Articles used in non-flammable aerosol supply systems

Abstract

To provide a novel article for use in an incombustible aerosol supply system, and a novel method for manufacturing the article like that.SOLUTION: An article for use in an incombustible aerosol supply system is disclosed. The article comprises a support element (11) having at least one cavity, and an aerosol generating material that is arranged within the at least one cavity. The aerosol generating material has an amorphous solid material (13). An aerosol generating system, and a method for manufacturing the article for use in the incombustible aerosol supply system are also disclosed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an article for use in a non-combustible aerosol supply system, a method of manufacturing such an article, and a non-combustible aerosol supply system comprising the article.

Background Art

[0002] Smoking articles such as cigarettes and cigars burn tobacco during use to generate tobacco smoke. Other smoking articles provide inhalable aerosols or vapors by releasing compounds from an aerosol-generating material without combustion. These articles may sometimes be referred to as non-combustible smoking articles or aerosol supply systems.

Summary of Invention

[0003] According to some embodiments described in the present specification, there is provided an article for use in a non-combustible aerosol supply system, the article comprising a support element provided with at least one cavity, and an aerosol-generating material disposed in the at least one cavity, wherein the aerosol-generating material comprises an amorphous solid material.

[0004] The one or more cavities may comprise openings extending completely through the thickness of the support element, and / or may comprise recesses provided with notches, depressions, or other formations extending partially through the thickness of the support element.

[0005] The support element may comprise a substantially planar body. The at least one cavity may extend at least partially through the thickness of the support element.

[0006] The aerosol-generating material may be offset relative to the thickness or plane of the support element or a portion thereof, and aligned with the at least one cavity such that it is accessible therethrough. The aerosol-generating material may be disposed within the cavity in the thickness or plane of the support element or a portion thereof.

[0007] The aerosol-generating material may be provided on a carrier layer or on a substrate. The carrier layer or substrate may comprise a sheet material. The carrier layer or substrate may be attached to at least one support element.

[0008] At least one cavity may have an opening that extends completely through the thickness of the support element. At least one cavity may have a recess that extends partially through the thickness of the support element.

[0009] The support element may comprise at least two layers of sheet material. The aerosol-generating material may be sandwiched between at least two layers of sheet material.

[0010] The sheet material may have a weight of 180 GSM to 210 GSM. The sheet material may have a thickness of 150 μm to 400 μm.

[0011] The thickness of the support element may be 300 μm to 800 μm.

[0012] The aerosol-generating material may comprise an amorphous solid material having regions of different compositions within the same material body.

[0013] The article may comprise a plurality of separate, spaced-apart cavities containing aerosol-generating material.

[0014] Even if the aerosol-generating material is perforated.

[0015] The aerosol-generating material may be provided on a substrate. The substrate may include a metal foil.

[0016] The material of the support element may include at least one of paper, cardboard, or foil.

[0017] The material of the support element may be a biodegradable material.

[0018] The article may comprise an identification element. The identification element may be a barcode, a QR code, or an RFID chip.

[0019] The amorphous solid material may comprise a gelling agent. The gelling agent may comprise alginate, pectin, and / or carrageenan.

[0020] The amorphous solid material may be a dried hydrogel.

[0021] The amorphous solid material may further comprise an aerosol former, an active substance, and / or a flavorant. The aerosol former may be glycerol. The active substance may be nicotine.

[0022] The amorphous solid material may have a thickness of about 0.015 mm to 0.5 mm, or 0.1 mm to 0.3 mm, or 0.15 mm to 0.25 mm.

[0023] The aerosol-generating material may comprise a plurality of holes arranged to define distinct regions of the aerosol-generating material.

[0024] The article may comprise a plurality of distinct cavities comprising the amorphous solid material, where each cavity comprises a different amorphous solid material.

[0025] According to other embodiments described in the present specification, there is provided a non-combustible aerosol delivery system comprising the aforementioned article and a non-combustible aerosol delivery device.

[0026] The aerosol-generating device may be configured to implement a customizable heating profile that allows independent heating of the amorphous solid material in the distinct cavities of the article.

[0027] According to other embodiments described in the present specification, a method for manufacturing the aforementioned article is provided. The method may comprise the steps of providing a support element comprising at least one cavity, and disposing an aerosol-generating material comprising an amorphous solid material in the at least one cavity.

[0028] The method may comprise the steps of forming at least two layers of sheet material to form the support element, wherein at least one of the layers comprises the at least one cavity, and sandwiching the aerosol-generating material between the at least two layers of sheet material.

[0029] The method may comprise the step of disposing the aerosol-generating material on a substrate. The method may comprise the step of providing the substrate to comprise a metal foil.

[0030] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numerals are used to denote like features. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of an article for use with a non-combustible aerosol supply device. [Figure 2] 2 is a front view of the article of Figure 1. [Figure 3] 3 is a side view of the article of Figure 1. [Figure 4] 4 is an exploded view of the article of Figure 1. [Figure 5] 5 is a perspective view of an exemplary aerosol-generating device for use with the article of Figure 1. [Figure 6] 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an aerosol-generating assembly comprising the article of Figure 1 received within the aerosol-generating device of Figure 5. [Figure 7] 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of an article for use with a non-combustible aerosol supply device. [Figure 8]This is a schematic cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of an article used in conjunction with a non-flammable aerosol supply device. [Figure 9] This is a schematic cross-sectional view of a fourth embodiment of an article to be used with a non-flammable aerosol supply device. [Figure 10] This is a schematic cross-sectional view of a fifth embodiment of an article to be used with a non-flammable aerosol supply device. [Figure 11] This is a schematic cross-sectional view of a sixth embodiment of an article to be used with a non-flammable aerosol supply device. [Figure 12] This is an exploded perspective view of a seventh embodiment of an article used with a non-flammable aerosol supply device. [Figure 13] This is a flowchart of a typical method for manufacturing articles used with non-flammable aerosol supply devices. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0032] As used herein, the term “delivery system” is intended to encompass a system for delivering a substance to a user. A flammable aerosol supply system for cigarettes, cigarillos, cigars, and tobacco for pipes, hand-rolling, or homemade cigarettes (whether based on tobacco, tobacco derivatives, effervescent tobacco, recycled tobacco, tobacco substitutes, or other smoking materials), Non-combustible aerosol supply systems that release compounds from aerosolizable materials without burning the materials, such as hybrid systems that generate aerosols using a combination of e-cigarettes, tobacco heating products, and aerosolizable materials, Articles comprising aerosolizable materials and configured for use in one of these non-flammable aerosol supply systems, An aerosol-free delivery system for articles comprising lozenges, gums, patches, inhalable powders, and smokeless tobacco products such as snus and snuff, which deliver materials to a user without forming an aerosol, wherein the materials may or may not contain nicotine. Includes.

[0033] According to this disclosure, a “flammable” aerosol supply system is a system in which the constituent aerosolizable material of the aerosol supply system (or its components) is burned or incinerated in order to facilitate delivery to the user.

[0034] According to this disclosure, a “non-flammable” aerosol supply system is a system in which the constituent aerosolizable materials of the aerosol supply system (or its components) are not burned or incinerated in order to facilitate delivery to the user.

[0035] In some embodiments, the delivery system is a non-flammable aerosol supply system, such as an electrically powered non-flammable aerosol supply system.

[0036] In some embodiments, the non-flammable aerosol supply system is an e-cigarette, also known as a vapor inhalation device or an electronic nicotine delivery system (END), but it should be noted that the presence of nicotine in the aerosol-generating material is not a requirement.

[0037] In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol supply system is an aerosol-generating material heating system, also known as a non-combustion heating system. An example of such a system is a cigarette heating system.

[0038] In some embodiments, the non-flammable aerosol supply system is a hybrid system that generates an aerosol using a combination of aerosol-generating materials, one or more of which may be heated. Each of the aerosol-generating materials may be, for example, in the form of a solid, liquid, or gel, and may or may not contain nicotine. In some embodiments, the hybrid system comprises a liquid or gel aerosol-generating material and a solid aerosol-generating material. The solid aerosol-generating material may, for example, contain tobacco or a non-tobacco product.

[0039] Generally, a non-flammable aerosol supply system may include a non-flammable aerosol supply device and consumables for use with the non-flammable aerosol supply device.

[0040] In some embodiments, the disclosure relates to consumables comprising aerosol-generating materials and configured for use with non-flammable aerosol supply devices. These consumables may be referred to as articles throughout the disclosure.

[0041] In some embodiments, the non-flammable aerosol supply system, such as the non-flammable aerosol supply device, may include a power supply and a controller. The power supply may be, for example, a power source or a heat source. In some embodiments, the heat source includes a carbon substrate that can be powered to distribute power in the form of heat to an aerosol-generating material or a heat transfer material adjacent to the heat source.

[0042] In some embodiments, the non-flammable aerosol supply system may include a region for receiving consumables, an aerosol generator, an aerosol generating region, a housing, a mouthpiece, a filter, and / or an aerosol modifier.

[0043] In some embodiments, consumables for use with a non-flammable aerosol supply device may include aerosol generating material, an aerosol generating material storage area, an aerosol generating material transfer component, an aerosol generator, an aerosol generating area, a housing, a wrapper, a filter, a mouthpiece, and / or an aerosol modifier.

[0044] Figures 1 to 3 show a first embodiment of article 10 for use with a non-flammable aerosol supply device. Article 10 is intended to be an interchangeable component that includes consumables for use with a non-flammable aerosol supply device and can be replaced with another article 10 for use with a non-flammable aerosol supply device when it becomes depleted or used up. As referred to herein, a non-flammable aerosol supply system comprises a non-flammable aerosol supply device in combination with one or more articles 10 for use with a non-flammable aerosol supply device.

[0045] Article 10 comprises a support element 11 and a plurality of regions 12, each comprising a portion of an amorphous solid material 13, with at least one of the regions comprising an aerosol-generating material. In the illustrated embodiment, article 10 comprises six regions 12 of substantially uniform size and shape, arranged in three pairs of rows. However, any arrangement and / or number of regions, including a single region, may be provided within the scope of the invention, and one or more of the regions 12 may be of uniform size / shape, or some or all of the regions 12 may be of different size / shape from the other regions 12. The support element 11 includes a plurality of cavities in the form of openings 14 that extend completely through the thickness of the support element 11, defining the regions 12 of article 10 in which the portions of the amorphous solid material 13 are located.

[0046] The support element 11 comprises a two-ply component having a first layer 11a and a second layer 11b. Six separate portions of amorphous solid material 13 are spaced apart from each other and sandwiched between the first and second layers 11a, 11b. The structure of article 10 can be understood in more detail from the exploded view in Figure 4. Each of the first and second layers 11a, 11b includes a plurality of openings 14a, 14b that extend completely through the thickness of layers 11a, 11b defining the openings 14 of the support element 11. The portions of amorphous solid material 13 are larger than the dimensions of their respective openings 14a, 14b so that they are located on the region of the first and second layers 11a, 11b around the outer circumference of their respective openings 14a, 14b. The first and second layers 11a, 11b are joined together to form a two-ply support element 11, thereby fixing portions of amorphous solid material 13 in place within their respective openings 14. Layers 11a and 11b may be joined together by any suitable binder such as PVA or other adhesives, or by non-adhesive means such as welding or other mechanical fastening methods.

[0047] The advantage of the configuration of the consumable 10 comprising multiple distinct parts of an amorphous solid material 13 that are spaced apart from each other is that, in embodiments where two or more of the parts of the amorphous solid material 13 constitute different substances or compositions, for example, different chemical compositions, different flavorings, or other aerosol-generating materials, the tendency for a part of the amorphous solid material 13 in one area to be contaminated or otherwise affected by a part of the amorphous solid material in an adjacent area is reduced. For example, if adjacent parts of the amorphous solid material are in contact, components of one part may tend to diffuse into the adjacent part. In embodiments where a particular area of ​​the article 10 is selectively activated during use, this may make it more difficult to precisely control the composition of the resulting aerosol.

[0048] In the example of the illustrated consumable 10, the support element 11 is formed from cardboard. The cardboard may have a basis weight of 100 to 300 GSM, and it may be advantageous for it to have a basis weight of 150 to 250 GSM, 180 to 210 GSM, or approximately 195 GSM. The cardboard may have a thickness of 150 to 550 μm, and it may be advantageous for it to have a thickness of 250 to 450 μm, 300 to 400 μm, or approximately 350 μm.

[0049] The material of the support element 11 is preferably heat-resistant up to approximately 300°C, preferably up to approximately 250°C, preferably up to approximately 200°C, preferably up to approximately 150°C, and preferably up to approximately 90°C. This can help avoid degradation of the material of the support element 11 when exposed to heat while in use with the non-flammable aerosol supply device 100 (described below).

[0050] It is advantageous that the material of the support element 11 is biodegradable in order to enable or enhance the recyclability of the consumables 10 after use. It is advantageous that the support element 11 is formed from cardboard or paperboard in order to enhance the biodegradability of the article 10. It is advantageous that the material of the support element 11 conforms to the European biodegradability standard EN13430. It is advantageous that the material of the support element 11 is compostable, can be aerobically decomposed by composting, and conforms to the European biodegradation standard EN13432.

[0051] Any suitable material can be used to construct the support element 11, and the material is not necessarily limited to cardboard, but may instead include paper, paperboard, thick paper, plastic material, ceramic material, composite material, glass, metal, or metal alloy, or any combination thereof.

[0052] It is advantageous that the material of the support element 11 is resistant to the intrusion of oil or grease. This is advantageous because it can help prevent the leaching of some components of the amorphous solid material 13 into the material of the support element 11, which would make the article 10 less effective during use if some desired components of the amorphous solid material 13 were partially dispersed from the amorphous solid material 13. Such oil or grease intrusion resistance can be provided by the material of the support element 11 having a layered structure in which one of the layers of the material comprises a fluid-impermeable layer. In one embodiment, at least one of the first and second layers 11a, 11b may have a layered structure including a fluid-impermeable layer, and in one embodiment, both the first and second layers 11a, 11b may have a layered structure including a fluid-impermeable layer. It is advantageous that the fluid-impermeable layer(s) are located on the side of each of the first and second layers 11a, 11b that are in contact with the portion of the amorphous solid material 13. In one embodiment, the fluid-impermeable layer(s) may comprise a plastic or a metal material such as aluminum. In one embodiment, the first and second layers 11a and 11b may comprise cardboard or paperboard having a fluid-impermeable layer.

[0053] The consumable 10 may have a width of 20 mm to 40 mm at its widest point, and preferably a width of approximately 30 mm at its widest point. The consumable 10 may have a length of 35 mm to 55 mm, and preferably a length of approximately 45 mm. Each region of the amorphous solid material may be a quadrilateral with side lengths of 5 mm to 20 mm, a square with side lengths of approximately 6 mm to 10 mm, or a square with side lengths of approximately 8 mm.

[0054] Figures 5 and 6 show a non-flammable aerosol supply device 100 (hereinafter referred to as "device" 100 for brevity), which can be used to supply the articles 10 shown in Figures 1 to 4 as a non-flammable aerosol supply system. Device 100 comprises a housing 101 having an inlet 102 and an outlet 103. The inlet 102 is located at a first end of device 100, and the outlet 103 is formed in a mouthpiece 104 at a second end of device 100 opposite to the first end. The first end of device includes a slot 105 into which consumables 10 can be inserted and received, and which can be held within device 100 for use.

[0055] Figure 6 shows a schematic diagram of the components within the housing 101 of the device 100. Figure 6 also shows the consumable 10 received and held within the device 100 in a position for use of the device 100. The device 100 includes a heater 106 comprising a plurality of heating elements 106a. Each heating element 106a is positioned to correspond to the location of each region 12 of the amorphous solid material 13 of the consumable 10 when the consumable 10 is received and held within the device 100. During use, the device 100 is configured such that the heater 106 can controllably heat at least one of the plurality of portions of the amorphous solid material 13 to generate an aerosol for inhalation. Each heating element 106a may be in direct contact with each portion of the amorphous solid material 13, or may be positioned close to but spaced apart from each portion of the amorphous solid material 13, in order to heat each portion of the amorphous solid material 13.

[0056] Each of the heating elements 106a can supply thermal energy to a specific portion of the amorphous solid material 13, enabling aerosolization of that portion of the amorphous solid material 13 or releasing one or more volatile substances from the portion of the amorphous solid material 13 to form an aerosol or incorporate them into the aerosol. During use of device 100, one or more of the heating elements 106a can be activated to generate an aerosol / release volatile substances from one or more portions of the amorphous solid material 13.

[0057] Device 100 includes a power supply 107 for supplying power to the heater 106. Device 100 also includes a controller 108 connected to the power supply 107 and to the heater 106, which is operable to control the operation of the heating element 106a. A user interface 109 is provided on the housing 101 and connected to the controller 108. The user can selectively control the operation of device 100 by inputting operation commands to the device controller 108 via the user interface 109. User commands may be received by the controller 108 via a wired or wireless interface, allowing device 100 to operate, for example, via Bluetooth® or LAN, or via a smartphone or other such device. The user interface 109 may include one or more manually operable actuators, such as buttons or areas on a touch-sensitive screen, for manual operation of device 100 and for the user to select desired operation of device 100.

[0058] In one example, the controller 108 is configured to control the activation of a specific heating element 106a of the heater 106 to generate an aerosol. Selective activation of the heating element 106a results in selective heating of a portion of the amorphous solid material 13 so that a personalized aerosol is generated. Thus, the user can select the contributing material to be heated to generate the aerosol, thereby providing a personalized aerosol. Accordingly, “personalized aerosol” is used herein to mean one selected by the user or at least adjusted in any way to suit the user’s needs.

[0059] The airflow passage 110 extends through the device 100 from the inlet 102 to the outlet 103 and is in fluid communication with the area within the housing 101 that is occupied by the consumable 10 when the consumable 10 is received and held within the device 100.

[0060] To use the non-flammable aerosol supply system 1 described herein, the user inserts the consumable 10 into the slot 105 of the device 100 until the article 10 is fully received and held within the device 100. In the fully inserted position, a portion of the amorphous solid material 13 is positioned adjacent to, or in close proximity to, each heating element 106a of the heater 106. The user then operates the device 100 via the user interface 109 to give an operation command to the controller 108, resulting in the activation of a specific heating element 106a of the heater 106. The heating element 106a heats one or more areas of the amorphous solid material 13 of the article 10 to generate an aerosol, releasing one or more volatile substances from the portion(s) of the amorphous solid material 13 and encompassing them into the aerosol. The user inhales through the mouthpiece 104, and ambient air is drawn in through the inlet 102 into the airflow passage 110, through the airflow passage 110 into the user's mouth, and inhaled through the outlet 103. An aerosol generated from part(s) of the amorphous solid material 13 is entrained in the airflow to be inhaled by the user.

[0061] In some embodiments, part or all of the amorphous solid material 13 may include one or more perforations 15, as shown in a typical second embodiment of the consumable 10 shown in Figure 7. In embodiments of the non-flammable aerosol supply system 1 in which part of the amorphous solid material 13 is in contact with or positioned adjacent to the heating elements 106a, gas and / or vapor may be generated from the surface of the amorphous solid material 13 adjacent to each heating element 106a. This may form or enlarge gaps between the surface of the heating elements 106a and each portion of the amorphous solid material 13. Such gaps may be detrimental to the heating efficiency of the amorphous solid material 13 by each heating element 106a. The perforations 15 are advantageous because they allow any gases and / or vapors generated between the surface of the heating element 106a and adjacent surfaces of a portion of the amorphous solid material 13 to be discharged away from the heating element 106a through the portion of the amorphous solid material 13, thereby helping to prevent the portion of the amorphous solid material 13 from being pushed out of the heater element 106a.

[0062] The perforations may be of any appropriate size and number, and may consist of a single perforation which is advantageously positioned substantially in the center of a portion(s) of the amorphous solid material 13, or may consist of a plurality of perforations arranged in an array across a portion(s) of the amorphous solid material 13, as shown in Figure 7. The amorphous solid material 13 may be perforated by a leather polishing roller or any other appropriate means, and may be perforated during the manufacture of the amorphous solid material or during the manufacture of the consumables 10.

[0063] In the embodiments of article 10 shown in Figures 1 to 4, the opening 14 extends completely through the support element. This can be advantageous for heating efficiency because heat from the heating element 106a is transferred directly to the amorphous solid material 13 without other parts of article 10 being significantly heated or absorbing thermal energy. This configuration can be even more advantageous because the material of the support element 11 is not significantly heated or less of the material of the support element 11 is heated during use. This can help reduce or avoid undesirable aerosols, odors, or fragrances imparted by the material of the support element, such as avoiding a detectable cardboard smell if the support material is made of cardboard. However, the scope of the present invention is not intended to be limited to this configuration of article 10 in which the opening 14 extends completely through the support element 11.

[0064] Another configuration of the consumable 10 in the third embodiment is shown in the cross-sectional view of Figure 8. The article 10 in Figure 8 looks similar in the front view to that of the first embodiment shown in Figure 2 and includes six substantially uniformly sized and shaped regions 12 arranged in three two rows (however, any arrangement / number / size of regions may be provided within the scope of the invention, as described in relation to the embodiments of the articles in Figures 1 to 4).

[0065] The difference from article 10 in Figure 8 is that the support element 11 is a one-ply component comprising a single layer 11c. The six regions 12 of the amorphous solid material 13 are provided within cavities in the form of recesses 14c formed by the thickness of the single layer 11c. The recesses 14c extend not completely but partially through the thickness of the single layer 11c. The recesses 14c may be formed by any suitable method, for example, by laser or mechanical cutting, machining, reaming, or by compressing selected regions of the layer 11c that will become the regions 12 of the amorphous solid material. The amorphous solid material may be provided in the recesses 14c by cutting a sheet of solid material into appropriately sized sections and sections placed within the recesses 14c, or it may be provided in the recesses 14c in liquid form by, for example, being pipetted into the recesses 14c and then solidifying within the recesses 14c. The solidification step may include applying a curing agent to the liquid material in the recesses 14c.

[0066] The use of article 10 in the third embodiment in the non-flammable aerosol supply system 1 is the same as described above in relation to the first embodiment of consumable 10. The heating element 106a heats a selected area of ​​the single layer 11c corresponding to the recess 14c, and the heat is transferred to the respective area of ​​the amorphous solid material 13 through the material of the single layer 11c. The heating element 106a must transfer heat through the material of the single layer 11c rather than directly heating the amorphous solid material 13, but since the single layer 11c is thinner in the area of ​​the recess 14c, the resistance to heat transfer through the thickness of the single layer 11c is less than if the heat had to be transferred through the entire thickness of the single layer 11c. Therefore, the recess 14c in the third embodiment of consumable 10 helps to avoid a decrease in the efficiency of heat transfer to the amorphous solid material.

[0067] The consumable 10 of the fourth embodiment is shown in the schematic cross-sectional view of Figure 9 and in the front view it looks similar to that of the first embodiment shown in Figure 2, and includes six substantially uniformly sized and shaped regions 12 arranged in three two rows (however, as described in relation to the embodiments of the articles of Figures 1 to 4, any arrangement / number / size of regions may be provided within the scope of the present invention).

[0068] The support element 11 of the article 10 in Figure 9 comprises a two-ply component comprising a first layer 11a and a second layer 11d. The first layer 11a includes a plurality of openings 14a that extend completely through the thickness of the first layer 11a. The difference from the consumable 10 of the fourth embodiment is that the second layer 11d does not include openings that extend through its thickness. Instead, the second layer 11d comprises a carrier or substrate on which a separate region 12 of amorphous solid material 13 is formed. The first and second layers 11a, 11d are bonded together to form the two-ply support element 11, and portions of the amorphous solid material 13 are located within the respective openings 14a of the first layer 11a. The layers 11a, 11d may be bonded together by any suitable binder such as PVA or other adhesive, or by non-adhesive means such as welding or other mechanical fastening methods.

[0069] The amorphous solid material 13 may be provided on the second layer 11d of the substrate before the first and second layers 11a, 11d are bonded together. In such embodiments, the amorphous solid material 13 may be sandwiched between the second layer 11d and the first layer 11a of the substrate. Alternatively, the amorphous solid material 13 may be provided in the opening 14a after the first and second layers 11a, 11d are bonded together. In the latter case, the amorphous solid material 13 may be provided by cutting a sheet of solid material into appropriately sized sections and sections placed in the opening 14a, or it may be provided in the opening 14a in liquid form and then solidified in the opening 14a. The solidification step may include applying a curing agent to the liquid material in the opening 14a.

[0070] The use of article 10 in the fourth embodiment of the non-flammable aerosol supply system 1 is the same as described above in relation to the first embodiment of the consumable 10. The heating element 106a heats a selected area of ​​the second substrate layer 11d corresponding to an area 12 of the solid amorphous material 13, and the heat is transferred to each area of ​​the amorphous solid material 13 via the material of the second substrate layer 11d. The heating element 106a must transfer heat via the material of the second substrate layer 11d rather than directly heating the amorphous solid material 13, but since the second layer 11d is thinner than the total thickness of the support element 11, the resistance to heat transfer through the thickness of a single second layer 11d is less than if the heat had to be transferred through the entire thickness of the support element. In addition, the second substrate layer 11d may be formed from a material having good thermal conductivity, such as a metal, in order to improve heating efficiency and heat transfer from the heating element 106a to the amorphous solid material 13. In some embodiments, the second layer 11d of the substrate or carrier may comprise a metal foil, such as aluminum foil.

[0071] The consumable 10 of the fifth embodiment is shown in a schematic cross-sectional view in Figure 10 and appears in a front view similar to that of the first embodiment shown in Figure 2, and includes six substantially uniformly sized and shaped regions 12 arranged in three two rows (however, any arrangement / number / size of regions may be provided within the scope of the present invention, as described in relation to the embodiments of the articles in Figures 1 to 4).

[0072] The consumable 10 of the fifth embodiment is similar to that of the fourth embodiment and comprises a support 11 having a first layer 11a having a plurality of openings 14a extending through the entire thickness of the first layer 11a, and a second layer 11d comprising a carrier or substrate on which separate regions 12 of amorphous solid material 13 are formed. However, the article 10 of the fifth embodiment further includes a third support layer 11e having a plurality of openings 14e extending through the entire thickness of the third layer 11e. Thus, the third layer 11e of the fifth embodiment has the same configuration as the second layer 11b of the first embodiment described above.

[0073] The first, second, and third layers 11a, 11d, and 11e are joined together to form a support element 11, and a portion of the amorphous solid material 13 is located within each opening 14a of the first layer 11a. The layers 11a, 11d, and 11e may be joined by any suitable binder such as PVA or other adhesives, or by non-adhesive means such as welding or other mechanical fastening methods.

[0074] Similar to article 10 of the fourth embodiment, the amorphous solid material 13 may be provided on the second layer 11d of the substrate before the first, second, and third layers 11a, 11d, and 11e are bonded to each other. In such embodiments, the amorphous solid material 13 may be sandwiched between the second layer 11d and the first layer 11a of the substrate. Alternatively, the amorphous solid material 13 may be provided in the opening 14a after the first, second, and third layers 11a, 11d, and 11e are bonded to each other, in a manner similar to that described above.

[0075] The use of article 10 of the fifth embodiment in the non-flammable aerosol supply system 1 is the same as described above with respect to the fourth embodiment of the consumable 10. Since the third layer 11e has an opening 14e in the region 12 of the solid amorphous material 13, heat from the heating element 106a heats a selected region of the second substrate layer 11d corresponding to the region 12 of the solid amorphous material 13, similar to article 10 of the fourth embodiment. The heat is transferred to each region of the amorphous solid material 13 through the material of the second substrate layer 11d. In this case as well, it is advantageous that the second layer 11d may be thinner than the total thickness of the support element 11, and therefore there is less resistance to heat transfer through the thickness of a single second layer 11d than when the heat must be transferred through the entire thickness of the support element 11. Furthermore, the second substrate layer 11d may also be formed from a material with good thermal conductivity, such as a metal, in order to improve heating efficiency and heat transfer from the heating element 106a to the amorphous solid material 13. In some embodiments, the second layer 11d of the substrate or carrier may comprise a metal foil, such as aluminum foil.

[0076] The consumable 10 of the sixth embodiment is shown in the schematic cross-sectional view of Figure 11 and appears in the front view similar to that of the first embodiment shown in Figure 2, and includes six substantially uniformly sized and shaped regions 12 arranged in three two rows (however, any arrangement / number / size of regions may be provided within the scope of the present invention, as described in relation to the embodiments of the articles of Figures 1 to 4).

[0077] The consumable 10 of the sixth embodiment is similar to that of the fourth embodiment and comprises a support 11 having a first layer 11a having a plurality of openings 14a extending completely through the thickness of the first layer 11a, and a second layer 11d comprising a carrier or substrate on which separate regions 12 of amorphous solid material 13 are formed. However, the difference from the article 10 of the sixth embodiment is that the substrate layer 11d comprises a multi-ply material including a primary substrate layer 11d' and a secondary substrate layer 11d''.

[0078] The first and second layers 11a and 11d are joined together as described above to form a support element 11, and a portion of the amorphous solid material 13 is located within each of the openings 14a of the first layer 11a. The amorphous solid material 13 is placed on the primary substrate layer 11d'. The substrate layer 11d may comprise a two-layer material such as foil-backed cardboard, the primary substrate layer 11d' may comprise a metal foil layer such as an aluminum layer, and the secondary substrate layer 11d'' may comprise a layer of other material such as cardboard or paperboard. This can give the article 10 increased structural strength.

[0079] The use of article 10 of the sixth embodiment in the non-flammable aerosol supply system 1 is the same as described above in relation to the fourth embodiment of the consumable 10. Heat from the heating element 106a heats a selected region of the second substrate layer 11d corresponding to a region 12 of the solid amorphous material 13, similar to article 10 of the fourth embodiment. The heat is transferred to each region of the amorphous solid material 13 through the material of the second substrate layer 11d. In this case as well, it is advantageous that the second layer 11d may be thinner than the total thickness of the entire support element 11, and therefore the resistance to heat transfer through the thickness of a single second layer 11d is less than when the heat must be transferred through the entire thickness of the support element 11. In embodiments in which the second substrate layer 11d includes a layer formed from a material having good thermal conductivity, such as a metal, heating efficiency and heat transfer from the heating element 106a to the amorphous solid material 13 can be improved. Furthermore, in systems that employ induction heating (described in more detail below), the primary substrate layer 11d' may be formed from a suitable material as a susceptor so that the regions 12 of the amorphous solid material 13 can be directly heated by induction heating. However, in a modification of the sixth embodiment, the secondary substrate layer 11d'' may comprise a metal layer, and the primary substrate layer 11d' may comprise another material, such as cardboard or paperboard.

[0080] The consumables 10 of the second to sixth embodiments comprise a plurality of separate portions of an amorphous solid material 13 that are spaced apart from each other, with the advantages described above with respect to the article 10 of the first embodiment.

[0081] The consumable 10 of the seventh embodiment is shown in an exploded perspective view in Figure 12 and appears similar in the front view to that of the first embodiment shown in Figure 2, and includes six substantially uniformly sized and shaped regions 12 arranged in three two rows (however, any arrangement / number / size of regions may be provided within the scope of the invention, as described in relation to the embodiments of the articles in Figures 1 to 4).

[0082] The support element 11 of article 10 in Figure 11 is similar to that of article 10 in the first embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 4, and the similar features remain the same reference number. The difference from the consumable 10 of the seventh embodiment is that the amorphous solid material 13 is provided as a single sheet sandwiched between the first and second layers 11a and 11b. This may enable a simpler and more cost-effective method of manufacturing articles, as only a single portion of amorphous solid material is required for each consumable 10. The single sheet of amorphous solid material 13 may have a uniform composition, or it may contain different compositions in different regions of the sheet so that different compositions of aerosols can be generated by the selective activation of each heating element 106a.

[0083] A sheet of amorphous solid material 13 may optionally include an array of segmented holes 16 that define distinct regions 12 of the amorphous solid material. Such segmented holes are shown in Figure 11. These segmented holes may help reduce heat transfer by conduction through the amorphous solid material 13 from one region 12 to an adjacent region. This may be advantageous, for example, when one region 12 of the amorphous solid material 13 is selectively heated by one heating element 106a, but adjacent regions 12 of the amorphous solid material 13 are not intended to be heated. This may be useful for precisely controlling the composition of personalized aerosols produced by the device 100 by avoiding aerosol or volatile generation from regions 12 that are not intended to be activated.

[0084] In addition to or instead of the above, the divided holes 16 may help reduce the undesirable migration of components from one region 12 of the amorphous solid material 13 to adjacent regions 12 of the amorphous solid material 13 in embodiments where different regions 12 of the amorphous solid material 13 have different compositions. Different compositions may have a tendency to diffuse into adjacent regions 12 due to concentration gradients within the amorphous solid material 13, and the divided holes 16 may prevent or at least reduce the ability of such diffusion to occur.

[0085] The use of article 10 in the seventh embodiment in the non-flammable aerosol supply system 1 is the same as that described above with respect to the first embodiment of consumable 10, and is therefore not repeated.

[0086] Within the scope of the present invention, embodiments of a consumable 10 are intended to be provided, which may comprise several discrete, distinct regions of an amorphous solid material having a uniform composition, and at least one region of the same body of the amorphous solid material having a different composition. Such regions may have similar or different sizes, shapes, and areas.

[0087] Embodiments of the consumable 10 illustrated and described include an enlarged end region 17 at one end of a support element 11. The enlarged end region 17 is wider than the rest of the support element 11. Such an enlarged end region 17 can facilitate consumer handling by providing a larger gripping area, particularly for users with limited dexterity, to facilitate insertion into and removal from the device 100. The enlarged end region 17 may also help ensure the correct and complete insertion position of the article 10 within the device 100. For example, the article 10 may be configured to reach the correct and complete insertion position when the enlarged end region 17 contacts the edge of the slot 105 or other part of the housing 101 and cannot be inserted further into the device 100.

[0088] A method for manufacturing the consumable 10 of the first embodiment can be understood in relation to the flowchart in Figure 13. This method includes the steps of: (S1) providing openings 14a and 14b in the first and second layers 11a and 11b of a sheet material, respectively; (S2) providing a separate portion of an amorphous solid material, at least one of which comprises an aerosol-generating material; (S3) positioning the separate portion of the amorphous solid material over the openings 14a and 14b in one of the layers 11a and 11b of the sheet material; and (S4) joining the two layers 11a and 11b of the sheet material together to sandwich the separate portion of the amorphous solid material between the two layers of the sheet material 11a and 11b.

[0089] Step S4, which joins the two layers 11a and 11b together, may include supplying a PVA adhesive to at least one of the layers 11a and 11b, which may be by means of a roller or other suitable adhesive applicator. Step S1, which provides the first and second layers 11a and 11b of the sheet material with openings 14a and 14b, may include laser cutting or stamping or press cutting the first and second layers from the blank of the sheet material.

[0090] The consumables 10 of the various embodiments described herein may optionally include an identification element 18 (see Figure 1). Such an identification element may be, for example, a barcode, a QR code, an RFID tag, or other optically, electrically, or wirelessly detectable and / or readable identification element.

[0091] The device 100 may include a sensor 111 configured to detect, read, or otherwise interact with the identification element 18. Such a sensor 111 is connected to a controller 108. During use, the identification element 18 may include information about the article 10 and the composition of the amorphous solid material 13 comprising the aerosol-generating material it contains.

[0092] In the non-flammable aerosol supply system 1, different consumables 10 may be provided, each containing different compositions of amorphous solid material 13, for example, different components, flavorings, volatile substances, and aerosol-generating compounds. In this case, applying the same heating pattern to different consumables 10 may result in the generation of different aerosol mixtures, not all of which may be desirable. Therefore, it is understood that, optionally, the current composition of the consumable 10 may be communicated to the controller 108, which controls the heating to produce a suitable mixture.

[0093] Accordingly, in embodiments of the present invention, the composition of a given portion of a consumable 10 can be obtained via the identification element 18 and the sensor 111. Once identified, the composition of the portion on the consumable 10 can be obtained from either local or remote storage, along with other configuration information such as preset mixtures, vaporization temperatures of different component materials, and / or limitations or correlations between components (e.g., to avoid undesirable mixing).

[0094] Embodiments of the consumable 10 illustrated and described herein comprise a flat, planar element. This can be advantageous for simplicity, and therefore ease of manufacture and cost, as well as space efficiency in packaging. However, the present invention is not intended to be limited to such configurations. For example, the article 10 may have a cross-section of a "V" or "U" shape, or any other suitable shape, and the slot 105 of the device may be molded to receive the article 10 accordingly. In another such embodiment, it is understood that it is advantageous that the heater 106 within the device 100 may be appropriately configured to align with a region 12 of the amorphous solid material 13 of the relevant consumable 10.

[0095] As used herein, the term “cavity” is intended to encompass openings that extend entirely through the thickness of an element, and recesses comprising notches, depressions, or other formations that extend partially through the thickness of an element.

[0096] In embodiments of Article 10 described herein, the aerosol-generating material is described as being located within at least one cavity. This is intended to include aerosol-generating material that is aligned with at least one cavity, offset with respect to the thickness or plane of a support element or part thereof, but accessible through it, as well as aerosol-generating material that is located within the cavity within the thickness or plane of a support element or part thereof.

[0097] The heater 106 in the described example may be an electrical resistance heater 106. However, in other examples, the heater 106 may be a chemically activated heater that may or may not operate via an exothermic reaction. The heater 106 may be part of an induction heating system, in which case the heater 106 is an energy source for induction heating, such as a copper wire coil, and the support element 11 may be a susceptor, etc., including one or more of its layers 11a, 11b, 11c or other components in the device 100, or may include a susceptor, etc. The susceptor may be, for example, a metal sheet, such as aluminum foil. In one example, the heating elements 106a are not all of the same type. In one example, at least one heating element 106a of the heater 106 is an electrical resistance heater, another heating element 106 is optionally a chemically activated heater, and another heating element 106a is optionally an induction heater.

[0098] The heater may comprise one or more electric resistance heaters, for example, including one or more nichrome resistance heaters and / or one or more ceramic heaters. The heater may also comprise one or more induction heaters, the induction heaters comprising a structure that can form a chamber into which an article containing the aerosolizable material is inserted or otherwise positioned during use. Alternatively or in addition, one or more susceptors may be provided on the aerosolizable material. Other heating structures may be used.

[0099] The power source 107 may be a battery, such as a rechargeable or non-rechargeable battery. Examples of suitable batteries include lithium batteries (such as lithium-ion batteries), nickel batteries (such as nickel-cadmium batteries), and alkaline batteries. The battery is electrically coupled to the heater 106 and supplies power under the control of the controller 108 when needed.

[0100] In one example, the number of regions 12 of the amorphous solid material 13 and the number of heating elements 106a may vary. For example, one heating element 106a can heat two regions 12 of the amorphous solid material 13 if it is desired that they always be heated together. Conversely, two heating elements 106a may, in some cases, be used for each region 12 of the amorphous solid material 13, but in other cases they may be used in coordination to heat a larger region 12 of the amorphous solid material 13 (for example, with respect to the main component of the aerosol or a component that is consumed more frequently). Alternatively or in addition, the support element may be physically movable relative to the heater 106 to reposition one or more different regions 12 of the amorphous solid material 13 across their respective heater elements 106a, thereby enabling a new mixing palette. In one example, the amorphous solid material 13 may have multiple regions 12 that are samples or reservoirs of aerosolizable substances that may contain nicotine and nicotine-containing substances.

[0101] During use, the heating elements 106a may be activated simultaneously or with a delay between operations. This may be used to allow a particular atmosphere of the aerosol to spread more or less widely throughout the aerosol or the entire smoking session. In one example, a particular heating element 106a may, in a first time, heat a particular area 12 of the amorphous solid material 13, for example, the tobacco portion, to generate a tobacco aerosol for inhalation. This is immediately followed by a different heating element 106a that, in a second time, heats the menthol region 12 of the amorphous solid material 13 to follow the tobacco aerosol with a menthol aerosol, which the user wishes to use to end the smoking session.

[0102] To provide personalized aerosols, various heating profiles can be applied to multiple regions 12 of the amorphous solid material 13. By utilizing complex combinations of profiles, highly specific combinations of blending and release times can be generated, allowing for a high degree of personalization of the aerosol.

[0103] In one example, the first heating element 106a heats a first region 12 of the amorphous solid material 13 for a first time, and the second heating element 106a heats a second region 12 of the amorphous solid material 13 for a second time. The first and second times are different. This improves the personalization of the aerosol. It also allows for the generation of aerosols in different atmospheres during a smoking session.

[0104] In one example, the first heating element 106a heats a first region 12 of the amorphous solid material 13 at a first power level, and the second heating element 106a heats a second region 12 of the amorphous solid material 13 at a second power level, where the first and second power levels are different power levels. This allows for further personalization of the generated aerosol. Since the released aerosol may be related to the power at which the heater 106a operates, the fragrance may be released at different times in the session, leading to a level of control over the creation of different atmospheres within the smoking session, as described above.

[0105] In one example, the amorphous solid material 13 has a thickness of 1 mm. In another embodiment, the amorphous solid sheet material may have a thickness of 0.2 mm to 2 mm, or 0.4 mm to 1.8 mm, or 0.8 mm to 1.2 mm. However, the amorphous solid material may have any suitable thickness as described herein.

[0106] In embodiments where the support element comprises aluminum foil, the aluminum foil may comprise a layer having a thickness of approximately 6 μm. However, in other configurations, the aluminum foil may have other thicknesses, for example, 4 μm to 16 μm.

[0107] The amorphous solid material 13 may include an aerosol-generating material which contains an aerosolizable material also called an aerosol-forming material. The aerosolizable material may be present on or within a support or carrier to form a substrate. The support may be, for example, paper, cardboard, paperboard, thick paper, reconstituted material, plastic material, ceramic material, composite material, glass, metal such as aluminum, or a metal alloy, or may comprise these. In some embodiments, the support or carrier comprises a susceptor. In some embodiments, the susceptor is embedded in the material. In some other embodiments, the susceptor is on one or both sides of the material.

[0108] Aerosol modifiers are substances that can modify aerosols in use. Modifiers can alter aerosols to produce physiological or sensory effects on the human body. Examples of aerosol modifiers include flavorings and sensory substances. Sensory substances produce sensory sensations that can be perceived through sensations such as coldness or sourness.

[0109] Aerosol-forming materials can facilitate aerosol formation by promoting the initial vaporization of gases and / or condensation into inhalable solid and / or liquid aerosols. In some embodiments, aerosol-forming materials can improve the delivery of fragrances from the aerosol-forming material. Generally, any suitable aerosol-forming material or agent may be included in the aerosol-forming material of the present invention, including those described herein. Other suitable aerosol-forming materials include, but are not limited to, polyols such as sorbitol, glycerol, and glycols such as propylene glycol or triethylene glycol, non-polyols such as monohydric alcohols, high-boiling hydrocarbons, acids such as lactic acid, glycerol derivatives, esters such as diacetin, triacetin, triethylene glycol diacetate, triethyl citrate, or myristic acid including ethyl myristate and isopropyl myristate, and aliphatic carboxylic acid esters such as methyl stearate, dimethyl dodecanoate and dimethyl tetradecanoate. In some embodiments, the aerosol-forming material may be glycerol, propylene glycol, or a mixture of glycerol and propylene glycol. Glycerol may be present in a composition of 10–20% by weight, for example, 13–16% by weight, or about 14% or 15% by weight. Propylene glycol, if present, may be present in a composition of 0.1–0.3% by weight.

[0110] In some embodiments, the aerosol-forming material comprises one or more polyhydric alcohols such as propylene glycol, triethylene 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 such as dimethyl dodecanoate and dimethyl tetradecanoate.

[0111] Embodiments of consumables 10 described herein are intended for use with non-flammable aerosol supply systems, such as electric non-flammable aerosol supply systems.

[0112] Embodiments of non-flammable aerosol supply systems described herein include non-flammable aerosol supply devices and articles for use with such devices.

[0113] Aerosolizable materials, sometimes referred to herein as aerosol-generating materials, are materials that can generate aerosols when, for example, heated, irradiated, or electrically charged by other means. Aerosolizable materials may or may not contain nicotine and / or flavorings.

[0114] The aerosol-generating material may be in the form of a solid, liquid, or gel, and may or may not contain, for example, active substances and / or flavorings. In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material may include an "amorphous solid," which may be alternatively called a "monolithic solid" (i.e., non-fibrous). In some embodiments, the amorphous solid may be a dry gel. An amorphous solid is a solid material that may hold a fluid, such as a liquid, internally. In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material may include, for example, about 50% by weight, 60% by weight, or 70% by weight of an amorphous solid, or about 90% by weight, 95% by weight, or 100% by weight of an amorphous solid.

[0115] The aerosol-forming material may contain one or more components capable of forming an aerosol. In some embodiments, the aerosol-forming material may contain one or more of the following: glycerin, glycerol, propylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol, erythritol, mesoerythritol, ethyl vanillate, ethyl laurate, diethyl suberate, triethyl citrate, triacetin, diacetin mixture, benzyl benzoate, benzylphenyl acetate, tributyline, lauryl acetate, lauric acid, myristic acid, and propylene carbonate.

[0116] In some embodiments, the aerosol-forming material or amorphous solid comprises one or more polyhydric alcohols, such as propylene glycol, triethylene glycol, 1,3-butanediol, and esters of polyhydric alcohols such as glycerin, glycerol mono, di, or triacetate, and / or aliphatic esters of mono, di, or polycarboxylic acids such as dimethyl dodecanoate and dimethyl tetradecanoate.

[0117] One or more other functional materials may include one or more of the following: pH adjusters, colorants, preservatives, binders, fillers, stabilizers, and / or antioxidants.

[0118] In one embodiment, the non-flammable aerosol supply device includes a heater that can interact with an aerosol-generating material, the aerosol-generating material being a material capable of releasing one or more volatile substances from an aerosolizable material to form an aerosol. In one embodiment, the aerosol-generating component can generate an aerosol from an aerosolizable material without heating. For example, the aerosol-generating component may generate an aerosol from an aerosolizable material without applying heat to the material, for example, via one or more vibratory, mechanical, pressurizing, or electrostatic means.

[0119] In one embodiment, the aerosolizable material may include an active material, an aerosol-forming material, and optionally one or more functional materials. The active material may include nicotine (optionally contained in tobacco or tobacco derivatives) or one or more other non-olfactory physiologically active materials. The non-olfactory physiologically active materials are materials included in the aerosolizable material to achieve physiological reactions other than olfaction.

[0120] In some cases, the mass per unit area of ​​amorphous solid sheet material is 30-120 g / m². 2 This may also be the case. In some embodiments, the amorphous solid sheet material is approximately 30-70 g / m². 2 Or approximately 40-60g / m 2 It may have a surface density of about 80-120 g / m². In some embodiments, the amorphous solid has a surface density of about 80-120 g / m². 2 , or approximately 70-110 g / m 2 , or especially about 90-110 g / m² 2 It may have a surface density.

[0121] In some cases, a sheet-like amorphous solid may have a tensile strength of about 200 N / m to about 900 N / m. In some cases, such as when the amorphous solid does not contain fillers, the amorphous solid may have a tensile strength of 200 N / m to 400 N / m, or 200 N / m to 300 N / m, or about 250 N / m.

[0122] In some cases, such as when the amorphous solid contains a filler, the amorphous solid may have a tensile strength of 600 N / m to 900 N / m, or 700 N / m to 900 N / m, or about 800 N / m.

[0123] The support element may be any suitable material that can be used to support an amorphous solid. In some cases, the support element may be formed from a material selected from metals, such as metal foil, paper, carbon paper, oil-resistant paper, ceramics, carbon allotropes such as graphite and graphene, plastics, cardboard, wood, or a combination thereof. In some cases, the support element may be a laminated structure comprising layers of materials selected from the above list. In some cases, the support element may also function as a flavor carrier, for example, the support element may be impregnated with a flavoring or tobacco extract.

[0124] In some cases, the surface of the support element in contact with the amorphous solid may be porous. For example, in some cases, the support element may be made of paper. Porous support elements may be particularly suitable for forming a strong bond with the amorphous solid material. The amorphous solid may be formed by drying a gel, and without being limited by theory, the slurry for forming the gel partially impregnates the porous support element, thereby partially bonding the support element to the gel when the gel solidifies and forms crosslinks. However, in another embodiment, the support element may be made of a non-porous material as described above.

[0125] Furthermore, surface roughness can contribute to the strength of the bond between the layers of supporting elements and / or amorphous solid materials. Paper roughness may be in the range of 50–1000 Beck seconds, 50–150 Beck seconds, or 100 Beck seconds (measured over an air pressure interval of 50.66–48.00 kPa). (A Beck smoothness tester is an instrument used to determine the smoothness of a paper surface by allowing air at a specific pressure to pass between a smooth glass surface and a sample of paper; the time (in seconds) for a given amount of air to penetrate between these surfaces is the "Beck smoothness").

[0126] In one particular case, the support element may comprise a foil backed with paper, the paper layer in contact with the amorphous solid, and the properties described in the previous paragraph are provided by this contact. Alternatively, the foil layer may be in contact with the amorphous solid. The foil backing is substantially impermeable and can also help conduct heat to the amorphous solid. Furthermore, the foil prevents water present in the amorphous solid from being absorbed by the paper and weakening its structural integrity.

[0127] In other cases, paper and oil-resistant paper laminates have also been found to be particularly useful for the present invention. The paper layer is in contact with the amorphous solid, and the adhesive amorphous solid does not readily adhere to the oil-resistant paper carrier backing.

[0128] In some cases, one or more surfaces of the supporting elements other than the layer attached to the first surface of the amorphous solid can be treated to prevent the adhesion of the amorphous solid once it has hardened and dried. For example, the surface may be treated with PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) and / or other non-stick materials.

[0129] In some cases, the amorphous solid may have a thickness of about 0.005 mm to about 1.0 mm. Preferably, the thickness may be in the range of about 0.05 mm to about 0.2 mm, or about 0.09 mm. In some embodiments, the thickness may be in the range of about 0.06 mm to about 0.09 mm, or about 0.077 mm. In some embodiments, the thickness may be in the range of about 0.05 mm, 0.1 mm, or 0.15 mm to about 0.5 mm or 0.3 mm. The inventors have found that a material having a thickness of 0.2 mm is particularly suitable. The amorphous solid may comprise two or more layers, and the thickness described herein refers to the total thickness of those layers.

[0130] The thicknesses specified herein are the average thickness of the material. In some cases, the variation in the thickness of amorphous solids is only 25%, 20%, 15%, 10%, 5%, or less than 1%.

[0131] In some cases, the amorphous solid may contain 1 to 60% by weight of a gelling agent, the weight of which is calculated based on the dry weight.

[0132] Appropriately, the amorphous solid may contain gelling agents in amounts ranging from approximately 1 wt%, 5 wt%, 10 wt%, 15 wt%, 20 wt%, or 25 wt% to approximately 60 wt%, 50 wt%, 45 wt%, 40 wt%, 35 wt%, 30 wt%, or 27 wt% (all calculated on a dry weight basis). For example, the amorphous solid may contain gelling agents in amounts of 1-50 wt%, 5-40 wt%, 10-30 wt%, or 15-27 wt%.

[0133] In some embodiments, the gelling agent comprises a hydrophilic colloid. In some embodiments, the gelling agent comprises one or more compounds selected from the group comprising alginates, pectin, starch (and derivatives), cellulose (and derivatives), gums, silica or silicone compounds, clay, polyvinyl alcohol, and combinations thereof. For example, in some embodiments, the gelling agent comprises one or more of alginates, pectin, hydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, pullulan, xanthan gum, guar gum, carrageenan, agarose, acacia gum, fumed silica, PDMS, sodium silicate, kaolin, and polyvinyl alcohol. In some cases, the gelling agent comprises alginates and / or pectin and may be combined with a curing agent (such as a calcium source) during the formation of an amorphous solid. In some cases, the amorphous solid may comprise calcium cross-linked alginates and / or calcium cross-linked pectin.

[0134] In some embodiments, the gelling agent comprises an alginate, which is present in the amorphous solid in an amount of 10–30% by weight (calculated on a dry weight basis). In some embodiments, the alginate is the only gelling agent present in the amorphous solid. In other embodiments, the gelling agent comprises an alginate and at least one further gelling agent, such as pectin.

[0135] The gelling agent may include one or more compounds selected from cellulosic gelling agents, non-cellulosic gelling agents, guar gum, acacia gum, and mixtures thereof.

[0136] In some embodiments, the cellulosic gelling agent is selected from the group consisting of hydroxymethylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC), methylcellulose, ethylcellulose, cellulose acetate (CA), cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB), cellulose acetate propionate (CAP), and combinations thereof.

[0137] In some embodiments, the gelling agent comprises (or is one or more of) one of hydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC), carboxymethylcellulose, guar gum, or acacia gum.

[0138] In some embodiments, the gelling agent comprises (or is one or more non-cellulose gelling agents) including, but not limited to, agar, xanthan gum, gum arabic, guar gum, locust bean gum, pectin, carrageenan, starch, alginate, and combinations thereof. In preferred embodiments, the non-cellulose gelling agent is alginate or agar.

[0139] In some embodiments, the amorphous solid may contain a gelling agent comprising carrageenan.

[0140] The aerosol-generating material or amorphous solid may contain an acid. The acid may be an organic acid. In some of these embodiments, the acid may be at least one of a monobasic acid, a dibasic acid, and a tribasic acid. In some such embodiments, the acid may contain at least one carboxyl functional group. In some such embodiments, the acid may be at least one of an alpha-hydroxy acid, a carboxylic acid, a dicarboxylic acid, a tricarboxylic acid, and a keto acid. In some such embodiments, the acid may be an alpha-keto acid.

[0141] In some such embodiments, the acid may be at least one of succinic acid, lactic acid, benzoic acid, citric acid, tartaric acid, fumaric acid, levulinic acid, acetic acid, malic acid, formic acid, sorbic acid, benzoic acid, propanoic acid, and pyruvic acid.

[0142] Suitablely, the acid is lactic acid. In other embodiments, the acid is benzoic acid. In other embodiments, the acid may be an inorganic acid. In some of these embodiments, the acid may be a mineral acid. In some such embodiments, the acid may be at least one of sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, boric acid, and phosphoric acid. In some embodiments, the acid is levulinic acid.

[0143] In certain embodiments, the aerosol-generating material or amorphous solid comprises a cellulosic gelling agent and / or a non-cellulosic gelling agent, an active substance, and a gelling agent containing an acid.

[0144] Appropriately, the amorphous solid may contain an aerosol-generating agent (all calculated on a dry weight basis) ranging from about 5% by weight, 10% by weight, 15% by weight, or 20% by weight to about 80% by weight, 70% by weight, 60% by weight, 55% by weight, 50% by weight, 45% by weight, 40% by weight, or 35% by weight. The aerosol-generating agent may act as a plasticizer. For example, the amorphous solid may contain 5–60% by weight, 10–50% by weight, or 20–40% by weight of the aerosol-generating agent. In some cases, the aerosol-generating agent comprises one or more compounds selected from erythritol, propylene glycol, glycerol, triacetin, sorbitol, and xylitol. In some cases, the aerosol-generating agent contains glycerol, is essentially composed of glycerol, or consists of glycerol. The inventors have demonstrated that if the plasticizer content is too high, the amorphous solid may absorb water, resulting in a material that does not produce a satisfactory consumption experience during use. They have also demonstrated that if the plasticizer content is too low, the amorphous solid becomes brittle and easily fractured. The plasticizer content specified herein provides flexibility to the amorphous solid, allowing the amorphous solid sheet to be wound onto a bobbin, which is useful for the production of aerosol products.

[0145] In some cases, the amorphous solid may further contain active substances. For example, in some cases, the amorphous solid may further contain tobacco material and / or nicotine. For example, the amorphous solid may further contain powdered tobacco and / or nicotine and / or tobacco extract. In some cases, the amorphous solid may contain active substances ranging from about 1% by weight, 5% by weight, 10% by weight, 15% by weight, 20% by weight or 25% by weight to about 70% by weight, 50% by weight, 45% by weight or 40% by weight (calculated on a dry weight basis). In some cases, the amorphous solid may contain tobacco material and / or nicotine ranging from about 1% by weight, 5% by weight, 10% by weight, 15% by weight, 20% by weight or 25% by weight to about 70% by weight, 60% by weight, 50% by weight, 45% by weight or 40% by weight (calculated on a dry weight basis).

[0146] In some cases, the amorphous solid may contain an active substance such as tobacco extract. In some cases, the amorphous solid may contain 5 to 60% by weight (calculated on a dry weight basis) of tobacco extract. In some cases, the amorphous solid may contain tobacco extract ranging from about 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, or 25% by weight to about 55%, 50%, 45%, or 40% by weight (calculated on a dry weight basis). For example, the amorphous solid may contain 5 to 60% by weight, 10 to 55%, or 25 to 55% by weight of tobacco extract. The tobacco extract may contain nicotine at a concentration such that the amorphous solid contains nicotine ranging from 1% by weight, 1.5%, 2%, or 2.5% by weight to about 6%, 5%, 4.5%, or 4% by weight (calculated on a dry weight basis). In some cases, the amorphous solid may be nicotine-free other than that derived from the tobacco extract.

[0147] In some embodiments, the amorphous solid does not contain tobacco material but contains nicotine. In some such cases, the amorphous solid may contain nicotine ranging from about 1% by weight, 2% by weight, 3% by weight or 4% by weight to about 20% by weight, 15% by weight, 10% by weight or 5% by weight (calculated on a dry weight basis). For example, the amorphous solid may contain 1 to 20% by weight or 2 to 5% by weight of nicotine.

[0148] In some cases, the amorphous solid may contain fragrance. Appropriately, the amorphous solid may contain up to approximately 60% by weight, 50% by weight, 40% by weight, 30% by weight, 20% by weight, 10% by weight, or 5% by weight of fragrance. In some cases, the amorphous solid may contain at least approximately 0.5% by weight, 1% by weight, 2% by weight, 5% by weight, 10% by weight, 20% by weight, or 30% by weight of fragrance (all calculated on a dry weight basis). For example, the amorphous solid may contain 0.1–60% by weight, 1–60% by weight, 5–60% by weight, 10–60% by weight, 20–50% by weight, or 30–40% by weight of fragrance. In some cases, the fragrance (if present) may contain menthol, consist essentially of menthol, or consist of menthol. In some cases, the amorphous solid may not contain fragrance.

[0149] In some cases, the total content of active substances and fragrances may be at least about 0.1% by weight, 1% by weight, 5% by weight, 10% by weight, 20% by weight, 25% by weight, or 30% by weight. In some cases, the total content of active substances and fragrances may be less than about 80% by weight, 70% by weight, 60% by weight, 50% by weight, or 40% by weight (all calculated on a dry weight basis).

[0150] In some embodiments, the amorphous solid may contain a colorant. The addition of a colorant can alter the visual appearance of the amorphous solid. The presence of a colorant in the amorphous solid can improve the visual appearance of the amorphous solid and the aerosol-generating material. By adding a colorant to the amorphous solid, the amorphous solid can be made to match the color of other components of the aerosol-generating material or other components of the article comprising the amorphous solid.

[0151] A variety of colorants can be used depending on the desired color of the amorphous solid. The color of the amorphous solid may be, for example, white, green, red, purple, blue, brown, or black. Other colors are also conceivable. Natural or synthetic colorants can be used, such as natural or synthetic dyes, food-grade colorants, and pharmaceutical-grade colorants. In certain embodiments, the colorant is caramel, which can give the amorphous solid a brown appearance. In such embodiments, the color of the amorphous solid may be similar to the color of other components in the aerosol-generating material comprising the amorphous solid (such as tobacco material). In some embodiments, the addition of a colorant to the amorphous solid makes the amorphous solid indistinguishable from other components in the aerosol-generating material.

[0152] The coloring agent may be incorporated during the formation of the amorphous solid (for example, when forming a slurry containing the material that forms the amorphous solid), or it may be applied to the amorphous solid after its formation (for example, by spraying the coloring agent onto the amorphous solid).

[0153] In some embodiments, the amorphous solid is a hydrogel containing less than about 20% by weight of water on a wet weight basis. In some cases, the hydrogel may contain less than 15% by weight, 12% by weight, or 10% by weight of water on a wet weight basis (WWB). In some cases, the hydrogel may contain at least about 1% by weight, 2% by weight, or at least about 5% by weight of water (WWB). The amorphous solid contains about 1% by weight to about 15% by weight of water, or about 5% by weight to about 15% by weight of water on a wet weight basis. Preferably, the water content of the amorphous solid may range from about 5% by weight, 7% by weight, or 9% by weight to about 15% by weight, 13% by weight, or 11% by weight (WWB), most preferably about 10% by weight.

[0154] An amorphous solid may be formed from a gel, which may further contain a solvent in an amount of 0.1 to 50% by weight. However, the inventors have demonstrated that including a solvent in which the fragrance can dissolve reduces the stability of the gel and allows the fragrance to crystallize from the gel. Therefore, in some cases, the gel does not contain a solvent in which the fragrance can dissolve.

[0155] In some embodiments, the amorphous solid contains less than 60% by weight of filler, for example, 1% to 60% by weight, or 5% to 50% by weight, or 5% to 30% by weight, or 10% to 20% by weight of filler.

[0156] In other embodiments, the amorphous solid contains less than 20% by weight, preferably less than 10% by weight, or less than 5% by weight of filler. In some cases, the amorphous solid contains less than 1% by weight of filler, and in some cases, contains no filler at all.

[0157] The filler, if present, may include one or more inorganic fillers such as calcium carbonate, perlite, vermiculite, diatomaceous earth, colloidal silica, magnesium oxide, magnesium sulfate, and magnesium carbonate, as well as a suitable inorganic adsorbent such as a molecular sieve. The filler may also include one or more organic filler materials such as wood pulp, cellulose, and cellulose derivatives. In some cases, the amorphous solid may contain less than 1% by weight of the filler, and in some cases, it may not contain any filler. In particular, in some cases, the amorphous solid may not contain calcium carbonate such as chalk.

[0158] In some cases, the amorphous solid may essentially consist of a gelling agent, an aerosol-generating agent, water, and optionally a flavoring and / or active substance (such as tobacco material and / or a nicotine source).

[0159] A susceptor is a material that can be heated by the penetration of a changing magnetic field, such as an alternating magnetic field. The susceptor may be a conductive material, thereby inductive heating of the heating material when a changing magnetic field penetrates it. The heating material may also be a magnetic material, thereby magnetic hysteresis heating of the heating material when a changing magnetic field penetrates it. The susceptor may be both conductive and magnetic, thereby being heatable by both heating mechanisms. A device configured to generate a changing magnetic field is referred to herein as a magnetic field generator.

[0160] Induction heating is the process by which a conductive object is heated by allowing a changing magnetic field to penetrate it. This process is described by Faraday's law of induction and Ohm's law. An induction heater may comprise an electromagnet and a device for passing a changing electric current, such as alternating current, through the electromagnet. When the electromagnet and the object to be heated are appropriately positioned relative to each other so that the resulting changing magnetic field penetrates the object, one or more eddy currents are generated within the object. Objects have resistance to the flow of electric current. Therefore, when such eddy currents are generated in an object, the object is heated as the eddy currents flow against the electrical resistance of the object. This process is called Joule heating, Ohm heating, or resistance heating. An object that can be inductively heated is known as a susceptor.

[0161] Magnetic hysteresis heating is the process by which an object made of a magnetic material is heated by the penetration of a changing magnetic field into it. A magnetic material can be thought of as containing many atomic-scale magnets, or magnetic dipoles. When a magnetic field penetrates such a material, the magnetic dipoles align with the field. Therefore, when a changing magnetic field, such as an alternating magnetic field generated by an electromagnet, penetrates a magnetic material, the orientation of the magnetic dipoles changes along with the changing applied magnetic field. This reorientation of magnetic dipoles generates heat in the magnetic material.

[0162] When an object is both conductive and magnetic, both Joule heating and magnetic hysteresis heating can be induced by introducing a changing magnetic field into the object. Furthermore, the use of magnetic materials can strengthen the magnetic field, thereby intensifying the Joule heating.

[0163] In each of the above processes, heat is generated within the object itself rather than by an external heat source via heat conduction. Therefore, by selecting appropriate object materials and shapes, as well as the appropriate magnitude and direction of the changing magnetic field relative to the object, a rapid temperature increase and more uniform heat distribution can be achieved. Furthermore, induction heating and magnetic hysteresis heating do not require a physical connection between the source of the changing magnetic field and the object, thus offering greater design flexibility, greater control over the heating profile, and potentially lower costs.

[0164] As used herein, the terms “upstream” and “downstream” are relative terms defined in relation to the direction of the mainstream aerosol drawn through the article or device in use.

[0165] As used herein, the term “tobacco material” refers to any material including tobacco or its derivatives or substitutes. The term “tobacco material” may include one or more of tobacco, tobacco derivatives, effervescent tobacco, remanufactured tobacco, or tobacco substitutes. Tobacco material may include one or more of ground tobacco, tobacco fibers, cut tobacco, extruded tobacco, tobacco stems, tobacco layers, remanufactured tobacco, and / or tobacco extracts.

[0166] In some embodiments, the substance to be delivered includes an active substance.

[0167] The active substances used herein may be physiologically active materials that are materials designed to achieve or enhance a physiological response. Active substances can be selected from, for example, dietary supplements, nootropics, and psychotropic drugs. Active substances may be naturally occurring or synthetically obtained. Active substances may include, for example, nicotine, caffeine, taurine, theine, vitamins such as B6 or B12 or C, melatonin, cannabinoids, or components, derivatives, or combinations thereof. Active substances may also include one or more components, derivatives, or extracts of tobacco, cannabis, or other plant substances.

[0168] In some embodiments, the active substance includes nicotine. In some embodiments, the active substance includes caffeine, melatonin, or vitamin B12.

[0169] As described herein, the active substance may include, or be derived from, one or more plant substances or components, derivatives or extracts thereof. As used herein, the term “plant substance” includes, but is not limited to, any material derived from plant substances, including, but including, extracts, leaves, bark, fibers, stems, roots, seeds, flowers, fruits, pollen, peels, shells, etc. Alternatively, the material may include synthetically obtained active compounds naturally present in plant substances. The material may be in the form of a liquid, gas, solid, powder, dust, ground particles, granules, pellets, flakes, strips, sheets, etc. Examples of plant-based substances include tobacco, eucalyptus, star anise, hemp, cocoa, cannabis, fennel, lemongrass, peppermint, spearmint, rooibos, chamomile, flax, ginger, ginkgo biloba, hazelnut, hibiscus, bay leaf, licorice, matcha, mate, orange peel, papaya, rose, sage, teas such as green tea and black tea, thyme, clove, cinnamon, coffee, aniseed, basil, bay leaf, cardamom, coriander, cumin, nutmeg, oregano, paprika, rosemary, saffron, lavender, and lemon. This includes citrus peel, mint, juniper, elderflower, vanilla, wintergreen, beefsteak plant, curcuma, turmeric, sandalwood, coriander, bergamot, orange blossom, myrtle, blackcurrant, valerian, pimento, mace, damian, marjoram, olive, lemon oil, lemon basil, chives, kalbi, verbena, tarragon, geranium, mulberry, ginseng, theanine, theacrine, maca, ashwagandha, damiana, guarana, chlorophyll, baobab, or any combination thereof.The mint may be selected from the following mint varieties: Mentha arventis, Mentha v., Mentha niliaca, Mentha piperita, Mentha piperita citrata cv., Mentha piperita cv., Mentha spicata crispa, Mentha cordifolia, Mentha longifolia, Mentha suaveolens, Mentha pulegium, Mentha spicata cv., and Mentha suaveolens.

[0170] In some embodiments, the active substance comprises or is derived from one or more plant substances or components, derivatives or extracts thereof, wherein the plant substance is tobacco.

[0171] In some embodiments, the active substance comprises or is derived from one or more plant substances or components, derivatives or extracts thereof, the plant substances being selected from eucalyptus, star anise, cocoa, and hemp.

[0172] In some embodiments, the active substance comprises or is derived from one or more plant substances or components, derivatives or extracts thereof, the plant substances being selected from rooibos and fennel.

[0173] In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material or amorphous solid comprises one or more cannabinoid compounds selected from the group consisting of cannabidiol (CBD), tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), cannabinol (CBN), cannabigerol (CBG), cannabichromene (CBC), cannabicyclol (CBL), cannabivarin (CBV), tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV), cannabidivarin (CBDV), cannabiclomevalin (CBCV), cannabigerovalin (CBGV), cannabigerol monomethyl ether (CBGM), cannabiersoin (CBE), and cannabicitran (CBT).

[0174] The aerosol-generating material or amorphous solid may contain one or more cannabinoid compounds selected from the group consisting of cannabidiol (CBD) and THC (tetrahydrocannabinol).

[0175] The aerosol-generating material or amorphous solid may contain cannabidiol (CBD).

[0176] The aerosol-generating material or amorphous solid may contain nicotine and cannabidiol (CBD).

[0177] The aerosol-generating material or amorphous solid may contain nicotine, cannabidiol (CBD), and THC (tetrahydrocannabinol).

[0178] In some embodiments, the substance to be delivered includes a fragrance.

[0179] As used herein, the terms “flavoring” and “flavoring” refer to materials that may be used to create a desired taste, aroma or other somatosensory effect in products intended for adult consumers, where local regulations permit it. These materials may include naturally occurring flavoring materials, plant substances, extracts of plant substances, synthetically obtained materials, or combinations thereof (e.g., tobacco, cannabis, licorice (liquorice), hydrangea, eugenol, magnolia leaf, chamomile, fenugreek, clove, maple, matcha, menthol, Japanese mint, aniseed (anise), cinnamon, turmeric, Indian spices, Asian spices, herbs, wintergreen, cherry, berry, red berry). - Cranberry, peach, apple, orange, mango, clementine, lemon, lime, tropical fruit, papaya, rhubarb, grape, durian, dragon fruit, cucumber, blueberry, mulberry, citrus fruits, rum, bourbon, scotch, whiskey, gin, tequila, rum, spearmint, peppermint, lavender, aloe vera, cardamom, celery, cascarilla, nutmeg, sandalwood, bergamot, geranium, kurt, naswar, betel, shisha, pine, Honey essence, rose oil, vanilla, lemon oil, orange oil, orange blossom, cherry blossom, cassia, caraway, cognac, jasmine, ylang-ylang, sage, fennel, wasabi, bell pepper, ginger, coriander, coffee, hemp, mint oil of all species of Mentha, eucalyptus, star anise, cocoa, lemongrass, rooibos, flax, ginkgo biloba, hazelnut, hibiscus, laurel, mate, orange skin, rose, tea such as green or black tea, thyme, juniper - Elderflower, basil, bay leaf, cumin, oregano, paprika, rosemary, saffron, lemon peel, mint, beefsteak plant, curcuma, cilantro, myrtle, blackcurrant, valerian, pimento, mace, damien, marjoram, olive, lemon balm, lemon basil, chives, kalbi, verbena, tarragon, limonene, thymol, camphene), flavor enhancers, bitter taste receptor site blockers, sensory receptor site activators or irritants, sugars and / or sugar substitutes (e.g., sucralose,It may also contain acesulfame potassium (aspartame, saccharin, cyclamate, lactose, sucrose, glucose, fructose, sorbitol, or mannitol), and other additives such as charcoal, chlorophyll, minerals, plant substances, or breath fresheners. These materials may be imitations, synthetic or natural ingredients, or blends thereof. These materials may be in any suitable form, such as a liquid like an oil, a solid like a powder, or a gas.

[0180] In some embodiments, the flavoring includes menthol, spearmint, and / or peppermint. In some embodiments, the flavoring includes cucumber, blueberry, citrus fruit, and / or red berry flavoring components. In some embodiments, the flavoring includes eugenol. In some embodiments, the flavoring includes flavoring components extracted from tobacco. In some embodiments, the flavoring includes flavoring components extracted from cannabis.

[0181] In some embodiments, the fragrance may include sensations intended to achieve somatosensations that are chemically induced and perceived by stimulation of the fifth cranial nerve (trigeminal nerve), in addition to or instead of olfactory nerves or gustatory nerves, and these may also include agents that provide heating, cooling, tingling, or numbing effects. A suitable thermal agent may be, but is not limited to, vanillyl ethyl ether, and a suitable cooling agent may be, but is not limited to, eucoliptol or WS-3.

[0182] The various embodiments described herein are presented solely to aid in understanding and teaching the features described in the claims. These embodiments are provided only as representative examples of embodiments and are not exhaustive and / or exclusive. It should be understood that the advantages, embodiments, examples, functions, features, structures and / or other aspects described herein should not be considered as limitations of the scope of the invention as defined by the claims or limitations of equivalents to the claims, and that other embodiments may be utilized and modified without departing from the invention described in the claims. Various embodiments of the invention may appropriately comprise, consist of, or essentially consist of, disclosed elements, components, features, parts, steps, means, etc., other than those specifically described herein. Furthermore, this disclosure may include other inventions that are not currently described in the claims but may be described in the claims in the future.

Claims

1. Articles used in non-flammable aerosol supply systems, A support element having at least one cavity, an aerosol generating material disposed within the at least one cavity, comprising an amorphous solid material, Equipped with, The support element comprises at least two layers of sheet material, An article in which each of the at least two layers of the sheet material in the support element comprises at least one of paper, cardboard, or thick paper.

2. The article according to claim 1, wherein the sheet material has a weight of 180 GSM to 210 GSM.

3. The article according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the sheet material has a thickness of 150 μm to 400 μm.

4. The article according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the thickness of the support element is 300 μm to 800 μm.

5. The article according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the aerosol generating material is sandwiched between the at least two layers of the sheet material.

6. The article according to claim 1, wherein the at least one cavity has an opening that extends completely through the thickness of the support element.

7. The article according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the at least one cavity comprises a recess that extends partially through the thickness of the support element.

8. The article according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the aerosol generating material comprises an amorphous solid material having multiple regions of different compositions within the same material body.

9. The article according to any one of claims 1 to 8, comprising a plurality of separate, spaced cavities each containing an aerosol-generating material.

10. The article according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the aerosol-generating material is perforated.

11. The article according to any one of claims 1 to 4, 6, or any one of claims 8 to 10, in which case the aerosol generating material is provided on a substrate.

12. The article according to claim 11, wherein the substrate comprises a metal foil.

13. The article according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the material of the support element is a biodegradable material.

14. The article according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the article comprises an identification element.

15. The article according to claim 14, wherein the identification element is a barcode, a QR code (registered trademark), or an RFID chip.

16. The article according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the amorphous solid material comprises a gelling agent.

17. The article according to claim 16, wherein the gelling agent is an alginate, pectin, and / or carrageenan.

18. The article according to any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the amorphous solid material is a dry hydrogel.

19. The article according to any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein the amorphous solid material further comprises an aerosol-generating agent, an active substance, and / or a flavoring agent.

20. The article according to claim 19, wherein the aerosol generating agent is glycerol.

21. The article according to claim 19 or 20, wherein the active substance is nicotine.

22. The article according to any one of claims 1 to 20, wherein the amorphous solid material has a thickness of about 0.015 mm to 0.5 mm, or 0.1 mm to 0.3 mm, or 0.15 mm to 0.25 mm.

23. The article according to any one of claims 1 to 21, wherein the aerosol generating material comprises a plurality of holes arranged to define a plurality of separate regions of the aerosol generating material.

24. The article according to any one of claims 1 to 23, wherein the support element comprises a substantially planar body.

25. The article according to any one of claims 1 to 24, wherein the article comprises a plurality of separate cavities comprising an amorphous solid material, each cavity comprising a different amorphous solid material.

26. An aerosol generation system comprising an aerosol generation device and an article according to any one of claims 1 to 25.

27. The aerosol generating system according to claim 26, comprising the article according to claim 25, wherein the aerosol generating device is configured to provide a customizable heating profile that allows the amorphous solid material in the plurality of separate cavities of the article to be heated independently.

28. A method for manufacturing articles used in a non-flammable aerosol supply system, The steps include: preparing a support element containing at least one cavity, The steps include providing an aerosol-generating material comprising an amorphous solid material in at least one cavity, Includes, The support element comprises at least two layers of sheet material, A method wherein each of the at least two layers of the sheet material in the support element comprises at least one of paper, cardboard, or thick paper.

29. The method according to claim 28, wherein the sheet material has a weight of 180 GSM to 210 GSM.

30. The method according to claim 28 or 29, wherein the sheet material has a thickness of 150 μm to 400 μm.

31. The method according to any one of claims 28 to 30, wherein the thickness of the support element is 300 μm to 800 μm.

32. The method according to any one of claims 28 to 31, comprising the steps of forming at least two layers of a sheet material to form the support element, wherein at least one of the layers includes at least one cavity, and sandwiching the aerosol generating material between the at least two layers of the sheet material.

33. The method according to any one of claims 28 to 31, comprising the step of providing the aerosol generating material on a substrate, wherein the substrate may include a metal foil.

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