CARTRIDGE WITH A NON-CIRCULAR CROSS-SECTION

Claims

1. A cartridge for use with an aerosol generating device containing a longitudinal axis passing between the proximal end and the distal end of the cartridge; internal air flow path passing between the proximal end and the distal end; a liquid storage portion designed to hold a liquid aerosol-forming substrate; a tube assembly surrounding at least a portion of the internal air flow path and having a non-circular cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, where the non-circular cross-section has the direction of maximum size, wherein the tube assembly further comprises a susceptor element having at least one flat main surface, wherein the susceptor element is located in the internal air flow path in such a way that at least one flat main surface of the susceptor is aligned parallel to the plane defined by the direction of the maximum dimension and the longitudinal axis.

2. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the non-circular cross-section comprises at least one straight side corresponding to a flat outer surface of the tube assembly, and wherein the susceptor element is located in the internal air flow path such that at least one flat major surface of the susceptor element is aligned parallel to the flat outer surface of the tube assembly.

3. The cartridge of claim 2, wherein the non-circular cross-section is formed by two opposite straight sides and two opposite curved sides.

4. The cartridge of claim 3, wherein the curved sides are in the form of semicircles so that the cross-section forms the shape of a stadium.

5. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the non-circular cross-section takes an oval shape.

6. The cartridge of claim 5, wherein the non-circular cross-section takes an ellipsoidal shape and wherein the direction of the maximum dimension coincides with the major axis of the ellipse.

7. A cartridge according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tube assembly comprises a fluid supply channel configured to supply a liquid aerosol-forming substrate from the fluid storage portion toward the susceptor element.

8. The cartridge of claim 7, wherein the fluid supply channel comprises a first channel portion and a second channel portion, and wherein the internal air flow path and the susceptor element are located between the first channel portion and the second channel portion along the direction of the maximum dimension of the non-circular cross-section of the tube assembly.

9. A cartridge according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the liquid storage portion surrounds a portion of the internal air flow path.

10. A cartridge according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the proximal end portion of the cartridge is formed as a mouthpiece, and preferably the liquid storage portion is at least partially located within the mouthpiece.

11. The cartridge of claim 10, wherein the distal end of the mouthpiece is secured to the proximal end of the tube assembly, preferably by ultrasonic welding.

12. A cartridge according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tube assembly comprises a tubular inner block surrounded by an outer wall of the tube assembly, and wherein the non-circular cross-section of the tube assembly is defined by the outer wall of the tube assembly.

13. The cartridge of claim 12, wherein the inner unit comprises a proximal tubular sealing component, an intermediate tubular heater component comprising a susceptor element, and a distal tubular airflow control component, and wherein, preferably, the sealing component, the heater component, and the airflow control component are connected in series along the longitudinal axis, and, more preferably, the heater component comprises a fluid-permeable wall portion configured to allow movement of a liquid aerosol-forming substrate toward the susceptor element in the inner airflow path, wherein the fluid-permeable wall portion is formed by two slotted openings in opposite side walls of the tubular heater component.

14. The cartridge of claim 13, comprising a wick element configured to transfer a liquid aerosol-forming substrate to a susceptor element.

15. An aerosol generating system comprising a cartridge according to any one of the preceding claims; and an aerosol generating device comprising a heating chamber configured to receive at least a distal portion of the cartridge, wherein the heating chamber is at least partially surrounded by an induction coil.