Aerosol Provision Device

The present application is a National Phase entry of PCT Application No. PCT/EP2023/062048 filed May 5, 2023, which claim priority to GB Application No. 2206648.4 filed May 6, 2022, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

The present invention relates to an aerosol provision device. The present invention also relates to an aerosol provision system.

Smoking articles such as cigarettes, cigars and the like burn tobacco during use to create tobacco smoke. Attempts have been made to provide alternatives to these articles that burn tobacco by creating products that release compounds without burning. Examples of such products are heating devices which release compounds by heating, but not burning, the material. The material may be for example tobacco or other non-tobacco products, which may or may not contain nicotine.

In accordance with some embodiments described herein, there is provided an aerosol provision device for use with an article comprising aerosol generating material, comprising: a housing comprising a plurality of perforations, each perforation including a dimension of less than 50 microns; and a light source disposed within the housing adjacent to the plurality of perforations, arranged so that, when the light source is activated, light from the light source visibly passes through the perforations, and when the light source is not active, the light source is not visible to the naked eye through the perforations.

Optionally, when the light source is not active, the perforations are not visible to the naked eye.

Optionally, the housing comprises a button. Optionally, the perforations are provided in the button.

Optionally, the perforations are formed by etching and, optionally, laser etching.

Optionally, the perforations include a dimension of between 5 microns and 50 microns. Optionally, the perforations include a dimension of between 5 microns and 20 microns. Optionally, the perforations include a dimension of between 30 microns and 40 microns.

Optionally, the plurality of perforations form an array. Optionally, the array is circular. Optionally, the array is ring-shaped.

Optionally, the device comprises a plurality of light sources disposed within the housing adjacent to the plurality of perforations, each light source being configured to illuminate a respective portion of the array.

Optionally, the plurality of light sources is equally spaced circumferentially about the array.

Optionally, the plurality of light sources comprises four light sources.

Optionally, the plurality of light sources is configured to illuminate sequentially to indicate progress through a ramp up phase of a use session.

Optionally, the plurality of light sources is configured to dim sequentially to indicate time remaining in a use session.

Optionally, a subset of the plurality of light sources is configured to illuminate to indicate a charge status of the aerosol provision device.

Optionally, the aerosol provision device further comprises: a further plurality of perforations, each of the further plurality of perforations including a dimension of less than 50 microns, and a further light source disposed in the housing adjacent to the further plurality of perforations, arranged so that, when the further light source is activated, light from the further light source visibly passes through the further plurality of perforations, and when the further light source is not active, the further light source is not visible to the naked eye through the further plurality of perforations, the further light source being configured to illuminate to indicate whether the device is operating in a first mode at a first temperature or in a second mode at a second temperature, the second temperature being higher than the first temperature.

In accordance with some embodiments described herein, there is provided an aerosol provision device for use with an article comprising aerosol generating material, the aerosol provision device comprising a plurality of light sources arranged in a circular array.

Optionally, the plurality of light sources are equally spaced circumferentially about the circle.

Optionally, the plurality of light sources comprises four light sources.

Optionally, the plurality of light sources are configured to illuminate sequentially to indicate progress through a ramp up phase of a use session.

Optionally, the plurality of light sources are configured to dim sequentially to indicate time remaining in a use session.

Optionally, a subset of the plurality of light sources is configured to illuminate to indicate a charge status of the aerosol provision device.

Optionally, the aerosol provision device comprises a further light source disposed in the housing, the further light source being configured to illuminate to indicate whether the device is operating in a first mode at a first temperature or in a second mode at a second temperature, the second temperature being higher than the first temperature.

In accordance with some embodiments described herein, there is provided an aerosol provision device for use with an article comprising aerosol generating material, comprising: a housing comprising a plurality of perforations.

In accordance with some embodiments described herein, there is provided a system comprising an article comprising aerosol generating material and the aerosol provision device as described in any of the above.

As used herein, the term “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. Aerosol-generating material may include any plant based material, such as tobacco-containing material and may, for example, include one or more of tobacco, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco or tobacco substitutes. Aerosol-generating material also may include other, non-tobacco, products, which, depending on the product, may or may not contain nicotine. Aerosol-generating material may for example be in the form of a solid, a liquid, a gel, a wax or the like. Aerosol-generating material may for example also be a combination or a blend of materials. Aerosol-generating material may also be known as “smokable material”.

The aerosol-generating material may comprise a binder and an aerosol former. Optionally, an active and/or filler may also be present. Optionally, a solvent, such as water, is also present and one or more other components of the aerosol-generating material may or may not be soluble in the solvent. In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material is substantially free from botanical material. In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material is substantially tobacco free.

The aerosol-generating material may comprise or be an “amorphous solid”. The amorphous solid may be a “monolithic solid”. 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 an aerosol-generating film. The aerosol-generating film may comprise or be a sheet, which may optionally be shredded to form a shredded sheet. The aerosol-generating sheet or shredded sheet may be substantially tobacco free.

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 delivery system is a non-combustible aerosol provision system, such as a powered non-combustible aerosol provision system.

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.

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, tobacco or a non-tobacco product.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

An aerosol generating device can receive an article comprising aerosol generating material for heating. An “article” in this context is a component that includes or contains in use the aerosol generating material, which is heated to volatilize the aerosol generating material, and optionally other components in use. A user may insert the article into the aerosol generating device before it is heated to produce an aerosol, which the user subsequently inhales. The article may be, for example, of a predetermined or specific size that is configured to be placed within a heating chamber of the device which is sized to receive the article.

shows an aerosol provision devicefor generating aerosol from an aerosol generating material. In broad outline, the devicemay be used to heat a replaceable articlecomprising the aerosol generating material, to generate an aerosol or other inhalable medium which is inhaled by a user of the device. The articleand the devicetogether form an aerosol provision system.

The devicecomprises a body. The bodycomprises a chamber(refer to). A housingsurrounds and houses various components of the body. An openingis formed at one end of the body, communicating with the chamber. The articlemay be at least partially inserted through the openinginto the chamberfor heating by an aerosol generator(refer to). In use, the articlemay be heated by one or more components of the aerosol generator.

The housingincludes a button assembly, which operates the devicewhen pressed. For example, a user may turn on the deviceby operating the button assembly. The button assembly will be further described below in relation to.

The aerosol generatordefines a longitudinal axis X.

shows a schematic cross sectional view of the device. The devicecomprises an electrical component, such as a connector/port, which can receive a cable to charge a battery of the device. For example, the connectormay be a charging port, such as a USB charging port. In some examples the connectormay be used additionally or alternatively to transfer data between the deviceand another device, such as a computing device.

The devicecomprises a power source, for example, a battery, such as a rechargeable battery or a non-rechargeable battery. Examples of suitable batteries include, for example, a lithium battery (such as a lithium-ion battery), a nickel battery (such as a nickel-cadmium battery), and an alkaline battery. The battery is electrically coupled to the aerosol generatorto supply electrical power when required and under control of a controller to heat the aerosol generating material.

The devicecomprises an electronics module. The electronics modulemay comprise, for example, a printed circuit board (PCB). The PCB may support at least one controller, such as a processor, and memory. The PCB may also comprise one or more electrical tracks to electrically connect together various electronic components of the device. For example, the battery terminals may be electrically connected to the PCB so that power can be distributed throughout the device.

The bodyhas end surfaces of the device. The end of the deviceclosest to the openingmay be known as the proximal end (or mouth end)of the devicebecause, in use, it is closest to the mouth of the user. In use, a user inserts an articleinto the aperture, operates the aerosol generatorto begin heating the aerosol generating material and draws on the aerosol generated in the device. This causes the aerosol to flow through the devicealong a flow path towards the proximal end of the device.

The other end of the device furthest away from the aperturemay be known as the distal endof the devicebecause, in use, it is the end furthest away from the mouth of the user. As a user draws on the aerosol generated in the device, the aerosol flows in a direction towards the proximal end of the device. The terms proximal and distal as applied to features of the devicewill be described by reference to the relative positioning of such features with respect to each other in a proximal-distal direction along the longitudinal axis.

As used herein, one-piece component refers to a component of the devicewhich is not separable into two or more components following assembly of the device. Integrally formed relates to two or more features that are formed into a one piece component during a manufacturing stage of the component.