Pack of distinguishable aerosol-generating articles and corresponding distinguishable aerosol-generating articles

Abstract

The present invention relates to a pack (38) of aerosol-generating articles (20) including a plurality of aerosol-generating articles. Each aerosol-generating article (20) includes an aerosol-generating substrate. Each aerosol-generating article (20) extends between an upstream end and a mouth end, the mouth end of each aerosol-generating article (20) defining a recess. Each aerosol-generating article (20) further includes an inner tube or post having a cross-section adapted to be received within the recess and to distinguish the aerosol-generating article (20) from at least one other aerosol-generating article (20) of the pack (38).

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a pack of aerosol-generating articles comprising a plurality of aerosol-generating articles.

[0002] The present invention also relates to such aerosol-generating articles.

[0003] In particular, the aerosol-generating article according to the invention is adapted to operate with an aerosol-generating device, also known as a heated non-combustion device, or HNB device, which is adapted to heat, rather than combust, an aerosol-generating substrate contained in the article.

[0004] Alternatively, an aerosol-generating article according to the present invention is a pre-made cigarette (RMC) that includes an aerosol-generating substrate configured to emit an aerosol upon combustion. [Background technology]

[0005] A pack of aerosol-generating articles contains a number of aerosol-generating articles, usually up to 10, 20 or 30 articles. In some cases, a pack may contain different aerosol-generating articles, for example having different aerosol volumes, tastes or flavors. However, distinguishing between different articles within the same pack is sometimes complicated. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] One object of the present invention is to provide a pack of aerosol-generating articles and an aerosol-generating article that are designed to enable the aerosol-generating article to be recognised at a glance, and in particular to enable the characteristics of the article to be identified without the need to remove the article from the pack. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To this end, the present invention provides a pack of aerosol-generating articles comprising a plurality of aerosol-generating articles, the pack comprising: Each aerosol-generating article comprises an aerosol-generating substrate; Each aerosol-generating article extends between an upstream end and a mouth end, the mouth end of each aerosol-generating article defining a recess; Each aerosol-generating article relates to a pack further comprising an inner tube or post having a cross-section adapted to be received within the recess and to distinguish the aerosol-generating article from at least one other aerosol-generating article in the pack.

[0008] With a pack according to the invention, the inner tube or strut makes it possible to recognise one cigarette characteristic from another, so that for a pack containing, for example, several types of aerosol-generating articles with different flavours or other characteristics, the user does not have to extract the article and control it to identify its characteristics.

[0009] The upstream end is seen to define the aerosol-generating substrate.

[0010] According to some embodiments of a pack according to the invention, each aerosol-generating article comprises a filter adjacent the recess of the aerosol-generating article.

[0011] This feature allows the filter to cool the aerosols generated when consuming the product, thus improving the user experience.

[0012] According to some embodiments of a pack according to the invention, the filter of each aerosol-generating article comprises a paper filter.

[0013] This feature reduces the pressure drop of the aerosol emitted by the aerosol-generating substrate. In fact, when vaping mainly HNB products, the pressure of the generated aerosol may be too low to provide a satisfactory user experience. This phenomenon may be amplified by filters made of acetate filter tow. In contrast, paper filters allow the aerosol to be cooled and delivered without substantially reducing the pressure of the aerosol. In a possible embodiment, several types of aerosol-generating articles may differ by having different pressure drops and / or different lengths of filters.

[0014] According to some embodiments of a pack according to the invention, each aerosol-generating article further comprises a wrapper disposed about the filter and extending towards the mouth end to define a recess.

[0015] This feature simplifies the construction of the article by reducing the number of elements included in the filter and recesses of the article, which is particularly advantageous when manufacturing the article, since the recesses can be manufactured with reduced complexity when manufacturing the filter or when combining the filter with an aerosol-generating substrate, for example in the form of a rod.

[0016] Additionally, this feature allows the recess to have the same diameter as the rest of the article, so storing the article in the pack is as simple as storing a conventional article without a recess.

[0017] According to some embodiments of the pack according to the invention, the wrapper is plug wrap, tipping paper, or a combination thereof.

[0018] Having the recesses created by the tipping paper reduces plug wrap consumption since the plug wrap then covers only the filter. Additionally, since the tipping paper is not porous, the tipping paper ensures that the emitted aerosol flows to the mouth end without leakage. For example, the tipping paper may have a thickness of 40 to 100 μm and / or a basis weight of 40 to 90 gsm.

[0019] Having a recess created by plug wrap increases the hardness of the recess and if tipping paper surrounds it, it will have a greater thickness. For example, if a recess is formed by both plug wrap and tipping paper, each of these may have a thickness of 25 to 50 μm and a basis weight of 25 to 55 gsm.

[0020] According to some embodiments of a pack according to the invention, the inner tube or post includes at least one edge in contact with a corresponding wrapper and at least one surface spaced apart from said wrapper.

[0021] This feature increases the hardness of the recess: the risk of the recess collapsing due to the edges contacting the wrapper is reduced.

[0022] According to some embodiments of the pack according to the invention, the space formed between said surface and said wrapper is empty.

[0023] The absence of material in the space allows the aerosol to flow through this space during vaping, which further reduces turbulence and / or pressure drop of the aerosol flow within the recess while maintaining sufficient rigidity of the mouth end.

[0024] Additionally, the cross-sectional shape of the inner tube is more visible from the mouth end, so it is easier for the user to identify whether the items in the pack correspond to what is desired.

[0025] According to some embodiments of the pack according to the invention, the inner tube is hollow.

[0026] This feature allows the inner tube to provide additional hardness or rigidity to the mouth end without significantly impeding aerosol flow. Additionally, the inner tube can keep the low pressure resistance filter material away from the mouth end, thereby avoiding the filter material from being damaged or disintegrating. Thus, when vaping, the aerosol can flow within the inner tube, so the user experience is not significantly affected by the presence of the inner tube.

[0027] According to some embodiments of the pack according to the invention, the inner tube or post is made from paper.

[0028] This feature allows for easy manufacture of the inner tube or post since it is easy to form a paper tube or post having a desired cross-sectional shape.

[0029] Preferably, the paper tube may be formed from overlapping paper layers, such as spirally wound paper layers.

[0030] Some embodiments of the pack according to the invention define an opening, and the aerosol-generating articles are positioned such that their mouth ends are visible through the opening.

[0031] This feature makes it easy for the user to identify the characteristics of each item: indeed, when the pack is opened, the user can easily observe the cross-section of each inner tube or strut and identify whether it corresponds to the desired item.

[0032] More specifically, the aerosol-generating articles are bundled together within the housing of the pack with the mouth ends of the articles projecting from the housing and configured to lie along a common plane.

[0033] According to some embodiments of the pack according to the invention, the at least two aerosol-generating articles, differentiated one from the other by their recesses, have different flavours and / or flavouring ingredients.

[0034] This feature allows a user to easily select an article according to a desired flavor, flavor, or level of active ingredient or additive simply by looking at the cross section of the inner tube or strut of each article.

[0035] The flavor or taste of the article may be modified from another article in the pack by any suitable flavor or taste modifying ingredient of the article, including, but not limited to, naturally occurring flavor materials, plants, plant extracts, synthetically derived materials, sweeteners, sugars, other flavor enhancers, cooling agents (e.g., eucalyptol, WS3), thermal effect agents (e.g., vanillyl ethyl ether) or combinations thereof (e.g., tobacco, licorice, menthol, mint oil, cinnamon, cherry, berry, fruit, tea, aspartame, tobacco sugar, nicotine level, etc.). The active ingredient may be a nicotinoid (particularly nicotine) or a cannabinoid.

[0036] According to another aspect of the invention, the invention provides an aerosol-generating article extending between an upstream end and a mouth end, the mouth end of each aerosol-generating article defining a recess, the aerosol-generating article further comprising an inner tube received within the recess, the aerosol-generating article including an aerosol-generating substrate; The aerosol-generating article includes a filter adjacent a mouth end of the aerosol-generating article, and a wrapper disposed about the filter and defining a recess; The inner tube or strut is an aerosol-generating article that includes at least one edge that contacts a corresponding wrapper and at least one surface that is spaced from the wrapper.

[0037] As previously mentioned, the absence of material in the space allows the aerosol to flow through this space during vaping, which further reduces turbulence and / or pressure drop of the aerosol flow within the recess while maintaining sufficient rigidity of the mouth end.

[0038] Some embodiments of the aerosol-generating article according to the invention include the following features, either alone or in combination: - the space formed between said surface and said wrapper is empty; - The inner tube is hollow - The inner tube is made of paper, - the inner tube is at least partially bonded to the wrapper; The aerosol-generating article includes at least one adhesive dot or line between the inner tube and the wrapper to maintain the inner tube fixed relative to the wrapper.

[0039] According to some embodiments of an aerosol-generating article according to the invention, the article is intended for use with an HNB device.

[0040] According to some embodiments, the recess containing the inner tube has a pressure drop approximately equal to 0 mmH2O.

[0041] According to some embodiments, the inner tube or post is made from paper or cardboard.

[0042] According to some embodiments, the inner tube or strut is formed from a wall having a thickness of less than 1 mm.

[0043] According to some embodiments, the inner tube or strut has a wall thickness that is greater than the thickness of the wrapper.

[0044] All the features described above for aerosol-generating articles in a pack are applicable to aerosol-generating articles as such.

[0045] The invention and its advantages will be better understood on reading the following description, given by way of non-limiting example only and made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [Brief description of the drawings]

[0046] [Figure 1]1 is a schematic diagram of an aerosol-generating assembly including an aerosol-generating article according to the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pack of aerosol-generating articles according to the present invention. [Diagram 3] 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the aerosol-generating article of FIG. 1. [Figure 4] 4 is a cross-sectional view of the article of FIG. 3. [Diagram 5] 4 is a cross-sectional view of the article of FIG. 3 according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0047] Before the present invention is described, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the details of construction set forth in the following description, as it will be apparent to one skilled in the art having the benefit of this disclosure that the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways.

[0048] In the following, the expression "approximately equal" is understood to mean equal to ±10%, preferably ±5%.

[0049] As used herein, the term "aerosol generating device" or "device" may include a vaping device that delivers an aerosol from an aerosol-generating article received in the device, including, for example, a cigarette. The device may be portable. "Portable" may refer to a device for use when held by a user. The device may be adapted to generate a variable amount of aerosol, for example, by activating a heating system for a variable period of time using a trigger (as opposed to a fixed amount of aerosol). The trigger may be user-activated, such as a vaping button and / or an inhalation sensor. The inhalation sensor may be sensitive to inhalation strength as well as inhalation duration, allowing for the provision of a variable amount of vapor (to mimic the smoking effect of a conventional combustible smoking article, such as a cigarette, cigar, or pipe).

[0050] As used herein, the term "control unit" refers to a component of an aerosol generating device that may control the operation of the heating system. The control unit may then include a temperature regulation control that drives and maintains the temperature of the heating system.

[0051] As used herein, the term "aerosol-generating substrate" is used to designate any material capable of forming an aerosol. The aerosol is generally obtained by increasing the temperature of the aerosol-generating substrate, such as a temperature of less than 400°C, preferably up to 350°C. The aerosol-generating substrate may comprise or consist of an aerosol-generating solid, which may be in the form of, for example, a rod comprising processed tobacco material, a compressed sheet or oriented strip of reconstituted tobacco (RTB), or any combination thereof. The aerosol-generating substrate may comprise one or more of nicotine, caffeine, or other active ingredients.

[0052] As used herein, the term "aerosol" may include a suspension of precursors as one or more of solid particles, liquid droplets, and gas. The suspension may be in a gaseous state, including air. The aerosol may be formed by an aerosol-generating substrate and may include one or several components thereof.

[0053] As used herein, the term "vaping session" may refer to the period of use of an aerosol generating device starting from the activation of a trigger as defined above until the moment the aerosol generating device is disabled.

[0054] 1, the aerosol generating assembly 10 includes an aerosol generating device 15 and an aerosol generating article 20 adapted to operate with the aerosol generating device 15. Thus, in the illustrated example, the aerosol generating article 20 is adapted to operate with an HNB device.

[0055] The aerosol generating device 15 extends along an axis X, hereinafter referred to as the "device axis X". The aerosol generating device 15 includes an outer casing 22 and internal components disposed within the outer casing 22. The outer casing 22 defines an article socket 26 and at least one inlet 28. The internal components include, for example, a heating system 30 for heating at least a portion of the aerosol-generating article 20, a battery 24 for powering the heating system 30, and a control unit 32 for controlling the powering of the heating system 30 by the battery 24.

[0056] The battery 24 is a known battery designed to be charged using a power source, such as with an external charger, and to supply a direct current of a predetermined voltage to the heating system 30 .

[0057] The article socket 26 is configured to receive at least a portion of the aerosol-generating article 20. To this end, the article socket 26 may define a hole 36 opening at the exterior of the aerosol generating device 15 and adapted to receive at least a portion of the aerosol-generating article 20 within said hole 36. In FIG.

[0058] The inlet 28 allows air to enter from the exterior of the outer casing 22. An internal air flow channel may extend from the inlet 28 to direct air to the article receptacle 26.

[0059] The heating system 30 includes a heating element that may be disposed, for example, adjacent at least a wall of the article socket 26. The heating system is configured to generate heat when connected, for example, to the battery 24 and powered by the battery 24. When the aerosol-generating article 20 is inserted into the aperture 36 and when the heating system 30 is powered by the battery 24, the temperature of the heating system 30 is comprised, for example, between 200°C and 350°C.

[0060] In a variation not shown, the heating system 30 includes a device portion of the heating system and an article portion of the heating system. The device portion of the heating system may include an electromagnetic emitter configured to generate an electromagnetic field when powered by the battery 24. The emitter may include, for example, a magnetic coil disposed about the article socket 26. The article portion of the heating system may thus include a susceptor configured to generate heat when traversed by the electromagnetic field. The susceptor may, for example, be integrated into the aerosol-generating substrate of the article 20.

[0061] The control unit 32 is adapted to control the operation of the heating system 30. More specifically, the control unit 32 is configured to control the powering of the heating system 30 by the battery 24.

[0062] As shown in FIG. 2, prior to use with an aerosol generating device 15, the aerosol-generating articles 20 are typically stored within a pack 38 of aerosol-generating articles 20.

[0063] The pack 38 is, for example, a rectangular parallelepiped defining a housing 39 for receiving the articles 15. The housing 39 opens to an opening 40 on the exterior of the pack 38 so that the articles 15 can be removed from or inserted into the housing 39. The housing 39 can generally contain up to 10, 20 or 30 articles 20.

[0064] 2, the housing 39 is open to one face of the cuboid. The pack 38 may define a recess 41 in a contiguous face from said face to facilitate removal of the articles 20. The recess 41 may be formed in what is commonly referred to as the inner frame of the pack, which is assembled to the cuboid body.

[0065] 2, the pack 38 may include a cover or lid 42 configured to cover the opening 40 when a user does not wish to remove or insert any articles 20. By way of example, the cover 42 is integral with the pack 38 and defines a fold line for the pack 38 about which the cover 42 may be pivoted between a stored position and a delivery position. In the stored position, the cover 42 covers the opening 40 such that the articles 20 cannot fall out of the pack 38. In the delivery position, the cover 42 does not cover the opening 40 such that a user may remove the articles 20 from the housing 39.

[0066] The pack 38 may, for example, comprise cardboard, paper, or a combination thereof. It may further comprise a removable outer protective film.

[0067] 3, the at least one aerosol-generating article 20 of the pack 38 extends between an upstream end 43 and a mouth end 44. From the upstream end 43 towards the mouth end 44, the aerosol-generating article 20 includes an aerosol-generating substrate 45, a filter 46 and a recess 47. The aerosol-generating article 20 further includes an article wrapper 48 and a cooling or spacing element 49 preferably disposed between the aerosol-generating substrate 45 and the filter 46. The filter 46 is disposed between the recess 47 and the aerosol-generating substrate 45 or the cooling element 49.

[0068] In one example, the length of each of the aerosol-generating substrate 45, filter 46 and optional cooling or spacing element 49 is substantially comprised between 10 mm and 30 mm, preferably between 15 and 25 mm, more preferably equal to 20 mm. In said example, the length of the aerosol-generating article 20 is comprised between 40 and 90 mm, more preferably between 50 and 70 mm, most preferably between 55 and 65 mm, for example approximately equal to 60 mm.

[0069] The aerosol-forming substrate 45, in the example of Figures 3 and 4, is adjacent to the cooling or spacing element 49, or adjacent to the filter 46 if the article does not include said cooling or spacing element 49. The aerosol-forming substrate 45 is designed to be heated by the heating system 30 of the aerosol-generating device 15 to form an aerosol, as previously described. In the case of RMC-type cigarettes, the aerosol-forming substrate 45 is designed to be at least partially combusted.

[0070] Optionally, a flavor modifier is added to the aerosol material of the aerosol-generating substrate 45 to enhance the taste of the emitted aerosol. The flavor modifier can be a flavoring agent (e.g., menthol), a flavor enhancer, a sweetener, a cooling agent, and combinations thereof. For example, the flavor modifier can be a multi-flavor microchip comprising a polysaccharide and / or starch matrix and flavors as described in EP 2279677B, EP 2682007B, EP 2682009B, EP 3533348A, or WO 2015029750A. Preferably, the two articles 20 of the pack 38 may contain two different flavor modifiers such that the flavor of the emitted aerosol of one of these articles 20 is different from the flavor of the other one.

[0071] Alternatively or additionally, the aerosol-generating substrate may comprise nicotine. Preferably, the two articles 20 of the pack may contain two different levels of nicotine. For example, the first aerosol-generating agent and the second aerosol-generating agent contain less than 1.5% and more than 1.8% nicotine by weight, respectively, relative to the weight of the aerosol-generating substrate.

[0072] In case the article 20 comprises a cooling or spacing element 49, said element may be configured to cool the aerosol before it reaches the filter 46. The cooling or spacing element 49 is, for example, an inner hollow tube, preferably made of paper. During a vaping session, the aerosol generated by the aerosol-generating substrate flows through the cooling or spacing element 49 before it reaches the filter 46. For example, the cooling or spacing element 49 is hollow or comprises additional flow guides that mix the flow emanating from the aerosol-generating substrate 45 and / or increase the cooling effect. The cooling or spacing element 49 may further comprise circumferentially arranged ventilation holes. The ventilation holes should preferably be positioned at a short distance from the filter 46, preferably comprised between 1 mm and 7 mm, more preferably between 2.5 mm and 6 mm, most preferably between 3 mm and 5.5 mm.

[0073] In one embodiment, the article wrapper 48 extends from the upstream end 43 to the mouth end 44. The article wrapper 48 thus completely surrounds the filter 46, the aerosol-generating substrate 45, the recess 47 and optionally the cooling or spacing element 49. The article wrapper 48 includes, for example, tipping paper 50 extending from the recess 47 and partially overlapping the aerosol-generating substrate 45.

[0074] 3, the filter 46 extends along a filter axis F between the cooling or spacing element 49 and the recess 47. Alternatively, the filter 46 extends between the aerosol-generating substrate 45 and the recess 47. The filter 46 is preferably adjacent the mouth end 44.

[0075] Filter 46 preferably includes a filter material 51, such as paper or cellulose acetate, surrounded by plug wrap 55, which holds filter material 51 together. As shown in Figures 3, 4, and 5, article wrapper 48 surrounds plug wrap 55. Thus, when manufacturing article 20, filter 46 can be manufactured by wrapping filter material 51 in plug wrap 55, and then aerosol-generating substrate 45 and filter 46 can be maintained together with article wrapper 48.

[0076] Advantageously, the filter material 51 is made from one single sheet, for example a paper tape, by folding this sheet to form several layers extending along the filter axis F. The filter material 51 is preferably a pleated paper sheet.

[0077] In case the filter material is a paper filter 51, the base weight of said paper filter 51 is for example comprised between 20 and 120 gsm, preferably between 25 and 50 gsm. The thickness of the paper filter 51 is for example comprised between 30 and 100 μm. The porosity of the paper filter 51 is preferably comprised between 0 and 3000 CU. The contact angle of the paper filter 51 is less than 90°. The tensile strength of the paper filter 51 is higher than 18 N per 15 mm. Advantageously, the paper filter 51 is made from one single sheet, for example a paper tape, by folding this sheet to form several layers extending along the filter axis F. Preferably, the density of the paper filter 51 is comprised between 0.0350 mg / mm3 and 0.180 mg / mm3, advantageously between 0.036 mg / mm3 and 0.135 mg / mm3.

[0078] Alternatively, the paper material 51 is a nonwoven sheet, preferably made from multiple sheets bonded or intertwined together by a binder.

[0079] The nonwoven sheet may have a basis weight of 20 to 100 gsm, preferably 30 to 80 gsm, and more preferably 40 to 65 gsm.

[0080] The thickness of the nonwoven sheet may be comprised between 0.8 and 1.6 mm, preferably between 1.0 and 1.4 mm, and more preferably approximately equal to 1.2 mm.

[0081] In the alternative, the paper sheet 51 may be replaced by pleated cellulose acetate tow.

[0082] 3, 4 and 5, the plug wrap 55 extends along the filter axis F to the mouth end 44. The recess 47 is thus defined by the plug wrap 55. It can be seen that in this example, the recess 47 is defined at least by the plug wrap 55 and, in addition, is surrounded by the tipping paper 50.

[0083] The article 20 may include flavored ingredients that alter the flavor of the emitted aerosol. As shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5, the filter 46 may include flavored capsules 60 stored within the filter material 51. During a vaping session, the aerosol that reaches the filter 46 comes into contact with the flavored capsules 60 and becomes charged with the flavor of the flavored capsules 60, and then passes through the recesses 47 to the user's mouth.

[0084] The diameter of the flavored capsule may be comprised between 2.5 and 4.5 mm, preferably between 2.8 and 3.5 mm, and / or may weigh between 10 and 50 mg. In addition, the flavored capsule 60 may include a shell containing a flavoring agent releasable during vaping. The flavoring agent may be, for example, a liquid. The shell is soluble and melts upon interaction with the aerosol and / or upon heating.

[0085] Alternatively, the shell of the flavored capsule 60 can be broken by the user pinching the filter 46. After such pinching, the flavorant spreads within the filter 46 and is absorbed by the filter material 51. In such a case, during a vaping session, the aerosol passing through the filter 46 is filled with the flavor of the liquid initially contained within the flavored capsule 60. The number of capsules 60 within the filter 46 can vary from 1 to 3 or 4, and when multiple capsules 60 are present, they can be aligned longitudinally within the filter 46.

[0086] Preferably, the pack 38 includes at least two articles 20 each containing a flavored capsule 60. The capsules 60 have different flavors.

[0087] As mentioned above, the recess 47 extends along the filter axis F from the filter 46 to the mouth end 44 .

[0088] In the pack 38, each article 20 is stored parallel to another such that when the cover 42 is in the dispensing position, the recess 47 of each article 20 is visible through the opening 40. More specifically, with the cover 42 in the dispensing position, the mouth end 44 of each article 20 is visible through the opening 40. Additionally, when a user desires to remove an article 20 from the pack 38, the user pulls on the article 20 along the filter axis F.

[0089] 3 and 4, the recess 47 receives an inner tube 65, which may be hollow, for example. The inner tube 65 may extend, for example, along the entire depth of the recess, i.e., between the filter 46 and the oral end 44. The inner tube 65 is open at the oral end 44. As shown in the right portion of FIG. 3, the inner tube 65 is visible to a user viewing the filter 46 from the oral end 44.

[0090] The recess 47 containing the inner tube 65 may have a pressure drop equal to approximately 0 mmH2O.

[0091] In the example of Figure 3, the inner tube 65 has a square cross section. Alternatively, the cross section may have a triangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, heptagonal, octagonal, nonagonal or any other polygonal shape. Again, alternatively, the cross section may have a star shape, for example the shape of a five-pointed star.

[0092] In either case, the inner tube 65 defines edges 70 extending along the filter axis F and a surface 75 between two successive edges. At least one, and preferably all, of these edges extend along the filter axis F and are in contact with the plug wrap 55. In addition, at least one surface is spaced from the plug wrap 55. The space 75 is empty; in other words, no filter paper is disposed in the space.

[0093] In certain embodiments, the inner tube 65 is at least partially adhered to the wrapper 48 .

[0094] Preferably, each edge 70 of the inner tube 65 is at least partially adhered to the wrapper 48 .

[0095] For example, the aerosol-generating article 20 may include at least one adhesive dot or line between the inner tube 65 and the wrapper 48 to maintain the inner tube 65 fixed relative to the wrapper 48. The adhesive dot or line is then advantageously located between an edge 70 of the inner tube 65 and the wrapper 48. The inner tube 65 then contacts the wrapper 48 via said adhesive dot or line.

[0096] 4, the inner tube 65 defines four edges 70, each of which contacts the plug wrap 55. The inner tube 65 additionally defines four surfaces 75 between two consecutive edges 70. None of the surfaces 75 contact the article wrapper 48.

[0097] The inner tube 65 is preferably made of paper. The inner tube 65 may be formed of ordinary paper, preferably a spirally wound paper sheet.

[0098] The thickness of the inner tube may be substantially comprised between 0.05 and 1.5 mm, preferably between 0.5 and 1.5 mm, most preferably between 0.8 and 1.2 mm.

[0099] 5, instead of the inner tube 65, the recess 47 receives struts 66. The struts 66 may include legs 67 configured to divide the recess 47 into several hollow spaces 68. Each leg 67 extends along the filter axis F and defines a respective edge 70 at its tip and at least one surface joining said edge 70 to another leg 67. For example, the struts 66 may form a Greek letter shape, such as an X-shape, a Y-shape, an S-shape, or an Ω-shape.

[0100] The recess 47 containing the struts 66 may have a pressure drop equal to approximately 0 mmH2O.

[0101] In certain embodiments, the posts 66 are at least partially adhered to the wrapper 48 .

[0102] Preferably, each edge 70 of the post 66 is at least partially adhered to the wrapper 48 .

[0103] For example, the aerosol-generating article 20 may include at least one adhesive dot or line between the post 66 and the wrapper 48 to maintain the post 66 fixed relative to the wrapper 48. The adhesive dot or line is then advantageously located between the edge 70 of the inner tube 65 and the wrapper 48. The post 66 then contacts the wrapper 48 via said adhesive dot or line.

[0104] The struts 66 are preferably made of paper or cardboard. The thickness of each leg 67 of the struts may be substantially comprised between 0.5 and 1.5 mm, preferably between 0.8 and 1.2 mm. More preferably, the thickness of each leg 67 is less than 1 mm so as not to create a significant pressure drop. The thickness of each leg 67 is preferably greater than the thickness of the wrapper 48.

[0105] The inner tube 65 may include a colored coating for easier identification by a user. As an example, an article 20 including a mint flavored flavored ingredient may include an inner tube 65 that includes a blue or green coating. The colored coating may be disposed on the interior and / or lateral edges of the tube.

[0106] In the pack 38, at least two articles 20 include respective inner tubes 65 with a distinctive cross-sectional shape such that a user can distinguish one of these aerosol-generating articles 20 from another. Preferably, each aerosol-generating article 20 having the same flavourant or the same flavour ingredient has an inner tube 65 with the same cross-sectional shape. In contrast, two articles 20 having different flavourants or flavour ingredients do not include inner tubes 65 with the same cross-sectional shape. Thus, a user can select a desired article 20 without having to remove an article 20 from the pack 38 and check whether it corresponds to the desired one.

[0107] In a variation not shown, plug wrap 55 surrounds only the paper filter 51 of filter 46. Thus, article wrapper 48 forms recess 47. It is clear that in this case, tipping paper 50 forms recess 47. At least one edge 70 of inner tube 65 contacts tipping paper 50.

[0108] In another variation, not shown, the plug wrap 55 still extends to the mouth end 44, thus forming a recess, but the article wrapper 48 extends only between the upstream end 43 and the filter 46. More specifically, the article wrapper 48 and the plug wrap 55 define an overlap region that is substantially shorter than the length of the filter 46. In such a case, the recess 47 is not surrounded by the article wrapper 48. In that variation, the inner tube 65 or struts 66 are bonded to the plug wrap in a manner similar to that shown above for the wrapper 48. In particular, when the struts 66 are inserted into the recess 47, each leg 67 of the struts 66 has a thickness that is greater than the thickness of the plug wrap 55.

Claims

1. A pack (38) of aerosol-generating articles (20) comprising a plurality of aerosol-generating articles (20), each aerosol-generating article (20) comprising an aerosol-generating substrate (45), each aerosol-generating article (20) extending between an upstream end (43) and a mouth-side end (44), the mouth-side end (44) of each aerosol-generating article (20) defining a recess (47), each aerosol-generating article (20) further comprising an inner tube or strut (65, 66) received within the recess (47) and having a cross-section adapted to distinguish the aerosol-generating article (20) from at least one other aerosol-generating article (20) of the pack (38).

2. The pack (38) according to claim 1, wherein each aerosol-generating article (20) comprises a filter (46) adjacent to the recess (47) of the aerosol-generating article (20).

3. The pack (38) according to claim 2, wherein the filter (46) of each aerosol-generating article (20) comprises a paper filter (51).

4. The pack (38) according to claim 2, wherein each aerosol-generating article (20) further comprises a wrapper (48, 55) disposed around the filter (46) and extending towards the mouth-side end (44) to define the recess (47).

5. The pack (38) according to claim 4, wherein the wrapper (48, 55) is a plug wrap (55), tipping paper (50) or a combination thereof.

6. The pack (38) according to claim 4, wherein the inner tube or strut (65, 66) comprises at least one edge (70) in contact with the wrapper (48, 55) and at least one surface (75) spaced apart from the wrapper (48, 55).

7. The pack (38) according to claim 6, wherein the space formed between the surface (75) and the wrapper (48, 55) is empty.

8. The pack (38) according to claim 1, wherein the inner tube (65) is hollow.

9. The pack (38) according to claim 1, wherein the inner tube or strut (65, 66) is made of paper.

10. defining an opening (40), The pack (38) according to claim 1, wherein the aerosol-generating articles (20) are arranged such that their mouth-side ends (44) are visible from the opening (40).

11. At least two aerosol-generating articles (20), wherein the at least two aerosol-generating articles (20) are distinguished from one another by their recesses (47) and have different flavor and / or fragrance components (60), the pack (38) according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. An aerosol-generating article (20) extending between an upstream end (43) and a mouthpiece end (44), wherein the mouthpiece end (44) of each aerosol-generating article (20) defines a recess (46), and the aerosol-generating article (20) further comprises an inner tube (65) received within the recess (47), the aerosol-generating article (20) comprising an aerosol-generating substrate (45), The aerosol-generating article (20) comprises a filter (46) adjacent to the mouthpiece end (44) of the aerosol-generating article (20) and a wrapper (48, 55) disposed around the filter (46) and forming the recess (47). The inner tube (65) comprises at least one edge (70) in contact with the wrapper (48, 55) and at least one surface (75) spaced apart from the wrapper (48, 55). The inner tube (65) is hollow, the aerosol-generating article (20).

13. The space formed between the surface (75) and the wrapper (48, 55) is empty, the aerosol-generating article (20) according to claim 12.

14. The inner tube (65) is made of paper, the aerosol-generating article (20) according to claim 12.

15. The inner tube (65) is at least partially adhered to the wrapper (48, 55), the aerosol-generating article (20) according to any one of claims 12 to 14.

16. The aerosol-generating article (20) comprises at least one adhesive dot or line between the inner tube (65) and the wrapper (48, 55) to maintain the inner tube (65) in a fixed state relative to the wrapper (48, 55), the aerosol-generating article (20) according to claim 15.

Images