Aerosol generating article and aerosol provision system

Abstract

An aerosol generating article and an aerosol provision system are provided. The article comprises: a mouthpiece (100) arranged at a proximal end along the longitudinal axis; an aerosol generating substrate (200) arranged at a distal end, the aerosol generating substrate being configured to generate an aerosol upon heating; a cooling segment (300) arranged between the mouthpiece and the aerosol generating substrate; and an air passage extending from the distal end to the proximal end, with a cooling element (500) arranged inside the air passage, the cooling element being configured to cool the aerosol flow passing through the air passage; wherein the effective action duration of the cooling element is configured to be shorter than the duration required for the complete consumption of the aerosol generating substrate.

Description

[0001] AEROSOL GENERATING ARTICLE AND AEROSOL PROVISION SYSTEM

[0002] Technical Field

[0003] The present application relates to the field of aerosol provision technology, and particularly to an aerosol generating article and an aerosol provision system.

[0004] Background

[0005] An aerosol generating article comprises an aerosol generating substrate and is configured to be used together with a non-combustible aerosol provision device. During use, the aerosol generating article heats its aerosol generating substrate to generate an aerosol. When users puff on an aerosol generating article the temperature of the first few puffs can be high, scalding the mouth. The reason for this is that when the aerosol generating substrate is initially heated, the combustion is not sufficient enough, and there is high-temperature water vapor.

[0006] Summary

[0007] In accordance with embodiments described herein, there is provided an aerosol generating article and an aerosol provision system.

[0008] In accordance with an aspect, there is provided an aerosol generating article. The article comprises: a mouthpiece arranged at a proximal end along the longitudinal axis; an aerosol generating substrate arranged at a distal end, the aerosol generating substrate being configured to generate an aerosol upon heating; a cooling segment arranged between the mouthpiece and the aerosol generating substrate; and an air passage extending from the distal end to the proximal end, a cooling element being arranged inside the air passage, the cooling element being configured to cool the aerosol flow passing through the air passage. The effective action duration of the cooling element is configured to be shorter than the duration required for the complete consumption of the aerosol generating substrate.

[0009] In some embodiments of any of the above aerosol generating article, the cooling element may be configured to absorb the heat energy inside the air passage during the effective action duration.

[0010] In some embodiments of any of the above aerosol generating article, the cooling element may be arranged on the inner wall of the mouthpiece or the cooling segment.

[0011] In some embodiments of any of the above aerosol generating article, the mouthpiece may comprise a filtering material and the cooling element may be arranged inside the filtering material.

[0012] In some embodiments of any of the above aerosol generating article, the cooling element may comprise at least one of edible hydrogel, edible wax, glycerin or propylene glycol.

[0013] In some embodiments of any of the above aerosol generating article, the article may further comprise a vent hole arranged on the outer surface. The vent hole may connect the air channel with the external environment. The cooling element may be arranged around the vent hole and configured to block the vent hole upon being heated or after absorbing water.

[0014] In some embodiments of any of the above aerosol generating article, the cooling element may be configured to melt upon heating or expand upon absorbing water to enter and block the vent hole.

[0015] In some embodiments of any of the above aerosol generating article, the vent hole may be arranged in the cooling segment.

[0016] In some embodiments of any of the above aerosol generating article, the vent hole may be arranged at the end of the cooling segment near the mouthpiece.

[0017] In accordance with an aspect, there is provided an aerosol provision system. The system comprises: a chamber accommodating the article described in any one of embodiments of the above; and a heating element configured to heat the article to generate an aerosol.

[0018] In accordance with an aspect, there is provided an aerosol generating article, comprising: a mouthpiece; an aerosol generating substrate configured to generate an aerosol upon heating; a cooling segment between the mouthpiece and the aerosol generating substrate; an air passage through the aerosol generating article; and a cooling element configured to cool aerosol flowing along the air passage; wherein the cooling element is configured to have an effective action duration that is a shorter duration than a duration required for the complete consumption of the aerosol generating substrate.

[0019] In some embodiments of any of the above aerosol generating article, the mouthpiece defines a proximal end of the aerosol generating article along a longitudinal axis.

[0020] In some embodiments of any of the above aerosol generating article, the aerosol generating segment is arranged at least one of towards and at a distal end of the aerosol generating article along the longitudinal axis.

[0021] In some embodiments of any of the above aerosol generating article, the air passage extends from the distal end to the proximal end.

[0022] In some embodiments of any of the above aerosol generating article, the cooling element is arranged in the air passage.

[0023] In some embodiments of any of the above aerosol generating article, the aerosol generating article comprises a vent hole. The vent hole may be configured to connect the air passage with the external environment. The cooling element may be at least partially around the vent hole.

[0024] In some embodiments of any of the above aerosol generating article, the cooling agent is configured to block the vent hole upon at least one of being heated and absorbing water.

[0025] In some embodiments of any of the above aerosol generating article, the vent hole is proximal to the mouthpiece.

[0026] In accordance with an aspect, there is provided aerosol provision system comprising: an aerosol generating article described in any one of embodiments of the above; and an aerosol provision device having a chamber configured to at least partially receive the aerosol generating article.

[0027] One or more of the above-mentioned embodiments have at least one or more of the following beneficial effects:

[0028] By arranging a cooling element in the air passage of the aerosol generating article to cool the passing aerosol flow, and the effective action duration of the cooling element being shorter than the duration required for the complete consumption of the aerosol generating substrate, it is possible to ensure that the aerosol remains at a temperature that does not scald the mouth in the early stage of the user's puffing. That is, the cooling element produces a cooling effect on the initial aerosol flow. At the same time, due to the limited action duration, it is possible to assist with avoiding the cooling effect of the cooling element affecting the concentration of the aerosol flow in the later stage can be avoided, and assist with improving the user's puffing experience.

[0029] Additional aspects and advantages will be partially described in the following description, some will become apparent from the following description, and others will be learned through the practice.

[0030] Brief Description of the Drawings

[0031] Referring to the accompanying drawings, the disclosure will become more understandable. Those skilled in the art can easily understand that these drawings are only for illustrative purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of protection. Moreover, similar numbers in the figures are used to represent similar components, wherein:

[0032] Fig. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of an aerosol generating article;

[0033] Fig. 2 is a schematic structural diagram of an aerosol generating article in which the cooling element is on the inner wall of the mouthpiece;

[0034] Fig. 3 is a schematic structural diagram of the aerosol generating article after the cooling element in Fig. 2 absorbs water vapor;

[0035] Fig. 4 is a schematic structural diagram of an aerosol generating article in which the cooling element is filled in the filtering material;

[0036] Fig. 5 is a schematic structural diagram of the aerosol generating article after the cooling element in Fig. 4 absorbs and releases heat energy;

[0037] Fig. 6 is a schematic structural diagram of an aerosol generating article in which the cooling element is edible wax;

[0038] Fig. 7 is a schematic structural diagram of the aerosol generating article in which the cooling element in Fig. 6 melts upon heating and blocks the vent hole;

[0039] Fig. 8 is a schematic structural diagram of an aerosol generating article in which the cooling element is an edible hydrogel;

[0040] Fig. 9 is a schematic structural diagram of the aerosol generating article; and

[0041] Fig. 10 is a schematic structural diagram of an aerosol provision system.

[0042] Detailed Description

[0043] The following describes embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood by those skilled in the art that these embodiments are only for explaining the technical principles and are not intended to limit the scope of protection.

[0044] As used herein, the term ’’delivery system” is intended to encompass systems that deliver at least one substance to a user in use, and includes: combustible aerosol provision systems, such as cigarettes, cigarillos, cigars, and tobacco for pipes or for roll-your-own or for make-your-own cigarettes (whether based on tobacco, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco, tobacco substitutes or other smokable material); non-combustible aerosol provision systems that release compounds from an aerosolgenerating material without combusting the aerosol-generating material, such as electronic cigarettes, tobacco heating products, and hybrid systems to generate aerosol using a combination of aerosol-generating materials; and aerosol-free delivery systems that deliver the at least one substance to a user orally, nasally, transdermally or in another way without forming an aerosol, including but not limited to, lozenges, gums, patches, articles comprising inhalable powders, and oral products such as oral tobacco which includes snus or moist snuff, wherein the at least one substance may or may not comprise nicotine.

[0045] According to the present disclosure, a ’’combustible” aerosol provision system is one where a constituent aerosol-generating material of the aerosol provision system (or component thereof) is combusted or burned during use in order to facilitate delivery of at least one substance to a user.

[0046] In some embodiments, the delivery system is a combustible aerosol provision system, such as a system selected from the group consisting of a cigarette, a cigarillo and a cigar.

[0047] In some embodiments, the disclosure relates to a component for use in a combustible aerosol provision system, such as a filter, a filter rod, a filter segment, a tobacco rod, a spill, an aerosol-modifying agent release component such as a capsule, a thread, or a bead, or a paper such as a plug wrap, a tipping paper or a cigarette paper.

[0048] According to the present disclosure, a ”non-combustible” aerosol provision system is one where a constituent aerosol-generating material of the aerosol provision system (or component thereof) is not combusted or burned in order to facilitate delivery of at least one substance to a user.

[0049] In some embodiments, the delivery system is a non-combustible aerosol provision system, such as a powered non-combustible aerosol provision system.

[0050] In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision system is an electronic cigarette, also known as a vaping device or electronic nicotine delivery system (END), although it is noted that the presence of nicotine in the aerosol-generating material is not a requirement.

[0051] In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision system is an aerosolgenerating material heating system, also known as a heat-not-burn system. An example of such a system is a tobacco heating system.

[0052] In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision system is a hybrid system to generate aerosol using a combination of aerosol-generating materials, one or a plurality 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 comprise, for example, tobacco or a non-tobacco product.

[0053] Typically, the non-combustible aerosol provision system may comprise a non- combustible aerosol provision device and a consumable for use with the non-combustible aerosol provision device.

[0054] In some embodiments, the disclosure relates to consumables comprising aerosolgenerating material and configured to be used with non-combustible aerosol provision devices. These consumables are sometimes referred to as articles throughout the disclosure.

[0055] In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision system, such as a non- combustible aerosol provision device thereof, may comprise a power source and a controller. The power source may, for example, be an electric power source or an exothermic power source. In some embodiments, the exothermic power source comprises a carbon substrate which may be energised so as to distribute power in the form of heat to an aerosol-generating material or to a heat transfer material in proximity to the exothermic power source.

[0056] In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision system may comprise an area for receiving the consumable, an aerosol generator, an aerosol generation area, a housing, a mouthpiece, a filter and / or an aerosol-modifying agent.

[0057] In some embodiments, the consumable for use with the non-combustible aerosol provision device may comprise aerosol-generating material, an aerosol-generating material storage area, an aerosol-generating material transfer component, an aerosol generator, an aerosol generation area, a housing, a wrapper, a filter, a mouthpiece, and / or an aerosol-modifying agent.

[0058] In some embodiments, the delivery system is an aerosol-free delivery system that delivers at least one substance to a user orally, nasally, transdermally or in another way without forming an aerosol, including but not limited to, lozenges, gums, patches, articles comprising inhalable powders, and oral products such as oral tobacco which includes snus or moist snuff, wherein the at least one substance may or may not comprise nicotine.

[0059] In some embodiments, the substance to be delivered may be an aerosol-generating material or a material that is not intended to be aerosolised. As appropriate, either material may comprise one or more active constituents, one or more flavours, one or more aerosolformer materials, and / or one or more other functional materials.

[0060] In some embodiments, the substance to be delivered comprises an active substance. The active substance as used herein may be a physiologically active material, which is a material intended to achieve or enhance a physiological response. The active substance may for example be selected from nutraceuticals, nootropics, psychoactives. The active substance may be naturally occurring or synthetically obtained. The active substance may comprise for example nicotine, caffeine, taurine, theine, vitamins such as B6 or B12 or C, melatonin, cannabinoids, or constituents, derivatives, or combinations thereof. The active substance may comprise one or more constituents, derivatives or extracts of tobacco, cannabis or another botanical.

[0061] In some embodiments, the active substance comprises nicotine. In some embodiments, the active substance comprises caffeine, melatonin or vitamin B12.

[0062] As noted herein, the active substance may comprise one or more constituents, derivatives or extracts of cannabis, such as one or more cannabinoids or terpenes.

[0063] As noted herein, the active substance may comprise or be derived from one or more botanicals or constituents, derivatives or extracts thereof. As used herein, the term "botanical" includes any material derived from plants including, but not limited to, extracts, leaves, bark, fibres, stems, roots, seeds, flowers, fruits, pollen, husk, shells or the like. Alternatively, the material may comprise an active compound naturally existing in a botanical, obtained synthetically. The material may be in the form of liquid, gas, solid, powder, dust, crushed particles, granules, pellets, shreds, strips, sheets, or the like.

[0064] Example botanicals are tobacco, eucalyptus, star anise, hemp, cocoa, cannabis, fennel, lemongrass, peppermint, spearmint, rooibos, chamomile, flax, ginger, ginkgo biloba, hazel, hibiscus, laurel, licorice (liquorice), matcha, mate, orange skin, papaya, rose, sage, tea such as green tea or black tea, thyme, clove, cinnamon, coffee, aniseed (anise), basil, bay leaves, cardamom, coriander, cumin, nutmeg, oregano, paprika, rosemary, saffron, lavender, lemon peel, mint, juniper, elderflower, vanilla, Wintergreen, beefsteak plant, curcuma, turmeric, sandalwood, cilantro, bergamot, orange blossom, myrtle, cassis, valerian, pimento, mace, damien, marjoram, olive, lemon balm, lemon basil, chive, carvi, verbena, tarragon, geranium, mulberry, ginseng, theanine, theacrine, maca, ashwagandha, damiana, guarana, chlorophyll, baobab or any combination thereof. The mint may be chosen from the following mint varieties: Mentha Arventis, Mentha c.v., Mentha niliaca, Mentha piperita, Mentha piperita citrata c.v., Mentha piperita c.v, Mentha spicata crispa, Mentha cardifolia, Memtha longifolia, Mentha suaveolens variegata, Mentha pulegium, Mentha spicata c.v. and Mentha suaveolens.

[0065] In some embodiments, the active substance comprises or is derived from one or more botanicals or constituents, derivatives or extracts thereof and the botanical is tobacco. In some embodiments, the active substance comprises or derived from one or more botanicals or constituents, derivatives or extracts thereof and the botanical is selected from eucalyptus, star anise, cocoa and hemp.

[0066] In some embodiments, the active substance comprises or derived from one or more botanicals or constituents, derivatives or extracts thereof and the botanical is selected from rooibos and fennel.

[0067] In some embodiments, the substance to be delivered comprises a flavour. As used herein, the terms ’’flavour" and ’’flavourant” refer to materials which, where local regulations permit, may be used to create a desired taste, aroma or other somatosensorial sensation in a product for adult consumers. They may include naturally occurring flavour materials, botanicals, extracts of botanicals, synthetically obtained materials, or combinations thereof (e.g., tobacco, cannabis, licorice (liquorice), hydrangea, eugenol, Japanese white bark magnolia leaf, chamomile, fenugreek, clove, maple, matcha, menthol, Japanese mint, aniseed (anise), cinnamon, turmeric, Indian spices, Asian spices, herb, 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, Drambuie, bourbon, scotch, whiskey, gin, tequila, rum, spearmint, peppermint, lavender, aloe vera, cardamom, celery, cascarilla, nutmeg, sandalwood, bergamot, geranium, khat, 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, piment, ginger, coriander, coffee, hemp, a mint oil from any species of the genus Mentha, eucalyptus, star anise, cocoa, lemongrass, rooibos, flax, ginkgo biloba, hazel, hibiscus, laurel, mate, orange skin, rose, tea such as green tea or black tea, thyme, juniper, elderflower, basil, bay leaves, cumin, oregano, paprika, rosemary, saffron, lemon peel, mint, beefsteak plant, curcuma, cilantro, myrtle, cassis, valerian, pimento, mace, damien, marjoram, olive, lemon balm, lemon basil, chive, carvi, verbena, tarragon, limonene, thymol, camphene), flavour enhancers, bitterness receptor site blockers, sensorial receptor site activators or stimulators, sugars and / or sugar substitutes (e.g., sucralose, acesulfame potassium, aspartame, saccharine, cyclamates, lactose, sucrose, glucose, fructose, sorbitol, or mannitol), and other additives such as charcoal, chlorophyll, minerals, botanicals, or breath freshening agents. They may be imitation, synthetic or natural ingredients or blends thereof. They may be in any suitable form, for example, liquid such as an oil, solid such as a powder, or gas.

[0068] In some embodiments, the flavour comprises menthol, spearmint and / or peppermint. In some embodiments, the flavour comprises flavour components of cucumber, blueberry, citrus fruits and / or redberry. In some embodiments, the flavour comprises eugenol. In some embodiments, the flavour comprises flavour components extracted from tobacco. In some embodiments, the flavour comprises flavour components extracted from cannabis.

[0069] In some embodiments, the flavour may comprise a sensate, which is intended to achieve a somatosensorial sensation which are usually chemically induced and perceived by the stimulation of the fifth cranial nerve (trigeminal nerve), in addition to or in place of aroma or taste nerves, and these may include agents providing heating, cooling, tingling, numbing effect. A suitable heat effect agent may be, but is not limited to, vanillyl ethyl ether and a suitable cooling agent may be, but not limited to eucolyptol, WS-3.

[0070] Aerosol-generating material is a material that is capable of generating aerosol, for example when heated, irradiated or energized in any other way. Aerosol-generating material may, for example, be in the form of a solid, liquid or gel which may or may not contain an active substance and / or flavourants. In some embodiments, the aerosolgenerating material may comprise an ’’amorphous solid”, which may alternatively be referred to as a "monolithic solid" (i.e. non-fibrous). In some embodiments, the amorphous solid may be a dried gel. The amorphous solid is a solid material that may retain some fluid, such as liquid, within it. In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material may for example comprise from about 50wt%, 60wt% or 70wt% of amorphous solid, to about 90wt%, 95wt% or 100wt% of amorphous solid.

[0071] The aerosol-generating material may comprise one or more active substances and / or flavours, one or more aerosol-former materials, and optionally one or more other functional material.

[0072] The aerosol-former material may comprise one or more constituents capable of forming an aerosol. In some embodiments, the aerosol-former material may comprise one or more of glycerol, propylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, 1 ,3-butylene glycol, erythritol, meso-Erythritol, ethyl vanillate, ethyl laurate, a diethyl suberate, triethyl citrate, triacetin, a diacetin mixture, benzyl benzoate, benzyl phenyl acetate, tributyrin, lauryl acetate, lauric acid, myristic acid, and propylene carbonate.

[0073] The one or more other functional materials may comprise one or more of pH regulators, colouring agents, preservatives, binders, fillers, stabilizers, and / or antioxidants.

[0074] The material may be present on or in a support, to form a substrate. The support may, for example, be or comprise paper, card, paperboard, cardboard, reconstituted material, a plastics material, a ceramic material, a composite material, glass, a metal, or a metal alloy. In some embodiments, the support comprises a susceptor. In some embodiments, the susceptor is embedded within the material. In some alternative embodiments, the susceptor is on one or either side of the material.

[0075] A consumable is an article comprising or consisting of aerosol-generating material, part or all of which is intended to be consumed during use by a user. A consumable may comprise one or more other components, such as an aerosol-generating material storage area, an aerosol-generating material transfer component, an aerosol generation area, a housing, a wrapper, a mouthpiece, a filter and / or an aerosol-modifying agent. A consumable may also comprise an aerosol generator, such as a heater, that emits heat to cause the aerosol-generating material to generate aerosol in use. The heater may, for example, comprise combustible material, a material heatable by electrical conduction, or a susceptor.

[0076] A susceptor is a material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field, such as an alternating magnetic field. The susceptor may be an electrically-conductive material, so that penetration thereof with a varying magnetic field causes induction heating of the heating material. The heating material may be magnetic material, so that penetration thereof with a varying magnetic field causes magnetic hysteresis heating of the heating material. The susceptor may be both electrically-conductive and magnetic, so that the susceptor is heatable by both heating mechanisms. The device that is configured to generate the varying magnetic field is referred to as a magnetic field generator, herein.

[0077] An aerosol-modifying agent is a substance, typically located downstream of the aerosol generation area, that is configured to modify the aerosol generated, for example by changing the taste, flavour, acidity or another characteristic of the aerosol. The aerosolmodifying agent may be provided in an aerosol-modifying agent release component, that is operable to selectively release the aerosol-modifying agent. The aerosol-modifying agent may, for example, be an additive or a sorbent. The aerosol-modifying agent may, for example, comprise one or more of a flavourant, a colourant, water, and a carbon adsorbent. The aerosol-modifying agent may, for example, be a solid, a liquid, or a gel. The aerosolmodifying agent may be in powder, thread or granule form. The aerosol-modifying agent may be free from filtration material.

[0078] An aerosol generator is an apparatus configured to cause aerosol to be generated from the aerosol-generating material. In some embodiments, the aerosol generator is a heater configured to subject the aerosol-generating material to heat energy, so as to release one or more volatiles from the aerosol-generating material to form an aerosol. In some embodiments, the aerosol generator is configured to cause an aerosol to be generated from the aerosol-generating material without heating. For example, the aerosol generator may be configured to subject the aerosol-generating material to one or more of vibration, increased pressure, or electrostatic energy.

[0079] The present disclosure relates to aerosol delivery systems (which may also be referred to as vapour delivery systems) such as nebulisers or e-cigarettes. Throughout the following description the term ”e-cigarette” or ’’electronic cigarette” may sometimes be used, but it will be appreciated this term may be used interchangeably with aerosol delivery system I device and electronic aerosol delivery system I device. Furthermore, and as is common in the technical field, the terms "aerosol" and ’’vapour”, and related terms such as ’’vaporize”, ’’volatilize” and ’’aerosolize”, may generally be used interchangeably.

[0080] Aerosol delivery systems (e-cigarettes) often, though not always, comprise a modular assembly comprising a reusable device part and a replaceable (disposable / consumable) cartridge part. Often, the replaceable cartridge part will comprise the aerosol-generating material and the vaporiser (which may collectively be called a ’’cartomizer”) and the reusable device part will comprise the power provision (e.g. rechargeable power source) and control circuitry. It will be appreciated these different parts may comprise further elements depending on functionality. For example, the reusable device part will often comprise a user interface for receiving user input and displaying operating status characteristics, and the replaceable cartridge device part in some cases comprises a temperature sensor for helping to control temperature. Cartridges are electrically and mechanically coupled to the control unit for use, for example using a screw thread, bayonet, or magnetic coupling with appropriately arranged electrical contacts. When the aerosolgenerating material in a cartridge is exhausted, or the user wishes to switch to a different cartridge having a different aerosol-generating material, the cartridge may be removed from the reusable part and a replacement cartridge attached in its place. Systems and devices conforming to this type of two-part modular configuration may generally be referred to as two-part systems / devices.

[0081] It is common for electronic cigarettes to have a generally elongate shape. For the sake of providing a concrete example, certain embodiments of the disclosure will be taken to comprise this kind of generally elongate two-part system employing disposable cartridges. However, it will be appreciated that the underlying principles described herein may equally be adopted for different configurations, for example single-part systems or modular systems comprising more than two parts, refillable devices and single-use disposables, as well as other overall shapes, for example based on so-called box-mod high performance devices that typically have a boxier shape. More generally, it will be appreciated certain embodiments of the disclosure are based on aerosol delivery systems which are operationally configured to provide functionality in accordance with the principles described herein and the constructional aspects of systems configured to provide the functionality in accordance with certain embodiments of the disclosure is not of primary significance.

[0082] Existing aerosol generating articles comprise holes formed in the hollow section of the article to allow cold air to flow into the article to accelerate the cooling. Although this can achieve a cooling effect when the user initially puffs on the aerosol, the continuous entry of cold air into the article reduces the concentration of the aerosol flow and affects the user experience. Based on this, an aerosol generating article is provided to aid in preventing scalding of the user’s mouth during the initial puffing of the aerosol generating article whilst simultaneously avoiding dilution of the aerosol concentration.

[0083] As shown in Fig. 1 , an aerosol generating article comprises: a mouthpiece 100 arranged at a proximal end along the longitudinal axis; an aerosol generating substrate 200 arranged at a distal end, where the aerosol generating substrate 200 is configured to generate an aerosol upon heating; a cooling segment 300 arranged between the mouthpiece 100 and the aerosol generating substrate 200; and an air passage 400 extending from the distal end to the proximal end, with a cooling element 500 arranged inside the air passage 400. The cooling element 500 is configured to cool the aerosol flow passing through the air passage 400 (the lines with arrows inside the air passage 400 in the figure represent the aerosol flow, and the thicker the line, the higher the temperature of the aerosol flow). The effective action duration of the cooling element 500 is configured to be shorter than the duration required for the consumption of the aerosol generating substrate 200.

[0084] The effective action duration is the duration in which the cooling element is able to provide at least some or a substantive cooling effect.

[0085] The cooling element 500 is arranged in the air passage 400 of the aerosol generating article to cool the passing aerosol flow, and the effective action duration of the cooling element 500 is shorter than the duration required for the complete consumption of the aerosol generating substrate 200. In this way, it is possible to ensure that the aerosol remains at a temperature that does not scald the mouth in the early stage of the user's li puffing, that is, the cooling element produces a cooling effect on the initial aerosol flow. At the same time, due to the limited action duration, it is possible to assist with avoiding the cooling effect of the cooling element affecting the concentration of the aerosol flow in the later stage, and maximise the user's puffing experience.

[0086] It should be understood that the aerosol generating article in Fig. 1 is only a schematic structure and does not limit the specific structure and position of each component in the article. Other structural arrangements adjusted and set according to actual needs and having the same function should also fall within the protection scope. It should also be understood that the aerosol generating article may further comprise other components, such as the aerosol transmission section 600 in Fig. 1 , and the aerosol generating article may further comprise other components that are not shown, such as a heating element, etc.

[0087] Embodiment One

[0088] In embodiments, the cooling element 500 is configured to absorb the heat energy inside the air passage 400 within the effective action duration, thereby achieving the cooling of the passing aerosol flow. This heat energy includes but is not limited to the heat energy in the high-temperature water vapor generated along with the aerosol flow during the user's initial puffing. In the early stage of puffing, the cooling element 500 absorbs a large amount of heat energy to achieve the effect of cooling the aerosol during the user's first few puffs. In the later stage of puffing, the water vapor has been greatly reduced, and the temperature of the aerosol is also lower than that in the previous stage (the first few puffs of puffing, that is, the effective action duration). Therefore, cooling is no longer required. In this example, there is no need for additional holes, and the concentration of the generated aerosol will not be diluted due to the entry of external air. In addition, the cooling element 500 can also absorb water vapor to reduce the adverse impact of water vapor on the sensation during puffing.

[0089] In embodiments, as shown in Fig. 2, the cooling element 500 is arranged on the inner wall of the mouthpiece 100. The lines with arrows inside the air passage 400 in the figures represent the aerosol flow, and the thicker the line, the higher the temperature of the aerosol flow. When the aerosol passes through the mouthpiece 100, its heat energy is absorbed by the cooling element 500 to achieve a cooling effect. In this example, the cooling element 500 can be an edible hydrogel, which can absorb a large amount of high- temperature water vapor in the early stage of puffing, thereby taking away the heat energy brought by the high-temperature water vapor. When it is saturated with water vapor, it will change from the state in Fig. 2 to the state in Fig. 3, achieving the cooling of the aerosol within the effective action duration. The aerosol after the water vapor is absorbed has a high concentration and a good taste, further improving the user experience. It should be understood that this example does not limit the specific position of the cooling element 500, and it can also be arranged at other places where the aerosol flow passes through, such as the inside of the cooling segment 300, etc. The cooling element 500 may also be other edible materials with the function of absorbing heat energy, such as glycerin, propylene glycol, etc.

[0090] In embodiments, as shown in Fig. 4, the mouthpiece 100 comprises a filtering material 101 , and the cooling element 500 is arranged in the filtering material 101 to absorb the heat energy in the passing aerosol flow, thereby achieving the cooling of the aerosol flow within the effective action duration. In this example, the cooling element 500 can be glycerin or 1 ,2-propanediol filled in the filtering material 101 , which can absorb the heat energy of the high-temperature aerosol to achieve the cooling during the first few puffs of puffing and increase the release amount of glycerin or 1 ,2-propanediol to improve the experience of puffing in the early stage. In the later stage of puffing, the water vapor has been greatly reduced, and the temperature of the aerosol has also become normal compared with the previous stage. Therefore, cooling is no longer required, and the aerosol flow in the article changes from the state in Fig. 4 to the state in Fig. 5. Such a design does not require holes for ventilation and cooling, and the concentration of the aerosol will not be diluted and reduced due to the entry of external air.

[0091] Based on the above embodiments, characteristics of the added raw materials, such as edible wax, edible hydrogel, glycerin / propylene glycol, etc., are utilized to coat or fill the cooling element 500 in the cooling segment 300 and / or the mouthpiece 100 of the article, and absorb the heat energy, such as the heat energy in the water vapor, in the early stage of puffing, so that the aerosol in the early stage of puffing remains at a reasonable temperature, avoiding the problem of scalding the mouth at the beginning of puffing. Moreover, in the above embodiments, no additional holes need to be made for ventilation and cooling, and the concentration of the aerosol will not be diluted due to the entry of external air.

[0092] Embodiment Two

[0093] In embodiments, the article further comprises a vent hole arranged on the outer surface, where the vent hole connects the air passage 400 with the external environment. The cooling element 500 is arranged around the vent hole and configured to block the vent hole upon being heated or after absorbing water. In the early stage of puffing, the cold air entering through the vent hole cools the aerosol inside the air passage 400. The cooling element 500 gradually blocks the vent hole after being heated or absorbing water. In the later stage of puffing, there is no need to cool the aerosol flow. Therefore, after the vent hole is blocked, no cold air will enter to affect the concentration of the aerosol flow. Further, the vent hole is arranged in the cooling segment 300 to effectively cool the aerosol before it enters the mouthpiece 100, and the vent hole can be arranged at the end of the cooling segment 300 close to the mouthpiece 100. The aerosol is cooled for a certain distance in the cooling segment 300 and then cooled by the cold air entering through the vent hole to achieve a gradual cooling effect.

[0094] In embodiments, as shown in Fig. 6, the cooling element 500 can enter the vent hole 301 in a melted state to block the vent hole 301 upon being heated. For example, the cooling element 500 can be edible wax. In the early stage of puffing, the cold air entering through the vent hole 301 cools the aerosol inside the air passage 400. During the heating process of the article, the edible wax (with a melting point of 50-120°C) coated around the vent hole 301 gradually melts due to the high-temperature aerosol in the early stage of puffing and gradually blocks the vent hole 301 . In the later stage of puffing, the temperature of the aerosol in the cooling segment 300 is relatively lower than that at the beginning, and there is no need to cool it with the cold air entering through the vent hole 301. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 7, the vent hole 301 is blocked by the edible wax, which can effectively prevent the entry of air in the later stage from affecting the aerosol concentration. In this example, the aerosol in the early stage of puffing can be cooled to an appropriate temperature by the entering cold air, and at the same time, the entry of cold air after the early stage of puffing can be reduced or prevented, so that the aerosol maintains a certain concentration during the later stage of puffing, ensuring the user experience. It should be understood that this embodiment does not limit the specific material of the cooling element 500, and any other edible material that can melt upon being heated can be used as the cooling element 500.

[0095] In embodiments, as shown in Fig. 8, the cooling element 500 can block the vent hole 301 in an expanded state after absorbing water. For example, the cooling element 500 can be an edible hydrogel. In the early stage of puffing, the cold air entering through the vent hole 301 cools the aerosol inside the air passage 400. The edible hydrogel coated around the vent hole 301 during the heating process of the article will gradually expand after absorbing the water vapor in the air passage 400 or the passing aerosol flow and gradually block the vent hole 301 , changing to the state shown in Fig. 9. In the later stage of puffing, the temperature of the aerosol in the cooling segment 300 is relatively lower than that at the beginning, and there is no need to cool it with cold air. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 9, when the vent hole 301 is blocked, it can effectively prevent the entry of air in the later stage from affecting the aerosol concentration. In this embodiment, the aerosol in the early stage of puffing can be cooled to an appropriate temperature by the entering cold air, and at the same time, the entry of cold air after the early stage of puffing can be reduced or prevented, so that the aerosol concentration maintains a certain level during the later stage of puffing, ensuring the user experience. In addition, the edible hydrogel can absorb the water vapor in the early stage of puffing and take away a part of the heat in the water vapor at the same time, enhancing the cooling effect on the aerosol in the early stage of puffing and also reducing the adverse impact of water vapor on the sensation during puffing. It should be understood that this example does not limit the specific material of the cooling element 500, and any other edible material that can expand after absorbing water or heat energy can be used as the cooling element 500.

[0096] Based on the above embodiments, the characteristics of materials such as edible wax and edible hydrogel may be utilized and the cooling element 500 may be arranged around the vent hole 301 , and may gradually block the vent hole 301 of the cooling segment 300 in a melted or expanded manner after the start of puffing, thereby reducing the situation of the decrease in the aerosol concentration in the later stage of puffing, and the temperature of the aerosol in the early stage of puffing can be maintained at a temperature that does not scald the mouth.

[0097] In addition, the above embodiments can be combined and used with each other to achieve a better cooling effect in the early stage of puffing and avoid the dilution of the aerosol concentration.

[0098] Embodiment Three

[0099] An aerosol provision system is provided, the system comprising: a chamber accommodating the above-mentioned article; and a heating element, configured to heat the article to generate an aerosol.

[0100] In embodiments, as shown in Fig. 10, the system comprises a body 10 with a power source. The body 10 comprises a chamber for accommodating the article 20, and the article 20 is inserted into the chamber so that the heating element can heat the aerosol generating substrate in the article to generate an aerosol. The specific structural arrangement and principle of the article 20 are as described in the above article examples, and the repeated parts will not be described again.

[0101] The referential terminology “an embodiment”, “some embodiments”, “example”, “specific example”, or “some examples” means that specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described in connection with the embodiment or example are comprised in at least one embodiment or example. In this specification, the indicative expression of the above-mentioned terms does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the described specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable way in any one or more embodiments or examples.

[0102] Moreover, the terms “first”, “second”, etc., are used merely for descriptive purposes and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the quantity of the indicated technical features. Thus, the characteristics defined as “first”, “second”, etc., may explicitly or implicitly comprise at least one such characteristic. The term “multiple” means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise specifically defined.

[0103] Unless explicitly defined and limited, terms such as “mounting,” “connecting”, “connection”, “fixing”, etc., should be understood broadly. For instance, the connection can be a fixed connection or a detachable connection, or integrated; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediary medium, it can be the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components, unless explicitly defined otherwise. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meanings of these terms based on the circumstances.

[0104] Although embodiments have been shown and described above, it should be understood that the above-described embodiments are exemplary and should not be considered as limiting. Those skilled in the art can make variations, modifications, replacements, and variations to the above-described embodiments.

Claims

Claims1. An aerosol generating article, comprising: a mouthpiece; an aerosol generating substrate configured to generate an aerosol upon heating; a cooling segment between the mouthpiece and the aerosol generating substrate; an air passage through the aerosol generating article; and a cooling element configured to cool aerosol flowing along the air passage; wherein the cooling element is configured to have an effective action duration that is a shorter duration than a duration required for the complete consumption of the aerosol generating substrate.

2. The aerosol generating article according to claim 1 , wherein the mouthpiece defines a proximal end of the aerosol generating article along a longitudinal axis.

3. The aerosol generating article according to claim 2, wherein the aerosol generating segment is arranged at least one of towards and at a distal end of the aerosol generating article along the longitudinal axis.

4. The aerosol generating article according to claim 3, wherein the air passage extends from the distal end to the proximal end.

5. The aerosol generating article according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the cooling element is arranged in the air passage.

6. The aerosol generating article according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the cooling element is configured to absorb heat energy inside the air passage during the effective action duration.

7. The aerosol generating article according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the cooling element is on an inner wall of at least one of the mouthpiece and the cooling segment.

8. The aerosol generating article according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the mouthpiece comprises a filtering material, and wherein the cooling element is in the filtering material.

9. The aerosol generating article according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the cooling element comprises at least one of edible hydrogel, edible wax, glycerin and propylene glycol.

10. The aerosol generating article according to claim 1 , wherein the aerosol generating article comprises a vent hole, wherein the vent hole is configured to connect the air passage with the external environment, and wherein the cooling element is at least partially around the vent hole.

11. The aerosol generating article according to claim 10, wherein the cooling agent is configured to block the vent hole upon at least one of being heated and absorbing water.

12. The aerosol generating article according to claim 10 or 11 , wherein the cooling element is configured to at least one of melt upon heating and expand upon absorbing water to block the vent hole.

13. The aerosol generating article according to any of claims 10 to 12, wherein the cooling segment defines the vent hole.

14. The aerosol generating article according to claim 13, wherein the vent hole is proximal to the mouthpiece.

15. An aerosol provision system comprising: an aerosol generating article according to any of claims 1 to 14; an aerosol provision device having a chamber configured to at least partially receive the aerosol generating article.

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