Non-Combustible Aerosol Provision Device

The present application is a National Phase Entry of PCT Application No. PCT/EP2022/052370, filed Feb. 1, 2022, which claims priority to GB Application No. 2101466.7, filed Feb. 3, 2021, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

The present invention relates to a non-combustible aerosol provision device. The non-combustible aerosol provision device generates aerosol for inhalation by a user of the non-combustible aerosol provision device.

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, which burn tobacco, by creating products that release compounds without burning. Examples of such products are so-called heat-not-burn products, also known as tobacco heating products or tobacco heating devices, which release compounds by heating, but not burning, the material. The material may be, for example, tobacco or other non-tobacco products or a combination, such as a blended mix, which may or may not contain nicotine.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a non-combustible aerosol provision device for generating an aerosol from aerosol-generating material comprised in a consumable, the non-combustible aerosol provision device comprising: a receptacle for receiving a consumable comprising aerosol-generating material; and an adaptor for being received in the receptacle, wherein the adaptor is configured to adapt the receptacle to receive, one at a time, each of a plurality of consumables having different sizes.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a non-combustible aerosol provision device for heating aerosol-generating material in a consumable to volatilize at least one component of said aerosol-generating material, the receiving, one at a time, each of a plurality of adaptors; the plurality of adaptors for being received, one at a time, in the receptacle, wherein each of the plurality of adaptors is configured to adapt the receptacle to receive, one at a time, a respective consumable from a plurality of consumables having different sizes, each of the consumables comprising aerosol-generating material.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a non-combustible aerosol provision system comprising: the non-combustible aerosol provision device according to the second aspect; a first consumable comprising aerosol-generating material, the first consumable having a first consumable length and a first consumable width; and a second consumable comprising aerosol-generating material, the second consumable having a second consumable length different to the first consumable length and a second consumable width different to the first consumable width.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a non-combustible aerosol provision device for generating an aerosol from aerosol-generating material in a consumable, the non-combustible aerosol provision device comprising: a receptacle for receiving a consumable comprising aerosol-generating material; and an adaptor for being removably received in the receptacle, wherein:

the receptacle is configured to receive a first consumable having a first size when the adaptor is not received in the receptacle and the adaptor is configured to adapt the receptacle to receive a second consumable having a second size different to the first size when the adaptor is received in the receptacle; and the adaptor comprises a retention element configured to hold in position the second consumable.

is a block schematic diagram of a non-combustible aerosol provision device. The non-combustible aerosol provision devicecomprises a receptacle, such as a chamber, cavity or holder. The receptacle is for receiving a consumable comprising aerosol-generating material. For example, the receptable may be a heating chamber.

The following description is in the context of the example in which the receptacle is a heating chamber.

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.

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.

The non-combustible aerosol provision deviceis for generating an aerosol from aerosol-generating material in a consumable. The non-combustible aerosol provision devicecomprises an aerosol generator for generating aerosol from aerosol-generating material. In some examples, the non-combustible aerosol provision deviceis for heating the aerosol-generating material comprised in a consumable to volatilize at least one component of the aerosol-generating material. In such examples, the aerosol generator functions to provide heat to the aerosol-generating material. In other examples, 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, electrostatic energy, or by use of ultrasonic energy. In some such examples, the aerosol generator comprises one or more piezo-electric elements which subject the aerosol-generating material to vibration.

The non-combustible aerosol provision devicemay be configured to deliver the aerosol generated by heating the aerosol-generating material. The consumablemay be a tobacco heating product (THP) article. The non-combustible aerosol provision devicemay, for example, be a hand held device for use in providing inhalable aerosol.

The non-combustible aerosol provision deviceis hereafter referred to as the device. The following description is in the context of the example of the devicebeing configured to heat the aerosol-generating material.

The deviceis configured to heat the aerosol-generating material in a consumable which is received in the described heating chamber. The devicecomprises a heating arrangementconfigured to provide energy for heating the aerosol-generating material in a consumable received in the heating chamber. In some examples, the heating arrangementcomprises one or more resistive heating elements arranged in thermal contact with the heating chamber. The flow of current against the electrical resistance of the one or more resistive heating elements generates heat. This process is called Joule, ohmic, or resistive heating.

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.

In some examples, the heating arrangementis a magnetic field generator configured to generate a varying magnetic field in order to inductively heat a susceptor. The magnetic field generator may comprise one or more inductors through which an alternating current is passed to generate the varying magnetic field. In some examples, the magnetic field generator comprises one or more susceptors. In other examples, the magnetic field generator may not comprise a susceptor and one or more susceptors may instead be provided as part of/with consumables intended for use with the device.

The devicecomprises a power source. The power sourcesupplies electrical power to the various components of the device. In some examples, the power sourceis a battery. In some examples, the power sourcecomprises a battery and a DC-DC converter, and power is supplied from the battery through the DC-DC converter. The DC-DC converter may allow the power supplyto supply power at a different voltage to the voltage of the battery. In some examples, the devicemay comprise a DC to AC converter for converting a DC current from e.g. a battery to AC current, for example, to supply power to one or more inductors of the heating arrangementwhere the heating arrangementis an induction heating arrangement. In the following examples, the power sourceis referred to simply as the battery.

In the example of, the non-combustible aerosol provision devicecomprises a processorin data communication with a computer readable memory. The processoris configured to control various aspects of the operation of the device. The processorcontrols the various aspects by executing instructions stored on the computer readable memory. For example, the processormay control the operation of the heating arrangement. For example, the processor may control the delivery of electrical power from the batteryto the heating arrangementby controlling various electrical component such as switches and the like (not shown in).

In the example of, the devicecomprises a retention apparatus. The retention apparatusis configured to hold in position, one at a time, consumables intended for use with the device. For example, the retention apparatusholds in position a consumable received in the heating chamber.

It will be appreciated that the devicemay comprise other components not shown in, such as ventilation inlets/outlet, a control interface, a charging port, etc., It should be noted thatis merely a schematic sketch showing a number of components that may be included in the device.is not intended to communicate particular positions of various components. For example, the retention apparatusmay be provided in any position within/or the deviceso log as it functions to hold in position a consumable received in the heating chamber.

The devicealso comprises a housingin which the above-described components may be housed. More specific examples of the devicewill be described in the following.

As referred to herein, a proximal end of the deviceor a component of the deviceis the end which is nearest to a user's mouth when the user inhales, in use, aerosol provided by the device. As referred to herein, the distal end of the deviceor a component of the deviceis the end which is farthest from the user's mouth when the user inhales, in use, aerosol provided by the device.

shows a first consumableof the plurality of consumables and a second consumableof the plurality of consumables. The first consumablehas a first length which is less than a second length of the second consumable. In other words, the second consumableis longer than the first consumable. Also, in this example, the first consumablehas a first width larger a second width corresponding to the second consumable.

In some examples, consumables may have airflow structures (e.g. openings or sections of material which allow airflow) provided towards the proximal end of the consumables. It may be desired that, during use, the airflow structures are at least partly covered to inhibit airflow. This may be desired, e.g. so that the consumable in question functions with the devicein the intended manner. The airflow structures may be provided at a specific distance from the respective proximal ends of the various consumables in the plurality of consumables. Therefore, without enabling that the first consumableand the second consumable, for example, protrude from the deviceby substantially equal amounts, consumables of different length may not be able to be used with the devicein the manner the consumables are intended to be used. Ensuring that consumables of different length protrude by the same amount as one another may ensure that airflow structures positioned a specific distance from respective proximal ends of the consumables are at least partly covered by the housingand/or an adaptor for being received in the heating chamberas intended. Concepts and examples relating to the devicecomprising one or more adaptors are described below.

In some examples, it may be advantageous to ensure that only a predetermined length of a consumable protrudes from the deviceto reduce the likelihood of the consumable being unintentionally removed from the devicewhen the deviceis knocked or the like, for example. In some examples, one or more adaptors for being received in the heating chambermay enable cleaning of the heating chamber(for example, when the one or more adaptors are inserted and removed from the heating chamber). In some examples, the one or more adaptors may support the proximal end of a consumable in use to reduce the risk of damage to the consumable in use.

is a block schematic side cross-sectional diagram of the deviceaccording to the first concept. In, the numeralindicates the proximal end of the device, and the numeralindicates the distal end of the device. The proximal endis the end which a user holds closer to their mouth than the distal end(e.g. pointed towards their mouth) when the deviceis being used to inhale aerosol as intended. On the other hand, the distal endof the deviceis the end which the user holds further away from their mouth than the proximal endwhen the deviceis being used to inhale aerosol as intended.

Not all the components that may be part of the deviceare shown in. In this concept, the heating chamberis for receiving a consumable comprising aerosol-generating material. The deviceof this concept comprises an adaptorfor being received in the heating chamber, wherein the adaptoris configured to adapt the heating chamberto receive, one at a time, each of a plurality of consumables having different sizes.

As used herein, different sizes do not refer to variations in size of consumables due to manufacturing tolerances. As used herein, different sizes refer to different intended dimensions of the consumables. For example, consumables with different intended widths and/or length for fitting into differently sized receptacles. Consumables of different intended sizes may be referred to as consumables of different types. Consumables of different types may differ only in that they are differently sized, or may additionally differ in other aspects such as internal make-up, internal structure, etc.

For example, the consumables within the plurality of consumables may differ in size by having different lengths to one another and/or by having different widths to one another. In examples where the consumables are rod shaped (e.g. similar to conventional cigarettes), the width of the consumable may be taken to be the external diameter of the consumable.

In Example 1, Example 2 and Example 3 according to the first concept, the adaptorcomprises a first cylindrical body commencing at a proximal adaptor end of the adaptor and extending towards a distal adaptor end. The first cylindrical body comprises a retention element configured to hold, one at a time, each of the plurality of consumables.

In Example 1, Example 2, Example 3, Example 4 and Example 5 according to the first concept, the retention element is configured to hold, one at a time, a first consumable article of the plurality of consumables and a second consumable of the of the plurality of consumables in position wherein the first consumable is of a first given size and the second consumable is of a second given size. For example, the retention element is configured to hold, one at a time, the first consumableand the second consumablein position. In some examples, the retention element may be omitted.

In Example 1, Example 2, Example 3, Example 4 and Example 5 according to the first concept, the adaptor comprises a first stop positioned towards a distal adaptor end of the adaptor dimensioned to inhibit the movement of the first consumable past the first stop in the direction of the distal adaptor end and allow the movement of the second consumable past the first stop in the direction of the distal adaptor end. In some examples, the first stop may be omitted.

In Example 1, Example 2 and Example 3 according to the first concept, the adaptor comprises a second cylindrical body positioned towards the distal adaptor end to provide the first stop, the second cylindrical body having an innermost diameter smaller than the first width corresponding to the first given size and greater than the second width corresponding to the second given size. For example, the innermost diameter is smaller than the width of the first consumableand greater than the width of the second consumable. In some examples, the second cylindrical body may be omitted.

In the following, various examples of the deviceaccording to the first concept are described. The below examples describe more specific features in relation to the adaptor.

show the described device comprising the described adaptor according to Example 1 of the first concept. In, the adaptor according to Example 1 of the first concept is labelled with numeral. The first cylindrical bodycommences at the proximal adaptor endand extends towards the distal adaptor end. The first cylindrical bodycomprises the retention element. The first cylindrical bodycomprises a proximal cylindrical body endand a distal cylindrical body end.

The part of the adaptoror its described components referred to as proximal are those which, when the adaptor is received in the heating chamber, are towards the proximal endof the device. Similarly, the part of the adaptoror its described components referred to as distal are those which, when the adaptoris received in the heating chamber, are towards the distal endof the device.

is a schematic perspective expanded view of the adaptorshowing the retention elementand a schematic plan view of the adaptor. Referring to FIG.B, the retention elementcomprises two or more resilient protrusions. The resilient protrusionsare provided towards the proximal cylindrical body end. The resilient protrusions extend from the first cylindrical bodyinto a cavity defined by the first cylindrical body. The resilient protrusionsare deformable to accommodate and hold therebetween, one at a time, the first and the second consumables,in position. In this example, the protrusionsare circumferentially arranged relative to each other.

The first cylindrical bodymay comprise a material enabling the formation of the resilient protrusions. For example, the first cylindrical bodymay comprise sprung aluminium or another sprung metal suitable to form the first cylindrical body. In some examples, the base structure of the first cylindrical body(e.g. the cylindrical part) may be formed of one material and the resilient protrusionsmay be formed of another material. For example, a rigid material (for structural strength) may be selected for the base structure and a material having resilient properties may be selected for the resilient protrusions.

shows the retention elementin an initial arrangement. The resilient protrusionsare biased towards the initial arrangement. In the initial arrangement no significant force is applied (e.g. by insertion of a consumable into the first cylindrical body) to the resilient protrusionsto deform them away from their equilibrium position/form. The resilient protrusionsin the initial arrangement define a gap of an initial size, which in this example is defined by the inner circumferenceindicated by the dashed line in. The gap defined by the inner circumferenceis smaller than the smallest width among the plurality of consumables.

When a consumable is inserted into the first cylindrical body, a force is applied against the resilient protrusions, causing the size of the gap to change in order that the consumable which is inserted can be accommodated and held. The resilient protrusionsare deflected away from the initial arrangement (they are pushed outward) to change (in this case increase) the size of the gap.

The resilient protrusionsare configured each simultaneously to contact the inserted consumable. In this example, the first cylindrical bodyis intended for use with substantially consumables having a circular cross-section. The resilient protrusionsform a substantially circular boundary on the inside of the first cylindrical bodyenabling each of the resilient protrusionsto contact a consumable with a substantially circular cross-section.

In this example, because the resilient protrusionsare biased towards the initial arrangement which provides a gap of a size less than the smallest width among the plurality of consumables, the resilient protrusionspress an inserted consumable radially inwards in order to hold it in place.

The resilient protrusionscan be pushed outward and deform in a substantially continuous manner. Therefore, the first cylindrical bodymay function to hold in place any consumable intended for use with the first cylindrical bodywhich has a width greater than the gap defined by the inner circumferenceof the initial arrangement and a width smaller or equal to the width the geometry of the first cylindrical bodyand the resilient protrusionscan reasonably accommodate.

In this example, the resilient protrusionshold in position at least the first consumableand the second consumable. The resilient protrusionshold each of these consumables in position such that they are centrally aligned within the first cylindrical body, and therefore also the heating chamberwhen the consumables are inserted, one at a time, into the adaptorwhich is received in the heating chamber. To achieve this, the resilient protrusionsare arranged such that the gap therebetween is centrally aligned with the heating chamberwhen the adaptoris received in the heating chamber.

Referring again to, there is also shown the second cylindrical body. The second cylindrical bodymay comprise a flame-resistant meta-aramid material (e.g. Nomex®), cotton, paper, other para-aramids (e.g. Twaron®), heat resistant and strong synthetic fibers (e.g. Kevlar®), etc.

is a schematic perspective expanded view of a side cross section showing the second cylindrical bodyattached to the first cylindrical body. The described first stop is labelled with the numeral.is a schematic perspective internal view of the housingshowing the adaptorreceived in the heating chamber. A consumable may be inserted in the adaptoras shown by arrow. In some examples, a consumable may be inserted into the adaptorbefore the adaptoris itself received in the heating chamber.

In this example the first stopenables that each of the first consumableand the second consumableprotrude from the deviceby substantially equal amounts when received in the adaptorwhich is itself received in the heating chamberfor use.