Aerosol Delivery Systems

Abstract

The present invention relates to an article for use as part of a non-flammable aerosol delivery system, comprising an aerosol generating component and an aerosol-generating material transfer component configured to transfer an aerosol-generating material to the aerosol generating component, wherein the aerosol generating component and the aerosol-generating material transfer component are magnetically connected to one another.

Description

Field

[0001] The present invention relates to delivery systems, and more particularly to non-flammable aerosol delivery systems and components thereof. Additionally, the present invention relates to methods of generating and delivering aerosols using the non-flammable aerosol delivery systems and components disclosed herein.

[0002] Non-combustible aerosol delivery systems that generate an aerosol for a user to inhale are known in the art. Such systems typically include an aerosol generator capable of converting an aerosolizable material into an aerosol. In some instances, the aerosol generated is a condensation aerosol, where the aerosolizable material first vaporizes and then condenses to form an aerosol. In other instances, the aerosol generated is the result of atomization of the aerosolizable material. Such atomization can be achieved mechanically, for example, by vibrating the aerosolizable material to form small particles of the material that are entrained in an airflow. Alternatively, such atomization can be achieved in other ways, such as electrostatically or through the use of pressure.

[0003] Because such aerosol delivery systems are intended to generate an aerosol that is inhaled by a user, the characteristics of the aerosol generated should be considered, which may include the size of the aerosol particles, the total amount of aerosol generated, etc.

[0004] Controlling these various properties is particularly important when the aerosol delivery system is used to simulate a smoking experience, for example, as an e-cigarette or similar product, as the user may expect a particular sensory experience as a result of using the system.

[0005] It would be desirable to provide an aerosol delivery system with improved control over these properties. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2010 / 045670 [Patent Document 2] International Publication No. 2010 / 045671 [Patent Document 3] Overview of International Publication No. 2018 / 211252

[0007] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an article for use as part of a non-flammable aerosol delivery system, comprising: a housing having at least one air inlet; a substantially planar aerosol-generating component contained in a housing; Equipped with An article is provided in which at least one air inlet is configured to direct air in an inlet airflow direction towards the aerosol-generating component, and the plane of the substantially planar aerosol-generating component is angled obliquely relative to the inlet airflow direction.

[0008] In some instances, the plane of the substantially planar aerosol-generating component is angled by about 140° to about 160° relative to the inlet airflow direction.

[0009] In some instances, the plane of the substantially planar aerosol-generating component is angled by about 130° to about 150° relative to the inlet airflow direction.

[0010] In some examples, the plane of the aerosol-generation component is angled obliquely relative to the inlet airflow direction in one or more directions.

[0011] In some instances, the plane of the aerosol-generation component is angled obliquely relative to the inlet airflow direction in only one direction.

[0012] In some examples, the housing comprises an aerosol-forming chamber.

[0013] In some examples, the aerosol-generating component is at least partially disposed within the aerosol-forming chamber.

[0014] In some examples, the housing defines a single airflow channel.

[0015] In some examples, a single air flow channel extends between at least one air inlet and at least one air outlet.

[0016] In some examples, the aerosol-generating component includes one or more elongated openings.

[0017] In some instances, the aerosol-generating component is formed from an electrically conductive material.

[0018] In some instances, the aerosol-generating material is formed from a porous material.

[0019] In some instances, the aerosol-generating component is formed of a single layer.

[0020] In some instances, the aerosol generation component comprises one or more electrical connectors.

[0021] In some instances, the article comprises a reservoir for an aerosolizable material.

[0022] In some instances, the article transfers (e.g., by capillary forces) the aerosolizable material from the reservoir to the aerosol-generating component. Send aerosol-generating material transfer Sending It comprises components.

[0023] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, an article according to the previous aspect; Energya device comprising one or more of a source and a controller.

[0024] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, an article for use as part of a non-flammable aerosol delivery system is provided, the article comprising an aerosol-generating component and a nozzle for transferring an aerosol-generating material to the aerosol-generating component. Send aerosol-generating material transfer Sending and a component, Sending An article is provided in which the components are magnetically connected to one another.

[0025] In some instances, the aerosol-generating component and the aerosol-generating material transfer Sending One of the components includes a magnetic material, and the aerosol-generating component and the aerosol-generating material transfer Sending The other of the components includes a corresponding magnetic material.

[0026] In some examples, one or both of the magnetic material and the corresponding magnetic material are permanent magnets.

[0027] In some examples, one or both of the magnetic material and the corresponding magnetic material is a temporary magnet or an electromagnet.

[0028] In some instances, the aerosol-generating component is substantially planar.

[0029] In some examples, the aerosol generation component is curved.

[0030] In some examples, the aerosol-generating component is curved about the axis of the aerosol-generating component.

[0031] In some instances, aerosol-generating material transfer Sending The component is curved about the axis of the aerosol-generating component.

[0032] In some instances, the article comprises an aerosol-forming chamber.

[0033] In some examples, the aerosol generation component comprises an aerosol formation chamber. Inside at least partially disposed in

[0034] In some examples, the aerosol-generating component includes one or more elongated openings.

[0035] In some examples, the aerosol generation component comprises a plurality of elongated heating sections, which may be arranged side-by-side.

[0036] In some examples, an elongated opening is provided between adjacent elongated heating sections.

[0037] In some instances, the aerosol-generating component is formed from an electrically conductive material.

[0038] In some instances, the aerosol-generating material is formed from a porous material.

[0039] In some instances, the aerosol-generating component is formed of a single layer.

[0040] In some instances, the aerosol-generating component and the aerosol-generating material transfer Sending The components are non-permanently connected to one another.

[0041] In some instances, the aerosol-generating component and the aerosol-generating material transfer Sending The components are mutually resolvable. release possible connected.

[0042] In some instances, the article comprises a reservoir for an aerosolizable material.

[0043] In some instances, aerosol-generating material transfer Sending The component transfers the aerosolizable material from the reservoir to the aerosol-generating component. Send It is configured to do so.

[0044] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, an article according to the previous aspect; Energy a device comprising one or more of a source and a controller.

[0045] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an aerosol generation component comprising at least two substantially planar portions, at least two of the substantially planar heating portions being in different planes from one another.

[0046] In some instances, at least two of the substantially planar portions that lie in different planes define an oblique interior angle.

[0047] In some examples, the interior angle is between about 30° and about 60°.

[0048] In some examples, the interior angle is between about 40° and about 50°.

[0049] In some instances, at least two of the substantially planar portions that lie in different planes are connected end to end.

[0050] In some instances, the aerosol-generation component (eg, one or all of the at least two substantially planar portions) includes one or more elongated openings.

[0051] In some examples, the aerosol-generation component (e.g., one or all of the at least two substantially planar portions) comprises a plurality of elongated heating elements, which may be arranged side-by-side.

[0052] In some examples, an elongated opening is provided between adjacent elongated heating sections.

[0053] In some examples, the aerosol-generating component is configured such that the airflow travels perpendicular to a boundary between at least two substantially planar portions that lie in different planes.

[0054] In some instances, the aerosol-generating component is formed from an electrically conductive material.

[0055] In some instances, the aerosol-generating component is formed from a porous material.

[0056] In some instances, the aerosol-generating component is formed of a single layer.

[0057] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an article for use as part of a non-flammable aerosol delivery system, the article comprising an aerosol generating component according to the previous aspect and one or more of a reservoir for an aerosolizable material and an aerosol formation chamber.

[0058] In some examples, the aerosol-generating component is disposed at least partially within the aerosol-forming chamber.

[0059] In some examples, the article comprises at least one air inlet to the aerosol-forming chamber.

[0060] In some examples, the aerosol-generating component is configured to direct air entering the article through at least one air inlet to at least two of the substantially planar portions that reside in different planes.

[0061] In some examples, at least two of the substantially planar portions that lie in different planes are configured to direct air entering the article through the at least one air inlet in different directions.

[0062] In some instances, the oblique interior angle is distal from the at least one air inlet with respect to the aerosol generation component.

[0063] In some examples, the article is configured such that airflow (e.g., entering through at least one air inlet) travels perpendicular to the boundary between at least two substantially planar portions that reside in different planes.

[0064] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, an article according to the previous aspect; Energy a device comprising one or more of a source and a controller.

[0065] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, an article for use as part of a non-flammable aerosol delivery system is provided, the article comprising a housing, an aerosol-generating component, and an aerosol-generating material transfer element. Sending and a component, Sending The components are housed in a housing, and the aerosol-generating component is adapted to transfer the aerosol-generating material. Sending An article is provided that is biased against the component.

[0066] In some instances, the aerosol-generating component is securely attached to the housing or a component thereof.

[0067] In some examples, the aerosol generation component includes one or more electrical connectors that are securely attached to one or more corresponding electrical contacts on the housing.

[0068] In some instances, aerosol-generating material transfer Sending The components are spatially constrained by the housing or the components themselves.

[0069] In some instances, the aerosol-generating component is substantially planar.

[0070] In some examples, the aerosol generation component is curved.

[0071] In some examples, the aerosol-generating component is curved about the axis of the aerosol-generating component.

[0072] In some instances, aerosol-generating material transfer Sending The component is curved about the axis of the aerosol-generating component.

[0073] In some examples, the axis of the aerosol-generating component is one or more of the longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generating component and an axis extending between the electrical contacts of the aerosol-generating component.

[0074] In some instances, the article comprises an aerosol-forming chamber.

[0075] In some examples, the aerosol generation component comprises an aerosol formation chamber. Inside at least partially disposed in

[0076] In some examples, the aerosol-generating component includes one or more elongated openings.

[0077] In some examples, the aerosol generation component comprises a plurality of elongated heating sections, which may be arranged side-by-side.

[0078] In some examples, an elongated opening is provided between adjacent elongated heating sections.

[0079] In some instances, the aerosol-generating component is formed from an electrically conductive material.

[0080] In some instances, the aerosol-generating material is formed from a porous material.

[0081] In some instances, the aerosol-generating component is formed of a single layer.

[0082] In some examples, the housing defines at least one airflow channel.

[0083] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, an article according to the previous aspect; Energy a device comprising one or more of a source and a controller.

[0084] The system can be configured such that the air flow channel(s), the aerosol generation chamber(s), and / or the aerosol generation component(s) are separable. For example, the article can be configured such that the air flow channel(s), the aerosol generation chamber(s), and / or the aerosol generation component(s) are provided in a modular format that allows for separability.

[0085] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided:

[0086] A1. An article for use as part of a non-flammable aerosol delivery system, comprising an aerosol-generating component and a device for transferring aerosol-generating material to the aerosol-generating component. Send aerosol-generating material transfer Sending and a component, Sending An article whose components are magnetically connected to one another.

[0087] A2. Aerosol-forming components and aerosol-forming material transfer Sending One of the components includes a magnetic material, and the aerosol-generating component and the aerosol-generating material transfer Sending The article of clause A1, wherein the other of the components includes a corresponding magnetic material.

[0088] A3. The article of clause A2, wherein one or both of the magnetic material and the corresponding magnetic material is a permanent magnet.

[0089] A4. The article of clause A2 or A3, wherein one or both of the magnetic material and the corresponding magnetic material is a temporary magnet or an electromagnet.

[0090] A5. The article of any one of clauses A1-A4, wherein the aerosol-generating component is substantially planar.

[0091] A6. The article of any one of clauses A1-A5, wherein the aerosol-generating component is curved.

[0092] A7. The article of clause A6, wherein the aerosol-generating component is curved about the axis of the aerosol-generating component.

[0093] A8. Aerosol-generating material transfer Sending The article of clause A7, wherein the component is curved about the axis of the aerosol-generating component.

[0094] A9. The article of any one of clauses A1-A8, comprising an aerosol-forming chamber.

[0095] A10. The aerosol-generating component comprises an aerosol-forming chamber Inside The article of any one of clauses A1-A9, at least partially disposed on

[0096] A11. The article of any one of clauses A1-A10, wherein the aerosol-generating component comprises one or more elongated openings.

[0097] A12. The article of any one of clauses A1-A11, wherein the aerosol-generating component is formed from an electrically conductive material.

[0098] A13. The article of any one of clauses A1-A12, wherein the aerosol-generating component is formed from a porous material.

[0099] A14. The article of any one of clauses A1-A13, wherein the aerosol-generating component is formed from a single layer.

[0100] A15. Aerosol-forming components and aerosol-forming material transfer Sending An article according to any one of clauses A1 to A14, wherein the components are non-permanently connected to one another.

[0101] A16. Aerosol-forming components and aerosol-forming material transfer Sending The components are mutually resolvable. release An article according to any one of clauses A1 to A15, which is operably connected.

[0102] A17. Aerosol-generating material transfer device with a reservoir for aerosolizable material Sending A component transfers the aerosolizable material from the reservoir to the aerosol-generating component. Send The article according to any one of clauses A1 to A16, configured to:

[0103] A18. An article according to any one of clauses A1 to A17, Energy a device comprising one or more of a source and a controller.

[0104] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided:

[0105] B1. An aerosol-generating component comprising at least two substantially planar portions, at least two of the substantially planar portions being in different planes from one another.

[0106] B2. The aerosol-generating component of clause B1, wherein at least two of the substantially planar portions that lie in different planes define an oblique interior angle.

[0107] B3. The aerosol-generating component of clause B2, wherein the interior angle can be from about 30° to about 60°.

[0108] B4. The aerosol-generating component of clause B3, wherein the included angle can be from about 40° to about 50°.

[0109] B5. The aerosol-generating component of any one of clauses B1-B4, wherein at least two of the substantially planar portions that lie in different planes are connected end to end.

[0110] B6. An aerosol-generating component according to any one of clauses B1 to B5, comprising one or more elongated openings.

[0111] B7. The aerosol-generating component of clause B6, comprising a plurality of elongated heating sections.

[0112] B8. The aerosol-generating component of clause B7, wherein an elongated opening is provided between adjacent elongated heating sections.

[0113] B9. The aerosol-generating component of any one of clauses B1-B8, configured so that the airflow moves perpendicular to the boundary between at least two substantially planar portions that lie in different planes.

[0114] B10. The aerosol-generating component of any one of clauses B1-B9, wherein the aerosol-generating component is formed from an electrically conductive material.

[0115] B11. The aerosol-generating component of any one of clauses B1-B10, wherein the aerosol-generating component is formed from a porous material.

[0116] B12. An aerosol-generating component according to any one of clauses B1-B11, which is formed of a single layer.

[0117] B13. An article for use as part of a non-flammable aerosol delivery system, comprising an aerosol generating component according to any one of clauses B1-B12 and one or more of a reservoir for an aerosolizable material and an aerosol formation chamber.

[0118] B14. The article of clause B13, wherein the aerosol-generating component is disposed at least partially within the aerosol-forming chamber.

[0119] B15. The article of clause B13 or B14, comprising at least one air inlet to the aerosol-forming chamber.

[0120] B16. The article of clause B15, wherein the aerosol-generating component is configured to direct air entering the article through at least one air inlet into at least two of the substantially planar portions that reside in different planes.

[0121] B17. The article of clause B15 or B16, wherein at least two of the substantially planar portions that lie in different planes are configured to direct air entering the article through at least one air inlet in different directions.

[0122] B18. The article of any one of clauses B15-B17, wherein the aerosol-generating component is characterized according to clause B2, and the oblique interior angle is distal to the at least one air inlet for the aerosol-generating component.

[0123] B19. The article of any one of clauses B13-B18, configured for airflow movement perpendicular to a boundary between at least two substantially planar portions that lie in different planes.

[0124] B20. An article according to any one of clauses B13 to B19; Energy a device comprising one or more of a source and a controller.

[0125] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided:

[0126] C1. An article for use as part of a non-flammable aerosol delivery system, comprising a housing, an aerosol-generating component, and an aerosol-generating material transfer device. Sending and a component, Sending The components are contained within a housing, and the aerosol-generating component is adapted to transfer the aerosol-generating material. Sending An article that is biased against a component.

[0127] C2. The article of clause C1, wherein the aerosol-generating component is securely attached to the housing or a component thereof.

[0128] C3. The article of clause C1 or C2, wherein the aerosol-generating component comprises one or more electrical connectors securely attached to one or more corresponding electrical contacts on the housing.

[0129] C4. Aerosol-generating material transfer Sending The article of any one of clauses C1-C3, wherein the component is spatially constrained by the housing or its components.

[0130] C5. Aerosol-generating material transfer Sending The article of any one of clauses C1-C3, wherein the component is not rigidly attached to the housing or its components.

[0131] C6. The article of any one of clauses C1-C5, wherein the aerosol-generating component is substantially planar.

[0132] C7. The article of any one of clauses C1-C6, wherein the aerosol-generating component is curved.

[0133] C8. The article of clause C7, wherein the aerosol-generating component is curved about the axis of the aerosol-generating component.

[0134] C9. Aerosol-generating material transfer SendingThe article of clause C7 or C8, wherein the component is curved about the axis of the aerosol-generation component.

[0135] C10. The article of any one of clauses C1-C9, comprising an aerosol-forming chamber.

[0136] C11. The aerosol generating component comprises an aerosol forming chamber Inside 2. An article according to clause C10, at least partly disposed in

[0137] C12. The article of any one of clauses C1-C11, wherein the aerosol-generating component comprises one or more elongated openings.

[0138] C13. The article of any one of clauses C1-C12, wherein the aerosol-generating component is formed from an electrically conductive material.

[0139] C14. The article of any one of clauses C1-C13, wherein the aerosol-generating component is formed of a porous material.

[0140] C15. The article of any one of clauses C1-C14, wherein the aerosol-generating component is formed of a single layer.

[0141] C16. The article of any one of clauses C1-C15, wherein the housing defines at least one air flow channel.

[0142] C17. An article according to any one of clauses C1 to C16, Energy a device comprising one or more of a source and a controller.

[0143] It will be appreciated that features of the invention described above with respect to any aspect of the invention are not limited to the particular combinations described above, but are equally applicable to embodiments of the invention relating to any other aspect of the invention and can be combined with them as appropriate.

[0144] Various embodiments will now be described in detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0145] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of an aerosol delivery system according to the present disclosure. [Figure 2] 1 is a diagram of an article for use as part of an aerosol delivery system according to the present disclosure. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the article of FIG. 2. [Figure 4] Figures 4A, 4B, and 4C are schematic diagrams of exemplary aerosol-generating components according to the present disclosure. [Figure 5] Figure 5A is a schematic diagram of an exemplary aerosol-generating component according to the present disclosure; Figure 5B is a schematic diagram of an exemplary aerosol-generating component according to the present disclosure; Figure 5C is a schematic diagram of an exemplary aerosol-generating component according to the present disclosure; and Figure 5D is a schematic diagram of an exemplary aerosol-generating component according to the present disclosure. [Figure 6] 1 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary article for use as part of an aerosol delivery system according to the present disclosure (although various portions of the article have been omitted for clarity); Detailed Description

[0146] Aspects and features of particular examples and embodiments are discussed / described herein. Some aspects and features of particular examples and embodiments may be conventionally implemented and will not be discussed / described in detail for the sake of brevity. It should therefore be understood that unrecited aspects and features of the devices and methods discussed herein may be implemented in accordance with any conventional technology that implements such aspects and features.

[0147] As mentioned above, the present disclosure relates to, but is not limited to, non-combustion aerosol delivery systems and devices that generate aerosols from aerosol-generating materials without combustion of the aerosol-generating materials (or aerosolizable materials). Examples of such systems include electronic cigarettes, tobacco heating systems, and hybrid systems (which generate aerosols using a combination of aerosol-generating materials). In some examples, 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 of nicotine in the aerosol-generating material is not a requirement of the present disclosure. In some examples, the non-combustion 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. In some examples, the non-combustion aerosol delivery system is a hybrid system that generates aerosols using a combination of aerosol-generating materials (one or more of which may be heated). Each aerosol-generating material in such a hybrid system may be in the form of, for example, a solid, liquid, or gel, and may or may not contain nicotine. In some instances, hybrid systems include liquid or gel aerosol-forming materials as well as solid aerosol-forming materials, which may include, for example, tobacco or non-tobacco products.

[0148] Throughout the following description, the terms "e-cigarette" and "electronic cigarette" may be used interchangeably, and it should be understood that these terms can be used interchangeably with the non-combustible aerosol (vapor) delivery system or device described above.

[0149] In some examples, the present disclosure relates to consumables for holding aerosol-generating materials, the consumables being configured for use with non-flammable aerosol delivery devices. These consumables may be referred to as articles throughout this disclosure.

[0150] A non-flammable aerosol delivery system typically includes a device portion (i.e., a device) and a consumable / item portion (i.e., an item). The device portion typically includes: Energy A power source and a controller are provided. Energy The source may typically be a power source (eg, a rechargeable battery).

[0151] In some examples, the non-flammable aerosol delivery system may include an area for receiving or engaging a consumable / item, an aerosol generator (which may or may not be within the consumable / item), an aerosol-generating area (which may be within the consumable / item), a housing, a mouthpiece, a filter, and / or an aerosol modifier.

[0152] In some instances, consumables / items for use with the non-flammable aerosol delivery device include aerosol-generating materials (i.e., aerosolizable materials), aerosol-generating material storage areas (i.e., reservoirs for aerosolizable materials), aerosol-generating material transfer devices, and the like. Sending It may include a component (i.e., a wick such as a pad), an aerosol generator (i.e., an aerosol-generating component), an aerosol-generating area (i.e., an aerosol-generating chamber), a housing, a wrapper, a filter, a mouthpiece, and / or an aerosol modifier.

[0153] The systems described herein typically generate an inhalable aerosol by vaporizing an aerosol-forming material, which may include one or more active constituents, one or more flavoring agents, one or more aerosol-forming materials, and / or one or more other functional materials.

[0154] The aerosol-forming material may be in the form of, for example, a solid, liquid, or gel, and may or may not contain an active agent and / or flavoring. In some examples, the aerosol-forming material may comprise an "amorphous solid," which may alternatively be referred to as a "monolithic solid" (i.e., non-fibrous). In some examples, the amorphous solid may be a dry gel. An amorphous solid is a solid material capable of retaining some fluid, such as a liquid, within it. In some examples, the aerosol-forming material may comprise, for example, about 50 wt%, 60 wt%, or 70 wt% to about 90 wt%, 95 wt%, or 100 wt% amorphous solid.

[0155] The term "active substance" as used herein may refer to a physiologically active material (a material intended to produce or enhance a physiological response). The active substance may be selected from, for example, a dietary supplement, a psychotropic drug, or a psychoactive agent. The active substance may be naturally occurring or synthetically derived. The active substance may include, for example, nicotine, caffeine, taurine, theine, vitamins such as B6, B12, or C, melatonin, cannabinoids, or constituents, derivatives, or combinations thereof. The active substance may include one or more constituents, derivatives, or extracts of tobacco, cannabis, or another plant.

[0156] The aerosol-forming material may include one or more constituents capable of forming an aerosol. In some examples, the aerosol-forming material may include one or more of glycerol, propylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol, erythritol, meso-erythritol, ethyl vanillate, ethyl laurate, diethyl sulfate, triethyl citrate, triacetin, diacetin mixtures, benzyl benzoate, benzyl phenylacetate, tributyrin, lauryl acetate, lauric acid, myristic acid, and propylene carbonate.

[0157] The one or more other functional materials may include one or more of a pH adjuster, a colorant, a preservative, a binder, a filler, a stabilizer, and / or an antioxidant.

[0158] As used herein, the term "component" is used to refer to a part, portion, unit, module, assembly, or the like of an electronic cigarette or similar device, which may incorporate several smaller parts or elements, possibly within an external housing or wall. An electronic cigarette may be formed or constructed from one or more such components, which may be removably or separably connectable to one another or may be permanently joined together during manufacture to define the entire electronic cigarette. The present disclosure is applicable, but is not limited to, to systems including two components removably connectable to one another and configured as consumable / item components capable of holding, for example, aerosol-forming material (also referred to herein as a cartridge or cartomizer), and a device / control unit having a battery for providing power to operate the elements for generating vapor from the aerosol-forming material.

[0159] Aspects and features of particular examples and embodiments are discussed / described herein. Some aspects and features of particular examples and embodiments may be conventionally implemented and will not be discussed / described in detail for the sake of brevity. It should therefore be understood that unrecited aspects and features of the devices and methods discussed herein may be implemented in accordance with any conventional technology that implements such aspects and features.

[0160] As noted above, the present disclosure relates to, but is not limited to, non-combustion aerosol delivery systems and devices that generate aerosols from aerosol-forming materials (sometimes referred to herein as aerosolizable materials) without combustion of the aerosol-forming materials. Examples of such systems include electronic cigarettes, tobacco heating systems, and hybrid systems (which generate aerosols using a combination of aerosol-forming materials). In some examples, 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 also be noted that the presence of nicotine in the aerosol-forming material is not a requirement of the present disclosure. In some examples, the non-combustion aerosol delivery system is an aerosol-forming material heating system, also known as a non-combustion heating system. One example of such a system is a tobacco heating system. In some examples, the non-combustion aerosol delivery system is a hybrid system that generates aerosols using a combination of aerosol-forming materials, one or more of which may be heated. Each aerosol-forming material in such a hybrid system may be, for example, in solid, liquid, or gel form, and may or may not contain nicotine. In some examples, the hybrid system includes a liquid or gel aerosol-forming material as well as a solid aerosol-forming material. The solid aerosol-forming material may include, for example, tobacco or a non-tobacco product.

[0161] Throughout the following description, the terms "e-cigarette" and "electronic cigarette" may be used interchangeably, and it should be understood that these terms can be used interchangeably with the non-combustible aerosol (vapor) delivery system or device described above.

[0162] In some examples, the present disclosure relates to consumables for holding aerosol-generating materials, the consumables being configured for use with non-flammable aerosol delivery devices. These consumables may be referred to as articles throughout this disclosure.

[0163] A non-flammable aerosol delivery system typically includes a device portion (sometimes referred to herein as a device) and a consumable / item portion (sometimes referred to herein as an item). The device portion typically includes: Energy A power source and a controller are provided. Energy The source may typically be a power source (eg, a rechargeable battery).

[0164] In some examples, the non-flammable aerosol delivery system may include an area for receiving or engaging a consumable / item, an aerosol generator (which may or may not be within the consumable / item), an aerosol-generating area (which may be within the consumable / item), a housing, a mouthpiece, a filter, and / or an aerosol modifier.

[0165] In some instances, consumables / items for use with the non-flammable aerosol delivery device include aerosol-forming materials, aerosol-forming material storage areas (sometimes referred to herein as reservoirs for aerosolizable materials), aerosol-forming material transfer devices, and the like. Sending It may include a component (e.g., a wick such as a pad), an aerosol generator (sometimes referred to herein as an aerosol-generating component), an aerosol-generating area (sometimes referred to herein as an aerosol-generating chamber), a housing, a wrapper, a filter, a mouthpiece, and / or an aerosol modifier.

[0166] The systems described herein typically generate an inhalable aerosol by vaporizing an aerosol-forming material, which may include one or more active constituents, one or more flavoring agents, one or more aerosol-forming materials, and / or one or more other functional materials.

[0167] The aerosol-forming material may be in the form of, for example, a solid, liquid, or gel, and may or may not contain an active agent and / or flavoring. In some examples, the aerosol-forming material may comprise an "amorphous solid," which may alternatively be referred to as a "monolithic solid" (i.e., non-fibrous). In some examples, the amorphous solid may be a dry gel. An amorphous solid is a solid material capable of retaining some fluid, such as a liquid, within it. In some examples, the aerosol-forming material may comprise, for example, about 50 wt%, 60 wt%, or 70 wt% to about 90 wt%, 95 wt%, or 100 wt% amorphous solid.

[0168] The term "active substance" as used herein may refer to a physiologically active material (a material intended to produce or enhance a physiological response). The active substance may be selected from, for example, a dietary supplement, a psychotropic drug, or a psychoactive agent. The active substance may be naturally occurring or synthetically derived. The active substance may include, for example, nicotine, caffeine, taurine, theine, vitamins such as B6, B12, or C, melatonin, cannabinoids, or constituents, derivatives, or combinations thereof. The active substance may include one or more constituents, derivatives, or extracts of tobacco, cannabis, or another plant.

[0169] The aerosol-forming material may include one or more constituents capable of forming an aerosol. In some examples, the aerosol-forming material may include one or more of glycerol, propylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol, erythritol, meso-erythritol, ethyl vanillate, ethyl laurate, diethyl sulfate, triethyl citrate, triacetin, diacetin mixtures, benzyl benzoate, benzyl phenylacetate, tributyrin, lauryl acetate, lauric acid, myristic acid, and propylene carbonate.

[0170] The one or more other functional materials may include one or more of a pH adjuster, a colorant, a preservative, a binder, a filler, a stabilizer, and / or an antioxidant.

[0171] As used herein, the term "component" is used to refer to a part, portion, unit, module, assembly, or the like of an electronic cigarette or similar device, which may incorporate several smaller parts or elements, possibly within an external housing or wall. An electronic cigarette may be formed or constructed from one or more such components, which may be removably or separably connectable to one another or may be permanently joined together during manufacture to define the entire electronic cigarette. The present disclosure is applicable, but is not limited to, to systems including two components removably connectable to one another and configured as consumable / item components capable of holding, for example, aerosol-forming material (also referred to herein as a cartridge or cartomizer), and a device / control unit having a battery for providing power to operate the elements for generating vapor from the aerosol-forming material.

[0172] 1 is a highly schematic diagram (not to scale) of an exemplary aerosol / vapor delivery system, such as e-cigarette 10. E-cigarette 10 may have a generally cylindrical shape extending along a longitudinal axis indicated by the dashed line, and includes two main components: a control or power component or portion 20 (sometimes referred to herein as a device), and a cartridge assembly or portion 30 (sometimes referred to herein as an article, consumable, cartomizer, or cartridge), which operates as a vapor-generating component.

[0173] The cartridge assembly 30 includes a storage compartment (sometimes referred to herein as a reservoir) 3 containing aerosolizable material, including, for example, a liquid formulation from which an aerosol containing, for example, nicotine is generated. By way of example, the aerosolizable material may contain approximately 1-3% nicotine, 50% glycerol, and the remainder approximately propylene glycol, with optional addition of other ingredients such as water or flavorings. The storage compartment 3 has the form of a storage tank, a container or receptacle in which the aerosolizable material may be stored so that it moves and flows freely (if liquid) within the confines of the tank. Alternatively, the storage compartment 3 may contain a mass of absorbent material, such as wadding or glass fiber, that holds the aerosolizable material within its porous structure. The storage compartment 3 may be sealed after filling during manufacture, so as to be disposable after consumption of the aerosolizable material, or it may have other openings, such as an inlet port, through which new aerosolizable material can be added. The cartridge assembly 30 also includes an electrical aerosol-generation component 4 located outside the reservoir tank 3 for generating an aerosol by vaporizing the aerosol-generating material. In many devices, the aerosol-generation component may be a heating element (heater) that is heated by the passage of an electric current (by resistive or inductive heating) to raise the temperature of the aerosol-generating material until it vaporizes. A liquid conduit arrangement, such as a wick or other porous element (not shown), may also be provided to deliver the aerosol-generating material from the storage compartment 3 to the aerosol-generating component 4. The wick absorbs the aerosol-generating material and transfers it by wicking or capillary action to another portion of the wick that is in contact with the aerosol-generating component 4. Send The aerosol generating component 4 may have one or more portions disposed inside the storage compartment 3 so as to obtain a vaporizable material that is vaporized and transferred to the aerosol generating component 4 by the wick. Sent It will be replaced by new aerosolizable materials.

[0174] The combination of heater and wick, or other arrangement of components performing the same function, may be referred to as an atomizer or atomizer assembly. Various designs are possible, and components may be arranged differently compared to the highly schematic diagram of FIG. 1. For example, the wick may be an entirely separate element from the aerosol-generation component, or the aerosol-generation component may be porous and configured to perform the wicking function directly (e.g., in the form of a suitable electrically resistive mesh or capillary body).

[0175] In some cases, the conduit for delivering the liquid to produce the vapor may be formed at least in part by one or more slots, tubes, or channels between the storage compartment and the aerosol-generating component that are narrow enough to accommodate capillary action to draw and deliver the source liquid from the storage compartment for vaporization. In general, an atomizer is considered to be an aerosol-generating component that can produce vapor from delivered aerosolizable material, as well as a liquid conduit (pathway) that can deliver or transport liquid from the storage compartment or similar liquid storage to the aerosol-generating component by capillary forces.

[0176] Typically, the aerosol-generating components are at least partially disposed within an aerosol-generating chamber that forms part of the airflow channel through the electronic cigarette / system. Inside As air flows through the chamber, over and around the aerosol-generating component, it collects the vapor generated and condenses to form the required aerosol.

[0177] Also, referring again to FIG. 1, cartridge assembly 30 includes a mouthpiece 35 having an opening or air outlet through which a user can inhale the aerosol generated by aerosol generating component 4 and delivered through the air flow channel.

[0178] The power component 20 includes a cell or battery 5 (sometimes referred to herein as a battery, and which may be rechargeable) that provides power for the electrical components of the e-cigarette 10, particularly the aerosol-generation component 4. There is also a printed wiring board 28 and / or other electronics or circuitry for overall control of the e-cigarette. The control electronics / circuitry connects the vapor-generation component 4 to the battery 5 when vapor is needed, for example, in response to a signal from an air pressure or air flow sensor (not shown) that detects a draw on the system 10 as air enters through one or more air inlets 26 in the wall of the power component 20 and flows along an airflow channel. Upon receiving power from the battery 5, the aerosol-generation component 4 vaporizes the aerosolizable material delivered from the storage compartment 3 to generate an aerosol, which is then inhaled by the user through an opening in the mouthpiece 35. When the user inhales on the mouthpiece 35, the aerosol is transported to the mouthpiece 35 along the airflow channel (not shown) that connects the air inlet 26 to the air outlet. Thus, an air flow path is defined through the electronic cigarette between the air inlet(s) to the atomizer (which may or may not be present in the power component) and the air outlet in the mouthpiece. In use, the direction of airflow is along this air flow path from the air inlet to the air outlet, and therefore the atomizer can be described as being downstream of the air inlet and upstream of the air outlet.

[0179] In this particular example, the power section 20 and cartridge assembly 30 are separate parts that are detachable from one another by separation parallel to the longitudinal axis, as indicated by the solid arrows in FIG. 1 . The components 20, 30 are joined together during use of the device 10 by cooperation of mating elements 21, 31 (e.g., threads, magnetic, or bayonet fittings) that provide mechanical and electrical connections between the power section 20 and cartridge assembly 30. However, this is merely an exemplary configuration, and the various components described above may be distributed differently between the power section 20 and cartridge assembly section 30, and other components and elements may be included. The two sections may be joined end-to-end in a longitudinal configuration, as shown in FIG. 1 , or may be configured differently, such as in a parallel side-by-side arrangement. The system may or may not be generally cylindrical and / or generally longitudinal in shape. The e-cigarette 10 may be intended for disposal and replacement of one or both parts upon exhaustion (e.g., when the reservoir is empty or the battery runs out of charge), or may be intended for multiple uses, enabled by measures such as refilling the reservoir, recharging the battery, or replacing the atomizer. Alternatively, the e-cigarette 10 may be a single device (disposable or refillable / rechargeable) that cannot be separated into two or more parts, in which case all components are contained within a single body or housing. Embodiments and examples of the present invention are applicable to any of these and other configurations as will be recognized by those skilled in the art.

[0180] As previously mentioned, types of aerosol-generating components (e.g., heating elements) that may be utilized in the atomizer portion of an e-cigarette (the portion configured to generate vapor from a liquid feedstock) combine heating and liquid delivery functions by being both electrically conductive (resistive) and porous. References to being electrically conductive (resistive), however, refer to components capable of generating heat in response to the flow of electrical current therethrough. Such flow may be provided by so-called resistive or inductive heating. One example of such a suitable material is a conductive material, such as a metal or alloy, formed into a sheet-like form, i.e., a planar shape whose thickness is many times smaller than its length or width. Examples in this regard include meshes, webs, grills, and the like. Meshes may be formed from metal wires or fibers that are aggregated into an integral woven or nonwoven structure. For example, fibers may be aggregated by sintering, in which a collection of metal fibers is compressed into a single porous mass by the application of heat and / or pressure. Planar aerosol-generating components may define curved surfaces; in these cases, references to the planar aerosol-generating components constituting a surface refer to an imaginary plane that best fits the entire component.

[0181] These structures can provide appropriately sized voids and gaps between the metal fibers to create capillary forces for liquid wicking. Therefore, these structures can also be considered porous, allowing for liquid absorption and distribution. Furthermore, the presence of voids and gaps between the metal fibers allows air to diffuse through the structure. Metals are also electrically conductive and suitable for resistive heating, generating heat when an electric current flows through a material with electrical resistance. However, this type of structure is not limited to metals; other electrically conductive materials can be formed as fibers and configured as mesh, grill, or web structures. Examples include ceramic materials, which may or may not be doped with substances intended to adjust the physical properties of the mesh.

[0182] This type of planar, sheet-like porous aerosol-generating component can reside within an aerosol-generation chamber that is positioned within an electronic cigarette to form part of an airflow channel. The aerosol-generating component can be oriented within the chamber so that airflow through the chamber is directed in a surface direction, i.e., substantially parallel to the plane of the generally planar, sheet-like aerosol-generating component. Examples of such configurations are found in WO 2010 / 045670 and WO 2010 / 045671, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Air can thus flow over the heating element and collect vapor, resulting in highly efficient aerosol generation. Alternatively, the aerosol-generating component can be oriented within the chamber so that airflow through the chamber is directed substantially transversely to the surface direction, i.e., substantially perpendicular to the plane of the generally planar, sheet-like aerosol-generating component. An example of such a configuration is found in WO 2018 / 211252, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0183] The aerosol-generating component may have any one of the following structures: woven or knitted fabric, mesh, fabric, open-pore fiber, open-pore sintered, foam, or laminated structure. These structures are particularly suited to increasing the degree of porosity of the aerosol-generating component. A high degree of porosity allows for high efficiency, since the heat generated by the aerosol-generating component is primarily used to evaporate the liquid. Porosities of greater than 50% are conceivable in these structures. In one embodiment, the porosity of the aerosol-generating component is 50% or more, 60% or more, or 70% or more. The open-pore fiber structure may, for example, consist of a nonwoven fabric, which may be optionally compressible and further improved in cohesion by sintering. The open-pore sintered structure may, for example, consist of a granular, fibrous, or cotton-like sintered composite, produced, for example, by a film casting process. The open-pore laminated structure may, for example, be produced by a CVD process, a PVD process, or flame spraying. Open-pore foams are, in principle, commercially available and can also be obtained in thin, microporous designs.

[0184] In one embodiment, the aerosol-generating component has at least two layers, each of which comprises at least one of the following structures: plate, foil, paper, mesh, woven structure, fabric, open-pore fiber structure, open-pore sintered structure, open-pore foam, or open-pore stack structure. For example, the aerosol-generating component can be formed by an electric heating resistor made of a metal foil combined with a structure containing a capillary structure. When the aerosol-generating component is considered to be formed by a single layer, such a layer can be formed by a woven metal wire fabric or a nonwoven metal fiber fabric. It is convenient, but not necessary, for the individual layers to be connected to each other by a heat treatment such as sintering or welding. For example, the aerosol-generating component can be designed as a sintered composite consisting of one or more layers of stainless steel foil and woven stainless steel wire fabric (e.g., AISI 304 or AISI 316). Alternatively, the aerosol-generating component can be designed as a sintered composite consisting of at least two layers of woven stainless steel wire fabric. These layers can be connected to each other by spot welding or resistance welding. The individual layers can also be connected to each other mechanically. For example, it is possible to create two layers of woven wire fabric by simply folding a single layer. Instead of stainless steel, for example, heating conductor alloys, in particular NiCr alloys and CrFeAl alloys ("Kanthal"), which have a much higher specific electrical resistance than stainless steel, can be used. The material connection between the layers can be achieved by heat treatment, so that the layers remain in contact with each other even under adverse conditions, such as during heating by the aerosol-generating component and the resulting induced thermal expansion. Alternatively, the aerosol-generating component can be formed by sintering several individual fibers together. For this reason, the aerosol-generating component can be made of sintered fibers, such as sintered metal fibers.

[0185] The aerosol-generating component may include a thin conductive layer of an electrically resistive material, such as platinum, nickel, molybdenum, tungsten, or tantalum, applied to the vaporizer surface by a PVD or CVD process or any other suitable process. In this case, the aerosol-generating component may also include an electrically insulating material (e.g., ceramic). Examples of suitable electrically resistive materials include stainless steels such as AISI 304 or AISI 316, and heating conductor alloys such as DIN material numbers 2,4658, 2,4867, 2,4869, 2,4872, 1,4843, 1,4860, 1,4725, 1,4765, and 1,4767, particularly NiCr alloys and CrFeAl alloys ("Kanthal").

[0186] As mentioned above, the aerosol-generating component may be formed from a sintered metal fiber material, and may be in the form of a sheet. This type of material may be thought of as a mesh or irregular lattice, created by sintering together a randomly aligned configuration or array of spaced apart metal fibers or strands. It is also contemplated that a single layer of fibers may be used, or several layers (e.g., up to five layers). By way of example, the metal fibers may have a diameter of 8-12 μm and be configured to provide a sheet 0.16 mm thick, weighing 100 g / m². 2 ~1500g / m 2 (150g / m 2 ~1000g / m 2 , 200g / m 2 ~500g / m 2 , or 200 to 250 g / m 2The aerosol-generating components are spaced apart to produce a material density of 84% (e.g., 0.1 mm to 0.2 mm, e.g., 0.1 mm to 0.15 mm) and a porosity of 84%. The thickness of the sheet may be in the range of 0.1 mm to 0.2 mm (e.g., 0.1 mm to 0.15 mm). Specific thicknesses include 0.10 mm, 0.11 mm, 0.12 mm, 0.13 mm, 0.14 mm, 0.15 mm, or 0.1 mm. Typically, the aerosol-generating component has a uniform thickness. However, as will be appreciated from the following discussion, the thickness of the aerosol-generating component need not be uniform. This may be due, for example, to compression of portions of the aerosol-generating component. Also, different fiber diameters and thicknesses can be selected to vary the porosity of the aerosol-generating component. For example, the aerosol-generating component may have a porosity of 66% or more, 70% or more, 75% or more, 80% or more, 85% or more, or 86% or more.

[0187] The aerosol-generating component may comprise a generally planar structure including a first and a second surface. The generally planar structure may be in the form of any two-dimensional shape (e.g., circular, semicircular, triangular, square, rectangular, and / or polygonal). Typically, the aerosol-generating component has a uniform thickness.

[0188] The width and / or length of the aerosol-generating component may be from about 1 mm to about 50 mm. For example, the width and / or length of a vaporizer may be 1 mm, 2 mm, 3 mm, 4 mm, 5 mm, 6 mm, 7 mm, 8 mm, 9 mm, or 10 mm. In general, the width of an aerosol-generating component may be less than its length.

[0189] If the aerosol-generating component is made of an electrically resistive material, heat (so-called Joule heating) can be generated by passing an electric current through the aerosol-generating component. In this regard, the electrical resistance of the aerosol-generating component can be appropriately selected. For example, the aerosol-generating component may have an electrical resistance of 2 ohms or less (1.8 ohms or less, 1.7 ohms or less, 1.6 ohms or less, 1.5 ohms or less, 1.4 ohms or less, 1.3 ohms or less, 1.2 ohms or less, 1.1 ohms or less, 1.0 ohms or less, 0.9 ohms or less, 0.8 ohms or less, 0.7 ohms or less, 0.6 ohms or less, 0.5 ohms or less, etc.). The parameters of the aerosol-generating component (material, thickness, width, length, porosity, etc.) can be selected to provide the desired resistance. In this regard, a relatively low resistance can be advantageous for generating high aerosolization rates, since it facilitates drawing high power from the power source. On the other hand, the resistance should not be so low as to compromise the integrity of the aerosol generator, for example, the resistance may be 0.5 ohms or greater.

[0190] Planar aerosol-generating components (such as heating elements) suitable for use in the systems, devices, and articles disclosed herein may be extruded or cut (such as by laser cutting) to the desired shape from a larger sheet of porous material. In this case, the extrusion, cutting, or removal of the material may create openings in the aerosol-generating component. These openings can affect both the ability of air to pass through the aerosol-generating component and the tendency for electrical current to flow in certain areas.

[0191] FIG. 2 is a diagram of an exemplary article 100 according to the present disclosure. The article 100 comprises a housing. In this embodiment, the housing includes an outer housing 110 and an inner housing 120. The outer housing 110 is formed by the integration of first and second outer housing components 110a and 110b. The specific appearance of the outer housing 110 is not limited, but in this embodiment, it has multiple surfaces. The housing (e.g., the outer housing 110) may include at least one outlet 115. In this embodiment, there are two outlets 115. The outlet(s) 115 are for transporting aerosol generated within the article 100 to the user's mouth. Thus, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the outer housing 110 also constitutes the mouthpiece of the article.

[0192] First outer housing component 110a mates with second outer housing component 110b to form outer housing 110. In this example, components 110a, 110b fit together via a snap-fit ​​arrangement. In particular, resilient tabs 111 on second outer housing component 110b (only one side of which is visible in FIG. 2) fit into corresponding receiving openings 112 in first outer housing component 110a. Of course, the exact locations of the tabs and openings are not limited, and in fact, the tabs may be formed in outer housing component 110a and the openings may be formed in outer housing component 110b.

[0193] Referring to FIG. 3, this figure illustrates the first outer housing component 110a separated from the second outer housing component 110b to reveal the inner housing component 120, the aerosol-generating component 130 (which may be an electrical resistance metal heater), the flow regulator 140, and the pad 150. The inner housing component 120 may be configured to define a storage area 121 (not shown) for the aerosolizable material. The inner housing component 120 may be at least partially sleeved inside the first outer housing component 110a. Thus, the inner housing component 120 may be at least partially surrounded by the first outer housing component 110a. The inner housing component 120 may be connectable to the first outer housing component 110a (e.g., integrally attached or part of the same molding). The inner housing component 120 may have an open end 122 that engages with the flow regulator 140. Open end 122 and flow regulator 140 may collectively define a path for aerosolizable material to flow from storage area 121 to pad 150. An optional mouthpiece (not shown) may be sleeved on the outside of first outer housing component 110a (or the outer housing may form the mouthpiece).

[0194] The flow regulator 140 may include a recess 141 into which the open end 122 of the inner housing component 120 may be received. The recess 141 may include one or more openings 142 through which aerosolizable material can flow into the flow regulator. While the openings are slot-shaped in this example, it should be understood that one or more of the openings may have different cross-sections (e.g., circular, oval, or polygonal). Furthermore, the cross-sectional area of ​​the one or more openings 142 may vary across the length of the flow regulator 140. Thus, the one or more openings 142 may have a larger cross-sectional area at the liquid containment area compared to the cross-sectional area at the pad 150. The flow regulator 140 may include an annular seal 143 around its periphery that helps prevent aerosolizable material from exiting the interface between the inner housing component 120 and the flow regulator 140. The flow regulator 140 may include a surface against which the aerosol generation component 130 is biased and, in some instances, act as a heater support.

[0195] Pad 150 may be formed of a capillary material suitable for holding aerosolizable material. In particular, as the aerosolizable material flows through flow regulator 140, pad 150 may become saturated with the aerosolizable material. However, the capillary nature of pad 150 prevents leakage of the aerosolizable material from pad 150. Aerosol-generating component 130 may be positioned near pad 150 such that when aerosol-generating component 130 is supplied with energy (in this example, when resistively heated), the aerosolizable material present in pad 150 vaporizes. As discussed above, pad 150 and aerosol-generating component 130 may be combined into a single component.

[0196] In this example, the aerosol-generation component 130 is located on the second outer housing component 110b. During system operation, electrical contacts (e.g., pins) 116 of the outer housing component 110b may contact electrical connectors (e.g., tabs) 130C of the aerosol-generation component 130, thereby allowing electrical current to flow through the aerosol-generation component 130.

[0197] The second outer housing component 110b may include at least one air inlet 117 that allows air to enter the article 100. In use, air enters the article 100 through the at least one air inlet 117 and mixes with the vapor generated by the aerosol-generating component 130. The resulting aerosol may be directed to one or more air outlets 115 via at least one air flow channel extending between the first outer housing component 110a and the inner housing component 120. For example, in this embodiment, there are two air flow channels 180 that extend longitudinally along the length of the article 100 and cooperate with the air outlets 115 to form a flow path through the article 100.

[0198] According to one aspect, an article for use as part of a non-flammable aerosol supply system is disclosed, the article comprising: a housing having at least one air inlet; and a substantially planar aerosol generating component contained in the housing, wherein the at least one air inlet is configured to direct air in an inlet airflow direction toward the aerosol generating component, and wherein a plane of the substantially planar aerosol generating component is angled obliquely relative to the inlet airflow direction.

[0199] The term "inlet airflow direction" is understood to refer to the direction in which air is directed through at least one air inlet toward the aerosol-generating component. Thus, by creating an angle between the inlet airflow direction and the plane of the substantially planar aerosol-generating component, the substantially planar aerosol-generating component can direct air from the at least one air inlet in a specific direction through the article. In this manner, an article can be manufactured with a single airflow channel, and air from the at least one air inlet can be effectively directed toward the airflow channel. This configuration can also help reduce airflow turbulence in the at least one airflow channel, relative to when the inlet airflow direction is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the substantially planar aerosol-generating component. Reducing turbulence in the at least one airflow channel can improve the quality of the generated aerosol.

[0200] In this embodiment, the article 100 may be as described above, except for the different orientation of the aerosol-generating components. For example, in the example of Figure 2, it is understood that the plane of the substantially planar aerosol-generating component 130 is substantially perpendicular to the inlet airflow direction. In contrast, in this embodiment, the plane of the substantially planar aerosol-generating component 130 is angled obliquely relative to the inlet airflow direction AF, as shown schematically in Figures 4A-4C.

[0201] Referring to Figure 4A, in this embodiment, the plane of the substantially planar aerosol-generation element 130 is angled by about 130° to about 140° (e.g., about 135°) relative to the inlet airflow direction AF. Other angles are contemplated. For example, in the embodiment of Figure 4B, the plane of the substantially planar aerosol-generation element 130 is angled by about 140° to about 160° (e.g., about 150°) relative to the inlet airflow direction AF. The oblique angle is indicated by θ in Figures 4A-4C.

[0202] In some examples, the plane of the substantially planar aerosol-generating component 130 is angled relative to the inlet airflow direction AF by about 100° to about 170°, about 110° to about 160°, about 120° to about 150°, or about 130° to about 140° (e.g., about 135°).

[0203] In some examples, the plane of the aerosol-generating component 130 is angled obliquely with respect to the inlet airflow direction AF in one or more directions. This may enable the article to more effectively direct airflow for certain configurations. In some examples, the plane of the aerosol-generating component 130 is angled obliquely with respect to the inlet airflow direction AF in only one direction. In this regard, in the examples of FIGS. 4A and 4B, the plane of the aerosol-generating component 130 is angled obliquely with respect to the inlet airflow direction AF in only one direction, i.e., along the length of the aerosol-generating component 130. In the example of FIG. 4C, the plane of the aerosol-generating component 130 is angled obliquely with respect to the inlet airflow direction AF in at least two directions, including along the length of the aerosol-generating component 130 and along the width of the aerosol-generating component 130 (the latter shown in FIG. 4C).

[0204] In each of the above or all directions, the oblique angle of the plane of the substantially planar aerosol-generating component 130 relative to the inlet airflow direction AF may be between about 100° and about 170°, between about 110° and about 160°, between about 120° and about 150°, or between about 130° and about 140° (e.g., about 135°).

[0205] In some examples, the housings 110 , 120 may include an aerosol-forming chamber 190 .

[0206] The aerosol-generating component 130 may be at least partially disposed within the aerosol-forming chamber 190 .

[0207] The housings 110, 120 may define a single airflow channel 180 (the drawings do not show housings defining a single airflow channel, but one skilled in the art would understand this). In some examples, the single airflow channel 180 may extend between at least one air inlet 117 and at least one air outlet 115.

[0208] In some examples, the aerosol-generating component 130 may include one or more elongated openings 130B (e.g., as shown in FIG. 3). The aerosol-generating component 130 may include multiple elongated heating elements. The multiple elongated heating elements may be arranged side-by-side. The elongated openings 130B may be located between adjacent elongated heating elements.

[0209] In some examples, the aerosol-generating component 130 may be formed of an electrically conductive material. In some examples, the aerosol-generating component 130 may be formed of a porous material. In some examples, the aerosol-generating component 130 may be formed of a single layer.

[0210] The aerosol-generation component 130 may include one or more electrical connectors 130C. Multiple elongated heating elements may be provided between the electrical connectors 130C.

[0211] Article 100 may include any other features as defined herein.

[0212] Also, an article 100 as defined herein; Energy A non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10 is disclosed, comprising: a device 20 comprising one or more of a source and a controller.

[0213] System 10 may include any other features as defined herein.

[0214] According to one aspect, an article for use as part of a non-flammable aerosol delivery system is provided, comprising an aerosol-generating component and a method for transferring an aerosol-generating material to the aerosol-generating component. Send aerosol-generating material transfer Sending and a component, Sending An article is disclosed in which the components are magnetically connected to one another.

[0215] The magnetic connection allows the aerosol-generating components and the aerosol-generating material to be transferred. Sending Improved contact between the components can result in improved aerosolization. Additionally, magnetic connections can simplify manufacturing of the article, as the magnetic properties of the components can help auto-align the components in a desired orientation.

[0216] The magnetic coupling can be achieved in a variety of different ways. For example, the aerosol-generating component 130 and the aerosol-generating material transfer Sending Component 150 may include, consist essentially of, consist essentially of, consist of, be coated with, and / or be formed of a magnetic material, suitable magnetic materials being known to those skilled in the art.

[0217] In some examples, the aerosol-generating component 130 and the aerosol-generating material transfer Sending One of the components 150 includes a magnetic material, and the aerosol-generating component 130 and the aerosol-generating material transfer component 150 are Sending The other of the components 150 includes a corresponding magnetic material. For example, one or both of the magnetic material and the corresponding magnetic material may be a permanent magnet. For example, one or both of the magnetic material and the corresponding magnetic material may be a temporary magnet or an electromagnet.

[0218] For example, the aerosol-generating component 130 and the aerosol-generating material transfer SendingComponents 150 may be non-permanently connected to one another. For example, the aerosol-generating component and the aerosol-generating material transfer component may be non-permanently connected to one another. Sending The components are mutually resolvable. release The aerosol-generating components and the aerosol-generating material may be operably connected. Sending The process of manufacturing the article may be further simplified relative to cases where a manufacturing step is required to permanently connect components.

[0219] Furthermore, the article may be capable of at least partial disassembly and reassembly (eg, by a suitable technician) without permanent damage.

[0220] The article 100, including any features thereof, may be as defined elsewhere herein. For example, the aerosol-generating component 130 may be substantially planar. The aerosol-generating component 130 may be curved. The aerosol-generating component 130 may be curved about the axis of the aerosol-generating component 130. The aerosol-generating material transfer Sending The component 150 may be curved about the axis of the aerosol-generation component 130. The axis of the aerosol-generation component 130 may correspond to the longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generation component 130. The axis of the aerosol-generation component 130 may correspond to the transverse (or cross) axis of the aerosol-generation component 130. The axis of the aerosol-generation component 130 may correspond to the axis extending between the electrical connectors 130C of the aerosol-generation component.

[0221] The article 100 may include an aerosol-forming chamber 130. The aerosol-generating components may be at least partially disposed in the aerosol-forming chamber 190.

[0222] In some examples, the aerosol-generating component 130 may include one or more elongated openings 130B (e.g., as shown in FIG. 3). The aerosol-generating component 130 may comprise multiple elongated heating elements. The multiple elongated heating elements may be arranged side-by-side. The elongated openings 130B may be provided between adjacent elongated heating elements. The aerosol-generating component 130 may comprise one or more electrical connectors 130C. The elongated heating elements may be provided between the electrical connectors 130C. In some examples, the aerosol-generating component 130 is formed of an electrically conductive material. In some examples, the aerosol-generating component 130 is formed of a porous material. In some examples, the aerosol-generating component 130 is formed of a single layer.

[0223] Article 100 may include any other features as defined herein.

[0224] Also, an article 100 as defined herein; Energy A non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10 is disclosed, comprising: a device 20 comprising one or more of a source and a controller.

[0225] System 10 may include any other features as defined herein.

[0226] According to one embodiment, an aerosol-generating component is disclosed that comprises at least two substantially planar portions, at least two of the substantially planar portions being in different planes from one another.

[0227] This configuration allows the substantially planar portions that lie in different planes to optimally guide the airflow within the article that includes the aerosol-generating component. For example, the different planes of these portions can guide the airflow within the article in different directions. This configuration therefore allows the aerosol-generating component to be tailored to the specific design configuration of the article, thereby enabling more effective guidance of the airflow and / or reducing or limiting turbulence in the airflow.

[0228] Features of this embodiment are shown schematically in Figures 5A-5D. As shown, the aerosol-generating component 130 comprises at least two substantially planar portions 130A', at least two of which lie in different planes.

[0229] In the example of Figures 5A-5C, the aerosol-generating component 130 comprises two substantially planar portions 130A'. In the example of Figure 5D, the aerosol-generating component 130 comprises four substantially planar portions 130A'. Of course, other numbers of heating elements 130A' may be used.

[0230] In some examples, at least two of the substantially planar portions 130A that lie in different planes define an oblique interior angle α, which may be between about 10° and about 80°, between about 20° and about 70°, between about 30° and about 60°, between about 35° and about 55°, between about 40° and about 50°, or about 45°.

[0231] In some examples, at least two ends of the substantially planar portions 130A' that lie in different planes are connected end-to-end. This configuration is shown in Figures 5A-5C, respectively. In some examples, the aerosol-generating component 130 is configured such that the airflow travels perpendicular to the boundary between the at least two substantially planar portions 130A' that lie in different planes. As shown in the figures, the boundary corresponds to a straight line connecting the portions 130A'.

[0232] In some examples, at least two substantially planar portions 130A' that reside in different planes define a first direction, each of which is parallel to one another, and which is the only parallel direction defined by the planar heating portion 130A'. For example, with reference to FIGS. 5A-5C, two substantially planar portions 130A' that reside in different planes each define a first direction (along the width of the portions 130A'), and these first directions are parallel to one another. No other directions are parallel to one another along each portion 130A'. Of course, various configurations are possible.

[0233] In some examples, the aerosol-generating component 130 (e.g., one or all of the at least two substantially planar portions 130A') may include one or more elongated openings. For example, the aerosol-generating component 130 (e.g., one or all of the at least two substantially planar portions 130A') may include multiple elongated heating elements, which may be arranged side-by-side. An elongated opening may be provided between adjacent elongated heating elements.

[0234] In some examples, the aerosol-generating component 130 is formed from an electrically conductive material. In some examples, the aerosol-generating component 130 is formed from a porous material. In some examples, the aerosol-generating component 130 is formed from a single layer.

[0235] The aerosol-generation component 130 may include one or more electrical connectors 130C. The elongated heating section may be provided between the electrical connectors 130C.

[0236] Also disclosed is an article for use as part of a non-flammable aerosol supply system, comprising an aerosol generating component 130 as defined herein and one or more of a reservoir 121 for aerosolizable material and an aerosol forming chamber 190.

[0237] The aerosol-generating component 130 may be at least partially disposed within the aerosol-forming chamber 190. The article 100 (e.g., the housing 110, 120) may include at least one air inlet 117 to the aerosol-forming chamber 190.

[0238] The aerosol-generating component 130 may be configured to direct air entering the article 100 through at least one air inlet 117 to at least two of the substantially planar portions 130A' that reside in different planes.

[0239] At least two of the substantially planar portions 130A' that lie in different planes may be configured to direct air entering the article 100 via the at least one air inlet 117 in different directions.

[0240] In instances where at least two of the substantially planar portions 130A' that lie in different planes define an oblique interior angle, the oblique interior angle may be distal to the at least one air inlet 117 with respect to the aerosol generation component 130. Such a configuration may help direct airflow in different intended directions while reducing or limiting turbulence.

[0241] In some examples, article 100 is configured so that airflow travels perpendicular to a boundary between at least two substantially planar portions 130A' that reside in different planes. As shown in the drawings, the boundary corresponds to a straight line connecting portions 130A'.

[0242] Article 100 may include any other features as defined herein.

[0243] Also, an article 100 as defined herein; Energy A non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10 is disclosed, comprising: a device 20 comprising one or more of a source and a controller.

[0244] System 10 may include any other features as defined herein.

[0245] According to one aspect, an article for use as part of a non-flammable aerosol delivery system is provided, comprising an aerosol-generating component and an aerosol-generating material transfer element. Sending and a component, Sending The components are housed in a housing, and the aerosol-generating component is adapted to transfer the aerosol-generating material. Sending An article is disclosed that is biased against a component.

[0246] Aspects of this embodiment are shown schematically in Figure 6. Aerosol-generating component 130 and aerosol-generating material transfer Sending Component 150 is housed in housings 110, 120 (not shown in FIG. 6). Aerosol-generating component 130 is used for transferring aerosol-generating material. Sending In this configuration, the aerosol-generating component 130 and the aerosol-generating material transfer component 150 are biased against each other. Sending For example, this configuration improves contact between the components. Sending This may facilitate improved delivery of aerosolizable material from the component to the aerosol-generating component, thereby leading to improved aerosolization.

[0247] Aerosol-generating material transfer Sending The biasing of the aerosol-generating component 130 relative to the component 150 can be achieved in a variety of ways. For example, the aerosol-generating component 130 may be rigidly attached to the housing 110, 120 or a component thereof (e.g., electrical contacts 116). For example, the aerosol-generating material transfer SendingComponent 150 may be spatially constrained by housing 110, 120 or a component thereof (e.g., flow regulator 140). The housing and / or its component(s) may be biased relative to aerosol-generating component 130 and aerosol-forming material transfer component 150, respectively. In this case, aerosol-generating component 130 and aerosol-forming material transfer component 150 may be biased relative to aerosol-generating component 130 and aerosol-forming material transfer component 150. Sending The components 150 may be compressed together.

[0248] For example, in one embodiment, the aerosol-generating component 130 is securely attached to the electrical contacts 116, which hold the aerosol-generating component 130 in place within the housings 110, 120. Sending Component 150 is spatially constrained by flow regulator 140. Furthermore, housing 100 and its components are configured to allow aerosol-generating component 130 to transfer aerosol-generating material when article 100 is assembled. Sending It may be dimensioned to bias against component 150, for example, to compress the components 130, 150 together.

[0249] Referring to FIG. 6, the opposing arrows in FIG. 6 indicate the aerosol-generating component 130 and the aerosol-generating material transfer element. Sending The compressive force applied to component 150 is shown (other features of article 100 are not shown for clarity). In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating component is pre-biased in a particular orientation. Such pre-biasing may enable the aerosol-generating component to maintain a particular degree of contact with the aerosol-generating material. In particular, the aerosol-generating component may be configured to maintain a particular degree of contact with the aerosol-generating material. Sending If displaced from its pre-energized state upon contact with a component, the aerosol-forming material transfer will attempt to return to its pre-energized state. SendingIn some examples, the aerosol-generating component 130 is substantially planar. In some examples, the aerosol-generating component 130 is curved. In some examples, the aerosol-generating component 130 is curved about the axis of the aerosol-generating component 130. In some examples, the aerosol-generating material transfer Sending Component 150 is curved around the axis of aerosol-generation component 130. The axis of aerosol-generation component 130 may correspond to the axis between electrical connectors 130C of aerosol-generation component 130. The axis of aerosol-generation component 130 may correspond to the longitudinal axis (or transverse (or lateral) axis) of aerosol-generation component 130.

[0250] In some examples, the housings 110, 120 may include an aerosol-forming chamber 190. The aerosol-generating component 130 may be at least partially disposed within the aerosol-forming chamber 190.

[0251] In some examples, the aerosol-generating component 130 may include one or more elongated openings (e.g., as shown in FIG. 3). The aerosol-generating component 130 may comprise multiple elongated heating elements. The multiple elongated heating elements may be arranged side-by-side. An elongated opening may be provided between adjacent elongated heating elements. The aerosol-generating component 130 may comprise one or more electrical connectors 130C. The elongated heating elements may be provided between the electrical connectors 130C. In some examples, the aerosol-generating component 130 is formed of an electrically conductive material. In some examples, the aerosol-generating component 130 is formed of a porous material. In some examples, the aerosol-generating component 130 is formed of a single layer.

[0252] The article 100 may include at least one air flow channel 180 .

[0253] Article 100 may include any other features as defined herein.

[0254] Also, an article 100 as defined herein; Energy A non-flammable aerosol delivery system 10 is disclosed, comprising: a device 20 comprising one or more of a source and a controller.

[0255] System 10 may include any other features as defined herein.

[0256] The various embodiments described herein are presented solely to aid in understanding and teaching the claimed features. These embodiments are provided merely as a representative sample of embodiments and are not intended to be exhaustive and / or exclusive. The advantages, embodiments, examples, functions, features, structures, and / or other aspects described herein should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention as defined by the claims or limitations on the equivalents of the claims, and it is understood that other embodiments may be utilized and improved upon without departing from the scope of the claimed invention. The various embodiments of the present invention may suitably include, consist of, or essentially consist of any suitable combination of the disclosed elements, components, features, parts, steps, means, etc., other than those specifically described herein. The present disclosure may also include other inventions not currently claimed but which may be claimed in the future.

Claims

1. 1. An article for use as part of a non-flammable aerosol delivery system, comprising: an aerosol generating component; and a single aerosol-generating material transfer component configured to transfer an aerosol-generating material to the aerosol-generating component, wherein the aerosol-generating component and the aerosol-generating material transfer component are magnetically connected to one another; The article, wherein one of the aerosol-generating component and the aerosol-forming material transport component comprises a magnetic material, and the other of the aerosol-generating component and the aerosol-forming material transport component comprises a corresponding magnetic material.

2. The article of claim 1 , wherein one or both of the magnetic material and the corresponding magnetic material is a permanent magnet.

3. 3. The article of claim 1 or 2, wherein one or both of the magnetic material and the corresponding magnetic material is a temporary magnet or an electromagnet.

4. The article of claim 1 or 2, wherein the aerosol-generating component is substantially planar.

5. The article of claim 1 or 2, wherein the aerosol-generating component is curved.

6. The article of claim 5 , wherein the aerosol-generating component is curved about the axis of the aerosol-generating component.

7. The article of claim 6 , wherein the aerosol-forming material transport component is curved about the axis of the aerosol-generating component.

8. The article of claim 1 or 2, comprising an aerosol-forming chamber.

9. The article of claim 8 , wherein the aerosol-generating component is at least partially disposed within the aerosol-forming chamber.

10. The article of claim 1 or 2, wherein the aerosol-generating component comprises one or more elongated openings.

11. The article of claim 1 or 2, wherein the aerosol-generating component is formed from an electrically conductive material.

12. The article of claim 1 or 2, wherein the aerosol-generating component is formed of a porous material.

13. The article of claim 1 or 2, wherein the aerosol-generating component is formed in a single layer.

14. The article of claim 1 or 2, wherein the aerosol-generating component and the aerosol-generating material transfer component are non-permanently connected to one another.

15. The article of claim 1 or 2, wherein the aerosol-generating component and the aerosol-generating material transfer component are releasably connected to one another.

16. 3. The article of claim 1 or 2, comprising a reservoir for aerosolizable material, the aerosol-generating material transfer component being configured to transfer the aerosolizable material from the reservoir to the aerosol-generating component.

17. An article as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein the aerosol-generating material transport component is a wick.

18. An article as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein the aerosol generating component and the aerosol generating material transport component are formed from a magnetic material.

19. 3. A non-flammable aerosol delivery system comprising the article of claim 1 or 2 and a device comprising one or more of an energy source and a controller.

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