Articles for use in non-combustion aerosol delivery devices

Abstract

An article for use in a non-combustion based aerosol delivery device is disclosed. The article includes a mouth end segment for placement in a user's mouth, an aerosol-generating material configured to generate an aerosol when the article is contained in the device and a user inhales on the mouth end segment, and a tubular cooling segment having a longitudinal axis and located between the aerosol-generating material and the mouth end segment and through which the aerosol flows towards the mouth end segment. The tubular cooling segment includes a ventilation region through which air is drawn into the tubular cooling segment, the ventilation region configured such that a swirl flow is generated by air entering the tubular cooling segment through the ventilation region.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The following description relates to an article for use in a non-combustion based aerosol delivery device, a filter assembly forming part of the article, a non-combustion based aerosol delivery system and a method for making the article according to the invention. [Background technology]

[0002] Certain tobacco industry products generate aerosols when inhaled by a user. For example, tobacco heating devices heat an aerosol-generating material, such as tobacco, to form an aerosol without burning the material. These tobacco industry products may include a mouthpiece through which the aerosol is drawn into the user's mouth. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an article for use in a non-combustion based aerosol delivery device, the article comprising: a mouth end segment adapted to be placed in a user's mouth; an aerosol-generating material configured to generate an aerosol when the article is contained in the device and when a user inhales on the mouth end segment; and a tubular cooling segment having a longitudinal axis and positioned between the aerosol-generating material and the mouth end segment and through which the aerosol flows towards the mouth end segment, the tubular cooling segment including a ventilation region through which air is drawn into the tubular cooling segment, the ventilation region configured to generate a swirl flow by air entering the tubular cooling segment through the ventilation region.

[0004] In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an article for use in a non-combustion based aerosol delivery device, the article comprising: a mouth end segment for placement in a user's mouth; an aerosol-generating material configured to generate an aerosol when the article is contained in the device and a user inhales on the mouth end segment; and a tubular cooling segment having a longitudinal axis and located between the aerosol-generating material and the mouth end segment and through which the aerosol flows towards the mouth end segment, the tubular cooling segment including a ventilation region through which air is drawn into the tubular cooling segment, the ventilation region configured such that air is drawn through the ventilation region into the tubular cooling segment at an angle other than perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tubular cooling segment.

[0005] The ventilation area may include holes in the tubular cooling segment.

[0006] Optionally, the ventilation region may include a plurality of spaced apart holes located around the circumference of the tubular cooling segment.

[0007] The ventilation region may include multiple rows of holes, each row spaced apart from its adjacent row in a direction extending along the longitudinal axis of the tubular cooling segment.

[0008] The rows of holes may be configured to generate opposing swirl flows within the tubular cooling segment.

[0009] Optionally, the tubular cooling segment may have an inner surface and the at least one hole may extend into the tubular cooling segment tangential to said inner surface.

[0010] The tubular cooling segment may have an inner surface, and the at least one hole may extend into the tubular cooling segment in a direction parallel to and offset from a tangent to the inner surface and a line intersecting a longitudinal axis of the tubular cooling segment that is parallel to the tangent.

[0011] The at least one hole may be configured so that air entering the tubular cooling segment flows in a direction counter to the flow of aerosol from the aerosol-generating material towards the mouth end segment.

[0012] The at least one hole may be configured so that air entering the tubular cooling segment flows in the same direction as the flow of aerosol from the aerosol-generating material towards the mouth end segment.

[0013] The at least one hole may taper in a direction within the tubular cooling segment.

[0014] Optionally, the at least one hole may be at least one slot.

[0015] The at least one slot may have a major dimension extending in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the tubular cooling segment.

[0016] The at least one slot may have a major dimension extending perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the tubular cooling segment.

[0017] The at least one slot may have a major dimension that extends in an angled direction between a position where the major dimension of the at least one slot extends in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the tubular cooling segment and a position where the major dimension of the at least one slot extends in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tubular cooling segment.

[0018] Optionally, the tubular cooling segments may be formed from a fibrous material.

[0019] Optionally, the fibrous material may be a filamentary tow.

[0020] The filamentary tow may be cellulose acetate.

[0021] Optionally, the fibrous material may include paper.

[0022] Optionally, the article may include a filter segment located between the tubular cooling segment and the mouth end segment.

[0023] The filter segments may comprise filamentary tow such as cellulose acetate.

[0024] The article of the present invention may also include an elongated filter segment in place of the mouth end segment.

[0025] In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an article for use in a non-combustion based aerosol delivery device, the article comprising: a mouth end segment adapted to be placed in a user's mouth; an aerosol-generating material configured to generate an aerosol when the article is contained in the device and a user inhales on the mouth end segment; and a tubular cooling segment having a longitudinal axis and positioned between the aerosol-generating material and the mouth end segment and through which the aerosol flows before passing through the mouth end segment, the tubular cooling segment comprising a ventilation region through which air is drawn into the tubular cooling segment, the ventilation region comprising at least one slot in the tubular cooling segment.

[0026] The at least one slot may extend through the tubular cooling segment perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the tubular cooling segment.

[0027] Optionally, the ventilation region may include a plurality of ventilation slots equally spaced from one another around the circumference of the tubular cooling segment.

[0028] The ventilation region may include multiple rows of slots, each row spaced apart from its adjacent row in a direction extending along the longitudinal axis of the tubular cooling segment.

[0029] The at least one slot may have a major dimension extending in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the tubular cooling segment.

[0030] The at least one slot may have a major dimension extending perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the tubular cooling segment.

[0031] The at least one slot may have a major dimension that extends in an angled direction between a position where the major dimension of the at least one slot extends in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the tubular cooling segment and a position where the major dimension of the at least one slot extends in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tubular cooling segment.

[0032] The at least one slot may be configured to allow air entering the tubular cooling segment to flow in a direction counter to the flow of aerosol from the aerosol-generating material towards the mouth end segment.

[0033] The at least one slot may be configured to allow air entering the tubular cooling segment to flow in the same direction as the flow of aerosol from the aerosol-generating material towards the mouth end segment.

[0034] The at least one slot may include a flap.

[0035] Optionally, the flaps may extend at an angle into the tubular cooling segment and may be configured to deflect the aerosol flow through the tubular cooling segment.

[0036] The at least one slot may be configured to generate a swirl flow within the tubular cooling segment.

[0037] The multiple rows of slots may be configured to generate opposing swirl flows within the tubular cooling segment.

[0038] The tubular cooling segment may have an inner surface and at least one slot may extend into the tubular cooling segment tangential to the inner surface.

[0039] The tubular cooling segment may have an inner surface, and the at least one slot may extend within the tubular cooling segment in a direction parallel to and offset from a tangent to the inner surface and a line intersecting a longitudinal axis of the tubular cooling segment that is parallel to the tangent.

[0040] The tubular cooling segments may be formed from a fibrous material.

[0041] The fibrous material may be a filamentary tow.

[0042] The filamentary tow may be cellulose acetate.

[0043] The fibrous material may include paper.

[0044] The tubular cooling segment may include an inner surface, and the at least one slot may extend partially through the tubular cooling segment toward the inner surface.

[0045] Optionally, the at least one slot may stop short of the inner surface by a distance of 0.1 to 1 mm.

[0046] The article may include a filter segment located between the tubular cooling segment and the mouth end segment.

[0047] The filter segments may comprise filamentary tow such as cellulose acetate.

[0048] The article of the present invention may also include an elongated filter segment in place of the mouth end segment.

[0049] Another aspect of the invention provides a filter assembly that is attached to a rod of aerosol-generating material to form the above article.

[0050] Another aspect of the invention provides a system including a non-combustion based aerosol delivery device and the article described above.

[0051] Another aspect of the invention provides a method for manufacturing the above article, which includes configuring the ventilation area so that swirl flow is generated within the tubular cooling segment when a user draws on the mouth end segment. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0052] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [Figure 1] 1 is a cross-sectional side view of an article according to the present invention. [Figure 2] 2 is a cross-sectional side view of an article according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3A] 2 is a cross-sectional end view of a tubular cooling segment taken along line AA through the ventilation region of the article shown in FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 3B] 3 is a cross-sectional end view of a tubular cooling segment taken along line AA through the ventilation region of the article shown in FIG. 2. FIG. [Figure 4A] 2 is a cross-sectional side view of an article according to another embodiment of the present invention having ventilation holes in a first configuration. [Figure 4B] 10 is a cross-sectional side view of an article according to another embodiment of the present invention having ventilation holes in a second configuration. [Figure 5A] 1 is a partial side view of an article according to another embodiment of the present invention, in which the ventilation holes are slots, the slots being in a first configuration. [Figure 5B] 10 is a partial side view of an article according to another embodiment of the present invention in which the ventilation holes are slots, the slots being in a second configuration. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a side view of a tubular cooling segment according to another embodiment of the present invention, in which ventilation slots include flaps. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional end view of a tubular cooling segment through a ventilation region of an article according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a non-combustion aerosol delivery device for generating aerosol from the aerosol-generating material of the article of FIGS. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0053] For purposes of this disclosure, a non-combustion based aerosol delivery system is a system that does not burn or combust the constituent aerosol-generating materials of the aerosol delivery system (or its components) to facilitate delivery of at least one substance to a user.

[0054] In some embodiments, the non-combustion aerosol delivery system is an electrically powered non-combustion aerosol delivery system, and the non-combustion aerosol delivery device for use in the non-combustion aerosol delivery system is an electronic cigarette, also known as a vaping device or electronic nicotine delivery system (END), although it should be noted that the presence or absence of nicotine in the aerosol-generating material is not a requirement.

[0055] In some embodiments, the non-combustion based aerosol delivery system is an aerosol-generating material heating system, also known as a non-combustion heating system. One example of such a system is a tobacco heating system.

[0056] In some embodiments, the non-combustion aerosol delivery system is a hybrid system that generates an aerosol using a combination of aerosol-generating materials, one or more of which can be heated. Each of the aerosol-generating materials can be, for example, in solid, liquid, or gel form, and may or may not contain nicotine. In some embodiments, the hybrid system includes a liquid or gel aerosol-generating material and a solid aerosol-generating material. The solid aerosol-generating material can include, for example, tobacco or a non-tobacco product.

[0057] In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to consumables comprising an aerosol-generating material, the consumables being configured for use in the non-combustion-based aerosol delivery devices of the present invention. These consumables are generally referred to throughout this disclosure as articles.

[0058] In some embodiments, the non-combustion aerosol delivery device of the non-combustion aerosol delivery system of the present invention may include a power source and a controller. The power source may be, for example, an electrical power source or a heat-generating power source. In some embodiments, the heat-generating power source includes a carbon substrate that is energized to deliver power in the form of heat to an aerosol-generating material or a heat-conducting material proximate to the heat-generating power source.

[0059] In some embodiments, the non-combustion based aerosol delivery device includes an area for receiving an item, such as an opening through which the item is inserted for use with the device.

[0060] The articles of the present invention include an aerosol-generating material. An aerosol-generating material is a material that can generate an aerosol when excited, for example, by heating, irradiation, or in some other way. The aerosol-generating material may be in the form of a solid, liquid, or gel, which may or may not contain, for example, an active substance and / or flavoring. In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material may comprise an "amorphous solid," alternatively referred to as a "monolithic solid" (i.e., non-fibrous). In some embodiments, the amorphous solid may be a dry gel. An amorphous solid is a solid material that retains a fluid, such as a liquid, within its interior. In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material comprises from about 50 wt%, 60 wt%, or 70 wt% amorphous solid to about 90 wt%, 95 wt%, or 100 wt% amorphous solid.

[0061] The aerosol-generating material may include one or more active agents and / or flavorants, one or more aerosol-forming materials, and one or more other functional materials, if desired.

[0062] The same reference numerals are used in the drawings herein to denote equivalent features, items or components.

[0063] 1 illustrates an article 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Article 1 includes a rod of aerosol-generating material 2 at a distal end and a mouth end segment 3 at an opposite or proximal end. A tubular cooling segment 4 is located between the aerosol-generating material 2 and the mouth end segment 3 and has an inner surface 5. The aerosol-generating material 2, tubular cooling segment 4, and mouth end segment 3 are longitudinally aligned along a longitudinal axis XX of article 1.

[0064] The aerosol-generating material 2 may contain an aerosol-forming material, such as glycerol. In another example, the aerosol-forming material may be another material described herein, or a combination thereof. Aerosol-forming materials have been found to improve the sensory performance of the article 1 by facilitating the transfer of compounds, such as flavor compounds, from the aerosol-generating substrate 2 to the consumer. However, adding such aerosol-forming materials to the aerosol-generating substrate 2 in an article 1 for use in a non-combustion aerosol delivery system presents a problem in that when the aerosol-generating material 2 is aerosolized by heating, it increases the mass of the aerosol delivered by the article 1. This increased mass maintains a higher temperature as the aerosol passes through the mouth-end segment 3. As the aerosol passes through the mouth-end segment 3, it transfers heat into the mouth-end segment 3, which heats the exterior surface of the mouth-end segment 3, including the area that contacts the consumer's lips during use. The temperature of the mouth-end segment and / or the temperature of the aerosol may be significantly higher than what a consumer is accustomed to when smoking, for example, a conventional cigarette. Therefore, it is desirable to reduce the temperature of the aerosol to prevent the mouth end segment 3 from becoming warmer than would otherwise be the case.

[0065] In an embodiment of the present invention, the tubular cooling segment 4 includes a ventilation region 7 through which air is drawn into the tubular cooling segment 4. The air drawn into the tubular cooling segment 4 through the ventilation region 7 mixes with the aerosol emitted by the aerosol-generating material 2 and serves to cool the aerosol as it travels towards the mouth-end segment 3, thereby reducing the temperature of the mouth-end segment 3. The ventilation region 7 may be located along the length of the tubular cooling segment 4 closer to the mouth-end segment 3 than the aerosol-generating material 3.

[0066] As shown in Figure 1, the aerosol-generating material 2 is enclosed in a wrapper 8. The tubular cooling segment 4 and the mouth end segment 3 are enclosed in a plug wrapper 9. Tipping paper 10 connects the aerosol-generating material 2 to the tubular cooling segment 4 and the mouth end segment 3. The tipping paper 10 covers both the tubular cooling segment 4 and the mouth end segment 3 and extends over a portion of the aerosol-generating material 2.

[0067] As shown in FIG. 2 , an embodiment of Article 1 may further include a filter segment 11 located between the tubular cooling segment 4 and the mouth-end segment 3. The filter segment 11 may be formed from filamentary tow, optionally cellulose acetate. In this configuration, the aerosol-generating substrate 2 is wrapped in a wrapper 8, and the filter segment 11 is wrapped in a first plug wrapper 12. The tubular cooling segment 4, the wrapped filter segment 11, and the mouth-end segment 3 are then wrapped in a second plug wrapper 9. Tipping paper 10 connects the aerosol-generating material 2 to the tubular cooling segment 4, the filter segment 11, and the mouth-end segment 3. The tipping paper 10 covers the tubular cooling segment 4, the filter segment 11, and the mouth-end segment 3, and extends over a portion of the aerosol-generating material 2. Additionally, Article 1 may include a longer filter segment 11 in place of the mouth-end segment 3. In this embodiment, Article 1 includes the aerosol-generating substrate 2, the tubular cooling segment 4, and the filter segment 11. The filter segment 11 is elongated to fill the space vacated by the absence of the mouth end segment 3 .

[0068] 3A and 3B show cross sections of the tubular cooling segment 4 along line AA in FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively. In some embodiments, the tubular cooling segment 4 may be formed from a fibrous material, such as paper (FIG. 3A). When the tubular cooling segment 4 is formed from a fibrous material, the fibrous material may be filamentary tow, optionally cellulose acetate. When the tubular cooling segment 4 is formed from filamentary tow, the wall thickness of the tubular cooling segment 4 may be thicker, as shown in FIG. 3B, than when the tubular cooling segment 4 is formed from paper, as shown in FIG. 3A, or some other material.

[0069] If the tubular cooling segment 4 is formed from a material that has some degree of air permeability, the ventilation zone 7 need not extend all the way through the tubular cooling segment 4, but may not reach the inner surface 5 of the tubular cooling segment 4, such that air passing through the ventilation zone 7 diffuses through the tubular cooling segment 4 before entering the tubular path of the tubular cooling segment 4 and mixing with the aerosol that has passed through the tubular cooling segment 4. Such an embodiment is described in more detail below with reference to FIG.

[0070] The ventilation region 7 may include at least one ventilation hole 13 in the tubular cooling segment 4. As shown in Figures 3A and 3B, the ventilation region 7 includes four ventilation holes 13 evenly spaced around the circumference of the tubular cooling segment 4. Of course, the ventilation region 7 may include any number of holes 13 spaced any distance from each other around the circumference of the tubular cooling segment 4. The ventilation region 7 may also include one or more rows of holes 13 extending within and circumferentially arranged around the tubular cooling segment 4. Each row may be spaced apart from its adjacent row in a direction along the longitudinal axis XX of the tubular cooling segment 4.

[0071] The holes 13 may extend through the tubular cooling segment 4 in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis XX of the tubular cooling segment 4. However, it is also envisioned that the holes 13 extend through the tubular cooling segment 4 at an angle to the longitudinal axis XX, such that air enters the tubular cooling segment 4 through the holes 13 toward the longitudinal axis, but at an angle toward the distal end of the article 1 or at an angle toward the mouth end segment 3.

[0072] As shown in Figures 3A and 3B, each hole may extend into the tubular cooling segment 4 such that air entering the tubular cooling segment 4 generates a swirling flow inside the tubular cooling segment 4 as indicated by arrows S in Figures 3A and 3B. This swirling flow promotes mixing of the air entering the tubular cooling segment 4 through the holes 13 with the aerosol moving longitudinally within the tubular cooling segment 4 along the axis XX of the tubular cooling segment 4.

[0073] To create the swirl, the holes 13 are preferably positioned so that the air enters the tubular cooling segment 4 tangentially or nearly tangentially to the inner surface 5 of the tubular cooling segment 4. The air entering the tubular cooling segment 4 through the holes 13 thus sweeps around the tubular path close to the inner surface 5, creating vortices within the tubular cooling segment 4 and promoting mixing. The improved mixing within the tubular cooling segment 4 caused by the vortices increases cooling of the aerosol generated by the aerosol-generating material 2 before it reaches the mouth-end segment 3, thereby reducing the temperature of the mouth-end segment 3.

[0074] Of course, the air need not enter the tubular cooling segment 4 tangent to its inner surface 5, but may enter along a path parallel to both the tangent and a line intersecting the longitudinal axis XX of the tubular cooling segment 4, but offset from these tangent and line intersecting. As shown in FIG. 3A, the distance of the offset of the hole 13 from a line YY parallel to the hole 13 and extending through the axis XX approaches a maximum where it forms a line approximately tangent to the inner surface 5 of the tubular cooling segment 4. The dashed line 14 in FIG. 3A shows another possible position of the hole 13 between the tangent position and line YY. Of course, the swirling effect that occurs is smaller the closer the hole is to line YY.

[0075] Figures 4A and 4B illustrate alternative embodiments of article 1. In Figure 4, ventilation holes 7 are configured so that air entering tubular cooling segment 4 flows in a direction opposite to the flow of aerosol as it flows from the aerosol-generating material 2 toward the mouth-end segment 3. This is achieved by ventilation holes 7 extending in an angled direction toward the aerosol-generating material. In Figure 4B, the ventilation holes are configured so that air entering tubular cooling segment 4 flows in the same direction as the aerosol as it flows from the aerosol-generating material 2 toward the mouth-end segment 3. This is achieved by ventilation holes 7 extending in an angled direction toward the mouth-end segment 3.

[0076] In some embodiments, the ventilation holes 7 may taper in the direction that they extend into the tubular cooling segment 4. In other words, the diameter of each hole 13 at the outer surface of the tubular cooling segment 4 may be larger than the diameter of the hole 13 at the inner surface 5 of the tubular cooling segment 4.

[0077] In embodiments including multiple rows of holes 13, the multiple rows of holes 13 may be configured to generate opposing swirling effects within the tubular cooling segment 4. For example, a first row of holes 13 may be configured to generate a clockwise vortex within the tubular cooling segment 4, and a second row of holes 13 may be configured to generate a counterclockwise vortex within the tubular cooling segment 4.

[0078] The ventilation holes 13 may be of any shape or size and may be cylindrical. In some other embodiments, the holes 13 are slots 13. The slots 13 may have a major dimension extending longitudinally along the axis XX of the tubular cooling segment 4, as shown in the side view of a portion of the proximal end of the article shown in FIG. 5A. Alternatively, the slots 13 may have a major dimension extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis XX of the tubular cooling segment 4, as shown in the side view of a portion of the proximal end of the article shown in FIG. 5B. Furthermore, the major dimension of the slots 13 may extend in an angled direction between a minimum major dimension of the slot 13 extending longitudinally along the axis XX and a maximum major dimension of the slot 13 extending perpendicular to the axis XX. The slots 13 may be circumferentially spaced apart from one another around the tubular cooling segment 4. Furthermore, there may be one or more rows of slots 13 circumferentially arranged around the tubular cooling segment 4, with each row being spaced apart from its adjacent row longitudinally along the axis XX of the tubular cooling segment 4. If the ventilation zones 7 are provided by slots 13, these slots may be offset in the same way as the holes 13 are offset in Figures 3A and 3B. Alternatively, the slots may extend radially towards the longitudinal axis XX of the tubular cooling segment 4.

[0079] In embodiments including multiple rows of slots 13, the multiple rows of slots 13 may be configured to create opposing swirling effects within the tubular cooling segment 4. For example, a first row of slots 13 may be configured to create a clockwise vortex within the tubular cooling segment 4, and a second row of slots 13 may be configured to create a counterclockwise vortex within the tubular cooling segment 4.

[0080] FIG. 6 illustrates a tubular cooling segment according to an embodiment of the present invention. The slot 13 of the tubular cooling segment 4 includes a flap 17. The flap 17 extends at an angle into the tubular cooling segment 4 and is configured to deflect aerosol flowing through the tubular cooling segment 4. For example, the flap 17 may extend at an angle into the tubular cooling segment 4 toward the mouth-end segment 3. Thus, air drawn into the tubular cooling segment 4 through the slot 13 flows in the same direction as the aerosol generated by the aerosol-generating material 2 flows through the tubular cooling segment 4 toward the mouth-end segment 3. Alternatively, the flap 17 may extend at an angle into the tubular cooling segment 4 toward the aerosol-generating material 2. Thus, air drawn into the tubular cooling segment 4 through the slot 13 flows in the opposite direction to the aerosol generated by the aerosol-generating material 2 flows through the tubular cooling segment 4 toward the mouth-end segment 3. Of course, the flap 17 may extend into the tubular cooling segment 4 at any angle. The presence of the flap 17 in the tubular cooling segment 4 promotes mixing of the aerosol emitted by the aerosol-generating material 2 with the ventilation air by diverting the aerosol and air flowing through the tubular cooling segment 4 by the flap 17. The flap 17 may be formed by cutting a slot 13 into the tubular cooling segment 4, with a portion of the cut material remaining attached to the tubular cooling segment 4. The flap 17 may be angled into the tubular cooling segment 4 by mechanical means. Alternatively, the flap 17 may be angled into the tubular cooling segment 4 via non-mechanical means, such as a controlled air blast.

[0081] In any embodiment of the present invention, the tubular cooling segment 4 may be formed from a material that has some degree of permeability. For example, the tubular cooling segment 4 may be formed from a fibrous material such as paper. The fibrous material used to form the tubular cooling segment 4 may be filamentary tow, optionally cellulose acetate.

[0082] The holes or slots 13 forming the ventilation zones 7 may extend into the tubular passages through the walls of the tubular cooling segments 4. However, it is contemplated that the holes 13 may extend only partially through the walls of the tubular cooling segments 4 if the tubular cooling segments 4 are formed from a material that has some degree of permeability.

[0083] Referring to a cross-sectional view through ventilation region 7 of tubular cooling segment 4 in FIG. 7 , tubular cooling segment 4 includes a wall 15 separated by inner and outer surfaces 5, 16. Holes or slots 13 extend into tubular cooling segment 4 from outer surface 16 toward inner surface 5, but do not reach inner surface 5, such that air passing through holes or slots 13 passes through the breathable material of tubular cooling segment 4 in a pathway extending within tubular cooling segment 4 and mixes with aerosol passing therethrough. Ventilation holes or slots 13 may terminate a distance D2 from inner surface 5 of tubular cooling segment 4. Distance D2 may be 0.2 to 1 mm.

[0084] Because the holes or slots 13 do not extend all the way to the inner surface 5 of the tubular cooling segment 4, air drawn into the tubular cooling segment 4 through the holes or slots 13 penetrates the material of the tubular cooling segment 4 a distance D2 and diffuses or disperses around the circumference of the inner surface 5 of the tubular cooling segment 4. The inner surface 5 of the tubular cooling segment 4 is therefore cooled more uniformly and acts as a cooling blanket to cool the aerosol generated by the aerosol-generating material 2 as it passes along the tubular cooling segment 4 towards the mouth end segment 3.

[0085] While the cross-sectional view of Figure 7 illustrates a configuration in which the holes or slots 13 are aligned to guide air radially toward the longitudinal axis XX of the tubular cooling segment 4, it will be appreciated that the holes or slots may extend through a portion of the wall of the tubular cooling segment 4 as well as be offset as described above with reference to Figures 3A and 3B.

[0086] 8 illustrates an example of a non-combustion aerosol delivery device 100 for generating an aerosol from an aerosol-generating medium / material, such as the aerosol-generating material 2 of the article 1 described herein. In general, the device 100 may be used to heat the aerosol-generating material of the article 1 to generate an aerosol that is inhaled by a user of the device 100. The device 100 and the article 1 together form a non-combustion aerosol delivery system.

[0087] Device 100 includes a housing 102 (in the form of an outer cover) that encloses and contains the various components of device 100. Device 100 has an opening 104 at one end through which article 1 is inserted for heating by a heating assembly within device 100, such as an induction heating assembly. In use, article 1 is partially or inserted into opening 104 of the device, where it is heated by one or more components of the heater assembly, generating an aerosol. The user places their lips around mouth end segment 3 and draws on article 1, which causes the aerosol to flow through the device, toward mouth end segment 3 and into the user's mouth.

[0088] The various embodiments described herein are provided merely to aid in understanding and teaching the claimed features. These embodiments are merely representative examples and are not intended to be comprehensive or exclusive. It should be understood that the advantages, embodiments, examples, functions, features, structures, and / or other aspects of the present disclosure should not be construed as limiting the disclosure to the exact scope of the claims or to the equivalents of the claims, and that other embodiments may be utilized or modified without departing from the scope and / or spirit of the present disclosure. Various embodiments may suitably comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of the disclosed elements, components, features, parts, steps, means, or other combinations. The present disclosure also encompasses other inventions not currently claimed but which may be claimed in the future.

Claims

1. a mouth end segment that is placed in the user's mouth; an aerosol-generating material configured to generate an aerosol when an article is contained within the device and a user inhales on the mouth end segment; 1. An article for use in a non-combustion based aerosol delivery device, the article having a longitudinal axis, the article including an aerosol-generating material and a tubular cooling segment positioned between the mouth end segment and through which the aerosol flows toward the mouth end segment, the article comprising: The tubular cooling segment includes a ventilation area through which air is drawn into the tubular cooling segment, and the ventilation area is configured to generate a swirling flow with air entering the tubular cooling segment through the ventilation area.

2. The article of claim 1 , wherein the ventilation region comprises at least one hole in the tubular cooling segment.

3. 3. The article of claim 2, wherein the ventilation region comprises a plurality of spaced apart holes located around the circumference of the tubular cooling segment.

4. 4. The article of claim 3, wherein the ventilation region comprises a plurality of rows of holes, each row being spaced apart from its adjacent row in a direction extending along the longitudinal axis of the tubular cooling segment.

5. 5. The article of claim 4, wherein the plurality of rows of holes are configured to generate opposing swirl flows within the tubular cooling segment.

6. The article of claim 2 , wherein the tubular cooling segment has an inner surface, and the at least one hole extends into the tubular cooling segment tangent to the inner surface.

7. 3. The article of claim 2, wherein the tubular cooling segment has an inner surface, and the at least one hole extends into the tubular cooling segment in a direction parallel to and offset from a line tangent to the inner surface and an intersection with a longitudinal axis of the tubular cooling segment that is parallel to the tangent line.

8. 3. The article of claim 2, wherein the at least one hole is configured so that air entering the tubular cooling segment flows in the same direction as the flow of aerosol from the aerosol-generating material toward the mouth-end segment.

9. The article of claim 2 , wherein said at least one hole tapers in a direction within said tubular cooling segment.

10. 3. The article of claim 2, wherein said at least one hole is at least one slot.

11. The article of claim 10, wherein said at least one slot has a major dimension extending in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the tubular cooling segment.

12. The article of claim 10, wherein the at least one slot has a major dimension extending perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the tubular cooling segment.

13. 11. The article of claim 10, wherein the at least one slot has a major dimension that extends in an angled direction between a position where the major dimension of the at least one slot extends in a direction of the longitudinal axis of the tubular cooling segment and a position where the major dimension of the at least one slot extends in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tubular cooling segment.

14. 10. The article of claim 1, wherein the tubular cooling segment is formed from a fibrous material.

15. 15. The article of claim 14, wherein the fibrous material is a filamentary tow.

16. 16. The article of claim 15, wherein the filamentary tow is cellulose acetate.

17. 15. The article of claim 14, wherein the fibrous material comprises paper.

18. 10. The article of claim 1, further comprising a filter segment positioned between the tubular cooling segment and the mouth end segment.

19. 20. The article of claim 18, wherein the filter segment comprises cellulose acetate filamentary tow.

20. 20. The article of claim 18, comprising an elongated filter segment in place of the mouth end segment.

21. a mouth end segment that is placed in the user's mouth; 1. A filter assembly attached to a rod of aerosol-generating material having a longitudinal axis, the filter assembly including: a tubular cooling segment positioned between the aerosol-generating material and the mouth-end segment, the tubular cooling segment through which the aerosol passes as it flows toward the mouth-end segment; A filter assembly, wherein the tubular cooling segment includes a ventilation area through which air passes as it is drawn into the tubular cooling segment, and the ventilation area is configured so that a swirling flow is generated by the air entering the tubular cooling segment through the ventilation area.

22. A system comprising a non-combustion based aerosol delivery device and the article of claim 1.

23. providing a mouth end segment that is placed in a user's mouth; providing an aerosol-generating material configured to generate an aerosol when the article is contained in the device and when a user inhales on the mouth end segment; providing a tubular cooling segment having a longitudinal axis, the cooling segment being between the aerosol-generating material and the mouth end segment through which the aerosol flows toward the mouth end segment; A method for manufacturing an article, wherein the tubular cooling segment includes a ventilation area through which air is drawn into the tubular cooling segment, and the ventilation area is configured such that a swirling flow is generated by air entering the tubular cooling segment through the ventilation area.

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