Aerosol products

Abstract

The present invention relates to an aerosol product for heating to generate an aerosol, comprising: an aerosol generating portion (11) including an aerosol generating substrate (22); a mouthpiece (13); wrappers (33, 37, 38) for assembling the aerosol generating portion (11) and the mouthpiece (13); a heating element (40) including a conductive heating track (40) configured to heat the aerosol generating portion (11); and a power supply (36) configured to supply power to the heating element (40), wherein the heating element (40) at least partially overlaps the aerosol generating portion (11); and the power supply (36) is positioned between the aerosol generating portion (11) and the mouthpiece (13).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of aerosol-generating articles.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Risk reduction products have become popular alternatives to conventional tobacco products such as cigarettes. In contrast to these conventional products that rely on combustion of tobacco, risk reduction products typically generate vapor or aerosol for inhalation by a user.

[0003] Heated substrate aerosol-generating products, also known as heat-not-burn products, are a type of risk reduction product. In a heated substrate aerosol-generating device, an aerosol-generating article comprising a tobacco substrate together with other suitable aerosolizable materials (e.g., humectants, flavorants) is heated to a temperature that is high enough to generate aerosol from the substrate, but not high enough to cause combustion of the substrate. This aerosol does not contain undesirable by-products that are generated when the material combusts.

[0004] A typical electrically heated substrate aerosol-generating device comprises a heating chamber that defines a cavity adapted to receive an aerosol-generating article, generally in the form of a stick, to be heated. The substrate is heated inside the cavity to generate the desired aerosol and to deliver the aerosol by a puff when a user inhales through the mouth end of the article. After the substrate within the article is exhausted, and / or after a predetermined heating time and / or a predetermined number of puffs controlled by the device, the aerosol-generating article must be removed and replaced with a new stick. Heated substrate aerosol-generating devices are usually formed in a relatively compact structure so as to provide handheld devices that are convenient for storage and portability.

[0005] Generally, an aerosol product comprises a tobacco portion (or other aerosol-generating segment), a cooling or spacing portion, and a mouthpiece.

[0006] To ensure a satisfying vaping experience for the user, it is advantageous to generate a sufficient amount of aerosol quickly and consistently throughout the entire vaping session.

[0007] Aerosol generation devices are known that include a thin-film heater surrounding a receiving cavity ("oven") for heating aerosol generation.

[0008] However, this technology may have several drawbacks, such as a long warm-up time, insufficient aerosol production, inconsistent aerosol delivery, or residue buildup in the oven.

[0009] This technology may also have several other drawbacks, such as the use of a rechargeable aerosol generating device, including the device housing, electronics, and the rechargeable battery of the device itself.

[0010] According to several other prior art documents, such as International Publication No. WO2019206337A1, Korean Patent No. 101995792B1, or Chinese Utility Model No. 20976900U, smoking devices are known that associate a rechargeable aerosol generating device (equipped with its own rechargeable battery) with an aerosol generating consumable. The rechargeable aerosol generating device presents an oven cavity that accepts a fully passive aerosol generating consumable article containing its own heating element, but still requires a rechargeable power source that remains within the rechargeable aerosol generating device. [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0011] The object of the present invention is to mitigate, at least partially, the aforementioned drawbacks.

[0012] More specifically, the present invention aims to provide a simple heating structure that allows a section of a non-combustible consumable component containing a flavoring agent to be heated fairly uniformly and efficiently in order to release the flavor in a manner satisfactory to the user, while avoiding combustion of the non-combustible consumable component as much as possible from the standpoint of the user's health, and does not require a rechargeable aerosol generating device that receives aerosol products into the oven cavity.

[0013] The aerosol generating consumable article according to the present invention includes both a heating layer for the aerosol generating portion and a power supply for supplying power to this heating layer, and is completely self-contained, eliminating the need for a conventional aerosol generating device for inserting a conventional aerosol product into a cavity.

[0014] Therefore, according to one principle of the present invention, a conductive heating track is mounted next to the aerosol substrate of the aerosol product, and this heating track is heated by a power supply itself mounted within the aerosol generating consumable article itself. The power supply can directly supply current along the path of the heating track without needing to be powered by a generator which would belong to a rechargeable aerosol generating device, if any, and be outside the aerosol product, and this heating track behaves like an electrical circuit, preferably like an electrical resistor.

[0015] The power source contained within the aerosol product may be, for example, either a voltage source or a current source. [Means for solving the problem]

[0016] This objective is achieved using an aerosol product for heating to generate an aerosol, comprising an aerosol generating section including an aerosol generating substrate, a mouthpiece, a wrapper for assembling the aerosol generating section and the mouthpiece, a heating element including a conductive heating track configured to heat the aerosol generating section, and a power supply configured to power the heating element, wherein the heating element at least partially overlaps the aerosol generating section, and the power supply is positioned between the aerosol generating section and the mouthpiece.

[0017] According to embodiments of the present invention, the heater is kept closer to the aerosol-generating substrate to avoid heat loss, improve energy efficiency, and enhance the flavor of the aerosol flavoring during the user's vaping experience.

[0018] According to embodiments of the present invention, improved energy efficiency can lead to a reduction in the size of the power source contained within the aerosol product, and thus contribute to promoting miniaturization of the aerosol product, which no longer requires a rechargeable aerosol generating device.

[0019] According to embodiments of the present invention, the heating element extends longitudinally with the same length as the aerosol generating portion, thereby completely overlapping and surrounding the aerosol generating portion. Alternatively, the heating element may be located inside the aerosol generating portion.

[0020] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the power source is arranged between the aerosol generating portion and the mouthpiece, preferably by surrounding an element located between the aerosol generating portion and the mouthpiece and by being disposed longitudinally between the aerosol generating portion and the mouthpiece, and the aforementioned element, which is still preferably a cooling portion, preferably comprises a hollow tube. Therefore, the power source is protected by the cooling portion from the aerosol generated at high temperature. Alternatively, the power source may be arranged inside the hollow tube constituting the cooling portion, preferably in an annular configuration inside the hollow tube, so as to leave a hollow channel within the hollow tube such that the generated aerosol passes through the cooling portion.

[0021] Preferred embodiments include one or more of the following features, which may be interpreted separately or together in either partial or complete combination with any of the aforementioned objects of the present invention.

[0022] Preferably, the power source is a battery or cell configured in the form of a tubular element.

[0023] Accordingly, the aerosol-generating article is more compact.

[0024] Advantageously, this tubular battery or cell is a flexible battery or cell that is rolled or wound into a tubular shape. Alternatively, this tubular battery or cell may be rigid and have a fixed tubular shape.

[0025] Preferably, the power source is surrounded by a wrapper, preferably made of paper, for enclosing the aerosol-generating portion, the heating element, and the mouthpiece.

[0026] Accordingly, the aerosol-generating article is more robust, and the power source is radially sandwiched between the inner cylindrical portion and the outer tubular portion of the aerosol-generating article.

[0027] Advantageously, the power source is fixedly attached to the wrapper and permanently connected to the heating element. Accordingly, the power source is completely disposable and single-use, so as to last just long enough to heat the contents of a single aerosol-generating article, which is preferably a single stick, advantageously a single tobacco stick. As a result, the power source is highly miniaturized and easier to implement within the aerosol-generating consumable article.

[0028] Preferably, the power source is removably attached to the wrapper and connectable to the heating element. Such a connection can be made, for example, by piercing pins that pierce the wrapper to connect the heating element. Alternatively, such a connection can also be achieved, for example, by the heating element providing an external connector that traverses the wrapper.

[0029] Accordingly, in that case, the power source is not fully disposable, and may be usable a limited number of times so as to last just long enough to heat the contents of a limited number of aerosol-generating articles, preferably 2 to 30, or 3 to 20, or 5 to 10. This power source is not exhausted after the first aerosol-generating article is used, and retains sufficient power to be reused for other aerosol-generating articles. Advantageously, the power source is still disposable, but temporarily reusable for a limited number of aerosol-generating articles, and can be used for a wide number of aerosol-generating articles in the range of 2 to 30, more advantageously in the range of 3 to 20, even more advantageously in the range of 5 to 10.

[0030] Preferably, the aerosol-generating article comprises a cooling section that extends longitudinally and is disposed between the aerosol-generating portion and the mouthpiece, and the power source at least partially overlaps this cooling section.

[0031] Therefore, the power supply is positioned in an intermediate location, neither too close to the mouthpiece to avoid the aerosol product being too close to the user's mouth, nor too close to the aerosol generating part to avoid the hottest part of the aerosol product.

[0032] Preferably, the cooling section includes or is a hollow tube, and the wrapper surrounds the power supply and secures the power supply on the hollow tube. The cooling section may include a ventilation area formed, for example, by one or more rows of perforations passing through the hollow tube. The ventilation area may be located upstream or downstream of the power supply. The ventilation area can dilute the aerosol with air at a desired ventilation ratio (e.g., 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, or 60%) and can also contribute to cooling the power supply.

[0033] Preferably, the power supply is a constant voltage power supply having a rated voltage in the range of 2 volts to 5 volts, preferably in the range of 2.5 volts to 4 volts.

[0034] This low voltage range provides sufficient energy to power the heating track while keeping the power supply small and lightweight.

[0035] Preferably, the conductive heating track is capable of heating by resistance and is configured to resistively heat the aerosol generation portion.

[0036] This leads to a simple heating structure, which allows for fairly uniform and efficient heating of sections of non-combustible consumable parts containing flavorings, thereby releasing flavor in a way that is satisfactory to the user, while minimizing the risk of burns to the user.

[0037] Therefore, a conductive heating track is mounted next to the aerosol substrate of the aerosol product, and this heating track is heated by a resistive effect when it receives power from the power supply of the aerosol generating device. The power supply can supply current along the path of the heating track, which behaves like an electrical resistor powered by a generator, such as either a voltage source or a current source.

[0038] Therefore, by eliminating the gap that normally exists between the aerosol product and the inner wall of the heating chamber of the aerosol generation device, and by avoiding the need for heat to pass through the wrapper of the aerosol product, energy supply becomes more efficient, leading to higher thermal efficiency and lower energy consumption.

[0039] Furthermore, cleaning the heating chamber of the aerosol generation device is no longer a problem.

[0040] Preferably, the heating track is located inside a paper support layer, which is preferably surrounded by a wrapper.

[0041] Therefore, the layer between the aerosol-generating substrate and the heating track is minimized, resulting in a better vaping experience and lower energy consumption.

[0042] Preferably, the heating track extends on the support layer to an electrode connected to a power source or an electrode that can be connected to a power source. This makes the aerosol product more compact.

[0043] Preferably, the heating track is in direct contact with the aerosol-generating substrate or in contact with a rod of the aerosol-generating substrate, which comprises aerosol-generating substrates wrapped in individual wrapping layers.

[0044] Therefore, energy efficiency is improved, resulting in a better vaping experience and lower energy consumption.

[0045] Preferably, the heating track is printed with a conductive ink that preferably contains a metal or carbon-based material, such as reduced graphene oxide.

[0046] The heating track can be advantageously printed by inkjet printing. Alternatively, the heating track can be printed by other techniques such as mask printing. Therefore, the manufacturing process for the heating track and the entire aerosol product becomes simpler.

[0047] Preferably, the thickness of the printed layer on the heating track is about 1 micrometer (μm) or less.

[0048] Advantageously, the thickness of the printed layer of the heating track falls within the range of 0.25 μm to 2 μm, or 0.5 μm to 1.5 μm. Therefore, this very thin thickness of the printed layer of the heating track results in higher linear resistance, and thus higher energy dissipation, which in turn leads to higher energy transfer to the aerosol-generating portion, thereby making the heating of this aerosol-generating portion more efficient.

[0049] Advantageously, the electrodes are made from gold, copper, silver, chromium, or a combination thereof. The heating track is made from a conductive metal, which may be, for example, gold, copper, bronze, silver, a combination thereof, or, for example, reduced graphene oxide. Thus, the resistivity of the heating track and the range in which the electrodes are efficient can be more easily achieved.

[0050] Preferably, the heating track is a completely continuous path without any branching paths. More preferably, the heating track has a winding, continuous path.

[0051] Therefore, a more uniform and higher level of current intensity is present throughout the heating track along this entire continuous path, thereby increasing the energy efficiency of the heating track in transferring energy to the aerosol generation area through the resistive effect.

[0052] Preferably, the heating track extends over at least 50% of the circumference of the aerosol-generating portion, or over at least 75% of the circumference of the aerosol-generating portion, or over at least 90% of the circumference of the aerosol-generating portion. The circumference of the aerosol-generating portion is the value of the circumference of the aerosol-generating portion considered in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generating portion.

[0053] Therefore, the heating of the aerosol generation area due to the resistive effect is further distributed more uniformly by the circulation of current along the heating track.

[0054] Preferably, the heating track comprises straight sections connected to one another by bends, and the heating track comprises at least 60 such bends, or at least 80 such bends, or at least 100 such bends.

[0055] Therefore, the heating of the aerosol-generating portion due to the resistive effect is further uniformly distributed by the circulation of current along a heating track that is more uniformly dispersed across the outer surface of the aerosol-generating substrate.

[0056] Preferably, the heating track includes wires surrounding the heating surface, and any point within such heating surface is located less than 3 mm from the wires of the heating track, or less than 2 mm from the wires of the heating track, or less than 1 mm from the wires of the heating track.

[0057] Therefore, the heating of the aerosol generation area due to the resistive effect is further distributed more uniformly by the circulation of current along the heating track.

[0058] Preferably, the aerosol-generating substrate contains an aerosol-forming agent in an amount of at least 8% by weight on a dry basis, preferably 10% to 35% by weight on a dry basis. This aerosol-generating substrate enables heated non-combustible consumable articles, preferably heated non-combustible sticks, and more preferably heated non-combustible tobacco sticks.

[0059] Advantageously, the aerosol product is a rod-shaped stick.

[0060] Advantageously, the heating tracks are evenly and regularly distributed around the periphery or circumference of the aerosol-generating substrate (i.e., along its outer surface) to heat the aerosol-generating substrate uniformly or more uniformly.

[0061] Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments of the invention, provided as non-limiting examples with reference to the accompanying drawings listed below. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0062] [Figure 1] An example of an aerosol product according to the first embodiment of the present invention, which is heated by a power source contained within the aerosol product without requiring an aerosol generating device, is shown. [Figure 2] Another example of an aerosol product according to a second embodiment of the present invention, which is heated by a power source contained within the aerosol product without requiring an aerosol generating device, is shown. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0063] As used herein, the term "aerosol" may include a substance in which a vaporized material is suspended as one or more solid particles, droplets, or gases. The suspended substance may be present in a gas, including air. In general, an aerosol as used herein refers to or may include vapor. An aerosol may contain one or more components of a vaporized material.

[0064] As used herein, the term “aerosol-forming substrate” may refer to a smokeable material that may include, for example, nicotine or tobacco or other nicotinoid material and an aerosol-forming agent. Tobacco may take the form of various materials such as shredded tobacco, granular tobacco, tobacco leaves, and / or reconstituted tobacco. Suitable aerosol-forming agents include polyols (e.g., sorbitol, glycerol, and glycols such as propylene glycol or triethylene glycol), non-polyols (e.g., monohydric alcohols, acids such as lactic acid, glycerol derivatives, esters such as triacetin, triethylene glycol diacetate, triethyl citrate, glycerin, or vegetable glycerin). In some embodiments, the aerosol-forming agent may be glycerol, propylene glycol, or a mixture of glycerol and propylene glycol. The aerosol-forming agent may be present in an amount of 5 to 30% by weight on a dry basis, preferably 10 to 20% by weight on a dry basis. The base material may also contain at least one of the following: a gelling agent, a binder, a stabilizer, and a wetting agent. The base material may also contain non-tobacco flavorings such as menthol, fruit, or spices.

[0065] Figure 1 shows an example of an aerosol product according to the first embodiment of the present invention, which is heated by a power source contained within the aerosol product without requiring an aerosol generating device.

[0066] The aerosol product 10 includes several consecutive longitudinally aligned sections from one end to the other, namely, an aerosol generating section 11, an aerosol cooling section 12, and a mouthpiece 13.

[0067] The aerosol generating portion 11 includes an aerosol generating substrate 22 and a front plug (not shown, but optionally located at the free end of the aerosol generating substrate 22) aligned longitudinally. The aerosol generating substrate 22 is preferably individually wrapped in packaging paper to form a cylindrical cigarette plug 22. For example, the aerosol generating substrate or cigarette rod 22 is formed from a long rod that is wrapped, for example, in standard cigarette paper and cut to an appropriate rod length before being assembled with the front plug. The front plug is optional. Figure 1 shows the aerosol generating substrate 22 without an optional front plug.

[0068] The front plug may be formed from a filter material such as a tow (fiber) of cellulose acetate, a sheet of gathered filter paper, or a nonwoven fabric made of natural cellulose and a binder. The front plug may form a plug of filter material having a tubular or solid structure. The front plug may have various functions, such as controlling resistance to pulling out the article and reducing the ability of the article to burn, in particular the function of holding the aerosol-generating substrate within the rod 22.

[0069] When the aerosol generating substrate 22 is heated, it generates a high-temperature aerosol. The aerosol is carried along with air drawn in from the front plug or the free end of the aerosol generating substrate toward the downstream end of the article.

[0070] The aerosol cooling section 12 comprises a first cooling tube 23 aligned longitudinally with a second cooling tube 24 and a third cooling tube 26. The second cooling tube 24 has an inner diameter smaller than the first cooling tube 23 and smaller than the third cooling tube 26, so as to form a Venturi structure to produce a Venturi effect for the high-temperature aerosol arriving from the aerosol generating substrate 22 through the first cooling tube 23. In an alternative configuration (not shown), the cooling section 12 is formed from a single hollow tubular segment, such as a paper tube. For example, the paper tube may have a basis weight of 80-100 g / m2, e.g., 82 g / m2, a thickness of 80-200 microns, e.g., 100 microns, and a length of 15-25 mm, e.g., 20 mm. The paper tube may have a ventilation region. In addition to the paper tube, the cooling section may further comprise tubular members, such as hollow segment-forming cellulose acetate as described in European Patent No. 3881699, adjacent to the paper tube in the downstream direction. The hollow tubular segments may have a certain inner diameter and / or thickness. Ventilation may be provided in one or both of these cooling tubes. Ventilation may take the form of at least one row of perforations or holes provided through the wrapper and the tube. The first and / or second and / or third cooling tubes 23, 24, 26 may be made from paper, plasticized cellulose acetate or polymer (such as PVA or PLA).

[0071] The mouthpiece 13 includes a filter 25 that filters the generated and cooled aerosol arriving from the third cooling tube 26 before it is exhaled towards the user's mouth. The filter may be formed from a single segment or from multiple segments. The filter may be made from a tow of cellulose acetate, or a sheet of gathered filter paper, or a nonwoven fabric made of natural cellulose and a binder.

[0072] The aerosol cooling section 12 is surrounded by a power supply 36. The power supply may only partially surround the cooling section 12, for example, only cooling segments 23 and 24, and not cooling segment 26. In this case, a ventilation area can be provided in the downstream cooling segment 26. Conversely, the power supply may surround all three cooling segments 23, 24, and 25. This power supply 36 may be surrounded by an optional vapor cooling section wrapper 31.

[0073] The mouthpiece 13 is surrounded by an inner wrapper 32. The dimensions of the inner wrapper 32 may be sized to match the length of the filter 25 or the mouthpiece 13.

[0074] The outer wrapper 33 is configured to simultaneously enclose both the mouthpiece 13 and the aerosol generating section 11, as well as the aerosol cooling section 12. This common wrapper 33 preferably extends along the entire length of the aerosol product 10 and is also wrapped around the power supply 36 and the optional vapor cooling section wrapper 31.

[0075] In possible variants (not shown), the common wrapper 33 may be formed from two separate overlapping sections. For example, the first section of the wrapper 33 connects the aerosol generating section 11 and the aerosol cooling section 12 to form the front subassembly. The second section connects the filter 25, which is wound around the inner wrapper 32, to the front subassembly. The first and second sections overlap to provide the final article.

[0076] The aerosol generating portion 11 is surrounded by a heating wrapper 35. The heating wrapper 35 may wrap both the optional front plug and the aerosol generating substrate 22, or it may wrap only the aerosol generating substrate 22. Inside the heating wrapper 35, a heating track 40 is printed, which extends longitudinally along a length substantially equal to that of the aerosol generating substrate 22. Preferably, the heating track 40 extends along the same length as the aerosol generating substrate 22. The heating track 40 preferably terminates before the optional front plug. Mask printing or inkjet printing can be used to print the heating track 40 on the heating wrapper 35.

[0077] If the front plug is omitted, the aerosol generation section 11 is formed solely by the aerosol generation substrate or the tobacco rod 22. In this case, the heating wrapper 35 can be brought into direct contact with the material of the aerosol generation substrate 22. The packaging paper for the tobacco rod can be omitted.

[0078] Two electrodes 41 and 42, namely the first electrode 41 and the second electrode 42, positioned at each end of the heating track 40, extend longitudinally to contact these electrodes of the power supply 36, either in a permanent manner or by being connectable to the electrodes of the power supply 36. The resistor formed by the heating track 40 is pressed against the aerosol-generating substrate 22.

[0079] The first electrode 41 and the second electrode 42 of the heating track 40 are in contact with the electrical electrodes of the power supply 36, preferably permanently. This creates a closed electrical circuit in which the current arriving from the power supply 36 flows through the first electrode 41, the entire heating track 40, and the second electrode 42, respectively, and returns to the power supply 36.

[0080] The current circulates along the heating track 40, thereby dissipating energy, preferably by resistive or inductive effects, which directly heats the aerosol generating substrate 22 of the aerosol product 10, generating an aerosol for the user that passes through the mouthpiece 13 of the aerosol product 10.

[0081] The power source 36 is a flexible, flat battery or cell 36 that is wrapped around or rolled up around the cooling tubes 23, 24, and 26. The thickness of this flexible, flat battery or cell 36 may be, for example, 0.5 mm to 1 mm. In the case of an aerosol product that is a stick with a diameter of approximately 7.5 mm, this flexible, flat battery or cell 36 is approximately 1200 mm 2 This covers the total area. Increasing the total area covered by this flexible flat battery or cell 36 also increases the capacity of this flexible flat battery or cell 36. A total capacity in the range of 25mAh to 100mAh, preferably in the range of 40mAh to 50mAh, would be sufficient to provide the user with 5 to 20 puffs, or preferably 8 to 10 puffs, using the stick or aerosol product 10.

[0082] A possible solution for operating the power supply 36 is to remove the tape-like object from the stick or aerosol product 10, thereby creating a short circuit between the electrodes 41 and 42 of the heating track 40 and the electrodes of the power supply 36, but other solutions are also available.

[0083] The heating wrapper 35 is surrounded along the entire length of the aerosol product 10 by an outer common wrapper 33 (e.g., an outer paper layer). The heating wrapper 35 is an inner paper layer 32 on which a heating track 40 is provided.

[0084] Advantageously, the basis weight of the inner paper layer 32 is 30-60 g / m². 2It falls within these ranges. When the basis weight of the paper is within these values, it becomes possible to facilitate the manufacturability of aerosol products while also providing the article with sufficient rigidity for proper handling.

[0085] When viewing a cross-section of the fully assembled aerosol product 10, at the level of the aerosol product 22, there are the following layers extending radially from the outside to the inside: a common outer layer 33 which is also the outer paper layer 33, a heating wrapper 35 which is also the inner paper layer 32, a heating track 40, and the outer surface of the aerosol generating substrate 22.

[0086] The heating track 40 is made from a long, continuous path of wire 47, with different parts of the wire 47 separated from each other by electrically insulating spaces 48. The current arriving from electrode 41 circulates sequentially through four subparts 43, 44, 45, and 46 of the heating track 40 before flowing toward electrode 42. Because the wire distribution is very dense, substantially all parts of the outer surface of the aerosol-generating substrate 22 are heated very uniformly. The diameter and resistivity of the wire 47 (for example, by maintaining the same conductive material) are advantageously kept constant throughout the heating track 40, thereby maintaining substantially constant resistance along the heating track 40, and the aerosol-generating substrate 22 is heated more uniformly.

[0087] Thanks to the four subparts 43, 44, 45, and 46 of the heating track 40 extending radially around the entire perimeter of the aerosol-generating substrate 22, the aerosol-generating substrate 22 is heated more uniformly when the heating wrapper 32 is folded around the aerosol-generating substrate 22. The heating track 40 is printed on the inside of the heating wrapper 32. The heating track 40 is in direct contact with the outer surface of the aerosol-generating substrate 22.

[0088] The heating track 40 is a complete, continuous path without any branching paths. The heating track 40 extends radially over at least 90% and approximately 95% of the circumference of the aerosol generating section 11. The heating track 40 comprises straight sections connected to one another by bends, and the heating track comprises at least 100 such bends. The heating track 40 comprises wires 47 surrounding a heating surface 48, such that any point within such a heating surface 48 is located less than approximately 1 mm from the wires 47 of the heating track 40.

[0089] In a further example, the heating track 40 may be printed on a common wrapper 33 in the area of ​​the aerosol-generating substrate 22.

[0090] Figure 2 shows another example of an aerosol product according to a second embodiment of the present invention, which is heated by a power source contained within the aerosol product without requiring an aerosol generating device.

[0091] The aerosol product 10 includes several consecutive longitudinally aligned sections from one end to the other, namely, an aerosol generating section 11, an aerosol cooling section 12, and a mouthpiece 13.

[0092] The aerosol-generating portion 11 optionally includes a front plug 21 aligned longitudinally with an aerosol-generating substrate 22. The aerosol-generating substrate 22 is preferably individually wrapped in packaging paper to form a cylindrical plug 22 containing a smokeable material such as tobacco or other botanicals. This aerosol-generating substrate 22 may include tobacco layers, tobacco stems, plant fragments (e.g., powder, pieces), plant extracts, reconstituted tobacco, aerosol-forming agents, cellulose, and combinations thereof. The aerosol-generating substrate may be formed from fragments, powders, granules, and / or sheets, and may include flavoring beads or crumbly capsules. For example, the aerosol-generating substrate or tobacco rod 22 is formed from a long rod that is wrapped, for example, in standard cigarette paper and cut to an appropriate rod length before being assembled with the front plug. Figure 2 shows the aerosol-generating substrate 22 with an optional front plug 21. The length of the aerosol-generating substrate 22 may be, for example, about 14 mm along the longitudinal elongation of the aerosol product 10 (indicated by the horizontal bidirectional arrows within the aerosol-generating substrate 22).

[0093] The front plug 21 may be individually wrapped in a paper wrapper. The front plug 21 may be formed from a filter material such as a tow of cellulose acetate, a sheet of gathered filter paper, or a nonwoven fabric made of natural cellulose and a binder. The front plug 21 may form a plug of filter material having a tubular or solid structure. The front plug 21 may have various functions, in particular, such as the function of holding the aerosol-generating substrate within the rod 22, the function of controlling the resistance to pulling out the article, and the function of reducing the ability of the article to burn. The length of the front plug 21 may be, for example, about 6 mm along the longitudinal elongation of the aerosol product 10 (indicated by the horizontal bidirectional arrows within the front plug 21).

[0094] When the aerosol generating substrate 22 is heated, the aerosol generating substrate 22 generates a high-temperature aerosol.

[0095] The aerosol cooling section 12 includes a cooling segment 27, which may be a paper tube. For example, the paper tube may have a basis weight of 80-100 g / m2, e.g., 82 g / m2, a thickness of 80-200 microns, e.g., 100 microns, and a length of 15-25 mm, e.g., 20 mm. The paper tube may have a ventilation area. In addition to the paper tube, the cooling section may further include an optional tubular member, such as a hollow segment-forming cellulose acetate, as described in Patent No. EP3881699, adjacent to the paper tube in the downstream direction. The hollow tubular segment may have a certain inner diameter and / or thickness. Ventilation may be provided through the cooling segment. Ventilation may take the form of at least one row of perforations or holes provided through the wrapper and the paper tube. The length of the spacing segment 27 may be, for example, about 20 mm along the longitudinal elongation of the aerosol product 10 (indicated by horizontal bidirectional arrows within the spacing segment 27).

[0096] The mouthpiece 13 includes a filter 29 and a longitudinally aligned hollow tubular segment 28, which are continuous along the longitudinal direction of the aerosol product 10. The filter 29 filters the generated and cooled aerosol arriving from the spacing segment 27 and then releases this generated and cooled aerosol toward the user's mouth. The filter 29 may be formed from a single segment or from multiple segments. The filter may be made from a tow of cellulose acetate, or a sheet of gathered filter paper, or a nonwoven fabric made of charcoal and / or natural cellulose. The filter 29 may contain an aerosol flavor modifier, such as a breakable capsule. The hollow tubular segment 28 is, for example, a hollow tubular cellulose acetate segment 28. The hollow tubular segment 28 has an inner diameter smaller than the spacing segment 27, or at least smaller than the last (further to the right in Figure 2) cooling tube of the spacing segment 27. The length of the mouthpiece 13 may be, for example, approximately 20 mm along the longitudinal elongation of the aerosol product 10 (indicated by the horizontal double-headed arrows within the mouthpiece 13).

[0097] The aerosol cooling section 12 is at least partially surrounded by the power supply 36 along at least a portion of its length. The power supply 36 may extend, for example, over 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, or 100% of the length of the paper tube. A ventilation area may be provided within a cooling segment not surrounded by the power supply, such as downstream or upstream of the power supply. This power supply 36 may be surrounded by an optional vapor cooling section wrapper 31. For example, this wrapper 31 may be omitted if the chip paper 37 can wrap the power supply cell 36 on the spacing segment 27.

[0098] The mouthpiece 13 is surrounded by an inner wrapper 32. The dimensions of the inner wrapper 32 may be sized to match the length of the mouthpiece 13.

[0099] Either two overlapping, concentric paper chips 37 and 38 (shown in Figure 2), or a single long paper chip (not shown in Figure 2), are configured to simultaneously wrap both the mouthpiece 13 and the aerosol generating section 11, as well as the aerosol cooling section 12. These two paper chips 37 and 38 preferably extend together along the entire length of the aerosol product 10 and also wrap around the power supply 36 and the optional vapor cooling section wrapper 31. Preferably, each of the two paper chips 37 and 38 extends along only a portion of the entire length of the aerosol product 10 and overlaps with one another.

[0100] The aerosol generating portion 11 is surrounded by a heating wrapper 35. The heating wrapper 35 encloses both the optional front plug 21 and the aerosol generating substrate 22. Inside the heating wrapper 35, a heating track 40 is printed, which extends longitudinally along a length substantially equal to that of the aerosol generating substrate 22. Preferably, the heating track 40 extends along the same length as the aerosol generating substrate 22. The heating track 40 preferably terminates before the optional front plug. Mask printing or inkjet printing can be used to print the heating track 40 on the heating wrapper 35.

[0101] If the front plug 21 is omitted, the aerosol generating section 11 is formed solely by the aerosol generating substrate or the tobacco rod 22. In this case, the heating wrapper 35 can be brought into direct contact with the material of the aerosol generating substrate 22. The packaging paper for the tobacco rod can be omitted.

[0102] Two electrodes (arranged in a manner similar to that in Figure 1, but not shown here) positioned at each end of the heating track 40 extend longitudinally to contact these electrodes of the power supply 36, either in a permanent manner or by being connectable to the electrodes of the power supply 36. The resistor formed by the heating track 40 is pressed against the aerosol-generating substrate 22.

[0103] The power source 36 is a flexible, flat battery or cell 36 that is wound around or rolled up around the spacing segment 27. This flexible, flat battery or cell 36 is similar to the one shown in Figure 1.

[0104] The heating track 40 is similar to the one shown in Figure 1.

[0105] The present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments. However, many modifications are possible within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. Aerosol product for which an aerosol is generated by heating, aerosol generating portion (11) including aerosol generating substrate (22), Mouthpiece (13), Wrappers (33, 37, 38) for assembling the aerosol generating part (11) and the mouthpiece (13), A heating element (40) comprising a conductive heating track (40) configured to heat the aerosol generating portion (11), Includes a power supply (36) configured to supply power to the heating element (40), The heating element (40) overlaps at least partially with the aerosol generating portion (11), The power supply (36) is an aerosol product located between the aerosol generating section (11) and the mouthpiece (13).

2. The aerosol product according to claim 1, wherein the power source (36) is a battery or cell (36) configured in the form of a tubular element.

3. The aerosol product according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the power supply (36) is surrounded by the preferably paper wrappers (33, 37, 38) for enclosing the aerosol generating portion (11), the heating element (40), and the mouthpiece (13).

4. The aerosol product according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the power supply (36) is detachably attached to the wrappers (33, 37, 38) and connectable to the heating element (40).

5. The aerosol product according to any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising a cooling portion (12) which extends in the longitudinal direction and is positioned between the aerosol generating portion (11) and the mouthpiece (13), and the power supply (36) at least partially overlapping with the cooling portion (12).

6. The aerosol product according to claim 5, wherein the cooling portion (12) includes or is a hollow tube, and the wrappers (33, 37, 38) surround the power supply (36) and are fixed on the hollow tube.

7. The aerosol product according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the power supply (36) is a constant voltage power supply having a rated voltage in the range of 2 volts to 5 volts, preferably in the range of 2.5 volts to 4 volts.

8. The aerosol product according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the conductive heating track (40) is capable of being heated by a resistive effect and is configured to resistively heat the aerosol generating portion (11).

9. The aerosol product according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the heating track (40) is preferably provided inside a support layer (32, 35) made of paper surrounded by a wrapper.

10. The aerosol product according to claim 9, wherein the heating track (40) extends on the support layer to electrodes (41, 42) connected to or connectable to the power supply (36).

11. The aerosol product according to any one of claims 9 or 10, wherein the heating track (40) is in direct contact with the aerosol generating substrate (22) or in contact with a rod of the aerosol generating substrate comprising the aerosol generating substrate (22) wrapped by individual wrapping layers.

12. The aerosol product according to any one of claims 7 to 11, wherein the heating track (40) is printed on the support layers (32, 35) with conductive ink, and the thickness of the printed layer of the heating track (40) is preferably about 1 micrometer or less.

13. The heating track (40) is a completely continuous path with no branching paths, and preferably the heating track (40) extends over at least 50% of the circumference of the aerosol generating portion (11), or over at least 75% of the circumference of the aerosol generating portion (11), or over at least 90% of the circumference of the aerosol generating portion (11), according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

14. The aforementioned heating truck (40) Straight sections connected to each other by bends, wherein the heating track (40) comprises at least 60 such bends, or at least 80 such bends, or at least 100 such bends, and / or a wire (47) surrounding a heating surface, wherein any point within such heating surface is located less than 3 mm from the wire (47) of the heating track (40), or less than 2 mm from the wire (47) of the heating track (40), or less than 1 mm from the wire (47) of the heating track (40), the aerosol product according to any one of claims 1 to 13.

15. The aerosol product according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the aerosol generating substrate (22) contains an aerosol-forming agent-containing substance in an amount of at least 8% by weight on a dry basis, preferably 10% to 35% by weight on a dry basis.

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