Non-combustible heated stick

Abstract

To provide a method for reducing the chance that an aerosol-generating consumable article breaks or snaps during use.SOLUTION: As a heat-not-burn stick, an aerosol-generating consumable article (10) comprises: a tubular body (12) comprising a flexible portion (20), thereby allowing a first end (10a) of the aerosol-generating consumable article (10) to move relative to a second end (10b) of the aerosol-generating consumable article (10), where the flexible portion (20) is positioned at a predetermined distance from the second end (10b) of the aerosol-generating consumable article (10), where the predetermined distance corresponds to a length of a cavity of an aerosol-generating device configured for accommodating the aerosol-generating consumable article (10) and generating aerosol by heating of the aerosol-generating consumable article (10).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2A

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a heat-not-burn stick.

Background Art

[0002] (Also known as an atomizer) The popularity and use of aerosol generating devices and systems, as alternatives to conventional tobacco products such as cigarettes, cigars, cigars, and roll-your-own tobacco, have grown rapidly in recent years. In contrast to burning tobacco in conventional tobacco products, various devices and systems are available that heat or warm aerosolizable substances, which may or may not contain nicotine or other active substances.

[0003] Generally available aerosol generating systems are of the substrate heating type aerosol generation or heat-not-burn type. This type of system generates an aerosol or vapor by heating a consumable (i.e., a "heat-not-burn stick") containing an aerosol substrate, such as reconstituted tobacco, typically to a temperature in the range of 150°C to 350°C. By heating rather than burning or igniting the aerosol substrate, an aerosol containing the components desired by the user but not containing undesirable by-products of combustion is released. Also, the aerosol produced by heating tobacco or other aerosolizable materials typically does not contain the burnt or bitter taste that can be unpleasant for the user as a result of combustion.

[0004] Typically, the heat-not-burn consumable is, for example, in the form of a stick and is inserted into a cavity of a heat-not-burn device, with the end of the stick protruding from the device to form a mouthpiece for inhalation. Next, the heat-not-burn device supplies heat to the stick, aerosolizes the aerosolizable material contained in the aerosol substrate within the stick, and the generated aerosol is supplied to the user from the protruding end of the stick.

[0005] A common problem experienced with typical non-combustible heating systems is that the mouthpiece portion of the stick protruding from the aerosol generator during use tends to break, particularly near the opening of the cavity. To prevent this, the user must instead hold the device in a position that minimizes the bending force applied to the stick during use. Such a position increases the effort and discomfort required to operate the device, degrading the user experience. [Overview of the Initiative]

[0006] Therefore, the objective of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems.

[0007] According to a first aspect of the present invention, an aerosol generating consumable is provided, which includes a tubular body with a flexible portion, thereby allowing a first end of the aerosol generating consumable to move relative to a second end of the aerosol generating consumable, the flexible portion being positioned at a predetermined distance from the second end of the aerosol generating consumable, the predetermined distance corresponding to the length of the cavity of an aerosol generating device configured to house the aerosol generating consumable and generate an aerosol by heating the aerosol generating consumable.

[0008] Thus, the aerosol generating consumable can be flexed during use in the aerosol generator, thereby reducing the risk of damage to the aerosol generating consumable. For example, external forces such as bending, tensile, compressive, or torsional forces may be applied to the stick during use. By providing a flexible portion in the tubular body, the flexible portion can bend and withstand external forces without breaking. Additionally, since the position and angle of the first end of the aerosol generating consumable can be changed relative to the aerosol generator, the aerosol generator can be held in various positions by the user during use, thereby improving ergonomics and user experience.

[0009] For example, when the aerosol generating consumable is inserted into the cavity of the aerosol generator during use, at least a portion of the flexible part is positioned outside the cavity of the aerosol generator. This allows the first end of the aerosol generating consumable to bend relative to the aerosol generator during use.

[0010] Preferably, when the aerosol generating consumable is inserted into the cavity of the aerosol generator during use, at least a portion of the flexible part of the aerosol generating consumable is positioned within the opening of the cavity. In other words, the flexible part is partially inside the cavity and partially outside. In this way, the flexible part of the aerosol generating consumable provides cushioning against the opening of the cavity, thereby further reducing the risk of damage to the aerosol generating consumable. Alternatively, the entire flexible part of the aerosol generating consumable may be positioned outside the cavity when the aerosol generating consumable is inserted into the aerosol generator.

[0011] The flexible portion of the tubular body may include a flexible material. As used herein, the term “flexible material” refers to any material that can be bent, stretched, and / or deformed without breaking or fracturing. The flexible material may be an elastic material that returns to its initial position when the external force is removed. Alternatively, the flexible material may be a pliable material that does not spontaneously return to its initial position when the external force is removed. The flexible material may be provided by a layer of flexible material in the flexible portion of the tubular body. The flexible material may include flexible paper. The flexible material may include silicon.

[0012] The flexible portion of the tubular body may include a plurality of ribs extending around the outer circumference of the tubular body. The ribs may be provided as depressions on either the inner or outer surface of the tubular body, and the ribs may make the aerosol generating consumable more easily deformed when an external force is applied to it. In this way, the circumferential ribs may allow the tubular body to bend under bending force without breaking or fracturing, thereby allowing the first end of the aerosol generating consumable to move relative to the second end of the aerosol generating consumable.

[0013] The flexible portion of the tubular body may include material arranged in a folded structure. In this way, flexibility of the tubular body may be provided without forming the tubular body from an extensible material. For example, the material arranged in the folded structure may be paper. The folded structure may be able to move between a folded position and an unfolded position.

[0014] The flexible portion of the tubular body may include a plurality of openings configured to allow air to flow into the aerosol generating consumable, the plurality of openings being covered in the folded position and the plurality of openings being uncovered in the unfolded position. In this way, the user can control the amount of air that can flow into the aerosol generating consumable during use, and thereby control the concentration and / or strength of the vaporized material. The user can choose how many of the plurality of openings remain uncovered by pulling or bending the aerosol generating consumable to move the folded structure at least partially to the unfolded position.

[0015] In some embodiments, the tubular body may include a first layer configured to provide a flexible portion of the tubular body, and a second layer at least partially positioned on the first layer.

[0016] The second layer of the tubular body extends from the first end to the second end of the aerosol generating consumable, thereby completely covering the first layer of the tubular body. In this way, the aerosol generating consumable can be assembled simply and quickly by wrapping the second layer around the other components of the aerosol generating consumable, and an aerosol generating consumable with a continuous outer surface can be produced. Having a continuous outer surface can provide protection to the internal components of the aerosol generating consumable and can also provide the aerosol generating consumable with a certain degree of rigidity that may be beneficial during transport or storage of the aerosol generating consumable.

[0017] The second layer of the tubular body may include perforations in the portion covering the flexible portion of the first layer. In this way, when an external force is applied, the perforations allow the second layer to rupture at least partially without damaging other parts of the aerosol generating consumable, such as the first layer, during use.

[0018] In other embodiments, the tubular body may include a first layer and a second layer configured to provide a flexible portion of the tubular body, the second layer being at least partially located on top of the first layer. The first layer may extend from a first end to a second end of the aerosol generating consumable. Alternatively, the first end of the aerosol generating consumable may be defined by the second layer. Thus, the first layer of the aerosol generating consumable may provide protection to any internal components, and the second layer may provide structural support to the first layer when bending forces are applied to the aerosol generating consumable. This reduces the likelihood of the aerosol generating consumable breaking or snapping during use.

[0019] The second layer may extend from the first or second end of the aerosol generating consumable. Preferably, the second layer extends from the first end of the aerosol generating consumable (i.e., the end configured to supply vapor to the user). This increases the size or length of the flexible portion of the aerosol generating consumable, thereby enabling the aerosol generating consumable to respond to a wider range of positions and / or external forces. For example, the second layer may be a silicon film wrapped around the first layer of the aerosol generating consumable.

[0020] According to another aspect of the present invention, a system is provided comprising an aerosol generator having a cavity of a certain length and an aerosol generating consumable as described above. For example, when the aerosol generating consumable is inserted into the cavity of the aerosol generator during use, at least a portion of the flexible part is positioned outside the cavity of the aerosol generator.

[0021] When the aerosol generating consumable is inserted into the cavity of the aerosol generator during use, at least a portion of the flexible part of the aerosol generating consumable may be positioned within the opening of the cavity. In other words, the flexible part is partially inside the cavity and partially outside the cavity. Alternatively, the entire flexible part of the aerosol generating consumable may be positioned outside the cavity when the aerosol generating consumable is inserted into the aerosol generator.

[0022] It will be understood that the present invention is described herein merely as an example, and that modifications of details can be made within the scope of the invention. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0023] Herein, one or more embodiments will be described as mere examples with reference to the attached drawings:

[0024] [Figure 1A] A schematic diagram of typical aerosol generating consumables, such as heated, non-combustible sticks, is shown. [Figure 1B] An example of a non-combustion heating device is shown. [Figure 1C] Shows a diagram of a heated non-combustible stick before damage to the stick inserted into the device. [Figure 1D] Shows a diagram of a heated non-combustible stick after damage to the stick inserted into the device. [Figure 2A] Shows an embodiment of a heated non-combustible stick having a tubular body including a flexible portion. [Figure 2B] Shows an example of a heated non-combustible stick corresponding to the example shown in FIG. 1B. [Figure 2C] Shows the heated non-combustible stick of FIG. 2A inserted into the heated non-combustible device of FIG. 2B. [Figure 2D] Shows the heated non-combustible device and stick of FIG. 2C, where the first end of the stick has moved relative to the second end of the stick due to bending of the flexible portion. [Figure 3A] Shows a user operating the heated non-combustible device and a typical heated non-combustible stick shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 3B] Shows a user operating an embodiment of the heated non-combustible device and the heated non-combustible stick shown in FIG. 2. [Figure 4] FIGS. 4A to 4C show an embodiment of a heated non-combustible stick in which the flexible portion is provided by a flexible paper tube. [Figure 5] FIGS. 5A to 5C show a stick having a flexible portion provided by a folding structure. [Figure 6] FIGS. 6A and 6B show an example of a flexible tube including a plurality of ribs that can provide a flexible portion of the tubular body. [Figure 7] Shows an example of a heated non-combustible stick including an outer layer that provides a flexible portion of the tubular body.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0025] In the following description and the accompanying drawings, corresponding feature groups may preferably be identified using corresponding reference numerals in order to avoid the need to describe in detail the common features being described for every embodiment.

[0026] As described herein, vapor is generally understood to refer to a substance that is in the gaseous phase at a temperature below its critical temperature, meaning that vapor can be condensed into a liquid by increasing the pressure without decreasing the temperature, while aerosol is a state in which fine solid particles or droplets are suspended in air or another gas. However, it should be noted that in this specification, the terms “aerosol” and “vapor” may be used synonymously, particularly with respect to the form of an inhalable medium generated for inhalation by the user.

[0027] Here, with reference to Figures 1A to 1D, a typical aerosol generating article, such as a heated non-combustible stick 10', will be described in detail. For brevity, the term "stick" may be used to refer to a "heated non-combustible stick". Figure 1A shows a typical stick 10' extending along its longitudinal axis, having a first end 10a' and a second end 10b'. The stick 10' includes a tubular body 12' having a first end 12a' and a second end 12b'. The tubular body 12' may be substantially cylindrical with a predetermined diameter, but it will be recognized that the tubular body 12' may have other shapes, such as cubic or conical.

[0028] The tubular body 12' of the stick 10' contains an aerosol substrate (not shown) that, when heated by a heated non-combustible device, forms an aerosol or vapor supplied to the user. The use of the device 50 is sometimes referred to as "vapor inhalation." The first end 10a' of the stick 10' is configured as a mouthpiece for supplying vapor to the user and may include components such as a filter (not shown). The second end 10b' of the stick 10' is configured to be inserted into a heated non-combustible device. The second end 10b' of the stick 10' may include components such as a plug (not shown) for holding the aerosol substrate inside the tubular body 12'. The tubular body 12' may be formed from one or more wrappers wrapped around and secured to the filter, plug, and aerosol substrate.

[0029] An example of a heated non-combustible device 50 is shown in Figure 1B, but it will be recognized that other heated non-combustible devices may be used with the heated non-combustible stick described herein. For brevity, the term “device” may be used to refer to the “heated non-combustible device.” The device 50 includes a housing 51 configured to hold various components of the device 50. The housing 51 may be any shape that is sized to accommodate various components and can be any shape that a user can easily hold with one hand without assistance. The device 50 includes a cavity 52 with an opening 54. The cavity 52 has a shape that corresponds to the shape of the stick 10'. If the stick 10' is substantially cylindrical, the cavity 52 may have a diameter that corresponds to the diameter of the tubular body 12' of the stick 10'. For example, the diameter of the cavity 52 may be slightly larger than the diameter of the tubular body 12' so that the stick 10' can be inserted into the cavity 52. To ensure that the stick 10' remains fixed within the cavity 52 after insertion, retaining or restraining elements (not shown), such as internal ribs, embossed sections, or flat surfaces, may be provided within the cavity 52 such that they locally define a diameter between themselves that is equal to or slightly smaller than the diameter of the tubular body 12' of the stick 10'. The length of the cavity 52 is shorter than the length of the stick 10' such that the first end 10a' of the stick 10' protrudes from the heated non-combustible device 50 when the second end 10b' of the stick 10' is inserted into the cavity 52, as shown in Figure 1C. A heating element (not shown) may be provided within the housing 51 to supply heat for vaporizing the aerosol substrate within the stick 10'. The heated non-combustible device 50 may include a number of additional components, such as power supplies and control circuits, which are not described in detail herein.

[0030] As shown in Figure 1D, during use of the heating non-combustion device 50, an external force F may be applied to the stick 10', particularly at the protruding first end 10a' of the stick 10'. For example, the force may include bending, stretching, or tensile forces, compressive forces, and / or torsional or twisting forces. Since the relative movement between the stick 10' and the heating non-combustion device 50 is limited by the cavity, the stick 10' may break due to the external force. For example, the stick 10' may break completely, bend in a way that obstructs the flow of steam through the stick 10', or be damaged in a way that exposes the internal components of the stick 10' to the environment. Typically, the tubular body 12' of the stick 10' is fragile because the wrapper that holds the various parts of the stick together cannot stretch to accommodate the bending of the stick 10'. Therefore, each time the stick 10' breaks, it must be discarded and replaced, leading to increased waste and costs in operating the device. The breakage can occur anywhere on the stick 10', but typically occurs near the opening 54 of the cavity 52, as shown in Figure 1D. When the stick 10' breaks near the opening 54, this breakage presents a further problem: it becomes difficult to remove the remaining portion of the stick 10' from the device 50, thereby increasing the time required to replace the stick 10'.

[0031] Here, an embodiment of a heated non-combustible stick 10 that solves the above problems will be described with reference to Figures 2A to 2D. The stick 10 shown in Figure 2A shares many features of the stick 10' shown in Figure 1A, such as a tubular body 12, internal components such as a filter at the first end 10a of the stick 10, a plug at the second end 10b of the stick 10, and an aerosol substrate housed within the tubular body 12. The second end 10b of the stick 10 is configured to be inserted into a heated non-combustible device 50, such as the one shown in Figure 2B, and the device 50 includes a cavity 52 with an opening 54.

[0032] In the embodiments of FIGS. 2A-2D, the tubular body 12 further includes a flexible portion 20. The flexible portion 20 enables the first end 10a of the stick 10 to move relative to the second end 10b of the stick 10. As used herein, the term "move" refers to any relative movement between the ends 10a, 10b of the stick. For example, "move" may refer to a change in the angle of the longitudinal axis of the first end 10a relative to the second end 10b (such as by bending or flexing), or a change in the distance between the ends 10a, 10b of the stick 10 (such as by stretching or compressing), and / or a relative rotation about the longitudinal axis between the ends 10a, 10b of the stick 10 (such as by torsion). The flexible portion 20 is located at a predetermined distance D from the second end 10b of the stick 10. The predetermined distance D at least corresponds to the length L of the cavity 52 of the heat non-combustion device 50. For example, the flexible portion 20 may extend a distance X along the length of the tubular body 12, and the predetermined distance D may define the midpoint of the flexible portion 20.

[0033] When the stick 10 is inserted into the cavity 52 of the device 50 during use, at least a portion of the flexible portion 20 is arranged to be located outside the cavity 52 of the device 50 (i.e., D + X / 2 > L). Preferably, when the stick 10 is inserted into the cavity 52 of the device 50, at least a portion of the flexible portion 20 of the stick 10 is arranged to be located within the opening 54 of the cavity 52 (i.e., D - X / 2 < L < D + X / 2). In other words, as shown in FIG. 2C, a part of the flexible portion 20 is inside the cavity 52 and a part is outside the cavity 52. Thus, the flexible portion 20 of the stick 10 provides a cushioning material against the opening 54 of the cavity 52, thereby further reducing the risk of breakage of the stick 10. Alternatively, all of the flexible portion 20 of the stick 10 may be arranged to be located outside the cavity 52 when the stick 10 is inserted into the device 50 (i.e., D - X / 2 > L).

[0034] As shown in Figure 2D, when an external force F is applied to the stick 10 while the device 50 is in use, the first end 10a of the stick 10 moves relative to the second end 10b of the stick 10 without damaging the stick 10. In particular, Figure 2D shows the bending of the flexible portion 20, but compressive, tensile, or torsional motions can also be accommodated by the flexible portion 20, depending on the type of external force applied.

[0035] Here, with reference to Figures 3A and 3B, further advantages of the stick 10 will be described. Figure 3A shows a user operating a typical heated non-combustible stick 10' inserted into a heated non-combustible device 50. As described above, to prevent damage to the stick 10', the user must lift the device 50 and tilt it toward the user's mouth so as to engage with the first end 10a' of the stick 10'. Conversely, when using an embodiment of the stick 10 according to the present invention, the user may hold the device 50 to a more comfortable degree and does not need to tilt the device 50 to prevent damage to the stick 10. This means that the user can hold the device 50 in the most comfortable position for the user without the risk of damaging the stick 10.

[0036] As will be explained in more detail here, the flexible portion 20 of the stick 10 can be realized in a number of ways. For example, the flexible portion 20 may include a flexible material such as flexible paper or silicone (for example, Figure 7Alternatively, the flexible portion 20 may be provided by structures such as folds, indentations, ribs, and / or corrugations (e.g., Figures 5 and 6). The flexible portion 20 may be provided using a flexible tube 22 incorporated into the tubular body 12, by an outer layer disposed on the tubular body 12, and / or by any other preferred form such as a flexible coating or layer. It will be recognized that any of the embodiments described above may be combined to provide further flexibility. Furthermore, the stick 10 may include two or more flexible portions 20 located at different positions along the length of the stick 10. Each of these flexible portions 20 may be implemented in the same or different ways to each other.

[0037] Figure 4A shows a longitudinal section view of an embodiment of a stick 10-1 with a flexible portion 20. The stick 10-1 includes a filter 13 at its first end 10a, and the filter 13 is wrapped in a filter wrapper 14. The stick 10-1 also includes a plug 15 at its second end 10b, and the plug 15 is wrapped in a plug wrapper 16. The flexible portion 20 of the stick 10-1 is provided by a flexible tube 22. In this example, the flexible tube 22 is a flexible paper tube 22 extending between the filter 13 and the plug 15, but it will be recognized that there are other ways to provide flexibility to the flexible tube 22. For example, the flexible tube 22 may instead be a soft silicone tube, may include flexible paper, may include a folding structure (see Figure 5), and / or may include circumferential ribs (see Figure 6), or may include any other suitable means for providing flexibility.

[0038] The flexible tube 22 may also be referred to as the first layer 22, and the second material layer 18 is placed at least partially on top of the first layer 22. The flexible tube 22 may form an intermediate section of the stick 10-1 between the first end 10a and the second end 10b, which is secured by a wrapper. In particular, the filter 13, the filter wrapper 14, and tip paper 18a may be wrapped around at least a portion of the flexible tube 22 at the first end 10a. Similarly, the plug of the aerosol substrate 15, the plug wrapper 16, and base paper 18b may be wrapped around at least a portion of the flexible tube 22. Thus, the tubular body 12 of the stick 10-1 is provided by the first layer 22 (flexible tube 22) and the second layer 18 (parts of tip paper 18a and 18b). Figure 4B shows a diagram of stick 10-1 from Figure 4A, where elements such as the filter wrapper 14, plug wrapper 16, and parts of the chip paper 18a and base paper 18b are not partially wrapped.

[0039] Figure 4C shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the stick 10-2 with a flexible portion 20. Since the stick 10-2 shares many features with the stick 10-1 shown in Figures 4A and 4B, these common features will not be described in further detail. However, the stick 10-2 in Figure 4C differs in that a single outer wrapper 18 extends from the first end 10a of the stick 10-2 to the second end 10b, thereby completely covering the first layer 18 of the tubular body. The outer wrapper 18 is provided by a single piece of paper 18 that is wrapped around the flexible tube 22 and the filter 13, filter wrapper 14, plug 15, and plug wrapper 16. Thus, the stick 10-2 can be assembled simply and quickly by wrapping the outer wrapper 18 around the other components of the stick 10-2. This means that it is not necessary to invert the stick 10-2 to wrap the second outer wrapper piece 18, as may be required in the stick 10-1 of Figure 4A. Additionally, by using a single outer wrapper 18, a stick 10-2 with a continuous outer surface is fabricated. Having a continuous outer surface can provide protection to the internal components of the stick 10-2, and the stick 10-2 Transportation or storage A certain degree of rigidity, which may be beneficial, can be imparted to the stick 10-2.

[0040] Preferably, the outer wrapper 18 includes perforations in the portion covering the first layer 22. When an external force is applied during use of the stick 10-2, the perforations allow the outer wrapper 18 to bend, potentially allowing the outer wrapper 18 to break at least partially without damaging other parts of the stick 10-2, such as the first layer 22. The stick may also include airflow openings 19 that provide a path through both the first layer 22 and the outer wrapper 18.

[0041] Figures 5A to 5C show cross-sectional views of another embodiment of the stick 10-3 with a flexible portion 20. In particular, the tubular body 12 includes a flexible tube 22 arranged as a folding structure 26. Thus, the folding structure 26 can move between a folded position and an unfolded position to accommodate external forces that may be applied to the stick 10-3 during use. In particular, the folding structure 26 can move uniformly to the unfolded position when an tensile (or stretching) force is applied to the tubular body 12 (see Figure 5A). Conversely, the folding structure 26 can move uniformly to the folded position when a compressive force is applied to the tubular body 12 (see Figure 5B). Alternatively or additionally, when a bending force is applied to the tubular body 12, one side of the folding structure 26 can move to the folded position, while the other (e.g., opposite) side of the folding structure 26 can move to the unfolded position (see Figure 5C).

[0042] Additionally, the folding structure 26 of the flexible tube 22 may be provided with a number of openings (not shown) configured to allow air to flow into the stick 10-3. The openings may be covered in the folded position (e.g., Figure 5B) but not in the unfolded position (e.g., Figure 5A). Thus, the user can pull the stick 10-3 (i.e., apply tensile force) to move the folding structure 26 to the unfolded position at least partially, thereby removing the cover of at least one of the openings or exposing at least one of the openings. This allows the user to control the amount of air that can flow into the stick 10-3 during use, thereby controlling the concentration and / or strength of the vaporized material.

[0043] Figures 6A and 6B show another example of a flexible tube 22 that may be used to provide a flexible portion 20 of the tubular body 12 of the stick 10. In this embodiment, the flexible tube 22 includes a number of ribs 28 (some of which are referenced) extending around the outer circumference of the flexible tube 22. The ribs 28 may be provided as indentations or corrugations on either the inner or outer surface of the flexible tube 22 and may be pre-configured to deform when a bending force is applied to the stick 10 or may have a deformable property. The flexible tube 22 may include paper, or it may include a flexible or stretchable material such as the silicone or flexible paper described above. As shown in Figure 6B, a bending force is applied to the flexible tube 22 so that the circumferential ribs 28 fold in on at least one side of the flexible tube 22 without the flexible tube 22 being damaged or broken as a whole. Thus, when the flexible tube 22 is incorporated into the tubular body 12 of the stick 10, the first end 10a of the stick 10 can move relative to the second end 10b of the stick 10. The flexible tube 22 is advantageous because it can be easily manufactured by a flexible straw bending machine (e.g., a Jx021 machine). This flexible tube 22 may be used to provide a flexible portion 20 of any suitable stick 10, such as stick 10-1 shown in Figures 4A to 4C. Alternatively, the rib 28 may be formed directly on the stick 10 without the need to incorporate the flexible tube 22 into other components of the stick 10. For example, a flexible straw bending machine can directly form the rib 28 on the tubular body 12 of an existing stick 10, such as the typical stick 10' already described above.

[0044] Figure 7 shows another embodiment of the stick 10-4 having a flexible portion 20. The stick 10-4 shares numerous features with the already described stick 10, which will not be described in further detail. In this embodiment, the stick 10-4 includes at least a first (paper) layer 30 wrapped around the aerosol substrate plug 15 and the plug wrapper 16 which have already been described. Additionally, a second layer 32 (or “outer layer”), such as chip paper 32, is at least partially placed on the first paper layer 30 and the remaining internal components of the stick 10-4, such as the filter plug 13 and the filter wrapper 14, and the second layer 32 is configured to provide a flexible portion 20 of the tubular body 12 that extends to the first end 10a of the stick. For example, the second layer 32 may be a silicon film that is at least partially wrapped around the first layer 30 to connect the first end 10a and the second end 10b of the stick 10-4. Such a silicon film as the second layer 32 exhibits inherent elasticity and flexibility compared to standard chip paper, thereby providing a certain degree of flexibility to the first end 10a in case of applied external force. As shown in Figure 7, the second layer 32 extends from the first end 10a of the stick 10-4. In this way, the length of the flexible portion 20 of the stick 10-4 is increased, thereby enabling the stick 10-4 to accommodate a wider range of positions and / or external forces.

[0045] It will be understood that the embodiments described above can be combined in any preferred manner. For example, the layer 32 described in relation to Figure 7 may be provided on any of the other non-combustible heated sticks 10. It will also be recognized that the stick 10 may include two or more flexible portions 20, each of which may be located at different distances along the length of the stick. Each of the flexible portions 20 may be implemented in the same manner as the others, or in different manner.

[0046] While the foregoing describes exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that the present invention is described merely as an example and that modifications of details can be made within the scope of the invention. Furthermore, those skilled in the art will understand that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed herein, nor is it limited to any details shown in the accompanying drawings that are not described in detail herein and are not defined in the claims.

[0047] Furthermore, other and further embodiments of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art by considering this specification and can be devised without departing from the basic scope of the invention as determined by the subsequent claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0048] 10a 1st end 10b 2nd end 10-1 Stick 10-2 Stick 10-3 Stick 10-4 Stick 12' Tubular body 12a' 1st end 12b' 2nd end 13 Filters 14 Filter Wrappers 15 plugs 16 Plug Wrappers 18 1st layer 18a Chip paper 18b Base paper 19 Airflow opening 20 Flexible part 22 Flexible tube 26 Folding structure 28 Ribs 30 1st layer 32 2nd layer 50 Non-combustion heating device 51 Housing 52 Cavity 54 Aperture

Claims

1. Aerosol generating consumables, It includes a tubular body with a flexible portion, thereby allowing the first end of the aerosol generating consumable to move relative to the second end of the aerosol generating consumable. Includes, The flexible portion is positioned at a predetermined distance from the second end of the aerosol generating consumable, and the predetermined distance corresponds to the length of the cavity of the aerosol generating device configured to house the aerosol generating consumable and generate an aerosol by heating the aerosol generating consumable. Aerosol generating consumables.

2. The aerosol generating consumable according to claim 1, wherein the flexible portion of the tubular body comprises a flexible material.

3. The aerosol generating consumable according to claim 2, wherein the flexible material includes silicon.

4. The aerosol generating consumable according to claim 1, wherein the flexible portion of the tubular body includes a plurality of ribs extending around the outer circumference of the tubular body.

5. The aerosol generating consumable according to claim 1, wherein the flexible portion of the tubular body includes a material arranged in a folded structure.

6. The aerosol generating consumable according to claim 5, wherein the flexible portion of the tubular body includes a plurality of openings configured to allow air to flow into the aerosol generating consumable, the plurality of openings being covered in the folded position and the plurality of openings being uncovered in the unfolded position.

7. The aerosol generating consumable according to claim 1, wherein the tubular body comprises a first layer configured to provide the flexible portion of the tubular body and a second layer at least partially disposed on the first layer.

8. The aerosol generating consumable according to claim 7, wherein the second layer of the tubular body extends from the first end of the aerosol generating consumable to the second end of the aerosol generating consumable, thereby completely covering the first layer of the tubular body.

9. The aerosol generating consumable according to claim 7, wherein the second layer of the tubular body includes perforations in the portion covering the flexible portion of the first layer.

10. The tubular body is The first layer, A second layer configured to provide the flexible portion of the tubular body, the second layer being at least partially placed on the first layer, The aerosol generating consumable according to claim 1, including the following:

11. The aerosol generating consumable according to claim 10, wherein the second layer extends from the first or second end of the aerosol generating consumable.

12. It is a system, an aerosol generator containing a cavity of a certain length, an aerosol generating consumable according to any one of claims 1 to 11, A system that includes this.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein when the aerosol generating consumable is inserted into the cavity of the aerosol generating device during use, at least a portion of the flexible portion of the aerosol generating consumable is positioned within the opening of the cavity.

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