Aerosol supply system

Abstract

An aerosol delivery system (10) is disclosed that includes an aerosol delivery device (12) and an adapter (14). The aerosol delivery device (12) has a chamber (22) for receiving a consumable including an aerosol-generating material and an aerosol generator (20) for generating an aerosol from the aerosol-generating material when the consumable is disposed in the chamber (22). The chamber (22) has a proximal end (40) including an opening (48) through which the consumable is insertable into the chamber, and a distal end (42) including a tapered wall (44) that decreases in diameter toward a central axis of the chamber with increasing distance from the opening. The adapter (14) selectively determines the maximum width of the consumable that can be inserted into the chamber (22) through the opening.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an aerosol supply system, an aerosol supply device, and an adapter for an aerosol supply device.

Background Art

[0002] Smoking products such as cigarettes and cigars burn tobacco to produce tobacco smoke during use. Attempts have been made to provide alternatives to these smoking products that burn tobacco by manufacturing products that release compounds without burning. Examples of such products include heating devices that release compounds by heating rather than by burning materials. Such materials may be, for example, tobacco or other non-tobacco products, may contain nicotine, or may not contain nicotine.

Summary of the Invention

[0003] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an aerosol supply system comprising an aerosol supply device having a chamber for receiving a consumable containing an aerosol-generating material and an aerosol generator for generating an aerosol from the aerosol-generating material when the consumable is disposed in the chamber, the chamber having a proximal end including an opening through which the consumable can be inserted into the chamber, and a distal end including a tapered wall portion that tapers towards the central axis of the chamber as the distance from the opening increases, and an adapter for selectively determining the maximum width of the consumable that can be inserted into the chamber through the opening.

[0004] The central axis of the chamber may extend in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the opening.

[0005] The aerosol supply device may include a consumable holder that defines the chamber.

[0006] The adapter may be connectable to an aerosol supply device, for example, reconnectable, to selectively determine the maximum width of a consumable that can be inserted into the chamber through the opening.

[0007] The adapter may be positioned relative to the opening to partially close the opening. The adapter may be connectable to an aerosol supply device to partially close the opening, for example, in a detachable manner.

[0008] The adapter has a body portion that can be positioned relative to the opening to partially close the opening, and a hole through which a consumable can be inserted into the opening. The hole is formed in the body portion and has a width smaller than the maximum width of the opening. The hole may have an overall circular cross-section with a diameter smaller than the maximum width of the opening.

[0009] The holes may have a width in the range of 5.0 to 5.5 mm.

[0010] The holes may have a width in the range of 6.5 to 7.0 mm.

[0011] The chamber may have a main portion having a width greater than the width of the opening. The main portion may have a width substantially equal to the width of the opening. The main portion may extend between the proximal and distal ends. Tapered walls and adapters may support the consumables so that they do not come into contact with the walls that define the main portion. The walls that define the main portion may have a heater element for heating the consumables received in the chamber. The chamber may at least partially receive the consumables.

[0012] The adapter may have a first threaded connector, the aerosol supply device may have a second threaded connector, and the first threaded connector may be removably connected to the second threaded connector so as to position the adapter relative to the aerosol supply device. The aerosol supply device may have a consumable holder defining a chamber, and the consumable holder may include the first threaded connector. The aerosol supply device may have a housing in which the chamber is arranged, and the housing may include the first threaded connector.

[0013] The adapter may contain materials having a melting point higher than 300°C. The adapter may contain polyetheretherketone (PEEK).

[0014] The adapter may contain polyoxymethylene.

[0015] The walls of the chamber, for example, the walls of the main section, may contain a material with higher heat resistance than the material of the adapter.

[0016] The aerosol supply system may comprise multiple adapters, each selectively determining a different maximum width of consumables that can be inserted into the chamber through the opening. Each adapter may selectively determine a different maximum width of consumables that can be inserted into the chamber through the opening when individually connected to the aerosol supply device. Each adapter may partially block the opening to a different degree. Each adapter may partially block the opening when individually connected to the aerosol supply device.

[0017] Each adapter has a body portion that can be positioned relative to the opening to partially close the opening, and a hole through which a consumable can be inserted into the opening. The hole is formed in the body portion, and the holes in each adapter have different widths.

[0018] One of the multiple adapters, the first adapter, may have a hole with a width in the range of 5.0 to 5.5 mm, for example, a diameter in the range of 5.0 to 5.5 mm.

[0019] The second adapter among the multiple adapters may have a hole with a width in the range of 6.5 to 7.0 mm, for example, a diameter in the range of 6.5 to 7.0 mm.

[0020] The aerosol supply system may include consumables containing aerosol-generating materials.

[0021] The aerosol generator may include a heating assembly for applying heat to the consumables when they are placed in the chamber to generate an aerosol from the aerosol-generating material. The heating assembly may include an induction heating assembly, for example, a magnetic field generator and a susceptor, the heating assembly having a susceptor into which a changing magnetic field can penetrate to cause the susceptor to heat.

[0022] A second aspect of the present disclosure provides an aerosol supply device having a chamber for receiving a consumable containing an aerosol-generating material, and an aerosol generator for generating an aerosol from the aerosol-generating material when the consumable is placed in the chamber, wherein the chamber has a proximal end including an opening through which a consumable can be inserted into the chamber, and a distal end including a tapered wall portion that decreases in diameter toward the central axis of the chamber as the distance from the opening increases, and the aerosol supply device further has a connection mechanism for connecting to an adapter that selectively determines the maximum width of a consumable that can be inserted into the chamber through the opening.

[0023] According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, an adapter is provided for connecting an aerosol supply device having a chamber for receiving a consumable containing an aerosol generating material and an opening through which the consumable can be inserted into the chamber, the adapter selectively determining the maximum width of the consumable that can be inserted into the chamber through the opening.

[0024] Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention, made with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are given merely as examples.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0025] [Figure 1] It is a schematic diagram of an aerosol supply system according to an example. [Figure 2] It is a schematic cross-sectional view of a part of an aerosol supply device of the aerosol supply system of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] It is a schematic cross-sectional view of an adapter of the aerosol supply system of FIG. 1. [Figure 4] It is a schematic cross-sectional view of the aerosol supply system of FIG. 1 with a consumable received during use. [Figure 5] It is a schematic cross-sectional view of the first and second adapters for use in the aerosol supply system of FIG. 1.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0026] In FIG. 1, an aerosol supply system generally indicated by reference numeral 10 is schematically illustrated. The aerosol supply system 10 includes an aerosol supply device 12 and an adapter 14.

[0027] The aerosol supply device 12 has a housing 16, a power source 18, an aerosol generator in the form of a heating assembly 20, a chamber 22, a processor 24, a computer-readable memory 25, and a user-operable control element 26.

[0028] The housing 16 forms an outer cover of the aerosol supply device 12 and surrounds and houses various components of the aerosol supply device 12.

[0029] The power supply 18 provides power to various components of the aerosol supply device 12, including, for example, the heating assembly 20. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the power supply 18 comprises a battery 28 and a DC-AC converter 30 that supplies AC current to the heating assembly 20. In alternative embodiments, the heating assembly 20 may require DC current, and therefore the DC-AC converter 30 may be omitted or replaced by a DC-DC converter, such as a buck converter or boost converter as needed.

[0030] The aerosol supply device 12 may also include electrical components such as a socket / port (not shown) capable of receiving a cable for charging the battery 28. For example, the socket may include a charging port such as a USB charging port. In some examples, the socket may be used additionally or alternatively to transfer data between the aerosol supply device 12 and other devices such as a computing device. The socket may be electrically coupled to the battery 28 via electrical wiring.

[0031] The processor 24 communicates with computer-readable memory 25. The processor 24 is configured to control various aspects of the operation of the aerosol supply device 12. The processor 24 controls various aspects by executing instructions stored in computer-readable memory 25. For example, the processor 24 can control the operation of the heating assembly 20. For example, the processor can control the delivery of power from the power supply 18 to the heating assembly 20 by controlling various electrical components such as switches (not shown in Figure 1).

[0032] The user-operable control element 26 is, for example, a button or switch that operates the aerosol supply device 12 when pressed. For example, the user can turn on the aerosol supply device 12 by operating the user-operable control element 26, or change the settings of the heating assembly 20 by operating the user-operable control element 26.

[0033] The heating assembly 20 in Figure 1 is an induction heating assembly comprising a plurality of heating coils 32 and a susceptor 34. The plurality of heating coils 32 are individually controllable and spaced apart along the chamber 22, and the susceptor 34 is embedded within the wall of the chamber 22. Other locations for the susceptor 34 are conceivable, and in fact, it will be understood that in some embodiments the susceptor 34 may be provided on a consumable that is received into the chamber 22 when in use. It will also be understood that in some embodiments the susceptor 34 may comprise a plurality of susceptors, for example, one susceptor for each heating coil 32.

[0034] A susceptor is a material that can be heated by the intrusion of a changing magnetic field, such as an alternating magnetic field. The susceptor may be a conductive material, and the intrusion of a changing magnetic field will induce inductive heating of the material. The material may also be a magnetic material, and the intrusion of a changing magnetic field will induce magnetic hysteresis heating of the material. The susceptor may be both conductive and magnetic; therefore, it can be heated by both heating mechanisms.

[0035] The DC-AC converter 30 supplies AC current to the multiple heating coils 32 so that the multiple heating coils 32 generate a changing magnetic field, resulting in heating of the chamber 22 and, therefore, the consumables received in the chamber 22. The changing magnetic field interacts with the susceptor 34, driving eddy currents within the susceptor 34, and the flow of eddy currents results in heating of the susceptor 34 and, consequently, heating of the chamber 22. In this way, the consumables received in the chamber 22 can be heated.

[0036] While the heating assembly 20 described above utilizes induction heating, it should be understood that other types of heating assemblies, such as other types of Joule heating assemblies in which current is driven along a resistive element, may also be used.

[0037] It will be further understood that other forms of aerosol generators that do not require heating may be used. For example, in some embodiments, the aerosol generator brings about the generation of aerosols from an aerosol-generating material without heating. The aerosol generator may be configured to expose the aerosol-generating material to one or more of the following: vibration, pressure increase, or electrostatic energy.

[0038] As illustrated in the cross-sectional view in Figure 2, the chamber 22 is defined by a hollow cylindrical member 36. The cylindrical member 36 has an elongated hollow body portion with an enlarged connecting portion 38. The inner wall portion of the cylindrical member 36 defines the chamber 22, which has a proximal end 40 and a distal end 42. The portion of the chamber 22 between the proximal end 40 and the distal end 42 may be called the main portion 23 of the chamber 22. The distal end 42 includes a tapered wall portion 44, which tapers toward the central axis AA of the chamber 22. The opening 46 of the tapered wall portion 44 is in fluid communication with the air inlet 47 of the aerosol supply device 12.

[0039] The proximal end 40 of the chamber 22 is provided with an opening 48 through which consumables (not shown in Figure 2) can be inserted into the chamber 22. The plane of the opening 48 extends between the opposing sides of the inner wall 50 of the enlarged connecting portion 38, and as described below, the inner wall 50 is provided with a threaded connecting portion 52 for connection with the threaded connecting portion 54 of the adapter 14.

[0040] Chamber 22 is configured to house consumables containing aerosol-generating material one at a time during use, and the heating assembly 20 is used to generate aerosols from the aerosol-generating material for inhalation by the user. Therefore, chamber 22 can be considered a heating chamber.

[0041] Aerosol-generating materials are materials capable of generating aerosols when, for example, heated, irradiated, or when energy is applied by any other means. Aerosol-generating materials may or may not contain, for example, active substances and / or flavorings, and may take the form of solids, liquids, or gels. In some embodiments, aerosol-generating materials may include "amorphous solids," which are also alternatively called "monolithic solids" (i.e., non-fibrous). In some embodiments, amorphous solids may be dry gels. Amorphous solids are solid materials that can hold some fluid, such as a liquid, internally. In some embodiments, aerosol-generating materials may include, for example, about 50 wt%, 60 wt%, or 70 wt% amorphous solids to about 90 wt%, 95 wt%, or 100 wt% amorphous solids.

[0042] The aerosol-generating material may comprise one or more active substances and / or fragrances, one or more aerozo-forming materials, and optionally one or more other functional materials.

[0043] As described above, the aerosol supply device 12 receives aerosol-generating material to be heated in a consumable. The consumable is an article containing or consisting of aerosol-generating material, some or all of which is intended to be consumed by the user during use. The consumable may comprise one or more components such as an aerosol-generating material storage area, an aerosol-generating material transfer component, an aerosol-generating area, a housing, packaging material, a mouthpiece, a filter and / or an aerosol modifier. The consumable may also comprise an aerosol generator, such as a heater, which generates heat to produce an aerosol from the aerosol-generating material during use. The heater may comprise, for example, a combustible material, a material that can be heated by electrical conductivity or a susceptor. Such consumables are typically elongated and substantially cylindrical in shape. However, consumables having different dimensions, e.g., different lengths and / or diameters, may be provided.

[0044] To enable the aerosol supply device 12 to be used effectively with consumables of different diameters, the aerosol supply system includes an adapter 14, which is shown in a cross-sectional view in Figure 3.

[0045] The adapter 14 has a threaded connector 54, a contact portion 56, and a receiving portion 58. Each of the threaded connector 54, the contact portion 56, and the receiving portion 58 is generally cylindrical and hollow. Collectively, the threaded connector 54, the contact portion 56, and the receiving portion 58 define the main body of the adapter 14. The threaded connector 54, the contact portion 56, and the receiving portion 58 are integrally formed, and for example, the adapter 14 has a monolithic structure and can be formed by a molding process, such as a single-shot molding process.

[0046] The outer surface of the threaded connector 54 is provided with threads 60, and the threaded connector 54 defines a male connector for connection with the female connector of the enlarged connector 38. The outer diameter of the threaded connector 54 is substantially equal to the inner diameter of the enlarged connector 38 of the cylindrical member 36, and the adapter 14 can be securely connected to the cylindrical member 36 by the connection of the threaded connector 52 of the enlarged connector 38 with the threaded connector 54 of the adapter 14. The inner diameter of the threaded connector 54 is substantially equal to the width of the opening 48. To prevent overinsertion of the adapter 14, the end face of the threaded connector 54 abuts against the opening 48 and the adjacent surface of the enlarged connector 38.

[0047] The contact portion 56 has an outer diameter substantially corresponding to the outer diameter of the enlarged connecting portion 38, and the contact portion 56 can contact the end face of the enlarged connecting portion 38 in order to prevent excessive insertion of the adapter 14 into the enlarged connecting portion 38.

[0048] The hole 62 is formed through the contact portion 56 and the receiving portion 58, and the width, e.g., diameter, of the hole 62 is smaller than the width of the opening 48. The exact dimensions of the hole 62 depend on the consumable intended to be used with the adapter 14, but the typical diameter of the hole may be in the range of 5 to 5.0 mm or 6.5 to 7.0 mm. The hole 62 has a tapered entrance, which facilitates the insertion of the consumable through the hole 62.

[0049] Figure 4 schematically illustrates the configuration in use in which the adapter 14 is connected to the cylindrical member 36. The adapter 14 is connected to the enlarged connecting portion 38 of the cylindrical member 36 by the engagement of the threaded connecting portion 52 of the enlarged connecting portion 38 with the threaded connecting portion 54 of the adapter 14, and the contact portion 56 engages with the end face of the enlarged connecting portion 38. In some examples, the engagement is performed so that the adapter 14 is located outside the housing 16, but in other examples, the engagement may be performed so that the adapter 14 is located inside the housing 16. In the latter example, the housing 16 may be provided with a removable end wall to allow insertion and removal of the adapter 14.

[0050] The consumable 64 is inserted into the chamber 22 through the hole 62 and the opening 48. The first end 66 of the consumable 64 is in contact with the tapered wall 44, and a portion of the main body of the consumable, spaced apart from the first end 66, is held in the hole 62. In this way, the consumable 64 can be securely held by the hole 62 and the tapered wall 44. The tapered wall 44 and the adapter 14 enable the aerosol supply device 12 to be used with consumables of different widths, for example, different diameters, while securely holding these consumables.

[0051] Since the hole 62 has a width, for example, a diameter, smaller than the width of the opening 48, the adapter 14, and especially the body of the adapter 14, partially closes the opening 48, and the consumable 64 is supported such that there is a gap between the wall of the chamber 22 and the consumable 64. This prevents direct contact of the consumable 64 with the wall of the chamber 22 and facilitates the insertion and removal of the consumable 64 from the chamber 22.

[0052] Figure 4 shows that the adapter 14 is positioned away from the main portion 23 of the chamber 22, which is the area where the susceptor 34 is located and therefore away from the area where the chamber 22 is heated. This may allow the adapter 14 to be made of a material with lower heat resistance than the walls of the chamber 22, for example, the cylindrical member 36. In any case, in order to minimize the risk of deformation of the adapter 14 during use, in some examples the adapter 14 is made of a material with a melting point higher than 300°C. This can ensure that the adapter 14 can withstand the normal operating temperature of the aerosol supply device 12 during use.

[0053] In some examples, the adapter 14 may be formed from polyether ether ketone (PEEK). However, PEEK is a relatively expensive material, and therefore, in other examples, the adapter may be formed from polyoxymethylene (acetal). Forming the adapter 14 from polyoxymethylene (acetal) also makes it easier to form the threaded connector 54 than with the corresponding adapter made from PEEK.

[0054] As previously mentioned, consumables having different dimensions, such as different lengths and / or diameters, may be provided. A second adapter 68 may be provided as part of the aerosol supply system 10 to enable the aerosol supply device 12 to be used with other consumables having different diameters.

[0055] In Figure 5, the second adapter 68 is shown separately from the first adapter 14. The second adapter 68 has substantially the same form as the first adapter 14, differing only in the width, i.e., diameter, of the hole 62. As shown in Figure 5, the first adapter 14 has a hole 62 with a diameter in the range of 6.5 to 7.0 mm, and the second adapter 68 has a hole 62 with a diameter in the range of 5.0 to 5.5 mm. Therefore, the first adapter 14 and the second adapter 68 can partially close the opening 48 to different degrees, allowing consumables of different diameters to be inserted into the opening 48. The tapered wall portion 44 can further allow the aerosol supply device 12 to accommodate consumables of different diameters.

[0056] It will be understood by those skilled in the art that any number of adapters may be provided, and each adapter may have a hole having dimensions such that it holds consumables of different diameters inside. It will also be understood that the aerosol supply device may be used with several different consumables, and that only some of the several different consumables may require the use of adapters.

[0057] The various embodiments described herein are presented solely to aid in the understanding and teaching of the claimed features. These embodiments are provided merely as representative examples of embodiments and are not exhaustive and / or exclusive. The advantages, embodiments, examples, functions, features, structures, and / or other aspects described herein should not be considered as limitations to the scope of the invention as defined by the claims, or to equivalents of the claims, and it should be understood that other embodiments may be used and modified without departing from the scope of the claimed invention. Various embodiments of the invention may suitably comprise, consist of, or essentially consist of, disclosed elements, components, features, parts, steps, means, etc., other than those specifically described herein. In addition, this disclosure may include other inventions that are not currently claimed but may be claimed in the future.

Claims

1. An aerosol supply device comprising a chamber for receiving a consumable containing an aerosol generating material, and an aerosol generator for generating an aerosol from the aerosol generating material when the consumable is placed in the chamber, wherein the chamber has a proximal end including an opening through which the consumable can be inserted into the chamber, and a distal end including a tapered wall portion that decreases in diameter toward the central axis of the chamber as the distance from the opening increases, An adapter for selectively determining the maximum width of a consumable that can be inserted into the chamber through the opening, an aerosol supply system equipped with the following features.

2. The aerosol supply system according to claim 1, wherein the adapter can be positioned relative to the opening such as to partially close the opening.

3. The aerosol supply system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the adapter has a main body portion that can be positioned relative to the opening so as to partially close the opening, and a hole, the consumables can be inserted into the opening through the hole, the hole is formed in the main body portion, and the width of the hole is smaller than the maximum width of the opening.

4. The aerosol supply system according to claim 3, wherein the hole has a width in the range of 5.0 to 5.5 mm.

5. The aerosol supply system according to claim 3, wherein the hole has a width in the range of 6.5 to 7.0 mm.

6. The aerosol supply system according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the chamber has a main portion having a width greater than the width of the hole.

7. The aerosol supply system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the adapter has a first threaded connector, the aerosol supply device has a second threaded connector, and the first threaded connector is removably connectable to the second threaded connector so as to position the adapter relative to the aerosol supply device.

8. The aerosol supply system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the adapter comprises a material having a melting point higher than 300°C.

9. The aerosol supply system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the adapter contains polyoxymethylene.

10. The aerosol supply system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the wall portion of the chamber contains a material with higher heat resistance than the material of the adapter.

11. The aerosol supply system according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the aerosol supply system comprises a plurality of adapters, each adapter selectively determining different maximum widths of consumables that can be inserted into the chamber through the opening.

12. The aerosol supply system according to claim 11, wherein each adapter has a main body portion that can be positioned relative to the opening so as to partially close the opening, and a hole, the consumables can be inserted into the opening through the hole, the hole is formed in the main body portion, and the holes of each adapter have different widths.

13. The aerosol supply system according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the aerosol supply system comprises the consumables including an aerosol generating material.

14. The aerosol supply system according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the aerosol generator includes a heating assembly for applying heat to the consumable when the consumable is placed in the chamber to generate an aerosol from the aerosol generating material.

15. An aerosol supply device comprising a chamber for receiving a consumable containing an aerosol generating material, and an aerosol generator for generating an aerosol from the aerosol generating material when the consumable is placed in the chamber, wherein the chamber has a proximal end including an opening through which the consumable can be inserted into the chamber, and a distal end including a tapered wall portion that decreases in diameter toward the central axis of the chamber as the distance from the opening increases, and the aerosol supply device further comprises a connection mechanism for connecting to an adapter that selectively determines the maximum width of the consumable that can be inserted into the chamber through the opening.

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