US20240358065A1

US20240358065A1 - An article for use with a non-combustible aerosol provision device

Info

Publication number: US20240358065A1
Application number: US18/573,854
Authority: US
Inventors: Steven Holford
Original assignee: Nicoventures Trading Ltd
Current assignee: Nicoventures Trading Ltd
Priority date: 2021-06-22
Filing date: 2022-06-20
Publication date: 2024-10-31
Also published as: JP2024522857A; WO2022269241A1; EP4358754A1; GB202108939D0; KR20240019156A; CN118139542A

Abstract

An article for use with a non-combustible aerosol provision device including a mouth end segment to be received in the mouth of a user; an aerosol-generating material configured to generate an aerosol when the article is received in the device and a user draws on the mouth end segment, and a tubular cooling segment having a longitudinal axis and being located between the aerosol-generating material and the mouth end segment through which the aerosol flows towards the mouth end segment. The tubular cooling segment includes a ventilation region through which air is drawn into the tubular cooling segment and the ventilation region is configured such that a swirling flow is generated by air entering the tubular cooling segment through the ventilation region.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a National Phase entry of PCT Application No. PCT/GB2022/051570 filed Jun. 20, 2022, which claims priority to GB Application No. 2108939.6 filed Jun. 22, 2021, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The following relates to an article for use with a non-combustible aerosol provision device, to a filter assembly that forms part of such an article, to a non-combustible aerosol provision system, and to a method of manufacturing an article according to the invention.

BACKGROUND

Certain tobacco industry products produce an aerosol for inhalation by a user. For example, tobacco heating devices heat an aerosol-generating material such as tobacco to form an aerosol without burning the material. A tobacco industry product of this type may include a mouthpiece through which the aerosol is drawn into the user's mouth.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided an article for use with a non-combustible aerosol provision device, the article comprising: a mouth end segment to be received in the mouth of a user; an aerosol-generating material configured to generate an aerosol when the article is received in the device and a user draws on the mouth end segment; a tubular cooling segment having a longitudinal axis and being located between the aerosol-generating material and the mouth end segment through which the aerosol flows towards the mouth end segment; wherein the tubular cooling segment comprises a ventilation region through which air is drawn into the tubular cooling segment, the ventilation region being configured such that a swirling flow is generated by air entering the tubular cooling segment through the ventilation region.
According to another aspect of the invention there is provided an article for use with a non-combustible aerosol provision device, the article comprising: a mouth end segment to be received in the mouth of a user; an aerosol-generating material configured to generate an aerosol when the article is received in the device and a user draws on the mouth end segment; a tubular cooling segment having a longitudinal axis and being located between the aerosol-generating material and the mouth end segment through which the aerosol flows towards the mouth end segment; wherein the tubular cooling segment comprises a ventilation region through which air is drawn into the tubular cooling segment, the ventilation region being configured such that the air is drawn into the tubular cooling segment through the ventilation region at an angle other than perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tubular cooling segment.
The ventilation region may comprise a hole in the tubular cooling segment.
Optionally, the ventilation region may comprise a plurality of holes spaced from each other around the circumference of the tubular cooling segment.
The ventilation region may comprise a plurality of rows of holes, each row may be spaced from its adjacent row in a direction extending along the longitudinal axis of the tubular cooling segment.
The plurality of rows of holes may be configured to generate opposing swirling flows within the tubular cooling segment.
Optionally, the tubular cooling segment may have an inner surface and the at least one hole may extend into the tubular cooling segment at a tangent to said inner surface.
The tubular cooling segment may have an inner surface and the at least one hole may extend into the tubular cooling segment in a direction which is parallel to, and offset from, a tangent to said inner surface and to a line intersecting the longitudinal axis of the tubular cooling segment that is parallel to said tangent.
The at least one hole may be configured such that the air entering the tubular cooling segment flows in a direction opposite to the flow of aerosol from the aerosol generating material towards the mouth end segment.
The at least one hole may be configured such that the air entering the tubular cooling segment flows in the same direction as the flow of aerosol from the aerosol generating material towards the mouth end segment.
The at least one hole may taper in a direction into the tubular cooling segment.
Optionally, the at least one hole may be at least one slot.
The at least one slot may have a major dimension that may extend in a direction of the longitudinal axis of the tubular cooling segment.
The at least one slot may have a major dimension that may extend in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tubular cooling segment.
The at least one slot may have a major dimension that may extend in a direction that is angled between a position where the major dimension of the at least one slot extends in a direction of the longitudinal axis of the tubular cooling segment, and where the major dimension of the at least one slot extends in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tubular cooling segment.
Optionally, the tubular cooling segment may be formed from fibrous material.
Optionally, the fibrous material may be filamentary tow.
The filamentary tow may be cellulose acetate.
Optionally, the fibrous material may comprise paper.
Optionally, the article may comprise a filter segment located between the tubular cooling segment and the mouth end segment.
The filter segment may comprise a filamentary tow, such as cellulose acetate.
The article may comprise an elongated filter segment instead of the mouth end segment.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided an article for use with a non-combustible aerosol provision device, the article comprising: a mouth end segment to be received in the mouth of a user; an aerosol-generating material configured to generate an aerosol when the article is received in the device and a user draws on the mouth end segment; a tubular cooling segment having a longitudinal axis and located between the aerosol-generating material and the mouth end segment through which the aerosol flows before passing through the mouth end segment; wherein the tubular cooling segment comprises a ventilation region through which air is drawn into the tubular cooling segment, the ventilation region comprising at least one slot in the tubular cooling segment.
The at least one slot may extend through the tubular cooling segment perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tubular cooling segment.
Optionally, the ventilation region may comprise a plurality of ventilation slots equally spaced from each other around the circumference of the tubular cooling segment.
The ventilation region may comprise a plurality of rows of slots, each row may be spaced from its adjacent row in a direction extending along the longitudinal axis of the tubular cooling segment.
The at least one slot may have a major dimension that may extend in a direction of the longitudinal axis of the tubular cooling segment.
The at least one slot may have a major dimension that may extend in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tubular cooling segment.
The at least one slot may have a major dimension that may extend in a direction that is angled between a position where the major dimension of the at least one slot extends in a direction of the longitudinal axis of the tubular cooling segment, and where the major dimension of the at least one slot extends in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tubular cooling segment.
The at least one slot may be configured such that the air entering the tubular cooling segment flows in a direction opposite to the flow of aerosol from the aerosol generating material towards the mouth end segment.
The at least one slot may be configured such that the air entering the tubular cooling segment flows in the same direction as the flow of aerosol from the aerosol generating material towards the mouth end segment.
The at least one slot may comprise a flap.
Optionally, the flap may extend at an angle into the tubular cooling segment and may be configured to deflect the flow of aerosol through the tubular cooling segment.
The at least one slot may be configured such that a swirling flow is generated within the tubular cooling segment.
The plurality of rows of slots may be configured to generate opposing swirling flows within the tubular cooling segment.
The tubular cooling segment may have an inner surface and the at least one slot may extend into the tubular cooling segment at a tangent to said inner surface.
The tubular cooling segment may have an inner surface and the at least one slot may extend into the tubular cooling segment along a line which is parallel to, and offset from, a tangent to said inner surface and a line intersecting the longitudinal axis of the tubular cooling segment that is parallel to said tangent.
The tubular cooling segment may be formed from fibrous material.
The fibrous material may be filamentary tow.
The filamentary tow may be cellulose acetate.
The fibrous material may comprise paper.
The tubular cooling segment may comprise an inner surface and the at least one slot may extend partially through the tubular cooling segment towards the inner surface.
Optionally, the at least one slot may stop short of the inner surface by a distance of between 0.1 and 1 mm.
The article may comprise a filter segment located between the tubular cooling segment and the mouth end segment.
The filter segment may comprise a filamentary tow, such as cellulose acetate.
The article may comprise an elongated filter segment instead of the mouth end segment.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a filter assembly for attachment to a rod of aerosol-generating material to form the above articles.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a system comprising a non-combustible aerosol provision device and the above articles.
According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of manufacturing the above articles, including configuring the ventilation region such that, when a user draws on the mouth end segment, a swirling flow is generated in the tubular cooling segment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional side elevation of an article according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side elevation of an article according to another embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are cross-sectional end views of the tubular cooling segment taken through the ventilation region of the article shown in FIG. 1 or 2 , taken along lines A-A;

FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional side elevation of an article according to another embodiment of the invention in which the ventilation holes are in a first orientation.

FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional side elevation of an article according to another embodiment of the invention in which the ventilation holes are in a second orientation.

FIG. 5A is a side elevation of part of an article according to another embodiment of the invention in which the ventilation holes are slots, the slots being in a first orientation;

FIG. 5B is a side elevation of part of an article according to another embodiment of the invention in which the ventilation holes are slots, the slots being in a second orientation;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of a tubular cooling segment according to another embodiment of the invention in which the ventilation slots comprise flaps.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional end view of the tubular cooling segment, taken through the ventilation region of an article according to another embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective illustration of a non-combustible aerosol provision device for generating an aerosol from the aerosol-generating material of the articles of FIGS. 1 , to 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

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.
In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision system is a powered non-combustible aerosol provision system, and the non-combustible aerosol provision device for use with the non-combustible aerosol provision system is an electronic cigarette, also known as a vaping device or electronic nicotine delivery system (END), although the presence of nicotine in the aerosol-generating material is not essential.
In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision system is an aerosol-generating material heating system, also known as a heat-not-burn system. An example of such a system is a tobacco heating system.
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, a tobacco or a non-tobacco product.
In some embodiments, the disclosure relates to consumables comprising aerosol-generating material. The consumables are configured for use with non-combustible aerosol provision device of the invention. These consumables are generally referred to as articles throughout the disclosure.
In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision device, of the non-combustible aerosol provision system of the invention, 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 that 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.
In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision device comprises an area for receiving the article such as an aperture into which the article may be inserted for use with the device.
The article of the invention includes aerosol-generating material. 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 flavorants. In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating 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 50 wt %, 60 wt % or 70 wt % of amorphous solid, to about 90 wt %, 95 wt % or 100 wt % of amorphous solid.
The aerosol-generating material may comprise one or more active substances and/or flavors, one or more aerosol-former materials, and optionally one or more other functional material.
In the figures described herein, like reference numerals are used to illustrate equivalent features, articles or components.
FIG. 1 illustrates an article 1 according to an embodiment of the invention. The article 1 comprises a rod of aerosol-generating material 2 at a distal end, and a mouth end segment 3 at the opposite or proximal end. A tubular cooling segment 4 is located between the aerosol-generating material 2 and the mouth end segment 3, and has an inner surface 5. The aerosol-generating material 2, the tubular cooling segment 4 and the mouth end segment 3 are in longitudinal alignment along the longitudinal axis X-X of the article 1.
The aerosol-generating material 2 may contain an aerosol-former material such as glycerol. In alternative examples, the aerosol-former material can be another material as described herein or a combination thereof. The aerosol-former material has been found to improve the sensory performance of the article 1, by helping to transfer compounds such as flavor compounds from the aerosol-generating substrate 2 to the consumer. However, an issue with adding such aerosol-former materials to the aerosol-generating substrate 2 within an article 1 for use in a non-combustible aerosol provision system can be that, when the aerosol-generating material 2 is aerosolized upon heating, it can increase the mass of aerosol which is delivered by the article 1. This increased mass can maintain a higher temperature as it passes through the mouth end segment 3. As it passes through the mouth end segment 3, the aerosol transfers heat into the mouth end segment 3 and this warms the outer surface of the mouth end segment 3, including the area that contacts the user's lips during use. The mouth end segment temperature and/or aerosol temperature can be higher than a user may be accustomed to when smoking, for instance, conventional cigarettes. Therefore, it is desirable to reduce the temperature of the aerosol to prevent the mouth end segment 3 from becoming warmer than would normally be the case.
In embodiments of the invention, the tubular cooling segment 4 comprises a ventilation region 7 through which air is drawn into the tubular cooling segment 4. Air drawn into the tubular cooling segment 4 through the ventilation region 7 mixes with the aerosol generated by the aerosol-generating material 2 and acts to cool the aerosol as it travels towards the mouth end segment 3, thereby reducing the temperature of the mouth end segment 3. The ventilation region 7 may be located closer to the mouth end segment 3 than to the aerosol-generating material 3 along the length of the tubular cooling segment 4.
As seen in FIG. 1 , the aerosol-generating material 2 is wrapped in a wrapper 8. The tubular cooling segment 4 and the mouth end segment 3 are wrapped in plug wrap 9. A tipping paper 10 connects the aerosol-generating material 2 with the tubular cooling segment 4 and mouth end segment 3. The tipping paper 10 covers both the tubular cooling segment 2 and the mouth end segment 3 and extends over a portion of the aerosol-generating material 2.
As illustrated in FIG. 2 , an embodiment of the article 1 may further comprise a filter segment 11 located between the tubular cooling segment 4 and the mouth end segment 3. The filter segment 11 may be formed from a filamentary tow, and optionally, the filamentary tow is cellulose acetate. In this arrangement, the aerosol-generating substrate 2 is wrapped in a wrapper 8 and the filter segment 11 is wrapped in a first plug wrap 12. The tubular cooling segment 4, wrapped filter segment 11 and mouth end segment 3 are wrapped in a second plug wrap 9. A tipping paper 10 connects the aerosol-generating material 2 with the tubular cooling segment 4, the filter segment 11 and the mouth end segment 3. The tipping paper 10 covers the tubular cooling segment 4, the filter segment 11 and the mouth end segment 3 and extends over a portion of the aerosol-generating material 2. Furthermore, the article 1 may comprise a longer filter segment 11 instead of the mouth end segment 3. In this embodiment, the article 1 comprises the aerosol-generating substrate 2, the tubular cooling segment 4 and the filter segment 11. The filter segment 11 is elongated to fill the space left by the absence of the mouth end segment 3.
FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate a cross sectional view of the tubular cooling segment 4, taken along line A-A in each of FIGS. 1 and 2 . In some embodiments, the tubular cooling segment 4 may be formed from a fibrous material such as paper (FIG. 3A). If the tubular cooling segment 4 is formed from a fibrous material, that fibrous material may also be a filamentary tow, optionally cellulose acetate. If the tubular cooling segment 4 is formed from filamentary tow, the wall thickness of the tubular cooling segment 4 may be greater, as shown in FIG. 3B, than if the tubular cooling segment 4 is made from paper, as shown in FIG. 3A, or from some other material.
If the tubular cooling segment 4 is formed from any material that has a degree of air permeability, the ventilation region 7 may not extend all the way through the tubular cooling segment 4, but may stop short of the inner surface 5 of the tubular cooling segment 4 so that air passing through the ventilation region 7 diffuses through the tubular cooling segment 4 before entering the tubular passage in the tubular cooling segment 4 and mixing with the aerosol passing through the tubular cooling segment 4. Such an embodiment is described in more detail below, with reference to FIG. 5 .
The ventilation region 7 may comprise at least one ventilation hole 13 in the tubular cooling segment 4. As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the ventilation region comprises four ventilation holes 13 equally spaced around the circumference of the tubular cooling segment 4. It is to be appreciated that the ventilation region 7 may comprises any number of holes 13 spaced at any distance from one another around the circumference of the tubular cooling segment 4. The ventilation region 7 may also comprise one or more rows of holes 13 extending into the tubular cooling segment 4 and arranged circumferentially around the tubular cooling segment 4. Each row may be spaced from its adjacent row in a direction along the longitudinal axis X-X of the tubular cooling segment 4.
The holes 13 may extend through the tubular cooling segment 4 in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X-X of the tubular cooling segment 4. However, it is envisaged that the holes 13 may also extend through the tubular cooling segment 4 at an angle to the longitudinal axis X-X, so that the air enters the tubular cooling segment 4 through the holes 13 in a direction towards the longitudinal axis but angled towards the distal end, or angled towards the mouth end segment 3, of the article 1.
As shown in FIG. 3A and 3B, each hole extends into the tubular cooling segment 4 such that air entering the tubular cooling segment 4 generates a swirling flow inside the tubular cooling segment 4, as indicated by arrows S in FIGS. 3A and 3B. This swirling flow promotes mixing of the air entering the tubular cooling segment 4 through the holes 13 with the aerosol travelling in a longitudinal direction through the tubular cooling segment 4 along the axis X-X of the tubular cooling segment 4.
To generate a swirling flow, the holes 13 are preferably located so that air enters the tubular cooling segment 4 at a tangent, or close to being at a tangent, to the inner surface 5 of the tubular cooling segment 4. Air entering the tubular cooling segment 4 through the holes 13 is therefore caused to sweep around the tubular passage close to the inner surface 5, thereby creating a vortex within the tubular cooling segment 4, which promotes mixing. The improved mixing conditions within the tubular cooling segment 4 created by the generated vortex increases cooling of the aerosol generated by the aerosol-generating material 2 before it reaches the mouth end segment 3. Therefore, the temperature of the mouth end segment 3 will be reduced.
It will be appreciated that the air need not enter the tubular cooling segment 4 at a tangent to its inner surface 5, but may also enter along a path which is parallel to, and offset from, both a tangent and a line which intersects the longitudinal axis X-X of the tubular cooling segment 4. As shown in FIGS. 3A, the offset distance of the holes 13 from a line Y-Y, which is parallel and extending through the axis X-X, is close to being at a maximum and at which it almost forms a tangent with the inner surface 5 of the tubular cooling segment 4. The dotted arrow 14 in FIG. 3A shows a potential alternative position of the holes 13 between a tangential position and the line Y-Y. It will be appreciated that the swirl effect that is generated will be less, the closer the holes are positioned to the line Y-Y.
FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate another embodiment of the article 1. In FIG. 4A, the ventilation holes 7 are configured such that the air entering the tubular cooling segment 4 flows in a direction opposite to the flow of aerosol as it flows from the aerosol generating material 2 to the mouth end segment 3. This is achieved by the ventilation holes 7 extending in an angled direction towards the aerosol generating material. In FIG. 4B, the ventilation holes are configured such that the air entering the tubular cooling segment 4 flows in the same direction as the flow of aerosol as it flows from the aerosol generating material 2 to the mouth end segment 3. This is achieved by the ventilation holes 7 extending in an angled direction towards the mouth end segment 3.
In some embodiments, the ventilation holes 7 may taper in a direction extending into the tubular cooling segment 4. In other words, the diameter of each hole 13 at the outer surface of the tubular cooling segment 4 can be larger than the diameter of the hole 13 at the inner surface 5 of the tubular cooling segment 4.
In embodiments containing multiple rows of holes 13, the multiple rows of holes 13 may be configured to generate opposing swirl effects within the tubular cooling segment 4. For example, a first row of holes 13 may be configured to generate a clockwise swirl within the tubular cooling segment 4 and a second row of holes 13 may be configured to generate an anticlockwise swirl within the tubular cooling segment 4.
The ventilation holes 13 can be any shape or size and may be cylindrical. In some other embodiments, the holes 13 are slots 13. The slots 13 may have a major dimension extending in a longitudinal direction along the axis X-X of the tubular cooling segment 4, as shown in the side elevation of part of the proximal end of the article shown in FIG. 5A. Alternatively, the slots 13 may have a major dimension extending in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X-X of the tubular cooling segment 4, as shown in the side elevation of part of the proximal end of the article shown in FIG. 5B. Additionally, the major dimension of the slots 13 may extend in a direction that is angled between a minimum, where the major dimension of the slots 13 extends in a longitudinal direction along the axis X-X, and a maximum, where the major dimension of the slots 13 extends in a direction perpendicular to the axis X-X. The slots 13 can be arranged spaced from each other circumferentially around the tubular cooling segment 4. Furthermore, there may be one or more rows of slots 13 arranged circumferentially around the tubular cooling segment 4, with each row being spaced from its adjacent row in a longitudinal direction along the axis X-X of the tubular cooling segment 4. If the ventilation region 7 is provided by slots 13, those slots may be offset, in the same way the holes 13 are offset in FIGS. 3A and 3B. Alternatively, the slots may be extend radially towards the longitudinal axis X-X of the tubular cooling segment 4.
In embodiments containing multiple rows of slots 13, the multiple rows of slots 13 may be configured to generate opposing swirl effects within the tubular cooling segment 4. For example, a first row of slots 13 may be configured to generate a clockwise swirl within the tubular cooling segment 4 and a second row of slots 13 may be configured to generate an anticlockwise swirl within the tubular cooling segment 4.
FIG. 6 illustrates a tubular cooling segment according to an embodiment of the invention. The slots 13 in the tubular cooling segment 4 comprise a flap 17. The flaps 17 extend at an angle into the tubular cooling segment 4 and are configured to deflect the aerosol flowing through the tubular cooling segment 4. For example, the flaps 17 may extend at an angle into the tubular cooling segment 4 and in a direction towards the mouth end segment 3. Therefore, the air drawn into the tubular cooling segment 4 through the slots 13 flows in the same direction as the aerosol generated by the aerosol-generating material 2 flowing through the tubular cooling segment 4 towards the mouth end segment 3. Alternatively, the flaps 17 may extend at an angle into the tubular cooling segment 4 and in a direction towards the aerosol-generating material 2. Therefore, the air drawn into the tubular cooling segment 4 through the slots 13 flows in the opposite direction to the aerosol generated by the aerosol-generating material 2 flowing through the tubular cooling segment 4 towards the mouth end segment 3. It is to be appreciated that the flaps 17 may extend into the tubular cooling segment 4 at any angle. The presence of the flaps 17 within the tubular cooling segment 4 may also promote mixing of the aerosol generated by the aerosol-generating material 2 and the ventilation air due to the flow of aerosol and air through the tubular cooling segment 4 being deflected by the flaps 17. The flaps 17 may be formed by cutting the slots 13 into the tubular cooling segment 4 such that a portion of the cut material remains attached to the tubular cooling segment 4. The flaps 17 may be angled into the tubular cooling segment 4 by mechanical means. Alternatively, the flaps 17 may be angled into the tubular cooling segment 4 via non-mechanical means such as a controlled air blast.
In any embodiment of the invention, the tubular cooling segment 4 may be formed from a material which has a degree of air permeability. For example, the tubular cooling segment 4 may be formed from a fibrous material such as paper. The fibrous material used to form the tubular cooling segment 4 may also be a filamentary tow, optionally cellulose acetate.
The holes or slots 13 that form the ventilation region 7 may extend all the way through the wall of the tubular cooling segment 4 into the tubular passage. However, if the tubular cooling segment 4 is formed from a material having a degree of air permeability, it is envisaged that the holes 13 may extend only partially through the wall of the tubular cooling segment 4.
With reference to the cross-sectional view through the ventilation region 7 of a tubular cooling segment 4 of FIG. 7 , the tubular cooling segment 4 comprises a wall 15 separated by inner and outer surfaces 5,16. The holes or slots 13 extend from the outer surface 16 into the tubular cooling segment 4 towards the inner surface 5 but stop short of the inner surface 5, so that the air passing through the holes or slots 13 passes through the air permeable material of the tubular cooling segment 4 into the passage extending through the tubular cooling segment 4 to mix with the aerosol passing therethrough. The ventilation holes or slots 13 may end at a distance D2 from the inner surface 5 of the tubular cooling segment 4. The distance D2 may be between 0.2 and 1 mm.
As the holes or slots 13 stop short of the inner surface 5 of the tubular cooling segment 4, the air drawn into the tubular cooling segment 4 through the holes or slots 13 permeates through the material of the tubular cooling segment 4 for the distance D2 and diffuses or spreads out around the circumference of the inner surface 5 of the tubular cooling segment 4. Therefore, the inner surface 5 of the tubular cooling segment 4 is more uniformly cooled and acts as a cooling blanket to cool the aerosol generated by the aerosol-generating material 2 as it passes along the tubular cooling segment 4 towards the mouth end segment 3.
Although the cross-section of FIG. 7 illustrates an arrangement in which the holes or slots 13 are essentially aligned so as to direct air in a radial direction towards the longitudinal axis X-X of the tubular cooling segment 4, it will be appreciated that the holes or slots may be offset, as previously described above with reference to FIGS. 3A and 3B, in addition to extending partially through the wall of the tubular cooling segment 4.
FIG. 8 shows an example of a non-combustible aerosol provision device 100 for generating aerosol from an aerosol-generating medium/material such as the aerosol-generating material 2 of the article 1, described herein. In broad outline, the device 100 may be used to heat the aerosol-generating material of article 1, to generate an aerosol which is inhaled by a user of the device 100. The device 100 and article 1 together form a non-combustible aerosol provision system.
The device 100 comprises a housing 102 (in the form of an outer cover) which surrounds and houses the various components of the device 100. The device 100 has an opening 104 in one end, through which the article 1 may be inserted for heating by a heating assembly within the device 100, such as an inductive heating assembly. In use, the article 1 may be fully or partially inserted into an opening 104 of device where it may be heated by one or more components of the heater assembly to generate an aerosol. A user places their lips around the mouth end segment 3 and draws on the article 1. This causes the aerosol to flow through the device towards the mouth end segment 3 and into the user's mouth.
The various embodiments described herein are presented only to assist in understanding and teaching the claimed features. These embodiments are provided as a representative sample of embodiments only, and are not exhaustive and/or exclusive. It is to be understood that advantages, embodiments, examples, functions, features, structures, and/or other aspects described herein are not to be considered limitations on the scope of the invention as defined by the claims or limitations on equivalents to the claims, and that other embodiments may be utilized and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the claimed invention. Various embodiments of the invention may suitably comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of, appropriate combinations of the disclosed elements, components, features, parts, steps, means, etc, other than those specifically described herein. In addition, this disclosure may include other inventions not presently claimed, but which may be claimed in future.

Claims

1. An article for use with a non-combustible aerosol provision device, the article comprising:

a mouth end segment to be received in the mouth of a user;

an aerosol-generating material configured to generate an aerosol when the article is received in the device and a user draws on the mouth end segment;

a tubular cooling segment having a longitudinal axis and being located between the aerosol-generating material and the mouth end segment through which the aerosol flows towards the mouth end segment;

wherein the tubular cooling segment comprises a ventilation region through which air is drawn into the tubular cooling segment, the ventilation region being configured such that a swirling flow is generated by air entering the tubular cooling segment through the ventilation region.

2. An article for use with a non-combustible aerosol provision device, the article comprising:

a mouth end segment to be received in the mouth of a user;

wherein the tubular cooling segment comprises a ventilation region through which air is drawn into the tubular cooling segment, the ventilation region being configured such that the air is drawn into the tubular cooling segment through the ventilation region at an angle other than perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tubular cooling segment.

3. An article according to claim 1, wherein the ventilation region comprises a hole in the tubular cooling segment.

4. An article according to claim 3, wherein the ventilation region comprises a plurality of holes spaced from each other around the circumference of the tubular cooling segment.

5. An article according to claim 4, wherein the ventilation region comprises a plurality of rows of holes, each row being spaced from its adjacent row in a direction extending along the longitudinal axis of the tubular cooling segment.

6. An article according to claim 5, wherein the plurality of rows of holes are configured to generate opposing swirling flows within the tubular cooling segment.

7. An article according to claim 1, wherein the tubular cooling segment has an inner surface and the at least one hole extends into the tubular cooling segment at a tangent to said inner surface.

8. An article according to claim 3, wherein the tubular cooling segment has an inner surface and the at least one hole extends into the tubular cooling segment in a direction which is parallel to, and offset from, a tangent to said inner surface and to a line intersecting the longitudinal axis of the tubular cooling segment that is parallel to said tangent.

9. An article according to claim 3, when dependent on claim 2, wherein the at least one hole is configured such that the air entering the tubular cooling segment flows in a direction opposite to the flow of aerosol from the aerosol generating material towards the mouth end segment.

10. An article according to claim 3, wherein the at least one hole is configured such that the air entering the tubular cooling segment flows in the same direction as the flow of aerosol from the aerosol generating material towards the mouth end segment.

11. An article according to claim 3, wherein the at least one hole tapers in a direction into the tubular cooling segment.

12. An article according to claim 3, wherein the at least one hole is at least one slot.

13. An article according to claim 12, wherein the at least one slot has a major dimension that extends in a direction of the longitudinal axis of the tubular cooling segment.

14. An article according to claim 12, wherein the at least one slot has a major dimension that extends in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tubular cooling segment.

15. An article according to claim 12, wherein the at least one slot has a major dimension that extends in a direction that is angled between a position where the major dimension of the at least one slot extends in a direction of the longitudinal axis of the tubular cooling segment, and where the major dimension of the at least one slot extends in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tubular cooling segment.

16. An article according to claim 1, wherein the tubular cooling segment is formed from fibrous material.

17. An article according to claim 16, wherein the fibrous material is filamentary tow.

18. An article according to claim 17, wherein the filamentary tow is cellulose acetate.

19. An article according to claim 16, wherein the fibrous material comprises paper.

20. An article according to claim 1, comprising a filter segment located between the tubular cooling segment and the mouth end segment.

21. An article according to claim 20, wherein the filter segment comprises a filamentary tow, such as cellulose acetate.

22. An article according to claim 20, comprising an elongated filter segment instead of the mouth end segment.

23. An article for use with a non-combustible aerosol provision device, the article comprising:

a mouth end segment to be received in the mouth of a user;

a tubular cooling segment having a longitudinal axis and located between the aerosol-generating material and the mouth end segment through which the aerosol flows before passing through the mouth end segment;

wherein the tubular cooling segment comprises a ventilation region through which air is drawn into the tubular cooling segment, the ventilation region comprising at least one slot in the tubular cooling segment.

24. An article according to claim 23, wherein the at least one slot extends through the tubular cooling segment perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tubular cooling segment.

25. An article according to claim 23, wherein the ventilation region comprises a plurality of ventilation slots equally spaced from each other around the circumference of the tubular cooling segment.

26. An article according to claim 24, wherein the ventilation region comprises a plurality of rows of slots, each row being spaced from its adjacent row in a direction extending along the longitudinal axis of the tubular cooling segment.

27. An article according to claim 23, wherein the at least one slot has a major dimension that extends in a direction of the longitudinal axis of the tubular cooling segment.

28. An article according to claim 23, wherein the at least one slot has a major dimension that extends in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tubular cooling segment.

29. An article according to claim 23, wherein the at least one slot has a major dimension that extends in a direction that is angled between a position where the major dimension of the at least one slot extends in a direction of the longitudinal axis of the tubular cooling segment, and where the major dimension of the at least one slot extends in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tubular cooling segment.

30. An article according to claim 23, wherein the at least one slot is configured such that the air entering the tubular cooling segment flows in a direction opposite to the flow of aerosol from the aerosol generating material towards the mouth end segment.

31. An article according to claim 23, wherein the at least one slot is configured such that the air entering the tubular cooling segment flows in the same direction as the flow of aerosol from the aerosol generating material towards the mouth end segment.

32. An article according to claim 23, wherein the at least one slot comprises a flap.

33. An article according to claim 32, wherein the flap extends at an angle into the tubular cooling segment and is configured to deflect the flow of aerosol through the tubular cooling segment.

34. An article according to claim 23, wherein the at least one slot is configured such that a swirling flow is generated within the tubular cooling segment.

35. An article according to claim 34, wherein the ventilation region comprises a plurality of rows of slots, each row being spaced from its adjacent row in a direction extending along the longitudinal axis of the tubular cooling segment, wherein the plurality of rows of slots are configured to generate opposing swirling flows within the tubular cooling segment.

36. An article according to claim 34, wherein the tubular cooling segment has an inner surface and the at least one slot extends into the tubular cooling segment at a tangent to said inner surface.

37. An article according to claim 34, wherein the tubular cooling segment has an inner surface and the at least one slot extends into the tubular cooling segment along a line which is parallel to, and offset from, a tangent to said inner surface and a line intersecting the longitudinal axis of the tubular cooling segment that is parallel to said tangent.

38. An article according to claim 23, wherein the tubular cooling segment is formed from fibrous material.

39. An article according to claim 38, wherein the fibrous material is filamentary tow.

40. An article according to claim 39, wherein the filamentary tow is cellulose acetate.

41. An article according to claim 38, wherein the fibrous material comprises paper.

42. An article according to claim 38, wherein the tubular cooling segment comprises an inner surface and the at least one slot extends partially through the tubular cooling segment towards the inner surface.

43. An article according to claim 42, wherein the at least one slot stops short of the inner surface by a distance of between 0.1 and 1 mm.

44. An article according to claim 23, comprising a filter segment located between the tubular cooling segment and the mouth end segment.

45. An article according to claim 44, wherein the filter segment comprises a filamentary tow, such as cellulose acetate.

46. An article according to claim 44, comprising an elongated filter segment instead of the mouth end segment.

47. A filter assembly for attachment to a rod of aerosol-generating material to form an article according to claim 1.

48. A system comprising a non-combustible aerosol provision device and an article according to claim 1.

49. A method of manufacturing an article according to claim 1, including configuring the ventilation region such that, when a user draws on the mouth end segment, a swirling flow is generated in the tubular cooling segment.

50. A method of manufacturing an article according to claim 23.