Aerosol delivery device having a sliding and axially rotating locking mechanism - Patents.com

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an aerosol delivery device and holder for use with a removable substrate cartridge. In one embodiment, the holder includes a first body portion and a second body portion, the first body portion defining a body and a guide post extending at least partially therethrough to define a receiving chamber. The second body portion is configured to rotate about and slide back and forth along at least a portion of the guide post between a use position in which the second body portion is adjacent to the body of the first body portion and the substrate cartridge is held in the receiving chamber, and an open position in which the second body portion rotates relative to the body of the first body portion and extends away from the body of the first body portion so that the substrate cartridge can be inserted into or removed from the receiving chamber.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16 / 861,713, entitled "Aerosol Delivery Device with Sliding and Axially Rotating Locking Mechanism," filed April 29, 2020, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0002] The present disclosure relates to aerosol delivery devices and systems such as smoking articles, and in particular to aerosol delivery devices and systems that utilize a heat source, such as a combustible carbon-based ignition source, to generate an aerosol (e.g., smoking articles intended to obtain tobacco, tobacco extracts, nicotine, synthetic nicotine, non-nicotine flavors, and other material components in inhalable form, commonly referred to as non-combustion heating systems or e-cigarettes). The components of such articles may be manufactured or derived from tobacco, or the articles may otherwise be characterized as incorporating tobacco for human consumption, and may vaporize the tobacco and / or other tobacco-related material components to form an inhalable aerosol for human consumption. [Background technology]

[0003] Many smoking articles have been proposed over the years as an improvement or replacement for smoking products based on tobacco combustion. Exemplary alternatives have included devices in which a solid or liquid fuel is burned to transfer heat to the tobacco, or a chemical reaction is used to provide such a heat source. Examples include the smoking articles described in U.S. Patent No. 9,078,473 to Worm et al., the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0004] The point of improving or replacing smoking articles is typically to provide the sensation associated with cigarettes, cigars or pipe smoking without delivering a significant amount of incomplete combustion and pyrolysis products.For this purpose, many smoking products, aroma generators and medical inhalers have been proposed, which utilize electrical energy to vaporize or heat volatile substances, or attempt to provide the sensation of cigarettes, cigars or pipe smoking without burning tobacco to a significant extent.For example, see U.S. Patent No. 7,726,320 by Robinson et al., and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2013 / 0255702 by Griffith Jr. et al., and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014 / 0096781 by Sears et al., which are incorporated herein by reference, for various alternative smoking articles, aerosol delivery devices and heat sources described in the background art. See also, for example, the various types of smoking articles, aerosol delivery devices, and electrical heat sources referenced by brand name and commercial source set forth in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015 / 0220232 to Bless et al., which is incorporated herein by reference. Additional types of smoking articles, aerosol delivery devices, and electrical heat sources referenced by brand name and commercial source are listed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015 / 0245659 to DePiano et al., which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.Other representative tobacco or smoking articles that have been described, and in some cases are commercially available, include U.S. Pat. No. 4,735,217 to Gerth, U.S. Pat. No. 4,922,901 to Brooks, U.S. Pat. No. 4,947,874 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,947,875 to Counts, U.S. Pat. No. 5,060,671 to Morgan, U.S. Pat. No. 5,249,586 to Counts, U.S. Pat. No. 5,388 to Counts, which are incorporated herein by reference. ,594, U.S. Patent No. 5,666,977 to Higgins et al., U.S. Patent No. 6,053,176 to Adams et al., U.S. Patent No. 6,164,287 to White, U.S. Patent No. 6,196,218 to Voges, U.S. Patent No. 6,810,883 to Felter et al., U.S. Patent No. 6,854,461 to Nichols, U.S. Patent No. 7,832,410 to Hon, U.S. Patent No. 7,513,252 to Kobayashi No. 3, U.S. Pat. No. 7,726,320 to Robinson et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,896,006 to Hamano, U.S. Pat. No. 6,772,756 to Shayan, U.S. Pat. Appl. Publication Nos. 2009 / 0095311 to Hon, U.S. Pat. Appl. Publication Nos. 2006 / 0196518, 2009 / 0126745, and 2009 / 0188490 to Thorens et al. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2009 / 0272379, U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2009 / 0260641 and 2009 / 0260642 by Monsees et al., U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2008 / 0149118 and 2010 / 0024834 by Oglesby et al., U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010 / 0307518 by Wang, and WO 2010 / 091593 by Hon.

[0005] Various methods and techniques have been proposed for assembling smoking articles having multiple serially arranged segmented components, see, for example, the various types of assembly techniques and methodologies described in U.S. Patent No. 5,469,871 to Barnes et al., U.S. Patent No. 7,647,932 to Crooks et al., U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010 / 0186757 to Crooks et al., U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2012 / 0042885 to Stone et al., and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2012 / 00673620 to Conner et al., which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

[0006] Certain types of cigarettes using a carbonaceous fuel element are marketed by RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company under the trade names "Premier," "Eclipse," and "Revo." See, for example, these types of cigarettes described in "Chemical and Biological Studies on New Cigarette Prototypes that Heat Instead of Burn Tobacco," RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company Monograph (1988) and Inhalation Toxicology, 12:5, pp. 1-58 (2000). Similar cigarettes are also sold in Japan by Japan Tobacco under the trade name "Steam Hot One."

[0007] In some cases, some smoking articles, particularly those using conventional paper wrappers, are also prone to scorching of the wrapper material covering the ignitable fuel source due to the high temperatures achieved by the fuel source in close proximity to the wrapper material. This can reduce the enjoyment of the smoking experience for some consumers and can mask or undesirably alter the flavor delivered to the consumer by the aerosol-delivery component of the smoking article. In a further example, conventional types of smoking articles can produce relatively significant levels of gases, such as carbon monoxide and / or carbon dioxide, during use (e.g., as products of carbon combustion). In yet another example, conventional types of smoking articles can suffer from poor performance in aerosolizing the aerosol-forming component(s). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] U.S. Patent No. 9,078,473 [Patent Document 2] U.S. Patent No. 7,726,320 [Patent Document 3] US Patent Application Publication No. 2013 / 0255702 [Patent Document 4] US Patent Application Publication No. 2014 / 0096781 [Patent Document 5] US Patent Application Publication No. 2015 / 0220232 [Patent Document 6] US Patent Application Publication No. 2015 / 0245659 [Patent Document 7] U.S. Patent No. 4,735,217 [Patent Document 8] U.S. Patent No. 4,922,901 [Patent Document 9] U.S. Patent No. 4,947,874 [Patent Document 10] U.S. Patent No. 4,947,875 [Patent Document 11] U.S. Patent No. 5,060,671 [Patent Document 12] U.S. Patent No. 5,249,586 [Patent Document 13] U.S. Patent No. 5,388,594 [Patent Document 14] U.S. Patent No. 5,666,977 [Patent Document 15] U.S. Patent No. 6,053,176 [Patent Document 16] U.S. Patent No. 6,164,287 [Patent Document 17] U.S. Patent No. 6,196,218 [Patent Document 18] U.S. Patent No. 6,810,883 [Patent Document 19] U.S. Patent No. 6,854,461 [Patent Document 20] U.S. Patent No. 7,832,410 [Patent Document 21] U.S. Patent No. 7,513,253 [Patent Document 22] U.S. Patent No. 7,896,006 [Patent Document 23] U.S. Patent No. 6,772,756 [Patent Document 24] US Patent Application Publication No. 2009 / 0095311 [Patent Document 25] US Patent Application Publication No. 2006 / 0196518 [Patent Document 26] US Patent Application Publication No. 2009 / 0126745 [Patent Document 27] US Patent Application Publication No. 2009 / 0188490 [Patent Document 28] US Patent Application Publication No. 2009 / 0272379 [Patent Document 29] US Patent Application Publication No. 2009 / 0260641 [Patent Document 30] US Patent Application Publication No. 2009 / 0260642 [Patent Document 31] US Patent Application Publication No. 2008 / 0149118 [Patent Document 32] US Patent Application Publication No. 2010 / 0024834 [Patent Document 33] US Patent Application Publication No. 2010 / 0307518 [Patent Document 34] International Publication No. 2010 / 091593 [Patent Document 35] U.S. Patent No. 5,469,871 [Patent Document 36] U.S. Patent No. 7,647,932 [Patent Document 37] US Patent Application Publication No. 2010 / 0186757 [Patent Document 38] US Patent Application Publication No. 2012 / 0042885 [Patent Document 39] US Patent Application Publication No. 2012 / 00673620 [Non-patent literature]

[0009] [Non-Patent Document 1] Chemical and Biological Studies on New Cigarette Prototypes that Heat Instead of Burn Tobacco,RJReynolds Tobacco Company Monograph(1988)and Inhalation Toxicology,12:5,p.1-58(2000) Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0010] It is thus desirable to provide a smoking article that addresses one or more of the technical problems sometimes associated with conventional types of smoking articles, and in particular to provide a smoking article that is easy to use and provides replaceable components. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] In various embodiments, the present disclosure relates to an aerosol delivery device and holder for use with a removable and replaceable cartridge. The present disclosure includes, but is not limited to, the following examples.

[0012] Example 1: A holder for use with a removable and replaceable substrate cartridge, the holder comprising: a first body portion defining a body and a guide post extending from the body, the guide post defining a distal end, the body defining an opposite mouth end, the guide post further defining a receiving chamber extending at least partially therethrough; and a second body portion, the second body portion configured to rotate around and slide along at least a portion of the guide post between at least an in-use position in which the second body portion is adjacent to the body of the first body portion and the substrate cartridge is held in the receiving chamber, and an open position in which the second body portion rotates relative to the body of the first body portion and extends away from the body of the first body portion so that the substrate cartridge can be inserted into or removed from the receiving chamber.

[0013] (Example 2) A holder described in Example 1, or any combination of any of the preceding examples, wherein the guide post includes a guide slot, the second body portion includes a guide pin, and the guide pin is configured to move within the guide slot between a use position and an open position.

[0014] (Example 3) The holder according to any one of Examples 1 and 2 or any combination of any of the preceding Examples, wherein the guide post has a substantially cylindrical shape.

[0015] (Example 4) The holder of any one of Examples 1 to 3, or any combination of any of the preceding Examples, wherein the second body portion is biased to an open position relative to the body of the first body portion.

[0016] (Example 5) A holder described in any one of Examples 1 to 4, or any combination of any of the preceding Examples, wherein the second body portion includes a rotation limiting mechanism and the first body portion includes an extension slot.

[0017] (Example 6) A holder described in any one of Examples 1 to 5, or any combination of any of the preceding Examples, wherein the second body portion includes a pair of openings adjacent its distal end.

[0018] (Example 7) The holder according to any one of Examples 1 to 6, or any combination of any of the preceding Examples, wherein at least one of the first body portion or the second body portion includes a cartridge holding mechanism.

[0019] (Example 8) A holder described in any one of Examples 1 to 7, or any combination of any of the preceding Examples, wherein the cartridge retention mechanism comprises one or more retaining spheres disposed within the guide posts.

[0020] (Example 9) A holder described in any one of Examples 1 to 8, or any combination of any of the preceding Examples, wherein the cartridge retaining mechanism further comprises one or more corresponding cam surfaces disposed on the inner surface of the second body portion.

[0021] (Example 10) A holder described in any one of Examples 1 to 9, or any combination of any of the preceding Examples, wherein at least one of the first body portion or the second body portion has an overall shape that is approximately rectangular.

[0022] (Example 11) An aerosol delivery device comprising: a removable cartridge, the removable cartridge comprising a substrate portion including a substrate having an aerosol precursor composition configured to form an aerosol upon application of heat; and a holder comprising: a first body portion defining a body and a guide post extending from the body, the guide post defining a distal end, the body defining an opposite mouth end, the guide post further defining a receiving chamber extending at least partially therethrough; and a second body portion, the second body portion configured to rotate around and slide back and forth along at least a portion of the guide post between at least a use position in which the second body portion is adjacent to the body of the first body portion and the cartridge is held in the receiving chamber, and an open position in which the second body portion rotates relative to the body of the first body portion and extends away from the body of the first body portion so that the cartridge can be inserted into or removed from the receiving chamber.

[0023] (Example 12) An aerosol delivery device described in Example 11, or any combination of any of the preceding examples, wherein the guide post includes a guide slot, the second body portion includes a guide pin, and the guide pin is configured to move within the guide slot between a use position and an open position.

[0024] (Example 13) An aerosol delivery device described in any one of Examples 11 to 12, or any combination of any of the preceding Examples, wherein the guide post has an approximately cylindrical shape.

[0025] (Example 14) An aerosol delivery device described in any one of Examples 11 to 13, or any combination of any of the preceding Examples, wherein the second body portion is biased to an open position relative to the body of the first body portion.

[0026] (Example 15) An aerosol delivery device described in any one of Examples 11 to 14, or any combination of any of the preceding Examples, wherein the second body portion includes a rotation limiting mechanism and the first body portion includes an extension slot.

[0027] (Example 16) An aerosol delivery device described in any of Examples 11 to 15, or any combination of any of the preceding Examples, wherein the second body portion includes a pair of openings proximate its distal end, which are also configured to be proximate to the heat source of the cartridge when in the use position.

[0028] (Example 17) An aerosol delivery device described in any one of Examples 11 to 16, or any combination of any of the preceding Examples, wherein at least one of the first body portion or the second body portion includes a cartridge retention mechanism.

[0029] (Example 18) An aerosol delivery device described in any of Examples 11 to 17, or any combination of any of the preceding Examples, wherein the cartridge retention mechanism comprises one or more retention spheres disposed within the guide post.

[0030] (Example 19) An aerosol delivery device described in any of Examples 11 to 18, or any combination of any of the preceding Examples, wherein the cartridge retention mechanism further comprises one or more corresponding cam surfaces disposed on the inner surface of the second body portion.

[0031] (Example 20) An aerosol delivery device described in any one of Examples 11 to 19, or any combination of any of the preceding Examples, wherein at least one of the first body portion or the second body portion has an approximately rectangular overall shape.

[0032] (Example 21) An aerosol delivery device described in any of Examples 11 to 20, or any combination of any of the preceding Examples, wherein the cartridge further comprises a heating portion including a heat source configured to generate heat.

[0033] (Example 22) An aerosol delivery device described in any one of Examples 11 to 21, or any combination of any of the preceding Examples, wherein the substrate portion is positioned in proximity to a heat source.

[0034] (Example 23) A kit comprising at least one holder and at least one removable cartridge, wherein the at least one removable cartridge comprises a substrate portion including a substrate having an aerosol precursor composition configured to form an aerosol upon application of heat, and the at least one holder comprises a first body portion defining a body and a guide post extending from the body, the guide post defining a distal end, the body defining an opposite mouth end, the guide post further defining a receiving chamber extending at least partially therethrough, and a second body portion, wherein the second body portion is configured to rotate around and slide back and forth along at least a portion of the guide post between at least a use position in which the second body portion is adjacent to the body of the first body portion and the cartridge is held in the receiving chamber, and an open position in which the second body portion rotates relative to the body of the first body portion and extends away from the body of the first body portion so that the cartridge can be inserted into or removed from the receiving chamber.

[0035] (Example 24) A kit described in Example 23, or any combination of any of the preceding examples, wherein the guide post includes a guide slot, the second body portion includes a guide pin, and the guide pin is configured to move within the guide slot between a use position and an open position.

[0036] (Example 25) The kit described in any one of Examples 23 to 24 or any combination of any of the preceding Examples, wherein the guide post has a substantially cylindrical shape.

[0037] (Example 26) A kit described in any one of Examples 23 to 25, or any combination of any of the preceding Examples, wherein the second body portion is biased to an open position relative to the body of the first body portion.

[0038] (Example 27) A kit described in any one of Examples 23 to 26, or any combination of any of the preceding Examples, wherein the second body portion includes a rotation limiting mechanism and the first body portion includes an extension slot.

[0039] (Example 28) A kit described in any of Examples 23 to 27, or any combination of any of the preceding Examples, wherein the second body portion includes a pair of openings adjacent its distal end, which are also configured to be adjacent to the heat source of the cartridge when in the use position.

[0040] (Example 29) A kit described in any one of Examples 23 to 28, or any combination of any of the preceding Examples, wherein at least one of the first body portion or the second body portion includes a cartridge retention mechanism.

[0041] (Example 30) A kit described in any of Examples 23 to 29, or any combination of any of the preceding Examples, wherein the cartridge retention mechanism includes one or more retention spheres positioned within the guide post.

[0042] (Example 31) A kit described in any one of Examples 23 to 30, or any combination of any of the preceding Examples, wherein the cartridge retention mechanism further comprises one or more corresponding cam surfaces disposed on the inner surface of the second body portion.

[0043] (Example 32) A kit described in any one of Examples 23 to 31, or any combination of any of the preceding Examples, wherein at least one of the first body portion or the second body portion has an overall shape that is approximately rectangular.

[0044] (Example 33) A kit described in any one of Examples 23 to 32, or any combination of any of the preceding Examples, wherein the cartridge further comprises a heating portion including a heat source configured to generate heat.

[0045] (Example 34) The kit of any one of Examples 23 to 33, or any combination of any of the preceding Examples, wherein the substrate portion is positioned in proximity to a heat source.

[0046] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are briefly described below. The present invention includes any combination of two, three, four, or more of the above-described embodiments, as well as combinations of any two, three, four, or more features or elements described in this disclosure, regardless of whether such features or elements are explicitly combined in the description of a particular embodiment herein. The present disclosure is intended to be read as a whole such that any separable features or elements of the disclosed invention are considered combinable in any of its various aspects and embodiments, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0047] Having described the present disclosure in general terms above, reference is now made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0048] [Figure 1] 1 shows a perspective view of an aerosol delivery device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2A] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a first body portion of an aerosol delivery device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2B] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a first body portion of an aerosol delivery device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 3A] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a second body portion of an aerosol delivery device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 3B]FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a second body portion of an aerosol delivery device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] 1 shows a perspective view of an aerosol delivery device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 5] FIG. 1 shows a perspective cross-sectional view of a second body portion of an aerosol delivery device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 6A] 1 illustrates a rotation limiting and biasing mechanism for an aerosol delivery device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 6B] 1 illustrates a rotation limiting and biasing mechanism for an aerosol delivery device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 7] 1 illustrates a perspective view of a removable and replaceable cartridge according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 8] 1 shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a removable and replaceable cartridge according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0049] The present disclosure will now be more fully described with reference to examples thereof. These examples are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art. Indeed, the disclosure may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0050] The present disclosure provides a description of articles (and their assembly and / or manufacture) in which materials are heated (preferably without burning the materials to any significant extent) to form an aerosol and / or inhalable substance, and most preferably, such articles are compact enough to be considered "handheld" devices. In preferred embodiments, the articles are characterized as smoking articles. As used herein, the term "smoking article" is intended to mean an article and / or device that provides many of the sensations of smoking a cigarette, cigar, or pipe (e.g., the act of inhaling and exhaling, the type of taste or flavor, the sensory effect, the physical sensation, the act of use, cues such as those provided by a visible aerosol, etc.) without substantially burning any components of the article and / or device. As used herein, the term "smoking article" does not necessarily mean that, during operation, the article or device produces smoke in the sense of an aerosol resulting from the by-products of tobacco combustion or pyrolysis, but rather that the article or device produces vapor resulting from the volatilization or vaporization of certain components, elements, etc. of the article and / or device (including vapor within an aerosol that is considered to be a visible aerosol that is considered to be described as smoky). In preferred embodiments, articles or devices characterized as smoking articles incorporate tobacco and / or tobacco-derived components.

[0051] As noted above, the aerosol-generating components of certain suitable aerosol delivery devices can provide many of the sensations of smoking a cigarette, cigar, or pipe (e.g., the act of inhaling and exhaling, the type of taste or flavor, the sensory effect, the physical sensation, the act of use, cues such as those provided by the visible aerosol, etc.) without burning any components to any substantial extent, where the cigarette, cigar, or pipe is used by lighting and burning the tobacco (and thus inhaling the tobacco smoke). For example, a user of an aerosol delivery device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure can hold and use the component as a smoker would use a traditional type of smoking article, retracting one end of the component for inhalation of the aerosol generated by the component, taking and retracting puffs at selected time intervals, etc.

[0052] The article or device of the present disclosure may also be characterized as a vapor product, an aerosol delivery article, or a drug delivery article. Therefore, such an article or device may be adapted to provide one or more substances in an inhalable form or state. For example, the inhalable substance may be substantially in vapor form (e.g., a substance in the gas phase at a temperature below its critical point). Alternatively, the inhalable substance may be in aerosol form (e.g., a suspension of fine solid particles or liquid droplets in a gas). For simplicity, the term "aerosol" as used herein is intended to include vapors, gases, and aerosols in any form or type suitable for human inhalation, whether visible or not, and whether or not in a form considered smoke-like. In some embodiments, the terms "vapor" and "aerosol" may be interchangeable. Therefore, for simplicity, the terms "vapor" and "aerosol" used to describe the present disclosure are understood to be interchangeable unless otherwise specified.

[0053] In use, smoking articles of the present disclosure are subject to many of the physical responses of an individual when using a traditional type of smoking article (e.g., a cigarette, cigar, or pipe that is used by lighting it with a flame and then inhaling the combusted tobacco). For example, a user of a smoking article of the present disclosure holds the article as in a traditional type of smoking article, draws in one end of the article for inhalation of the aerosol produced by the article, and puffs at selected time intervals.

[0054] Although the system is generally described herein with respect to embodiments relating to smoking articles, such as so-called "tobacco heating products," it should be understood that the features, components, features, and methods may be implemented in many different forms and in association with a variety of articles. For example, the descriptions provided herein may be used in conjunction with traditional smoking articles (e.g., cigarettes, cigars, pipes, etc.), heat-not-burn tobacco, and related packaging embodiments of any of the products disclosed herein. Accordingly, it should be understood that the descriptions of the features, components, features, and methods disclosed herein are described with respect to embodiments relating to aerosol delivery devices by way of example only, and may be embodied and used in a variety of other products and methods.

[0055] Smoking articles of the present disclosure generally include several elements disposed or contained within some type of enclosure, such as a housing, outer wrap or packaging, casing, component, module, member, etc. The overall design of the enclosure is variable, as is the type or configuration of the enclosure that defines the overall size and shape of the smoking article. In some embodiments, it is desirable for the overall design, size, and / or shape of the enclosure to resemble that of a traditional cigarette or cigar. Typically, an enclosure resembling the shape of a cigarette or cigar comprises separable components, members, etc. that engage to form the enclosure. For example, in some embodiments, such smoking articles may comprise separable components including a holder and a cartridge containing an aerosol delivery component (e.g., a substrate, etc.) and a heat source component. In various aspects, the heat source may be capable of generating heat to aerosolize substrates, such as extruded structures and / or substrates, substrates associated with the aerosol precursor composition, tobacco and / or tobacco-related materials, such as materials naturally found in tobacco, in solid or liquid form (e.g., beads, sheets, strips, wraps), isolated directly from tobacco, or synthetically prepared. In some embodiments, the extruded structure may contain tobacco products or composites of tobacco with other materials, such as ceramic powders. In other embodiments, tobacco extracts / slurries may be loaded into porous ceramic beads. Other embodiments may use non-tobacco products. In some embodiments, aerosol precursor composition-loaded porous beads / powder (ceramics) may be used. In other embodiments, rods / cylinders made of an extruded slurry of ceramic powder and aerosol precursor composition may be used.

[0056] According to certain aspects of the present disclosure, it may be advantageous to provide an aerosol delivery device that is easy to use and offers reusable and / or replaceable components. Such a device is shown in Figure 1. In particular, Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an aerosol delivery device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0057] As shown in the figures, the aerosol delivery device 100 of the illustrated embodiment comprises a holder 200 including a first body portion 300 and a second body portion 400, and a removable and replaceable cartridge 500 (described in more detail below with respect to FIGS. 7 and 8). In the illustrated embodiment, the holder 200 (including the first body portion 300 and the second body portion 400) has a generally rectangular overall shape. However, in other embodiments, the holder or any of its components may have a different shape. For example, in some embodiments, the holder (and / or any of its components) may have a generally cylindrical shape that mimics the shape of a traditional cigarette. For example, in some embodiments, the holder (and / or any of its components) may have a generally rectangular shape, such as a substantially rectangular cuboid shape. In other embodiments, the holder (and / or any of its components) may have other handheld shapes. For example, in some embodiments, the holder (and / or any of its components) may have a small box shape, various pod mod shapes, or a fob shape.

[0058] As best shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B , which show perspective views of the first body portion 300 of the aerosol delivery device 100 of FIG. 1 , the first body portion 300 defines a distal end 302 and an opposite mouth end 304, with a longitudinal axis L extending therethrough. In the illustrated embodiment, the first body portion 300 further defines a body 305 and a guidepost 306 that extends from the end of the body 305 to the distal end 302 of the first body portion 300. In the illustrated embodiment, the guidepost 306 further defines a receiving chamber 307 that begins at and extends at least partially through the distal end 302 of the guidepost 306. In the illustrated embodiment, the body 305 tapers toward the mouth end 304, although in other embodiments, the first body portion may have a substantially consistent shape at the mouth end.

[0059] As described in more detail below, the second body portion 400 in the illustrated embodiment is configured to rotate about and slide along the guide post 306. In the illustrated embodiment, the guide post 306 has a generally cylindrical shape and extends less than half the total length of the first body portion 300. However, in other embodiments, the guide post may have a different shape (e.g., non-cylindrical) and may extend more or less than that length. The guide post 306 in the illustrated embodiment has an outer diameter that is less than the outer width of the first body portion 300, although other dimensions are possible. In the illustrated embodiment, an aerosol passage 308 is defined through the first body portion 300 extending from the distal end 302, through the guide post 306 and body 305 of the first body portion 300, and through the mouth end 304. In the illustrated embodiment, the mouth end 304 of the first body portion 300 includes a plurality of clustered, generally circular openings 310 extending therethrough. However, in other embodiments, there may be a single opening having the same or different shapes, or multiple openings each having a different shape.

[0060] In various embodiments, the first body portion and / or the second body portion may be made of a moldable plastic material, such as, for example, polycarbonate, polyethylene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polyamide (nylon), or polypropylene. However, in other embodiments, the first body portion and / or the second body portion may be made of a different material, such as, for example, a different plastic material, a metal material (e.g., but not limited to, stainless steel, aluminum, brass, copper, silver, gold, or bronze), a graphite material, a glass material, a ceramic material, a natural material (e.g., but not limited to, wood), a composite material, or any combination thereof. In the illustrated embodiment, the guidepost 306 is part of the first body portion 300. However, in other embodiments, the guidepost may comprise a separate component and may be made of the same or a different material as the first body portion or the second body portion.

[0061] In the illustrated embodiment, the first body portion 300 further includes a guide slot 314 configured to facilitate movement of the second body portion 400 from an open position to a use position and from a use position to an open position, as described in more detail below. In the open position, the cartridge 500 is inserted into or removed from the receiving chamber, and in the use position, the cartridge 500 is retained in the receiving chamber. In the illustrated embodiment, the guide slot 314 is generally L-shaped, with the longitudinal leg 314a of the slot 314 generally aligned with the longitudinal axis L of the first body portion 300 and the lateral leg 314b substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal leg 314a. In this manner, the guide slot 314 can facilitate rotational and sliding movement of the second body portion 400 relative to the first body portion 300, as described in more detail below. Note that in other embodiments, the guide slot can have other configurations that facilitate rotational and sliding movement of the second body portion. For example, in some embodiments, the guide slot may have a curved configuration, such as, but not limited to, a helical or partial helical configuration.

[0062] In the illustrated embodiment, the guide post 306 includes a plurality of retaining spheres 312 that form part of the cartridge retention mechanism (the other portions are located within the second body portion 400, as described in more detail below). In the illustrated embodiment, there are three retaining spheres 312 spaced approximately equally around the guide post 306 and extending at least partially therethrough into the receiving chamber 307 (at least in the use position). In other embodiments, there may be more or fewer spheres. In still other embodiments, the cartridge retention mechanism may have other configurations. For example, in some embodiments, the retention mechanism may comprise one or more resilient members. In other embodiments, the outer housing of the cartridge and / or holder may include one or more protrusions and / or spring mechanisms and corresponding detent mechanisms configured to retain the cartridge within the receiving chamber in the use position. In other embodiments, the inner surface of the receiving chamber may have one or more portions with a reduced diameter and / or a reduced diameter that may be configured to retain the cartridge within the receiving chamber in the use position. In other embodiments, the holder may include a retraction mechanism configured to engage the cartridge and retain the cartridge in the receiving chamber in the use position. In other embodiments, the holder may include one or more wedge mechanisms configured to engage and retain the cartridge in the receiving chamber in the use position. In still other embodiments, one or more features of the cartridge and / or one or more features of the holder may form a releasable connection between the receiving chamber and the cartridge. For example, in some embodiments, the cartridge and receiving chamber may have a releasable threaded connection. In still other embodiments, the cartridge may be retained in the receiving chamber via magnetic force. For example, in some embodiments, the outer housing of the cartridge may be made of a ferromagnetic material, and the receiving chamber may include one or more magnets. Thus, while in the illustrated embodiment, a portion of the cartridge retention mechanism is disposed in the first body portion and a portion of the cartridge retention mechanism is disposed in the second body portion, in other embodiments, the cartridge retention mechanism may be disposed only in the first body portion and only in the second body portion.

[0063] In various embodiments, the retaining sphere may be made of a moldable plastic material such as, for example, polycarbonate, polyethylene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polyamide (nylon), or polypropylene. However, in other embodiments, the retaining sphere may be made of a different material, such as, for example, a different plastic material, a metallic material (e.g., without limitation, stainless steel, aluminum, brass, copper, silver, gold, or bronze), a graphite material, a glass material, a ceramic material, a natural material (e.g., without limitation, wood), a composite material, or any combination thereof. In the illustrated embodiment, the retaining sphere 312 is made of a metallic material.

[0064] 3A and 3B show perspective views of the second body portion 400 of the aerosol delivery device 100 of FIG. 1. As shown, the second body portion 400 defines a distal end 402 and a proximal end 404, both of which are open. In the illustrated embodiment, the second body portion 400 is configured to be disposed around the guide posts 306 of the first body portion 300 so as to be movable relative to the guide posts. The distal end 402 of the second body portion 400 in the illustrated embodiment also includes a pair of opposing U-shaped openings 408 configured to be disposed adjacent to the heat source of the cartridge 500 when the cartridge 500 is inserted into the holder 200. In the illustrated embodiment, the second body portion 400 has an overall rectangular shape that generally matches the rectangular shape of the first body portion 300; however, it should be noted that in other embodiments, one or both of the first or second body portions may have different shapes.

[0065] In the illustrated embodiment, the second body portion 400 also includes a guide pin 405 configured to travel within the guide slot 314 (see FIGS. 2A and 2B ) of the first body portion 300. As described above, the guide slot 314 is configured to facilitate rotation and sliding of the second body portion 400 relative to the first body portion 300. Such rotation and sliding of the second body portion 400 occurs when the second body portion 400 is moved between the use position and the open position. In particular, in the use position, the proximal end 404 of the second body portion 400 is positioned adjacent to the body 305 of the first body portion 300, and the guide pin 405 of the second body portion 400 is positioned adjacent to the end of the lateral leg 314 b of the guide slot 314 of the first body portion 300. In the open position, the second body portion 400 is rotated relative to the first body portion 300 (approximately 45 degrees in the illustrated embodiment), with the proximal end 404 of the second body portion 400 extending away from the body 305 of the first body portion 300 and the guide pin 405 positioned proximate the end of the longitudinal leg 314a of the guide slot 314. It should be noted that in the open position of other embodiments, the second body portion may be rotated more or less than 45 degrees relative to the first body portion.

[0066] The rotation and sliding movement of the second body portion 400 from the use position is shown in FIG. 4. For ease of illustration, the second body portion 400 of the holder 200 is shown as transparent. To move the second body portion 400 from the use position to the open position, the second body portion 400 is rotated clockwise (or counterclockwise, depending on the orientation of the guide slot) relative to the first body portion 300. This movement causes the guide pin 405 of the second body portion to move along the lateral leg 314b of the guide slot 314 of the first body portion 300. When the guide pin 405 reaches the end of the lateral leg 314b of the guide slot 314, the guide pin 405 moves along the longitudinal leg 314a away from the main body 305 of the first body portion 300 until it is positioned adjacent to the terminal end of the longitudinal leg 314a.

[0067] In the illustrated embodiment, the second body portion 400 is configured to be biased toward the open position. In the illustrated embodiment, this is accomplished using a spring member 450, shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B . In some implementations, rotation of the second body portion 400 relative to the first body portion 300 may be limited by a rotation-limiting mechanism 452, also shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B . In the illustrated embodiment, the rotation-limiting mechanism 452 comprises a flange 454 and a post 456 extending from the flange 454. In the illustrated embodiment, the second body portion 400 includes a rotation slot 410 (see FIGS. 3A and 3B ), and the guide post 306 includes an extension slot 316 (see FIG. 2B ). In some implementations, rotation of the second body portion may be limited (alternatively or additionally) by a flange of the rotation limiting mechanism and a rotation slot of the second body portion, and extension of the second body portion may be limited (alternatively or additionally) by a flange of the rotation limiting mechanism and an extension slot of the first body portion.

[0068] While in some embodiments the biasing and rotation-limiting mechanisms may be provided separately and other embodiments need not include these mechanisms, in the illustrated embodiment, spring member 450 is configured to extend around post 456 of rotation-limiting mechanism 452. In the illustrated embodiment, one end of spring member 450 is disposed in a pocket in first body portion 300 and the other end is disposed against flange 454 of rotation-limiting mechanism 452. In this manner, spring member 450 in the illustrated embodiment is in a compressed state when second body portion 400 is in the use position and in an extended state (partially or fully) when second body portion 400 is in the open position. In the extended state, one end of the spring remains fixed in a corresponding pocket in the first body portion 300, and the other end of the spring member 450 presses against the flange 454 and thus the second body portion 400 until the guide pin 405 reaches the end of the longitudinal leg 314a of the guide slot 314 (and / or the flange 454 reaches the end of the extension slot 316).

[0069] In various embodiments, the rotation limiting mechanism may be made of a moldable plastic material, such as, for example, polycarbonate, polyethylene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polyamide (nylon), or polypropylene. However, in other embodiments, the rotation limiting mechanism may be made of a different material, such as, for example, a different plastic material, a metal material (e.g., without limitation, stainless steel, aluminum, brass, copper, silver, gold, or bronze), a graphite material, a glass material, a ceramic material, a natural material (e.g., without limitation, wood), a composite material, or any combination thereof. In the illustrated embodiment, the rotation limiting mechanism 452 is a separate component from the spring member 450 and may be made of the same or a different material (e.g., in one embodiment, the plunger may be made of a metal material and the spring member may be made of a metal material). However, in other embodiments, the spring member may be part of the rotation limiting mechanism.

[0070] In the illustrated embodiment, the holder 200 is configured to allow a removable and replaceable cartridge 500 to be inserted into or removed from the cartridge-receiving chamber 307 in the open position, and to retain the removable and replaceable cartridge 500 within the cartridge-receiving chamber 307 in the use position. While cartridge retention can be achieved in various different ways in various embodiments, in the illustrated embodiment, it is achieved via a cartridge retention mechanism comprising one or more spheres 312 in the first body portion 300 (as described above) and one or more cam surfaces 412 disposed on the inner wall of the second body portion. FIG. 5 shows a perspective cross-sectional view of the second body portion 400 of the aerosol delivery device 100 of FIG. 1. As shown, the inner wall of the second body portion 400 is formed with a plurality of cam surfaces 412 extending inward toward the center of the second body portion 400. When in the use position, the cam surfaces 412 of the second body portion 400 are longitudinally aligned with the plurality of retaining spheres 312 of the first body portion 300. In the illustrated embodiment, the first body portion 300 includes three retaining spheres 312 and a corresponding number of cam surfaces 412. However, in other embodiments, there may be more or fewer cam surfaces, and the number of cam surfaces need not equal the number of retaining spheres.

[0071] As described above, the retaining sphere 312 is disposed around and extends through the guide post 306 of the first body portion 300 into the receiving chamber 307 (at least in the use position). In the illustrated embodiment, the retaining sphere 312 is configured to move inward and outward between an engaged position, in which the retaining sphere 312 engages and substantially retains the outer surface of the cartridge 500, and a disengaged position, in which the cartridge 500 is not retained by the retaining sphere 312. These two positions correspond to the use position and the open position of the holder 200, respectively. In some embodiments, the retaining sphere 312 may be unbiased or biased to other positions, but in the illustrated embodiment, the retaining sphere 312 is biased to the disengaged position. In various embodiments, the retaining sphere may be biased in a variety of different ways, for example, by using a spring element, a resilient material, or the like. 5, when the second body portion 400 of the illustrated embodiment is in the use position, the cam surface 412 of the second body portion 400 contacts the retaining sphere 312, positioning the retaining sphere in an engaged position inside the receiving chamber 307. When the second body portion 400 of the illustrated embodiment is in the open position, the retaining sphere 312 moves outward to a disengaged position.

[0072] It should be noted that in some embodiments, when the device is in the use position and the cartridge is received in the retention mechanism, air can be drawn in by the user to flow through the cartridge and be delivered to the user. In some embodiments, air may enter the cartridge through the heating portion. In other embodiments (e.g., implementations in which the cartridge includes a non-porous barrier between the heating portion and the substrate), air may enter the cartridge at a region downstream of the heating portion. In still other embodiments, some of the air may enter the cartridge through the heating portion, and some of the air may enter the cartridge at a region downstream of the heating portion. In some implementations, the first body portion and / or the second body portion may include one or more air flow passages that are substantially aligned with one or more air flow inlet openings located downstream of the heating portion and extend through the outer housing of the cartridge. For example, in some embodiments, the guidepost may include one or more air flow passages that are substantially aligned with one or more air flow inlet openings of the cartridge.

[0073] FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a removable and replaceable cartridge 500 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In the illustrated embodiment, the cartridge 500 defines a first end 502 and a distal end 504. The illustrated embodiment of the cartridge 500 further includes a heating portion 506 comprising a heat source 508, a base portion 510 comprising a substrate 516 (see FIG. 8), and an outer housing 512 configured to circumscribe the heat source 508 and at least a portion of the substrate 516. Note that while in the illustrated embodiment, the cartridge 500 has a generally cylindrical overall shape, in various other embodiments, the cartridge or any of its components may have different shapes. For example, in some embodiments, the cartridge (and / or any of its components) may have a generally rectangular shape, such as a generally rectangular cuboid shape. In other embodiments, the cartridge (and / or any of its components) may have other handheld shapes. Some examples of cartridge configurations that may be applicable to the present disclosure can be found in U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 515,637, filed July 18, 2019, entitled "Aerosol Delivery Device with Consumable Cartridge," which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0074] In some embodiments, a barrier may be present between the heat source and the substrate. In some embodiments, such a barrier may comprise a disk that may include one or more openings. In some embodiments, the barrier may be composed of a metallic material (e.g., stainless steel, aluminum, brass, copper, silver, gold, bronze, etc.), a graphite material, a ceramic material, a plastic material, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, a heat transfer component, which may or may not comprise a barrier, may be present between the heat source and the substrate. Some examples of heat transfer components are described in U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 923,735, entitled "Smoking Article with Heat Transfer Component," filed March 16, 2018, and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. In some embodiments, the barrier or heat transfer component may prevent and / or inhibit combustion gases from being drawn through the substrate (and / or through the air passages through which aerosols are drawn).

[0075] In various embodiments, the heat source may be configured to generate heat upon ignition. In the illustrated embodiment, the heat source 508 has a generally cylindrical shape and comprises a combustible fuel element incorporating a combustible carbonaceous material. In other embodiments, the heat source may have a different shape, for example, a prismatic shape with a cubic or hexagonal cross section. Carbonaceous materials generally have a high carbon content. Some carbonaceous materials may be primarily composed of carbon and / or may typically have a carbon content of greater than about 60%, commonly greater than about 70%, often greater than about 80%, and most commonly greater than about 90%, on a dry weight basis.

[0076] In some cases, the heat source may incorporate elements other than combustible carbonaceous materials (e.g., tobacco components such as powdered tobacco or tobacco extracts; flavorings; salts such as sodium chloride, potassium chloride, and sodium carbonate; thermostable graphite hollow cylindrical (e.g., tubular) fibers; iron oxide powder; glass filaments; powdered calcium carbonate; alumina granules; an ammonia source such as an ammonia salt; and / or binders, e.g., guar gum, ammonium alginate, and sodium alginate). In other embodiments, the heat source may comprise multiple ignitable objects, e.g., multiple ignitable beads. Note that in other embodiments, the heat source may differ in composition or relative content from those described above. For example, in some embodiments, different forms of carbon, such as graphite or graphene, may be used as the heat source. In other embodiments, the heat source may have increased levels of activated carbon, different carbon porosities, different amounts of carbon, blends of any of the above-mentioned components, etc. In still other embodiments, the heat source may comprise a non-carbon heat source, e.g., a flammable liquefied gas configured to generate heat upon ignition. For example, in some embodiments, the liquefied gas may include one or more of petroleum gas (LPG or LPG), propane, propylene, butylene, butane, isobutene, methylpropane, or n-butane. In yet other embodiments, the heat source may comprise a chemical reaction-based heat source, where ignition of the heat source comprises the interaction of two or more individual components. For example, a chemical reaction-based heat source may contain a metal agent and an activating solution, where contact between the metal agent and the activating solution activates the heat source. Some examples of chemical-based heat sources can be found in U.S. Patent No. 7,290,549 to Banerjee et al., which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Combinations of heat sources are also possible. While the specific dimensions of applicable heat sources may vary, in the illustrated embodiment, heat source 508 has a length ranging from about 5 mm to about 20 mm, and in some embodiments, may be about 12 mm, and an overall diameter ranging from about 3 mm to about 8 mm, and in some embodiments, may be about 4.8 mm (and in some embodiments, about 7 mm).

[0077] In other embodiments, the heat source may be constructed in a variety of ways, but in the illustrated embodiment, the heat source 508 is extruded or compounded using crushed or powdered carbonaceous material, with a dry weight of approximately 0.5 g / cm 3 often exceeding about 0.7 g / cm 3 often exceeding about 1 g / cm 3 See, for example, the types of fuel source components, formulations, and designs described in U.S. Patent No. 5,551,451 to Riggs et al. and U.S. Patent No. 7,836,897 to Borschke et al., which are incorporated by reference in their entireties.

[0078] While in various embodiments the heat source may have a variety of forms, including, for example, a generally solid cylindrical shape or a hollow cylindrical (e.g., tubular) shape, the heat source 508 in the illustrated embodiment contains an extruded monolithic carbonaceous material having a generally cylindrical shape with a plurality of internal passages 514 extending longitudinally from a first end of the heat source 508 to an opposite second end of the heat source 508. In the illustrated embodiment, there are approximately thirteen internal passages 514, including a single central internal passage 514a, six peripheral internal passages 514b spaced apart from the central internal passage 514a and having a size (e.g., diameter) similar to that of the central internal passage 514a, and six peripheral internal passages 514c spaced apart from the outer surface of the heat source 508 and having a diameter smaller than that of the central internal passage 514a. It should be noted that in other embodiments, there need not be multiple internal passages and / or the multiple internal passages can take other forms and / or sizes. For example, in some embodiments, there may be as few as two internal passages, while still other embodiments may include as few as one internal passage. Still other embodiments may include no internal passages at all. Additional embodiments may include multiple internal passages that may be of unequal diameters and / or shapes, may be unevenly spaced, and / or may be positioned within the heat source.

[0079] Some embodiments may alternatively or additionally include one or more peripheral grooves extending longitudinally from a first end of the heat source to an opposite second end, although in other embodiments, the grooves need not extend the entire length of the heat source. In some embodiments, such grooves may be approximately equal in width and depth and may be substantially evenly distributed around the circumference of the heat source. In such embodiments, there may be as few as two grooves, and still other embodiments may include as few as one groove. Still other embodiments may not include any grooves at all. Additional embodiments may include multiple grooves that may be of unequal width and / or depth and may be unevenly spaced around the circumference of the heat source. In still other embodiments, the heat source may include grooves and / or slits extending longitudinally from a first end of the extruded monolithic carbonaceous material to its opposite second end. In some embodiments, the heat source may contain an expanded carbon monolith formed by an expansion process of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,615,184 to Lobovsky, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Thus, some embodiments may provide advantages with respect to a reduction in the time it takes to ignite the heat source. In some other embodiments, the heat source may be co-extruded with an insulating layer (not shown), thereby reducing manufacturing time and costs. Other fuel element embodiments include carbon fiber of the type described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,922,901 to Brooks et al., or other heat source embodiments such as those disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2009 / 0044818 to Takeuchi et al., each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Further examples of heat sources, including debossed heat source systems, methods, and smoking articles containing such heat sources, are disclosed in U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 902,665, filed February 22, 2018, entitled "System for Debossing a Heat Generation Member, a Smoking Article Including the Debossed Heat Generation Member, and a Related Method," which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0080] Generally, the heat source is positioned sufficiently close to the aerosol delivery component (e.g., substrate portion) having one or more aerosolizable components such that the application of heat from the heat source to the aerosolizable components (as well as any flavorings, medications, etc. similarly provided for delivery to the user) results in an aerosol formed / volatilized and deliverable to the user through the mouthpiece. That is, when the heat source heats the substrate component, an aerosol is formed, released, or generated in a physical form suitable for inhalation by the consumer. It should be noted that the foregoing terms, references to release, releasing, releases, or released, are intended to be interchangeable to include form or generate, forming or generating, forms or generates, and formed or generated. Specifically, the inhalable substance is released in the form of a vapor or an aerosol or a mixture thereof. Furthermore, the selection of various smoking article components is understood in light of commercially available electronic smoking articles, such as the representative products listed in the background section of this disclosure.

[0081] FIG. 8 shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the cartridge 500 of FIG. 7. As shown, the substrate 516 of the illustrated embodiment has first and second opposite ends, and the heat source 508 is positioned adjacent to the first end of the substrate 516. While the dimensions of the various components of the cartridge may vary depending on the needs of a particular application, in the illustrated embodiment, the cartridge 500 may have an overall length ranging from about 10 mm to about 50 mm and a diameter ranging from about 2 mm to about 20 mm. Furthermore, in the illustrated embodiment, the outer housing 312 may have a thickness ranging from about 0.05 mm to 0.5 mm. Furthermore, in the illustrated embodiment, the substrate portion 510 may have a length ranging from about 5 mm to 30 mm and a diameter slightly smaller than the overall diameter of the cartridge, for example, a diameter ranging from about 2.9 mm to about 9.9 mm, to accommodate the thickness of the housing 512. In the illustrated embodiment, the substrate 516 includes tobacco beads, which may have a diameter ranging from about 0.5 mm to 2.0 mm, although the size may vary in other embodiments. In other embodiments, the substrate may be granular tobacco material or cut filler tobacco. Although other embodiments may vary, in the illustrated embodiment, the outer housing 512 of the cartridge 500 is filled to approximately 80-90% capacity to allow for insertion of the heat source 508.

[0082] In the illustrated embodiment, the substrate portion 510 comprises a substrate 516 having a single segment, although in other embodiments, the substrate portion may include one or more additional substrate segments. For example, in some embodiments, the aerosol delivery device may further comprise a second substrate segment (not shown) having opposing first and second ends. In various embodiments, one or more of the substrates may comprise tobacco or a tobacco-related material with which an aerosol precursor composition is associated. In other embodiments, a non-tobacco material, such as a cellulose pulp material, may be used. In other embodiments, the non-tobacco substrate may not be a plant-derived material. Other possible compositions, components, and / or additives for use in the substrate (and / or substrates) are described in more detail below. Note that the following description is applicable to any substrate that can be used in the smoking articles described herein (e.g., substrate 516 in the illustrated embodiment).

[0083] In the illustrated embodiment, ignition of the heat source 508 results in aerosolization of the aerosol precursor composition associated with the substrate 516. In various embodiments, the aerosol passage 308 is configured to receive generated aerosol therethrough in response to a draw applied by a user to the mouth end 304 of the first body portion 300. In some implementations, the mouth end 304, or another portion of the first body portion 300, may include a filter configured to receive the aerosol in response to a draw applied to the mouth end 304 of the first body portion. In various embodiments, the filter may be provided as a circular disk, in some aspects, radially and / or longitudinally disposed adjacent the end of the holder opposite the receiving end. In this manner, upon draw at the mouth end 304 of the first body portion 300, the filter may receive the aerosol flowing through the holder 200 of the aerosol delivery device 100. In some embodiments, the filter may comprise individual segments. For example, some embodiments may include a segment that provides filtration, a segment that provides resistance to retraction, a hollow segment that provides space for the aerosol to cool, other filter segments, and any one or any combination of the above. In some implementations, the mouthpiece may include a filter that may also provide flavor additives. In some embodiments, the filter may include one or more filter segments that may be replaceable. For example, in some embodiments, one or more filter segments, including, for example, filter segments that provide different resistance to retraction and / or different flavors, may be replaceable to customize a user's experience with the device.Some examples of flavoring materials and / or components configured to add flavor can be found in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16 / 408,942, filed May 10, 2019, entitled "Flavor Article for an Aerosol Delivery Device," U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15 / 935,105, filed March 26, 2018, entitled "Aerosol Delivery Device Providing Flavor Control," and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16 / 353,556, filed March 14, 2019, entitled "Aerosol Delivery Device Providing Flavor Control," each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0084] Preferably, the substrate elements do not undergo thermal decomposition (e.g., charring, scorching, or combustion) to any significant extent, and the aerosolized components are entrained in the air drawn through the smoking article, including the filter (if present), into the user's mouth. In the illustrated embodiment of the smoking article 100, the substrate 516 contains a plurality of tobacco beads formed together into a substantially cylindrical portion. However, in various embodiments, the substrate may contain a variety of different compositions and combinations thereof, as described in more detail below.

[0085] In various embodiments, the substrate may contain tobacco material, non-tobacco material, or a combination thereof. In one embodiment, for example, the substrate may contain a flavorful, highly aromatic tobacco blend in cut filler form. In another embodiment, the substrate may contain reconstituted tobacco material, such as those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,807,809 to Pryor et al., 4,889,143 to Pryor et al., and 5,025,814 to Raker, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. Furthermore, the reconstituted tobacco material may include reconstituted tobacco paper for cigarettes of the type described in "Chemical and Biological Studies on New Cigarette Prototypes that Heat Instead of Burn Tobacco," R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company Monograph (1988), the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. For example, the reconstituted tobacco material may include a sheet-like material containing tobacco and / or tobacco-related materials. Thus, in some embodiments, the substrate may be formed from a wound roll of reconstituted tobacco material. In certain embodiments, the substrate may be formed from strips, pieces, etc. of reconstituted tobacco material. In another embodiment, the tobacco sheet may comprise overlapping layers (e.g., a gathered web) that may or may not include a heat-conducting component. An example of a substrate portion comprising a series of overlapping layers (e.g., a gathered web) of an initial substrate sheet formed by a fibrous filler material, an aerosol-forming material, and multiple heat-conducting components is described in U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 905,320, filed February 26, 2018, entitled "Heat Conducting Substrate for Electrically Heated Aerosol Delivery Device," which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0086] In some embodiments, the substrate may include a plurality of microcapsules, beads, granules, etc., having tobacco-related material. For example, a typical microcapsule may be generally spherical in shape and have an outer cover or shell containing a liquid center region, such as a tobacco-derived extract. In some embodiments, one or more substrates may each include a plurality of microcapsules formed in a hollow cylindrical shape. In some embodiments, one or more of the substrates may include a binder material configured to maintain the structural shape and / or integrity of the plurality of microcapsules formed in a hollow cylindrical shape.

[0087] The tobacco used in one or more of the substrates may include or be derived from tobaccos such as flue-cured tobacco, burley tobacco, Oriental tobacco, Maryland tobacco, dark tobacco, dark fire-cured tobacco, and rustica tobacco, as well as other rare or specialty tobaccos, or blends thereof. Various representative tobacco types, processed tobacco types, and tobacco blend types are described in U.S. Patent No. 4,836,224 to Lawson et al., U.S. Patent No. 4,924,888 to Perfetti et al., U.S. Patent No. 5,056,537 to Brown et al., U.S. Patent No. 5,159,942 to Brinkley et al., U.S. Patent No. 5,220,930 to Gentry et al., U.S. Patent No. 5,360,023 to Blakley et al., U.S. Patent No. 6,701,936 to Shafer et al., U.S. Patent No. D No. 6,730,832 to Ominguez et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,011,096 to Li et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,017,585 to Li et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,025,066 to Lawson et al., U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004 / 0255965 to Perfetti et al., International Application No. 02 / 37990 to Bereman, and Bombick et al., Fund. Appl. Toxicol., 39, pp. 11-17 (1997), which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0088] In yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, the substrate can comprise an extruded structure that includes or consists essentially of tobacco, tobacco-related materials, glycerin, water, and / or binder materials, although certain formulations can exclude binder materials. In various embodiments, suitable binder materials may include alginates, such as ammonium alginate, propylene glycol alginate, potassium alginate, and sodium alginate. Alginates, particularly high-viscosity alginates, may be used with controlled levels of free calcium ions. Other suitable binder materials include hydroxypropyl cellulose, such as Klucel H from Aqualon Co.; hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, such as Methocel K4MS from Dow Chemical Co.; hydroxyethyl cellulose, such as Natrosol 250 MRCS from Aqualon Co.; microcrystalline cellulose, such as Avicel from FMC; methylcellulose, such as Methocel A4M from Dow Chemical Co.; and sodium carboxymethylcellulose, such as CMC 7HF and CMC 7H4F from Hercules Inc. Still other possible binder materials include starch (e.g., corn starch), guar gum, carrageenan, locust bean gum, pectin, and xanthan gum. In some embodiments, a combination or blend of two or more binder materials may be used. Other examples of binder materials are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,101,839 to Jakob et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 4,924,887 to Raker et al., each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. In some embodiments, an aerosol-forming material may be provided as part of the binder material (e.g., propylene glycol alginate). Additionally, in some embodiments, the binder material may contain nanocellulose derived from tobacco or other biomass.

[0089] In some embodiments, the substrate may comprise an extruded material, as described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2012 / 0042885 to Stone et al., which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. In yet another embodiment, the substrate may comprise an extruded structure and / or substrate formed from marumerized and / or non-marumerized tobacco. Marumerized tobacco is known, for example, from U.S. Patent No. 5,105,831 to Banerjee et al., which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Marumerized tobacco comprises about 20 to about 50% (by weight) tobacco blend in powder form, including glycerol (about 20 to about 30% by weight), calcium carbonate (generally about 10 to about 60% by weight, often about 40 to about 60% by weight), along with binders and / or flavorings as described herein. In various embodiments, the extruded material may have one or more longitudinal openings.

[0090] In various embodiments, the substrate may take on various configurations based on the varying amounts of materials utilized therein. For example, the sample substrate may contain up to about 98%, up to about 95%, or up to about 90% by weight of tobacco and / or tobacco-related materials. The sample substrate may also contain up to about 25%, about 20%, or about 15% (by weight) of water, particularly about 2% to about 25%, about 5% to about 20%, or about 7% to about 15% (by weight). Flavorings and the like (including, for example, pharmaceuticals such as nicotine) may contain up to about 10%, up to about 8%, or up to about 5% by weight of aerosol delivery components.

[0091] Additionally or alternatively, the substrate may comprise an extruded structure and / or substrate that includes or consists essentially of tobacco, glycerin, water, and / or a binder material, and is further configured to substantially maintain its structure throughout the aerosol generation process. That is, the substrate may be configured to substantially maintain its shape throughout the aerosol generation process (e.g., the substrate does not continuously deform under applied shear stress). While such exemplary substrates may include liquid and / or some moisture content, the substrate may remain substantially solid throughout the aerosol generation process and may substantially maintain its structural integrity throughout the aerosol generation process. Exemplary tobacco and / or tobacco-related materials suitable for the substantially solid substrate are described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015 / 0157052 to Ademe et al., U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015 / 0335070 to Sears et al., U.S. Patent No. 6,204,287 to White, and U.S. Patent No. 5,060,676 to Hearn et al., which are incorporated by reference in their entireties.

[0092] In some embodiments, the amount of substrate used in a smoking article may be such that the article exhibits acceptable sensory and organoleptic properties, as well as desirable performance characteristics. For example, in some embodiments, an aerosol precursor composition, such as glycerin and / or propylene glycol, may be used in the substrate to provide for the production of a visible mainstream aerosol that resembles in many respects the appearance of tobacco smoke. For example, the amount of aerosol precursor composition incorporated into the substrate of a smoking article may range from about 3.5 grams or less, about 3 grams or less, about 2.5 grams or less, about 2 grams or less, about 1.5 grams or less, about 1 gram or less, or about 0.5 grams or less.

[0093] According to another embodiment, a smoking article according to the present disclosure may comprise a substrate comprising a porous inert material, such as a ceramic material. For example, in some embodiments, ceramics of various shapes and geometries (e.g., beads, rods, tubes, etc.) may be used, which have various pore morphologies. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the ceramic may be filled with a non-tobacco material, such as an aerosol precursor composition. In another embodiment, the substrate may comprise a porous inert material that is substantially chemically and / or physically unreactive with tobacco-related materials, such as tobacco-derived extracts. Furthermore, extruded tobacco, as described above, may be porous. For example, in some embodiments, the extruded tobacco material may contain an inert gas, such as nitrogen, that acts as a foaming agent during the extrusion process.

[0094] As noted above, in various embodiments, one or more of the substrates may include tobacco, tobacco components, and / or tobacco-derived materials that have been processed, manufactured, produced, and / or treated to incorporate an aerosol precursor composition (e.g., a humectant, such as propylene glycol, glycerin, etc., and / or the like) and / or at least one flavoring, as well as a flame retardant (e.g., diammonium phosphate and / or another salt) configured to help prevent ignition, thermal decomposition, combustion, and / or scorching of the substrate by a heat source. Various methods and methods for incorporating tobacco into smoking articles, particularly smoking articles designed to intentionally avoid combustion of substantially all of the tobacco within those smoking articles, are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,947,874 to Brooks et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,647,932 to Cantrell et al., U.S. Pat. No. 8,079,371 to Robinson et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,290,549 to Banerjee et al., and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2007 / 0215167 to Crooks et al., the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

[0095] As noted above, in some embodiments, flame retardant materials and other additives may be included in one or more of the substrates and may include organic phosphorus compounds, borax, hydrated alumina, graphite, potassium tripolyphosphate, dipentaerythritol, pentaerythritol, and polyols. Other suitable but less preferred agents include nitrogen phosphonates, monoammonium phosphate, ammonium polyphosphate, ammonium bromide, ammonium borate, ethanolammonium borate, ammonium sulfamate, halogenated organic compounds, thiourea, and antimony oxide. In each aspect of the flame retardant materials used in the substrates and / or other components (alone or in combination with each other and / or other materials), the most preferred desired properties are provided without undesirable off-gassing or melting behavior.

[0096] According to other embodiments of the present disclosure, the substrate may also incorporate tobacco additives of the type conventionally used in the manufacture of tobacco products. These additives may include the types of materials used to enhance the flavor and aroma of tobacco used in the manufacture of cigars, cigarettes, pipes, and the like. For example, these additives may include various cigarette casing and / or top dressing components. See, for example, U.S. Patent No. 3,419,015 to Wochnowski, U.S. Patent No. 4,054,145 to Berndt et al., U.S. Patent No. 4,887,619 to Burcham, Jr. et al., U.S. Patent No. 5,022,416 to Watson, U.S. Patent No. 5,103,842 to Strang et al., and U.S. Patent No. 5,711,320 to Martin, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. Suitable casing materials may include water, sugars and syrups (e.g., sucrose, glucose, and high fructose corn syrup), humectants (e.g., glycerin or propylene glycol), and flavorings (e.g., cocoa and licorice). These additional components may also include top dressing materials (e.g., flavoring materials such as menthol). See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,449,541 to Mays et al., the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. Additional materials that may be added include those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,830,028 to Lawson et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 8,186,360 to Marshall et al., the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

[0097] In some embodiments, the substrate may contain a liquid comprising an aerosol precursor composition and / or a gel comprising an aerosol precursor composition. Some examples of liquid compositions can be found in U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 171,920, filed October 26, 2018, entitled "Aerosol Delivery Device with Visible Indicator," which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0098] As noted above, in various embodiments, one or more of the substrates may have an aerosol precursor composition associated therewith. For example, in some embodiments, the aerosol precursor composition may contain one or more different components, such as a polyhydric alcohol (e.g., glycerin, propylene glycol, or mixtures thereof). Additional representative types of aerosol precursor compositions are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,793,365 to Sensabaugh, Jr. et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,101,839 to Jakob et al., International Publication No. WO 98 / 57556 to Biggs et al., and Chemical and Biological Studies on New Cigarette Prototypes that Heat Instead of Burn Tobacco, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company Monograph (1988), the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. In some aspects, the substrate may generate a visible aerosol upon application of sufficient heat (and optionally cooling with air), and the substrate may generate a "smoke-like" aerosol. In other aspects, the substrate may produce an aerosol that is substantially invisible but whose presence is recognized by other characteristics, such as flavor or texture. Thus, the nature of the aerosol produced may be variable depending on the particular components of the aerosol delivery component. The substrate may be chemically simple relative to the chemistry of smoke produced by burning tobacco.

[0099] In some embodiments, the aerosol precursor composition may incorporate nicotine, which may be present in various concentrations. The source of the nicotine may vary, and the nicotine incorporated in the aerosol precursor composition may be derived from a single source or a combination of two or more sources. For example, in some embodiments, the aerosol precursor composition may include nicotine derived from tobacco. In other embodiments, the aerosol precursor composition may include nicotine derived from other organic plant sources, such as non-tobacco plant sources, including plants from the Solanaceae family. In other embodiments, the aerosol precursor composition may include synthetic nicotine. In some embodiments, the nicotine incorporated in the aerosol precursor composition may be derived from non-tobacco plant sources, such as other members of the Solanaceae family. The aerosol precursor composition may additionally or alternatively include other active ingredients, including, but not limited to, botanicals (e.g., lavender, peppermint, chamomile, basil, rosemary, thyme, eucalyptus, ginger, cannabis, ginseng, maca, and tisanes), stimulants (e.g., caffeine and guarana), amino acids (e.g., taurine, theanine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan), and / or pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and medicinal ingredients (e.g., vitamins such as B6, B12, and C, and cannabinoids such as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD)). It is noted that the aerosol precursor composition may include any component, derivative, or combination of any of the above.

[0100] As described herein, the aerosol precursor composition may contain or be derived from one or more botanical substances or components, derivatives, or extracts thereof. As used herein, the term "botanical substance" includes any material derived from a plant, including, but not limited to, extracts, leaves, bark, fiber, stems, roots, seeds, flowers, fruits, pollen, skins, shells, etc. Alternatively, the material may contain active compounds naturally occurring in synthetically obtained botanical substances. The material may be in the form of a liquid, gas, solid, powder, dust, crushed particles, granules, pellets, chips, strips, sheets, etc. Examples of plants include tobacco, eucalyptus, star anise, hemp, cocoa, cannabis, fennel, lemongrass, peppermint, spearmint, rooibos, chamomile, flax, ginger, ginkgo, hazel, hibiscus, laurel, licorice, matcha, yerba mate, orange skin, papaya, rose, sage, tea such as green tea or black tea, thyme, cloves, cinnamon, coffee, aniseed, basil, laurel, cardamom, coriander, cumin, nutmeg, oregano, paprika, rosemary, saffron, and lavender. The active ingredient in the composition may be guacamole, lemon peel, mint, juniper, elderflower, vanilla, burdock, perilla, curcuma, turmeric, sandalwood, coriander leaf, bergamot, orange blossom, myrtle, blackcurrant, valerian, pimento, mace, damiento, marjoram, olive, lemon balm, lemon basil, chives, galvi, verbena, tarragon, geranium, mulberry, ginseng, theanine, theacrine, maca, ashwagandha, damiana, guarana, chlorophyll, baobab, or any combination thereof.The mint may be selected from the following mint varieties: Mentha arventis, Mentha cv, Mentha niliaca, Mentha piperita, Mentha piperita citrata cv, Mentha piperita cv, Mentha spicata crispa, Mentha cardifolia, Mentha longifolia, Mentha suaveolens variegata, Mentha pulegium, Mentha spicata cv and Mentha suaveolens.

[0101] A wide variety of flavorings or materials that alter the sensory or organoleptic characteristics or properties of the mainstream aerosol of a smoking article may be suitable for use. In some embodiments, such flavorings may be provided from sources other than tobacco and may be natural or artificial in nature. For example, some flavorings may be applied to or incorporated into the substrate and / or the area of ​​the smoking article where the aerosol is generated. In some embodiments, such flavorings may be provided directly to the heated cavity or area proximate to the heat source, or the substrate is provided. Examples of flavoring agents include, for example, vanillin, ethyl vanillin, cream, tea, coffee, fruit (e.g., apple, cherry, strawberry, peach, and citrus flavors including lime and lemon), maple, menthol, mint, peppermint, spearmint, burdock, nutmeg, clove, lavender, cardamom, ginger, honey, anise, sage, cinnamon, sandalwood, jasmine, cascara, cocoa, licorice, and flavors and flavor packages of the type and character traditionally used in flavoring cigarettes, cigars, and pipe tobacco. Syrups, such as high fructose corn syrup, may also be suitable for use.

[0102] As used herein, the terms "flavor," "flavoring," "flavoring agent," and the like refer to materials that may be used, where local regulations permit, to create a desired taste, aroma, or other somatic sensation in products intended for adult consumers.They may be naturally occurring flavoring materials, plants, plant extracts, synthetically derived materials, or combinations thereof (e.g., tobacco, cannabis, licorice, hydrangea, eugenol, magnolia leaf, chamomile, fenugreek, clove, maple, matcha, menthol, peppermint, aniseed, cinnamon, turmeric, Indian spices, Asian spices, herbs, cherries, berries, red berries, cranberries, peaches, apples, oranges, mangoes, clementines, lemons, limes, tropical fruits, papaya, rhubarb, etc.). , grapes, durian, dragon fruit, cucumber, blueberry, mulberry, citrus fruits, Drambuie, bourbon, scotch, whiskey, gin, tequila, rum, spearmint, peppermint, lavender, aloe vera, cardamom, celery, cascarilla, nutmeg, sandalwood, bergamot, geranium, khat, naswar, betel nut, shisha, pine, honey, rose oil, vanilla, lemon oil, orange oil, orange blossom, cherry blossom, cassia, caraway, cognac, jasmine, ylang ylang, sage, fennel, wasa Bell pepper, ginger, coriander, coffee, hemp, mint oil from any kind of peppermint plant, eucalyptus, star anise, cocoa, lemongrass, rooibos, flax, ginkgo, hazel, hibiscus, laurel, yerba mate, orange skin, rose, tea such as green tea or black tea, thyme, juniper, elderflower, basil, laurel, cumin, oregano, paprika, rosemary, saffron, lemon peel, mint, shiso, curcuma, coriander leaves, myrtle, black currant, valerian, pimento, mace, damiento, maji The compositions may also contain other additives such as yolum, olive, lemon balm, lemon basil, chives, Calvi, verbena, tarragon, limonene, thymol, camphene), flavor enhancers, bitter receptor site blockers, sensory receptor site activators or stimulants, sugars and / or sugar substitutes (e.g., sucralose, acesulfame potassium, aspartame, saccharin, cyclamate, lactose, sucrose, glucose, fructose, sorbitol, or mannitol), and charcoal, chlorophyll, minerals, botanicals, or breath fresheners, which may be imitation, synthetic, or natural ingredients or blends thereof.They may be in any suitable form, for example a liquid such as an oil, a solid such as a powder, or a gas.

[0103] In some embodiments, the flavor contains menthol, spearmint, and / or peppermint. In some embodiments, the flavor contains cucumber, blueberry, citrus fruit, and / or red berry flavor components. In some embodiments, the flavor contains eugenol. In some embodiments, the flavor contains flavor components extracted from tobacco. In some embodiments, the flavor contains flavor components extracted from cannabis.

[0104] In some implementations, flavors can comprise sensations intended to achieve somatic sensations, typically chemically induced and perceived by stimulation of the fifth cranial nerve (trigeminal nerve), in addition to or instead of aroma or taste nerves, and these may include agents that provide heating, cooling, tingling, or numbing effects. Suitable heating agents may be, but are not limited to, vanillyl ethyl ether, and suitable cooling agents may be, but are not limited to, eucalyptol, WS-3.

[0105] Flavorings may also include acidic or basic characteristics (e.g., organic acids such as levulinic acid, succinic acid, pyruvic acid, and benzoic acid). In some embodiments, flavorings may be combined with elements of the substrate as needed. Exemplary plant-derived compositions that may be suitable are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,107,453 to Dube et al. and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2012 / 0152265, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. Any material, such as a flavoring, casing, or the like, that may be useful in combination with tobacco materials to affect their sensory properties, including organoleptic properties as described herein, may be combined with the substrate. Organic acids may be incorporated into the substrate, particularly to affect the flavor, sensory, or organoleptic properties of pharmaceuticals, such as nicotine, that may be combined with the substrate. For example, organic acids such as levulinic acid, lactic acid, pyruvic acid, and benzoic acid may be included in the substrate with nicotine in amounts up to equimolar with nicotine (based on total organic acid content). Any combination of organic acids may be suitable. For example, in some embodiments, the substrate may contain about 0.1 to about 0.5 moles of levulinic acid per mole of nicotine, about 0.1 to about 0.5 moles of pyruvic acid per mole of nicotine, about 0.1 to about 0.5 moles of lactic acid per mole of nicotine, or a combination thereof, up to a concentration where the total amount of organic acid present is equimolar to the total amount of nicotine present in the substrate. Various additional examples of organic acids used to prepare the substrate are described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015 / 0344456 to Dull et al., which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0106] The selection of such additional components may vary based on factors such as the sensory characteristics desired in the smoking article, and the present disclosure is intended to encompass any such additional components readily apparent to one skilled in the art of tobacco and tobacco-related or tobacco-derived products. See Gutcho, Tobacco Flavoring Substances and Methods, Noyes Data Corp. (1972) and Leffingwell et al., Tobacco Flavoring for Smoking Products (1972), the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

[0107] In other embodiments, the substrate may comprise other materials with various unique characteristics or properties. For example, the substrate may comprise regenerated cellulose in the form of a plasticized material or rayon. As another example, viscose (commercially available as VISIL®), a regenerated cellulose product incorporating silica, may be suitable. Some carbon fibers may contain at least 95% carbon or more. Similarly, natural cellulose fibers such as cotton may be suitable and may be impregnated or otherwise treated with silica, carbon, or metal particles to enhance flame retardancy and minimize the off-gassing of any undesirable off-gassing components that would adversely affect flavor (particularly minimizing the potential for any toxic off-gassing products). Cotton, for example, can be treated with boric acid or various organophosphate compounds to provide the desired flame retardancy by dipping, spraying, or other techniques known in the art. These fibers may also be treated (e.g., coated, impregnated, or both by dipping, spraying, or vapor deposition) with organic or metallic nanoparticles to impart the desired properties of flame retardancy without undesirable off-gassing or melt-type behavior.

[0108] In the illustrated embodiment, the substrate 516 may have a longitudinally extending axis defined centrally between opposite first and second ends, and the cross-section of the substrate 516 may, in some embodiments, be symmetrical about the axis. For example, in some embodiments, the cross-section of the substrate may be generally circular, such that the substrate defines a generally cylindrical shape extending between its opposite first and second ends. However, in other embodiments, the substrate may define a generally non-circular cross-section, such that the substrate may define a generally non-cylindrical shape between its opposite first and second ends. Alternatively, in other examples, the substrate may have an asymmetric cross-section about the axis. In various embodiments, each end of the substrate may be axially aligned with an adjacent element.

[0109] As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 , the outer housing 512 of the cartridge 500 in the illustrated embodiment is configured to circumscribe at least a portion of the substrate portion 510, including the substrate 516. In the illustrated embodiment, the outer housing 512 is also configured to circumscribe at least a portion of the heat source 508. In some implementations, the outer housing may circumscribe the entire heat source. In the illustrated embodiment, the outer housing comprises a rigid material. For example, the outer housing 512 in the illustrated embodiment is constructed of an aluminum material, but in other embodiments, the outer housing may be constructed of other materials, including other metallic materials (e.g., stainless steel, aluminum, brass, copper, silver, gold, bronze, etc.), graphite materials, ceramic materials, plastic materials, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the heat source and / or at least a portion of the substrate may be circumscribed by a foil laminate. In some embodiments, the cartridge may comprise an enclosure comprising a laminate including the heat source and the bead substrate. Some examples of laminates and / or enclosures that may be applicable to the present disclosure can be found in U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 174,846, entitled "Smoking Article Cartridge," filed October 30, 2018, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0110] In the illustrated embodiment, the outer housing 512 is configured as a tubular structure that substantially encloses the substrate 516, although as noted above, in other embodiments, the outer housing may have other shapes. While the shape of the outer housing may vary, in the illustrated embodiment, the outer housing 512 comprises a tubular structure having an open end and a closed end. The illustrated embodiment of the outer housing 512 also includes one or more end openings 518 located at the closed end of the outer housing 512 configured to allow aerosolized vapor (alternatively referred to herein as "vapor" or "aerosol") to pass therethrough. The end openings 518 in the illustrated embodiment are in the form of a pair of elongated, rounded slots, although in other embodiments, the end openings may have any form that allows the passage of aerosol. Thus, it will be understood that the end openings 518 may include fewer or additional openings than those illustrated and / or openings of alternative shapes and sizes.

[0111] In this manner, the holder of the present invention is configured to be movable between an open position and a use position. In various embodiments, the open position is configured to allow a user to insert and remove a cartridge. It should be noted that in other embodiments, the holder of the present disclosure may include a third position, which may be an extinguishment position. In this manner, the extinguishment position may be configured so that the heat source is deprived of sufficient oxygen to sustain combustion. In some embodiments, the extinguishment position may be obtained by further movement of the second body portion. In other embodiments, for example, one or more additional mechanisms may be included, and the extinguishment position may be achieved by activating the one or more additional mechanisms. In particular, in one embodiment, the device may include an air-impermeable cover mechanism disposed proximate the distal end of the second body portion, which may be mechanically or manually actuable (e.g., by rotating the cover mechanism over the end of the second body portion and / or by sliding the cover mechanism over the end of the second body portion) so that, in the extinguishment position, the cover mechanism substantially covers the open end of the second body portion and the heat source is deprived of sufficient oxygen to sustain combustion. In another embodiment, the device may include a removable mechanism, such as an end cap, that can be used to achieve the extinguishing position. For example, in some embodiments, a separate end cap can be attached to the distal end of the second body portion, and when attached, the heat source is deprived of sufficient oxygen to sustain combustion. Such an end cap can also be used to cover the end of the second body portion when not in use, for example, to prevent dirt and / or foreign matter from entering the device. Additionally or alternatively, in some embodiments, the holder of the present disclosure can include a breathable cover mechanism (e.g., a cover feature including multiple openings or a cover feature including a mesh) that protects the heat source in the use position.For example, in one embodiment, the holder may include an air-permeable cover mechanism positioned proximate the distal end of the second body portion, which may be mechanically or manually actuable (e.g., by rotating the cover mechanism over the end of the second body portion and / or by sliding the cover mechanism over the end of the second body portion) such that, when ignited, the cover mechanism can be actuated to substantially cover the open end of the second body portion while maintaining sufficient oxygen access to the heat source.

[0112] In the illustrated embodiment, the first body portion 300 (including the guidepost 306) and the second body portion 400 include substantially solid, non-porous walls, although in other embodiments, one or more of these walls may have other configurations. For example, in some embodiments, one or more of the walls of the first body portion, the guidepost, or the second body portion may be non-solid and / or substantially porous, or may include one or more non-solid and / or substantially porous portions. In some implementations, for example, the second body portion may include one or more openings that can facilitate oxygen access to the heat source. Alternatively or additionally, other embodiments may include one or more openings that can mix with the aerosol generated during retraction. In this manner, in the use position, one or more openings may be positioned proximate to the heat source, thus providing the heat source with additional access to oxygen during combustion. In some implementations, the guidepost and / or the first body portion may include one or more openings. For example, in some embodiments, the guide post and / or the first body portion may include an opening that extends into the aerosol passage of the first body portion so that air from outside the holder can mix with the aerosol generated by the substrate material.

[0113] In some implementations, the holder (e.g., the guide post and / or the second body portion) may include a detent mechanism configured to position the second body portion in the open and / or use position. In some embodiments, the holder may include one or more magnets configured to bias and / or position the second body portion in the open and / or use position. In some implementations, the holder may include one or more additional spring mechanisms configured to bias and / or position the second body portion in the open and / or use position. In some further embodiments, the holder may emit an audible click when the sleeve is positioned in the open and / or use position.

[0114] In various embodiments, the present disclosure may be directed to kits providing the various components described herein. For example, the kit may include a holder having one or more cartridges. In another embodiment, the kit may include multiple holders. In a further embodiment, the kit may include multiple cartridges. In yet another embodiment, the kit may include multiple holders and multiple cartridges. The kits of the present invention may further include a case (or other packaging, transport, or storage component) for housing one or more additional kit components. The case may be a reusable rigid or flexible container. Additionally, the case may simply be a box or other packaging structure. In some embodiments, a brush or other cleaning accessory may be included in the kit. The cleaning accessory may be configured to be inserted into a receiving chamber of the holder, or in other embodiments, may be inserted into a separate opening that allows a user to remove debris from the receiving chamber.

[0115] Many modifications and other embodiments of the present disclosure will come to mind to one skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. It is to be understood, therefore, that the present disclosure is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

Claims

1. 1. A holder for use with a removable and replaceable substrate cartridge, the holder comprising: a first body portion defining a body and a guide post extending from the body, the guide post defining a distal end and the body defining an opposite mouth end, the guide post further defining a receiving chamber extending at least partially therethrough; a second body portion; and Equipped with The second body portion includes at least: a use position in which the second body portion is adjacent to the body of the first body portion and a substrate cartridge is held within the receiving chamber; an open position in which the second body portion rotates relative to and extends away from the body of the first body portion so that a substrate cartridge can be inserted into or removed from the receiving chamber; configured to rotate around and slide along at least a portion of the guide post between The second body portion is biased to an open position relative to the body of the first body portion.

2. 1. A holder for use with a removable and replaceable substrate cartridge, the holder comprising: a first body portion defining a body and a guide post extending from the body, the guide post defining a distal end and the body defining an opposite mouth end, the guide post further defining a receiving chamber extending at least partially therethrough; a second body portion; and Equipped with The second body portion includes at least: a use position in which the second body portion is adjacent to the body of the first body portion and a substrate cartridge is held within the receiving chamber; an open position in which the second body portion rotates relative to and extends away from the body of the first body portion so that a substrate cartridge can be inserted into or removed from the receiving chamber; configured to rotate around and slide along at least a portion of the guide post between The holder, wherein the second body portion includes a rotation limiting mechanism and the first body portion includes an extension slot.

3. 3. The holder of claim 1 or 2, wherein the guide post includes a guide slot and the second body portion includes a guide pin configured to move back and forth within the guide slot between an in-use position and an open position.

4. The holder according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the guide post has a generally cylindrical shape.

5. 3. The holder of claim 2, wherein the second body portion is biased to an open position relative to the body of the first body portion.

6. The holder of claim 1 , wherein the second body portion includes a rotation limiting mechanism and the first body portion includes an extension slot.

7. 3. The holder of claim 2, wherein the second body portion includes a pair of openings proximate its distal end that are also configured to be adjacent the heat source of the cartridge when in the use position.

8. 3. The holder of claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one of the first body portion or the second body portion includes a cartridge retention mechanism.

9. The holder of claim 8 , wherein the cartridge retention mechanism includes one or more retention spheres disposed within the guide posts.

10. The holder of claim 9 , wherein the cartridge retention mechanism further includes one or more corresponding cam surfaces disposed on an interior surface of the second body portion.

11. 3. The holder of claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one of the first body portion or the second body portion has a generally rectangular overall shape.

12. 1. An aerosol delivery device comprising: a removable cartridge comprising a substrate portion including a substrate having an aerosol precursor composition configured to form an aerosol upon application of heat; a holder including: a first body portion defining a body and a guide post extending from the body, the guide post defining a distal end and the body defining an opposite mouth end, the guide post further defining a receiving chamber extending at least partially therethrough; and a second body portion; Equipped with The second body portion includes at least: a use position in which the second body portion is adjacent to the body of the first body portion and a cartridge is held within the receiving chamber; an open position in which the second body portion rotates relative to the body of the first body portion and extends away from the body of the first body portion so that a cartridge can be inserted into or removed from the receiving chamber; configured to rotate around at least a portion of the guide post and slide back and forth along at least a portion of the guide post between The aerosol delivery device, wherein the second body portion is biased to an open position relative to the body of the first body portion.

13. 1. An aerosol delivery device comprising: a removable cartridge comprising a substrate portion including a substrate having an aerosol precursor composition configured to form an aerosol upon application of heat; a holder including: a first body portion defining a body and a guide post extending from the body, the guide post defining a distal end and the body defining an opposite mouth end, the guide post further defining a receiving chamber extending at least partially therethrough; and a second body portion; Equipped with The second body portion includes at least: a use position in which the second body portion is adjacent to the body of the first body portion and a cartridge is held within the receiving chamber; an open position in which the second body portion rotates relative to the body of the first body portion and extends away from the body of the first body portion so that a cartridge can be inserted into or removed from the receiving chamber; configured to rotate around at least a portion of the guide post and slide back and forth along at least a portion of the guide post between The aerosol delivery device, wherein the second body portion includes a rotation limiting mechanism and the first body portion includes an extension slot.

14. 14. The aerosol delivery device of claim 12 or 13, wherein the guide post includes a guide slot and the second body portion includes a guide pin configured to move back and forth within the guide slot between a use position and an open position.

15. 14. The aerosol delivery device of claim 12 or 13, wherein the guide post has a generally cylindrical shape.

16. 14. The aerosol delivery device of claim 13, wherein the second body portion is biased to an open position relative to the body of the first body portion.

17. 13. The aerosol delivery device of claim 12, wherein the second body portion includes a rotation limiting mechanism and the first body portion includes an extension slot.

18. 14. The aerosol delivery device of claim 12 or 13, wherein the second body portion includes a pair of openings adjacent its distal end, which are also configured to be adjacent to the heat source of the cartridge when in the use position.

19. 14. The aerosol delivery device of claim 12 or 13, wherein at least one of the first body portion or the second body portion includes a cartridge retention mechanism.

20. 20. The aerosol delivery device of claim 19, wherein the cartridge retention mechanism includes one or more retaining spheres disposed within the guide posts.

21. 21. The aerosol delivery device of claim 20, wherein the cartridge retaining mechanism further includes one or more corresponding cam surfaces disposed on an inner surface of the second body portion.

22. 14. The aerosol delivery device of claim 12 or 13, wherein at least one of the first body portion or the second body portion has a generally rectangular overall shape.

23. 14. The aerosol delivery device of claim 12 or 13, wherein the cartridge further comprises a heating portion including a heat source configured to generate heat.

24. 24. The aerosol delivery device of claim 23, wherein the substrate portion is positioned proximate to the heat source.

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