A heating element for consumables, and a method for generating related consumable kits, vaping sets, and aerosols.

Abstract

The present invention relates to a heating element (14) for a consumable article (12), the consumable article (12) including a storage portion (22) for storing a vaporizable material, the heating element (14) including an element body (24) configured to engage in an engagement position around at least a portion of the storage portion (22) of the consumable article (12), the element body (24) being configured to be at least partially removably received in an energy supply cavity of an external energy supply device. The element body (24) includes a heat absorbing / emitting material (32) capable of: - absorbing heat during a pre-heating phase, which is performed when the element body (24) is received together with the consumable article (12) in the energy supply cavity; and - releasing the absorbed heat during a vaping phase, while the element body (24) is in an engagement position with the consumable article (12).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a heating element for a consumable article, such as a tobacco article, which has a reduced risk to the health of a consumer as compared to a conventional tobacco article, such as a conventional cigarette.

[0002] The present invention also relates to a method for generating an aerosol in relation to a consumable article, a consumable kit, a vaping set, and such a heating element.

Background Art

[0003] In recent years, the popularity and use of risk reduction devices or risk modification devices (also known as vaporizers or aerosol generating devices) have grown rapidly as an alternative to the use of conventional tobacco products. Various devices and systems are available that heat or warm an aerosol generating substance to produce an aerosol for a user to inhale.

[0004] Aerosol generating consumable articles having a carbon-based heat source substantially the same size as a conventional cigarette have been proposed. The carbon source is ignited like a cigarette and heats an adjacent vaporizable substrate. These consumable articles had the advantage of being about the same size as a conventional cigarette and being easy to handle when vaping. However, burning solid fragments or portions (e.g., charcoal) tended to separate from the remaining portion of the consumable, thereby creating a risk of the consumer being burned. Therefore, these consumable articles have not been a great commercial success to date.

[0005] Another recent and generally available type of risk reduction or risk modification device is a substrate heating aerosol generator or so-called heating non-combustion device (i.e., HNB device). This type of device generates an aerosol or vapor by heating an aerosol-generating substrate to a temperature typically in the range of 150°C to 350°C. By heating the aerosol-generating substrate to this temperature range without burning or combustion the substrate, vapor is generated, which typically cools and condenses to form an aerosol for inhalation by the user of the device.

[0006] Some devices of this type may operate with consumables that have an elongated shape, for example, that resemble the external shape of a conventional cigarette. Such consumables may include a base portion and a mouthpiece portion. The base portion generally contains an aerosol-generating base material and is designed to be received inside the device and heated by a heating system. The mouthpiece portion may protrude from the device and is designed to work with the user's lips and / or mouth. However, for some users, this type of device differs from the experience of a conventional cigarette in that the device is held while vaping and cannot be handled in the same way as a conventional cigarette.

[0007] Other devices may have an elongated shape that more closely resembles that of a conventional cigarette. However, due to the incorporated technology (e.g., batteries, heaters, printed circuit boards) necessary to heat the base material and properly control evaporation during several consecutive puffs, these devices remain significantly larger than conventional cigarettes, and therefore provide a different user experience compared to conventional cigarettes. Thus, considering the need for consumers to constantly handle these devices while vaping, the consumer experience provided by these devices to habitual smokers differs from that of conventional cigarettes. [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0008] One of the objectives of the present invention is to provide a heating element for consumable items that ensures reduced-risk tobacco consumption while providing a handling experience similar to that of conventional cigarettes. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] For this purpose, the present invention relates to a heating element for a consumable article, the consumable article comprising a storage portion for storing a vaporizable material, and the heating element comprising an element body configured to engage in an engagement position around at least a portion of the storage portion of the consumable article, the element body configured to be at least partially detachably received within an energy supply cavity of an external energy supply device. The element body includes a heat-absorbing / releasing material, and this heat-absorbing / releasing material is -During the preheating phase, which is performed when the element body is engaged with the consumable and is received in the energy supply cavity of the external energy supply device in an engaged position with the consumable, heat is absorbed. - During the vaping phase, which is performed when a trigger event occurs, the absorbed heat can be released to the storage portion and further to the vaporizing material while the element body is in the engagement position with the consumable item.

[0010] These features allow the heating element, when engaged with the consumables, to provide a user experience closer to that of conventional cigarettes. In particular, the consumables used with the heating element according to the present invention may be the same size and / or shape as conventional cigarettes, allowing the user to easily handle the consumables together with the heating element in a manner similar to that of conventional cigarettes, while reducing the health risks compared to conventional cigarettes.

[0011] The heating element according to the present invention is easy to use. In the preheating stage, the element body engages with a consumable item, both of which are received into an energy supply cavity, and the heat-absorbing / releasing material of the element body can absorb heat directly or indirectly generated by an external energy supply device. In the vaping stage, the element body, along with the engaged consumable item, is removed from the energy supply cavity and can therefore be handled by the user like a conventional cigarette. During this vaping stage, the heat absorbed by the heat-absorbing / releasing material is released into the storage section, and the vaporizable material can be sufficiently heated for a sufficient time without combustion to generate an aerosol. To provide a complete vaping session, it is preferable that the aerosol is generated for at least a minimum number of consecutive puffs (e.g., 10 or 11 puffs) or for at least a minimum time (e.g., 180 or 300 seconds). As for the heat-absorbing / releasing material, any type of thermal energy storage (TES) material can be used. In certain embodiments, the heat-absorbing / releasing material includes a phase-change material or a ceramic. Heat absorption / release may occur through thermal or thermochemical phenomena. In the latter case, a chemical reaction may occur during at least one of the preheating or vaping stages.

[0012] Therefore, the heating element according to the present invention is detachable.

[0013] As used herein, the terms “vaporizable material,” “aerosol-forming precursor,” or “aerosol material” may refer to one or more of liquids, solids, gels, mousses, foams, or other substances. The vaporizable material may be heated to form an aerosol as defined below. The vaporizable material may contain one or more of nicotine, caffeine, or other active ingredients. The active ingredients may be carried by a carrier, which may be a liquid. The carrier may contain an aerosol-forming agent such as a polyol. In some embodiments, the aerosol-forming agent may contain one or more of polyhydric alcohols such as propylene glycol, 1,3-butanediol, and glycerin, esters of polyhydric alcohols such as glycerol mono-, di-, or triacetate, and / or aliphatic esters of mono-, di-, or polycarboxylic acids, triethyl citrate (TEC), or triacetin. A preferred carrier may be propylene glycol and / or glycerin. The carrier generally evaporates when heated at a temperature of about 350°C or less. Flavorings may also be included. Flavorings refer to substances that can be used to produce a desired taste or aroma. These substances may include naturally occurring flavoring materials, plants, extracts from plants, synthetically obtained flavoring substances, or combinations thereof. Flavorings may include, for example, ethyl vanillin (vanilla), menthol, berries, isoamyl acetate (banana oil), eugenol, cooling agents (e.g., eucalyptol, WS-5, or WS-3) or similar substances. The solid aerosol-forming material may be in the form of a rod containing processed tobacco material, corrugated sheets, or aligned strips or fragments of re-bought tobacco (RTB).

[0014] As used herein, the term "aerosol" may include a suspension of precursors as one or more solid particles, droplets, or gases. The aforementioned suspension may be in a gaseous state containing air. In general, an aerosol as used herein refers to or may contain vapor. An aerosol may contain one or more components of a vaporizable material.

[0015] As used herein, the term “preheating stage” may refer to a stage used to heat a heat-absorbing / releasing material. In other words, during the preheating stage, heat is absorbed by the heat-absorbing / releasing material. Advantageously, the preheating stage is performed until the heat-absorbing / releasing material has absorbed heat according to its maximum heat capacity. In some embodiments, the preheating stage may be performed to preheat a vaporizable material so that it can generate an aerosol. Advantageously, during the preheating stage, the heating element engages with the consumables, both of which are received into an energy supply cavity of an external energy supply device. In some embodiments, during the preheating stage, only the consumables are received into the energy supply cavity. The preheating stage may be performed until a trigger event occurs. A trigger event may include at least one of the following: reaching a predetermined temperature of the vaporizable material in the storage section, or the expiration of a predetermined time delay, or reaching a predetermined pressure near the consumables, or the consumption of a predetermined amount of energy from the power source.

[0016] As used herein, the term “vaping stage” may refer to a stage performed after at least one preheating stage in which the vaporizable material can generate an aerosol. In particular, the vaping stage may be performed according to at least two operating modes. In the external mode, a heating element is engaged with the consumable, both of which are removed from the energy supply cavity. For example, the heating element can be handled by the user together with the consumable, for example, as with a conventional cigarette. In this operating mode, heat absorbed by the heat-absorbing material is released into the storage section, heating the vaporizable material. In the internal mode, the consumable is received in the energy supply cavity, with or without a heating element. In this mode, the vaporizable material is heated by the heat-absorbing / releasing material and / or by the heater to generate an aerosol. According to both modes, during the vaping stage, the user may puff to create an airflow inside the consumable, or the consumable may be held without puffing. This last case may correspond to the short breaks between puffs, as when smoking a conventional cigarette.

[0017] The external energy supply device can be portable and can be carried by the user together with the consumables when the consumables are not being used to generate vapor. The external energy supply device can be formed by a device similar to an aerosol generator, such as an HNB device, which is known in the art. In particular, this external energy supply device, like such an aerosol generator, may comprise a battery and any other heat induction element, which may be called a heater or hereafter called a heat generator. Such a heat generator may be adapted to heat the heating element or to induce heating during a preheating stage. In some embodiments, the external energy supply device can form an aerosol generator itself, like an HNB device, and this device can be used directly with the consumables without a heating element.

[0018] The element body of the heating element in the engagement position with the consumables may be adapted to be received within the energy supply cavity in accordance with at least 50% of its total volume, preferably at least 75%, and more preferably at least 90% of its total volume. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the element body is adapted to be fully received inside the energy supply cavity.

[0019] Consumables may be designed for single use or multiple uses. In the first case, consumables may be discarded or recycled after use. In the second case, consumables may be made to last for several vaping sessions. Consumables may be made of cigarettes known in the art, for example, for use in HNB devices.

[0020] The heating element may be reusable, particularly in conjunction with different consumables. For example, once the aerosol-generating capacity of a consumable is exhausted, the heating element can be removed from the consumable and reused with another consumable. In this case, a new preheating step may be required before vaping.

[0021] According to some embodiments, the aforementioned heat absorption / release material is a phase change material (PCM) that can absorb / release heat during a phase change.

[0022] Using a phase change material (PCM) can present special advantages of the present invention because this type of material has a high heat storage capacity. Therefore, these storage capacities can be used to store a larger amount of heat during the preheating stage and release this amount of heat throughout the duration of the vaping session. Thus, the vaporizable material can be heated uniformly throughout the vaping session. Furthermore, the phase change material is a latent heat storage material, which means that different phase transitions (solid-liquid or liquid-gas) of these materials occur isothermally. In other words, during the phase transition, heat can be absorbed or released over a longer period without changing the temperature of the material. These periods can be used to perform a preheating stage for absorbing heat and a vaping stage for releasing heat to vaporize the vaporizable material at a constant temperature. Furthermore, by selecting the phase change material in an appropriate manner, it is possible to adjust the duration of each of the preheating stage and the vaping stage. In particular, the phase change material can be selected according to the duration of its phase transition.

[0023] According to some embodiments, the aforementioned phase change material (PCM) is selected to melt during the preheating stage and solidify during the vaping stage.

[0024] Thanks to these features, a specific solid-liquid phase transition of the phase change material is used. Compared with the liquid-gas phase transition, the solid-liquid phase transition can be more easily implemented while operating the heating element with the engaged consumable article in the normal state (normal atmospheric pressure, ambient temperature, etc.).

[0025] According to some embodiments, the aforementioned phase change material (PCM) includes inorganic PCMs such as salts, eutectic mixtures of salts, or salt hydrates.

[0026] This type of phase change material is particularly useful in the context of the present invention because the phase transition temperatures of these materials (such as melting temperatures) are included between 150°C and 450°C, preferably between 200°C and 400°C. This temperature range is particularly suitable for vaporizing the vaporizable material without burning it. Furthermore, this type of phase change material has a larger heat storage capacity compared to other phase change materials. Additionally, this type of phase change material is inexpensive, abundant, and non-flammable.

[0027] According to some embodiments, the phase change material (PCM) includes a solid-solid PCM. For example, such materials can change from a crystalline, semi-crystalline, or amorphous structure to another solid structure, and the latent heat available is lower.

[0028] According to some embodiments, the phase change material (PCM) is an organic PCM such as paraffin wax.

[0029] According to some embodiments, the phase change material (PCM) is an organic PCM mixed with another PCM (such as inorganic) or a metal. For example, in the case of paraffin wax with a relatively low operating temperature, other materials such as salts or metals (such as Mg-Zn) may be mixed.

[0030] According to some embodiments, the heat absorption / release material further includes an additive that can interact with the phase change material (PCM) in liquid form to change the solidification temperature during the vaporization stage compared to the melting temperature.

[0031] Using these characteristics, additives can ensure that the melting temperature of the phase change material is different from its solidification temperature. The melting temperature can be made, for example, at least slightly lower than the solidification temperature. Thus, the phase change material can release latent heat at a temperature higher than its absorption temperature. The solidification temperature can be adapted to vaporize the vaporizable material, while the melting temperature can be adapted only to preheat the vaporizable material. Thus, it is possible to avoid undesirable vaporization of the vaporizable material during the preheating stage. Additives may be chemical components adapted to carry out chemical reactions that modify at least some properties of the phase change material during the vaping stage. If the phase change material (PCM) contains salts or eutectic mixtures of salts, such chemical reactions can, for example, change the concentration of these salts, or their properties, or the composition of the mixture.

[0032] According to some embodiments, the element body further comprises a heater, which heater -During the preheating stage, heat is generated and this heat is transferred to the heat-absorbing / releasing material, and / or - During the vaping phase, heat can be transferred from the heat-absorbing / releasing material to the vaporizing material. Preferably, the heater includes at least one susceptor capable of generating heat through inductive interaction with an external energy supply device.

[0033] In possible modes, the heater includes at least one susceptor capable of generating heat through inductive interaction with an external energy supply device.

[0034] Thanks to these features, heat can be generated by a susceptor inside the heating element through inductive interaction with an external energy supply device, for example, one equipped with a magnetic coil. Therefore, heat transfer from the external energy supply device to the heating element is not necessary. The susceptor can be fabricated from any suitable material that generates eddy currents when placed inside a magnetic field.

[0035] According to some embodiments, the heater is designed to be positioned at least partially around and / or through the storage portion of the consumables when the element body is in a position to engage with the consumables.

[0036] For example, a susceptor may be designed to be positioned around the entire perimeter of the storage portion. In other examples, the susceptor is positioned around only a portion of the perimeter of the storage portion. Furthermore, in some examples, the susceptor is designed to penetrate only the storage portion. In this case, the susceptor may include, for example, a blade. In some other examples, the susceptor has at least two parts, one part adapted to penetrate the storage portion and the other part designed to be positioned around at least a portion of the storage portion.

[0037] Thanks to these features, the heat generated by the susceptor can be efficiently transferred to the storage section during the preheating phase. During the vaping phase, the heat stored by the heat-absorbing / releasing material can be efficiently transferred to the storage section to vaporize the vaporizable material.

[0038] According to some embodiments, the heater is designed to interpose between the storage portion of the consumables and the heat-absorbing / releasing material when the element body is in an engagement position with the consumables.

[0039] These features allow for the optimal positioning of the susceptor within the heating element. This position enables simultaneous heat transfer from the susceptor to the storage area and the heat absorption / release material during the preheating phase. Furthermore, heat can be efficiently transferred from the heat absorption / release material to the storage area during the vaping phase. Consequently, heat loss can be minimized.

[0040] According to some embodiments, the heater includes a plurality of susceptors mixed with or embedded within a heat-absorbing / releasing material. The susceptors may take various forms, such as particles, granules, beads, sheets, flakes, wires, rings, and combinations thereof.

[0041] Thanks to these features, heat can be uniformly transferred to the heat-absorbing / releasing material.

[0042] According to some embodiments, the element body further comprises a protruding member designed to penetrate the storage portion of the consumable article when the element body is in a position to engage with the consumable article. The protruding member includes a heater and / or at least a portion of the aforementioned heat absorption / release material, Preferably, the heater includes a susceptor.

[0043] Thanks to these features, the storage portion can be heated internally during the vaping phase. This ensures better heat transfer from the heat-absorbing / releasing material to the vaporizing material. The protruding member may be formed by a blade that penetrates the storage portion when the heating element engages with the consumables. According to an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the protruding member comprises both a heater and a heat-absorbing / releasing material. According to this last embodiment, both the heater and the heat-absorbing / releasing material are received inside the storage portion of the consumables, minimizing heat loss.

[0044] According to some embodiments, the element body further comprises an insulating body configured to be positioned at least partially around a heat-absorbing / releasing material and / or at least partially around a storage portion.

[0045] Thanks to these features, the insulator can reduce heat loss from the consumables to the outside during the vaping phase. Furthermore, during the vaping phase, the insulator allows the user to handle the consumables engaged with the heating element without getting burned.

[0046] For example, the insulating material can form the outer surface of the element body so as to isolate the heat-absorbing / releasing material from the outside. Thus, heat can be transferred to the storage portion and heated to heat the vaporizable material without heat loss. Depending on the embodiment, the insulating material may be positioned in contact with the heat-absorbing / releasing material and / or in contact with the storage portion.

[0047] The insulating material can be made from any suitable material, such as paper, foam, or honeycomb.

[0048] According to several other embodiments, the insulator may be formed by an aerogel insulation layer. This layer may be formed by spraying or coating aerogel onto a support layer placed at least partially around the heat-absorbing / releasing material. The support layer may be formed by a wall defining the boundary of the heat-releasing / absorbing material or by packaging. The aerogel exhibits a porous structure that mainly contains air (at a concentration that can achieve 97% of the total volume of the aerogel). The aerogel insulation layer has the special advantage of being very thin and light and almost invisible to the user, while ensuring efficient insulation. According to other embodiments, the insulator may be formed by any other heat-resistant porous structure adapted to trap air, such as honeycomb paper or crepe paper, or ceramic paper such as superwool paper.

[0049] In yet another embodiment, the insulator may be formed from a phase-change material (PCM) as defined above. This embodiment is particularly advantageous when the insulator is designed to at least partially cover the heat-absorbing / emitting material. Thus, the PCM insulator can form an outer layer of the thermal element, such as a shield. The PCM insulator may be adapted to a temperature below, for example, 60°C, so as to be safe for the user when the user is using an item engaged with the heating element during a vaping session. In yet another embodiment, the insulator may include a mixture of an aerogel and a PCM material as defined above.

[0050] According to some embodiments, the element body forms a ring or cup that can engage with a consumable article by sliding along the article axis.

[0051] Thanks to these features, the heating element can be easily engaged with the consumable while maintaining close contact with the storage portion. For example, the heating element can be slid along the consumable. If the heating element is formed by a ring, the user can adjust the position of the ring relative to the storage portion. For example, if the user wants to reduce the amount of aerosol generated during the vaping phase, the user can simply slide the ring toward the filter portion of the consumable. Furthermore, during the vaping phase, the position of the ring relative to the storage portion can be continuously adjusted, for example, to heat different parts of the storage portion. If the heating element is formed by a cup, the corresponding end of the consumable can contact the bottom wall of the cup. Thus, the cup can be precisely positioned relative to the storage portion of the consumable. Moreover, in this case, the contact surface between the cup and the storage portion is increased, so more uniform heating of the storage portion can be achieved.

[0052] According to some embodiments, the heating element further comprises fixing means designed to secure the element body on the consumable article when the element body is engaged with the consumable article.

[0053] The fixing mechanism allows the heating element to be fixed in a desired position relative to the storage area. In one example, this position is selected by the user. The user can then move the fixing mechanism to achieve this position (for example, by sliding it along the consumables). In another example, this position is predetermined, for example, to ensure better heat transfer to the storage area. In this case, this position may be marked on the consumables, and the user can place the fixing mechanism at this position or operate the fixing mechanism at this position.

[0054] The fixing means may, for example, extend around the consumable and be designed to slightly compress the consumable during operation. Thus, the heating element can be held in the desired position. According to another embodiment, the fixing means protrudes from the heating element and forms, for example, a needle or blade configured to penetrate the consumable and be fixed to the consumable.

[0055] In an alternative embodiment, no fixing means are provided. In this case, the heating element may be held in the engagement position with the consumable article by means of friction, for example. For this purpose, the heating element may, for example, slightly compress the consumable article.

[0056] According to some embodiments, the heating element further comprises an indicator that can show the ability of a heat-absorbing / releasing material to generate an aerosol. Such an indicator may be sensitive to the temperature of the heat-absorbing / releasing material or at least its vicinity. For example, the indicator may include a heat-sensitive material such as wax, whose properties, such as volume or color, change with temperature. The indicator may show at least two states, namely one that is suitable for generating an aerosol and another that is not suitable for generating an aerosol. According to other embodiments, one or more intermediate states are also possible.

[0057] The present invention also relates to a consumable kit, which is a consumable kit. -One or more consumable items, - Including the consumables or heating elements as defined above, designed to engage with each consumable.

[0058] Alternatively, the present invention also relates to a consumable kit, which is a consumable kit. - Consumable article equipped with a storage section for storing vaporized material, -A heating element including a heat-absorbing / releasing material, wherein this heat-absorbing / releasing material is -This consumable kit absorbs heat during the preheating phase, which is performed when it is received inside the energy supply cavity of the external energy supply device. - Includes a heating element that, during a vaping phase executed when a trigger event occurs, can release absorbed heat into the storage portion and further into the vaporizable material.

[0059] The present invention also relates to a vaping set, and this vaping set is - External energy supply device equipped with an energy supply cavity, -Consumables, - A heating element as defined above, designed to be in a position to engage with a consumable, and received in a position to engage with the consumable together with the consumable within an energy supply cavity of an external energy supply device to perform a preheating stage.

[0060] Alternatively, the present invention relates to a vaping set, and this vaping set is - External energy supply device equipped with an energy supply cavity, - Including consumable kits as defined above.

[0061] According to some embodiments, the external energy supply device comprises at least one heat generator configured to heat the consumables when they are received in an energy supply cavity, with or without a heating element, in order to generate an aerosol.

[0062] The present invention also relates to a method for generating an aerosol from a consumable kit containing a vaporizing material, the method comprising the following steps: - The consumable kit is engaged with an external energy supply device, and a preheating step is performed by heating the heating element of the consumable kit. - The process includes the step of performing a vaping step by heating a vaporizable material with a heating element when a trigger event occurs.

[0063] According to some embodiments, this method involves the following steps: - After the vaping stage, the consumable kit is engaged with an external energy supply device, and the process includes a step of performing a refilling stage to reheat the heating element.

[0064] In some embodiments, the duration of each of the vaping and refilling phases is adapted to the habits of conventional cigarette smokers.

[0065] The present invention also relates to consumable articles, and these consumable articles are, -Storage section for storing vaporized materials, - Includes a heating section containing a heat-absorbing / releasing material that absorbs heat during a preheating phase performed when the consumable is engaged with an external energy supply device, and releases the absorbed heat to a storage section and further to a vaporizing material during a vaping phase performed when the consumable is disconnected from the external energy supply device.

[0066] According to some embodiments, the heating portion is configured to receive consumables into an energy supply cavity formed by an external energy supply device when the consumables are engaged with the external energy supply device.

[0067] According to some embodiments, the aforementioned heat-absorbing / releasing material is a phase-change material (PCM) capable of absorbing and releasing heat during a phase change.

[0068] According to some embodiments, the aforementioned phase change material (PCM) includes inorganic PCMs such as salts, eutectic mixtures of salts, or salt hydrates.

[0069] According to some embodiments, the phase-change material (PCM) includes intersolid PCMs. For example, such a material can change from a crystalline, semicrystalline, or amorphous structure to another solid structure, with lower available latent heat.

[0070] According to some embodiments, the phase change material (PCM) is an organic PCM such as paraffin wax.

[0071] According to some embodiments, the phase change material (PCM) is an organic PCM mixed with another PCM (e.g., inorganic) or a metal. For example, in the case of paraffin wax, which has a relatively low operating temperature, other materials such as salts or metals (e.g., Mg-Zn) may be mixed in.

[0072] According to some embodiments, the heating portion further includes an additive that interacts with the liquid phase change material (PCM) to alter the solidification temperature during the vaping stage compared to the melting temperature.

[0073] According to some embodiments, the heating portion further includes at least one heat transfer element configured to transfer heat generated by an external energy supply device to a heat-absorbing / releasing material during a preheating stage and / or to transfer heat from the heat-absorbing / releasing material to an aerosol vaporizing material during a vaping stage.

[0074] As a result, with a suitable heater, heat can be more easily transferred from an external energy supply to the heat-absorbing / releasing material and / or from the heat-absorbing / releasing material to the vaporizing material. Heat transfer elements can be incorporated, for example, into the heat-absorbing / releasing material to facilitate heat transfer. Heat transfer elements can be made, for example, from metal forming foil, grid, mesh, or particles within the heat-absorbing / releasing material. Furthermore, heat transfer elements can facilitate heat transfer from the heat-absorbing / releasing material to the vaporizing material during the vaping stage.

[0075] According to some embodiments, the heating portion is formed by a plurality of heating elements, each heating element including or forming a susceptor that generates heat when it magnetically interacts with an external energy supply device and can transfer this heat to a heat-absorbing / releasing material. The susceptor may be positioned in contact with the heat-absorbing / releasing material.

[0076] Thanks to these characteristics, the susceptor can generate heat when it magnetically interacts with an external energy supply device, for example, one equipped with a magnetic coil. Therefore, heat transfer from the external energy supply device to the consumables is not necessary. The susceptor can be made from any suitable material that generates eddy currents when placed inside a magnetic field.

[0077] According to some embodiments, the susceptor is coated with a coating layer formed from a heat-absorbing / releasing material.

[0078] Thanks to these features, efficient heat transfer between the susceptor and the heat-absorbing / releasing material can be ensured.

[0079] According to some embodiments, the heating section is integrated with the storage section so that the susceptor is mixed with the vaporizing material.

[0080] Thanks to these features, efficient heat transfer from heat-absorbing / releasing materials to vaporizing materials can be ensured.

[0081] According to some embodiments, the consumable article further includes an insulating material positioned at least partially around the heating and / or storage portion, at least during the vaping stage, to reduce heat loss to the outside of the consumable article while it is being used to generate an aerosol. For example, the insulating material may be positioned only around the relevant portion of the heating and / or storage portion facing the outside of the consumable article. Thus, heat can be transferred to the storage portion to heat the vaporizable material without heat loss.

[0082] The insulating material can be made from any suitable material, such as paper or foam.

[0083] According to some other embodiments, the insulator may be formed by an aerogel insulating layer.

[0084] In further embodiments, the thermal insulator may be formed from a phase change material (PCM) as defined above.

[0085] Furthermore, in embodiments in which the heating portion is heated by direct heat transfer from an external energy supply device during the preheating phase, the insulator can be at least partially removable to allow heat transfer to the heating portion. For example, the insulator may include an insulating sleeve or ring that slides along the article axis between a resting position that does not cover the heating portion and an insulating position that partially covers the heating portion. In the resting position, the insulator may be, for example, at least partially surrounding the filter / cooling portion of the article. During the preheating phase, the insulator is in the resting position, and during the vaping phase, the insulator is in the insulating position.

[0086] In some embodiments, instead of sliding along the article axis, the insulator may have a semi-cylindrical shape and be rotatably mounted relative to the article axis. For example, the heating portion may also have a semi-cylindrical shape and may be uncovered in the resting position of the insulator (i.e., during the preheating phase) and covered in the insulating position of the insulator (i.e., during the vaping phase). Switching between the resting and insulating positions may be done by rotating the insulator 180°.

[0087] In some embodiments, the insulator may be configured to automatically slide or rotate from a resting position to an insulated position when the consumable is removed from the external energy supply device. For example, the insulator may be moved by a drive member of the device while the consumable is being removed from the device. In embodiments in which heat is generated inside the heated portion (for example, by at least one susceptor in accordance with magnetic interaction with a coil), the consumable may further include an insulator fixedly positioned around at least a portion of the heated portion. The insulator may be formed, for example, by packaging.

[0088] The present invention and its advantages will be better understood by reading the following description, which is given only as non-limiting examples and is described with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0089] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram of a consumable kit according to a first embodiment of the present invention, the consumable kit includes consumable articles and a heating element, the heating element being in a detached position. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the consumable kit when the heating element is in the engaged position. [Figure 3] Figure 1 shows schematic diagrams of several different examples of heating elements when the heating element forms a cup. [Figure 4] Figure 1 shows schematic diagrams of several different examples of the heating element when the heating element forms a ring. [Figure 5] Figure 1 is a graph showing the phase transition of the heat absorption / emission material used within the heating element. [Figure 6] This is a schematic diagram of an example of a vaping set according to the present invention, which includes the consumable kit and energy supply device shown in Figure 1. [Figure 7] This is a schematic diagram of another example of a vaping set according to the present invention. [Figure 8] This is a schematic diagram of a consumable kit according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] This is a schematic diagram of a consumable kit according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0090] First Embodiment of the Present Invention Figure 1 shows a consumable kit 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. According to this figure, the consumable kit 10 includes a consumable article 12 and a heating element 14 which is separated from the consumable article 12 and can engage with the consumable article 12 as shown in Figure 2.

[0091] In the example shown in Figure 1, the consumable article 12 is located detached from the heating element 14. The consumable article 12 extends along the article axis X and has a generally cylindrical shape. This cylindrical shape has a circular cross-section along its length. Advantageously, according to the present invention, the consumable article 12 has substantially the same shape and / or dimensions as a conventional cigarette or HNB article (heat-non-combustible article). However, in some alternative embodiments, the consumable article may have a more user-friendly shape than a conventional cigarette, such as a parallelepiped or pebble shape. The consumable article 12 may also be larger in size than a conventional cigarette (e.g., longitudinally or circumferentially) without interfering with how the user handles or consumes it.

[0092] Advantageously, according to the present invention, the consumable article 12 is either a conventional cigarette or a known HNB article.

[0093] Referring to Figure 1, the consumable article 12 comprises a filter / cooling section 21 and a storage section 22. These sections may be assembled together by a common packaging (not shown) including paper, aluminum foil, or a combination thereof. In the example of Figure 1, the filter / cooling section 21 extends along the article axis X and is adjacent to the storage section 22. The storage section 22 also extends along the article axis X and may be, for example, slightly longer than the filter / cooling section 21. In another example, the storage section 22 is the same length as the filter / cooling section 21 or shorter than this filter / cooling section 21.

[0094] The filter / cooling section 21 forms the mouth end of the consumable article 12, designed to come into contact with the user's mouth / lips. This section 21 further includes a filter and / or cooling segment designed to filter and / or cool the aerosol formed by the storage section 22 in response to heating. For example, the filter / cooling section 21 may include a filter segment at the mouth end of the article and include a tubular element (e.g., a paper tube) between the filter segment and the storage section 22. In some embodiments, the filter / cooling section 21 is not provided. In this case, for example, the storage section 22 can form the mouth end of the article 12. In this case, a replaceable filter / cooling mouthpiece can be used, which can be connected to the consumable article 12.

[0095] The storage section 22 contains a vaporizable material as defined above.

[0096] The heating element 14 includes an element body 24, which extends along the element axis Y and forms a receiving cavity 26 adapted to at least partially receive the consumable article 12. The receiving cavity 26 extends, for example, along the element axis Y.

[0097] In particular, according to the examples in Figures 1 and 2, the containment cavity 26 is adapted to accommodate the entire storage portion 22, as shown in Figure 2. In this example in Figure 2, the heating element 14 is in an engagement position in which the entire storage portion 22 is contained within the containment cavity 26, such that the article axis X and the element axis Y coincide between them. Advantageously, the length of the storage portion 22 is substantially equal to the length of the containment cavity 26.

[0098] The cross-sectional shape of the housing cavity 26 corresponds, for example, to the cross-sectional shape of the consumable article 12. In this case, the heating element 14 may further include fixing means (not shown) designed to fix the element body 24 in a desired position relative to, for example, the storage portion 22 of the consumable article 12. In one example, the fixing means includes a protruding surface designed to project radially into the inner portion of the housing cavity 26 and fix the heating element 14 by friction. In another example, the fixing means includes a needle or blade designed to protrude from the housing cavity 26, penetrate the consumable article 12, and fix the consumable article 12 in an engaged position.

[0099] In another example, no fixing means is provided. In this case, the cross-section of the containment cavity may be slightly smaller than the cross-section of the consumable article 12, thereby compressing the consumable article 12 and fixing it within the containment cavity 26.

[0100] Referring again to Figure 1, the element body 24 comprises a heater 31, a heat-absorbing / releasing material 32, and an insulating body 33. In some embodiments, the element body 24 may further include an indicator (not shown) which is, for example, placed on the surface of the element body 24 and can indicate the ability of the heat-absorbing / releasing material 32 to generate an aerosol.

[0101] In the example shown in Figure 1, the heater 31 is designed to at least partially form the inner wall of the containment cavity 26 and to be in contact with the storage portion 22 of the consumables 22. The heater 31 is designed to simultaneously heat the heat-absorbing / releasing material 32 and the storage portion 22 when the heating element 14 is received together with the consumables 12 in the energy supply cavity of the external energy supply device, as will be described in more detail below. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the heater 31 is a resistive element designed to be connected to the power supply of the external energy supply device. According to another embodiment, the heater 31 is formed from a thermally conductive material such as metal or graphene and is heated by heat transfer from a resistive element placed in the external energy supply device. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the heater 31 is a susceptor that can generate heat when placed in a magnetic field. As will be described in more detail below, the magnetic field can be generated, for example, by the external energy supply device. Furthermore, in this case, the susceptor forming the heater 31 can also ensure heat transfer from the heat-absorbing / releasing material 32 to the storage portion 22 during the vaping phase. In the example shown in Figure 1, the heater 31 is formed by a plurality of rings that are arranged along the element axis Y and extend around this axis Y and the housing cavity 26.

[0102] The insulator 33 forms at least partially the outer wall of the element body 24. Thus, in the example of Figure 1, at least a portion of the heat absorption / emission material 32 is contained between the heater 31 and the insulator 33. The insulator 33 may be formed from an aerogel and / or a phase change material (PCM). The insulator 33 may be rolled (e.g., as multiple overlapping layers) and sealed as a tube, or the insulator 33 may be formed as a tube. In some cases, the insulator 33 may be sprayed or coated onto a support layer. The support layer may be rolled (e.g., as multiple overlapping layers) and sealed as a tube, or the support layer may be formed as a tube. In some embodiments, the insulator 33 may be coated with an outer layer that defines the external design of the heating element 14 and / or protects the insulator 33 from external impacts.

[0103] In the example shown in Figure 1, the element body 24 is a cup with a bottom wall 35 that defines the boundary of the containment cavity 26 in the lateral direction. Thus, when a consumable article 12 is inserted into the containment cavity 26, the end of the consumable article 12 opposite to the opening can come into contact with the bottom wall 35. Thus, the consumable article 12 can be accurately received inside the containment cavity 26. However, other examples are possible in which the containment cavity 26 may be equipped with a specific positioning structure, such as a stopper, to stop the consumable article in a predetermined position within the cavity.

[0104] In the example in Figure 1, the bottom wall 35 is formed by an insulating material 33. However, other examples are also possible. In Example B of Figure 3, the bottom wall 35 includes an inner layer formed by a heat-absorbing / releasing material 32 and an outer layer formed by an insulating material 33.

[0105] As mentioned above, in the examples of Figures 1 and 2, the element body 24 is adapted to receive the entire storage portion 22 of the consumable article 12. In this case, the heating element 14 has an elongated shape. Similarly, the heating element 14 in Example B of Figure 3 also has an elongated shape. However, according to other embodiments, the heating element 14 may have a shorter shape. In this case, the housing cavity 26 is adapted to receive only a portion of the storage portion 22 of the consumable article 12. As shown in Figure 3, the heating elements 14 in Examples A, C, D, and E have a shorter shape compared to Example B.

[0106] Other arrangements and / or shapes of the heater 31, heat absorption / release material 32, and heat insulator 33 inside the element body 24 are also possible.

[0107] In Example A of Figure 3, the heater 31 is formed by a single ring that defines the boundary of the housing cavity 26 in the radial direction.

[0108] In Example C of Figure 3, the containment cavity 26 is bounded by a heat-absorbing / releasing material 32, and the heater 31 is a blade-like protruding member that extends from the bottom wall 35 and is designed to penetrate the storage portion 22 for consumables 12. In this case, the bottom wall 35 also has, for example, two layers: one layer formed by an insulating material 33 and another layer formed by the heat-absorbing / releasing material 32.

[0109] In Example D of Figure 3, the heater 31 is formed by a single ring that radially defines the boundary of the containment cavity 26 and is in contact with the insulator 33. In this example, the heat-absorbing / releasing material 32 is contained in a blade-like protruding member that extends from the bottom wall 35 and is designed to penetrate the storage portion 22 for the consumables 12. The protruding member may be made of a thermally conductive material such as metal. In this last example, the bottom wall 35 is formed by the insulator 33. In Examples A, B, and C, the insulator 33 is in direct contact with the heat-absorbing / releasing material 32. In Example D, the insulator 33 is in direct contact with the heater 31 and the storage portion 22.

[0110] In Example E, the heat-absorbing / releasing material 32 and the heater 31 are integrated into a blade-like protruding member, which extends from the bottom wall 35 and is designed to penetrate the storage portion 22 of the consumables 12. The protruding member may be made of a thermally conductive material such as metal. In this example, the heater 31 includes one or more susceptors mixed with, for example, the heat-absorbing / releasing material 32. Similar to Example D, the bottom wall 35 in Example E is formed by an insulating body 33. Furthermore, in Example E, the insulating body 33 surrounds the storage portion 22 and is in direct contact with the storage portion 22. Thus, in the same Example E, it is clear that the insulating body 33 also surrounds elements 31 and 32 without direct contact.

[0111] Naturally, any other combination of the heating element 14 as in the above example is also possible. Furthermore, the heating element 14 can be provided without a bottom wall 35, and thus a ring can be formed instead of a cup.

[0112] Figure 4 shows examples A and B of such rings, in which the arrangement of the insulator, heat-absorbing / releasing material, and heater is similar to that of examples A and B in Figure 3, respectively. In this case, the housing cavity 26 exhibits a through-hole. Furthermore, depending on the embodiment, the heater 31 may include multiple susceptors mixed with or embedded within the heat-absorbing / releasing material 32.

[0113] The heat-absorbing / releasing material 32 is a thermal energy storage (TES) material. Depending on the various examples of this material described below, the heat-absorbing / releasing material 32 may be contained within a casing. The casing may be sealed or have at least one opening to compensate for the volume expansion of the material. In some embodiments, the casing may form a heat transfer element that facilitates heat transfer to and from the heat-absorbing / releasing material 32. According to other embodiments, the heat transfer element is located inside the casing and forms, for example, a foil, grid, mesh, or particles designed to contact the heater 31. The heat transfer element may be made of a metal such as aluminum or graphene.

[0114] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the heat-absorbing / releasing material 32 is a phase-change material (PCM) which can absorb / release heat during a phase change, particularly during a solid-liquid phase change. As shown in Figure 5, such a material can absorb heat while being heated isothermally from an initial temperature T1, which is the solid phase, to its melting temperature Tm, then to a complete phase transition to the liquid phase, and then from the melting temperature Tm, which is the liquid phase, to a temperature T2. Temperature T2 may be equal to or slightly higher than the melting temperature Tm. The heat absorbed isothermally during a phase change corresponds to latent heat. Thus, the preheating step may include the entire solid-liquid phase change to absorb more heat without increasing the temperature of the material.

[0115] While the heat-absorbing / releasing material 32 is being cooled, it can release heat according to substantially the same profile as shown in Figure 5. In particular, the heat-absorbing / releasing material can release heat while being cooled isothermally from temperature T2 to the solidification temperature Ts, then until it completely transitions to the solid phase, and then from the solidification temperature Ts to temperature T1. As in the case described above, the heat released isothermally during the phase change corresponds to latent heat. This heat is particularly useful during the vaping phase to uniformly heat the storage portion 22. Thus, the duration of the solidification phase can be made to match the overall duration of the vaping session.

[0116] In the example shown in Figure 5, the melting temperature Tm substantially coincides with the solidification temperature Ts. However, in some embodiments, these temperatures may differ. In particular, the solidification temperature Ts may be at least slightly higher than the melting temperature Tm. This can be achieved by adding an additive to the heat-absorbing / releasing material 32. This additive can interact with the phase-change material, which is in the liquid phase, to modify at least some of its properties, such as concentration. This interaction may include at least one chemical reaction between the additive and the phase-change material.

[0117] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the phase change material is a salt or a eutectic mixture of salts, for example, a salt hydrate M x N y It contains H2O. The phase transition temperature (e.g., melting temperature) of such materials is between 150°C and 450°C, preferably between 200°C and 400°C. This temperature range is suitable for vaporizing volatile materials without combustion. Furthermore, if additives are used to change the solidification temperature Ts, these additives can change the concentration of the salt, or the properties of the salt, or the proportion of the salt in the mixture.

[0118] An example of an external energy supply device 42 is shown in Figure 6. The external energy supply device 42 in this example is specifically adapted to operate with an elongated heating element 14.

[0119] In the example of Figure 6, the external energy supply device 42, hereafter referred to as device 42, is a portable device similar to an aerosol generator, such as an HNB device. In particular, device 42 comprises a housing 51 that defines an energy supply cavity 52 configured to receive the heating element 14 together with the consumables 12, especially the storage portion 22 of the consumables 12, when the heating element 14 is in the engaged position. In some embodiments, the cavity 52 may be further adapted to receive only the consumables without the heating element 14. In both cases, device 42 can operate with the consumables 12 as a known HNB device, i.e., a device that generates an aerosol when the consumables 12 are received into the energy supply cavity 52, with or without the heating element 14.

[0120] The housing 51 includes various internal components of the device 42 that ensure various functions. For example, the housing 51 includes a heat generator 55 for generating heat on the heater 31, a controller 56 for controlling the operation of the heat generator 55, and a battery 57 for supplying power to the heat generator 55 and the controller 56.

[0121] The battery 57 is a known battery designed to be charged using a power source provided by an external source and to supply a DC current of a predetermined voltage. The battery 57 may be associated with a battery charger that can connect the battery 57 to an external source and for this purpose is equipped with a power connector (such as a mini-USB or USB-C connector) or a wireless charging connector. The battery charger can also control the power supplied to the battery 57 from the external source, for example, according to a predetermined charging profile. Such a charging profile can define the charging voltage of the battery, for example, depending on its charge level. In some alternative embodiments, instead of the battery 57, the housing 51 may include only a power connector that connects the device 42 to an external power source, for example, by wires. In this case, the device 42 can only operate when connected to this external power source.

[0122] The controller 56 is configured to control the operation of the heat generator 55 by controlling the power supply by the battery 57 or, in an alternative embodiment, by an external power source. For this purpose, the controller 56 can control the operation of the heat generator 55 by, for example, applying a predetermined heating profile. Depending on the embodiment, the heating profile may be selected depending on the nature of the consumable 12. For example, when the consumable 12 is used with the heating element 14 to generate an aerosol outside the apparatus 42 (i.e., outside the apparatus mode), a specific heating profile may be used to ensure only a preheating phase of the consumable 12. This heating profile may include supplying power to the heat generator 55 only for a predetermined time interval to ensure a preheating phase of the consumable 12. More generally, the heating profile may include supplying power to the heat generator 55 until a predetermined trigger event occurs. This event may include, for example, the expiration of a predetermined time delay as described above, or the achievement of a predetermined temperature or pressure near the consumable 12, or the consumption of a predetermined amount of energy by the heat generator 55. This temperature or pressure may be determined by a sensor placed in the vicinity, particularly within or adjacent to the heating cavity, or on the heating element. In both cases, the heating profile may include supplying power to the heat generator 55 during the preheating phase of the consumables 12, according to the maximum power capacity of the heat generator 55. When the consumables 12 are used with or without the heating element 14 to generate an aerosol while being received in the energy supply cavity 52 of the device 42 (in-device mode), the heating profile can also ensure a vaping phase, i.e., heating the articles while they are being used by the user.

[0123] Depending on different embodiments of the heater 31 of the heating element 14, the heat generator 55 may include a pair of power contacts designed to supply power to the heater 31, a resistive element designed to transfer heat to the heater 31, and / or a magnetic element designed to generate a magnetic field around the heater 31. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention in which the heater 31 includes a susceptor, the heat generator 55 includes a magnetic element such as a magnetic coil. In the example of Figure 6, the heat generator 55 is formed by a magnetic coil extending along the entire length of the energy supply cavity 52. ​​Thus, in this example, the heat generator 55 is adapted to generate a magnetic field along the entire length of the heater 31 that simultaneously heats the storage portion 22 and the heat absorption / release material 32.

[0124] Figure 7 shows another example of the external energy supply device 42. The external energy supply device 42 in this example is specifically adapted to operate with the short-shaped heating element 14.

[0125] The main difference between this example and the example in Figure 6 lies in the configuration of the heat generator 55. In particular, in this case, the heat generator 55, such as a magnetic coil, is positioned to face only the heating element 14. Thus, in this example, the heat generator 55 extends only along a portion of the energy supply cavity 52. ​​The length of this portion is substantially equal to, for example, the length of the heating element 14.

[0126] In the example shown in Figure 7, the apparatus 42 further comprises a secondary heater 65, which extends from the housing cavity 26 of the heating element 14 and is arranged to heat a portion of the storage section 22 for the consumables 12. In other words, the secondary heater 65 is arranged to heat a portion of the storage section 22 that is not heated by the heater 31 of the heating element 14. The secondary heater 65 includes, for example, a resistive element such as a thin film that at least partially forms the inner wall of the energy supply cavity 52. ​​For example, the secondary heater 65 may be arranged to face or in contact with the portion of the storage section 22 that is not heated by the heater 31 of the heating element 14. Thus, in this example, the heat generator 55 and the secondary heater 65 extend continuously along the energy supply cavity 52. ​​Furthermore, according to this example, the controller 56 is adapted to further control the operation of the secondary heater 65. This heater 65 may be controlled according to the same heating profile as the heat generator 55, or according to a special heating profile selected, for example, based on the properties of a volatile material. Furthermore, the heating profile for the secondary heater 65 may be selected to ensure a better heat distribution inside the storage section 22 and an optimal temperature for the vaporizable material, thereby, for example, avoiding aerosol generation during the preheating phase and optimizing aerosol generation during the vaping phase. For example, the secondary heater 65 may be controlled to preheat the vaporizable material to a temperature slightly below the vaporization temperature.

[0127] The method for generating an aerosol using the consumable kit 10 is described below. Initially, the kit 10 is assumed to be removed from the apparatus 42, and the consumables 12 are assumed to be unengaged from the heating element 14. When intending to use the kit 10, the user engages the consumables 12 with the heating element 14 and inserts both elements into the apparatus 42. The user then starts the operation of the apparatus 42. Alternatively, the operation of the apparatus 42 starts automatically when the kit 10 is inserted.

[0128] Next, a preheating phase is performed. During this preheating phase, the controller 56 supplies power to the heat generator 55 and finally to the secondary heater 65 according to the corresponding heating profile. The heat generator 55 generates heat using the heater 31 of the heating element 14. The heat generated by the heater 31 is transferred to the heat-absorbing / releasing material. In the case of a phase-change material, the heat is transferred until the phase transition to the liquid phase is complete. The end of the preheating phase corresponds to a trigger event, which is indicated by the controller 56, for example, using appropriate visual and / or audible indicators. The preheating phase may last, for example, at least 10 seconds, and favorably at least 15 seconds. For example, the preheating phase may last about 60 to 600 seconds.

[0129] During the preheating phase, the heat generator 55 and / or secondary heater 65 may be configured to heat the vaporizable material in the storage section 22 to raise its temperature to a point where vapor is generated as soon as the storage section 22 is removed from the apparatus 42. As a result, heat absorption / release materials are used to maintain the aerosol material within the vaporization temperature range, sustaining vaporization throughout the vaping session.

[0130] The secondary heater 65 may be controlled to heat the vaporizable material, particularly during the preheating stage. As described above, the configuration and control of the secondary heater 65 may differ from those of the heat generator 55.

[0131] Next, the user removes the consumable item 12 equipped with the heating element 14 from the device 42. At this point, the consumable item 12 equipped with the heating element 14 is ready for use in the vaping phase, independently of the device 42. In other words, the consumable item 12 equipped with the heating element 14 can be used like a conventional cigarette. During the vaping phase, the heat stored by the heat absorption / release material 32 is released into the storage section 22. This heats the vaporizable material that generates the aerosol. The vaping phase continues as long as the released heat is sufficient to heat the vaporizable material. For example, in the case of a phase change material, the vaping phase can continue until it has completely solidified.

[0132] In the example described above, the consumable kit 10 can be used to vape in a mode in which the kit is removed from the device 42, i.e., in an external mode. However, as described above, the device 42, in particular the heat generator 55 and / or secondary heater 65, may be configured to heat the vaporizable material to enable vaping of the consumable article 12 while the article remains engaged in the device 42, with or without the heating element 14. This configuration may correspond to a vaping mode (i.e., an internal mode) corresponding to the engagement of the article within the device. This mode may be programmed in particular when the consumable article 12 is engaged in the device 42 (with or without the heating element 14), and this mode is activated by a command or automatically and selectively in response to an order from the user. The command may be a switch configured to switch the vaping mode between the external vaping mode and the internal vaping mode. The operation from one mode to another may be triggered by an automatic recognition system, regardless of whether the consumable article 12 is inserted with the heating element 14 or not.

[0133] Such a system may be any suitable recognition system known in the art, such as optical (e.g., barcode), magnetic, electrical, or mechanical. The selected mode may be activated by the user pressing a button on the device 42 or by a remote connection command, for example, via a mobile phone app. In some cases, the external mode may be automatically activated when the consumable 12 is inserted into the device 42 together with the heating element 14, and the internal mode may be automatically activated when the consumable 12 is inserted into the device 42 without the heating element 14. In the first case, the user may switch to the internal mode even if, for example, the consumable 12 is inserted into the device 42 together with the heating element 14.

[0134] Depending on the embodiment, both in-device and out-device vaping modes can be used in the same vaping session. For example, in this case, the user can start a vaping session using the out-device mode. If the aerosol generation capacity is depleted while the consumable kit 10 is being used outside the device 42, the user can insert the consumable kit 10 into the device 42 and continue the vaping session using the in-device mode. Then, once the heating element 14 is sufficiently heated, the user can remove the consumable kit 10 and continue the vaping session using the out-device mode.

[0135] In some embodiments, the energy supply device 42 may be further configured to perform a refilling phase when used in an external mode. In particular, according to these embodiments, the energy supply device 42 and especially the controller 56 are configured to perform a refilling phase once the vaping phase has ended and it becomes necessary to refill the heating element 14 in order to continue the vaping session. According to some examples, the refilling phase may be performed by the controller 56, similar to the preheating phase. The end of the refilling phase also corresponds to a trigger event as described above. According to some other examples, the refilling phase may be performed by the controller 56 using a specific heating profile that ensures the heat-absorbing / emitting material is heated from a temperature higher than the ambient temperature. Thus, these heating profiles may differ from the heating profiles used during the preheating phase. Similar to the preheating phase, the end of the refilling phase can be indicated by the controller 56, for example, using appropriate visual and / or audible indicators. In some cases, the duration of the refilling phase may be controlled by using a temperature sensor that is in contact with or located near the heating element 14.

[0136] Furthermore, the energy supply device 42 may be shaped to facilitate the removal and / or insertion of the consumable kit 10 into / from the energy supply cavity 52. ​​For example, the energy supply device 42 may have a flat shape. In this case, the energy supply cavity 52 may have a semi-cylindrical shape and may be formed on the outer surface of the device 42. Thus, the energy supply device 42 can mimic a classic ashtray familiar to conventional cigarette smokers.

[0137] The duration of each phase, the vaping phase and the refilling phase, can be adapted to the habits of a conventional cigarette smoker. For example, the duration of the vaping phase can correspond to several consecutive puffs taken by the user, e.g., two or three puffs. In another example, the duration of the vaping phase can correspond to a single puff. The duration of the refilling phase may generally correspond to the duration used by a smoker to remove ash from a conventional cigarette, particularly the duration used by some users to leave the conventional cigarette in contact with an ashtray. Such a duration may be between 1 and 60 seconds, advantageously between 2 and 30 seconds, and preferably between 3 and 20 seconds. In some cases, this duration may be adapted by the user or learned by the controller 56 of the device 42 based on the user's habits, for example using machine learning techniques. In some cases, the user can select a vaping profile from among several vaping profiles, including, for example, a quick vaping profile and a relaxed vaping profile. Each of these vaping profiles defines the duration of the heating phase and the refilling phase. In some cases, this duration is not constant and may vary depending on the moment of the vaping session.

[0138] To accommodate the duration of the preheating and / or refilling phases as described above, the controller 56 can adapt the corresponding heating profile. For example, if it is necessary to extend the duration of the refilling phase, the controller 56 can change the corresponding heating profile to increase the power supply. Thus, the corresponding trigger event (e.g., achieving a predetermined temperature) may occur at the end of the desired duration of the refilling phase.

[0139] Second Embodiment of the Present Invention Figure 8 shows a consumable kit 110 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. According to this figure, the consumable kit 110 includes a consumable article 112 and a heating element 114 integrated with the consumable article 112 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In particular, according to this embodiment, the heating element 114 forms a heating portion 123 of the consumable article 112, which will be described in more detail below.

[0140] The consumable article 112 extends along the article axis X and has a generally cylindrical shape. This cylindrical shape can form a circle in each cross-section. Advantageously, as in previous embodiments, the consumable article 112 has substantially the same shape and / or dimensions as a conventional cigarette. However, in some alternative embodiments, the consumable article 112 may have a user-friendly shape other than a conventional cigarette, such as a parallelepiped type or a pebble type. The consumable article 112 may also be larger in size than a conventional cigarette (e.g., longitudinally or circumferentially) without interfering with how the user handles or consumes it.

[0141] The consumable article 112 includes a filter / cooling section 121, a storage section 122 containing a vaporizable material, and the heating section 123 described above. These sections may be assembled together by a common packaging 124, which may include paper, aluminum foil, or a combination thereof. In the example of Figure 8, the filter / cooling section 121 extends along the article axis X and is adjacent to both the storage section and the heating sections 122, 123. In this case, the storage section and each of the heating sections 122, 123 extend along the article axis X to different sides of a central plane passing through the center of the article 112 along the article axis X. In other words, in this case, the storage section and each of the heating sections 122, 123 form a semicircle in cross-section. According to another example (not shown), the heating section 123 extends around the storage section 122. Thus, in each cross-section, the heating section 123 can form an annular section around a concentric circle of the storage section 122. In yet another example, the storage portion 122 is positioned around the heating portion 123. In the example of Figure 8, the heating portion 123 extends along the entire axial length of the storage portion 122. In yet another embodiment (not shown), portions 121, 122, and 123 extend continuously along the article axis X, and the storage portion 122 is positioned between the filter / cooling portion 121 and the heating portion 123. Naturally, other component configurations within the consumable article 112 are still possible. In one embodiment, two or more heating portions may be present in the consumable article and separated from each other. For example, these heating portions may be separated longitudinally and / or circumferentially.

[0142] The filter / cooling section 121 is similar to the filter / cooling section 21 described in relation to a previous embodiment.

[0143] The heating section 123 is designed to absorb heat when the kit 110 is received in the energy supply cavity of the external energy supply device (i.e., the preheating phase of operation) and to release heat when the kit 110 is outside the cavity (the vaping phase of operation) to heat the storage section 122. For this purpose, the heating section 123 includes a heat-absorbing / releasing material, which is a thermal energy storage (TES) material, as described in detail in relation to previous embodiments. Depending on the various examples of this material described below, the heat-absorbing / releasing material may be contained within a casing. The casing may be sealed or have at least one opening to compensate for the volume expansion of the material. In some embodiments, the casing may form a heat transfer element that facilitates heat transfer from the cavity to the heat-absorbing / releasing material. According to other embodiments, the heat transfer element is located inside the casing and forms, for example, a foil, grid, mesh, or particles designed to contact at least one wall of the cavity. The heat transfer element may be made from a metal such as aluminum.

[0144] In the example shown in Figure 8, the consumable item 112 may also include an insulating body (not shown) that is movable between a resting position and an insulating position. The insulating body is designed to cover the heating portion 123 in the insulating position and not to cover the heating portion 123 in the resting position. For example, in the resting position, the insulating body may cover the filter / cooling portion 121 and / or storage portion 122. The insulating body may include an insulating sleeve or ring that is slidable along the article axis X between the resting position and the insulating position. In another example, the insulating body may be semi-cylindrical in shape and may be mounted rotatably with respect to the article axis X between the resting position and the insulating position.

[0145] The insulating material may be formed from an aerogel and / or a phase change material (PCM). In some cases, the insulating material may be sprayed or coated onto the support layer.

[0146] In an example where the storage section 122 is positioned around the heating section 123 and at least a portion of the external heater penetrates into the heating section 123, the insulating material may form a fixed external layer comprising, for example, an aerogel and / or a phase change material (PCM). In this case, a support layer may be formed by a common packaging body 124.

[0147] As described above, in order to perform the preheating stage, the consumable kit 110 is designed to be received in an energy supply cavity of an external energy supply device. Such a cavity and such device are similar to those illustrated in Figure 6 and described with reference to Figure 6, for example. In this case, the heat generator 55 may include a resistive heater which may be positioned in the energy supply cavity to contact the heating portion 123. For example, this resistive heater may extend to only one side of the cavity to contact the heating portion 123. According to another embodiment, the resistive heater further extends to both sides of the cavity to contact the storage portion 122. In some embodiments, the heat generator 55 may include a heating blade configured to penetrate the heating portion 123.

[0148] The method for generating an aerosol using the consumable kit 110 according to the second embodiment is similar to the method described in relation to the first embodiment. In contrast, for this last embodiment, the consumable kit 110 according to the second embodiment is provided already assembled. Therefore, it is not necessary to engage the heating element 114 with the consumable article 112. Thus, the consumable kit 110 can be inserted directly into the energy supply cavity to perform a preheating step, and then removed from the cavity to perform a vaping step according to an out-of-device mode, or kept in the cavity to perform a vaping step according to an in-device mode. In the out-of-device mode, a refilling step as described above can also be performed.

[0149] Third Embodiment of the Present Invention Figure 9 shows a consumable kit 210 according to a third embodiment of the present invention. According to this figure, the consumable kit 210 includes a consumable article 212 and a plurality of heating elements 214 that form a heated portion 223 of the consumable article 212.

[0150] In particular, as shown in Figure 9, the consumables 212 include a filter / cooling section 221, a storage section 222, and the heating section 223 described above. These sections may be assembled together by a common packaging 224. In the example of Figure 9, the heating section 223 is integrated with the storage section 222. This means that the contents of the heating section 223 are mixed with or embedded in the contents of the storage section 222, rather than being placed alongside the storage section as in previous embodiments, so that heat is distributed to the vaporizable material from multiple directions, as described below. According to other examples (not shown), the storage section and heating sections 222, 223 may be arranged in any other suitable configuration.

[0151] According to some examples of the third embodiment, the consumable article 212 may further comprise an insulating body positioned around the storage portion 222. This insulating body may be fixed in place and may be formed, for example, by at least a portion of a common packaging 224. As in the previous case, the insulating body may be formed from an aerogel and / or phase change material (PCM). The insulating body may be sprayed or coated, for example, onto a support layer formed by the common packaging 224.

[0152] The filter / cooling section 221 is the same as the filter / cooling sections 21 and 121 described above. As before, the storage section 222 contains a vaporizable material.

[0153] According to the third embodiment, each heating element 214 includes or forms a susceptor that can generate heat when placed in a magnetic field. The heating elements 214 are mixed together inside the storage portion 222.

[0154] Each heating element 214 further includes a heat-absorbing / releasing material that can absorb heat generated by the susceptor during the preheating phase (i.e., when the storage portion 222 is received in the energy supply cavity) and release this heat during the vaping phase (i.e., when the consumable kit 210 is removed from the cavity) to heat the vaporizable material. The heat-absorbing / releasing material may be similar to those described in relation to previous embodiments. In particular, as in previous cases, the heat-absorbing / releasing material may include a phase change material (PCM) and, in some cases, may include additives as described above.

[0155] In the example shown in Figure 9, the susceptor is formed, for example, by a ball, disc, or ring mixed with a vaporizing material. Furthermore, the susceptor is coated with a coating layer formed from a heat-absorbing / releasing material. A retaining structure may be further provided around the susceptor to hold the coating layer near the corresponding susceptor while the heat-absorbing / releasing material changes phase.

[0156] As described above, in order to perform the preheating stage, the consumable kit 210 is designed to be received within an energy supply cavity of an external energy supply device. Such a cavity and such device are similar to those illustrated in Figure 6 and described with reference to this Figure 6, for example. In this case, the heat generator 55 may include a magnetic coil arranged around the energy supply cavity 52.

[0157] The method for generating an aerosol using the consumable kit 210 according to the second embodiment is similar to the method described in relation to the previous embodiments. Similar to the second embodiment, the consumable kit 210 according to the third embodiment is provided already assembled. Therefore, it is not necessary to engage the heating element 214 with the consumable article 212. Thus, the consumable kit 210 can be inserted directly into the energy supply cavity to perform a preheating stage, and then removed from the cavity to perform a vaping stage according to an out-of-device mode, or kept in the cavity to perform a vaping stage according to an in-device mode. In the out-of-device mode, a refilling stage as described above can also be performed. In particular, during the preheating stage, the storage portion 22 is received into the energy supply cavity, and the susceptor contained in the heating element 214 generates heat, which is absorbed by the heat-absorbing / releasing material. The preheating stage may be performed until the heat-absorbing / releasing material changes its phase to a liquid phase. During the vaping stage in the out-of-device mode, the consumable kit 210 is removed from the device. The vaporized material is heated by the heat released from the heat-absorbing / releasing material until the heat-absorbing / releasing material has completely solidified.

Claims

1. A heating element (14) for a consumable article (12), wherein the consumable article (12) includes a storage portion (22) for storing a vaporizable material, and the heating element (14) includes an element body (24) configured to engage with and disengage at an engagement position around at least a portion of the storage portion (22) of the consumable article (12), The element body (24) is further configured to be at least partially detachably received within the energy supply cavity (52) of the external energy supply device (42), The element body (24) includes a heat-absorbing / releasing material (32), and the heat-absorbing / releasing material (32) is - During the preheating stage, which is performed when the element body (24) is engaged with the consumable item (12) and is received in the energy supply cavity (52) of the external energy supply device (42) together with the consumable item (12) in the engaged position, heat is absorbed, - During the vaping phase, which is performed when a trigger event occurs, the absorbed heat can be released to the storage portion (22) and further to the vaporizable material while the element body (24) is in the engagement position with the consumable item (12). The element body (24) further includes a heating element (14) comprising a heater (31) which includes at least one susceptor capable of generating heat through inductive interaction with the external energy supply device (42).

2. The heat absorption / release material (32) is a phase change material (PCM) that can absorb / release heat during a phase change. The phase change material (PCM) is selected to melt during the preheating stage and solidify during the vaping stage. The heating element (14) according to claim 1, wherein the phase change material (PCM) comprises a salt, a eutectic mixture of salts, or a salt hydrate.

3. The heater (31) is - During the preheating stage, heat is generated and this heat is transferred to the heat absorption / release material (32), and / or - The heating element (14) according to claim 1, which can transfer heat from the heat-absorbing / releasing material (32) to the vaporizing material during the vaping stage.

4. The heating element (14) according to claim 1, wherein the heater (31) is designed to be positioned at least partially around the storage portion (22) of the consumable article (12) and / or to penetrate the storage portion (22) of the consumable article (12) when the element body (24) is in the engagement position with the consumable article (12).

5. The heating element (14) according to claim 1, wherein the heater (31) is designed to be interposed between the storage portion (22) of the consumable item (12) and the heat absorbing / releasing material (32) when the element body (24) is in the engagement position with the consumable item (12).

6. The heating element (14) according to claim 1, wherein the heater (31) includes a plurality of susceptors mixed with or embedded in the heat absorbing / releasing material (32).

7. The element body (24) further comprises a protruding member designed to penetrate the storage portion of the consumable article (12) when the element body (24) is in the engagement position with the consumable article, The protruding member includes at least a portion of the heater (31) and / or the heat absorption / release material (32), The heating element (14) according to claim 1, wherein the heater (31) includes a susceptor.

8. The heating element (14) according to claim 1, wherein the element body (24) further comprises an insulating body (33) configured to be positioned at least partially around the heat absorbing / releasing material (32) and / or at least partially around the storage portion (22).

9. The heating element (14) according to claim 1, wherein the element body (24) forms a ring or cup that can engage with the consumable article (12) by sliding along the article axis (X).

10. The heating element (14) according to claim 1, further comprising fixing means designed to fix the element body (24) on the consumable article (12) when the element body (24) is engaged with the consumable article (12).

11. The heating element (14) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the trigger event includes achieving a predetermined temperature of the vaporizable material in the storage portion (22), the expiration of a predetermined time delay, achieving a predetermined pressure near the consumable item (12), or the consumption of a predetermined amount of energy by the heat generator (55) of the external energy supply device (42).

12. Consumable kit (10, 110, 210), - A consumable article (12, 112, 212) having a storage section (22, 122, 222) for storing vaporized material, - A heating element (14, 114, 214) including a heat-absorbing / releasing material, wherein the heat-absorbing / releasing material is - During the preheating phase, which is performed when the consumable kit (10, 110, 210) is received in the energy supply cavity (52) of the external energy supply device (42), heat is absorbed. - During the vaping phase, which is performed when a trigger event occurs, the absorbed heat is released to the storage portion (22, 122, 222) and further to the vaporizable material by the heating elements (14, 114, 214), Consumable kit including (10, 110, 210).

13. It's a vaping set, - An external energy supply device (42) equipped with an energy supply cavity (52), - The consumable kit (10, 110, 210) described in claim 12, A vaping set including this item.

14. A method for generating an aerosol from the consumable kit (10, 110, 210) described in claim 12, - The consumable kit (10, 110, 210) is engaged with an external energy supply device (42), and a preheating step is performed by heating the heating elements (14, 114, 214) of the consumable kit (10, 110, 210), - When a trigger event occurs, the vaping step is performed by heating the vaporizable material with the heating elements (14, 114, 214), A method for generating an aerosol, comprising the characteristics of a method for generating an aerosol.

15. - A method for generating an aerosol according to claim 14, further comprising the step of engaging the consumable kit (10, 110, 210) with the external energy supply device (42) after the vaping step, and then performing a refilling step to reheat the heating elements (14, 114, 214).

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