco and tobacco-related or tobacco-derived products. See, for example, Gutcho, Tobacco Flavoring Substances and Methods, Noyes Data Corp. (1972) and Leffingwell et al., Tobacco Flavoring for Smoking Products (1972). The disclosures of these compositions are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.It should be noted that reference to a fragrance should not be limited to a single fragrance as set forth above, but may in fact represent a combination of one or more fragrances.

[0094] As described above, the substrate portion 110 may also include conductive fibers or particles for heating by thermal conduction or induction. In some embodiments, the conductive fibers or particles may be arranged in a substantially linear and parallel pattern. In some embodiments, the conductive fibers or particles may have a substantially random arrangement. In some embodiments, the conductive fibers or particles may be composed of one or more of an aluminum material, a stainless steel material, a copper material, a carbon material, and a graphite material. In some embodiments, the substrate material may include one or more conductive fibers or particles with different Curie temperatures to facilitate inductive heating at various temperatures.

[0095] 3 , in the illustrated embodiment, the substrate portion 110 of the inserted source member 104 is segmented into multiple substrate segments associated with the multiple heating segments of the heating source of the control body 102. In the illustrated embodiment, the heating source of the control body 102 includes a first heating segment 132, a second heating segment 134, and a third heating segment 136. As shown, the substrate portion 110 includes a first substrate segment 142 associated with the first heating segment 132, a second substrate segment 144 associated with the second heating segment 134, and a third substrate segment 146 associated with the third heating segment 136. In some embodiments, the heating source may include fewer than three or more than three heating segments, and the heating section 106 may include fewer than three or more than three respective substrate segments. In some embodiments, the heating source may include more or fewer heating segments than the respective substrate segments of the heating section 106. In some embodiments, the aerosol source member 104 may include an aerosol path 116 that passes through the substrate segments 142, 144, and 146. The aerosol path 116 may be disposed about a central longitudinal axis of the aerosol source member 104. In the illustrated embodiment, the heating segments 132, 134, and 136 of the heating source are disposed downstream from a distal end of the control body 102, with the first heating segment 132 distal to the second heating segment 134, which is distal to the third heating segment 136. In this configuration, the second heating segment 134 is disposed between the first and third heating segments 132 and 136. Similarly, the substrate segments 142, 144, and 146 are disposed with the second substrate segment 144 downstream from the first substrate segment 142 and the third substrate segment 146 downstream from the second substrate segment 146. In this configuration, the second substrate segment 144 is located between the first and third substrate segments 142, 146. In the illustrated embodiment, the downstream end of the aerosol source member 104 comprises a mouth end of the aerosol source member 104 that includes the filter 114.However, it should be noted that in other implementations, the downstream end of the aerosol source member may not include a mouth end and / or may not include a filter.

[0096] In the illustrated embodiment, the heating source has multiple heating segments (e.g., two or more heating segments), but in other embodiments, the heating source may have a single heating segment that heats multiple substrate segments (e.g., two or more substrate segments) to different temperatures. For example, a heating source with a single heating segment may generate a temperature gradient across the multiple substrate segments (e.g., based on proximity or distance from the heating source) such that the multiple substrate segments are heated to different temperatures. Furthermore, while the illustrated embodiment shows the aerosol source member extending outside the control body, it should be noted that the present invention should not be so limited. In other embodiments, for example, the aerosol source member may be completely received and / or concealed within the control body. Notably, in some embodiments, the source member may be completely housed in a receiving compartment or chamber of the control body. Furthermore, in some embodiments, there may be a mouthpiece, but other embodiments need not include a mouthpiece. In some embodiments, the mouthpiece may be a separate component (which may, in some embodiments, be reusable). Furthermore, in some embodiments, the source member may comprise a substrate portion and may not include a filter or other segment or portion.

[0097] 3 , when the heating segments 132, 134, 136 of the illustrated embodiment are activated, the first heating segment 132 is configured to heat the first substrate segment 142 to a first temperature, the second heating segment 134 is configured to heat the second substrate segment 144 to a second temperature that is lower than the first temperature, and the third heating segment 136 is configured to heat the third substrate segment 146 to a third temperature that is lower than the second temperature. In this configuration, the temperature within the heating section 106 decreases from its leading edge toward its downstream end. The first heating segment 132 may terminate before the downstream end of the first substrate segment 142 and the distal end of the second substrate segment 144 so that the first temperature is limited to the first substrate segment 142 and the second substrate segment 144 is prevented from exceeding a desired temperature (e.g., a second temperature). Similarly, the second heating segment 134 may terminate before the downstream end of the second substrate segment 142 and the distal end of the third substrate segment 146 such that the third substrate segment 146 does not exceed the third temperature. The heating segments 132, 134, 136 may be induction or conductive heating sources. In some embodiments, the heating segments 132, 134, 136 are disposed along the substrate segments 142, 144, 146. Additionally or alternatively, the heating segments 132, 134, 136 are disposed within the substrate segments 142, 144, 146.

[0098] The first temperature may be within a range of 240°C to 350°C (e.g., 300°C), the second temperature may be within a range of 180°C to 250°C (e.g., 200°C), and the third temperature may be within a range of 80°C to 225°C (e.g., 100°C). In some embodiments, the first, second, and third temperatures may be configured to enable vapor formation of the aerosol-forming agent disposed within each of the substrate segments 142, 144, and 146 while reducing or avoiding the formation of undesirable by-products, such as off-flavors, which may result from overheating the substrate and / or the generation of harmful and potentially harmful components (HPHCs) as defined by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which may result from overheating some substrate materials and / or aerosol-forming agents. The first substrate segment 142 may include a first aerosol-forming agent 152 having a high boiling point and / or a low volatility index. The first aerosol-forming agent 152 may include nicotine and, in some embodiments, a flavor element that requires high temperatures to form a vapor. The first aerosol-forming agent 152 may be in the form of beads packed within the first substrate segment 142 and / or may be suspended in a heat-resistant cellulosic, fibrous, non-fibrous, or inert substrate. The first temperature may be determined to heat the first aerosol-forming agent 152 without burning the first aerosol-forming agent 152 and / or the substrate in which the first aerosol-forming agent 152 is suspended. The first temperature may be determined to enable a flavor profile of the aerosol formed from the first aerosol-forming agent 152. The first aerosol-forming agent 152 may be suspended in glycerol to form a vapor when the glycerol is heated to the first temperature. The first aerosol-forming agent 152 may include, but is not limited to, maltol, vanillin, ethyl vanillin, cinnamic acid, phenylacetic acid, levulinic acid, nerolidol, citronellyl phenyl acetate, caryophylline oxide, gamma nonalactone, isoamyl phenyl acetate, phenylethyl isovalerate, heliotropin, or combinations thereof.

[0099] The second substrate segment 144 may include a second aerosol-forming agent 154 having a lower boiling point and / or a higher volatility index than the first aerosol-forming agent 152. The second aerosol-forming agent 154 may include a flavor element configured to enhance the aerosol drawn downstream through the aerosol source member 104. In an embodiment, the second aerosol-forming agent 154 may include tobacco. The second aerosol-forming agent 154 may be in the form of beads packed within the second substrate segment 144 and / or may be suspended in a heat-resistant cellulosic, fibrous, non-fibrous, or inert substrate, similar to the first aerosol-forming agent 152. The second temperature may be determined to heat the second aerosol-forming agent 154 without burning the second aerosol-forming agent 154 and / or the substrate in which the second aerosol-forming agent 154 is suspended. The second temperature may be determined to enable a flavor profile of the aerosol formed from the second aerosol-forming agent 154. The second aerosol forming agent 154 may be suspended in propylene glycol. The second aerosol forming agent may also include glycerol or may be suspended in glycerol to facilitate flavor mixing. The second aerosol forming agent 154 may include, but is not limited to, 2-acetylpyrrole, methylcyclopentenolone, α-ionone, geraniol, β-damascene, menthol, caryophyllene, caproic acid, phenethyl alcohol, anethole, phenethyl butyrate, α-terpineol, ethyl phenylacetate, 3-methylvaleric acid, propylene glycol, benzyl alcohol, or combinations thereof.

[0100] The third substrate segment 146 may include a third aerosol-forming agent 156 having a lower boiling point and / or a higher volatility index than the first and second aerosol-forming agents 152, 154. The third aerosol-forming agent 156 may include flavor elements and / or tobacco configured to enhance the aerosol drawn downstream through the aerosol source member 104. The third aerosol-forming agent 156 may be in the form of beads packed within the third substrate segment 146 and / or may be suspended in a heat-resistant cellulosic, fibrous, non-fibrous, or inert substrate similar to the first aerosol-forming agent 154. In an embodiment, the third aerosol-forming agent 156 includes tobacco formed into a rod and / or packed within the third substrate segment 146. The third temperature may be determined to heat the third aerosol-forming agent 156 without burning the third aerosol-forming agent 156 and / or the substrate in which the third aerosol-forming agent 156 is suspended. The third temperature may be determined to enable a flavor profile of the aerosol formed from the third aerosol forming agent 156. The third aerosol forming agent 156 may include, but is not limited to, 3-acetylpyridine, tetramethylpyrazine, methyl salicylate, linalool, ethyl caproate, gamma-valerolactone, para-tolylaldehyde, 2-methylbutyric acid, isovaleric acid, benzaldehyde, limonene, 2-methylpyrazine, or combinations thereof.

[0101] As described above, in some embodiments, the third aerosol-forming agent 156 may include tobacco. The third substrate segment 146 may have a maximum temperature that is lower than the temperature at which the tobacco in the third aerosol-forming agent 156 decomposes (e.g., 100°C). In some embodiments, the second substrate segment 144 may have a maximum temperature that is lower than the temperature at which the tobacco in the second substrate segment decomposes (e.g., 150°C). Specifically, Oriental and / or flue-cured tobacco may be included in the second aerosol-forming agent 154, and Burley tobacco may be more suitable for inclusion in the third aerosol-forming agent 156.

[0102] In embodiments, a nicotine salt may be included in one or more of the aerosol-forming agents 152, 154, 156. The boiling point and / or volatility of the nicotine salt may depend on the vapor pressure of the acid used to form the salt, such that a particular nicotine salt may be more suitable for a particular one of the substrate segments 142, 144, 146. For example, nicotine lactate, nicotine levulinate, or nicotine benzoate may be suitable for the first aerosol-forming agent 152 in the first substrate segment 142, and nicotine L-malate or nicotine mucate may be suitable for the second aerosol-forming agent 154 in the second substrate segment 144.

[0103] Segmenting the heating section 106 of the aerosol source member 104 of some embodiments allows for vapor formation from each of the aerosol-forming agents 152, 154, 156 while reducing the potential production of undesirable by-products during vapor formation. Furthermore, segmenting the heating section 106 can allow for more complete vapor formation from each of the aerosol-forming agents 152, 154, 156 compared to a non-segmented heating section 106. Furthermore, segmenting the heating section 106 can allow for the combination of a high boiling point and / or low volatility aerosol-forming agent with a low boiling point and / or high volatility aerosol-forming agent in a single source member 104. Segmenting the heating section 106 can also improve the flavor profile of the aerosol compared to a non-segmented heating section.

[0104] The first, second, or third aerosol former 152, 154, 156 may comprise a series of overlapping layers of composite substrate sheets bearing nanocellulose material. The layers of nanocellulose material may be formed by any suitable method, such as wet-laid and dry-laid methods (e.g., carding or air-laid). The resulting nanocellulose fiber layers may be in the form of a film or sheet. If desired, additive components may be used, such as additive components that allow the cellulosic fiber sheets to undergo chemical modification, typically to increase hydrophobicity. In various embodiments, nanocellulose films or sheets may be impregnated with an aerosol precursor composition and / or additional flavoring to form the first, second, or third aerosol former 152, 154, 156. The nanocellulose sheets or films may be formed without the use of a polymeric binder, as is typically required when forming cohesive sheet materials. In certain embodiments, the nanocellulose material may act alone as a binder in the nanocellulose sheets or films. Thus, in certain embodiments, sheet materials comprising nanocellulose material are formed using a casting or papermaking process, and the sheet material incorporates one or more aerosol-forming materials and, optionally, one or more flavorings. However, the sheet material may be substantially free of, or completely free of, polymeric binders (e.g., less than 1% by weight, or less than 0.5% by weight, or less than 0.1% by weight of polymeric binder, based on the total weight of the sheet). In other embodiments, the sheet material may include a polymeric binder to supplement the binding properties of the nanocellulose material. For further details about suitable nanocellulose materials, see U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 294,098, filed March 6, 2019, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0105] In some embodiments, the aerosol source member 104 and the control body 102 can generally be provided together as a complete smoking article or drug delivery article, although the components may be provided separately. For example, the present disclosure also encompasses disposable units for use with reusable smoking articles or reusable drug delivery articles. In certain embodiments, such disposable units (which may be aerosol source members as shown in the accompanying figures) can include a generally tubular body having a heated end configured to engage the reusable smoking article or drug delivery article, an opposing mouth configured to allow passage of an inhalable substance to a consumer, and a wall with outer and inner surfaces defining an interior space. Various embodiments of aerosol source members (or cartridges) are described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,078,473 to Worm et al., the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0106] Although several figures described herein show the control body and aerosol source member in an operative relationship, it is understood that the control body and aerosol source member may exist as separate devices, and therefore any discussion provided elsewhere herein regarding combined components should also be understood as applying to the control body and aerosol source member as individual and separate components.

[0107] Referring now to FIG. 4 , another aerosol source member 204 according to the present disclosure is provided. As noted above, in other embodiments, the heating source may be a non-carbon heating source, but in the illustrated embodiment, the aerosol source member 204 is a carbon-heated tobacco product and includes, from its distal end to its downstream end, a carbon heating source 232, a segmented heating section 206, and a filter 214. The aerosol source member 204 may be used with or without a holder. The heating section 206 is similar to the heating section 106 detailed above, and similar elements include similar labels with the leading “1” replaced with a leading “2.” Therefore, for the sake of brevity, similar elements will not be described in detail herein.

[0108] In use, carbon heating source 232 is ignited and burns, generating heat. Heating section 206 is heated by the heat generated by carbon heating source 232, forming an aerosol from an aerosol-forming agent disposed within heating section 206. As described herein, heating source 232 is a carbon heating source. However, other heating sources capable of providing heat to heating section 206 in a manner similar to heating source 232 may be used.

[0109] 5 , the heating section 206 of some exemplary embodiments may be separated from the heating source 232 by a first barrier 262 disposed between the first substrate segment 242 and the heating source 232. The first barrier 262 is configured to provide a thermal barrier between the heating source 232 and the first substrate segment 242 to maintain the temperature within the first substrate segment 242 at or below a predetermined first maximum temperature (e.g., 300° C.). For example, the heating source 232 may burn at 700° C., and the first barrier 262 may provide a thermal barrier between the heating source 232 and the first substrate segment 242 such that the first substrate segment 242 remains at or below 300° C. The first barrier 262 may be fire-resistant or flame-resistant to prevent ignition of the first barrier 262, and therefore the substrate segment 206.

[0110] The heating section 206 may include a second barrier 264 disposed between the first substrate segment 242 and the second substrate segment 244. The second barrier 264 is configured to provide a thermal barrier between the first substrate segment 242 and the second substrate segment 244 to maintain a temperature within the second substrate segment 244 at or below a predetermined second maximum temperature (e.g., 200° C.).

[0111] The heating section 206 may include a third barrier 266 disposed between the second substrate segment 244 and the third substrate segment 246. The third barrier 266 provides a thermal barrier between the second substrate segment 244 and the third substrate segment 246 and is configured to maintain the temperature within the third substrate segment 246 at or below a predetermined third maximum temperature (e.g., 100°C).

[0112] One or more of the barriers 262, 264, 266 may be embodied as metal discs (e.g., aluminum discs) and may include one or more openings to allow air to pass through. In some embodiments, the barriers 262, 264, 266 are formed of metal, silica fiber, silica aerogel, pyrogel, ceramic insulators, silica-containing cellulose fiber, refractory fiber, carbon fiber and foam, various phase-change materials, or combinations thereof. For example, during use, a user can create suction through the filter 214 such that air is drawn through the first, second, and third substrate segments 242, 244, 246 downstream from or adjacent to a heat source to draw air through the first, second, and third aerosol-forming agents 252, 254, 256 disposed within the first, second, and third substrate segments 242, 244, 246, respectively, to draw an aerosol containing a desired flavor and / or amount of nicotine through the filter 214. The barriers 262, 264, 266 prevent the temperature within each substrate segment 242, 244, 246 from exceeding a predetermined temperature as the drawn air passes through, so that the first, second, and third aerosol-forming agents 252, 254, 256 form vapors within a desired temperature range to produce a desired aerosol having a desired flavor and other characteristics. Furthermore, preventing the temperature within each substrate segment 242, 244, 246 from exceeding a predetermined temperature prevents the respective aerosol-forming agents 252, 254, 256 from deteriorating or being destroyed. However, it will be understood that in some embodiments, one or more of the barriers 262, 264, and 266 may be omitted.

[0113] 4 , the aerosol source member 204 may include an outer wrap 212 for engaging or otherwise joining at least a portion of the heating source 232 with at least a portion of the substrate portion 206 and the filter 214. In various embodiments, the outer wrap 212 is configured to be held in place in any manner, including via adhesive, fasteners, etc., to allow the outer wrap 212 to remain in place. Alternatively, in some other aspects, the outer wrap 212 may be configured to be removable as desired. For example, once the outer wrap 212 is held in place, the outer wrap 212 can be removed from the heating source 232, the substrate portion 206, and / or the filter 214.

[0114] In some embodiments, in addition to the outer wrap 212, the aerosol delivery device may also include a liner configured to circumscribe at least a portion of the substrate portion 206 and the heat source 232. The liner can circumscribe only a portion of the length of the substrate portion 206, and in some embodiments, the liner can circumscribe substantially the entire length of the substrate portion 206. Thus, in some embodiments, the outer wrap 212 and the liner may be separate materials provided together (e.g., bonded, fused, or otherwise joined together as a laminate). In other embodiments, the outer wrap 212 and the liner may be the same material. In either case, the liner may be configured to thermally regulate the conduction of heat generated by the ignited heat source 232 radially outward of the liner. Thus, in some embodiments, the liner may be constructed from a metal foil material, an alloy material, a ceramic material, or other thermally conductive amorphous carbon-based material, and / or an aluminum material, and in some embodiments, may comprise a laminate. In some embodiments, depending on the material of the outer wrap 212 and / or liner, a thin layer of insulation may be provided radially outward of the liner. Thus, the liner may, in some aspects, advantageously facilitate axial heat transfer therealong while also providing a way to engage two or more separate components of the aerosol source member 204 (e.g., the heating source 232, the substrate portion 206, and / or a portion of the filter 214, etc.), while also providing a way to limit radially outward heat conduction.

[0115] In various embodiments, ignition of the heat source 232 results in aerosolization of the aerosol precursor composition associated with the substrate portion 206. Elements of the substrate portion 206 may not undergo thermal decomposition (e.g., charring, scorching, or combustion) to a significant extent, and the aerosolized components are entrained in air drawn into the user's mouth through the aerosol source member 204, including the filter 214. In various embodiments, the filter 214 is configured to receive the generated aerosol in response to suction applied to the filter 214 by a user. In some embodiments, the filter 214 may be fixedly engaged to the substrate portion 206. For example, adhesives, bonding, welding, or the like may be suitable for fixedly engaging the filter 214 to the substrate portion 206. In one example, the filter 214 is ultrasonically welded and sealed to the end of the substrate portion 206. In some embodiments, the aerosol source member 204 may include an intermediate portion disposed between the filter 214 and the substrate portion 206. The intermediate portion may allow aerosols to collect and / or may reinforce the filter 214 and / or the substrate portion 206 .

[0116] Tobacco materials that may be useful in the present disclosure may vary and may include, for example, flue-cured tobacco, burley tobacco, Oriental or Maryland tobacco, dark tobacco, dark fire tobacco, and rustica tobacco, as well as other rare or specialty tobaccos, or blends thereof. Tobacco materials may also include so-called "blends" and processed forms, such as processed tobacco stems (e.g., cut roll or cut puff stems), volume-expanded tobaccos (e.g., puffed tobaccos such as dry ice expanded tobacco (DIET), which may be in cut filler form), and reconstituted tobaccos (e.g., reconstituted tobaccos produced using papermaking-type or cast sheet-type processes). Various representative tobacco types, processed tobacco types, and tobacco blend types are described in U.S. Patent No. 4,836,224 to Lawson et al., U.S. Patent No. 4,924,888 to Perfetti et al., U.S. Patent No. 5,056,537 to Brown et al., U.S. Patent No. 5,159,942 to Brinkley et al., U.S. Patent No. 5,220,930 to Gentry, and U.S. Patent No. 5,360,022 to Blakley et al., all of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties. No. 3, U.S. Patent No. 6,701,936 to Shafer et al., U.S. Patent No. 7,011,096 to Li et al., U.S. Patent No. 7,017,585 to Li et al., U.S. Patent No. 7,025,066 to Lawson et al., U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004 / 0255965 to Perfetti et al., WO 02 / 37990 to Bereman, and Bombick et al., Fund. Appl. Toxicol., 39, pp. 11-17 (1997). Further examples of tobacco compositions that may be useful are disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 7,726,320 to Robinson et al., which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. In some embodiments, the ground tobacco material may contain a blend of flavorful and aromatic tobaccos.In another embodiment, the tobacco material may contain reconstituted tobacco material such as those described in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,807,809 to Pryor et al., 4,889,143 to Pryor et al., and 5,025,814 to Raker, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. Additionally, the reconstituted tobacco material may include reconstituted tobacco paper for cigarettes of the type described in Chemical and Biological Studies on New Cigarette Prototypes that Heat Instead of Burn Tobacco, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company Monograph (1988), the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

[0117] In various embodiments, the heat source 232 may be configured to generate heat upon ignition. In the illustrated embodiment, the heat source 232 has a generally cylindrical shape and includes a combustible fuel element incorporating a combustible carbonaceous material. In other embodiments, the heat source 232 may have a different shape, such as a prismatic shape with a triangular, cubic, or hexagonal cross section. The carbonaceous material generally has a high carbon content. The carbonaceous material may be primarily composed of carbon and / or may typically have a carbon content of greater than 60%, generally greater than 70%, often greater than 80%, and frequently greater than 90% on a dry weight basis.

[0118] In some cases, the heat source 232 may incorporate elements other than combustible carbonaceous material (e.g., tobacco components such as powdered tobacco or tobacco extract; flavorings; salts such as sodium chloride, potassium chloride, and sodium carbonate; thermostable graphite fibers; iron oxide powder; glass filaments; powdered calcium carbonate; alumina granules; ammonia sources such as ammonia salts; and / or binders such as guar gum, ammonium alginate, and sodium alginate). While the specific dimensions of applicable heat sources may vary, in some embodiments, the heat source 232 has a length in the inclusive range of about 7 mm to about 20 mm, and in some embodiments, may be about 17 mm, and an overall diameter in the inclusive range of about 3 mm to about 8 mm, and in some embodiments, may be about 4.8 mm (in some embodiments, about 7 mm). In other embodiments, the heat source may be constructed in various ways, but in the illustrated embodiment, the heat source 232 is extruded or composited using crushed or powdered carbonaceous material, and has a density of 0.5 g / cm on a dry weight basis. 3 often exceeding 0.7 g / cm 3 frequently exceeding 1 g / cm 3, and has a density greater than 100 . See, for example, the types of fuel source components, formulations, and designs described in U.S. Patent No. 5,551,451 to Riggs et al. and U.S. Patent No. 7,836,897 to Borschke et al., which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. In various embodiments, the heat source may have a variety of forms, including, for example, a substantially solid cylindrical shape or a hollow cylindrical (e.g., tubular) shape; however, the heat source 232 in the illustrated embodiment has a generally cylindrical shape but includes an extruded monolithic carbonaceous material with a plurality of grooves (not shown) extending longitudinally from the second end of the extruded monolithic carbonaceous material to the opposite second end of the extruded monolithic carbonaceous material. In some embodiments, the aerosol delivery device, particularly the heat source, may include a heat transfer component. In various embodiments, the heat transfer component may be proximate to the heat source; in some embodiments, the heat transfer component may be located within or within the heat source. Some examples of heat transfer components are described in U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 923,735, filed March 16, 2018, entitled Smoking Article with Heat Transfer Component, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0119] Generally, the heating source is positioned sufficiently close to the aerosol delivery component (e.g., a substrate portion) having one or more aerosolizable components such that the aerosol formed / volatilized by the application of heat from the heating source to the aerosolizable components (as well as any flavoring, medication, etc. similarly provided for delivery to the user) is deliverable to the user through the mouthpiece. That is, when the heating source heats the substrate portion, an aerosol is formed, released, or generated in a physical form suitable for inhalation by the consumer. Note that references to release, releasing, releases, or released are meant to be interchangeable, including form or generate, forming or generating, forms or generates, and formed or generated. Specifically, the inhalable substance is released in the form of a vapor or an aerosol, or a mixture thereof. Furthermore, the selection of various aerosol delivery device components is understood in light of commercially available electronic aerosol delivery devices, such as the representative products listed in the Background section of this disclosure.

[0120] In another aspect, the present disclosure may be directed to a kit providing various components as described herein. For example, the kit may include a control body having one or more aerosol source members. The kit may further include a control body having one or more charging components. The kit may further include a control body having one or more batteries. The kit may further include a control body having one or more aerosol source members and one or more charging components and / or one or more batteries. In further embodiments, the kit may include multiple aerosol source members. The kit may further include multiple aerosol source members and one or more batteries and / or one or more charging components. In the above embodiments, the aerosol source member or the control body may include a heat source therein. The kit may further include one or more holders and one or more aerosol source members having an ignitable heat source. The kit of the present invention may further include a case (or other packaging, carrying, or storage component) for housing one or more of the additional kit components. The case can be a reusable rigid or flexible container. Furthermore, the case can simply be a box or other packaging structure.

[0121] Many modifications and other embodiments of the present disclosure will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which this disclosure pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. It is to be understood, therefore, that the present disclosure is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

Claims

1. 1. An aerosol source member configured to generate an aerosol for delivery, the aerosol source member comprising: a segmented substrate portion, the segmented substrate portion comprising: a first substrate segment comprising a first aerosol forming agent; a second substrate segment including a second aerosol-forming agent different from the first aerosol-forming agent, the second substrate segment being disposed between the first substrate segment and the downstream end of the aerosol source member; The aerosol source member is configured such that, when heated by a heating source, the first substrate segment is heated to a first temperature and the second substrate segment is heated to a second temperature that is lower than the first temperature.

2. 10. The aerosol source member of claim 1, wherein the first substrate segment comprises a tobacco-free material and the second substrate segment comprises a tobacco material.

3. the first temperature is set to aerosolize the first aerosol-forming agent without substantially decomposing the first aerosol-forming agent, and the second temperature is set to aerosolize the second aerosol-forming agent without substantially decomposing the second aerosol-forming agent; and / or 10. The aerosol source member of claim 1, wherein the first temperature is capable of decomposing the second aerosol-forming agent.

4. the first aerosol-forming agent comprises at least one of maltol, vanillin, ethyl vanillin, cinnamic acid, phenylacetic acid, levulinic acid, nerolidol, citronellyl phenyl acetate, caryophyllene oxide, gamma-nonalactone, isoamyl phenyl acetate, phenylethyl isovalerate, heliotropin, nicotine lactate, nicotine levulinate, or nicotine benzoate; and / or 10. The aerosol source member of claim 1, wherein the second aerosol-forming agent comprises at least one of 2-acetylpyrrole, methylcyclopentenolone, α-ionone, geraniol, β-damascene, menthol, caryophyllene, caproic acid, phenethyl alcohol, anethole, phenethyl butyrate, α-terpineol, ethyl phenylacetate, 3-methylvaleric acid, propylene glycol, benzyl alcohol, nicotine L-malate, or nicotine mucate.

5. the first aerosol forming agent comprises a nanocellulose material impregnated with an aerosol precursor composition; and / or 10. The aerosol source member of claim 1, wherein the second aerosol-forming agent comprises a nanocellulose material impregnated with another aerosol precursor composition.

6. 10. The aerosol source member of claim 1, wherein the segmented substrate portion comprises a third substrate segment including a third aerosol-forming agent, the third substrate segment being disposed between the second substrate segment and the downstream end of the aerosol source member.

7. 7. The aerosol source member of claim 6, wherein the third substrate segment comprises tobacco material.

8. 7. The aerosol source member of claim 6, wherein the third aerosol-forming agent comprises at least one of 3-acetylpyridine, tetramethylpyrazine, methyl salicylate, linalool, ethyl caproate, γ-valerolactone, para-tolylaldehyde, 2-methylbutyric acid, isovaleric acid, benzaldehyde, limonene, or 2-methylpyrazine.

9. further comprising a heat source disposed proximate to the first substrate segment, the heat source being integral with the aerosol source member; and optionally The heat source is a combustible heat source, and / or, optionally, 10. The aerosol source member of claim 1, further comprising a filter disposed proximate the downstream end of the aerosol source member.

10. a first barrier disposed between the heat source and the first substrate segment, the first barrier configured to prevent the first substrate segment from exceeding a first temperature; and, optionally, 10. The aerosol source member of claim 1, further comprising a second barrier disposed between the first substrate segment and the second substrate segment, the second barrier configured to prevent the second substrate segment from exceeding a second temperature.

11. 10. The aerosol source member of claim 1, wherein the first temperature is in the range of about 200°C to about 300°C and the second temperature is in the range of about 100°C to about 200°C.

12. 10. The aerosol source member of claim 1, wherein the heating source comprises a first heating segment and a second heating segment, the first heating segment configured to heat the first substrate segment to a first temperature, and the second heating segment configured to heat the second substrate segment to a second temperature.

13. 1. An aerosol delivery device comprising: a control body configured to house at least a portion of the aerosol source member; A heat source; Equipped with an aerosol source member comprising a segmented substrate portion, the segmented substrate portion comprising a first substrate segment comprising a first aerosol-forming agent and a second substrate segment comprising a second aerosol-forming agent different from the first aerosol-forming agent, the second substrate segment being disposed between the first substrate segment and a downstream end of the aerosol source member; and a heating source configured to heat the first substrate segment to a first temperature and the second substrate segment to a second temperature lower than the first temperature.

14. the heating source comprises a first heating segment and a second heating segment, the first heating segment configured to heat the first substrate segment to a first temperature and the second heating segment configured to heat the second substrate segment to a second temperature; and, optionally, 14. The aerosol delivery device of claim 13, wherein the control body includes a power source configured to supply energy to the first heating segment and the second heating segment.

15. The delivery device of claim 13 , wherein the control body includes a controller configured to control energy delivered to the first and second heating segments.

16. The aerosol source member of claim 12 or the aerosol delivery device of claim 14, wherein the first heating segment is disposed along at least a portion of the first substrate segment and the second heating segment is disposed along at least a portion of the second substrate segment.

17. The aerosol source member of claim 12 or the aerosol delivery device of claim 14, wherein the first heating segment is disposed around the first substrate segment and the second heating segment is disposed around the second substrate segment.

18. 15. The aerosol source member of claim 12 or the aerosol delivery device of claim 14, wherein the first and second heating segments are electric heating elements.

19. at least one of the first or second heating segments comprises a resistive heating element; and / or 15. The aerosol source member of claim 12 or the aerosol delivery device of claim 14, wherein at least one of the first or second heating segments comprises an inductive heating element.

20. the substrate portion defines an aerosol path extending toward the downstream end of the aerosol source member; and / or 14. The aerosol source member of claim 1, or the aerosol delivery device of claim 13, wherein the heating source comprises a first heating segment configured to heat the first substrate segment to a first temperature and the second substrate segment to a second temperature.

Images