Aerosol-generating articles and packages

Abstract

An aerosol-generating article 100 is provided, extending in the longitudinal direction between opposing first ends 101 and second ends 102. The aerosol-generating article 100 includes a peripheral wall 110, the peripheral wall 110 having a lens-shaped axial cross-section. A package 5000 is also provided, the package comprising a plurality of aerosol-generating articles 400 and a container 5100 that houses the plurality of aerosol-generating articles. Each of the aerosol-generating articles 400 in the package extends in the longitudinal direction between opposing first and second ends of each aerosol-generating article, and the peripheral wall 410 of the aerosol-generating article 400 is configured to define a contracted, flattened shape in its axial cross-section.

Description

Technical Field

[0005] , ,

[0001] The present disclosure relates to aerosol-generating articles. The present disclosure also relates to a package having a plurality of aerosol-generating articles and a container for containing the plurality of aerosol-generating articles.

Background Art

[0002] In the field of aerosol-generating articles for delivering an aerosol to a user, such aerosol-generating articles are known to have a circular cross-section and / or to extend between a first open end and a second open end that face each other.

Summary of the Invention

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The surrounding wall may have opposing first and second convex portions. The ends of the first convex portion can meet with the ends of the corresponding second convex portion to define a pair of laterally opposing edges of the surrounding wall. The opposing first and second convex portions facilitate the creation of a shape in the surrounding wall that resembles the shape of a biconvex lens.

[0007] Preferably, at each of the pair of laterally opposing edges of the surrounding wall, the outer surface of the surrounding wall has a radius of curvature of less than 2 millimeters, less than 1 millimeter, less than 0.5 millimeters, or less than 0.25 millimeters. By using such small values ​​for the radius of curvature at the laterally opposing edges of the surrounding wall, it is possible to ensure that the sides of the aerosol-generating article are clearly defined.

[0008] The surrounding wall may include a pair of folds, which have the advantage of defining a pair of laterally opposing edges of the surrounding wall.

[0009] At each of the pair of laterally opposing edges of the surrounding wall, the acute angle between the first tangent to the outer surface of the first convex portion and the second tangent to the outer surface of the second convex portion is preferably in the range of 15 to 110 degrees, or 15 to 90 degrees, or 15 to 75 degrees, or 15 to 65 degrees, or 15 to 55 degrees, or 15 to 45 degrees, or 15 to 35 degrees, or 15 to 25 degrees. By using a smaller value for the acute angle, a more "sharply" and clearly defined geometric shape is obtained on the outer surface of the surrounding wall at the positions of the pair of laterally opposing edges of the surrounding wall.

[0010] At an intermediate position between a pair of laterally opposing edges of the surrounding wall, the radii of curvature of the inner surfaces of the first and second convex portions may be between 100 mm and 500 mm.

[0011] The aerosol-generating article may have a width of 20 millimeters or less. Preferably, the width of the aerosol-generating article is in the range of 14 millimeters to 20 millimeters.

[0012] The aerosol-generating article may have a thickness of 8 mm or less. The thickness of the aerosol-generating article is preferably in the range of 3 mm to 8 mm, or 3 mm to 6 mm, or 3 mm to 5 mm. Preferably, the thickness of the aerosol-generating article is about 4 mm.

[0013] The aerosol-generating article may further comprise at least one flap positioned at one of the first and second ends. The at least one flap may be folded so as to overlap at least a portion of the end on which the flap is positioned.

[0014] At least one flap may be configured to be folded by the user.

[0015] At least one flap may be folded to cover at least a portion of the opening defined at the edge where the flap is positioned, for example, to cover the opening and / or to extend into the opening.

[0016] The flap may be connected to the article by a fold, for example, a fold line. The flap may be configured to be folded along a fold, so that the flap overlaps with at least a portion of the opening. The flap may be configured to be folded along a fold so that its edge is positioned within the opening, for example, the edge of the flap may contact the inner wall of the aerosol-generating article, for example, the inner wall of the chamber reached through the opening. The inner wall of the aerosol-generating article may form part of the surrounding wall.

[0017] The flap may have at least one opening and / or be formed of a breathable material. When such a flap is positioned at the mouth end of an aerosol-generating article, the use of an opening and / or the use of a breathable material for the flap may allow a user to inhale aerosols from the aerosol-generating article through the flap at the mouth end.

[0018] A second aspect of the present disclosure provides an aerosol-generating article extending along its longitudinal axis between opposing first and second ends, for example, the aerosol-generating article may be one of those described in the preceding paragraph. The aerosol-generating article may include a peripheral wall, which may define a contracted, flattened shape in its axial cross-section.

[0019] As can be understood from subsequent paragraphs of this disclosure (for example, the third aspect of this disclosure described below), the aerosol-generating articles outlined in the first and second aspects of this disclosure may be a single identical article, or they may be articles in different states. Preferably, the first aspect of this disclosure relates to an aerosol-generating article in an expanded state, and the second aspect of this disclosure relates to an aerosol-generating article in a contracted state. More specifically, the area enclosed by the surrounding wall is larger in the expanded state than in the contracted state. The expanded state can be associated with the aerosol-generating article being ready for use (or in use) by the user. In contrast, the flattened contracted state can be associated with an aerosol-generating article being in a state suitable for efficiently packing or storing multiple aerosol-generating articles, as the contracted cross-section of the article can allow for more efficient packing of different articles side by side or end to end.

[0020] Conveniently, the opposing inward-facing surfaces of the surrounding walls are in surface contact with each other. Maintaining this surface contact between the opposing inward-facing surfaces of the surrounding walls makes it easier to minimize the thickness of the cross-section defined by the surrounding walls of the aerosol-generating article, thereby facilitating the efficient packaging of different articles.

[0021] The opposing outward-facing surfaces of the surrounding walls may be parallel to each other.

[0022] The opposing outward-facing surfaces of the surrounding walls may be substantially planar.

[0023] Preferably, the aerosol-generating article may have a thickness of 5 mm or less. The thickness of the aerosol-generating article may be in the range of 0.5 mm to 5 mm, or 0.5 mm to 3 mm, or 0.5 mm to 2 mm, or 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm. Preferably, the aerosol-generating article has a thickness of about 1 mm.

[0024] The contracted flat shape of the surrounding wall may be due to the flattening of the tubular member. As an example, the tubular member may be the aerosol generating article or the surrounding wall of the aerosol generating article.

[0025] In a third aspect of the present disclosure, an aerosol generating article extending in the longitudinal direction between an opposing first end and a second end is provided. As an example, the aerosol generating article may be any of those described in the previous paragraphs. The aerosol generating article may include a surrounding wall. The surrounding wall is configured to be deformable, resulting in a contraction of the width of the aerosol generating article and an accompanying expansion of the thickness of the aerosol generating article, thereby enabling the aerosol generating article to transition from a contracted first state to an expanded second state. In the expanded second state, the area surrounded by the surrounding wall increases compared to the contracted first state.

[0026] The contracted first state may be particularly suitable for efficiently packing a plurality of different aerosol generating articles (e.g., side by side) because it may help reduce the size of the gaps between adjacent articles compared to a conventional aerosol generating article having a circular cross-section. A user can take an unused aerosol generating article in the contracted first state and compress the lateral sides of the surrounding wall towards each other to transition the article to the expanded second state. In the expanded second state, the area surrounded by the surrounding wall becomes larger, improving the airflow through the article compared to the article in the contracted first state, thereby facilitating the inhalation of the article through the second end of the article.

[0027] Preferably, in the contracted first state, the opposing inward-facing surfaces of the surrounding wall are in surface contact with each other. As described above, keeping the opposing inward-facing surfaces of the surrounding wall in surface contact with each other facilitates minimizing the thickness of the cross-section defined by the surrounding wall of the aerosol generating article, thereby facilitating the efficient packing of different articles.

[0028] In the contracted first state, the opposing outward-facing surfaces of the surrounding wall may be parallel to each other.

[0029] In the contracted first state, the opposing outer faces of the peripheral wall may be substantially planar.

[0030] Advantageously, in the expanded second state, the peripheral wall of the aerosol-generating article may be lens-shaped in the axial cross-section. Thereby, as outlined in the previous paragraph, the same advantages as those associated with the first aspect of the present disclosure may be obtained. The peripheral wall may comprise opposing first and second portions. Both ends of the first portion may be joined with both ends of the corresponding second portion to define a pair of edges opposing each other in the lateral direction of the peripheral wall. The peripheral wall may be adapted such that, by the opposing pair of edges in the lateral direction deforming towards each other, a separation between the opposing first and second portions of the peripheral wall at a position between the opposing pair of edges in the lateral direction is introduced or increased, whereby the aerosol-generating article may be adapted to transition between the contracted first state and the expanded second state.

[0031] Preferably, the aerosol-generating article comprises an aerosol-forming substrate, preferably forming at least a part of the peripheral wall. The aerosol-forming substrate may be configured to generate an inhalable aerosol when heated. More specifically, the aerosol-forming substrate may be configured to generate an aerosol when heated to a level that sufficiently heats the aerosol-forming substrate but does not cause ignition or combustion. The aerosol-forming substrate preferably comprises an aerosol-forming body.

[0032] In any aspect of this disclosure, the surrounding wall may incorporate or be formed from an aerosol-forming substrate. For example, the surrounding wall may incorporate or be formed from one or more sheets of the aerosol-forming substrate. The surrounding wall may be formed solely from the aerosol-forming substrate, for example, as one or more sheets of the aerosol-forming substrate. The surrounding wall may incorporate the aerosol-forming substrate together with other components or parts, for example, the aerosol-forming substrate may be in the form of a sheet. The outward-facing surface of the surrounding wall may include or be made from the aerosol-forming substrate, for example, as a sheet of the aerosol-forming substrate.

[0033] Advantageously, the surrounding wall may include both an aerosol-forming substrate and a support substrate. "Support substrate" means a material configured to provide a level of bending stiffness suitable for an aerosol-generating article. Preferably, the support substrate has a higher bending stiffness than the aerosol-forming substrate.

[0034] The surrounding wall may include at least one sheet of aerosol-forming substrate and at least one sheet of support substrate. Each sheet is preferably formed from a single layer, but may instead be formed from two or more layers stacked on top of each other to form each sheet. The surrounding wall may define a laminated structure formed from both at least one sheet of aerosol-forming substrate and at least one sheet of support substrate.

[0035] The surrounding wall may comprise a band of aerosol-forming substrate. The surrounding wall may comprise a band of support substrate. When the surrounding wall comprises both a band of aerosol-forming substrate and a band of support substrate, conveniently, the band of aerosol-forming substrate radially surrounds the band of support substrate, or is surrounded by the band of support substrate.

[0036] Advantageously, the supporting material can be cardboard. Cardboard is preferred due to its bending rigidity.

[0037] A fourth aspect of the present disclosure provides an aerosol-generating article extending between opposing first and second ends, for example, the aerosol-generating article may be one of those described in the preceding paragraphs. The aerosol-generating article may include a peripheral wall, the peripheral wall comprising at least one sheet of a support substrate. A fold is defined in at least one sheet of the support substrate and can define a folded sheet of the support substrate. A first portion of the folded sheet of the support substrate is folded along the fold and lies on a second portion of the folded sheet of the support substrate and can define a closed path corresponding to the peripheral wall.

[0038] The first portion of the folded sheet of the support material may extend over the first half of the perimeter of the surrounding wall, and the second portion of the folded sheet of the support material may extend over the second half of the perimeter of the surrounding wall.

[0039] Preferably, the free ends of the first and second portions of the folded sheet of the support base material can be aligned with each other to define a closed path. Alternatively, the free ends of the first and second portions of the folded sheet can overlap with each other, thereby defining a closed path.

[0040] Preferably, the surrounding wall further includes at least one sheet of the aerosol-forming substrate. The at least one sheet of the aerosol-forming substrate may include either or both of i) an external arrangement of one or more sheets of the aerosol-forming substrate, and ii) an internal arrangement of one or more sheets of the aerosol-forming substrate. The external arrangement of one or more sheets of the aerosol-forming substrate may be positioned on (preferably in surface contact with) the outward-facing surfaces of both the first and second portions of the folded sheet of the support substrate. Similarly, the internal arrangement of one or more sheets of the aerosol-forming substrate may be positioned on (preferably in surface contact with) the inward-facing surfaces of both the first and second portions of the folded sheet of the support substrate.

[0041] The outer configuration may include a common sheet of aerosol-forming substrate positioned on (preferably in surface contact with) the outward-facing surfaces of both the first and second portions of the folded sheet of the support substrate. Similarly, the inner configuration may include a common sheet of aerosol-forming substrate positioned on (preferably in surface contact with) the inward-facing surfaces of both the first and second portions of the folded sheet of the support substrate.

[0042] Alternatively, the outer configuration may instead comprise a first outer sheet of aerosol-forming substrate positioned on (preferably in surface contact with) the outward-facing surface of the first portion of the folded sheet of the support substrate, and a second outer sheet of aerosol-forming substrate positioned on (preferably in surface contact with) the outward-facing surface of the second portion of the folded sheet of the support substrate. Similarly, the inner configuration may comprise a first inner sheet of aerosol-forming substrate positioned on (preferably in surface contact with) the inward-facing surface of the first portion of the folded sheet of the support substrate, and a second inner sheet of aerosol-forming substrate positioned on (preferably in surface contact with) the inward-facing surface of the second portion of the folded sheet of the support substrate.

[0043] A fifth aspect of the present disclosure provides an aerosol-generating article extending between opposing first and second ends, for example, the aerosol-generating article may be one of those described in the preceding paragraphs. The aerosol-generating article may include a perimeter wall comprising at least one sheet of a support substrate. The at least one sheet of the support substrate may include a first sheet and a second sheet of the support substrate arranged opposite each other. Laterally opposed edges of the first sheet and the second sheet of the support substrate can be aligned with each other to define laterally opposed edges of the perimeter wall, thereby allowing the first and second sheets of the support substrate to define a closed path corresponding to the perimeter wall.

[0044] The first sheet of the support material may extend over the first half of the perimeter of the surrounding wall, and the second sheet of the support material may extend over the second half of the perimeter of the surrounding wall.

[0045] Preferably, the surrounding wall further includes at least one sheet of the aerosol-forming substrate. The at least one sheet of the aerosol-forming substrate may include either or both of i) an external arrangement of one or more sheets of the aerosol-forming substrate, and ii) an internal arrangement of one or more sheets of the aerosol-forming substrate. The external arrangement of one or more sheets of the aerosol-forming substrate may be positioned on (preferably in surface contact with) the outward-facing surfaces of both the first and second sheets of the support substrate. Similarly, the internal arrangement of one or more sheets of the aerosol-forming substrate may be positioned on (preferably in surface contact with) the inward-facing surfaces of both the first and second sheets of the support substrate.

[0046] The outer configuration may include a common sheet of aerosol-forming substrate arranged on (preferably in surface contact with) the outward-facing surfaces of both the first and second sheets of the support substrate. Similarly, the inner configuration may include a common sheet of aerosol-forming substrate arranged on (preferably in surface contact with) the inward-facing surfaces of both the first and second sheets of the support substrate.

[0047] Alternatively, the outer configuration may include a first outer sheet of the aerosol-forming substrate arranged on (preferably in surface contact with) the outward-facing surface of the first sheet of the support substrate, and a second outer sheet of the aerosol-forming substrate arranged on (preferably in surface contact with) the outward-facing surface of the second sheet of the support substrate. Similarly, the inner configuration may include a first inner sheet of the aerosol-forming substrate arranged on (preferably in surface contact with) the inward-facing surface of the first sheet of the support substrate, and a second inner sheet of the aerosol-forming substrate arranged on (preferably in surface contact with) the inward-facing surface of the second sheet of the support substrate.

[0048] A sixth aspect of the present disclosure provides an aerosol-generating article extending between opposing first and second ends, for example, the aerosol-generating article may be one of those described in the preceding paragraphs. The aerosol-generating article may include a peripheral wall comprising at least one sheet of an aerosol-forming substrate. A fold is defined in at least one sheet of the aerosol-forming substrate and can define a folded sheet of the aerosol-forming substrate. A first portion of the folded sheet of the aerosol-forming substrate is folded along the fold and lies on top of a second portion of the folded sheet of the aerosol-forming substrate and can define a closed path corresponding to the peripheral wall.

[0049] The first portion of the folded sheet of the aerosol-forming substrate may extend over the first half of the perimeter of the surrounding wall, and the second portion of the folded sheet of the aerosol-forming substrate may extend over the second half of the perimeter of the surrounding wall.

[0050] Preferably, the free ends of the first and second portions of the folded sheet of the aerosol-forming substrate can be aligned with each other to define a closed path. Alternatively, the free ends of the first and second portions of the folded sheet can overlap, thereby defining a closed path.

[0051] Preferably, the surrounding wall further includes at least one sheet of the support substrate. The at least one sheet of the support substrate may include one or both of i) an external arrangement of one or more sheets of the support substrate, and ii) an internal arrangement of one or more sheets of the support substrate. The external arrangement of one or more sheets of the support substrate may be positioned on (preferably in surface contact with) the outward-facing surfaces of both the first and second portions of the folded sheet of the aerosol-forming substrate. Similarly, the internal arrangement of one or more sheets of the support substrate may be positioned on (preferably in surface contact with) the inward-facing surfaces of both the first and second portions of the folded sheet of the aerosol-forming substrate.

[0052] The outer configuration may include a common sheet of support substrate positioned on (preferably in surface contact with) the outward-facing surfaces of both the first and second portions of the folded sheet of the aerosol-forming substrate. Similarly, the inner configuration may include a common sheet of support substrate positioned on (preferably in surface contact with) the inward-facing surfaces of both the first and second portions of the folded sheet of the aerosol-forming substrate.

[0053] Alternatively, the outer configuration may instead comprise a first outer sheet of a support substrate positioned on (preferably in surface contact with) the outward-facing surface of the first portion of the folded sheet of the aerosol-forming substrate, and a second outer sheet of the aerosol-forming substrate positioned on (preferably in surface contact with) the outward-facing surface of the second portion of the folded sheet of the aerosol-forming substrate. Similarly, the inner configuration may comprise a first inner sheet of a support substrate positioned on (preferably in surface contact with) the inward-facing surface of the first portion of the folded sheet of the aerosol-forming substrate, and a second inner sheet of the support substrate positioned on (preferably in surface contact with) the inward-facing surface of the second portion of the folded sheet of the aerosol-forming substrate.

[0054] A seventh aspect of the present disclosure provides an aerosol-generating article extending between opposing first and second ends, for example, the aerosol-generating article may be one of those described in the preceding paragraphs. The aerosol-generating article may include a perimeter wall comprising at least one sheet of an aerosol-forming substrate. The at least one sheet of the aerosol-forming substrate may comprise a first sheet and a second sheet of the aerosol-forming substrate arranged opposite to each other. Laterally opposed edges of the first sheet and the second sheet of the aerosol-forming substrate can be aligned to define laterally opposed edges of the perimeter wall, thereby defining a closed path corresponding to the perimeter wall between the first and second sheets of the aerosol-forming substrate.

[0055] The first sheet of the aerosol-forming substrate may extend over the first half of the perimeter of the surrounding wall, and the second sheet of the aerosol-forming substrate may extend over the second half of the perimeter of the surrounding wall.

[0056] Preferably, the surrounding wall further includes at least one sheet of the support substrate. The at least one sheet of the support substrate may include one or both of i) an external arrangement of one or more sheets of the support substrate, and ii) an internal arrangement of one or more sheets of the support substrate. The external arrangement of one or more sheets of the support substrate may be positioned on (preferably in surface contact with) the outward-facing surfaces of both the first and second sheets of the aerosol-forming substrate. Similarly, the internal arrangement of one or more sheets of the support substrate may be positioned on (preferably in surface contact with) the inward-facing surfaces of both the first and second sheets of the aerosol-forming substrate.

[0057] The outer configuration may include a common sheet of support substrate positioned on (preferably in surface contact with) the outward-facing surfaces of both the first and second sheets of the aerosol-forming substrate. Similarly, the inner configuration may include a common sheet of support substrate positioned on (preferably in surface contact with) the inward-facing surfaces of both the first and second sheets of the aerosol-forming substrate.

[0058] Alternatively, the outer configuration may include a first outer sheet of a support substrate positioned on (preferably in surface contact with) the outward-facing surface of the first sheet of the aerosol-forming substrate, and a second outer sheet of the support substrate positioned on (preferably in surface contact with) the outward-facing surface of the second sheet of the aerosol-forming substrate. Similarly, the inner configuration may include a first inner sheet of a support substrate positioned on (preferably in surface contact with) the inward-facing surface of the first sheet of the aerosol-forming substrate, and a second inner sheet of the support substrate positioned on (preferably in surface contact with) the inward-facing surface of the second sheet of the aerosol-forming substrate.

[0059] In another embodiment, the surrounding wall of the aerosol-generating article may not have a supporting substrate other than the aerosol-forming substrate. Rather, the aerosol-forming substrate may instead function as the sole, or primary, source of the bending stiffness of the surrounding wall of the aerosol-generating article.

[0060] In one exemplary embodiment, the surrounding wall may include, or consist of, a band of aerosol-forming substrate, which may be configured to be responsible for all or at least most of the bending stiffness of the surrounding wall.

[0061] The band of the aerosol-forming substrate preferably comprises at least one sheet of the aerosol-forming substrate. Preferably, a fold is defined in at least one sheet of the aerosol-forming substrate and can define a folded sheet of the aerosol-forming substrate. A first portion of the folded sheet of the aerosol-forming substrate is folded along the fold and lies on top of a second portion of the folded sheet of the aerosol-forming substrate and can define a closed path corresponding to the surrounding wall. Preferably, the first portion of the folded sheet of the aerosol-forming substrate extends over a first half of the perimeter of the surrounding wall, and the second portion of the folded sheet of the aerosol-forming substrate extends over a second half of the perimeter of the surrounding wall.

[0062] In any embodiment of the aerosol-generating article described herein, the surrounding wall of the aerosol-generating article may be provided with a wrapper, which may define the outer surface of the aerosol-generating article. The outer wrapper may include or be composed of cigarette paper. The wrapper may include a sheet of metal foil, or may be formed as a laminate of paper and metal foil, the metal foil may include aluminum.

[0063] An eighth aspect of the present disclosure provides an aerosol-generating article extending longitudinally between opposing first and second ends, for example, the aerosol-generating article may be one of those described in the preceding paragraphs. The aerosol-generating article may include a surrounding wall. The surrounding wall may include a support substrate. At least a portion of the axial length of the surrounding wall may be configured to be permeable to air. One or more sheets of the aerosol-forming substrate may be arranged to radially surround the permeable portion of the axial length of the surrounding wall. The permeability of the support substrate allows vapors generated from the aerosol-forming substrate upon heating to be carried across the surrounding wall into the interior of the aerosol-generating article and, for example, inhaled by a user.

[0064] Conveniently, the arrangement of one or more sheets of the aerosol-forming substrate may be configured to form a sleeve that radially surrounds the axially permeable portion of the surrounding wall.

[0065] Preferably, one or more sheets of the aerosol-forming substrate are positioned closer to the first end of the aerosol-generating article than to the second end of the article. The second end of the article may define the mouth end of the article. In this way, a portion of the axial length of the aerosol-generating article may be free from the presence of the aerosol-forming substrate at or near the mouth end, thereby allowing the user to hold the article close to the mouth end while heating the arrangement of one or more sheets of the aerosol-forming substrate, reducing the risk of burning their fingers.

[0066] Ventilation may be provided in a variety of different ways. For example, a ventilation portion along the axial length of the surrounding wall may have multiple openings. The openings may have a cross-section of any preferred shape, such as circular, elliptical, square, triangular, or any other preferred shape. In another embodiment, the ventilation portion along the axial length of the surrounding wall may include a ventilation material, such as a porous material.

[0067] The permeable portion of the band of the support substrate along its axial length may include a permeable material. In this way, the entire permeable portion of the band of the support substrate along its axial length can contribute to allowing vapors generated from the aerosol-forming substrate during heating to pass into the interior of the aerosol-generating article. Conveniently, the permeable material is a porous material.

[0068] The aerosol-generating article may have a length of 100 mm or less, or 90 mm or less. Preferably, the length of the aerosol-generating article is within the range of 20 mm to 100 mm, 25 mm to 100 mm, 30 mm to 100 mm, 35 mm to 100 mm, or 40 mm to 100 mm.

[0069] In a ninth aspect of the present disclosure, an aerosol-generating article is provided that extends along its longitudinal axis between a first end and a second end, for example, the aerosol-generating article may be one of those described in the preceding paragraph. At least one flap may be positioned at one of the first and second ends. At least one flap may be folded so as to overlap at least a portion of the end on which the flap is positioned. Thus, aspects of the present invention may provide an aerosol-generating article that extends along its longitudinal axis between a first end and a second end, where at least one flap is positioned at one of the first and second ends, and at least one flap may be folded so as to overlap at least a portion of the end on which the flap is positioned.

[0070] The flap may be formed from any suitable material. For example, the flap may include or be formed from paper or cardboard material. The flap may include or be formed from an aerosol-forming material or a material sheet incorporating an aerosol-forming material. The flap can act to close or cover the edge of the aerosol-generating article. Preferably, at least one flap is configured to be folded by the user. Preferably, at least one flap is configured to be folded to cover at least a portion of an opening defined at the edge where the at least one flap is placed, for example, to cover the opening and / or to extend into the opening.

[0071] If folded in an unfolded position that overlaps with at least a portion of the edge of the article, at least one flap can provide some structural rigidity to the article. Furthermore, the flap may be configured to function as a filter element that helps prevent the user from inhaling particles from inside the article. Furthermore, the flap may be configured to provide a certain draw resistance when the user inhales smoke from the article.

[0072] At least one flap comprises a flap, for example, a first flap or a second flap. The flap may be connected to the article at a fold. The fold may be a crease. The flap is preferably configured to be folded at a fold. The flap may extend between the fold and the edge of the flap, for example, the flap may extend away from the article between the fold and the edge of the flap.

[0073] Advantageously, the fold may be curved, for example, concave with respect to the longitudinal dimension of the article. By folding the flap along such a curved fold, the shape of the folded flap effectively secures it in the unfolded position, improving the structural rigidity of the article after the flap is folded. Flaps folded along such curved folds are known for their use in boxes, such as so-called pillow boxes.

[0074] The edges of the flap may be curved, for example, convex with respect to the longitudinal dimension of the article. A curved edge can help the flap edge fit snugly with a curved opening at the end of the article. For example, the opening of the article may have a curved cross-section, for example, a lenticular or elliptical cross-section, and the edges of the flap may be shaped conformally to this curved opening when the flap is folded to overlap or close the opening.

[0075] The fold is preferably positioned adjacent to an opening defined at the edge where the flap is placed. For example, the flap may be folded along the fold so that it overlaps with or closes at least a portion of the opening. The flap may be configured to be folded along the fold so that its edge is positioned within the opening. For example, the edge of the flap may be in contact with the inner wall of the aerosol-generating article, for example, the inner wall of a chamber that can be reached through the opening. The edge of the flap may be in contact with the inner portion of the surrounding wall of the aerosol-generating article.

[0076] In a preferred embodiment, one or each of the flaps is arched. For example, one or each of the flaps may be lenticular or elliptical. The shape of the flap may be defined by the folds and edges of the flap.

[0077] At least one flap may be permeable to air. Air can flow around the edges of the flap, but making the flap air-permeable may allow for more precise control of airflow. Therefore, at least one through-hole may be defined through at least one flap. Alternatively, at least one flap may include a permeable material, such as a porous material or a filter material. Air may flow through such a permeable material, for example, when a user puts an item in their mouth and inhales it.

[0078] In some embodiments, at least one through-hole may be defined by at least one flap, and an air-permeable material may be connected to the flap overlapping the through-hole so that air can pass through at least one through-hole and the permeable flap.

[0079] If necessary, the through-holes defined through the flap may have a diameter of 0.1 mm to 1 mm, for example 0.2 mm to 0.75 mm, for example 0.3 mm to 0.5 mm.

[0080] If necessary, the flap can provide a draw-out resistance (RTD) of 10 mm H2O to 50 mm H2O with respect to the air passing through the flap. An aerosol-generating article as described may have a draw-out resistance (RTD) of 10 mm H2O to 50 mm H2O with respect to the air passing through the article between the first and second ends.

[0081] The at least one flap described above may be more than one flap. For example, the at least one flap may be two flaps. The two flaps can be described as an upper flap and a lower flap. Thus, the article may comprise an upper flap attached to the aerosol-generating article at an upper fold and a lower flap attached to the aerosol-generating article at a lower fold. The lower flap may be configured to fold upward, and the upper flap may be configured to fold downward.

[0082] Both the upper and lower flaps can overlap with at least a portion of the edge to which the flaps are positioned. For example, both the upper and lower flaps may overlap, straddle, or cover an opening defined at the edge to which the flaps are positioned. Both the upper and lower flaps can overlap with each other when folded and can overlap with at least a portion of the edge to which the flaps are positioned.

[0083] The upper and lower flaps may be configured to engage with each other and overlap at least a portion of the edges where the flaps are positioned when folded. For example, a tab may be defined on one of the upper or lower flaps. The tab can engage with a slot defined on the other of the upper or lower flap when the flap is folded. Such engagement can help to secure the flaps in their folded positions.

[0084] The term "at least one flap" may refer to a single or isolated flap.

[0085] At least one flap may be at least one first end flap positioned at the first end of the article, and at least one first end flap may be folded to overlap at least a portion of the opening defined at the first end. Thus, at least one first end flap may be folded to at least partially cover the opening defined at the first end, for example, to cover or close the opening defined at the first end, or to extend into the interior of the opening defined at the first end. At least one first end flap is preferably configured to be folded by the user to straddle the opening. At least one flap may be at least one second end flap positioned at the second end, and at least one second end flap may be folded to overlap at least a portion of the opening defined at the second end. Thus, at least one second end flap may be folded to at least partially cover the opening defined at the second end, for example, to cover or close the opening defined at the second end, or to extend into the interior of the opening defined at the second end. At least one second end flap is preferably configured to be folded by the user so as to straddle the opening.

[0086] The aerosol-generating article may include at least one first end flap positioned at the first end and at least one second end flap positioned at the second end.

[0087] The first end may be called the distal end. The second end may be called the proximal end or oral end and may be opposite the distal end. If the flap is located at the oral end, the flap may function to increase the structural rigidity of the article, for example, to resist pressure applied to the oral end by the user's lips. The flap at the oral end may also be configured to function as a mouthpiece filter.

[0088] The airflow path is preferably defined within the article through an inlet or opening located at one of the first and second ends of the article. The airflow inlet may be defined through the side wall of the article, for example, through the surrounding wall. The side wall inlet may be in addition to or replace an inlet located at the end of the article. The airflow path is preferably defined outside the article through an outlet or opening located at one of the first and second ends of the article. The outlet may be located at the mouth side end of the article, configured to be located in the mouth of the user. In a preferred embodiment, the airflow path is defined to lead into the article through an opening defined at the first end of the article and to lead out of the article through an opening defined at the second end of the article, so that the airflow path extends into the article between the first and second ends. An airflow path extending in the longitudinal direction may be defined within the article between the first and second ends, and the airflow path may extend between the first and second ends and be defined within the surrounding wall that circumferentially surrounds the airflow path.

[0089] The article may be any article described herein. For example, the outer surface of the article may be defined by a surrounding wall which is deformable in an axial cross-section and configured to expand from a contracted first state to an expanded second state, in which the surrounding wall encloses a hollow tubular cavity. Thus, the article may be shipped and stored in a contracted or flattened state and then expanded during or before use. The presence of at least one flap as described herein may help the article to maintain the second expanded state by effectively fixing the article in the expanded state when the flap is folded. In the contracted first state, there is no hollow tubular cavity, but there is one in the expanded state. The hollow tubular cavity can form an airflow path through the article.

[0090] In the first contracted state, opposing inward-facing surfaces of the surrounding walls may be in surface contact with each other. Therefore, in this contracted state, there is no airflow path defined through the article. The airflow path can be opened when the article is operated to its second, expanded state.

[0091] The cross-section of the article in the expanded state may be any suitable cross-section, such as oval or elliptical. Preferably, in the expanded second state, the peripheral wall of the aerosol-generating article is lenticular in the axial cross-section. The peripheral wall of the aerosol-generating article may be configured to define a band, and the peripheral wall may be lenticular in the axial cross-section.

[0092] Preferably, at least one flap is configured to bend to a position that acts to prevent the surrounding wall from contracting from its expanded state to its contracted state. Preferably, at least one flap is permeable to air, for example, by defining at least one through-hole, thereby defining an airflow path through at least one flap.

[0093] A tenth aspect of the present disclosure provides a package comprising a plurality of aerosol-generating articles and a container for housing the plurality of aerosol-generating articles, the aerosol-generating articles being, for example, those described in any of the preceding paragraphs. Each aerosol-generating article may extend longitudinally between a first and second opposing end of each aerosol-generating article, and the surrounding wall of the aerosol-generating article is configured to define a contracted, flattened shape in axial cross-section.

[0094] The aerosol-generating article contained within the container may be one of those described in the second aspect of this disclosure, or it may correspond to the contracted first state of the third aspect of this disclosure.

[0095] Preferably, in one or more of the aerosol-generating articles, the opposing inward-facing surfaces of the surrounding walls of each aerosol-generating article are in surface contact with each other. In this way, the cross-sectional shape of the aerosol-generating article can be made to the minimum thickness, thereby facilitating efficient packing of the article into the container.

[0096] In one or more of the multiple aerosol-generating articles, the opposing outward-facing surfaces of the surrounding walls of each aerosol-generating article can be aligned parallel to each other.

[0097] In one or more of the multiple aerosol-generating articles, the opposing outward-facing surfaces of the surrounding walls of each aerosol-generating article may be substantially planar.

[0098] Preferably, adjacent aerosol-generating articles are arranged side by side in the container, with their ends touching, or in a combination thereof.

[0099] Preferably, at least one lid is connected to the container and is configured to move from an open position to a closed position, in which case the lid covers a plurality of aerosol-generating articles contained within the container.

[0100] In an eleventh aspect of the present disclosure, a device is provided comprising a cavity configured to guide an aerosol-generating article, thereby causing the aerosol-generating article to expand from a flattened cross-sectional shape to a lenticular cross-sectional shape along at least part or all of its length. For example, the aerosol-generating article may be one of those described in any of the preceding paragraphs.

[0101] A twelfth aspect of the present disclosure provides an apparatus comprising a cavity and a pin. The pin may be located within the cavity. The pin may be guided along the cavity and inserted into an aerosol-generating article, thereby causing the aerosol-generating article to expand from a flat cross-sectional shape to a lenticular cross-sectional shape along at least a portion or all of its length. For example, the apparatus may be as described in any of the preceding paragraphs, and / or the aerosol-generating article may be as described in any of the preceding paragraphs.

[0102] Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a system comprising the apparatus described in either of the preceding two paragraphs. The system may further comprise an aerosol-generating article having a first state in which the article has a flattened cross-sectional shape, and a second state in which the article has a lenticular cross-sectional shape.

[0103] In another aspect of this disclosure, an aerosol-generating article is provided, for example, which may be one of those described in any of the preceding paragraphs. The aerosol-generating article may comprise an upper layer, a lower layer, a frame, and an aerosol-forming substrate. The frame may be positioned between the upper layer and the lower layer. The frame may define and surround a cavity at least partially. The upper layer may be connected to the upper side of the frame, and the lower layer may be connected to the lower side of the frame. The upper and lower sides of the frame may each be convex outward.

[0104] The outwardly convex shape of the upper and lower sides of the frame may make it easier to increase the bending rigidity of the frame, and consequently the bending rigidity of the aerosol-generating article as a whole, compared to when the upper and lower sides of the frame are flat.

[0105] Preferably, the upper and lower layers may be convex outward, corresponding to the upper and lower sides of the frame, respectively.

[0106] The combination of the frame, upper layer, and lower layer can define the surrounding wall of the aerosol-generating article.

[0107] Conveniently, the aerosol-generating article can be defined by a length extending in the x-direction, a width extending in the y-direction, and a thickness extending in the z-direction, with the upper and lower sides of the frame facing each other and at least partially spaced apart in the z-direction, and the thickness being smaller than the width and length, respectively. In this way, the aerosol-generating article has a flatter cross-section compared to conventional cylindrical aerosol-generating articles. The flatter shape of the aerosol-generating article also facilitates more uniform heating of the aerosol-forming substrate of the article across its entire thickness when heat is applied to the article. Preferably, heating of the article may be performed by placing a heating element adjacent to one or both of the upper and lower layers of the article. Such a heating element may form part of the aerosol generator, for example, by being placed within or defining part of a cavity in the aerosol generator, where the cavity is adapted to house the aerosol-generating article. The flatter shape of the aerosol-generating article also allows the article to be placed on a table without rolling off the surface before or during use.

[0108] Preferably, the cavity may extend over the entire height of the frame (e.g., in the z-direction), and the cavity is defined by the frame, the upper layer, and the lower layer. In this way, the cavity may define openings that penetrate the upper and lower sides of the frame, and the upper and lower layers are preferably arranged to cover and close these openings.

[0109] Preferably, the upper layer is separate from and structurally distinct from the lower layer. Alternatively, the upper and lower layers may each form part of a common sheet or band. The common sheet or band can be wrapped around the frame, so that a first portion of the common sheet or band is fixed to the upper side of the frame and a second portion of the common sheet or band is fixed to the lower side of the frame. The first portion of the common sheet or band may include the upper layer, and the second portion of the common sheet or band may include the lower layer.

[0110] Preferably, the upper and lower layers may be arranged symmetrically with respect to each other along the thickness direction of the aerosol-generating article (for example, in the direction extending in the z-direction).

[0111] The upper and lower layers may each be of substantially uniform thickness.

[0112] The upper layer may have the same thickness as the lower layer.

[0113] The article may have first and second end walls that are opposite each other in the axial direction. The first and second end walls may be spaced apart from each other along the length of the aerosol-generating article (for example, in the direction extending in the x-direction). By providing at least one opening in both the first and second end walls, a passage for airflow through the aerosol-generating article can be provided through a cavity. The first and second end walls that are opposite each other in the axial direction can define the distal and proximal ends of the aerosol-generating article. The length of the aerosol-generating article may be defined by the distance between the distal and proximal ends.

[0114] Preferably, the first and second end walls may be integrally formed as part of the frame. Alternatively, the first and second end walls may be structurally separate from the frame and may be joined to the frame, for example.

[0115] The upper and lower layers may define the outside of the aerosol-generating article.

[0116] The aerosol-generating article may further comprise a wrapper. The upper layer, frame, and lower layer may be assembled within the wrapper, which defines the outside of the aerosol-generating article.

[0117] One or both of the upper and lower layers may contain or consist of an aerosol-forming substrate. By heating the upper and / or lower layers, the volatile compounds of the aerosol-forming substrate in each layer can be vaporized. If the aerosol-generating article is provided with air intakes and exhausts and defines an airflow path through a cavity (for example, by defining air intakes and exhausts at both axial ends of the frame), the vaporized volatile compounds can be taken into the air flowing through the cavity. As the taken-in flow passes through the aerosol-generating article, the taken-in flow condenses and forms an aerosol for subsequent inhalation by the user.

[0118] The cavity does not necessarily need to contain an aerosol-forming substrate. For example, the aerosol-forming substrate of an aerosol-generating article may be limited to one or both of the upper and lower layers.

[0119] Preferably, at least a portion of the aerosol-forming substrate may be placed inside the cavity.

[0120] The aerosol-forming substrate may be limited to being positioned within a cavity.

[0121] The aerosol-forming substrate may be distributed between two or more of the upper layer, the lower layer, and the cavity.

[0122] At least the first and second portions of the aerosol-forming substrate may be placed within a cavity. Preferably, the first portion of the aerosol-forming substrate may have a different composition from the second portion. By using a combination of different aerosol-forming substrates, an improved user experience can be provided to the user by allowing the user to inhale aerosols formed from different combinations of volatile compounds generated from different aerosol-forming substrates.

[0123] Advantageously, the cutout may be defined by penetrating one or both of the upper and lower sides of the frame, the cutout resting on the cavity, and the cutout being covered by the respective upper or lower layers connected to the respective upper or lower sides. Preferably, at least a portion of the aerosol-forming substrate may be placed within the cavity. If the upper and / or lower layers contain or consist of the aerosol-forming substrate, and heat is applied to the substrate-containing layer, the presence of the cutout allows vaporized volatile compounds of the aerosol-forming substrate to enter the cavity through the cutout.

[0124] Preferably, the cutouts define one or both of the upper and lower sides of the frame. Each of the cutouts may lie over a cavity. However, the frame may define at least partially the cavities, each cavity being superimposed by one or more different cutouts.

[0125] Different cutouts may be arranged continuously along the length of the aerosol-generating article (for example, along the x-direction). Alternatively, different cutouts may be arranged continuously along the width of the aerosol-generating article (for example, along the y-direction).

[0126] Each of the multiple cavities contains a portion of the aerosol-forming substrate. At least one portion of the aerosol-forming substrate may have a different composition from the other portions of the aerosol-forming substrate. When the aerosol-generating article is heated to simultaneously heat all portions of the aerosol-forming substrate in each of the frame cavities, an improved user experience can be provided by using different substrate compositions in different cavities, thereby allowing the user to inhale aerosols formed from different combinations of volatile compounds from different substrate compositions. Alternatively, when the aerosol-generating article is selectively heated, concentrating the heating in a first cavity of the multiple cavities over a first period and concentrating the heating in a second cavity over a second period, using different substrate compositions in the first and second cavities allows the user to inhale two different aerosol compositions over two different periods.

[0127] The frame may at least partially surround the first cavity and the second cavity. Of the multiple cutouts, the first cutout may be located over the first cavity, and of the multiple cutouts, the second cutout may be located over the second cavity.

[0128] The frame may include, or be composed of, cellulosic materials, such as paper, cardboard, or cardboard. Such materials are considered sustainable materials. However, adhesives may also be present in the frame. For example, if the frame is formed from multiple components, adhesives may be used to join one component to another.

[0129] The upper and lower layers may include, or consist of, cellulosic materials, such as paper, cardboard, or cardboard. Such materials are considered sustainable materials.

[0130] The frame is formed from a sheet of material (for example, a single sheet of material). A first portion of the sheet can be folded over a second portion of the sheet, thereby defining a cavity between the first and second portions of the sheet. The first portion of the sheet may define the upper surface of the frame, and the second portion of the sheet may define the lower surface of the frame.

[0131] Preferably, the axially opposed first and second end walls of the frame are defined by axially opposed first and second flap portions of the material sheet, and the first and second end walls may be spaced apart from each other along the length direction of the aerosol-generating article (e.g., extending in the x-direction). The axially opposed first and second end walls can define the respective distal and proximal ends of the aerosol-generating article. The length of the aerosol-generating article may be defined by the distance between the distal and proximal ends.

[0132] Conveniently, one of the axially opposed first and second flap portions may have an opening that defines an air intake through the first end wall of the frame, and the other of the axially opposed first and second flap portions may have an opening that defines an air exhaust through the second end wall of the frame. The presence of such air intakes and exhausts facilitates airflow through the interior of the article, for example, through cavities.

[0133] The frame may be formed by continuously stacking multiple layers on top of each other. One or more of the multiple layers may be of a different size from one or more of the other layers in order to define a cavity. The continuous layers consisting of multiple layers may be joined to each other using adhesive.

[0134] Preferably, the opposing longitudinal edges on the upper and lower sides of the frame meet and converge to define the lens-shaped cross-section of the frame. Alternatively, the opposing longitudinal edges on the upper and lower sides may be separated from each other by the side walls of the frame. The side walls of the frame may be planar. The side walls of the frame may extend along the z-direction.

[0135] Advantageously, the frame can be configured to be deformable, resulting in expansion in the width direction (e.g., the y-direction) and a corresponding contraction in the thickness direction (e.g., the z-direction), thereby allowing the aerosol-generating article to transition from an expanded first state to a contracted second state. The transition from the first to the second state may be caused, for example, by inserting the aerosol-generating article into a cavity of an aerosol generator, which is dimensioned so that the cavity compresses the aerosol-generating article in the thickness direction (e.g., the z-direction), thereby applying a force that acts to press the upper and lower layers against each other. In any of the aerosol-generating articles of this disclosure, the aerosol-generating article may have a length (e.g., extending in the x-direction) of 20 to 80 mm, or 20 to 60 mm, or 20 to 50 mm, or 20 to 40 mm, or 25 to 35 mm, or about 30 mm.

[0136] In any of the aerosol-generating articles of this disclosure, the aerosol-generating article may have a width (for example, extending in the y-direction) of 5 to 25 mm, or 5 to 20 mm, or 5 to 15 mm, or 7.5 to 12.5 mm, or about 10 mm.

[0137] In any of the aerosol-generating articles of this disclosure, the aerosol-generating article may have a height (e.g., extending in the z direction) of 2 to 8 millimeters, or 2 to 6 millimeters, or 2 to 5 millimeters, or 2 to 4 millimeters, or about 3 millimeters.

[0138] As used herein, the term "aerosol-generating article" refers to an article comprising an aerosol-forming substrate having the ability to release volatile compounds capable of forming aerosols. Aerosol-generating articles may be disposable.

[0139] As used herein, the term "aerosol-forming substrate" refers to a substrate consisting of, or containing, an aerosol-forming material having the ability to release volatile compounds upon heating in order to generate aerosols.

[0140] The aerosol-forming substrate is preferably a solid aerosol-forming substrate. However, the aerosol-forming substrate may contain both solid and liquid components. Alternatively, the aerosol-forming substrate may be a liquid aerosol-forming substrate.

[0141] The aerosol-forming substrate preferably contains nicotine. More preferably, the aerosol-forming substrate contains tobacco. Alternatively, or additionally, the aerosol-forming substrate may contain a non-tobacco-containing aerosol-forming material.

[0142] When the aerosol-forming substrate is a solid aerosol-forming substrate, the solid aerosol-forming substrate may contain one or more of the following: herb leaves, tobacco leaves, tobacco stems, puffed tobacco, and homogenized tobacco, for example, one or more of the following: powder, granules, pellets, fragments, twisted yarn, splinters, or sheets.

[0143] Optionally, the solid aerosol-forming substrate may contain tobacco or non-tobacco volatile flavor compounds, which are released upon heating of the solid aerosol-forming substrate. The solid aerosol-forming substrate may also contain, for example, one or more capsules containing additional tobacco volatile flavor compounds or non-tobacco volatile flavor compounds, which may melt during heating of the solid aerosol-forming substrate.

[0144] Optionally, the solid aerosol-forming substrate may be provided on or embedded within a thermally stable carrier. The carrier may take the form of a powder, granules, pellets, fragments, yarns, strips, or sheets. The solid aerosol-forming substrate may be deposited on the surface of the carrier, for example, in the form of a sheet, foam, gel, or slurry. The solid aerosol-forming substrate may be deposited over the entire surface of the carrier, or alternatively, in a pattern to provide non-uniform flavor delivery during use.

[0145] In preferred embodiments, the aerosol-forming substrate comprises homogenized tobacco material. As used herein, the term “homogenized tobacco material” refers to material formed by agglomerating particulate tobacco.

[0146] The aerosol-forming substrate preferably comprises an aggregate of homogenized tobacco material sheets. As used herein, the term “sheet” refers to a layered element having a width and length substantially greater than its thickness. As used herein, the term “aggregated” is used to describe a sheet that is wrapped, folded, or otherwise compressed or clamped substantially transversely to the longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generating article. Preferably, the aerosol-forming substrate comprises an aerosol-forming compound. As used herein, the term “aerosol-forming compound” is used to describe any suitable known compound or mixture of compounds that facilitates aerosol formation during use and is substantially resistant to thermal decomposition at the operating temperature of the aerosol-generating article.

[0147] Suitable aerosol-forming materials are known in the art and include, but are not limited to, polyhydric alcohols (such as propylene glycol, triethylene glycol, 1,3-butanediol, and glycerin), esters of polyhydric alcohols (such as glycerol monoacetate, diacetate, or triacetate), and aliphatic esters of monocarboxylic acids, dicarboxylic acids, or polycarboxylic acids (such as dimethyl dodecanediate and dimethyl tetradecanediate). Preferred aerosol-forming materials are polyhydric alcohols or mixtures thereof (such as propylene glycol, triethylene glycol, 1,3-butanediol, and most preferably glycerin).

[0148] The aerosol-forming substrate may comprise a single aerosol-forming body. Alternatively, the aerosol-forming substrate may comprise a combination of two or more aerosol-forming bodies.

[0149] As used herein, the term “mouthpiece” refers to a portion of an aerosol generating article that is placed in the user’s mouth for direct inhalation of an aerosol. Preferably, the second end of the aerosol generating article as referred to herein defines the “mouthpiece” or mouth end.

[0150] As used herein, the term "inhalation" means the act of a user inhaling an aerosol into their body through their mouth or nose.

[0151] As used herein, when referring to an aerosol-generating article, the terms “upstream” and “front,” and “downstream” and “rear” are used to describe the relative positions of components or parts of components of an aerosol-generating article with respect to the direction in which air flows through the aerosol-generating article during use. An aerosol-generating article according to the present invention may have a proximal end through which an aerosol exits the article during use. The proximal end of an aerosol-generating article may also be called the mouth end or the downstream end. The mouth end is downstream of the distal end of the article. The distal end of an aerosol-generating article may also be called the upstream end. Components or parts of components of an aerosol-generating article may be described as being upstream or downstream of each other based on their relative positions between the proximal end and the distal end of the aerosol-generating article. The front of a component or part of a component of an aerosol-generating article is the part closest to the upstream end of the aerosol-generating article. The rear of a component or part of a component of an aerosol-generating article is the part closest to the downstream end of the aerosol-generating article.

[0152] Naturally, any one feature of the aspects of this disclosure may be combined with any one or more features of the other aspects of this disclosure. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0153] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of an aerosol-generating article according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the aerosol-generating article shown in Figure 1, viewed downstream from the first and second opposing ends of the article along the long axis of the article. [Figure 3A] Figure 3A is a schematic diagram of the surrounding wall segments of three different embodiments of the aerosol generating article shown in Figures 1 and 2. [Figure 3B] Figure 3B is a schematic diagram of the surrounding wall segments of three different embodiments of the aerosol generating article shown in Figures 1 and 2. [Figure 3C]Figure 3C is a schematic diagram of the surrounding wall segments of three different embodiments of the aerosol generating article shown in Figures 1 and 2. [Figure 4A] Figure 4A is a schematic axial cross-sectional view of the surrounding wall of one embodiment of an aerosol-generating article in two different states. [Figure 4B] Figure 4B is a schematic axial cross-sectional view of the surrounding wall of one embodiment of an aerosol-generating article in two different states. [Figure 5A] Figure 5A is a schematic axial cross-sectional view of the surrounding wall of another embodiment of an aerosol-generating article in two different states. [Figure 5B] Figure 5B is a schematic axial cross-sectional view of the surrounding wall of another embodiment of an aerosol-generating article in two different states. [Figure 6] Figure 6 shows a schematic perspective view of a package having a container for housing multiple aerosol-generating articles, the aerosol-generating articles being in a contracted first state, which roughly corresponds to that shown in Figure 5A. [Figure 7A] Figure 7A is a schematic axial cross-sectional view of the surrounding wall of three different embodiments of the aerosol generating article, all three embodiments using a single sheet of support substrate folded along a crease such that the first portion of the support substrate sheet is on top of the second portion of the support substrate sheet. The embodiments differ from one another in the configuration of the aerosol-forming substrate sheet on top of the support substrate sheet. [Figure 7B] Figure 7B is a schematic axial cross-sectional view of the surrounding wall of three different embodiments of the aerosol generating article, all three embodiments using a single sheet of support substrate folded along a crease such that the first portion of the support substrate sheet is on top of the second portion of the support substrate sheet. The embodiments differ from one another in the configuration of the aerosol-forming substrate sheet on top of the support substrate sheet. [Figure 7C]Figure 7C is a schematic axial cross-sectional view of the surrounding wall of three different embodiments of the aerosol generating article, all three embodiments using a single sheet of support substrate folded along a crease such that the first portion of the support substrate sheet is on top of the second portion of the support substrate sheet. The embodiments differ from one another in the configuration of the aerosol-forming substrate sheet on top of the support substrate sheet. [Figure 8A] Figure 8A is a schematic axial cross-sectional view of the perimeter wall of three different embodiments of an aerosol-generating article, all three embodiments using separate first and second sheets of a support substrate arranged opposite to each other, with the lateral opposing edges of the first sheet of the support substrate and the lateral opposing edges of the second sheet aligned to define the lateral opposing edges of the perimeter wall. The embodiments differ from each other in the configuration of the aerosol-forming substrate sheets on the first and second sheets of the support substrate. [Figure 8B] Figure 8B is a schematic axial cross-sectional view of the perimeter wall of three different embodiments of an aerosol-generating article, all three embodiments using separate first and second sheets of a support substrate arranged opposite to each other, with the lateral opposing edges of the first sheet of the support substrate and the lateral opposing edges of the second sheet aligned to define the lateral opposing edges of the perimeter wall. The embodiments differ from each other in the configuration of the aerosol-forming substrate sheets on the first and second sheets of the support substrate. [Figure 8C] Figure 8C is a schematic axial cross-sectional view of the perimeter wall of three different embodiments of an aerosol-generating article, all three embodiments using separate first and second sheets of a support substrate arranged opposite to each other, with the lateral opposing edges of the first sheet of the support substrate and the lateral opposing edges of the second sheet aligned to define the lateral opposing edges of the perimeter wall. The embodiments differ from each other in the configuration of the aerosol-forming substrate sheets on the first and second sheets of the support substrate. [Figure 9A]Figure 9A is a schematic axial cross-sectional view of the surrounding wall of three different embodiments of the aerosol generating article, all three embodiments using a single sheet of aerosol-forming substrate folded along a crease such that the first portion of the aerosol-forming substrate sheet is on top of the second portion of the aerosol-forming substrate sheet. The embodiments differ from one another in the configuration of the support substrate sheet on top of the aerosol-forming substrate sheet. [Figure 9B] Figure 9B is a schematic axial cross-sectional view of the surrounding wall of three different embodiments of the aerosol generating article, all three embodiments using a single sheet of aerosol-forming substrate folded along a crease such that the first portion of the aerosol-forming substrate sheet is on top of the second portion of the aerosol-forming substrate sheet. The embodiments differ from one another in the configuration of the support substrate sheet on top of the aerosol-forming substrate sheet. [Figure 9C] Figure 9C is a schematic axial cross-sectional view of the surrounding wall of three different embodiments of the aerosol generating article, all three embodiments using a single sheet of aerosol-forming substrate folded along a crease such that the first portion of the aerosol-forming substrate sheet is on top of the second portion of the aerosol-forming substrate sheet. The embodiments differ from one another in the configuration of the support substrate sheet on top of the aerosol-forming substrate sheet. [Figure 10A] Figure 10A is a schematic axial cross-sectional view of the perimeter wall of three different embodiments of an aerosol-generating article, all three embodiments using separate first and second sheets of aerosol-forming substrate arranged opposite each other, with the lateral opposing edges of the first sheet of aerosol-forming substrate and the lateral opposing edges of the second sheet aligned to define the lateral opposing edges of the perimeter wall. The embodiments differ from each other in the configuration of the support substrate sheets on top of the first and second sheets of aerosol-forming substrate. [Figure 10B]Figure 10B is a schematic axial cross-sectional view of the perimeter wall of three different embodiments of an aerosol-generating article, all three embodiments using separate first and second sheets of aerosol-forming substrate arranged opposite each other, with the lateral opposing edges of the first sheet of aerosol-forming substrate and the lateral opposing edges of the second sheet aligned to define the lateral opposing edges of the perimeter wall. The embodiments differ from each other in the configuration of the support substrate sheets on top of the first and second sheets of aerosol-forming substrate. [Figure 10C] Figure 10C is a schematic axial cross-sectional view of the perimeter wall of three different embodiments of an aerosol-generating article, all three embodiments using separate first and second sheets of aerosol-forming substrate arranged opposite each other, with the lateral opposing edges of the first sheet of aerosol-forming substrate and the lateral opposing edges of the second sheet aligned to define the lateral opposing edges of the perimeter wall. The embodiments differ from each other in the configuration of the support substrate sheets on top of the first and second sheets of aerosol-forming substrate. [Figure 11] Figure 11 is a schematic axial cross-sectional view of the surrounding wall of one embodiment of an aerosol generating article that uses a single sheet of aerosol-forming substrate folded along a crease, where the first portion of the aerosol-forming substrate sheet rests on a second portion of the aerosol-forming substrate sheet, but no separate sheet of supporting substrate material is added at all. [Figure 12] Figure 12 is a schematic axial cross-sectional view of the surrounding wall in one embodiment of an aerosol generating article using separate first and second sheets of aerosol-forming substrate arranged opposite each other. The lateral opposing edges of the first sheet of the aerosol-forming substrate and the lateral opposing edges of the second sheet are aligned to define the lateral opposing edges of the surrounding wall, but no separate sheets of support substrate material are added. [Figure 13A] Figure 13A is a schematic perspective view of another embodiment of the aerosol generating article, in which a portion of the surrounding wall of the aerosol generating article is configured to be permeable and is surrounded by a sleeve of an aerosol forming substrate. [Figure 13B]Figure 13B is a schematic perspective view of another embodiment of the aerosol generating article, in which a portion of the surrounding wall of the aerosol generating article is configured to be permeable and is surrounded by a sleeve of an aerosol forming substrate. [Figure 14] Figure 14 is a schematic top view of an aerosol-generating article according to a particular embodiment of the present invention, arranged in a contracted or flattened state. [Figure 15] Figure 15 is a side view of the aerosol-generating article from Figure 14 in a contracted state. [Figure 16] Figure 16 is a bottom view of the aerosol generating article shown in Figure 14 in a contracted state. [Figure 17] Figure 17 shows the aerosol generating article from Figure 14 in a contracted state, with the mouth end facing outwards. [Figure 18] Figure 18 shows the distal end of the aerosol-generating article from Figure 14 in a contracted state. [Figure 19] Figure 19 is a schematic top view of the aerosol-generating article from Figure 14, illustrating the transition from a contracted or flattened state to an expanded or enlarged state. [Figure 20] Figure 20 is a schematic top view of the aerosol-generating article from Figure 14, positioned in an inflated or expanded state. [Figure 21] Figure 21 is a side view of the aerosol-generating article from Figure 14 in an expanded state. [Figure 22] Figure 22 is a bottom view of the aerosol generating article from Figure 14 in an expanded state. [Figure 23] Figure 23 shows the mouth end of the aerosol generating article from Figure 14 in an expanded state. [Figure 24] Figure 24 shows the distal end of the aerosol-generating article from Figure 14 in an expanded state. [Figure 25] Figure 25 is a schematic top view of an aerosol-generating article according to another specific embodiment of the present invention, arranged in an inflated or expanded state. [Figure 26] Figure 26 is a side view of the aerosol-generating article shown in Figure 25 in an expanded state. [Figure 27]Figure 27 shows the mouth end of the aerosol generating article from Figure 25 in an expanded state. [Figure 28] Figure 28 shows the distal end of the aerosol-generating article from Figure 25 in an expanded state. [Figure 29] Figure 29 is a plan view showing a material sheet for use in forming the surrounding wall of an aerosol generating article, such as those shown in Figures 14-28. [Figure 30] Figure 30 is a schematic perspective view of an aerosol-generating article according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 31] Figure 31 is a schematic exploded perspective view of the components of the aerosol-generating article shown in Figure 30. [Figure 32] Figure 32 is a schematic exploded perspective view of the components of the first modified aerosol generating article shown in Figures 30 and 31. [Figure 33] Figure 33 is a plan view showing a frame for an aerosol generating article, for example, a sheet of material used to form the frame of the aerosol generating article shown in Figures 30-32. [Figure 34] Figure 34 is a schematic exploded perspective view of the components of a second modified example of the aerosol generating article shown in Figures 30 and 31. [Figure 35] Figure 35 is a schematic exploded perspective view of the components of a third modified example of the aerosol generating article shown in Figures 30 and 31. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0154] The present invention is defined in the claims. However, a non-exclusive list of non-limiting embodiments is provided below. Any one or more features in these embodiments may be combined with any one or more features in other embodiments, other forms, or other aspects described herein.

[0155] Example 1: An aerosol generating article extending in the longitudinal direction between opposing first and second ends, wherein the aerosol generating article has a surrounding wall, and the surrounding wall is lens-shaped in an axial cross-section. Example 2: The aerosol generating article according to Embodiment 1, wherein the surrounding wall comprises opposing first and second convex portions, and both ends of the first convex portion meet with the corresponding ends of the second convex portion to define a pair of laterally opposing edges of the surrounding wall. Example 3: The aerosol-generating article according to Example 2, wherein at each of the two laterally opposing edges of the surrounding wall, the outer surface of the surrounding wall has a radius of curvature of less than 2 millimeters, or less than 1 millimeter, or less than 0.5 millimeters, or less than 0.25 millimeters. Example 4: The aerosol-generating article according to either one of Example 2 or 3, wherein the surrounding wall includes a pair of folds, and the pair of folds define a pair of laterally opposing edges of the surrounding wall. Example 5: An aerosol generating article according to any one of Examples 2 to 4, wherein, at each position of a pair of laterally opposing edges of the surrounding wall, the acute angle between the first tangent to the outer surface of the first convex portion and the second tangent to the outer surface of the second convex portion is within the range of 15 to 110 degrees, or 15 to 90 degrees, or 15 to 75 degrees, or 15 to 65 degrees, or 15 to 55 degrees, or 15 to 45 degrees, or 15 to 35 degrees, or 15 to 25 degrees. Example 6: An aerosol generating article according to any one of Examples 2 to 5, wherein, at an intermediate position between a pair of laterally opposing edges of the surrounding wall, the radii of curvature of the inner surfaces of the first and second convex portions are 100 mm to 500 mm. Example 7: An aerosol generating article according to any one of Examples 1 to 6, wherein the aerosol generating article has a width of 20 mm or less. Example 8: The aerosol generating article according to Example 7, wherein the width of the aerosol generating article is in the range of 14 mm to 20 mm. Example 9: An aerosol generating article according to any one of Examples 1 to 8, wherein the aerosol generating article has a thickness of 8 mm or less. Example 10: The aerosol-generating article according to Example 9, wherein the thickness of the aerosol-generating article is in the range of 3 mm to 8 mm, or 3 mm to 6 mm, or 3 mm to 5 mm. Example 11: The aerosol-generating article according to any one of Examples 1 to 10, further comprising at least one flap positioned at one of a first end and a second end, wherein at least one flap is folded so as to overlap at least a portion of the end on which the flap is positioned. Example 12: The aerosol-generating article according to Example 11, wherein at least one flap is configured to be folded by the user. Example 13: The aerosol-generating article according to either one of Examples 11 or 12, wherein at least one flap is folded to cover at least a portion of an opening defined at the end where the flap is positioned, for example, to cover the opening and / or to extend into the opening. Example 14: An aerosol-generating article according to any one of Examples 11 to 13, wherein the flap is connected to the article by a fold, such as a fold line. Example 15: The aerosol-generating article according to Example 14, wherein the flap is folded along a crease so that the flap overlaps with at least a portion of the opening. Example 16: The aerosol generating article according to Example 14 or 15, wherein the flap is folded along a crease so that the edge of the flap is positioned within the opening, for example, the edge of the flap is in contact with the inner wall of the aerosol generating article, for example, the inner wall of a chamber that can be reached through the opening. Example 17: The aerosol generating article according to Example 16, wherein the inner wall of the aerosol generating article is part of the surrounding wall. Example 18: An aerosol generating article that includes a surrounding wall, the surrounding wall defining a flattened shape with contraction in an axial cross-section, and extends in the longitudinal direction between opposing first and second ends, for example, the aerosol generating article described in any one of Examples 1 to 17. Example 19: The aerosol generating article according to Example 18, wherein the opposing inward-facing surfaces of the surrounding walls are in surface contact with each other. Example 20: An aerosol-generating article according to either Example 18 or 19, wherein the opposing outward-facing surfaces of the surrounding walls are parallel to each other. Example 21: An aerosol generating article according to any one of Examples 18 to 20, wherein the opposing outward-facing surfaces of the surrounding walls are substantially planar. Example 22: An aerosol generating article according to any one of Examples 18 to 21, wherein the aerosol generating article has a thickness of 5 mm or less. Example 23: The aerosol-generating article according to Example 22, wherein the thickness of the aerosol-generating article is in the range of 0.5 mm to 5 mm, or 0.5 mm to 3 mm, or 0.5 mm to 2 mm, or 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm. Example 24: An aerosol generating article having a surrounding wall, the surrounding wall being deformable to cause a contraction in the width of the aerosol generating article and a corresponding expansion in the thickness of the aerosol generating article, thereby transitioning the aerosol generating article from a contracted first state to an expanded second state, in which the area surrounded by the surrounding wall is increased compared to the contracted first state, an aerosol generating article extending in the longitudinal direction between opposing first and second ends, for example, the aerosol generating article according to any one of Examples 1 to 23. Example 25: In the first contracted state, the opposing inward-facing surfaces of the surrounding wall are in surface contact with each other, as described in Example 24 of the aerosol-generating article. Example 26: In the first contracted state, the opposing outward-facing surfaces of the surrounding wall are parallel to each other, as described in either Example 24 or 25, an aerosol-generating article. Example 27: In the first contracted state, the aerosol generating article according to any one of Examples 24 to 26, wherein the opposing outward-facing surfaces of the surrounding wall are substantially planar. Example 28: In the expanded second state, the aerosol generating article has a lenticular shape in its axial cross-section, as described in any one of Examples 24 to 27. Example 29: An aerosol generating article according to any one of Examples 24 to 28, wherein the surrounding wall comprises first and second opposing parts, the ends of the first part joining with the corresponding ends of the second part to define a pair of laterally opposing edges of the surrounding wall, and the surrounding wall is adapted to introduce or increase separation between the opposing first and second parts of the surrounding wall at a position between the pair of laterally opposing edges by the deformation of the pair of laterally opposing edges toward each other, thereby causing the aerosol generating article to transition between a contracted first state and an expanded second state. Example 30: The aerosol generating article is the aerosol generating article according to any one of Examples 1 to 29, comprising an aerosol-forming substrate, preferably forming at least a portion of the surrounding wall. Example 31: The aerosol generating article according to Example 30, wherein the aerosol-forming substrate is configured to generate an inhalable aerosol when heated. Example 32: An aerosol generating article according to either Example 30 or 31, wherein the surrounding wall includes an aerosol-forming substrate and a support substrate. Example 33: The aerosol-forming substrate according to Example 32, wherein the surrounding wall comprises at least one sheet of the aerosol-forming substrate and at least one sheet of the support substrate. Example 34: The aerosol-forming article according to Example 33, wherein the surrounding wall defines a laminated structure formed from both at least one sheet of the aerosol-forming substrate and at least one sheet of the support substrate. Example 35: An aerosol-forming substrate according to any one of Examples 1 to 34, wherein the surrounding wall contains a band of aerosol-forming substrate. Example 36: An aerosol generating article according to any one of Examples 1 to 35, wherein the surrounding wall includes a band of a supporting substrate. Example 37: An aerosol generating article combining the aerosol generating articles described in Examples 35 and 36, wherein the band of the aerosol-forming substrate radially surrounds, or is radially surrounded by, the band of the support substrate. Example 38: The aerosol generating article according to any one of Examples 32 to 37, wherein the supporting substrate is cardboard. Example 39: An aerosol generating article comprising a surrounding wall, wherein the surrounding wall comprises at least one sheet of a support substrate, a fold is defined in at least one sheet of the support substrate to define a folded sheet of the support substrate, and the aerosol generating article extends between opposing first and second ends, folded along the fold such that a first portion of the folded sheet of the support substrate lies on a second portion of the folded sheet of the support substrate, defining a closed path corresponding to the surrounding wall, for example, the aerosol generating article according to any one of Examples 1 to 38. Example 40: The aerosol generating article according to Example 39, wherein a first portion of the folded sheet of the support base extends over a first half of the perimeter of the surrounding wall, and a second portion of the folded sheet of the support base extends over a second half of the perimeter of the surrounding wall. Example 41: The surrounding wall further comprises at least one sheet of aerosol-forming substrate, and at least one sheet of aerosol-forming substrate, An outer arrangement of one or more sheets of an aerosol-forming substrate, wherein the outer arrangement of one or more sheets of the aerosol-forming substrate is positioned on (preferably in surface contact with) both outward-facing surfaces of the first and second portions of the folded sheet of the support base material, An aerosol generating article according to either Example 39 or 40, comprising one or both of the following: an internal arrangement of one or more sheets of an aerosol-forming substrate, wherein the internal arrangement of one or more sheets of the aerosol-forming substrate is positioned on (preferably in surface contact with) both the inward-facing surfaces of the first and second portions of the folded sheet of the support base material. Example 42: The aerosol generating article according to Example 41, comprising a common sheet of aerosol-forming substrate arranged such that the outer arrangement is on (preferably in surface contact with) both outward-facing surfaces of the first and second portions of the folded sheet of the support substrate. Example 43: The aerosol generating article according to either Example 41 or 42, comprising a common sheet of aerosol-forming substrate arranged such that the internal arrangement is on (preferably in surface contact with) the inward-facing surfaces of both the first and second portions of the folded sheet of the support substrate. Example 44: The aerosol generating article according to Example 41, comprising: a first outer sheet of an aerosol-forming substrate arranged so as to be on (preferably in surface contact with) the outward-facing surface of a first portion of a folded sheet of a support substrate; and a second outer sheet of an aerosol-forming substrate arranged so as to be on (preferably in surface contact with) the outward-facing surface of a second portion of a folded sheet of a support substrate. Example 45: The aerosol generating article according to either Example 41 or 44, comprising: a first inner sheet of an aerosol-forming substrate disposed on (preferably in surface contact with) the inward-facing surface of a first portion of a folded sheet of a support base material; and a second inner sheet of an aerosol-forming substrate disposed on (preferably in surface contact with) the inward-facing surface of a second portion of a folded sheet of a support base material. Example 46: An aerosol generating article comprising a surrounding wall, the surrounding wall comprising at least one sheet of a support substrate, the at least one sheet of the support substrate comprising a first sheet of the support substrate and a second sheet of the support substrate arranged opposite to each other, the laterally opposing edges of the first sheet of the support substrate and the laterally opposing edges of the second sheet of the support substrate align with each other to define a laterally opposing edge of the surrounding wall, and the first and second sheets of the support substrate extending between opposing first and second ends that define a closed path corresponding to the surrounding wall, for example, the aerosol generating article according to any one of Examples 1 to 45. Example 47: The aerosol generating article according to Example 46, wherein a first sheet of the support base extends over the first half of the perimeter of the surrounding wall, and a second sheet of the support base extends over the second half of the perimeter of the surrounding wall. Example 48: The surrounding wall further comprises at least one sheet of aerosol-forming substrate, and at least one sheet of aerosol-forming substrate, An outer arrangement of one or more sheets of an aerosol-forming substrate, wherein the outer arrangement of one or more sheets of the aerosol-forming substrate is positioned on (preferably in surface contact with) the outward-facing surfaces of both the first and second sheets of the support base material, An aerosol generating article according to either Example 46 or 47, comprising one or both of the following: an internal arrangement of one or more sheets of an aerosol-forming substrate, wherein the internal arrangement of one or more sheets of the aerosol-forming substrate is positioned on (preferably in surface contact with) the inward-facing surfaces of both the first and second sheets of a support substrate. Example 49: The aerosol generating article according to Example 48, wherein the outer arrangement comprises a common sheet of aerosol-forming substrates arranged on (preferably in surface contact with) the outward-facing surfaces of both the first and second sheets of the support substrate. Example 50: The aerosol generating article according to either Example 48 or 49, comprising a common sheet of aerosol-forming substrate arranged such that the internal arrangement is on (preferably in surface contact with) the inward-facing surfaces of both the first and second sheets of the support substrate. Example 51: The aerosol generating article according to Example 48, comprising: a first outer sheet of an aerosol-forming substrate disposed on (preferably in surface contact with) the outward-facing surface of a first sheet of a support substrate; and a second outer sheet of an aerosol-forming substrate disposed on (preferably in surface contact with) the outward-facing surface of a second sheet of a support substrate. Example 52: An aerosol generating article according to either Example 48 or 51, comprising: a first inner sheet of an aerosol-forming substrate disposed on (preferably in surface contact with) the inward-facing surface of a first sheet of a support substrate; and a second inner sheet of an aerosol-forming substrate disposed on (preferably in surface contact with) the inward-facing surface of a second sheet of a support substrate. Example 53: An aerosol generating article comprising a surrounding wall and at least one sheet of an aerosol forming substrate, wherein a fold is defined by at least one sheet of the aerosol forming substrate to define a folded sheet of the aerosol forming substrate, and the aerosol generating article extends between opposing first and second ends, folded along the fold so that a first portion of the folded sheet of the aerosol forming substrate lies on a second portion of the folded sheet of the aerosol forming substrate, thereby defining a closed path corresponding to the surrounding wall, for example, the aerosol generating article according to any one of Examples 1 to 52. Example 54: The aerosol generating article according to Example 53, wherein a first portion of the folded sheet of aerosol-forming substrate extends over a first half of the perimeter of the surrounding wall, and a second portion of the folded sheet of aerosol-forming substrate extends over a second half of the perimeter of the surrounding wall. Example 55: The surrounding wall further comprises at least one sheet of the support substrate, and at least one sheet of the support substrate is An outer arrangement of one or more sheets of a support base, wherein the outer arrangement of one or more sheets of the support base is positioned on (preferably in surface contact with) the outward-facing surfaces of both the first and second portions of the folded sheet of the aerosol-forming base, An aerosol generating article according to either Example 53 or 54, comprising one or both of the following: an internal arrangement of one or more sheets of a support base, wherein the internal arrangement of one or more sheets of the support base is positioned on (preferably in surface contact with) the inward-facing surfaces of both the first and second portions of the folded sheet of the aerosol-forming substrate. Example 56: The aerosol generating article according to Example 55, comprising a common sheet of a support substrate, the outer arrangement being positioned on (preferably in surface contact with) the outward-facing surfaces of both the first and second portions of the folded sheet of the aerosol-forming substrate. Example 57: The aerosol generating article according to either Example 55 or 56, comprising a common sheet of a support substrate arranged such that the internal arrangement is on (preferably in surface contact with) the inward-facing surfaces of both the first and second portions of the folded sheet of the aerosol-forming substrate. Example 58: The aerosol generating article according to Example 55, wherein the outer arrangement comprises a first outer sheet of a support base disposed on (preferably in surface contact with) the outward-facing surface of a first portion of the folded sheet of the aerosol-forming substrate, and a second outer sheet of the support base disposed on (preferably in surface contact with) the outward-facing surface of a second portion of the folded sheet of the aerosol-forming substrate. Example 59: The aerosol generating article according to either Example 55 or 58, comprising: a first inner sheet of a support base disposed on (preferably in surface contact with) the inward-facing surface of a first portion of a folded sheet of an aerosol-forming substrate; and a second inner sheet of the support base disposed on (preferably in surface contact with) the inward-facing surface of a second portion of a folded sheet of an aerosol-forming substrate. Example 60: An aerosol generating article comprising a surrounding wall, the surrounding wall comprising at least one sheet of an aerosol forming substrate, the at least one sheet of the aerosol forming substrate comprising a first sheet of the aerosol forming substrate and a second sheet of the aerosol forming substrate arranged opposite to each other, the lateral edge of the first sheet of the aerosol forming substrate and the lateral edge of the second sheet of the aerosol forming substrate aligned with each other to define a laterally opposing edge of the surrounding wall, and the first and second sheets of the aerosol forming substrate extending between opposing first and second ends that define a closed path corresponding to the surrounding wall, for example, the aerosol generating article according to any one of Examples 1 to 59. Example 61: The aerosol generating article according to Example 60, wherein the first sheet of the aerosol-forming substrate extends over the first half of the perimeter of the surrounding wall, and the second sheet of the aerosol-forming substrate extends over the second half of the perimeter of the surrounding wall. Example 62: The surrounding wall further comprises at least one sheet of the support substrate, and at least one sheet of the support substrate is An outer arrangement of one or more sheets of a support substrate, wherein the outer arrangement of one or more sheets of the support substrate is positioned on (preferably in surface contact with) the outward-facing surfaces of both the first and second sheets of the aerosol-forming substrate, An aerosol generating article according to either Example 60 or 61, comprising one or both of the following: an internal arrangement of one or more sheets of a support base, wherein the internal arrangement of one or more sheets of the support base is positioned on (preferably in surface contact with) the inward-facing surfaces of both the first and second sheets of the aerosol-forming substrate. Example 63: The aerosol generating article according to Example 62, wherein the outer arrangement comprises a common sheet of a support substrate positioned on (preferably in surface contact with) the outward-facing surfaces of both the first and second sheets of the aerosol-forming substrate. Example 64: The aerosol generating article according to either Example 62 or 63, wherein the internal arrangement comprises a common sheet of a support substrate arranged on (preferably in surface contact with) the inward-facing surfaces of both the first and second sheets of the aerosol-forming substrate. Example 65: The aerosol generating article according to Example 62, wherein the outer arrangement comprises a first outer sheet of a support substrate disposed on (preferably in surface contact with) the outward-facing surface of the first sheet of the aerosol-forming substrate, and a second outer sheet of the support substrate disposed on (preferably in surface contact with) the outward-facing surface of the second sheet of the aerosol-forming substrate. Example 66: The aerosol generating article according to either Example 62 or 65, comprising: a first inner sheet of a support substrate disposed on (preferably in surface contact with) the inward-facing surface of the first sheet of the aerosol-forming substrate; and a second inner sheet of the support substrate disposed on (preferably in surface contact with) the inward-facing surface of the second sheet of the aerosol-forming substrate. Example 67: An aerosol generating article according to any one of Examples 1 to 66, wherein the surrounding wall includes or consists of bands of aerosol-forming substrates, and the bands of aerosol-forming substrates are configured to be responsible for all or at least most of the bending rigidity of the surrounding wall. Example 68: The aerosol generating article according to Example 67, wherein the band of the aerosol-forming substrate comprises at least one sheet of the aerosol-forming substrate. Example 69: The aerosol generating article according to Example 68, wherein a fold is defined in at least one sheet of the aerosol-forming substrate to define a folded sheet of the aerosol-forming substrate, and the article is folded along the fold such that a first portion of the folded sheet of the aerosol-forming substrate lies on a second portion of the folded sheet of the aerosol-forming substrate, thereby defining a closed path corresponding to a surrounding wall. Example 70: The aerosol generating article according to Example 69, wherein a first portion of the folded sheet of aerosol-forming substrate extends over a first half of the perimeter of the surrounding wall, and a second portion of the folded sheet of aerosol-forming substrate extends over a second half of the perimeter of the surrounding wall. Example 71: An aerosol generating article according to any one of Examples 1 to 70, wherein the surrounding wall is provided with a wrapper, and the wrapper defines the outer surface of the aerosol generating article. Example 72: The wrapper is an aerosol-generating article according to Example 71, comprising or consisting of cigarette paper. Example 73: An aerosol generating article having a surrounding wall, the surrounding wall having a support base, and configured such that at least a portion of the axial length of the surrounding wall is permeable to air, and the arrangement of one or more sheets of aerosol forming substrates is arranged to radially surround the air-permeable portion of the axial length of the surrounding wall, an aerosol generating article extending in the longitudinal direction between opposing first and second ends, for example, the aerosol generating article according to any one of Examples 1 to 72. Example 74: The aerosol generating article according to Example 73, wherein the arrangement of one or more sheets of the aerosol-forming substrate is configured to form a sleeve that radially surrounds a permeable portion of the surrounding wall in the axial direction. Example 75: An aerosol generating article according to either Example 73 or Example 74, wherein one or more sheets of the aerosol-forming substrate are arranged so as to be closer to the first end of the aerosol generating article than to the second end of the aerosol generating article, preferably the second end of the article defining the mouth end of the article. Example 76: An aerosol generating article according to any one of Examples 73 to 75, wherein the permeable portion of the surrounding wall along its axial length includes a plurality of openings. Example 77: An aerosol generating article according to any one of Examples 73 to 76, wherein the permeable portion of the surrounding wall along its axial length contains a permeable material. Example 78: The aerosol-generating article according to Example 77, wherein the breathable material is a porous material. Example 79: An aerosol generating article according to any one of Examples 1 to 78, wherein the aerosol generating article has a length of 100 mm or less, or 90 mm or less. Example 80: The aerosol generating article according to Example 79, wherein the length of the aerosol generating article is in the range of 20 mm to 100 mm, 25 mm to 100 mm, 30 mm to 100 mm, 35 mm to 100 mm, or 40 mm to 100 mm. Example 81: An aerosol generating article extending longitudinally between a first end and a second end, for example, the aerosol generating article according to any one of Examples 1 to 80, wherein at least one flap is positioned at at least one of the first and second ends, and at least one flap is folded so as to overlap at least a portion of the end on which the flap is positioned. Example 82: The aerosol-generating article according to Example 81, wherein at least one flap is configured to be folded by the user. Example 83: The aerosol generating article according to any one of Examples 81-82, wherein at least one flap is folded so as to cover at least a portion of an opening defined at the end where the at least one flap is positioned, for example, so as to cover the opening and / or extend into the opening. Example 84: An aerosol-generating article according to any one of Examples 81 to 83, wherein at least one flap is provided with a flap, and the flap is connected to the article by a fold, for example, a fold line. Example 85: The aerosol-generating article according to Example 84, wherein the flap extends between the fold and the edge of the flap. Example 86: The aerosol-generating article according to either Example 84 or 85, wherein the fold is curved, for example, concave with respect to the longitudinal dimension of the article. Example 87: An aerosol-generating article according to any one of Examples 84 to 86, wherein the edge of the flap is curved, for example, curved convexly with respect to the longitudinal dimension of the article. Example 88: The aerosol-generating article according to Example 85, wherein the fold is located adjacent to an opening defined at the edge where the flap is positioned. Example 89: The aerosol-generating article according to Example 88, wherein the flap is folded along a crease so that the flap overlaps with at least a portion of the opening. Example 90: The aerosol generating article according to either Example 88 or 89, wherein the flap is folded along a crease so that the edge of the flap is positioned within the opening, for example, the edge of the flap is configured to contact the inner wall of the aerosol generating article, for example, the inner wall of a chamber that can be reached through the opening. Example 91: An aerosol-generating article according to any one of Examples 81 to 90, wherein one or each flap is arched. Example 92: An aerosol-generating article according to any one of Examples 81 to 91, wherein one or each flap is lenticular or elliptical in shape. Example 93: An aerosol-generating article according to any one of Examples 81 to 92, wherein at least one flap is permeable to air. Example 94: An aerosol-generating article according to any one of Examples 81 to 93, wherein at least one through-hole is defined through at least one flap. Example 95: An aerosol generating article according to any one of Examples 81 to 94, wherein at least one flap comprises a breathable material, such as a porous material, such as a filter material. Example 96: An aerosol generating article according to any one of Examples 81 to 95, wherein at least one through-hole is defined in at least one flap, and an air-permeable material is connected to the flap overlapping the through-hole so that air can pass through at least one through-hole and the permeable flap. Example 97: The aerosol-generating article according to any one of Examples 81 to 96, wherein at least one through hole has a diameter of 0.1 mm to 1 mm, for example 0.2 mm to 0.75 mm, for example 0.3 mm to 0.5 mm. Example 98: An aerosol generating article according to any one of Examples 81 to 97, wherein the flap provides an drawdown resistance (RTD) of 10 mm H2O to 50 mm H2O with respect to the air passing through the flap. Example 99: The article is an aerosol generating article according to any one of Examples 81 to 98, wherein the article has a drawdown resistance (RTD) of 10 mm H2O to 50 mm H2O with respect to air passing through the article between a first end and a second end. Example 100: An aerosol-generating article according to any one of Examples 81 to 99, wherein at least one flap is multiple flaps. Example 101: An aerosol-generating article according to any one of Examples 81 to 100, wherein at least one flap is made up of two flaps, for example, an upper flap and a lower flap. Example 102: The aerosol generating article according to Example 101, comprising an upper flap attached to the aerosol generating article at an upper fold and a lower flap attached to the aerosol generating article at a lower fold, wherein, for example, the article is configured such that the lower flap is folded upward and the upper flap is folded downward. Example 103: The aerosol-generating article according to Example 102, wherein both the upper and lower flaps overlap with at least a portion of the edge where the flaps are positioned, for example, both the upper and lower flaps overlap with and / or straddle an opening defined at the edge where the flaps are positioned. Example 104: The aerosol-generating article according to either Example 102 or 103, wherein both the upper and lower flaps overlap, for example, to straddle an opening defined at the edge where the flaps are placed, so that when folded, they overlap at least a portion of the edge where the flaps are placed. Example 105: The aerosol-generating article according to any one of Examples 102 to 104, wherein the upper flap and the lower flap are configured to engage with each other and overlap with at least a portion of the edge where the flaps are positioned when folded. Example 106: The aerosol-generating article according to Example 105, wherein a tab defined on one of the upper or lower flaps engages with a slot defined on the other of the upper or lower flaps when folded, and overlaps with at least a portion of the edge where the flap is positioned. Example 107: An aerosol-generating article according to any one of Examples 81 to 96, wherein at least one flap is a single flap. Example 108: The aerosol generating article according to any one of Examples 81 to 107, wherein at least one flap is at least one first end flap positioned at the first end, and the at least one first end flap is folded to overlap at least a portion of an opening defined at the first end. Example 109: An aerosol generating article according to Example 108, wherein at least one first end flap is folded to at least partially cover an opening defined at the first end, for example, to cover an opening defined at the first end, or to extend into an opening defined at the first end. Example 110: An aerosol-generating article according to either one of Examples 108 or 109, wherein at least one first end flap is configured to be folded by the user and straddle the opening. Example 111: The aerosol generating article according to any one of Examples 81 to 110, wherein at least one flap is at least one second end flap positioned at the second end, and at least one second end flap is folded so as to overlap at least a portion of an opening defined at the second end. Example 112: The aerosol generating article according to Example 111, wherein at least one second end flap is folded so as to at least partially cover an opening defined by the second end, for example, to cover an opening defined by the second end, or to extend into an opening defined by the second end. Example 113: An aerosol-generating article according to either one of Examples 111 or 112, wherein at least one second end flap is configured to be folded by the user and straddle the opening. Example 114: An aerosol generating article according to any one of Examples 81 to 113, wherein at least one first end flap is positioned at the first end and at least one first end flap is folded so as to overlap and / or straddle an opening defined at the first end, and at least one second end flap is positioned at the second end and at least one second end flap is folded so as to overlap and / or straddle an opening defined at the second end. Example 115: An aerosol generating article according to any one of Examples 81 to 114, wherein the first end is the distal end, the second end is the proximal or oral end, and the proximal or oral end faces the distal end. Example 116: An aerosol-generating article according to any one of Examples 81 to 115, wherein an airflow path is defined to enter or leave the article through an opening located at least one of the first and second ends of the article. Example 117: An aerosol generating article according to any one of Examples 81 to 116, wherein the airflow path is defined to enter the article through an opening defined at a first end of the article and exit the article through an opening defined at a second end of the article, and the airflow path extends into the interior of the article between the first and second ends. Example 118: An aerosol generating article according to any one of Examples 81 to 117, wherein an airflow path extending in the longitudinal direction is defined within the article between a first end and a second end, and the airflow path extends between the first end and the second end and is defined within a surrounding wall that circumferentially surrounds the airflow path. Example 119: The outer surface of the article is defined by a surrounding wall, which is deformable in an axial cross-section and configured to expand from a contracted first state to an expanded second state, in which case the surrounding wall encloses a hollow tubular cavity, as described in any one of Examples 81 to 118, particularly Example 118. Example 120: The aerosol generating article according to Example 119, in which, in the first contracted state, there is no hollow tubular cavity. Example 121: In the first contracted state, the opposing inward-facing surfaces of the surrounding wall are in surface contact with each other, as described in either Example 119 or 120, an aerosol-generating article. Example 122: In the expanded second state, the aerosol generating article has a lenticular shape in its axial cross-section, as described in any one of Examples 119 to 121. Example 123: an aerosol generating article according to any one of Examples 119 to 122, wherein at least one flap is configured to be bent to a position that acts to prevent the surrounding wall from contracting from its expanded state to its contracted state. Example 124: An aerosol generating article according to any one of Examples 119 to 123, wherein the surrounding wall of the aerosol generating article is configured to define a band, and the surrounding wall is lenticular in an axial cross-section. Example 125: It is a package, Multiple aerosol-generating articles, for example, one of the aerosol-generating articles described in Examples 1 to 124, A1 to A34, A container for containing multiple aerosol-generating articles, A package in which each aerosol-generating article extends in the longitudinal direction between the opposing first and second ends of each aerosol-generating article, and the surrounding wall of the aerosol-generating article is configured to define a flattened shape that is contracted in the axial cross-section. Example 126: The package according to Example 125, wherein in one or more of the multiple aerosol-generating articles, the opposing inward-facing surfaces of the surrounding walls of each aerosol-generating article are in surface contact with each other. Example 127: The package according to either Example 125 or 126, wherein in one or more of the multiple aerosol-generating articles, the opposing outward-facing surfaces of the surrounding walls of each aerosol-generating article are parallel to each other. Example 128: The package according to any one of Examples 125 to 127, wherein in one or more of the multiple aerosol-generating articles, the opposing outward-facing surfaces of the surrounding walls of each aerosol-generating article are substantially planar. Example 129: The package according to any one of Examples 125 to 128, wherein adjacent aerosol-generating articles are arranged side by side in the container, end to end in contact, or in a combination thereof. Example 130: The package according to any one of Examples 125 to 129, wherein at least one lid is connected to the container and is configured to move from an open position to a closed position, and in the closed position the lid covers a plurality of aerosol-generating articles contained within the container. Example 131: Each of the multiple aerosol-generating articles is a package according to one of the aerosol-generating articles of Examples 1 to 124, as described in one of Examples 125 to 130. Example 132: A package according to one of Examples 125 to 131, wherein each of the multiple aerosol-generating articles relates to one of Examples 18 to 23. Example 133: A package according to one of Examples 125 to 132, wherein each of the multiple aerosol-generating articles relates to one of Examples 24 to 29. Example 134: The package according to Example 133, wherein each of the multiple aerosol-generating articles contained within the container is in a first contracted state. Example 135: An apparatus comprising a cavity configured to guide an aerosol-generating article, for example, an aerosol-generating article described in any one of Examples 1 to 134 or Examples A1 to A34, thereby expanding the aerosol-generating article from a flat cross-sectional shape to a lenticular cross-sectional shape along at least a portion of the length of the aerosol-generating article or its entire length. Example 136: The apparatus, for example, the apparatus described in Example 135, comprises a cavity and a pin, the pin being positioned within the cavity and inserted into an aerosol-generating article guided along the cavity, thereby expanding the aerosol-generating article from a flat cross-sectional shape to a lenticular cross-sectional shape along at least a portion of its length or its entire length. Example 137: A system comprising the apparatus according to either Example 135 or 136, further comprising an aerosol generating article having a first state in which the article has a flat cross-sectional shape and a second state in which the article has a lenticular cross-sectional shape. Example A1: Aerosol-generating items, The upper layer and, Lower layer and, A frame positioned between an upper layer and a lower layer, wherein the frame defines and surrounds a cavity at least partially, Aerosol-forming substrate and, An aerosol generating article, for example, the aerosol generating article described in any one of Examples 1 to 124, wherein the upper layer is connected to the upper side of the frame, the lower layer is connected to the lower side of the frame, and the upper and lower sides of the frame are convex outward. Example A2: The aerosol generating article according to Example A1, wherein the upper and lower layers are convex outward, corresponding to the upper and lower sides of the frame, respectively. Example A2A: An aerosol generating article according to any one of Examples A1 to A2, wherein the combination of the frame, upper layer, and lower layer defines the surrounding wall of the aerosol generating article. Example A3: An aerosol generating article according to any one of Examples A1 to A2, wherein the aerosol generating article is defined by a length extending in the x direction, a width extending in the y direction, and a thickness extending in the z direction, the upper and lower sides of the frame are at least partially spaced apart and facing each other in the z direction, and the thickness is less than the width and length, respectively. Example A4: The aerosol-generating article according to Example A3, wherein the cavity extends through the entire height of the frame, such that the cavity is defined by the frame, the upper layer, and the lower layer. Example A5: An aerosol-generating article according to any one of Examples A1 to A4, wherein the upper layer is separated from the lower layer and is structurally distinct. Example A6: An aerosol generating article according to any one of Examples A1 to A4, wherein the upper layer and the lower layer each form part of a common sheet or band, the common sheet or band is wrapped around a frame, thereby fixing the first part of the common sheet or band to the upper side of the frame, the second part of the common sheet or band to the lower side of the frame, the first part of the common sheet or band constitutes the upper layer, and the second part of the common sheet or band constitutes the lower layer. Example A7: The aerosol generating article according to any one of Examples A1 to A6, wherein the upper and lower layers are arranged symmetrically with respect to each other along the thickness direction of the aerosol generating article (for example, extending in the z direction). Example A8: An aerosol-generating article according to any one of Examples A1 to A7, wherein the upper and lower layers are each substantially of uniform thickness. Example A9: An aerosol generating article according to any one of Examples A1 to A8, wherein the article comprises first and second end walls that are axially opposed, the first and second end walls being spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating article (for example, extending in the x direction), and at least one opening is provided in both the first and second end walls to provide a passage for airflow through the aerosol generating article via a cavity. Example A5: An aerosol generating article according to Example A4, wherein the first and second end walls form part of the frame. Example A5A: The first and second end walls are structurally separate from the frame and, for example, are joined to the frame, in the aerosol generating article described in Example A4. Example A6: An aerosol generating article according to any one of Examples A1 to A5A, wherein the upper and lower layers define the outside of the aerosol generating article. Example A7: An aerosol generating article according to any one of Examples A1 to A5A, further comprising a wrapper, wherein the upper layer, frame, and lower layer are assembled within the wrapper, and the wrapper defines the outside of the aerosol generating article. Example A8: An aerosol generating article according to any one of Examples A1 - A7, wherein one or both of the upper layer and the lower layer comprises or consists of an aerosol - forming substrate. Example A9: An aerosol - forming substrate according to Example A8, wherein the cavity does not contain an aerosol - forming substrate. Example A10: An aerosol generating article according to any one of Examples A1 - A8, wherein at least a part of the aerosol - forming substrate is disposed within the cavity. Example A11: An aerosol generating article according to any one of Examples A1 - A8, wherein at least first and second portions of the aerosol - forming substrate are disposed within the cavity, and preferably, the first portion of the aerosol - forming substrate has a different composition from the second portion of the aerosol - forming substrate. Example A12: An aerosol generating article according to any one of Examples A1 - A11, comprising a cut - out defined by one or both of the upper and lower surfaces of the frame, the cut - out being above the cavity and covered by the respective upper or lower layer connected to the respective upper or lower surface, and preferably, at least a part of the aerosol - forming substrate is disposed within the cavity. Example A13: An aerosol generating article according to any one of Examples A1 - A12, wherein a plurality of cut - outs are defined by one or both of the upper and lower surfaces of the frame. Example A14: An aerosol generating article according to Example A13, wherein each of the plurality of cut - outs is above the cavity. Example A15: An aerosol generating article according to Example A13, wherein the frame at least partially defines a plurality of cavities, and each cavity is overlapped by a different one or more of the plurality of cut - outs. Example A16: Among different ones of the plurality of cutouts, are aerosol generating articles according to Eample A15, which are continuously arranged along the length direction of the aerosol generating article (e.g., extending along the x direction). Example A17: Among different ones of the plurality of cutouts, are aerosol generating articles according to any one of Examples A15 or A16, which are continuously arranged along the width direction of the aerosol generating article (e.g., extending along the y direction). Example A18: Among each of the plurality of cavities, are aerosol generating articles according to any one of Examples A15 - A17, each of which contains a respective part of the aerosol - forming substrate. Example A19: Among at least one of the parts of the aerosol - forming substrate, are aerosol generating articles according to Example A18, where at least one has a different composition from the others of the parts of the aerosol - forming substrate. Example A20: The frame includes or consists of a cellulosic material, such as paper, cardboard, or paperboard, are aerosol generating articles according to any one of Examples A1 - A19. Example A21: The upper layer and the lower layer include or consist of a cellulosic material, such as paper, cardboard, or paperboard, are aerosol generating materials according to any one of Examples A1 - A20. Example A22: The frame is formed from a material sheet, which is bent so that a first part of the sheet is over a second part of the sheet, whereby a cavity is defined between the first sheet part and the second sheet part, the first part of the sheet defines an upper surface of the frame, and the second part of the sheet defines a lower surface of the frame, are aerosol generating articles according to any one of Examples A1 - A21. Example A23: The first and second end walls facing each other in the axial direction of the frame are defined by the first and second flap parts facing each other in the axial direction of the material sheet, and the first and second end walls are spaced apart from each other along the length direction of the aerosol generating article (e.g., extending in the x direction), are aerosol generating articles according to Example A22. Example A24: The aerosol generating article according to Embodiment 23, wherein one of the first and second axially opposed flap portions has an opening that defines an air intake port passing through the first end wall of the frame, and the other of the first and second axially opposed flap portions has an opening that defines an air exhaust port passing through the second end wall of the frame. Example A25: An aerosol generating article according to any one of Examples A1 to A21, wherein the frame is formed from multiple layers that are continuously stacked on top of each other. Example A26: An aerosol generating article according to any one of Examples A1 to A25, wherein the opposing longitudinal edges of the upper and lower sides of the frame approach each other and meet to define a lens-shaped cross-sectional shape of the frame. Example A27: An aerosol generating article according to any one of Examples A1 to A25, wherein the opposing longitudinally extending edges of the upper and lower sides of the frame are separated from each other by the opposing side walls of the frame. Example A29: The aerosol generating article according to Example A28, wherein the opposing side walls of the frame are planar, and preferably the side walls of the frame extend along the z-direction. Example A30: The frame is configured to be deformable, causing expansion of the frame's width (e.g., in the x or y direction) and a corresponding contraction of the frame's thickness (e.g., in the z direction), thereby causing the aerosol product to transition from an expanded first state to a contracted second state by applying a force that acts to press the upper and lower layers together (e.g., by inserting the aerosol generating article into the cavity of an aerosol generating device, where the cavity is set to dimensions that compress the aerosol generating article in the thickness direction of the article (e.g., in the z direction)), as described in any one of Examples A1 to A29. Example A31: An aerosol generating article according to any one of Examples 1 to 124, Examples A1 to A30, wherein the aerosol generating article has a length of 20 to 80 mm, or 20 to 60 mm, or 20 to 50 mm, or 20 to 40 mm, or 25 to 35 mm, or about 30 mm (for example, extending in the x direction). Example A32: An aerosol generating article according to any one of Examples 1 to 124 or Examples A1 to A31, wherein the aerosol generating article has a width of 5 to 25 mm, or 5 to 20 mm, or 5 to 15 mm, or 7.5 to 12.5 mm, or about 10 mm (for example, extending in the y direction). Example A33: An aerosol generating article according to any one of Examples 1 to 124 or Examples A1 to A32, wherein the aerosol generating article has a height of 2 to 8 mm, or 2 to 6 mm, or 2 to 5 mm, or 2 to 4 mm, or about 3 mm (for example, extending in the z direction). Example A34: An aerosol generating article according to any one of Examples A1 to A33, wherein each of the first and second layers has a thickness of 20 microns to 500 microns, for example, 20 microns to 150 microns, or for example, 20 microns to 80 microns.

[0156] The present invention will be further described, for illustrative purposes only, with reference to the attached drawings.

[0157] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an aerosol-generating article 100 with a length L extending between a first end 101 and a second end 102. The aerosol-generating article 100 has a surrounding wall 110 extending between the first end 101 and the second end 102. The aerosol-generating article 100 is illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 as being in an inflated or expanded state, and the surrounding wall 110 encloses a hollow cavity 103 extending along the length L of the article between the first end 101 and the second end 102. The surrounding wall 110 illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 has a substantially lenticular cross-section. The lenticular cross-section resembles the shape of a biconvex lens, and the upper half 111 and lower half 112 of the surrounding wall 110 are mirror images of each other, each having an outward-facing convex surface. The upper half 111 and lower half 112 of the surrounding wall 110 meet at lateral opposing edges 113 and 114 of the surrounding wall. The distance between the laterally opposed edges 113 and 114 of the surrounding wall 110 defines the width W of the aerosol-generating article 100. The distance between the outermost surfaces of the upper half 111 and the lower half 112 of the surrounding wall 110, midway between the laterally opposed edges 113 and 114, corresponds to the thickness T of the aerosol-generating article 100. It will be understood that the thickness dimension T of the aerosol-generating article 100 can also be considered to represent the height of the aerosol-generating article. The upper half 111 and the lower half 112 can meet at the laterally opposed edges 113 and 114 to define a sharp edge, but the edge usually has a small radius of curvature R1 associated with it, as shown in the detailed view of area B in Figure 2. The radius of curvature R1 may be, for example, less than 2 millimeters. Furthermore, as shown in the detailed view of region B in Figure 2, at the positions of the laterally opposing edges 113 and 114, the acute angle α is defined between the tangent to the outer surface of the upper half 111 and the tangent to the outer surface of the lower half 112. The acute angle α may be in the range of, for example, 15 to 110 degrees.

[0158] The first end 101 may form the distal end of the aerosol-generating article 100, and the second end 102 may form the proximal end of the aerosol-generating article. The distal end 101 may also be called the mouth end of the aerosol-generating article 100. In the aerosol-generating article 100 of Figures 1 and 2, the first end 101 is an open end. Figure 2 shows a diagram of the aerosol-generating article 100 when held between the thumb and fingers of a user, and the diagram is generally viewed through the opening of the first end 101 towards the second end 102 downstream along the longitudinal axis LA of the article.

[0159] In the embodiment of the aerosol-generating article 100 illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the internal cavity 103 surrounded by the surrounding wall 110 has no obstructions between the first end 101 and the second end 102. However, as shown in Figure 2, an optional flap is provided at the second end 102 of the aerosol-generating article 100, and the flap substantially covers the opening defined at the second end 102 by the surrounding wall 100. The flap is provided with a through hole.

[0160] Although not shown in the schematic diagrams of Figures 1 and 2, the surrounding wall 110 of the aerosol-generating article 100 includes an aerosol-generating substrate as a component. The aerosol-forming substrate may include homogenized tobacco material and an aerosol-forming agent, such as propylene glycol or other suitable aerosol-forming agent.

[0161] Figures 3A to 3C show three different embodiments of the surrounding walls 210, 210', and 210'' of the aerosol-generating article 100, with each figure showing an exemplary structure of a segment of the surrounding wall corresponding to area A in Figure 1.

[0162] In the embodiment shown in Figure 3A, the surrounding wall 210 has an inner layer 211 of a support substrate material such as cardboard. A layer 212 of an aerosol-forming substrate is placed on top of the inner layer 211 of the support substrate. Next, another layer 213 of the support substrate, such as cardboard, is placed on top of the aerosol-forming substrate layer 212. Finally, a cigarette paper wrapper 214 is placed on top of the other layer 213 of the support substrate to form the outer surface of the surrounding wall 210. Therefore, in the embodiment shown in Figure 3A, the surrounding wall 210 has a layer 212 of an aerosol-forming substrate sandwiched between the layers 211 and 213 of the support substrate. The cardboard support substrate material is responsible for most of the bending rigidity of the surrounding wall 210. It will be understood that the layers 211 and 213 of the support substrate may be different from each other, or they may be formed from a common sheet of support substrate folded along creases to define each of the layers 211 and 213.

[0163] The embodiment in Figure 3B represents the opposite structure to that in Figure 3B. To further explain, the surrounding wall 210' has an inner layer 211' of aerosol-forming substrate. A layer 212' of a support base material such as cardboard is placed on top of the inner layer 211' of the aerosol-forming substrate. Next, another layer 213' of the aerosol-forming substrate is placed on top of the support base material layer 212'. Finally, the cigarette paper wrapper 214' is placed on top of the other layer 213' of the aerosol-forming substrate to form the outer surface of the surrounding wall 210'. Therefore, in the embodiment of Figure 3B, the surrounding wall 210' has a layer 212' of cardboard support base material sandwiched between the layers 211' and 213' of the aerosol-forming substrate. In the embodiment of Figure 3A, the cardboard support base material is responsible for most of the bending rigidity of the surrounding wall 210'. It will be understood that the layers 211' and 213' of the aerosol-forming substrate may be different from each other, or they may be formed from a common sheet of aerosol-forming substrate folded along a crease to define each of the layers 211' and 213'.

[0164] The embodiment of the surrounding wall 210” shown in FIG. 3C does not include separate layers of an aerosol-forming substrate and a support substrate material. Rather, the surrounding wall 210” of the embodiment of FIG. 3C is formed of a layer 211” of an aerosol-forming substrate on which a wrapper 212” of cigarette paper is wrapped. In the embodiment of FIG. 3C, the aerosol-forming substrate bears most of the bending rigidity of the surrounding wall 210”. The layer 211” of the aerosol-forming substrate may have a thickness greater than the thickness of the layer of the aerosol-forming substrate used for the surrounding walls 210, 210’ of FIGS. 3A and 3B.

[0165] The inflated state of the aerosol-generating article 100 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 represents a state in which the article is ready for use and consumption. The user consumes the article 100 by applying heat to the surrounding wall 110 of the aerosol-forming article. In a preferred embodiment, heat is applied to the aerosol-generating article 100 at a level that sufficiently heats the aerosol-forming substrate of the surrounding wall 110 but does not cause combustion or ignition. The vapor generated by heating the aerosol-forming substrate is generated inside the aerosol-generating article 100 and is taken up by an air flow drawn through the first end 101 when the user sucks on the mouth-side end 102. The vapor cools and condenses as it flows downstream towards the mouth-side end 102 to form an aerosol, and the user inhales the aerosol through the mouth-side end. In a preferred embodiment, heat may be applied by use of an aerosol-generating device having an electric heating device, and the device may be configured to receive the aerosol-generating article 100. As an example, the aerosol-generating device may include a chamber that receives at least a portion of the length of the aerosol-generating article 100. In a particularly preferred embodiment, a resistive heating device or an inductive heating device may be used by the aerosol-generating device to apply heat to the aerosol-generating article. However, it will be understood that the present disclosure relates to the design and configuration of the aerosol-generating article, and other means for applying heat to the aerosol-generating article to generate an aerosol may be used.

[0166] Figures 4A and 4B illustrate embodiments of the aerosol-generating article 300, which is deformable between two geometric states. Figure 4A shows the aerosol-generating article 300 in a contracted first state. Figure 4B shows the aerosol-generating article 300 in an expanded second state, which roughly corresponds to the state of article 100 shown in Figures 1 and 2. The contracted first state is a state in which the area surrounded by the surrounding wall 310 is smaller than the area surrounded by the surrounding wall in the expanded second state. In the contracted first state of Figure 4A, the aerosol-generating article 300 has a thickness T1 that is thinner than the thickness T2 of the article in the expanded second state. It will be understood that the thickness dimensions T1 and T2 of the aerosol-generating article 300 can also be considered to represent the height of the aerosol-generating article.

[0167] Therefore, in the first contracted state shown in Figure 4A, the aerosol-generating article 300 has a flatter and wider cross-section than in the second expanded state shown in Figure 4B. The first contracted state in Figure 4A represents the aerosol-generating article 300 in a state optimized for packaging multiple aerosol-generating articles side by side, as will be described in more detail below with reference to Figure 6. In the aerosol-generating article 300 of Figure 4A, the surrounding wall 310 has upper and lower planar portions 311, 312 joined by a pair of laterally opposing folds 313, 314 defined in the surrounding wall. The upper planar portion 311 and the lower planar portion 312 of the surrounding wall 310 are aligned parallel to each other. In the embodiment shown in Figure 4A, the inward-facing surfaces of the upper and lower planar portions 311 and 312 are positioned to be in contact with or nearly in contact with each other, such that the aerosol-generating article 300 in the contracted first state shown in Figure 4A has a thickness T1 that is approximately twice or slightly greater than the thickness t of the upper and lower portions 311 and 312. The user transitions the aerosol-generating article 300 from the contracted first state to the expanded second state by pressing the laterally opposed edges of the surrounding wall 310, which are defined by the folds 313 and 314 of the surrounding wall, as indicated by the arrows in Figure 4A. The force applied to the laterally opposed edges 313 and 314 of the surrounding wall 310 overcomes the rigidity of the surrounding wall, resulting in a contraction in the width of the aerosol-generating article 300. As the width contracts, the upper planar portion 311 and the lower planar portion 312 of the surrounding wall 300 separate from each other, and the thickness (or height) of the aerosol-generating article increases until it reaches the expanded second state shown in Figure 4B. As can be seen by comparing Figure 4A and Figure 4B, the surrounding wall 310 of the aerosol-generating article 300 encloses a larger area in the expanded second state than in the contracted first state. The aerosol-generating article 300 has an increased thickness T2 (or height) and a decreased width W2 in the expanded second state compared to the thickness T1 (or height) and width W1 associated with the contracted first state.

[0168] Figures 5A and 5B represent alternative embodiments of the aerosol-generating article 400 in Figures 4A and 4B. In the embodiments of Figures 4A and 4B, the article 400 in Figures 5A and 5B is deformable between a contracted first state and an expanded second state, respectively. The expanded second state in Figure 5B is essentially the same as that of the embodiment in Figure 4B. However, the axial cross-sectional shape of the aerosol-generating article in the contracted first state of article 400 in Figure 5A differs from that of article 300 in Figure 4A. In contrast to the planar structure of the perimeter wall 310 used in Figure 4A, in the embodiment of Figure 5A, the perimeter wall 410 has upper and lower convex portions 411, 412 joined by a pair of laterally opposing folds 413, 414 defined in the perimeter wall. Thus, the cross-section of the aerosol-generating article 400 is substantially lenticular in both the contracted first state (see Figure 5A) and the expanded second state (see Figure 5B). The use of the lenticular cross-section of article 400 in the contracted first state facilitates the transition from the contracted first state to the expanded second state. Further explanation is given that the outward curvature of the upper and lower convex portions 411, 412 of the surrounding wall 410 in the contracted first state in Figure 5A means that the surrounding wall is easily deformed into the expanded second state when the user presses on the laterally opposing edges 413, 414 of the surrounding wall.

[0169] Figure 6 shows package 5000. Package 5000 has a container 5100 that houses a plurality of aerosol-generating articles 400 in a shrunk state, as shown in Figure 5A above. The thin thickness of the aerosol-generating articles 400 in the shrunk state allows multiple different aerosol-generating articles to be stored side by side in the container 5100 in a space-efficient manner, while minimizing the gaps between adjacent aerosol-generating articles. In package 5000 of Figure 6, a lid 5200 is attached to the container 5100. The lid 5200 is hinged to the container 5100, allowing the lid to be opened to expose the inside of the container and allowing a user to remove a given one of the aerosol-generating articles 400 from inside the container. Next, the user may press the laterally opposing sides 413, 414 of the removed aerosol-generating article 400 to transition the article from a contracted first state (Figure 5A) to an expanded second state (Figure 5B) that is ready for heating and consumption.

[0170] Figures 7A-7C, 8A-8C, 9A-9C, 10A-10C, 11, and 12 illustrate various different structures of the surrounding wall of an aerosol-generating article, each illustrating the surrounding wall in the axial cross-section of the aerosol-generating article in its second expanded state.

[0171] Figure 7A shows an embodiment in which the perimeter wall 510 has a single sheet 511 of a support substrate (e.g., a support substrate formed of cardboard) and is folded along a fold 512 such that a first portion 513 of the support substrate lies on a second portion 514 of the support substrate. The first portion 513 and the second portion 514 of the support substrate sheet 511 form the first and second halves of the perimeter of the perimeter wall 510, respectively. The first inner sheet 515 of the aerosol-forming substrate lies on the inward-facing surface of the first portion 513 of the support substrate sheet 511. The second inner sheet 516 of the aerosol-forming substrate lies on the inward-facing surface of the second portion 514 of the support substrate sheet 511. The cigarette paper wrapper 517 forms the outer surface of the perimeter wall 510.

[0172] Figure 7B shows an embodiment of a different peripheral wall 510' from the peripheral wall in Figure 7A. This embodiment differs from the embodiment in Figure 7A in that the peripheral wall 510' does not have the first and second inner sheets of the aerosol-forming substrate, but instead has the first and second outer sheets 515', 516' of the aerosol-forming substrate. The first outer sheet 515' of the aerosol-forming substrate lies on the outward-facing surface of the first portion 513 of the sheet 511 of the support substrate. The second outer sheet 516' of the aerosol-forming substrate lies on the outward-facing surface of the second portion 514 of the sheet 511 of the support substrate. The cigarette paper wrapper 517 forms the outer surface of the peripheral wall 510'.

[0173] Figure 7C shows an embodiment of a peripheral wall 510” different from the peripheral walls of Figures 7A and 7B. The embodiment in Figure 7C represents a combination of the embodiments in Figures 7A and 7B, and the peripheral wall 510” incorporates both the first and second inner sheets 515, 516 of the aerosol-forming substrate and the first and second outer sheets 515', 516' of the aerosol-forming substrate. Thus, in the embodiment of Figure 7C, both sides of the first portion 513 of the support substrate sheet 511 are sandwiched between the first inner sheet 515 and the outer sheet 515' of the aerosol-forming substrate, and similarly, both sides of the second portion 514 of the support substrate sheet 511 are sandwiched between the second inner sheet 516 and the outer sheet 516' of the aerosol-forming substrate. The cigarette paper wrapper 517 forms the outer surface of the peripheral wall 510”.

[0174] Figures 8A–8C show three different embodiments of the perimeter walls 610, 610', and 610''. The embodiments in Figures 8A–8C differ from those in Figures 7A–7C in the configuration of the support substrate. More specifically, instead of using a single sheet of support substrate folded along a crease to define the first and second halves of the perimeter of the perimeter wall, the embodiments in Figures 8A–8C use separate first and second sheets 611, 612 of the support substrate. The first and second sheets 611, 612 of the support substrate are arranged facing each other, and the laterally opposing edges of the first and second sheets of the support substrate align to define the laterally opposing edges 613, 614 of the perimeter wall. The first and second sheets 611, 612 of the support substrate each form the first and second halves of the perimeter of the perimeter wall. The cigarette paper wrapper 615 forms the outer surface of the perimeter wall.

[0175] In the embodiment of the surrounding wall 610 in Figure 8A, the first inner sheet 616 of the aerosol-forming substrate rests on the inward-facing surface of the first sheet 611 of the support substrate, and the second inner sheet 617 of the aerosol-forming substrate rests on the inward-facing surface of the second sheet 612 of the support substrate.

[0176] In the embodiment of the surrounding wall 610' in Figure 8B, the first outer sheet 616' of the aerosol-forming substrate rests on the outward-facing surface of the first sheet 611 of the support substrate, and the second outer sheet 617' of the aerosol-forming substrate rests on the outward-facing surface of the second sheet 612 of the support substrate.

[0177] In the perimeter wall 610" embodiment of Figure 8C, both sides of the first sheet 611 of the support substrate are sandwiched between the first inner sheet 616 and the outer sheet 616' of the aerosol-forming substrate, and similarly, both sides of the second sheet 612 of the support substrate are sandwiched between the second inner sheet 617 and the outer sheet 617' of the aerosol-forming substrate.

[0178] Figures 9A-9C and 10A-10C show embodiments of the surrounding walls opposite to those shown in Figures 7A-7C and 8A-8C, respectively. These embodiments will be outlined in more detail below.

[0179] Figure 9A shows an embodiment of a peripheral wall 710 in which the peripheral wall has a single sheet 711 of aerosol-forming substrate, and is folded along a fold 712 such that a first portion 713 of the aerosol-forming substrate lies on a second portion 714 of the aerosol-forming substrate. The first and second portions 713, 714 of the sheet 711 of aerosol-forming substrate form the first and second halves of the perimeter of the peripheral wall 710, respectively. The first inner sheet 715 of the support substrate lies on the inward-facing surface of the first portion 713 of the sheet 711 of aerosol-forming substrate. The second inner sheet 716 of the support substrate lies on the inward-facing surface of the second portion 714 of the sheet 711 of aerosol-forming substrate. The support substrate may be formed from cardboard. A cigarette paper wrapper 717 forms the outer surface of the peripheral wall 710.

[0180] Figure 9B shows an embodiment of a different peripheral wall 710' from the peripheral wall in Figure 9A. This embodiment differs from the embodiment in Figure 9A in that it lacks the first and second inner sheets of the support substrate and instead has first and second outer sheets 715', 716' of the support substrate. The first outer sheet 715' of the support substrate lies on the outward-facing surface of the first portion 713 of the aerosol-forming substrate sheet 711. The second outer sheet 716' of the support substrate lies on the outward-facing surface of the second portion 714 of the aerosol-forming substrate sheet 711. The cigarette paper wrapper 717 forms the outer surface of the peripheral wall 710'.

[0181] Figure 9C shows an embodiment of a peripheral wall 710” different from the peripheral walls of Figures 9A and 9B. The embodiment in Figure 9C represents a combination of the embodiments of Figures 9A and 9B, and incorporates both the first and second inner sheets 715, 716 of the support substrate and the first and second outer sheets 715', 716' of the support substrate. Thus, in the embodiment of Figure 9C, both sides of the first portion 713 of the aerosol-forming substrate sheet 711 are sandwiched between the first inner sheet 715 and the outer sheet 715' of the support substrate, and similarly, both sides of the second portion 714 of the aerosol-forming substrate sheet 711 are sandwiched between the second inner sheet 716 and the outer sheet 716' of the support substrate. The cigarette paper wrapper 717 forms the outer surface of the peripheral wall 710”.

[0182] Figures 10A–10C show three different embodiments of the surrounding walls 810, 810', and 810''. The embodiments in Figures 10A–10C differ from those in Figures 9A–9C in the configuration of the aerosol-forming substrate. More specifically, instead of using a single sheet of aerosol-forming substrate folded along creases to define the first and second halves of the perimeter of the surrounding wall, the embodiments in Figures 10A–10C use separate first and second sheets 811, 812 of the aerosol-forming substrate. The first and second sheets 811, 812 of the aerosol-forming substrate are arranged facing each other, and the laterally opposing edges of the first and second sheets of the aerosol-forming substrate align to define the laterally opposing edges 813, 814 of the surrounding wall. The first and second sheets 811, 812 of the aerosol-forming substrate each form the first and second halves of the perimeter of the surrounding wall. The cigarette paper wrapper 815 forms the outer surface of the surrounding wall.

[0183] In the embodiment of the surrounding wall 810 in Figure 10A, the first inner sheet 816 of the support substrate rests on the inward-facing surface of the first sheet 811 of the aerosol-forming substrate, and the second inner sheet 817 of the support substrate rests on the inward-facing surface of the second sheet 812 of the aerosol-forming substrate.

[0184] In the embodiment of the surrounding wall 810' in Figure 10B, the first outer sheet 816' of the support substrate rests on the outward-facing surface of the first sheet 811 of the aerosol-forming substrate, and the second outer sheet 817' of the support substrate rests on the outward-facing surface of the second sheet 812 of the aerosol-forming substrate.

[0185] In the embodiment of the surrounding wall 810" in Figure 10C, both sides of the first sheet 811 of the aerosol-forming substrate are sandwiched between the first inner sheet 816 and the outer sheet 816' of the support substrate, and similarly, both sides of the second sheet 812 of the aerosol-forming substrate are sandwiched between the second inner sheet 817 and the outer sheet 817' of the support substrate.

[0186] In each of the embodiments shown in Figures 7A-7C, 8A-8C, 9A-9C, and 10A-10C, the surrounding wall is formed by a combination of a support substrate material and an aerosol-forming substrate. The support substrate may function to bear most of the bending rigidity of the surrounding wall and can be considered to support the aerosol-forming substrate. The support substrate may be formed from a permeable material, thereby allowing vapors generated from heating the aerosol-forming substrate to pass through the support substrate in the thickness direction. For example, if the surrounding wall is positioned on the outward-facing surface of the sheet of the support substrate, using a permeable material for the support substrate makes it easier for vapors from the aerosol-forming substrate (when heated) to pass through the support substrate and enter the internal space of the aerosol-generating article surrounded by the surrounding wall. Permeability may be provided by using one or more porous materials for the support substrate. Alternatively, as described in the following paragraphs, permeability may be provided by providing openings extending through the surrounding wall.

[0187] In yet another embodiment of the surrounding walls 910, 910' described with reference to Figures 11 and 12, the surrounding walls do not have a combination of a separate support substrate sheet and an aerosol-forming substrate sheet.

[0188] Figure 11 shows an embodiment of a peripheral wall 910 in which the peripheral wall has a single sheet 911 of aerosol-forming substrate, and is folded along a fold 912 such that a first portion 913 of the aerosol-forming substrate sheet is on top of a second portion 914 of the aerosol-forming substrate sheet. The first and second portions 913, 914 of the aerosol-forming substrate sheet 911 form the first and second halves of the perimeter of the peripheral wall 910, respectively. The single sheet 911 of aerosol-forming substrate is thicker than any of the thicknesses of the aerosol-forming substrate sheets described in relation to the embodiments of Figures 7A-7C, 8A-8C, 9A-9C and 10A-10C, so that the aerosol-forming substrate can bear the desired level of bending stiffness for the aerosol-generating article 910. The cigarette paper wrapper 915 forms the outer surface of the peripheral wall 910.

[0189] The embodiment of the perimeter wall 910' in Figure 12 differs from the embodiment in Figure 11 in the configuration of the aerosol-forming substrate. More specifically, instead of using a single sheet of aerosol-forming substrate folded along a crease to define the first and second halves of the perimeter of the perimeter wall, the embodiment in Figure 12 uses separate first and second sheets 911', 912' of the aerosol-forming substrate. The first and second sheets 911', 912' of the aerosol-forming substrate are arranged facing each other, and the laterally opposing edges of the first and second sheets align to define the laterally opposing edges 913', 914' of the perimeter wall. The first and second sheets 911', 912' of the aerosol-forming substrate each form the first and second halves of the perimeter of the perimeter wall 910'. The cigarette paper wrapper 915 forms the outer surface of the perimeter wall, as before.

[0190] Figures 13A and 13B illustrate another embodiment of an inflated aerosol-generating article 1000, the article having a peripheral wall 1010 with an axial cross-section lenticular. As shown in Figure 13A, the axially extending portion 1011 of the peripheral wall 1010 of the aerosol-generating article 1000 is provided with a plurality of circular openings 1012 that extend through the thickness of the peripheral wall. The openings 1012 are sometimes called "through holes" because they extend through the thickness of the peripheral wall 1010. The peripheral wall 1010 of the aerosol-generating article 1000 is formed of a support substrate material and may optionally include a cigarette paper wrapper positioned outside the support substrate. Cardboard is an example of a suitable material for use in forming the support substrate of the peripheral wall 1010. As shown in Figure 13B, a band 1013 of the aerosol-forming substrate is fitted in a sleeve-like manner around the peripheral wall 1010 and covers the plurality of openings 1012 formed in the axially extending portion 1011 of the peripheral wall. The aerosol-forming substrate band 1013 has an axial length slightly longer than the length of the axially extending portion 1011 of the surrounding wall 1010 where the opening 1012 is defined. The aerosol-forming substrate band 1013 may be formed as a single sheet of aerosol-forming substrate wound along the perimeter of the surrounding wall 1010. Alternatively, a first sheet of aerosol-forming substrate may be placed over the opening 1012 defined in the upper convex portion 1014 of the surrounding wall 1010, and a second sheet of aerosol-forming substrate may be superimposed over the opening defined in the lower convex portion 1015 of the surrounding wall. When sufficient heat is applied to the aerosol-forming substrate band 1013 and volatile compounds are generated from the aerosol-forming substrate to form vapor, the opening 1012 in the axially extending portion 1011 of the surrounding wall 1010 allows the vapor to enter the internal space of the aerosol-generating article 1000 surrounded by the surrounding wall. The band 1013 and opening 1012 of the aerosol-forming substrate are positioned closer to the first end 1001 of the aerosol-generating article 1000 than to the second (or mouth-side) end 1002 of the aerosol-generating article 1000. In the embodiment of Figure 13A, the opening 1012 defined in the axially extending portion 1011 of the surrounding wall 1010 is shown as circular, but other shapes may be used as long as the opening allows vapor to flow through the opening over the entire thickness of the surrounding wall 1010.

[0191] Any particular embodiment of an aerosol-generating article described herein may include one or more end flaps configured to at least partially cover the edges of the aerosol-generating article. Exemplary embodiments of such aerosol-generating articles are described with reference to Figures 14-24. Figures 14-18 illustrate the protrusions of the aerosol-generating article 1100 when configured in a contracted or flattened state. Figure 19 illustrates the article 1100 transitioning between a contracted state and an inflated or expanded state. Figures 20-24 illustrate the protrusions of the article 1100 in its inflated or expanded state.

[0192] Article 1100 is configured to deform for use from a first state, which is contracted or flattened, to a second state, which is expanded or enlarged. In the first contracted state illustrated in Figures 14–18, article 1100 is substantially two-dimensional. The aerosol-generating article 1100 extends along its long axis between a first end 1101 and a second end 1102. In other embodiments of the aerosol-generating article described above, the second end 1102 may be referred to as the proximal end or oral end.

[0193] Article 1100 comprises a substantially flat upper surface 1110 having a length L substantially extending between a first end 1101 and a second end 1102, and a width W extending between a first edge 1103 and a second edge 1104 facing each other laterally. In certain embodiments, the length may be 20 mm to 100 mm, for example, about 45 mm. In certain embodiments, the width may be 10 mm to 20 mm, for example, about 15 mm.

[0194] Article 1100 has a substantially flat lower surface 1111 opposite the upper surface 1110. The lower surface 1111 is identical to the upper surface 1110. The surface extends between the upper surface 1110 and the lower surface 1111. In the contracted state, the height (or thickness) of article 1100 is defined by the thickness t of the material forming the surrounding wall 1120 of article 1100. For example, the height (or thickness) of the article in its contracted state may be between 0.5 mm and 2.5 mm, for example, about 1 mm.

[0195] The upper flap 1130 is positioned at the second (or mouth) end 1102 of the upper surface 1110 of the article 1100. The upper flap 1130 is defined by an upper flap front edge 1131 having a convex curve shape extending toward the second end 1102, and an upper flap fold 1132 defined by a concave fold line of the upper surface 1110. The shape of the upper flap fold 1132 reflects the shape of the upper flap front edge 1131, and the shape of the upper flap 1130 is mainly lenticular, i.e., like a biconvex lens.

[0196] Multiple upper flap through-holes 1135 are defined through the thickness of the upper flap 1130. The upper flap through-holes 1135 are configured to provide airflow paths through the flap 1130 and to provide a filtering effect to prevent large material particles from being inhaled when the user sucks on the article 1100. The holes 1135 may have any preferred dimensions to provide airflow paths. The dimensions of each through-hole 1135 may depend on the total number of through-holes present. In a particular embodiment, there may be, for example, 1 to 50 through-holes 1135, for example, 3 to 10 through-holes, for example, about 7 through-holes. The diameter of these through-holes 1135 may be 0.1 mm to 1 mm, for example, 0.2 mm to 0.5 mm.

[0197] The lower flap 1140 is positioned at the second (or mouth) end 1102 of the lower surface 1111 of the article 1100. The lower flap 1140 is defined by a lower flap leading edge 1141 shaped as a convex curve extending toward the second end 1102, and a lower flap fold 1142 defined by a concave fold line of the lower surface 1111. The lower flap 1140 is also provided with a plurality of lower flap through-holes 1145, which are substantially the same as the upper flap through-holes 1135 described above.

[0198] The article 1100 in this particular embodiment is essentially in the form of a tube of material defined by a surrounding wall 1120, with upper and lower flaps 1130, 1140 defined at the second end 1102 of the article. In the contracted state, the tube is a flattened tube, and the upper and lower inner surfaces 1121, 1122 of the surrounding wall 1120 are in contact with each other. The surrounding wall 1120 may be any preferred material (as described, for example, in any of the embodiments above) and may include an aerosol-forming material. For example, the surrounding wall 1120 may be formed from a laminated material having an outer portion formed from paper or cardboard and an inner portion formed from an aerosol-forming material, such as homogenized tobacco material. The surrounding wall 1120 may be formed from a wrapper, such as a plurality of components assembled within a cigarette paper.

[0199] To transition article 1100 from a first contracted state to a second expanded state, the user applies pressure to the laterally opposing first and second edges 1103, 1104 (as illustrated by the arrows in Figure 19), moving these edges closer together. The upper and lower surfaces 1110 and 1111 curve outward, increasing the thickness or height of the aerosol-generating article 1100, thereby opening the channel 1150 between the upper inner surface 1121 and the lower inner surface 1122 of the surrounding wall 1120. The user then folds the lower flap 1140 upward along the lower flap fold 1142 and the upper flap 1130 downward along the upper flap fold 1132. The curved folds 1132, 1142 associated with each flap 1130, 1140 help to effectively secure each flap in place when the flap is folded, preventing the article 1100 from returning to its contracted first state.

[0200] Figures 20-24 illustrate the article 1100 in its expanded second state. Here, the channel 1150 is defined by the surrounding wall 1120. This channel 1150 forms an airflow path that extends along the long axis through the article 1100 between the first end 1101 and the second end 1102. The upper and lower sides 1110, 1111 are curved outward, and the thickness or height of the article 1100 is increased compared to the contracted first state. The height or thickness of the article 1100 may be, for example, 4mm to 10mm, for example, 5mm to 8mm, for example, about 6mm.

[0201] The upper and lower flaps 1130, 1140 are folded at the second (or mouth-side) end 1102 to cover the opening to the channel 1150. In the plan view, the second end 1102 shows a concave shape along the upper and lower flap folds 1132, 1142. The end projection from the second end 1102 in Figure 23 shows a lenticular cross-section of the article 1100, with the through channel 1150 covered by the upper and lower flaps 1130, 1140.

[0202] As described in other embodiments of the aerosol-generating article, the user transitions the article 1100 from its contracted first state to its expanded second state. The distal end 1101 of the article 1100 can then be engaged with the aerosol-forming device to heat the aerosol-forming substrate of the article. The user can inhale the aerosol generated by heating the aerosol-forming substrate by sucking with the second (or mouth-side) end 1102 of the article 1100. The flaps 1130, 1140 help to resist pressure from the user's lips, thereby helping to maintain the article 1100 in its expanded state.

[0203] Figures 25-28 illustrate another embodiment of the aerosol generating article 2100, which has foldable end flaps. Article 2100 is similar to article 1100 described above, except that both the first end 2101 and the second (or mouth-side) end 2102 of article 2100 are closed by foldable flaps 2160, 2130. The flap 2130 at the second end 2102 includes a plurality of through-holes 2135 sized to act as filter holes to prevent the user from inhaling solid particulate matter. The flap 2160 at the first end 2101 defines a plurality of inlet holes 2165 to allow air to flow into article 2100. The inlet holes 2165 may have larger dimensions than the through-holes 2135 at the second end 2102.

[0204] Article 2100 transitions from the first contracted state to the second expanded state in the same manner as described above, except that the user folds flaps at both ends of the article. Another flap 2160 located distal to or at the first end 2101 of article 2100 can provide the article with additional structural rigidity during use.

[0205] Figure 29 is a plan view showing a material sheet 3000 that can be used as a template for forming the surrounding walls of aerosol-generating articles, for example, the surrounding walls of aerosol-generating articles 1100, 2100 in embodiments shown in Figures 14-24 and 25-28, respectively. The material sheet 3000 has a "pillow box" shaped contour. The material sheet 3000 may be provided in a planar form having first and second parts 3100, 3200 separated by linear fold lines 3300. Concave fold lines 3101, 3102 are provided close to both ends of the first part 3100. The fold lines 3101, 3102 are similar in shape to the convex free ends 3103, 3104 at both ends of the first part 3100. Similarly, concave fold lines 3201, 3202 are provided close to both ends of the second part 3200. Fold lines 3201 and 3202 are similar in shape to the convex free ends 3203 and 3204 at both ends of the second section 3200. In the first section 3100 of sheet 3000, the first flap 3111 is defined by a concave fold line 3101 and a convex free end 3103, and the second flap 3112 is defined by a concave fold line 3102 and a convex free end 3104. In the second section 3200 of sheet 3000, the first flap 3211 is defined by a concave fold line 3201 and a convex free end 3203, and the second flap 3212 is defined by a concave fold line 3202 and a convex free end 3204. Tabs 3400 are defined along the side of the second portion 3200, and the tabs are defined by a straight fold line 3401 and a free side end 3402 of the second portion. Cutouts 3500 are defined on flaps 3111 and 3112, respectively, and the cutouts are formed on convex free ends 3103 and 3104. The "pillow box" shaped sheet material 3000 can be deformed into a perimeter wall by folding the first portion 3100 above the second portion 3200 along the fold line 3300. Tabs 3400 can be positioned through corresponding slots (not shown) provided in the first portion 3100 of the sheet 3000, thereby helping to fix the corresponding free side ends of the first and second portions 3100 and 3200 together to form a perimeter wall.Alternatively, or further, the tab 3400 of the second portion 3200 can be fixed to the first portion 3100 using an adhesive. The surrounding wall may initially have a flattened shape with a contracted axial cross-section, as shown in Figures 17 and 18. However, the surrounding wall can then be deformed into an inflated or expanded state in the same manner as described in the embodiments of Figures 14-24 and 25-28, and the flaps 3111, 3112, 3211, 3212 may be folded along their respective fold lines to at least partially cover the openings defined at both ends of the surrounding wall. The folded flaps 3111, 3112, 3211, 3212 can help maintain the surrounding wall in its inflated or expanded state.

[0206] Figure 30 shows a schematic perspective view of the aerosol-generating article 4000. Figure 31 shows an exploded stereoscopic view of the components of the aerosol-generating article 4000 of Figure 30. The aerosol-generating article 4000 has a frame 4100. The frame 4100 is made of cardboard. In another embodiment, the frame 4100 may be made of cardboard, thick cardboard, or other sustainable material. The frame 4100 surrounds the cavity 4101. A cutout 4102 is defined through the upper surface 4103 of the frame 4100. The cutout 4102 defines a window above the cavity 4101. A corresponding cutout 4104 is formed through the lower surface 4105 of the frame 4100. Although only a portion of the contour of the cutout 4104 is shown in Figure 31, the cutout 4104 on the lower surface 4105 is a mirror image of the cutout 4102 on the upper surface 4103. The upper surface 4103 and the lower surface 4105 of the frame 4100 each define outwardly convex surfaces. The opposing longitudinal edges of the upper and lower convex surfaces 4103 and 4105 approach each other and meet, thereby giving the aerosol generating article 4000 a substantially lenticular cross-sectional shape. The frame 4100 also has end walls 4106 and 4107 defined by first and second 4108 and 4109 that are opposite in the axial direction of the frame. An air intake 4110 is defined through the end wall 4106, and an air intake 4111 is defined through the end wall 4107.

[0207] Upper and lower layers 4201 and 4202, formed from a paper material approximately 60 microns thick, are bonded to the upper and lower surfaces 4103 and 4105 of the frame 4100, respectively. In another embodiment, cardboard, thick paper, or another sustainable material may be used for the upper and lower layers 4201 and 4202. The upper and lower layers 4201 and 4202 can be bonded to the respective surfaces 4103 and 4105 of the frame 4100 using adhesive. The upper layer 4201 covers and seals the cutout 4102 defined on the upper surface 4103. The lower layer 4202 covers and seals the cutout 4104 defined on the lower surface 4105. As is evident from Figure 31, the upper layer 4201 is physically and structurally different from the lower layer 4202.

[0208] At least a portion of the aerosol-forming substrate 4300 is placed within the cavity 4101. The aerosol-forming substrate 4300 is in the form of an aerosol-forming body, such as a homogenized tobacco body containing glycerin. However, in another embodiment, the aerosol-forming substrate 4300 may be in the form of a tobacco cut filler.

[0209] Figures 30 and 31 show arrows illustrating how the air intake 4110 and air exhaust 4111 define the airflow paths into, through, and out of the cavity 4101 of the aerosol generating article 4000.

[0210] The aerosol-generating article has an axial length of approximately 30 mm (extending in the x-direction), a width of approximately 10 mm (extending in the y-direction), and a thickness or height of approximately 3 mm (extending in the z-direction).

[0211] During use, heat applied to one or both of the upper and lower surfaces 4201, 4202 of the aerosol-generating article 4000 may act to vaporize volatile compounds from a portion of the aerosol-forming substrate 4300. Applying a suction force to the air outlet 4112 generates an airflow into the cavity 4101 through the air intake 4110. The vaporized volatile compounds are taken into the airflow, and as the taken-in air continues to flow through the cavity 4101 towards the air outlet 4111, it condenses to form an aerosol. The aerosol is then discharged from the aerosol-generating article 4000 through the air outlet 4111 for subsequent inhalation by the user.

[0212] Figure 32 is an exploded stereoscopic view of the components of the first variant of the aerosol-generating articles of Figures 30 and 31. Features common to the aerosol-generating articles of Figures 30 and 31 are indicated by similar reference numerals, but starting with the numeral 5 instead of 4. The aerosol-generating article 5000 of Figure 32 differs from the aerosol-generating articles 4000 of Figures 30 and 31 in that there is no aerosol-forming substrate at all in the cavity 5101. Another difference is that the upper layer 5201 and lower layer 5202 are formed from an aerosol-forming substrate, such as a homogenized tobacco sheet. When heat is applied to one or both of the upper layer 5201 and lower layer 5202 of article 5000, volatile compounds are vaporized from the aerosol-forming substrate of the upper and lower layers in the cavity, as the upper and lower layers are positioned on cutouts 5102, 5104 of the upper and lower sides 5103, 5105 of the frame 5100. Similar to the aerosol-generating article 4000 in Figures 30 and 31, the vaporized volatile compounds are taken into the airflow passing through the cavity between the air intake 5110 and the air outlet 5111. The taken-in airflow is cooled and condensed as it passes through the cavity 5101 to form an aerosol, which is then discharged from the aerosol-generating article 5000 through the air outlet 5111 for subsequent inhalation by the user.

[0213] Figure 33 is a plan view showing a material sheet 6000 that can be used as a template for forming the frames of the aerosol generating articles of Figures 30 to 32, for example, the frames 4100, 5100 of the aerosol generating articles 4000, 5000. The material sheet 6000 has a "pillow box" shaped contour. The material sheet 6000 may be provided in a planar form having first and second parts 6100, 6200 separated by linear fold lines 6300. Concave fold lines 6101, 6102 are provided close to both ends of the first part 6100. The fold lines 6101, 6102 are similar in shape to the convex free ends 6103, 6104 at both ends of the first part 6100. Similarly, concave fold lines 6201, 6202 are provided close to both ends of the second part 6200. Fold lines 6201 and 6202 are similar in shape to the convex free ends 6203 and 6204 at both ends of the second section 6200.

[0214] In the first portion 6100 of the sheet 6000, the first flap 6111 is defined by a concave fold line 6101 and a convex free end 6103, and the second flap 6112 is defined by a concave fold line 6102 and a convex free end 6104. The first and second flaps 6111 and 6112 are located at both axial ends of the first portion 6100 of the material sheet 6000. An opening 6113 is formed through the first flap 6111 of the first portion 6100. An opening 6114 is formed through the second flap 6112 of the first portion 6100.

[0215] In the second portion 6200 of sheet 6000, the first flap 6211 is defined by a concave fold line 6201 and a convex free end 6203, and the second flap 6212 is defined by a concave fold line 6202 and a convex free end 6204. The first and second flaps 6211 and 6212 are located at both axial ends of the second portion 6200 of the material sheet 6000. An opening 6215 is formed through the first flap 6211 of the second portion 6200. An opening 6216 is formed through the second flap 6212 of the second portion 6200.

[0216] The tab 6400 is defined along the side of the second portion 6200, and the tab is defined by a straight fold line 6401 and a free side end 6402 of the second portion.

[0217] The "pillow box" shaped material sheet 6000 can be transformed into a frame, similar to the frames 4100, 5100 of the aerosol generating articles 4000, 5000 in Figures 30-32, by folding the first portion 6100 of the sheet 6000 onto the second portion 6200 of the sheet 6000 along the fold line 6300. The tabs 6400 may be positioned through corresponding slots (not shown) provided in the first portion 6100 of the sheet 6000, thereby securing the corresponding free side ends of the first and second portions 6100, 6200 to each other and thus helping to define the upper and lower sides of the frame. Alternatively, the tabs 6400 of the second portion 6200 may be secured to the first portion 6100 using adhesive.

[0218] The area of ​​the first portion 6100 between fold lines 6101 and 6102 can form the upper side of the frame, for example, the upper side 4103 of frame 4100 or the upper side 5103 of frame 5100. The area of ​​the second portion 6200 between fold lines 6201 and 6202 can form the lower side of the frame, for example, the lower side 4105 of frame 4100 or the lower side 5105 of frame 5100.

[0219] When the first portion 6100 and the second portion 6200 are joined together via the fold lines 6300 and tabs 6400, the laterally opposing edges of the frame are lightly compressed together, deforming the frame into an inflated lens shape with openings defined at both axial ends of the frame. The flaps 6111, 6112, 6211, and 6212 are then folded along their respective fold lines to at least partially cover the axial openings of the frame. The openings 6113 and 6115 are centered on the respective flaps 6111 and 6211, so that when the flaps 6111 and 6211 are folded along their fold lines, the openings align with each other to define either an air intake or an air exhaust of the frame, for example, defining one of the air intakes 4110, 5110 and air exhausts 4111, 5111 of the aerosol generating articles 4000 and 5000 in Figures 30-32. Similarly, the openings 6214 and 6216 are positioned in the center of their respective flaps 6112 and 6212, so that when the flaps 6112 and 6212 are folded along their fold lines, the openings align with each other to define one of the other air intakes or air exhausts of the frame, for example, defining one of the air intakes 4110 and 5110 and air exhausts 4111 and 5111 of the aerosol generating articles 4000 and 5000 in Figures 30-32. The folded flaps 6111, 6112, 6211, and 6212 can help maintain the frame in an inflated, lenticular state. The folded flaps 6111, 6112, 6211, and 6212 can be fixed in place using adhesive. By joining the folded flaps 6111, 6112, 6211, and 6212 in place, it is also possible to easily avoid or reduce unwanted air leakage around the edges of the flaps to the inside and outside of the cavity defined by the frame.

[0220] In another embodiment (not shown), the frame of the aerosol-generating article of the present disclosure may consist of a plurality of planar layers of sheet material stacked in the z direction and continuously overlapping each other. Adhesives can be used to join adjacent layers together. The layers of sheet material may be formed of paper, cardboard, cardboard, or other suitable sustainable materials.

[0221] In another embodiment (not shown), the frame of the aerosol-generating article of the present disclosure may be formed from a single, one-piece block of material. Cavities may be formed by punching out portions of the material from the block of material. The block of material may be made of paper, cardboard, cardboard, or other suitable sustainable material.

[0222] Figure 34 is a schematic exploded perspective view of the components of a second modified example of the aerosol generating article of Figures 30 and 31. Features common to the aerosol generating article of Figures 30 and 31 are indicated by similar reference numerals, but starting with the numeral 7 instead of 4. The aerosol generating article 7000 of Figure 34 differs from the aerosol generating article 4000 of Figures 30 and 31 in that the frame 7100 has laterally opposed planar side walls 7113, 7114 that separate the upper side 7103 of the frame from the lower side 7105 of the frame.

[0223] Figure 35 is a schematic exploded perspective view of the components of a third variation of the aerosol-generating articles of Figures 30 and 31. Features common to the aerosol-generating articles of Figures 30 and 31 are indicated by similar reference numerals, but begin with the numeral 8 instead of 4. The aerosol-generating article 8000 of Figure 35 differs from the aerosol-generating articles 4000 of Figures 30 and 31 in that the frame 8100 is formed from a single block of cardboard from which a portion of the cardboard has been removed to define a cavity 8101. Another difference is that the cavity 8101 is defined by a single cutout that penetrates the height of the frame 8100 and extends in the z direction. Upper and lower layers 8201, 8202, formed from a paper material approximately 60 microns thick, are joined to the upper and lower sides 8103, 8105 of the frame 8100, respectively, similar to the upper and lower layers 4201, 4202 of the article 4000 of Figures 30-31.

[0224] For the purposes of this specification and the appended claims, unless otherwise indicated, all numbers representing amounts, quantities, percentages, etc., are understood to be modified in all cases by the term “approximately.” Furthermore, all ranges include the disclosed maximum and minimum points and any intermediate ranges within that range, which may or may not be specifically listed herein. Thus, in this context, the number “A” is understood as 10% of “A” ± “A.” In this context, the number “A” may be considered to include a number that falls within the general standard error of the measurement of the characteristic that the number “A” modifies. In some cases, such as those used in the appended claims, the number “A” may deviate by the percentages listed above, provided that the amount by which “A” deviates does not substantially affect the fundamental and novel characteristics of the claimed invention. Furthermore, all ranges include the disclosed maximum and minimum points and any intermediate ranges within that range, which may or may not be specifically listed herein.

Claims

1. An aerosol generating article extending in the longitudinal direction between opposing first and second ends, wherein the aerosol generating article comprises a peripheral wall, the peripheral wall being lenticular in its axial cross-section, the peripheral wall comprising opposing first and second convex portions, the ends of the first convex portion meeting with the corresponding ends of the second convex portion to define a pair of laterally opposing edges of the peripheral wall, and an acute angle being defined between the outer surface of the first convex portion and the outer surface of the second convex portion where the ends of the first and second convex portions meet.

2. The aerosol generating article according to claim 1, wherein the surrounding wall is deformable in an axial cross-section and is configured to expand from a contracted first state to an expanded second state, and in the expanded second state, the surrounding wall surrounds a hollow tubular cavity.

3. The aerosol generating article according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the surrounding wall includes a pair of folds, and the pair of folds define a pair of laterally opposing edges of the surrounding wall.

4. The aerosol generating article according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein at the position of each of the pair of laterally opposing edges of the surrounding wall, the acute angle at which the ends of the first and second convex portions meet, between the first tangent to the outer surface of the first convex portion and the second tangent to the outer surface of the second convex portion, is within the range of 15 to 110 degrees, or 15 to 90 degrees, or 15 to 75 degrees, or 15 to 65 degrees, or 15 to 55 degrees, or 15 to 45 degrees, or 15 to 35 degrees, or 15 to 25 degrees.

5. The aerosol generating article according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein, at an intermediate position between the pair of laterally opposing edges of the surrounding wall, the radius of curvature of the inner surfaces of the first and second convex portions is 100 mm to 500 mm.

6. The aerosol generating article according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the aerosol generating article has a width of 20 mm or less, and preferably the width of the aerosol generating article is in the range of 14 mm to 20 mm.

7. The aerosol generating article according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the aerosol generating article has a thickness of 8 mm or less, and preferably the thickness of the aerosol generating article is in the range of 3 mm to 8 mm, 3 mm to 6 mm, or 3 mm to 5 mm.

8. The aerosol generating article according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising at least one flap positioned at one of the first end and the second end, wherein the at least one flap is folded so as to overlap at least a portion of the end on which the flap is positioned.

9. The aerosol generating article according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the surrounding wall comprises at least one sheet of a support substrate, a fold is defined in the at least one sheet of the support substrate to define a folded sheet of the support substrate, a first portion of the folded sheet of the support substrate folded along the fold defines a closed path corresponding to the surrounding wall, preferably the first portion of the folded sheet of the support substrate extends over a first half of the perimeter of the surrounding wall, and the second portion of the folded sheet of the support substrate extends over a second half of the perimeter of the surrounding wall.

10. The aerosol generating article according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the surrounding wall comprises at least one sheet of a support base, the at least one sheet of the support base includes a first sheet of the support base and a second sheet of the support base disposed opposite each other, the laterally opposite edges of the first sheet of the support base and the laterally opposite edges of the second sheet of the support base are aligned with each other to define a laterally opposite edge of the surrounding wall, the first and second sheets of the support base define a closed path corresponding to the surrounding wall, preferably the first sheet of the support base extends over a first half of the perimeter of the surrounding wall, and the second sheet of the support base extends over a second half of the perimeter of the surrounding wall.

11. The aerosol generating article according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the surrounding wall comprises at least one sheet of an aerosol-forming substrate, a fold is defined in the at least one sheet of the aerosol-forming substrate to define a folded sheet of the aerosol-forming substrate, a first portion of the folded sheet of the aerosol-forming substrate folded along the fold defines a closed path corresponding to the surrounding wall, preferably the first portion of the folded sheet of the aerosol-forming substrate extends over a first half of the perimeter of the surrounding wall, and the second portion of the folded sheet of the aerosol-forming substrate extends over a second half of the perimeter of the surrounding wall.

12. The aerosol generating article according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the surrounding wall comprises at least one sheet of an aerosol-forming substrate, the at least one sheet of the aerosol-forming substrate includes a first sheet of the aerosol-forming substrate and a second sheet of the aerosol-forming substrate arranged opposite to each other, the laterally opposite edges of the first sheet of the aerosol-forming substrate and the laterally opposite edges of the second sheet of the aerosol-forming substrate are aligned with each other to define a laterally opposite edge of the surrounding wall, the first and second sheets of the aerosol-forming substrate define a closed path corresponding to the surrounding wall, preferably the first sheet of the aerosol-forming substrate extends over a first half of the perimeter of the surrounding wall, and the second sheet of the aerosol-forming substrate extends over a second half of the perimeter of the surrounding wall.

13. The aerosol generating article according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the surrounding wall is provided with a support base material, and at least a portion of the axial length of the surrounding wall is configured to be permeable to air, and the arrangement of one or more sheets of aerosol forming substrate is arranged to radially surround the permeable portion of the axial length of the surrounding wall.

14. The aerosol-generating article is The upper layer and, Lower layer and, A frame disposed between the upper layer and the lower layer, wherein the frame at least partially defines and surrounds the cavity, Aerosol-forming substrate and, An aerosol generating article, for example, the aerosol generating article according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the upper layer is connected to the upper side surface of the frame, the lower layer is connected to the lower side surface of the frame, and the upper and lower sides of the frame are convex outward.

15. It is a package, Multiple aerosol-generating articles, for example, an aerosol-generating article described in any one of claims 1 to 14, The system comprises a container that contains the plurality of aerosol-generating articles, A package in which each of the aerosol-generating articles extends in the longitudinal direction between the opposing first and second ends of each aerosol-generating article, and the surrounding wall of the aerosol-generating article defines a flattened shape that is contracted in the axial cross-section.

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