Aerosol generating device configured to operate with flat tobacco articles

Abstract

An aerosol generating device configured to operate with a flat-shaped tobacco article, the aerosol generating device comprising a flat-shaped heating chamber extending along a device longitudinal axis (X2) between a proximal end configured to receive at least a tobacco portion of the flat-shaped tobacco article and a distal end opposite the proximal end, the distal end of the heating chamber including a distal wall (66) extending between two edges along a device transverse axis (Y2) substantially perpendicular to the device longitudinal axis (X2), the distal wall (66) defining an air inlet portion configured to provide air flow into the heating chamber, the air inlet portion defining one or more inlet holes in a central zone of the distal wall (66) exhibiting a larger area than peripheral zones of the distal wall (66) adjacent its edges.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an aerosol generating device configured to operate with a flat tobacco article.The aerosol generating device includes a flat heating chamber.

[0002] In particular, flat-shaped tobacco articles, for example, comprise a solid substrate that can form an aerosol when heated. Thus, this type of aerosol-generating device, also known as a non-combustion heating device, is adapted to heat the substrate by conduction, convection, and / or radiation, rather than by combustion, to generate an aerosol for inhalation. [Background technology]

[0003] The popularity and use of risk reduction or risk modification devices (also known as vaporizers) has grown rapidly in recent years as aids to assist regular smokers who wish to quit smoking traditional tobacco products such as cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos, and rolling tobacco. A variety of devices and systems are available that heat or warm a vaporizable substance, as opposed to burning tobacco in traditional tobacco products.

[0004] Commonly available risk reduction or risk modification devices are substrate-heated aerosol generators or non-combustion-heated devices. These types of devices typically generate aerosol or vapor by heating an aerosol substrate containing moist tobacco or other suitable vaporizable material, typically to temperatures ranging from 150°C to 350°C. By heating, rather than burning or combusting, the aerosol substrate releases an aerosol containing the ingredients desired by the user but without the toxic and carcinogenic by-products of combustion and burning. Furthermore, because aerosols produced by heating tobacco or other vaporizable material typically do not contain the burnt or bitter taste resulting from combustion and burning, which can be unpleasant to users, the substrate does not require sugars and other additives typically added to such materials to make the smoke and / or vapor more palatable to the user.

[0005] Aerosol generating devices with flat heating chambers offer high user comfort due to the ease of handling flat tobacco articles configured to operate with the devices. However, some known aerosol generating devices that operate with flat tobacco articles could be further improved in terms of user comfort.

[0006] In particular, in some known devices, certain portions of a tobacco article may experience higher vapor extraction than other portions. As a result, vapor extraction may not always be optimal. In addition, for example, the peripheral regions of a tobacco article inserted into such known devices may experience cooling and condensation of vapor within the heating chamber. This may also lead to reduced or suboptimal vapor extraction and / or poor appearance of the used tobacco article due to condensation. Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an aerosol generating device configured to operate with flat tobacco articles, thereby enabling improved user comfort and, in particular, improved vapor extraction in all areas of the flat tobacco article.

[0008] To this end, the present invention relates to an aerosol generating device configured to operate with a flat tobacco article, the aerosol generating device including a flat heating chamber extending along a longitudinal axis of the device between a proximal end configured to receive at least a tobacco portion of the flat tobacco article and a distal end opposite the proximal end. The distal end of the heating chamber includes a distal wall extending between two edges along a transverse axis of the device substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the device. The distal wall defines an air inlet portion configured to provide airflow into the heating chamber. The air inlet portion defines one or more inlet holes in a central zone of the distal wall that exhibit a larger area than peripheral zones of the distal wall adjacent its edges.

[0009] These features improve airflow within the heating chamber, particularly in all areas of the flat tobacco article when inserted into the heating chamber, and therefore improve user comfort. For example, airflow within the heating chamber is increased in at least some portions of the heating chamber and / or is more evenly distributed within the heating chamber.

[0010] In particular, the pressure drop of the airflow across the air inlet portion varies from the edge to the central zone of the distal wall, and in particular, due to the larger area of ​​the inlet portion in the central zone of the distal wall, the pressure drop is lower in this central zone compared to the peripheral zone of the distal wall.

[0011] "Pressure drop" is understood to be the difference in air pressure at the inlet of the air inlet portion compared to the air pressure at the transition point from the inlet portion to the heating chamber, particularly defined along the longitudinal axis of the device. In other words, the pressure drop defines the difference in air pressure of the air flow just before crossing the distal wall compared to the air pressure of the air flow just after crossing the distal wall, i.e., particularly as it enters the heating chamber.

[0012] For example, depending on the orientation of the air flow relative to the longitudinal axis of the device, the velocity distribution of the air flow, and / or the pressure distribution of the air flow, the air is distributed in a particular manner inside the heating chamber before entering the air inlet portion defined by the distal wall.

[0013] According to a first example, the air flow may enter the air inlet section from the peripheral side, resulting in a substantially uniform distribution of the air flow within the heating chamber, particularly across each cross-section of the heating chamber. By "air flow entering the air inlet section from the peripheral side," it is understood, in particular, that a portion of the air flow extends along a direction that forms an angle greater than zero, for example, substantially equal to 90 degrees, with the longitudinal axis of the device before entering the air inlet section defined by the distal wall. By "cross-section of the heating chamber," it is understood, in particular, that a plane extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the device. Due to the larger area of ​​one or more inlet holes in the central zone and thus the smaller pressure drop in this zone compared to the peripheral zone, a substantially equal amount of air can be transported at each position of a given cross-section within the heating chamber. When the tobacco article includes air channels extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the device, a uniform distribution of the air flow within the heating chamber may correspond, for example, to the same amount of air being transmitted through each of the air channels of the tobacco article.

[0014] In particular, when the airflow coming from the peripheral side reaches the distal wall, the airflow may turn approximately 90° and then be distributed substantially uniformly along the width of the heating chamber, thanks to the distal wall defining the air inlet portion having a larger area in the central zone than in the peripheral zone. The width of the heating chamber is defined along the device transverse axis, which extends, in particular, perpendicular to the device longitudinal axis and connects the edges of the distal wall. For example, if the air inlet portion has the same area in the central and peripheral zones of the distal wall, as opposed to the air inlet portion of the present disclosure, a larger amount of air will enter the heating chamber through the peripheral zone, for example, because the length of the air path is shorter in this case compared to the air path extending into the heating chamber through the central zone. Due to the fact that the one or more inlet holes have a larger area in the central zone than in the peripheral zone, the pressure drop of the air flow is highest in the peripheral zone, which is balanced by the effect of the shortest path of the air flow, resulting in the same local pressure drop at each position of the cross section of the distal wall. Thus, the aerosol generating device makes it possible to obtain a uniform distribution of the air flow inside the heating chamber, which leads to an increase in vapor extraction, particularly from the tobacco article.

[0015] According to a second example, the air flow may extend along a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the device upstream of the air inlet portion. In this case, thanks to one or more inlet holes in the distal wall, a smaller amount of air may traverse the heating chamber at the peripheral portion of the heating chamber compared to the central portion of the heating chamber located between the peripheral portions. The peripheral portion of the heating chamber may in particular be the portion of the heating chamber extending from the peripheral zone of the distal wall and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the device. The central portion of the heating chamber may in particular be the portion extending from the central zone of the distal wall parallel to the longitudinal axis of the device. Due to the smaller amount of air traversing the heating chamber at the peripheral portion, condensation of aerosol due to cooling may at least be reduced. For example, due to at least reduced condensation at the peripheral portion of the heating chamber, these features of the distal wall may improve vapor extraction and the appearance of the used tobacco article.

[0016] The peripheral zones of the distal wall may be located between the central zone and the corresponding edge. For example, the distal wall may define a width along a device transverse axis extending perpendicular to the device longitudinal axis and connecting the edges of the distal wall. Each peripheral zone may form less than half of the width of the distal wall, particularly from the corresponding edge of the distal wall toward the central zone. By way of example, each peripheral zone may form 49%, 40%, 33%, 30%, 20%, 10%, 5%, 2%, or 1% of the width of the distal wall. The central zone may form the remaining portion of the width of the distal wall. For example, if each peripheral zone forms 40% of the width of the distal wall, the central zone forms 20% of the distal wall.

[0017] The "area" of one or several inlet holes is understood to mean, in particular, the area that allows the transfer of airflow from the outside of the heating chamber into the heating chamber. For example, the area may specify the size of one or several through-holes in the distal wall into the heating chamber that correspond to one or several air inlet holes in the corresponding peripheral or central zone. According to one example, the size of the area may be defined by the height, e.g., maximum height, of the inlet hole or holes in the corresponding zone. For example, in this case, the total height or maximum height of the inlet hole or holes in the central zone may be greater than the total height or maximum height of the inlet hole or holes in each peripheral zone. The respective heights may be defined in particular along a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the device and along a direction perpendicular to the transverse axis of the device.

[0018] According to some embodiments, the air inlet portion defines a single inlet hole having an expanding shape from each of the edges of the distal wall towards a central zone thereof.

[0019] Thanks to these features, the aerosol generating device is easy to manufacture and may make it possible to obtain optimized air flow distribution inside the heating chamber, such as uniform distribution of air flow, especially when the air flow enters a single inlet hole from the peripheral side.

[0020] The single inlet hole may have a linear growth shape, an exponential growth shape, a stepped growth shape such as regular steps, a growth shape defined by a logarithmic function, or a growth shape defined by any other function, each such growth being defined from one of the edges of the distal wall towards the central zone.

[0021] For example, a single inlet hole may have upper and lower boundaries that together define the shape of the single inlet hole. The distance between the upper and lower boundaries may increase toward the central zone, such that the shape expands toward the central zone of the distal wall. The distance from the corresponding edge to the central zone may be defined by a linear function increasing toward the central zone, a step increase such as regular steps, an exponential function increasing toward the central zone, a logarithmic function increasing toward the central zone, or any other derivable or non-derivable function increasing toward the central zone.

[0022] According to one example, one of the upper and lower boundaries can extend along a transverse axis of the device perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the device, in which case the other of the upper and lower boundaries can form an expanding shape from each edge of the distal wall towards its central zone.

[0023] According to some embodiments, the single inlet hole has a diamond shape.

[0024] Thanks to these features, the single inlet hole may be easy to manufacture due to its simple shape, and furthermore allows to optimize the air flow inside the heating chamber.

[0025] Furthermore, in the case of the diamond shape, due to the linear change in height of the inlet holes between the central zone and the peripheral zone, the height being defined along a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the device and perpendicular to the transverse axis of the device, the distribution of the air flow inside the heating chamber is particularly uniform, leading to particularly increased and homogeneous vapor extraction from the tobacco article.

[0026] For example, the upper and lower boundaries of a single inlet hole may have distances from each other that increase linearly from zero at the edges of the distal wall to a maximum distance in the central zone, particularly the center, having the same distance to each edge along the device transverse axis.

[0027] According to an example, a portion of each peripheral zone may be provided with no air inlet holes, and only a portion of each peripheral zone adjacent to the central zone according to the device transverse axis may include a portion of the area of ​​a single inlet hole. In other words, for example, the transverse edge of the diamond may not contact the edge of the distal wall, but may be located at a position inside the peripheral zone of the distal wall between the edge and the central zone.

[0028] According to some embodiments, the air inlet portion defines a plurality of holes.

[0029] Thanks to these features, the aerosol generating device allows the air flow to be distributed to predetermined portions of the heating chamber, depending on, for example, the shape of the flat-shaped tobacco article and / or the heating chamber, thereby enabling efficient extraction of aerosol from the flat-shaped tobacco article in the heating chamber.

[0030] For example, each aperture of the plurality of apertures may be positioned to at least partially face a corresponding air channel formed in the flat-shaped tobacco article when the article is inserted into the heating chamber, thereby, for example, allowing for uniform distribution of air flow into each channel formed in the flat-shaped tobacco article.

[0031] According to some embodiments, the air inlet portion defines two slots extending parallel to the device transverse axis, the first slot extending between peripheral zones of the distal wall and the second slot extending only to a central zone of the distal wall.

[0032] These features allow the holes to adapt the air flow to the specific geometric shape or configuration of the aerosol-generating device or aerosol-generating article. For example, a first slot may be adapted to face a first set of embossed air channels formed in the flat-shaped tobacco article, and a second slot may be adapted to face a second set of embossed air channels formed in the flat-shaped tobacco article. In this case, for example, the first set of one or more air channels may have a different size and / or distribution on the aerosol-generating article compared to the second set of one or more air channels. These features allow, for example, to provide the same or at least similar amounts of air to each of the air channels formed in the flat-shaped tobacco article upon insertion thereof into a heating chamber.

[0033] According to some embodiments, the heating chamber further comprises two heating plates forming at least partially opposing walls of the heating chamber, the heating plates having different sizes.

[0034] These features allow the aerosol-generating device to, for example, heat the aerosol-generating article in a very energy-efficient manner. In particular, each heating plate can be configured to heat a different surface area of ​​the aerosol-generating article.

[0035] These features are particularly advantageous when the air inlet portion defines two slots extending parallel to the transverse axis of the device, with the first slot extending between the peripheral zones of the distal wall and the second slot extending only through the central zone of the distal wall. In this case, for example, the size of the heating plates can be adapted to the size of the first and second slots. For example, the first slot can have a width along the transverse axis, particularly substantially equal to the width along the transverse axis, of one of the heating plates adjacent to the first slot. The second slot can have a width along the transverse axis, particularly substantially equal to the width along the transverse axis, of the other heating plate adjacent to the second slot. In this case, in particular, these features allow airflow within the heating chamber to be provided across each of the heating plates, particularly over the side of the aerosol-generating article facing the corresponding heating plate.

[0036] According to one example, the heating plates may have different areas that are heated by the heating plates during operation. For example, these heating areas may differ from the total size of the corresponding heating plates. For example, one heating plate may heat a larger area during operation than another heating plate. In this case, advantageously, the width of each of the slots is substantially equal to the width of the heating area of ​​the heating plate closest to the corresponding slot.

[0037] According to some embodiments, the air inlet portion defines two peripheral holes adjacent different edges of the distal wall, the peripheral holes including at least a portion having an expanding shape from the corresponding edge of the distal wall towards a central zone thereof.

[0038] According to some embodiments, the air inlet portion further defines at least one central hole disposed between said peripheral holes.

[0039] These features make the aerosol generating device easy to manufacture, and each hole can provide a uniform distribution of airflow within, for example, the corresponding channel or channels of a tobacco article. Due to the enlarged shape of at least a portion of each peripheral hole, the airflow can traverse each hole evenly, i.e., at a constant flow rate at each position of each peripheral hole, for example, when the airflow is brought from the peripheral side before crossing the peripheral hole.

[0040] In the case of three holes, these advantages may apply to each of the holes. In addition, the central hole allows for increased airflow into the heating chamber.

[0041] According to some embodiments, the holes define substantially the same shape, advantageously a diamond shape.

[0042] These features make the aerosol generating device easy to manufacture, as each hole can be manufactured in the same way.

[0043] For example, a device with each hole having a diamond shape will exhibit at least some, and preferably all, of the features and / or advantages described above for the example in which the single inlet hole has a diamond shape.

[0044] According to some embodiments, the aerosol generating device comprises: an airflow distribution chamber disposed adjacent the distal wall and external to the heating chamber; - an air flow guide channel for guiding the air flow from the exterior of the device to the air flow distribution chamber, the air flow guide channel opening at the periphery of the air flow distribution chamber; Further includes:

[0045] These features can result in a uniform distribution of airflow within the heating chamber and / or reduced condensation within the heating chamber. For example, the airflow can be guided from the periphery of the airflow distribution chamber to one or several inlet holes that have a larger area in the central zone than in the peripheral zone. The airflow rotates, for example, by approximately 90°, to cross one or several inlet holes. Due to the larger area of ​​one or several inlet holes in the central zone than in the peripheral zone, the pressure drop of the airflow is highest in the peripheral zone, which is balanced by the effect of the shortest path of the airflow, resulting in the same local pressure drop at each position on the cross section of the distal wall. Therefore, the aerosol generating device can achieve a uniform distribution of airflow within the heating chamber, which leads to increased vapor extraction, particularly from tobacco articles.

[0046] For example, the air flow guide passage may extend to at least one side of the heating chamber, preferably both sides, in which case the air flow may turn 180° before entering one or several inlet holes and in particular be evenly distributed inside the heating chamber.

[0047] The air flow guideway may be configured to guide the air flow from one or several air inlets located on one or more sides of the device body of the aerosol generating device, for example. According to another example, or in addition, the air flow guideway may be configured to guide the air flow from one or several air inlets located on a rear end of the device body opposite a front end of the device body that includes at least a portion of the mouthpiece intended to contact the user's mouth and / or lips.

[0048] The invention and its advantages will be better understood on reading the following description, given by way of non-limiting example and made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0049] [Figure 1]1 is a schematic perspective view of an aerosol generating assembly including an aerosol generating device according to the present invention and an aerosol-generating article usable with the aerosol generating device; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the aerosol-generating article of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] 2 is a schematic perspective view of the aerosol generation assembly of FIG. 1 according to a first embodiment, with the device body of the aerosol generation device omitted. FIG. [Figure 4] 4 is a perspective view of an aerosol-generating assembly similar to the view of FIG. 3, further including a partial cross-section taken along plane IV-IV of FIG. 3 to particularly show the aerosol-generating article. [Figure 5] 5 is a schematic diagram of the aerosol generation device of FIG. 4 in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the device. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a schematic view similar to the drawing of FIG. 5 of an aerosol generation assembly according to a variant of the first embodiment; [Figure 7] 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an aerosol generation assembly according to a variant of the first embodiment of FIG. 6, taken along plane VII-VII of FIG. 6. [Figure 8] FIG. 6 is a schematic view similar to the drawing of FIG. 5 of an aerosol generation assembly according to a second embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 6 is a schematic view similar to the drawing of FIG. 5 of an aerosol generation assembly according to a third embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0050] 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. 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 being carried out in various ways.

[0051] In the following, the expression "substantially equal" is understood to mean equal to ±10%, preferably ±5%, and more preferably ±1%. In some instances, this expression may mean perfect equality.

[0052] As used herein, the terms "aerosol-generating device" or "device" may include a vaping device that uses a heater element, described in more detail below, to deliver an aerosol, e.g., a vaping aerosol, to a user. The device may be portable. "Portable" may refer to a device that is intended for use while held by a user. The device may be adapted to generate a variable amount of aerosol, for example, by activating a heater element for a variable amount of time (as opposed to a fixed amount of aerosol), which may be controlled by a trigger. The trigger may be activated by a user, such as a vaping button and / or an inhalation sensor. The inhalation sensor may be sensitive to inhalation intensity and inhalation duration, allowing for the provision of a variable amount of vapor (to mimic the smoking effect of a conventional combustion-type smoking article, such as a cigarette, cigar, or pipe). The device may include a temperature regulation control to drive the temperature of the heater and / or heated aerosol-generating material (aerosol precursor) to a specific target temperature and then maintain that temperature at that target temperature to enable efficient generation of aerosol.

[0053] As used herein, the term "aerosol" may include a suspension of vaporizable material as one or more of solid particles, liquid droplets, or gas. The suspension may be in a gas, including air. Aerosol herein may generally refer to / include a vapor. The aerosol may include one or more components of the vaporizable material.

[0054] As used herein, the terms "vaporizable material" or "precursor" may refer to smokable materials, which may include, for example, nicotine or tobacco and an aerosol former. Tobacco may take the form of various materials, such as cut tobacco, granulated tobacco, tobacco leaf, and / or reconstituted tobacco. Suitable aerosol formers include polyols, such as sorbitol, glycerol, and glycols (such as propylene glycol or triethylene glycol), non-polyols, such as monohydric alcohols, acids (such as lactic acid), glycerol derivatives, esters (such as triacetin), triethylene glycol diacetate, triethyl citrate, glycerin, or vegetable glycerin. In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating agent may be glycerol, propylene glycol, or a mixture of glycerol and propylene glycol. The substrate may also include at least one of a gelling agent, a binder, a stabilizer, and a humectant.

[0055] First embodiment 1 to 7, an aerosol-generating assembly 10 according to a first embodiment includes an aerosol-generating device 11 and a flat-shaped aerosol-generating article 12, also referred to as a flat-shaped tobacco article 12. The aerosol-generating device 11 is intended to operate with a flat-shaped tobacco article 12, which is shown in more detail in Figure 2. The flat-shaped tobacco article 12 will hereinafter be referred to as the tobacco article 12.

[0056] Referring to FIG. 2, the tobacco article 12 may be, for example, a rectangular parallelepiped extending along the article axis X1 and having outer dimensions L×W×D. In a typical example, the length L of the article 12 along the article axis X1 is substantially equal to 33 mm, while its width W and depth D are substantially equal to 12 mm and 1.2 mm, respectively. According to different examples, the values ​​L, W, and D may be selected within a range of, for example, ±40%. More generally, the article has a flat shape in which one of the dimensions L, W, and D is significantly smaller than the other two. For example, if the depth D is the smallest dimension among the length L, depth D, and width W, and the length L is the largest dimension, the depth D is preferably less than one-fifth of the width W, preferably less than one-eighth of the width W, preferably about one-tenth of the width W, and the width W is preferably less than half of the length L, preferably about one-third or less than one-third of the length L.

[0057] The flat nature of the tobacco article 12, with width W being significantly greater than depth D, is associated with a particular need for airflow redistribution (ie, along width W in the example immediately above).

[0058] The depth D of the tobacco article 12 is defined by a pair of parallel walls 13A, 13B, hereinafter referred to as narrow walls 13A, 13B, and the width W of the tobacco article 12 is defined by a pair of parallel walls 14A, 14B, hereinafter referred to as wide walls 14A, 14B. In some embodiments, the edges between the wide and narrow walls 13A, 13B, 14A, 14B may be rounded. According to other embodiments of the present disclosure, the tobacco article 12 may have any other suitable flat shape and / or overall dimensions.

[0059] The tobacco article 12 includes, for example, a tobacco portion 15 and a mouthpiece portion 16 disposed along the article axis X1. The tobacco portion 15 may, for example, be slightly longer than the mouthpiece portion 16. For example, the length L2 of the tobacco portion 15 along the article axis X1 may be substantially equal to 18 mm. The width W2 of the tobacco portion 15 is substantially equal to the width W of the tobacco article 12. The length L3 of the mouthpiece portion 16 along the article axis X1 may be substantially equal to 15 mm. As before, the values ​​L2 and L3 may be selected within a range of, for example, ±40%. The tobacco portion 15 defines an abutting end 18 of the article 12, and the mouthpiece portion 16 defines a mouth end 20 of the article 12. The tobacco portion 15 and the mouthpiece portion 16 may be secured to each other by a wrapper 21 extending around the article axis X1. The wrapper 21 forms the narrow and wide walls 13A, 13B, 14A, and 14B of the tobacco article 12. In some embodiments, the wrapper 21 is formed from the same wrapping sheet. In some other embodiments, the wrapper 21 is formed from separate wrapping sheets that separately wrap the sections 15, 16 and are secured together by any other suitable means. The wrapper 21 may comprise, for example, paper, and / or a nonwoven fabric, and / or aluminum foil. The wrapper 21 may be porous or air impermeable and forms a plurality of air flow channels inside the article 12 extending between the abutting end 18 and the mouth end 20.

[0060] The mouthpiece portion 16 includes a core 27 intended to function as, for example, a cooler to slightly cool the vapor before the user inhales. For this purpose, the core 27 may comprise, for example, cardboard. The core 27 may be formed into a stable shape by an extrusion and / or rolling process. Advantageously, the core 27 is positioned inside the mouthpiece portion 16 so as to be in complete contact with the inner surface of the wrapper 21 that defines the boundary of the mouthpiece portion 16. Additionally or alternatively, the core 27 functions as a filter.

[0061] As will be explained in more detail below, tobacco portion 15 includes vaporizable material and is intended to be heated by a heating chamber.

[0062] 4 and 5, the tobacco portion 15 may include one or several embossed air channels 28 extending parallel to the article axis X1. The air channels 28 may, for example, be formed on opposite faces of the tobacco portion and may, for example, have a constant width and / or depth along the article axis X1. Each air channel 28 may, in particular, exhibit a width and / or depth that is one or several dimensions larger than the average diameter of the tobacco items of the tobacco portion 15, each tobacco item being formed, for example, from cut tobacco, granulated tobacco, tobacco leaf and / or reconstituted tobacco.

[0063] Referring again to FIG. 1 , the aerosol generating device 11 includes a device body 40 extending between a front end 41 and a rear end 42 along the device longitudinal axis X2. The aerosol generating device 11 further includes a mouthpiece 43 attached to the front end 41 of the device body 40. According to the example described below, the mouthpiece 43 and the device body 40 form two different components. In particular, according to this example, the mouthpiece 43 is designed to be fixed to a support 44 defined by the front end 41 of the device body 40, as shown in FIG. 1 . The support 44 defines, for example, a wall extending perpendicular to the device longitudinal axis X2, which defines an opening in its center for receiving the mouthpiece 43, including the heating chamber, as will be described in more detail below. The support 44 may, in particular, extend inward from a side wall forming the device body 40. The front end 41 of the device body 40 may not, for example, be provided with an air inlet. According to one example, device body 40 may include one or several air inlets, not visible in Figure 1, on a side 45 of device body 40 connecting front end 41 and rear end 42. According to another example, or in addition, device body 40 may include one or several air inlets on rear end 42.

[0064] 4, the mouthpiece 43 may include a contact portion 46 configured to protrude from the front end 41 of the device body 40 when the mouthpiece 43 is attached to the device body 40, as shown in FIG. 1 for example. The mouthpiece 43 may further include a support portion 47 configured to attach the mouthpiece 43 to the device body 40, and a holding portion 48. These portions 46-48 are arranged consecutively along the device longitudinal axis X2 and define a central hole 49 extending through each of the portions 46-48.

[0065] The retaining portion 48 is designed, in particular, to hold at least a portion of the tobacco article 12. The retaining portion 48, in particular, defines a heating chamber 60, as shown, for example, in Fig. 4. In particular, the retaining portion 48 is designed to receive at least a portion of the mouthpiece portion 16 of the tobacco article 12, which is omitted from the drawing in Fig. 4, through the central hole 49. For this purpose, at least inside the retaining portion 48, the cross section of the central hole 49 is complementary to the external shape of the mouthpiece portion 16 of the tobacco article 12. In particular, since the tobacco article 12 has a flat shape, the central hole 49 also has a flat shape, advantageously a rectangular flat shape.

[0066] The device body 40 defines an interior space of the device 11 that houses various elements designed to perform different functions of the device 11. This interior space may house, for example, a battery for powering the device 11, a controller for controlling the operation of the device 11, a heating chamber 60 for heating the tobacco portion 15 of the tobacco article 12, etc. Of these elements, only the heating chamber 60 will be described in further detail with reference to Figures 3-5.

[0067] The heating chamber 60 extends along a device longitudinal axis X2 between a proximal end 62 configured to receive at least the tobacco portion 15 of a flat-shaped tobacco article 12 and a distal end 64 opposite the proximal end 62. When the tobacco portion 15 is received within the heating chamber 60, the article axis X1 may extend parallel to or coincide with the device longitudinal axis X2. The proximal end 62 may, for example, open into the central bore 49. The distal end 64 of the heating chamber 60 includes a distal wall 66 extending between two edges 68, e.g., rounded edges, along a device transverse axis Y2 extending substantially perpendicular to the device longitudinal axis X2. The device transverse axis Y2 extends, in particular, along a direction connecting the two edges 68 of the distal wall 66. For example, the transverse axis Y2 extends parallel to the wide walls 72A, 72B of the heating chamber 60, which define the flat shape of the heating chamber 60.

[0068] The heating chamber 60 may include a heating zone adapted to heat the tobacco portion 15 of the tobacco article 12 when the tobacco article is received within the heating chamber 60, particularly via the central bore 49 and proximal end 62 of the heating chamber 60.

[0069] The heating chamber 60 has a flat shape. In particular, as the tobacco article 12, the heating chamber 60 may also form a rectangular parallelepiped shape extending along the device longitudinal axis X2, including a pair of parallel narrow walls 70A, 70B extending along the device longitudinal axis X2, and a pair of parallel wide walls 72A, 72B also extending along the device longitudinal axis X2 connecting the proximal end 62 to the distal end 64, in particular the distal wall 66, as shown, for example, in Figures 3-5. The heating chamber 60 is particularly configured to receive the tobacco article 12 such that the corresponding wide walls 14A, 14B of the tobacco article 12 face the corresponding wide walls 72A, 72B of the heating chamber 60, the corresponding narrow walls 13A, 13B of the tobacco article 12 face the corresponding narrow walls 70A, 70B of the heating chamber 60, and the abutting end 18 of the tobacco article 12 abuts the distal wall 66 or at least a rib extending from the distal wall 66. Alternatively, the abutting end 18 faces the distal wall 66 without contacting it. The opposing wide walls 14A, 14B, 72A, 72B and the opposing narrow walls 13A, 13B, 70A, 70B may at least partially contact each other or may be spaced apart from each other.

[0070] In the example of Figures 3 to 5, each edge 68 extends along the device transverse axis Y2 from the outer surface of the respective narrow wall 70A, 70B to approximately the level of the inner surface of the respective narrow wall 70A, 70B, as can be seen in Figure 4.

[0071] The distal wall 66 of the heating chamber 60 defines an air inlet portion 73 configured to provide airflow into the interior of the heating chamber 60, as shown by arrows 74 in FIG. 4 , where the width of each arrow 72 corresponds to, for example, an airflow velocity or flow rate. The air inlet portion 73 defines one or several inlet holes 76, for example, a single inlet hole 76. The air inlet portion 73 may further be a portion defined by the wall thickness of the distal wall 66 along the device longitudinal axis X2.

[0072] 5, the air inlet hole(s) 76 present a larger area in a central zone 78 of the distal wall 66 than in peripheral zones 80 of the distal wall 66 adjacent the edges 68. For example, with reference to FIGS. 3-5, the air inlet portion 73 defines a single air inlet hole 76 having an expanding shape from each edge 68 of the distal wall 66 toward the central zone 78 thereof.

[0073] Preferably, the ratio of the maximum distance between any two points of the inlet holes 76, or in the case of several inlet holes 76, of all the inlet holes 76 viewed as a whole along the device transverse axis Y2, to the length of the distal wall 66 is greater than 50%, greater than 60%, greater than 70%, greater than 80%, more preferably greater than 90%.

[0074] The peripheral zones 80 of the distal wall may be disposed between the central zone 78 and the corresponding edge 68. For example, the distal wall 66 may define a width W3 along the transverse axis Y2 (as seen particularly in FIG. 5 ). Each peripheral zone 80 may form less than half of the width W3 of the distal wall 66, particularly from the corresponding edge 68 of the distal wall 66 toward the central zone 78. By way of example, each peripheral zone 80 may form 49%, 40%, 33%, 30%, 20%, 10%, 5%, 2%, or 1% of the width W3 of the distal wall 66. The central zone 78 may form the remaining portion of the width W3 of the distal wall 66. For example, if each peripheral zone 80 forms 40% of the width W3 of the distal wall 66, the central zone 78 forms 20% of the distal wall 66.

[0075] The single inlet hole 76 may have a linearly increasing shape defined from each edge 68 of the distal wall 66 toward the central zone 78. For example, the single inlet hole 76 may have an upper boundary 82 and a lower boundary 84 that together define the shape of the single inlet hole 76. A distance D2 between the upper boundary 82 and the lower boundary 84, particularly as seen in FIG. 5 , may increase toward the central zone 78, such that the shape expands toward the central zone 78. The distance D2 may be defined by a function, for example, a linear function that increases toward the central zone 78, from the corresponding edge 68 to the central zone 78. In the case of a diamond shape as seen in FIGS. 3-5 , the upper boundary 82 and the lower boundary 84 of the single inlet hole 76 may have a distance D2 from each other that increases linearly from zero at the edge 68 to a maximum distance at the center that has the same distance to each edge 68 along the device transverse axis Y2.

[0076] Referring to FIG. 3 , the heating chamber 60 may further include at least one heating plate 90, for example, at least partially forming one of the wide walls 72A, 72B of the heating chamber 60. Preferably, the heating chamber 60 includes two heating plates 90 (only one of which is visible in FIG. 3 ) that at least partially form the opposing wide walls 72A, 72B of the heating chamber 60. In particular, each heating plate 90 is designed to contact or face the tobacco portion 15 of the tobacco article 12. Advantageously, each heating plate 90 extends along the entire heating zone when projected onto a plane parallel to each of the wide walls 72A, 72B. In other words, the length of each heating plate 90 along the device longitudinal axis X2 is at least equal to the length L2 of the tobacco portion 15, and the width of each heating plate 90 is at least equal to the width W2 of the tobacco portion 15. According to one example, the heating plates 90 may have different sizes. Each heating plate 90 may include, for example, a pair of contacts (not shown) connected to the device's battery, and a heating circuit extending between the contacts along the entire surface of the corresponding plate 90. For example, the or each heating plate 90 has a substantially rectangular shape.

[0077] A variant of the aerosol generation assembly 10 according to the first embodiment will now be described with reference to Figures 6 and 7. The variant includes at least some, and preferably all, of the features of the first embodiment as described above. In the following, only the differences and / or additional features of the variant will be described. Figure 6 is a schematic view of the aerosol generation device 11 according to the variant, taken along plane VI, which plane VI is visible in Figure 7. Figure 7 is a schematic view of this aerosol generation device 11, taken along plane VII, which plane VII is visible in Figure 6.

[0078] The device body 40 may be closed at the rear end 42. In particular, the rear end 42 may not be provided with an air inlet or outlet. The aerosol generation device 11 may further include an air flow distribution chamber 92 arranged outside the heating chamber 60 adjacent the distal wall 66. The aerosol generation device 11 may further include at least one air flow guide channel 94 for guiding air flow from the outside of the device 11 to the air flow distribution chamber 92. In particular, the air flow guide channel 94 may be configured to guide air flow from one or several air inlets (not shown) arranged on one or more side surfaces 45 of the device body 40, for example. The or each air flow guide channel 94 may open at the periphery of the air flow distribution chamber 92, in particular at one or more openings 96.

[0079] The air flow guide passage 94 may extend on at least one side, preferably both sides, of the heating chamber 60, particularly parallel to the longitudinal axis X2 of the device. In this case, the air flow may turn 180° before entering the inlet hole 76.

[0080] 6 and 7, the heating chamber 60 is bounded by narrow walls 70A, 70B, and the air flow guideway is bounded by two additional narrow walls 96A, 96B that surround the heating chamber 60 on either side of the narrow walls. In other words, the edge 68 extends in these cases along the device transverse axis Y2 approximately from the outer surface of the respective additional narrow wall 96A, 96B to the level of the outer surface of the respective narrow wall 70A, 70B, as can be seen by the dotted lines in FIG.

[0081] Second embodiment An aerosol generation assembly 10 according to a second embodiment will now be described with reference to Figures 1, 2 and 8.

[0082] The aerosol generation assembly 10 according to the second embodiment includes at least some, and preferably all, of the features of the first embodiment as described above. In the following, only the differences of the second embodiment with respect to the first embodiment and / or additional features of the second embodiment will be described. The same reference numerals may be used for identical or similar elements.

[0083] Referring to FIG. 8 , the air inlet portion 73 defines a plurality of holes. For example, the air inlet portion 73 may define two slots 98A, 98B extending parallel to the device transverse axis Y2. For example, the first slot 98A may extend between the peripheral zones 80 of the distal wall 66, and the second slot 98B may extend only to the central zone 78 of the distal wall 66. Notably, with this arrangement, the air inlet portion 73 defines several inlet holes, here holes 98A, 98B, that together present a larger area in the central zone 78 of the distal wall 66 than in the peripheral zones 80 of the distal wall 66. At least one or each of the two slots 98A, 98B may include at least some features of the air inlet hole 76 of the first embodiment.

[0084] According to one example, each slot 98A, 98B has a constant height, the height being defined along a direction perpendicular to the device longitudinal axis X2 and perpendicular to the device transverse axis Y2. For example, slots 98A, 98B may have the same height. According to another example, at least one or both of slots 98A, 98B may have varying heights. According to some examples, inlet portion 73 may define three or more inlet holes 76 and / or slots 98A, 98B.

[0085] The heating chamber 60 may include, for example, two heating plates 90 having different sizes. In this case, for example, the width of the heating plate 90 adjacent to the first slot 98A, i.e., the heating plate 90 of the wide wall 72B in FIG. 8, for example, may be substantially equal to the width of the first slot 98A. Similarly, the width of the heating plate 90 adjacent to the second slot 98B, i.e., the heating plate 90 of the wide wall 72A in FIG. 8, for example, may be substantially equal to the width of the second slot 98B.

[0086] Preferably, the ratio of the maximum distance between any two points of the inlet holes 98A and 98B as a whole along the device transverse axis Y2 to the length of the distal wall 66 is greater than 50%, greater than 60%, greater than 70%, greater than 80%, and more preferably greater than 90%.

[0087] Third embodiment An aerosol generation assembly 10 according to a third embodiment will now be described with reference to Figures 1, 2 and 9.

[0088] The aerosol generation assembly 10 according to the third embodiment includes at least some, and preferably all, features of the first and / or second embodiments as described above. In the following, only the differences and / or additional features of the third embodiment relative to the previous embodiments will be described. The same reference numerals may be used for identical or similar elements.

[0089] For example, the air inlet portion 73 may define at least two peripheral holes 99A adjacent to different edges 68 of the distal wall 66, each including a portion 100 having an expanding shape from the corresponding edge 68 of the distal wall 66 toward the central zone 78 of the distal wall 66. In this case, for example, the portion 100 of each peripheral hole 99A may define a peripheral zone of the distal wall 66. According to one example, the air inlet portion 73 may further define at least one central hole 99B disposed between the peripheral holes 99A. At least one, and preferably each, of the peripheral holes 99A and central holes 99B includes at least some of the features of the air inlet holes 76 of the first embodiment and / or the elongated holes 98A, 98B of the second embodiment. For example, each hole 99A, 99B may define substantially the same shape. The same shape may be any shape of the air inlet holes 76 as described above, such as a diamond shape.

[0090] Other embodiments According to other embodiments, any of the features of the first, second and third embodiments may be combined in any technically feasible combination to provide an air inlet portion 73 defining one or several inlet holes 76, 98A, 98B, 99A, 99B presenting a larger area in the central zone 78 of the distal wall 66 than in the peripheral zone 80 of the distal wall 66.

[0091] For example, the aerosol generating device 11 of any of the first, second, and third embodiments may include one, two, or three or more heating plates 90. The heating plates 90 may have different sizes.

Claims

1. 1. An aerosol generating device (11) configured to operate with a flat tobacco article (12), comprising a flat heating chamber (60) extending along a device longitudinal axis (X2) between a proximal end (62) configured to receive at least a tobacco portion (15) of the flat tobacco article (12) and a distal end (64) opposite the proximal end (62), the distal end (64) of the heating chamber (60) includes a distal wall (66) extending between two edges (68) along a device transverse axis (Y2) that is substantially perpendicular to the device longitudinal axis (X2); the distal wall (66) defines an air inlet portion (73) configured to provide air flow (74) into the interior of the heating chamber (60); An aerosol generating device (100) in which the air inlet portion (73) defines one or several inlet holes (76, 98A, 98B, 99A, 99B), which have a larger area in a central zone (78) of the distal wall (66) than in a peripheral zone (80) of the distal wall (66) adjacent its edge (68).

2. 2. The aerosol generating device (11) of claim 1, wherein the air inlet portion (73) defines a single inlet hole (76) having an expanding shape from each of the edges (68) of the distal wall (66) toward its central zone (78).

3. 3. The aerosol generating device (11) according to claim 2, wherein the single inlet hole (76) has a diamond shape.

4. 2. The aerosol generating device (11) of claim 1, wherein the air inlet portion (73) defines a plurality of holes (76, 98A, 98B, 99A, 99B).

5. 5. The aerosol generating device (11) of claim 4, wherein the air inlet portion (73) defines two elongated holes (98A, 98B) extending parallel to the device transverse axis (Y2), the first elongated hole (98A) extending between the peripheral zones (80) of the distal wall (66) and the second elongated hole (98B) extending only to the central zone (78) of the distal wall (80).

6. 6. The aerosol generating device (11) of claim 5, wherein the heating chamber (60) further comprises two heating plates (90) at least partially forming opposing walls (72A, 72B) of the heating chamber (60), the heating plates (90) having different sizes.

7. An aerosol generating device (11) as described in claim 4, wherein the air inlet portion (73) defines two peripheral holes (99A) adjacent to different edges (68) of the distal wall (66), and these peripheral holes include a portion (100) having an expanding shape from at least the corresponding edge (68) of the distal wall (66) toward its central zone (78).

8. 8. The aerosol generating device (11) of claim 7, wherein the air inlet portion (73) further defines at least one central hole (99B) disposed between the peripheral holes (99A).

9. 9. An aerosol generating device (11) according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the holes (99A, 99B) define substantially the same shape, advantageously a diamond shape.

10. an airflow distribution chamber (92) located outside the heating chamber (60) adjacent to the distal wall (66); at least one air flow guide channel (94) for guiding an air flow from the exterior of the device (11) to the air flow distribution chamber (92), the at least one air flow guide channel (94) opening on the periphery of the air flow distribution chamber (92); The aerosol generating device (11) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising:

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