Spice glycoside

Abstract

The present invention relates to an article for use in a non-combustion aerosol delivery system, and to a non-combustion aerosol delivery system, the article comprising an aerosol-generating segment having at least two portions, the at least two portions comprising a first flavor glycoside at different concentrations.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an article used in a non-combustible aerosol supply system and a non-combustible aerosol supply system. Background

[0002] Smoking articles such as cigarettes and cigars burn tobacco during use to produce tobacco smoke. Non-combustible aerosol supply systems are provided as alternatives to these combustible products and typically release compounds from an aerosol-forming material by heating without combustion to produce an inhalable aerosol or vapor.

[0003] One example of such a system is a heating device that heats a solid aerosolizable material without combustion to release compounds. This solid aerosolizable material may, in some examples, include tobacco material. Heating volatilizes at least one component of the material, typically forming an inhalable aerosol. These systems may be referred to as heat not burn devices, tobacco heating devices, or tobacco heated products. Various different configurations for volatilizing at least one component of the solid aerosolizable material are known.

[0004] It is known that non-combustible aerosol supply systems are provided with flavors. It is known to provide derivatized flavors, such as flavor glycosides, to modify the flavor release profile, since the derivatized flavors have different volatilization temperatures from the free flavors. Summary

[0005] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an article for use in a non-combustible aerosol supply system, the article comprising an aerosol-generating segment, the aerosol-generating segment including a first flavor glycoside, the aerosol-generating segment comprising at least two portions, the concentration of the first flavor glycoside being different in the two portions.

[0006] The second invention is a non-combustible aerosol supply system comprising an aerosol generation segment, wherein the aerosol generation segment contains a perfume glycoside, the aerosol generation segment comprises at least two parts, and the concentration of the perfume glycoside is different in the two parts, and provides a non-combustible aerosol supply system.

[0007] Preferably, the second aspect provides a non-combustible aerosol supply system comprising (i) an article according to the first aspect and (ii) an aerosol supply device for containing the article during use.

[0008] The features described herein in connection with one aspect of the invention are explicitly disclosed herein in combination with the other aspect to the extent not inconsistent.

[0009] Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are given by way of example only.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010]

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[0011] The inventors have found that free fragrance (which means a fragrance that is not derivatized and not encapsulated) typically volatilizes rapidly during the use of a non-combustion aerosol supply system, and as a result, the fragrance is rapidly consumed and may not be delivered uniformly during product use. The inventors have also observed fragrance migration in the product and / or fragrance loss prior to fragrance consumption.

[0012] Fragrance glycosides have a higher volatility temperature than the equivalent free fragrance. The glycosidic bond is broken by heating, and only then is the fragrance released. The energy input required to break this bond is greater than the energy required for the volatilization of the free fragrance. Thus, the use of glycosides can modify the fragrance release profile and minimize fragrance migration or loss.

[0013] The inventors have now established that the fragrance profile provided by an article used in a non-combustion aerosol supply system can be advantageously modified via non-uniform distribution of fragrance glycosides within the aerosol generating segment of the article. In some examples, different sections / portions of the aerosol generating segment are exposed to different heating profiles such that the portion of the aerosol generating material is not initially heated, thereby preserving the volatile components of these portions until later in the product service life. However, the inventors have established that heat bleed between the portions can cause volatilization of free fragrance from the portions before the portions are directly heated, and in contrast, the inventors have found that fragrance glycosides release fragrance only when directly heated (because the glycosidic bond must be broken to release the fragrance, and sufficient energy to break this bond is not provided by heat bleeding between the portions). Thus, the non-uniform distribution of glycosides can be used to further control the fragrance profile of the aerosol produced from such an article.

[0014] At least two portions of the aerosol generating segment may also be referred to herein as a first and a second aerosol generating portion. The designations "first" and "second" are for ease of reference to the individual portions and do not impose any limitation on the positioning of the portions within the segment, nor (absent specific recitation) suggest any order of heating in use.

[0015] In some examples, the concentration of a first flavor glycoside in the second portion of the aerosol generating segment is less than about 80% of the concentration of the first portion, preferably less than 70%, 60%, 50%, 40%, 30%, 20% or 10% of the concentration of the first portion. In some examples, the second portion of at least two portions does not contain the first flavor glycoside. In such examples, the flavor glycoside is completely localized within the first portion of the aerosol generating segment. Typically, this first portion can be configured to be heated second in a non-combustion aerosol supply system. In some examples, the first portion can be closer to the mouth end of the article than the second portion. In some other examples, the first portion can be further from the mouth end of the article than the second portion.

[0016] In some examples, the first flavor glycoside is a flavor glucoside. In some examples, the first flavor glycoside is biotechnologically produced, for example, the first flavor glycoside is enzymatically produced. In some examples, the first flavor glycoside is menthol glycoside.

[0017] In some examples, the aerosol generating segment comprises an aerosol generating material and at least a portion of a first flavor glycoside is provided on or in the aerosol generating material. In some examples, the aerosol generating segment comprises an aerosol generating material and a wrapper disposed around the aerosol generating material, and at least a portion of a first flavor glycoside is provided on or in the wrapper. Preferably, the wrapper can comprise paper or paper-lined foil, such as a paper-aluminum foil laminate. In some examples, the first flavor glycoside can be provided on or in both the wrapper and the aerosol generating material.

[0018] In some examples, the aerosol generating segment further comprises a free flavor. In some such examples, the free flavor is provided in only the first portion, or only the second portion, or both the first and second portions of at least two portions. In some examples, the concentration of the free flavor in the two portions is substantially equal. In some examples, the free flavor is the same flavor as the glycosylated flavor in the first flavor glycoside. In one particular example, the free flavor is menthol and the first flavor glycoside is menthol glycoside, such as menthol glucoside.

[0019] Thus, in one particular embodiment, only the second portion of the aerosol generating segment contains the free flavor and only the first portion contains the flavor glycoside, which is the glycosylated form of the free flavor. The second portion is first heated during use and some heat bleeding may occur between the portions, but this is insufficient to release the flavor from the flavor glycoside in the first portion and the first flavor glycoside does not volatilize at this stage. Thus, all of the flavor present in the first portion remains in the first portion at this time. When the first portion is subsequently heated, volatilization of the flavor released from the flavor glycoside is obtained. Thus, this configuration can provide sustained flavor delivery and an improved puff profile.

[0020] In another specific embodiment, both portions of the aerosol generating segment contain free fragrance, and only the first portion contains a first fragrance glycoside that is a glycosylated form of the free fragrance. When the second portion is first heated during use, the free fragrance from the second portion is volatilized, and some heat bleeding between the portions can result in some volatilization of the free fragrance from the first portion. The first fragrance glycoside does not volatilize at this stage. When the first portion is subsequently heated, volatilization of the residual free fragrance and the fragrance released from the fragrance glycoside is obtained, and in some examples, this can result in two fragrance delivery modes from the first portion, which is because there is a slight delivery delay for the fragrance glycoside when the glycosidic bond is cleaved. Thus, this configuration can provide sustained fragrance delivery and an improved puff profile.

[0021] In yet another specific embodiment, both portions of the aerosol generating segment contain free fragrance, both portions contain a first fragrance glycoside that is a glycosylated form of the free fragrance, and the first portion contains a higher concentration of the first fragrance glycoside than the second portion. When the second portion is first heated during use, it delivers two peaks in fragrance delivery, the first peak corresponding substantially to the volatilization of the free fragrance, and the second peak corresponding to the fragrance released from the fragrance glycoside. Additionally, some heat bleeding between the portions can result in some volatilization of the free fragrance from the first portion. The fragrance glycoside of the first portion does not volatilize at this stage. The first portion is subsequently heated, and volatilization of the residual free fragrance and the fragrance released from the fragrance glycoside is obtained, also providing two peaks in fragrance delivery here. The higher concentration of fragrance glycoside in the first portion than in the second portion compensates for the loss of free fragrance from the first portion caused by heat bleeding. Thus, the total fragrance delivery upon heating of each zone can be approximately equal. Thus, this configuration can result in sustained fragrance delivery and an improved puff profile.

[0022] In some examples, the aerosol generating segment comprises a second flavor glycoside different from the first flavor glycoside. In some such examples, the second flavor glycoside is provided in only the first portion, or only the second portion, or both the first and second portions, of the at least two portions.

[0023] In some examples, the aerosol generating segment comprises a solid aerosol generating material. Preferably, in such examples, the aerosol generating material may comprise one or more of a tobacco material, an aerosol forming material, an active substance, and a functional material.

[0024] In some examples, the article may comprise more than two portions, for example, 3, 4, 5, or 6 portions. The first flavor glycoside may be present in some or all of the portions, provided that the concentrations of the flavor glycosides in the first and second portions are different.

[0025] In some examples, the first portion of the aerosol generating segment may be closer to the mouth end of the article than the second portion. In some examples, the second portion of the aerosol generating segment may be closer to the mouth end of the article than the first portion.

[0026] In some examples, the first and second portions may have essentially the same volume. In other examples, the first portion may have a larger volume than the second portion, and in yet further examples, the first portion may have a smaller volume than the second portion.

[0027] In some examples, the aerosol-generating article may be rod-shaped and preferably may be cylindrical. In some examples, the aerosol-generating segment may be rod-shaped and preferably may be cylindrical. In some examples, at least two parts may be arranged axially along the length of the aerosol-generating article / segment. For example, the parts may be in the form of coaxial cylinders arranged along the length of the aerosol-generating article / segment. In other examples, the parts may be prism sections arranged, for example, to form a cylinder together. For example, in an example where two parts are present, these may be semi-cylindrical and arranged in their respective contacting planes.

[0028] In some embodiments, an article for use with a non-combustible aerosol supply device may comprise, in addition to the aerosol-generating segment, an aerosol generator (e.g., a heater), a housing, a filter, a cooling element and / or a mouthpiece. One or more of these additional components may be capable of carrying a further flavor glycoside. In particular, in some examples, the article (which may also be alternatively referred to herein as a consumable) may also comprise an aerosol generator, for example, a heater that releases heat to generate an aerosol in the aerosol-generating material during use. The heater may comprise, for example, a combustible material, a material heatable by electrical conduction or a susceptor. The cooling element, if present, may be provided in the mouthpiece and may act or function to cool the gaseous or aerosol components. In some examples, the cooling element may act to cool the gaseous components such that the gaseous components condense to form an aerosol. The cooling element may also act to space apart very hot parts of the device from the user. If a filter is present, the filter may comprise any suitable filter known in the art, such as a cellulose acetate plug.

[0029] The article may further comprise ventilation holes. These may be provided in the side walls of the article. In some examples, the ventilation holes may be provided in the filter and / or the cooling element. These holes allow cold air to be drawn into the article during use, and this cold air can mix with the heated volatile components, thereby cooling the aerosol.

[0030] Ventilation promotes the generation of visible heated volatile components from the article when the article is heated during use. The heated volatile components are visualized by a process of cooling the heated volatile components so that supersaturation of the heated volatile components occurs. The heated volatile components then undergo droplet formation (also known as nucleation), and ultimately, the size of the aerosol particles of the heated volatile components increases by further condensation of the heated volatile components and by aggregation of newly formed droplets from the heated volatile components.

[0031] In some examples, the ratio of cold air to the total of the heated volatile components and cold air (known as the ventilation ratio) is at least 15%. A ventilation ratio of 15% enables the visualization of the heated volatile components by the method described above. The visibility of the heated volatile components allows the user to identify that volatile components are being generated, enhancing the perceptual experience of the smoking experience.

[0032] In another example, the ventilation ratio is from 50% to 85% to further cool the heated volatile components. In some examples, the ventilation ratio may be at least 60% or 65%.

[0033] A non-combustible aerosol supply system can include an aerosol generator, such as a heater. The heater is configured to heat an aerosol-forming segment during use to form an aerosol, and the system provides different heat profiles to at least two parts, a first part and a second part. In some such examples, the system can be configured such that heating of the first part of the aerosol-forming segment is initiated after heating of the second part. Preferably, the system comprises at least two heaters, which are arranged to heat different parts of the aerosol-forming segment respectively.

[0034] According to the present disclosure, a "non-combustible" aerosol supply system is one in which the component aerosol-forming material (or its components) of the aerosol supply system does not combust (not combusted or burned) in order to facilitate delivery of at least one substance to the user. In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol supply system is an aerosol-forming material heating system, also known as a non-combustion heating system. An example of such a system is a tobacco heating system.

[0035] Typically, a non-combustible aerosol supply system can comprise a non-combustible aerosol supply device and an article (which may also be referred to herein as a consumable) used with the non-combustible aerosol supply device.

[0036] In some embodiments, a non-combustible aerosol supply system, such as its non-combustible aerosol supply device, can comprise a power source and a controller. The power source can be, for example, a power source or a heat-generating system power source. In some embodiments, the heat-generating system power source comprises a carbon substrate, to which a voltage can be applied to distribute force in the form of heat to the aerosol-forming material or to distribute a heat transfer material proximal to the heat-generating system power source.

[0037] In some embodiments, the non-combustion aerosol supply system can comprise a consumable, an aerosol generator (e.g., a heater), an aerosol generation region, a housing, a mouthpiece and / or a region for accommodating a filter.

[0038] The heater is configured to heat the aerosol generation segment without combustion. In some examples, the heater may heat the aerosol generation segment to 120°C to 350°C without combustion during use. In some examples, the heater may heat the aerosol generation segment to 140°C to 250°C without combustion during use.

[0039] As shown above, in some examples, the system can comprise at least two heaters. In some such examples, the heaters are configured to heat the first and second portions of the aerosol generation segment respectively. In some examples, the aerosol generation segment may comprise more than two portions, and the system may further comprise heaters arranged to directly heat one or more portions of the aerosol generation segment respectively.

[0040] In some examples, the system may be configured such that at least one section of the aerosol generation segment is exposed to a temperature of at least 180°C or 200°C for at least 50% of the heating time. In some examples, the aerosol generation segment may be exposed to the heat profile disclosed in WO2018 / 019855, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0041] In some specific examples, a system is provided that is configured to heat at least two parts of an aerosol generation segment separately. By controlling the temperatures of the first and second parts over time such that their temperature profiles are different, it is possible to control the puff profile of the aerosol during use. The heat supplied to the two parts of the aerosol generation segment may be supplied at different times or rates, and heating with a time difference in this way can enable both rapid aerosol generation and extended service life.

[0042] In one specific example, the system can be configured such that at the start of the consumption experience, a first heating element corresponding to the first part of the aerosol generation segment is immediately heated to a temperature of 240 °C. The first heating element is maintained at 240 °C for 145 seconds and then decreases to 135 °C (at which temperature it is maintained for the remainder of the consumption experience). 75 seconds after the start of the consumption experience, a second heating element corresponding to the second part of the aerosol generation segment is heated to a temperature of 160 °C. 135 seconds after the start of the consumption experience, the temperature of the second heating element is increased to 240 °C (at which temperature it is maintained for the remainder of the consumption experience). The consumption experience lasts for 280 seconds, at which point both heaters are cooled to room temperature.

[0043] The heater may, in some examples, be a thin-film electrical resistance heater. In other examples, the heater can be an induction heater, etc. (the susceptor may be within an article or device of the system). The heater may be a combustible heat source or a chemical heat source that generates heat by an exothermic reaction during use. If more than one heater is present, each heater may be the same or different.

[0044] Generally, one or each heater is powered by a battery, which may be a rechargeable battery or a non-rechargeable battery. Examples of suitable batteries include, for example, lithium-ion batteries, nickel batteries (e.g., nickel-cadmium batteries), alkaline batteries, and the like. The battery is electrically coupled to the heater to supply power when it is necessary to heat the aerosol generation segment (to volatilize the components of the aerosolizable material in the aerosol generation segment without causing combustion of the aerosolizable material).

[0045] In one example, the heater generally has the form of a hollow cylindrical tube with a hollow internal heating chamber into which the aerosol generation segment is inserted for heating during use. Different configurations are possible with the heater. For example, the heater may be formed as a single heater or in the form of a plurality of heaters aligned along the longitudinal axis of the heater. (For simplicity, references to "heater" in this specification are to be construed as including a plurality of heaters unless the context requires otherwise.) The heater can be annular or tubular. The heater can be dimensioned such that substantially the entire aerosol generation segment is located within the heater's heating element(s) when inserted, whereby substantially the entire aerosol generation segment is heated during use. The heater may be arranged to be able to heat selected zones of the aerosol generation segment independently, for example, sequentially one after another or simultaneously as desired.

[0046] The heater is surrounded by a heat insulator along at least a portion of its length, and the heat insulator serves to reduce the heat passing from the heater to the outside of the aerosol generation segment. This generally reduces heat loss and thus helps to keep the heater's power requirements low. The heat insulator also helps to keep the outside of the aerosol generation assembly cool during operation of the heater.

[0047] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a partial cutaway cross-sectional view and a perspective view of an example of an article 101 used in a non-combustible aerosol supply system are shown. The article 101 is adapted to be used with a device having a power source and a heater. The article 101 of this embodiment is particularly suitable for use with the device 51 shown in FIGS. 5-7 described below. In use, the article 101 can be removably inserted into the device at the insertion location 20 of the device 51 shown in FIG. 5.

[0048] An example of the article 101 is in the form of a generally cylindrical rod including an aerosol generation segment 103 and a filter assembly 105 in the form of a rod. The filter assembly 105 includes three segments: a cooling segment 107, a filter segment 109, and a mouth-side end segment 111. The article 101 has a first end 113, also known as the mouth-side end or proximal end, and a second end 115, also known as the distal end. The aerosol generation segment 103 is disposed on the distal end 115 side of the article 101. In one example, the cooling segment 107 is disposed adjacent to the aerosol generation segment 103 between the aerosol generation segment 103 and the filter segment 109 such that the cooling segment 107 is in abutting relationship with the aerosol generation segment 103 and the filter segment 109. In other examples, there may be a separation between the aerosol generation segment 103 and the cooling segment 107 and between the aerosol generation segment 103 and the filter segment 109. The filter segment 109 is disposed between the cooling segment 107 and the mouth-side end segment 111. The mouth-side end segment 111 is disposed on the proximal end 113 side of the article 101 and is adjacent to the filter segment 109. In one example, the filter segment 109 is in abutting relationship with the mouth-side end segment 111. In one embodiment, the total length of the filter assembly 105 is from 37 mm to 45 mm, and more preferably, the total length of the filter assembly 105 is 41 mm.

[0049] The aerosol generating segment has two parts 103a, 103b. In one example, the first section 103a (close to the proximal end 113 of the article 101) contains the first perfume glycoside, and the second section 103b (close to the distal end 115 of the article 101) does not contain the first perfume glycoside. In some examples, both sections may contain the first perfume glycoside, provided that the concentration of the perfume glycoside in each section is different. In some examples, either or each of the sections 103a, 103b may contain the free perfume corresponding to the perfume glycoside. In some examples, either or each of the sections 103a, 103b may contain the aerosol generating material, and the perfume and / or perfume glycoside may be carried on or in the aerosol generating material. When used in the device illustrated in FIG. 5, the second section 103b can be heated before the first section 103a. In some examples, the two sections 103a, 103b of the aerosol generating segment may be joined by an annular chip paper (not shown) located substantially around the outer peripheral segment 103.

[0050] In one example, the aerosol generating segment 103 has a length of 34 mm to 50 mm, preferably 38 mm to 46 mm, preferably 42 mm.

[0051] In one example, the overall length of the article 101 is 71 mm to 95 mm, preferably 79 mm to 87 mm, preferably 83 mm.

[0052] One axial end of the aerosol generating segment 103 is visible at the distal end 115 of the article 101. However, in other embodiments, the distal end 115 of the article 101 may include an end member (not shown) that covers one axial end of the aerosol generating segment 103. The end member may be part of the wrapping described herein in some examples.

[0053] The aerosol generation segment 103 is joined to the filter assembly 105 by an annular tipping paper (not shown), which is disposed substantially around the filter assembly 105 so as to surround the filter assembly 105 and extends partially along the length of the aerosol generation segment 103. In one example, the tipping paper is made from 58 GSM standard tipping base paper. In one example, the tipping paper has a length of 42 mm to 50 mm, preferably 46 mm.

[0054] In one example, the cooling segment 107 is an annular tube and is disposed around the void within the cooling segment and defines the void. This void provides a chamber through which the heated volatile components generated from the aerosol generation segment 103 flow. The cooling segment 107 is hollow so as to provide a chamber for aerosol accumulation, but has sufficient rigidity to withstand the axial compressive forces and bending moments that may occur during manufacture and during use while the article 101 is inserted into the device 51. In one example, the wall thickness of the cooling segment 107 is about 0.29 mm.

[0055] The cooling segment 107 provides a physical displacement between the aerosol generation segment 103 and the filter segment 109. The physical displacement provided by the cooling segment 107 results in a thermal gradient between the two ends of the cooling segment 107 in the longitudinal direction. In one example, the cooling segment 107 is configured to provide a temperature difference of at least 40 degrees Celsius between the heated volatile component entering the first end of the cooling segment 107 and the heated volatile component exiting the second end of the cooling segment 107. In one example, the cooling segment 107 is configured to provide a temperature difference of at least 60 degrees Celsius between the heated volatile component entering the first end of the cooling segment 107 and the heated volatile component exiting the second end of the cooling segment 107. This temperature difference between the two ends of the cooling element 107 protects the temperature-sensitive filter segment 109 from the high temperature of the aerosol generation segment 103 when the aerosol generation segment 103 is heated by the device 51. If no physical displacement is provided between the filter segment 109 and the heating element of the aerosol generation segment 103 and the device 51, the temperature-sensitive filter segment 109 may be damaged during use and may not effectively perform its required function.

[0056] In one example, the length of the cooling segment 107 is at least 15 mm. In one example, the length of the cooling segment 107 is from 20 mm to 30 mm, more specifically from 23 mm to 27 mm, more specifically from 25 mm to 27 mm, and preferably 25 mm.

[0057] The cooling segment 107 is made of paper, which means that the cooling segment 107 is composed of a material that does not generate a compound of concern (e.g., a toxic compound) when adjacent to the heater of the device 51 during use. In one example, the cooling segment 107 is manufactured from a spiral-wound paper tube that provides a hollow internal chamber while maintaining mechanical rigidity. The spiral-wound paper tube can meet the stringent dimensional accuracy requirements of a high-speed manufacturing process with respect to the length, outer diameter, roundness, and straightness of the tube.

[0058] In another example, the cooling segment 107 is a recess made from a stiff plug wrap or tipping paper. The stiff plug wrap or tipping paper is manufactured to have sufficient rigidity to withstand the axial compressive forces and bending moments that can occur during manufacture and while the article 101 is being inserted into the device 51.

[0059] The filter segment 109 may be formed from any filter material sufficient to remove one or more volatile compounds from the heated volatile components from the aerosol generating segment. In one example, the filter segment 109 is made from a monoacetate material such as cellulose acetate. The filter segment 109 provides cooling and irritation reduction of the heated volatile components without depleting the amount of the heated volatile components to an unsatisfactory level for the user.

[0060] In some embodiments, capsules (not shown) may be provided within the filter segment 109. The capsules may be disposed substantially at the center of the filter segment 109 in both the radial and longitudinal directions of the filter segment 109. In other examples, the capsules may be offset from the center in one or more dimensions. In some examples, when capsules are present, the capsules may contain volatile components such as flavorants and aerosol generating agents.

[0061] The density of the cellulose acetate tow material of the filter segment 109 controls the pressure drop across the filter segment 109 and thus the draw resistance of the article 101. Therefore, the selection of the material of the filter segment 109 is important in controlling the draw resistance of the article 101. Further, the filter segment performs a filtering function in the article 101.

[0062] In one example, the filter segment 109 is made from an 8Y15 grade filter tow material. This filter tow material provides a filtering effect on the heated volatile material while reducing the size of the condensed aerosol droplets resulting from the heated volatile material.

[0063] The presence of the filter segment 109 provides a heat insulation effect by further cooling the heated volatile components exiting the cooling segment 107. This further cooling effect reduces the contact temperature of the user's lips with the surface of the filter segment 109.

[0064] In one example, the filter segment 109 has a length of 6 mm to 10 mm, preferably 8 mm.

[0065] The mouth-side end segment 111 is an annular tube, arranged around the void within the mouth-side end segment 111 and defining that void. This void provides a chamber for the heated volatile components flowing from the filter segment 109. The mouth-side end segment 111 is hollow to provide a chamber for aerosol accumulation, but has sufficient rigidity to withstand the axial compressive forces and bending moments that can occur during manufacturing and while the article is being used during insertion into the device 51. In one example, the wall thickness of the mouth-side end segment 111 is about 0.29 mm. In one example, the length of the mouth-side end segment 111 is 6 mm to 10 mm, preferably 8 mm.

[0066] The mouth-side end segment 111 may be manufactured from a spiral-wound paper tube that provides a hollow internal chamber but maintains important mechanical rigidity. The spiral-wound paper tube can meet the strict dimensional accuracy requirements of a high-speed manufacturing process with respect to the tube length, outer diameter, roundness, and straightness.

[0067] The mouth-side end segment 111 provides the function of preventing the liquid condensate accumulating at the outlet of the filter segment 109 from coming into direct contact with the user.

[0068] It should be understood that in one example, the mouth-side end segment 111 and the cooling segment 107 may be formed from a single tube, and the filter segment 109 may be disposed within that tube, separating the mouth-side end segment 111 and the cooling segment 107.

[0069] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, a partial cut-away sectional view and a perspective view of an example of the article 301 are shown. The reference numerals shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 correspond to those shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, except that the numbers are increased by 200.

[0070] In the example of the article 301 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a ventilation region 317 is provided in the article 301 to allow air to flow from outside the article 301 into the article 301. In one example, the ventilation region 317 takes the form of one or more ventilation holes 317 formed through the outer layer of the article 301. These ventilation holes may be arranged in the cooling segment 307 to assist in cooling the article 301. In one example, the ventilation region 317 comprises one or more rows of holes, and preferably each row of holes is arranged along the outer periphery of the article 301 in a cross-section substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the article 301.

[0071] In one example, there are 1 to 4 rows of ventilation holes to provide ventilation to the article 301. Each row of ventilation holes may have 12 to 36 ventilation holes 317. The diameter of the ventilation holes 317 can be, for example, 100 to 500 μm. In one example, the axial spacing between rows of ventilation holes 317 is 0.25 mm to 0.75 mm, preferably 0.5 mm.

[0072] In one example, the ventilation holes 317 have a uniform size. In another example, the ventilation holes 317 have various sizes. The ventilation holes can be made using any suitable technique, such as laser techniques, mechanical drilling of the cooling segment 307, or pre-drilling of the cooling segment 307 before it is formed in the article 301. The ventilation holes 317 are positioned to effectively cool the article 301.

[0073] In one example, the rows of ventilation holes 317 are located at least 11 mm from the proximal end 313 of the article, preferably 17 mm to 20 mm from the proximal end 313 of the article 301. The position of the ventilation holes 317 is determined so that the user does not block the ventilation holes 317 during use of the article 301.

[0074] By providing a row of ventilation holes from 17 mm to 20 mm from the proximal end 313 of the article 301, as can be seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, the ventilation holes 317 can be arranged outside the device 51 when the article 301 is fully inserted into the device 51. By arranging the ventilation holes outside the device, unheated air can enter the article 301 through the ventilation holes from the outside of the device 51, which can help cool the article 301.

[0075] The length of the cooling segment 307 is such that when the article 301 is fully inserted into the device 51, the cooling segment 307 is partially inserted into the device 51. This length of the cooling segment 307 provides a first function of providing a physical gap between the heating device of the device 51 and the heat-sensitive filter device 309, and a second function that enables the ventilation holes 317 to be arranged within the cooling segment while also being arranged outside the device 51 when the article 301 is fully inserted into the device 51. As can be seen from FIGS. 7 and 8, most of the cooling element 307 is arranged within the device 51. However, the cooling element 307 has a portion that extends outside the device 51. The ventilation holes 317 are arranged in this portion of the cooling element 307 that extends outside the device 51.

[0076] Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 5 - 7, an example of a device 51 configured to heat an aerosol-generating segment to volatilize at least one component of the aerosol-generating segment to typically form an inhalable aerosol is shown. The device 51 is a heating device that releases a compound by heating the aerosol-generating segment without burning it.

[0077] The first end 53 may be referred to herein as the mouth-side end or proximal end 53 of the device 51, and the second end 55 may be referred to herein as the distal end 55 of the device 51. The device 51 has an on / off button 57, and the user can start / stop the entire device 51 as desired.

[0078] Device 51 includes a housing 59 for arranging and protecting various internal components of the device 51. In the illustrated example, the housing 59 includes a single-piece sleeve 11 that surrounds the outer edge of the device 51, and this sleeve 11 is capped by a top panel 17 that generally forms the "top" of the device 51 and a bottom panel 19 that generally forms the "bottom" of the device 51. In another example, the housing includes, in addition to the top panel 17 and the bottom panel 19, a front panel, a rear panel, and a pair of opposing side panels.

[0079] The top panel 17 and / or the bottom panel 19 may be removably fixed to the single-piece sleeve 11 to enable easy access to the interior of the device 51, or may be "permanently" fixed to the single-piece sleeve 11, for example, to prevent a user from accessing the interior of the device 51. In one example, the panels 17 and 19 are made of a plastic material (including, for example, glass-filled nylon formed by injection molding), and the single-piece sleeve 11 is made of aluminum, but other materials and other manufacturing processes may be used.

[0080] The top panel 17 of the device 51 has an opening 20 at the mouth-side end 53 of the device 51. During use, a user can insert articles 101, 301 including an aerosol-generating segment through this opening 20 into the device 51 and also remove them from the device 51.

[0081] The housing 59 has a heating device 23, a control circuit 25, and a power source 27 arranged or fixed therein. In this example, the heating device 23, the control circuit 25, and the power source 27 are laterally adjacent (i.e., adjacent when viewed from one end), and the control circuit 25 is generally located between the heating device 23 and the power source 27, but other arrangements are possible.

[0082] The control circuit 25 may include a controller such as a microprocessor device configured and arranged to control the heating of the aerosol-generating segments within the articles 101, 301, as further discussed below.

[0083] The power source 27 may be, for example, a battery, which may be a rechargeable battery or a non-rechargeable battery. Examples of suitable batteries include, for example, lithium-ion batteries, nickel batteries (e.g., nickel-cadmium batteries), alkaline batteries, and the like. The battery 27 is electrically coupled to the heating device 23 to supply power under the control of the control circuit 25 when it is necessary to heat the aerosol-generating segment in the article (as discussed, to volatilize the components of the aerosolizable material in the aerosol-generating segment without causing combustion of the aerosolizable material).

[0084] The advantage of arranging the power source 27 in a laterally proximate position to the heating device 23 is that a physically large power source 25 can be used without making the entire device 51 overly long. Naturally, in general, a physically large power source 25 has a higher capacity (i.e., the total electrical energy that can be supplied, often measured in ampere-hours, etc.) and can thus extend the battery life of the device 51.

[0085] In one example, the heating device 23 generally has the form of a hollow cylindrical tube having a hollow internal heating chamber 29, into which articles 101, 301 comprising an aerosol generating segment are inserted for heating during use. Various configurations are possible for the heating device 23. For example, the heating device 23 may comprise a single heating element or may be formed from a plurality of heating elements aligned along the longitudinal axis of the heating device 23. The heating element or each heating element may be annular or tubular, or at least partially annular or at least partially tubular along its outer periphery. In one example, the heating element or each heating element may be a thin film heater. In another example, the heating element or each heating element may be made from a ceramic material. Examples of suitable ceramic materials include alumina ceramic, aluminum nitride ceramic, and silicon nitride ceramic, which may be laminated and sintered. Other heating configurations are possible and include, for example, induction heating, infrared heating elements (which heat by radiating infrared rays), and resistance heating elements formed by resistance electric windings and the like.

[0086] The heating device 23 can be programmed to provide different heat profiles to respective portions 103a, 103b, 303a, 303b of the aerosol generating segment.

[0087] In one particular example, the heating device 23 is supported by a stainless steel support tube and comprises a polyimide heating element. The heating device 23 is dimensioned such that when articles 101, 301 are inserted into the device 51, substantially the entire body of the articles 101, 301 comprising the aerosol generating segments 103, 303 is inserted into the heating device 23.

[0088] The heating element or each heating element may be arranged to be able to independently heat a selected plurality of zones (regions) of the aerosol generating segment, for example sequentially (over time as described above) or together (simultaneously) as desired.

[0089] In this example, the heating device 23 is surrounded by a heat insulator 31 along at least a part of its length. The heat insulator 31 serves to reduce the heat passing from the heating device 23 to the outside of the device 51. This generally reduces heat loss, which helps to keep the power requirements of the heating device 23 low. The heat insulator 31 also helps to keep the outside of the device 51 cool during the operation of the heating device 23. In one example, the heat insulator 31 may be a double-wall sleeve that provides a low-pressure region between two walls of the sleeve. That is, the heat insulator 31 may be, for example, a "vacuum" tube, i.e., a tube that is at least partially evacuated to minimize heat transfer by conduction and / or convection. Other configurations for the heat insulator 31 are possible and include using a heat insulating material (e.g., including a suitable foam-type material) in addition to or instead of the double-wall sleeve.

[0090] Similar to the heating device 23, the housing 59 may further include various internal support structures 37 for supporting all internal components.

[0091] The device 51 further includes a collar 33 that extends around the opening 20 and protrudes into the interior of the housing 59 from the opening 20, and a generally tubular chamber 35 disposed between the collar 33 and one end of the vacuum sleeve 31. The chamber 35 further includes a cooling structure 35f, which in this example includes a plurality of cooling fins 35f spaced along the outer surface of the chamber 35, and each cooling fin is arranged to surround the outer surface of the chamber 35. When the articles 101, 301 are inserted into the device 51 over at least a part of the length of the hollow chamber 35, a gap 36 exists between the hollow chamber 35 and the articles 101, 301. The gap 36 surrounds the entire outer periphery of the articles 101, 301 over at least a part of the cooling segment 307.

[0092] Color 33 includes a plurality of ridges 60 disposed so as to surround the outer periphery of the opening 20, and these ridges project into the opening 20. The ridges 60 occupy the space within the opening 20 such that the opening distance of the opening 20 at the position of the ridges 60 is smaller than the opening distance of the opening 20 at the position without the ridges 60. The ridges 60 are configured to engage with the articles 101, 301 inserted into the device and assist in fixing them within the device 51. The open spaces (not shown) defined by adjacent pairs of the ridges 60 and the articles 101, 301 form a ventilation path around the outer surfaces of the articles 101, 301. These ventilation paths allow the hot vapor escaping from the articles 101, 301 to exit from the device 51 and allow the cooling air to flow into the device 51 around the articles 101, 301 within the void 36.

[0093] During operation, the articles 101, 301 are removably inserted into the insertion location 20 of the device 51 as shown in FIGS. 5 - 7. Referring particularly to FIG. 6, in one example, the aerosol - generating segments 103, 303 (which are disposed on the distal - end 115, 315 sides of the articles 101, 301) are completely housed within the heating device 23 of the device 51. The proximal ends 113, 313 of the articles 101, 301 extend out from the device 51 and function as a mouthpiece assembly for the user.

[0094] During operation, the heating device 23 heats the articles 101, 301 to volatilize at least one component of the aerosol - formable material from the aerosol - generating segments 103, 303.

[0095] The primary flow path for the heated and volatile components from the aerosol generation segments 103, 303 passes axially through the articles 101, 301, through the chambers inside the cooling segments 107, 307, through the filter segments 109, 309, and through the mouth-side end segments 111, 313 to reach the user. In one example, the temperature of the heated and volatile components generated from the aerosol generation segment is between 60°C and 250°C, which may exceed the acceptable inhalation temperature for the user. As the heated and volatile components move through the cooling segments 107, 307, they are cooled, and some of the volatile components condense on the inner surfaces of the cooling segments 107, 307.

[0096] In the example of the article 301 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, cold air can enter the cooling segment 307 through the ventilation holes 317 formed in the cooling segment 307. This cold air mixes with the heated and volatile components to further cool the heated and volatile components.

[0097] Definition As used herein, the terms "flavor" and "flavoring" refer to materials that can be used to create a desired taste, aroma, or other bodily sensation in products for adult consumers, where local regulations permit. They include naturally occurring flavor materials, botanical materials, extracts of botanical materials, synthetically derived materials, or combinations thereof (e.g., tobacco, cannabis, licorice, hydrangea, eugenol, phyllostachys pubescens leaves, chamomile, fenugreek, clove, maple, matcha, menthol, Japanese mint, anise fruit (anis), cinnamon, turmeric, Indian spice, Asian spice, herb, wintergreen, cherry, berry, redberry, cranberry, peach, apple, orange, mango, clementine, lemon, lime, tropical fruit, papaya, rhubarb, grape, durian, dragon fruit, cucumber, blueberry, mulberry, citrus, Drambuie, bourbon, scotch, whiskey, gin, tequila, rum, spearmint, peppermint, lavender, aloe vera, cardamom, celery, cascarilla, nutmeg, sandalwood, bergamot, geranium, khat, naswar, betel, shisha, pine, honey essence, rose oil, vanilla, lemon oil, orange oil, orange flower, cherry blossom, cassia, caraway, cognac, jasmine, ylang-ylang, sage, perilla, wasabi, pepper, ginger, coriander, coffee, hemp, mint oil obtained from any variety of the mint genus, eucalyptus, star anise, cocoa, lemongrass, rooibos, flax, ginkgo, nettles, hibiscus, laurel, mate, orange peel, rose, tea (green tea, black tea, etc.), thyme, juniper, elderflower, basil, bay leaf, cumin, oregano, paprika, rosemary, saffron, lemon peel, mint, perilla, curcuma, cilantro, myrtle, blackcurrant, valerian, pimento, mace, damiana, marjoram, olive, lemon balm, lemon basil, chive, calv, barberry, tarragon, limonene, thymol, camphene), flavor enhancers, bitter receptor site blockers, sensory receptor site activators, or stimulants, sugars and / or alternative sugars (e.g., sucralose,acesulfame potassium, aspartame, saccharin, cyclamate, lactose, sucrose, glucose, fructose, sorbitol, or mannitol), and may also contain other additives such as charcoal, chlorophyll, minerals, plant materials, or breath fresheners. They may be of artificial, synthetic, or natural origin, or blends thereof. They can be in any suitable form, such as a liquid (e.g., oil), solid (e.g., powder), or gas.

[0098] In some embodiments, the flavoring includes menthol, spearmint, and / or peppermint. In some embodiments, the flavoring includes flavor components of cucumber, blueberry, citrus fruits, and / or redberry. In some embodiments, the flavoring includes eugenol. In some embodiments, the flavoring includes flavor components extracted from tobacco. In some embodiments, the flavoring includes flavor components extracted from cannabis.

[0099] In some embodiments, the flavoring may include a sensory agent for the purpose of achieving a somatosensory sensation that is normally chemically induced and perceived by stimulating the fifth cranial nerve (trigeminal nerve) in addition to or instead of the olfactory or gustatory nerves, and these may include agents that provide a heating effect, a cooling effect, a tingling effect, or a numbing effect. Suitable heat agents may include, but are not limited to, vanillyl ethyl ether, and suitable coolants may include, but are not limited to, eucalyptol, WS-3.

[0100] As used herein, the term "aerosol-generating material" refers to a material that can generate an aerosol when heated, irradiated, or otherwise energized. The aerosol-generating material may be in solid form, for example, and may include one or more active substances and / or flavorings, tobacco materials, one or more aerosol-forming materials, and optionally one or more other functional materials.

[0101] As used herein, the term "active substance" refers to a bioactive material, a material intended to achieve or enhance a physiological response. The active substance may be selected, for example, from functional foods, nootropic substances, psychoactive substances. The active substance may be naturally occurring or synthetically obtained. The active substance may include, for example, nicotine, caffeine, taurine, theine, vitamins, such as B6 or B12 or C, melatonin, cannabinoids, or their components, derivatives or combinations. The active substance may include one or more components, derivatives or extracts of tobacco, cannabis or other plant substances. In some embodiments, the active substance includes nicotine. In some embodiments, the active substance includes caffeine, melatonin or vitamin B12.

[0102] As shown herein, the active substance may include one or more components, derivatives or extracts of cannabis, such as one or more cannabinoids or terpenes.

[0103] As shown herein, the active substance may comprise or be derived from one or more plant substances or their components, derivatives or extracts. As used herein, the term "plant material" includes any material derived from plants, including but not limited to extracts, leaves, bark, fibers, stems, roots, seeds, flowers, fruits, pollen, husks, skins, etc. Alternatively, this material may contain active compounds that are naturally present in the plant material or obtained synthetically. This material may be in the form of a liquid, gas, solid, powder, dust, crushed particles, granules, pellets, fragments, chips, sheets, etc. Examples of plant substances are tobacco, eucalyptus, star anise, hemp, cocoa, cannabis, wikyo, lemongrass, peppermint, spearmint, rooibos, chamomile, flax, ginger, ginkgo leaf extract, purslane, hibiscus, laurel, licorice, matcha, mate, orange peel, papaya, rose, sage, tea, such as green tea or black tea, thyme, clove, cinnamon, coffee, aniseed, basil, bay leaf, cardamom, coriander, cumin, nutmeg, oregano, paprika, rosemary, saffron, lavender, lemon peel, mint, juniper, chrysanthemum flower, vanilla, wintergreen, perilla, turmeric, sandalwood, silantro, bergamot, orange flower, myrtle, blackcurrant, valerian, pimento, mace, damiana, marjoram, olive, lemon balm, lemon basil, chive, caraway, vervain, tarragon, geranium, mulberry, burdock, theanine, theacrine, maca, ashwagandha, damiana, guarana, chlorophyll, baobab or any combination thereof.The mint may be selected from the following mint varieties, namely, Mentha arvensis, Mentha c.v., Mentha niliaca, Mentha piperita, Mentha piperita citrata c.v., Mentha piperita c.v., Mentha spicata crispa, Mentha cordifolia, Mentha longifolia, Mentha suaveolens variegata, Mentha pulegium, Mentha spicata c.v., and Mentha suaveolens.

[0104] In some embodiments, the active substance comprises or is derived from one or more plant substances or components, derivatives or extracts thereof, and the plant substance is tobacco.

[0105] In some embodiments, the active substance comprises or is derived from one or more plant substances or components, derivatives or extracts thereof, and the plant substances are selected from eucalyptus, star anise, cocoa, and hemp.

[0106] In some embodiments, the active substance comprises or is derived from one or more plant substances or components, derivatives or extracts thereof, and the plant substances are selected from rooibos and licorice.

[0107] As used herein, the term "tobacco material" refers to any material containing tobacco or its derivatives. The term "tobacco material" may include one or more of tobacco, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco, or tobacco substitutes. The tobacco material may include one or more of shredded tobacco, tobacco fibers, cut tobacco, extruded tobacco, tobacco stalks, reconstituted tobacco, and / or tobacco extracts.

[0108] The tobacco used to manufacture the tobacco material may be any suitable tobacco, including Virginia and / or Burley and / or Oriental, of a single grade or blend, cut rag or whole leaf, etc. It may also be "fine powder" or dust of tobacco particles, expanded tobacco, tobacco stalks, expanded tobacco stalks, and other processed tobacco stalk materials (such as rolled cut tobacco stalks). The tobacco material may be ground tobacco or reconstituted tobacco material. The reconstituted tobacco material may contain tobacco fibers and may be formed by casting, a fourdrinier approach with back addition of tobacco extracts, or extrusion.

[0109] As used herein, the term "aerosol-forming material" refers to one or more components capable of forming an aerosol. In some embodiments, the aerosol-forming material can include one or more of glycerin, glycerol, propylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol, erythritol, meso-erythritol, ethyl vanillate, ethyl laurate, diethyl suberate, triethyl citrate, triacetin, diacetin mixture, benzyl benzoate, benzyl phenylacetate, tributyrin, lauryl acetate, lauric acid, myristic acid, and propylene carbonate.

[0110] As used herein, the term "functional material" can refer to a pH regulator, a colorant, a preservative, a binder, a filler, a stabilizer, and / or an antioxidant.

[0111] For the sake of avoiding misunderstanding, when the term "comprising" is used in this specification to define the present invention or the features of the present invention, embodiments are also disclosed in which the invention or the features can be defined using the terms "consisting essentially of" or "consisting of" instead of "comprising".

[0112] The above embodiments should be understood as examples of the present invention. It should be understood that any feature described in connection with any one embodiment may be used alone or in combination with any other feature described, and may also be used in combination with one or more features of any other embodiment, or any combination of any other embodiments. Furthermore, equivalents and modifications not described above can also be used without departing from the scope of the present invention defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. An article for use in a non-combustible aerosol supply system, the article comprising an aerosol generating segment containing an aerosol generating material, the aerosol generating segment comprising at least a first portion and a second portion, the aerosol generating segment containing a first flavor glycoside, the second portion not containing the first flavor glycoside, and the aerosol generating segment further comprising a free flavor which is a flavor that is not derivatized and not encapsulated.

2. The article according to claim 1, wherein the first flavor glycoside is a flavor glucoside.

3. The article according to claim 1 or 2, comprising at least a portion of the first flavor glycoside on or in the aerosol generating material.

4. The article according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the aerosol generating segment comprises an aerosol generating material and a wrap disposed around the aerosol generating material, and at least a portion of the first flavor glycoside is provided on or in the wrap.

5. The article according to claim 1, comprising the free flavor in only the first portion, or only the second portion, or both the first and second portions.

6. The article according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the free flavor is the same flavor as the glycosylated flavor in the first flavor glycoside.

7. The article according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the aerosol generating segment contains a second flavor glycoside different from the first flavor glycoside.

8. The article according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the aerosol generating segment contains a solid aerosol generating material.

9. The article according to claim 8, wherein the aerosol generating material contains one or more of a tobacco material, an aerosol forming material, an active substance, and a functional material.

10. A non-combustible aerosol supply system comprising an aerosol generating material and an aerosol generating segment comprising at least a first portion and a second portion, the aerosol generating segment containing a flavor glycoside, the second portion not containing the flavor glycoside, and the aerosol generating segment further comprising a free flavor which is a flavor that is not derivatized and not encapsulated.

11. The non-combustible aerosol supply system according to claim 10, comprising (i) the article according to any one of claims 1 to 9, and (ii) an aerosol supply device for accommodating the article during use.

12. The system according to claim 10 or 11, comprising a heater configured to heat the aerosol generation segment during use to form an aerosol, the heater providing different heat profiles to the first and second portions.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein heating of the first portion of the aerosol generation segment is configured to start after heating of the second portion.

14. The system according to claim 12 or 13, comprising at least two heaters, the heaters being arranged to heat different portions of the aerosol generation segment respectively.

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