A capsule for an aerosol-generating device is configured to provide a visual distinction as to whether it is new or used. The capsule may include a housing configured to contain an aerosol-forming substrate and a first thermochromic material on an outer surface of the housing of the capsule. The first thermochromic material may be configured to undergo a visual change in response to a temperature of the first thermochromic material exceeding a first upper threshold temperature.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
. A capsule for an aerosol-generating device, the capsule comprising:
. The capsule of, further comprising a heater within the housing.
. The capsule of, wherein the first upper threshold temperature is in a range of about 60° C. to about 80° C.
. The capsule of, wherein the first thermochromic material is configured to undergo a reversible visual change in response to the temperature of the first thermochromic material exceeding the first upper threshold temperature such that the visual change is reversed in response to a reduction of the temperature of the first thermochromic material to below the first upper threshold temperature.
. The capsule of, wherein the first thermochromic material is configured to undergo an irreversible visual change in response to the temperature of the first thermochromic material exceeding the first upper threshold temperature.
. The capsule of, further comprising:
. The capsule of, wherein the second upper threshold temperature is greater than about 80° C.
. The capsule of, wherein the second upper threshold temperature is different from the first upper threshold temperature.
. The capsule of, wherein
. The capsule of, wherein the first thermochromic material is included in a sticker on the outer surface of the housing.
. The capsule of, wherein the first thermochromic material is printed on the outer surface of the housing.
. The capsule of, wherein the housing includes a polymer, and the first thermochromic material is intermixed with the polymer.
. The capsule of, wherein the polymer exhibits thermal stability between about 120° C. and about 220° C.
. The capsule of, wherein the polymer is a thermoplastic elastomer or polypropylene.
. The capsule of, further comprising:
. An aerosol-generating device comprising:
. The aerosol-generating device of, wherein the capsule further includes electrical contacts configured to electrically contact the power supply element.
. The aerosol-generating device of, wherein the capsule includes a heater.
. The aerosol-generating device of, wherein the body portion includes a heater.
. The aerosol-generating device of, wherein the body portion includes a window.
Complete technical specification and implementation details from the patent document.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/659,080, filed on Jun. 12, 2024, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
The present disclosure relates to heated tobacco aerosol-generating devices and capsules configured to generate an aerosol without involving a substantial pyrolysis of an aerosol-forming substrate.
Some electronics configured to heat a plant material to a temperature that is sufficient to release constituents of the plant material while keeping the temperature below an ignition point of the plant material so as to avoid any substantial pyrolysis of the plant material. Such devices may be referred to as aerosol-generating devices (e.g., heated tobacco aerosol-generating devices or heated tobacco products (HTP)), and the plant material heated may be tobacco and/or cannabis. In some instances, the plant material may be introduced directly into a heating chamber of an aerosol-generating device. In other instances, the plant material may be pre-packaged in individual containers or consumables to facilitate insertion and removal from an aerosol-generating device.
At least one example embodiment relates to a capsule for an aerosol-generating device. In some example embodiments the capsule includes a housing configured to contain an aerosol-forming substrate. The capsule may additionally include a first thermochromic material on an outer surface of the housing of the capsule. The first thermochromic material may be configured to undergo a visual change in response to a temperature of the first thermochromic material exceeding a first upper threshold temperature.
The capsule may include a heater within the housing.
The first upper threshold temperature may be in a range of about 60° C. to about 80° C.
The first thermochromic material may be configured to undergo a reversible visual change in response to the temperature of the first thermochromic material exceeding the first upper threshold temperature such that the visual change is reversed in response to a reduction of the temperature of the first thermochromic material to below the first upper threshold temperature.
The first thermochromic material may be configured to undergo an irreversible visual change in response to the temperature of the first thermochromic material exceeding the first upper threshold temperature.
The capsule may further include a second thermochromic material on the outer surface of the housing of the capsule, the second thermochromic material configured to undergo a visual change in response to a temperature of the second thermochromic material exceeding a second upper threshold temperature.
The second upper threshold temperature may be greater than about 80° C.
The second upper threshold temperature may be different from the first upper threshold temperature.
The first thermochromic material may be configured to undergo an irreversible visual change in response to the temperature of the first thermochromic material exceeding the first upper threshold temperature. The second thermochromic material may be configured to undergo a reversible visual change in response to the temperature of the second thermochromic material exceeding the second upper threshold temperature such that the visual change is reversed in response to a reduction of the temperature of the second thermochromic material to below the second upper threshold temperature.
The first thermochromic material may be included in a sticker on the outer surface of the housing.
The first thermochromic material may be printed on the outer surface of the housing.
The housing may include a polymer. Additionally, the first thermochromic material may be intermixed with the polymer.
The polymer may exhibit thermal stability between about 120° C. and about 220° C.
The polymer may be a thermoplastic elastomer or polypropylene.
The capsule may include a moisture sticker on an outer surface of the housing. The moisture sticker may be configured to undergo a visual change in response to exposure to moisture.
At least one example embodiment relates to a capsule for an aerosol-generating device. The capsule may include a first end cap defining air outlets. The capsule may additionally include a body connected to the first end cap. The capsule may also include a first thermochromic material configured to undergo a visual change in response to a temperature of the first thermochromic material exceeding a first upper threshold temperature.
The first end cap and the first thermochromic material may include nanocrystalline cellulose.
The first thermochromic material may contact an entire outer surface of the first end cap.
The capsule may further include a second end cap defining air inlets.
The first thermochromic material may contact an entire surface of the second end cap.
The first end cap may further include a first portion including a polymer and the first thermochromic material intermixed with the polymer. Additionally, the first end cap may include a second portion that does not include the first thermochromic material.
The second portion may include the polymer and a second thermochromic material configured to undergo a visual change in response to the second thermochromic material exceeding a second upper threshold temperature.
The first end cap may include a third portion that does not include the first thermochromic material or the second thermochromic material.
The second portion may define air outlets.
The first portion may define air outlets.
The second portion may include a liquid crystal polymer.
The polymer may include polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, styrene acrylonitrile resin, ethylene vinyl acetate, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, or a thermoplastic elastomer.
The thermoplastic elastomer may include thermoplastic polyurethane.
The polymer may include polypropylene or a thermoplastic elastomer.
At least one example embodiment relates to an aerosol-generating device. The aerosol generating device may include a body portion including a power supply element. The aerosol-generating device may additionally include a capsule configured to be received by the body portion. The capsule may include a housing configured to contain an aerosol-forming substrate and a first thermochromic material configured to undergo a visual change in response to a temperature of the first thermochromic material exceeding a first upper threshold temperature.
The capsule may further include electrical contacts configured to electrically contact the power supply elements.
The capsule may include a heater.
The body portion may include a heater.
The body portion may include or define a window.
At least one example embodiment relates to a method of manufacturing a capsule for use in an aerosol-generating device. The method may include molding a first end cap from a first molding material. The first molding material may include a first base material and a first thermochromic material configured to undergo a visual change in response to a temperature of the first thermochromic material exceeding a first upper threshold temperature. The method may also include combining the first end cap with a body to form a capsule.
The molding may further include co-molding a first portion and a second portion of the first end cap, the first portion including the first molding material, the second portion being molded from a second molding material.
The second molding material may include the first base material and a second thermochromic material configured to undergo a visual change in response to a temperature of the second thermochromic material exceeding a second upper threshold temperature.
The second molding material may include a liquid crystal polymer.
The co-molding may include co-molding a third portion of the first end cap with a third molding material. Additionally, the third molding material may include a second base material.
The combining may include combining a second end cap with the first end cap and the body to form the capsule.
The second end cap may include electrical contacts.
The molding may be performed at a temperature that is less than about 220° C.
The method may further include cooling the first end cap to reverse the visual change in response to the first thermochromic material exceeding the first upper threshold temperature.
The first end cap may be cooled for at least an hour.
The temperature of the first end cap may be reduced to a first lower threshold temperature or less and the first lower threshold temperature is at least 80° C. less than the first upper threshold temperature.
The first lower threshold temperature may be about −15° C. or less.
Some detailed example embodiments are disclosed herein. However, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are merely representative for purposes of describing example embodiments. Example embodiments may, however, be embodied in many alternate forms and should not be construed as limited to only the example embodiments set forth herein.
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December 18, 2025
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