JP7673214B2 - Non-flammable aerosol delivery device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a non-flammable aerosol delivery device.

Smoking articles, such as cigarettes, cigars, etc., burn tobacco during use to produce tobacco smoke. Attempts have been made to provide alternatives to such tobacco-burning items by creating products that release compounds without burning. An example of such a product is a heating device that releases compounds by heating a material rather than burning it. The material may be, for example, a tobacco product or a non-tobacco product, and these products may or may not contain nicotine.

According to a first aspect of some embodiments described herein, there is provided a non-combustible aerosol delivery device for generating an aerosol from a consumable comprising an aerosol generating material, the non-combustible aerosol delivery device comprising a first chamber having a first size and configured to receive a first consumable comprising an aerosol generating material, and a second chamber, separate from the first chamber, having a second size different from the first size and configured to receive a second consumable comprising an aerosol generating material.

The first chamber may be dimensioned differently than the second chamber.

The first chamber may have a shorter length than the second chamber.

The first chamber may have a greater width than the second chamber.

Each of the chambers may include a tube arranged to receive a respective substantially cylindrical consumable containing the aerosol generating material.

The non-combustible aerosol delivery device may further include a first opening through which a first consumable can be removably inserted into the first chamber, and a second opening through which a second consumable can be removably inserted into the second chamber.

The first opening and the second opening may be on the same side of the non-combustible aerosol delivery device.

The first opening and the second opening may be disposed in a common plane.

The non-combustible aerosol delivery device may further include a cover, the cover being movable between a first position and a second position, the cover closing at least one of the first chamber and the second chamber when in the first position, and opening at least one of the first chamber and the second chamber when in the second position.

The cover may close the first chamber and the second chamber when in the first position, and may open the first chamber and the second chamber when in the second position.

The first chamber may have a first longitudinal axis and the second chamber may have a second longitudinal axis, and the first and second longitudinal axes may be substantially parallel.

The non-combustible aerosol delivery device may have a longitudinal device axis, and the first longitudinal axis and the second longitudinal axis may be substantially parallel to the longitudinal device axis.

The non-combustible aerosol delivery device may further comprise an aerosol generator system for generating an aerosol from the first consumable when the first consumable is received in the first chamber, and for generating an aerosol from the second consumable when the second consumable is received in the second chamber, during use.

The aerosol generator system may include a first aerosol generator for generating an aerosol from a first consumable when the first consumable is received in the first chamber, and a second aerosol generator for generating an aerosol from a second consumable when the second consumable is received in the second chamber.

The aerosol generator system may be configured such that only one of the first aerosol generator and the second aerosol generator is operational at any given time.

The non-combustible aerosol delivery device may further include a selector for selecting whether the first aerosol generator or the second aerosol generator is operational at any given time.

The non-combustible aerosol delivery device may further include a user-operable input device, and the selector may select which of the first aerosol generator and the second aerosol generator are operable in response to user input received from the user-operable input device.

According to a second aspect of some embodiments described herein, there is provided a system comprising a non-combustible aerosol delivery device according to the first aspect and at least one of a first consumable including an aerosol generating material for insertion into the first chamber and a second consumable including an aerosol generating material for insertion into the second chamber.

Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention, given by way of example only, made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

1 is a schematic diagram of a first non-combustion aerosol delivery device for heating a consumable containing an aerosol-generating material. FIG. A first schematic perspective view of a second non-combustible aerosol delivery device for heating a consumable containing an aerosol-generating material, with the consumable inserted therein. A second schematic perspective view of a second non-combustible aerosol delivery device without a consumable inserted therein. FIG. 2 is a schematic cutaway view of a second non-combustible aerosol delivery device. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional side view of a second non-combustible aerosol delivery device with a first consumable inserted into the first chamber. FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional side view of a second non-combustible aerosol delivery device with a second consumable inserted into the second chamber. FIG. FIG. 2 is another schematic cross-sectional side view of a second non-combustible aerosol delivery device. A figure showing a first schematic plan view of a second non-combustible aerosol supply device with a first consumable inserted into the first chamber, and a second schematic plan view of the second non-combustible aerosol supply device with a second consumable inserted into the second chamber.

Figure 1 is a simplified schematic diagram of a first non-combustible aerosol delivery device 100. The first non-combustible aerosol delivery device 100 comprises a housing 101 that houses various components of the first non-combustible aerosol delivery device 100.

The first non-combustible aerosol delivery device 100 includes a first chamber 102a configured to receive a first consumable (not shown in FIG. 1) having a first size and a second chamber 102b separate from the first chamber 102 configured to receive a second consumable having a second size different from the first size. The first consumable and the second consumable each include an aerosol generating material.

Please note that in this specification, references to consumables of different sizes refer to consumables that are intended to be different sizes from one another, and not to consumables that are the same size, but that vary in size by any small amount, e.g., due to manufacturing tolerances.

Different sizes of consumables may be different types of consumables.

In some examples, the first chamber 102a and the second chamber 102b each have a respective longitudinal axis (L1, L2) that is substantially parallel to one another.

An aerosol-generating material is a material capable of generating an aerosol when, for example, heated, illuminated with light, or activated in any other way. The aerosol-generating material may or may not contain active and/or flavoring substances and may be in the form of, for example, a solid, liquid, or gel. 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 dry gel. An amorphous solid is a solid material that may retain any fluid therein, such as a liquid. In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material may comprise, for example, about 50 wt%, 60 wt%, or 70 wt% amorphous solid, up to about 90 wt%, 95 wt%, or 100 wt% amorphous solid.

The aerosol-generating materials may include one or more active substances and/or flavoring substances, one or more aerosol former materials, and optionally one or more other functional materials.

An active substance as used herein may be a physiologically active material, which is a material intended to achieve or enhance a physiological response. The active substance may be selected from, for example, dietary supplements, nootropics, psychoactive agents. The active substance may be naturally occurring or artificially obtained. The active substance may include, for example, nicotine, caffeine, taurine, theine, vitamins such as B6 or B12 or C, melatonin, cannabinoids or constituents, derivatives or combinations thereof. The active substance may include one or more constituents, derivatives or extracts of tobacco, cannabis or another plant.

In some embodiments, the active agent includes nicotine. In some embodiments, the active agent includes caffeine, melatonin, or vitamin B12.

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

The one or more other functional materials may include one or more of a pH adjuster, a colorant, a preservative, a binder, a filler, a stabilizer, and/or an antioxidant.

The first consumable and the second consumable (not shown) are intended to be inserted one at a time into the first non-combustible aerosol delivery device 100. When the first consumable is inserted into the first non-combustible aerosol delivery device 100, the first consumable is inserted into the first chamber 102a, and when the second consumable is inserted into the first non-combustible aerosol delivery device 100, the second consumable is inserted into the second chamber 102b.

The first non-combustible aerosol delivery device 100 is intended to generate an aerosol from an aerosol-generating material, whether a first consumable item or a second consumable item is inserted into the first non-combustible aerosol delivery device 100. The first non-combustible aerosol delivery device 100 is hereafter referred to as device 100.

The device 100 includes an aerosol generator system 104a, 104b for generating an aerosol from an aerosol generating material, regardless of whether a first consumable or a second consumable is inserted into the first non-combustible aerosol delivery device 100.

In one example, the aerosol generator system 104a, 104b includes a first aerosol generator 104a for generating an aerosol from a first consumable when the first consumable is received in the first chamber 102a, and a second aerosol generator 104 for generating an aerosol from a second consumable when the second consumable is received in the second chamber 102b.

The aerosol generator is a device configured to generate an aerosol from an aerosol-generating material. In some embodiments, the or each aerosol generator is a heater configured to subject the aerosol-generating material to thermal energy to release one or more volatile substances from the aerosol-generating material to form an aerosol. In some embodiments, the or each aerosol generator is configured to generate an aerosol from the aerosol-generating material without heating. For example, the aerosol generator may be configured to subject the aerosol-generating material to one or more of vibration, increased pressure, or electrostatic energy.

Thus, in some examples, the first aerosol generator 104a is a first heating component 104a configured to provide energy to heat an aerosol-generating material in a first consumable received in the first chamber 102a, and the second aerosol generator includes a second heating component 104b configured to provide energy to heat an aerosol-generating material in a second consumable received in the second chamber 102b. In these examples, the first chamber 102a and the second chamber 102b are heating chambers.

In some examples, the first aerosol generator 104a and the second aerosol generator 104b each include one or more resistive heating elements disposed in thermal contact with the respective first chamber 102a and second chamber 102b. The flow of electrical current against the electrical resistance of the one or more resistive heating elements generates heat. This process is referred to as Joule heating, ohmic heating, or resistive heating.

In some examples, each of the first aerosol generator 104a and the second aerosol generator 104b is an inductive heating arrangement and is configured to generate a varying magnetic field to inductively heat a susceptor. The inductive heating arrangement may include one or more inductors through which an alternating current is passed to generate the varying magnetic field. In some examples, each of the first aerosol generator 104a and the second aerosol generator 104b includes one or more susceptors. In other examples, each of the first aerosol generator 104a and the second aerosol generator 104b does not include a susceptor, and one or more susceptors may instead be provided as part of/with a consumable intended for use with the device 100.

The susceptor is a material that can be heated by penetration with a varying magnetic field, such as an alternating magnetic field. The susceptor may be an electrically conductive material, such that penetration with a varying magnetic field causes inductive heating of the heating material. The heating material may be a magnetic material, such that penetration with a varying magnetic field causes magnetic hysteresis heating of the heating material. The susceptor may be both electrically conductive and magnetic, such that the susceptor is heatable by both heating mechanisms. A device configured to generate a varying magnetic field is referred to herein as a magnetic field generator.

The device 100 includes a power source 106. The power source 106 provides power to the various components of the device 100. In some examples, the power source 106 is a battery. In some examples, the power source 106 includes a battery and a DC-DC converter, where power is provided from the battery through the DC-DC converter. The DC-DC converter may allow the power source 106 to provide power at a different voltage to the voltage of the battery. In some examples, the device 100 may include a DC to AC converter, for example to convert a DC current from the battery to an AC current to provide power to one or more inductors of the first heating element 104a and the second heating element 104b, where these heating elements are inductive heating elements. In the following examples, the power source 106 is simply referred to as the battery 106.

In the example of FIG. 1, the device 100 includes control circuitry 108 configured to control various aspects of the operation of the device 100, including the aerosol generator systems 104a, 104b. In this example, the control circuitry 108 is a control processor 108 in data communication with a computer-readable memory 110. The control circuitry 108 controls various operations of the device, for example, by executing instructions stored in the computer-readable memory 110. For example, the control circuitry 108 may control the delivery of power from the battery 106 to the first aerosol generator 104a and the second aerosol generator 104b by controlling various electrical components, such as switches (not shown in FIG. 1).

The device 100 further includes a user input device 109 electrically connected to the control circuitry 108, by means of which a user can operate the device 100. Examples of suitable user input devices 109 include one or more buttons, a trackpad, and a touch screen, although any suitable device may be used.

In some examples, the control circuitry 108 controls the aerosol generator systems 104a and 104b such that only one of the first aerosol generator 104a and the second aerosol generator 104b is operable at any given time. In some examples, the control circuitry 108 selects which of the first aerosol generator 104a and the second aerosol generator 104b is operable in response to a user input signal received from a user input device 109. In other examples, the control circuitry 108 selects which of the first aerosol generator 104a and the second aerosol generator 104b is operable in response to a signal received from a sensor (not shown) that senses whether a consumable is inserted into the first chamber 102a or the second chamber 102b.

In the example of FIG. 1, the device 100 includes a holding device 112. The holding device 112 is configured to hold in place one consumable intended for use with the device 100 at a time. For example, the holding device 112 holds in place a first consumable received in the first chamber 102a or a second consumable received in the second chamber 102b. The holding device 112 may include any suitable holding structure, such as a clamping structure. In some examples, the holding device 112 includes a first holding structure (not shown) for holding the first consumable in the first chamber 102a and a separate second holding structure (not shown) for holding the second consumable in the second chamber 102b.

It should be understood that device 100 may include other components not shown in FIG. 1, such as ventilation inlets/outlets, charging ports, etc. Note that FIG. 1 is merely a schematic sketch illustrating some components that may be included in device 100. FIG. 1 is not intended to convey the specific locations of the various components. For example, retention device 112 may be provided in any location within/on device 100, so long as it functions to hold the consumable received in chamber 102 in place.

2a-5b illustrate a second non-combustion aerosol delivery device 200 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The second non-combustion aerosol delivery device 200 is hereafter referred to as the second device 200. The second device 200 may include any of the features of the first device described above with reference to FIG. 1, and discussion of these features will not be repeated here. Similar drawing references are used to represent such features already described with reference to FIG. 1.

The second device 200 includes a first end 220, often referred to as the mouth or proximal end 220, and a second end 222, sometimes referred to herein as the distal end 222. Although not shown in the drawings, the second device 200 may include an on/off button that allows a user to turn the second device 200 on and off as desired.

The second device 200 comprises a housing 101 (in the form of an outer cover) that surrounds and contains the various components of the second device 200. The housing 101 further comprises a top panel 206 at the mouth end 220 and a bottom panel 207 at the distal end 222. The top panel 206 and the bottom panel 207 may be permanently or removably fixed to the housing 101. Such a removably connection allows access to the internal components of the second device 200 for after-sales service and repair. In one example, the panels 206 and 207 may be constructed of a plastic material that may be created by injection molding or other techniques. Other materials such as metal and glass may be used. The housing 101 may be constructed of the same material as the panels 206 and 207, or may be constructed of a different material if desired. For example, the housing 101 may be constructed of aluminum and the panels 206 and 207 may be made of a plastic material, or vice versa.

The top panel 206 includes a first opening 204 and a second opening 205 that are in a common plane in this example. In this example, the first opening 204 and the second opening 205 are on the same side of the second device 200 (i.e., the top panel 205), but in other examples, the first opening 204 may be on one side of the second device 200 (e.g., the top panel 205) and the second opening 205 may be on a different side of the second device 200 (e.g., the bottom panel 207). The first consumable 226 can be inserted through the first opening 204 into the first chamber 102a, and the second consumable 210 can be inserted through the second opening 205 into the second chamber 102b. As with the first device 100 described with respect to FIG. 1, it is intended that only one of the first consumable 226 and the second consumable 210 be inserted into the second device 200 at any given time, depending on which of the first consumable 226 and the second consumable 210 the user selects for use in the second device 200 in a single user interaction.

When one or the other of the first consumable 226 and the second consumable 210 is inserted into the second device 200, the proximal end of that consumable extends out from the second device 200 for insertion into the user's mouth.

The first consumable 226 and the second consumable 210 are dimensioned differently from one another. In this example, the first consumable 226 is shorter than the second consumable 210 and wider than the second consumable 210. In other examples, the dimensions of the first consumable 226 and the second consumable 210 may differ in other ways.

The second device 200 includes an aerosol generator system (not illustrated in FIGS. 2a-5b) similar to the aerosol generator system 104a, 104b of the first device 100 described above with respect to FIG. 1. In the particular example of the second device 200 illustrated in FIGS. 2a-5b, the aerosol generator system includes a first aerosol generator 104a for generating an aerosol from a first consumable when the first consumable is received in the first chamber 102a, and a second aerosol generator 104b for generating an aerosol from a second consumable when the second consumable is received in the second chamber 102b.

In this example, the first aerosol generator 104a and the second aerosol generator 104b each include a respective heater, and therefore the first chamber 102a and the second chamber 102b each are heating chambers and are referred to as such hereinafter.

In this example, each of the first heating chamber 102a and the second heating chamber 102b is a cylindrical heating chamber that is housed together within a single insulating sheath 224. While the insulating sheath 224 may take any suitable form or include any suitable material, in this example, the insulating sheath is a steel vacuum insulating sheath.

In this example, the second device 200, the first heating chamber 102a and the second heating chamber 102b have respective longitudinal axes that are substantially parallel to each other.

The first heating chamber 102a has a diameter 216 (as best shown in FIG. 5b) and a length 218 (as best shown in FIG. 4b), and the second heating chamber 102b has a diameter 220 (as best shown in FIG. 5b) and a length 222 (as best shown in FIG. 4a). Thus, the first heating chamber 102a and the second heating chamber 102b are configured to accommodate first consumables 226 and second consumables 210 of different sizes.

In this example, the first heating chamber 102a has a length 218 that is shorter than the length 222 of the second heating chamber 102b. Additionally, the first heating chamber 102a has a diameter 216 that is larger than the diameter 220 of the second heating chamber 102b. As discussed above, a user may select whether they wish to use the first consumable item 226 or the second consumable item 210 and insert that consumable item into the appropriate one of the first heating chamber 102a or the second heating chamber 102b.

In this example, the first heating chamber 102a includes a first hollow tube 214 for receiving the first consumable 226, and the second heating chamber 102b includes a second hollow tube 215 for receiving the second consumable 210. The first hollow tube 214 and the second hollow tube 215 each include a thermally conductive material, such as a metal, for example steel.

The short length of the first heating chamber 104a is achieved by disposing a raised platform 240 at the distal end of the first hollow tube 214. When the first consumable 226 is received in the first hollow tube, the distal end of the first consumable 226 abuts against the raised platform 240.

In contrast, when the second consumable 210 is received in the second hollow tube 215, the distal end of the second consumable 210 abuts against the inner surface of the rear panel 242 of the housing 101. The height of the raised platform 240 may be selected such that the mouths or proximal ends of the first consumable 226 and the second consumable 210 extend the same distance from the housing 101.

In this example, the first heating component 104a and the second heating component 104b each comprise a respective flexible heating foil. The first flexible heating foil 104a is wrapped around the outer surface of the first tube 214, and similarly, the second flexible heating foil 104b is wrapped around the outer surface of the first tube 215. The first flexible heating foil 104a and the second flexible heating foil 104b are each electrically connected to a power source (not shown in FIGS. 2a-5b) via control circuitry (not shown in FIGS. 2a-5b) contained in the housing 101 for a user to control the operation of the first heating component 104a and the second heating component 104b by a user input device (not shown in FIGS. 2a-5b).

The device 200 further comprises a lid 208 that is movable relative to the top panel 206 to close the first opening 204 and the second opening 205 when a consumable is not inserted. In FIG. 2a, the lid 208 is shown in an open configuration and in FIG. 2b, in a closed configuration. For example, a user may slide the cap 208 in the direction of arrow "A" to open the first opening 204 and the second opening 205.

The above embodiments should be understood as illustrative examples of the present invention. Further embodiments of the present invention are contemplated. For example, a third heating chamber having a third length and dimension may be included. Alternatively, non-cylindrical heating chambers or heating products may be contemplated. It should be understood that any feature described in connection with any one embodiment may be used alone or in combination with other features described, in combination with one or more features of any other of the embodiments, or in any combination of any other of the embodiments. Moreover, equivalents and modifications not described above may also be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (14)

1. A non-combustion aerosol delivery device for generating an aerosol from a consumable containing an aerosol-generating material, comprising:
a first chamber configured to receive a first consumable containing an aerosol generating material and having a first size;
a second chamber, separate from the first chamber, configured to receive a second consumable containing an aerosol-generating material and having a second size different from the first size;
an aerosol generator system for, in use, generating an aerosol from the first consumable when the first consumable is received in the first chamber, and for generating an aerosol from the second consumable when the second consumable is received in the second chamber;
the aerosol generator system comprising: a first aerosol generator for generating an aerosol from the first consumable when the first consumable is received in the first chamber; and a second aerosol generator for generating an aerosol from the second consumable when the second consumable is received in the second chamber;
the aerosol generator system is configured such that only one of the first aerosol generator and the second aerosol generator is operational at any given time;
the non-combustible aerosol delivery device further comprising a selector for selecting which of the first aerosol generator and the second aerosol generator is operable at any given time ;
the non-combustible aerosol delivery device further comprising a first opening allowing the first consumable to be removably inserted into the first chamber and a second opening allowing the second consumable to be removably inserted into the second chamber;
The first chamber comprises a raised platform at an end of the first chamber remote from the first opening . 2. The non-combustible aerosol delivery device of claim 1, wherein the height of the raised platform is selected such that when the first consumable and the second consumable are disposed within the first chamber and the second chamber, respectively, the mouths or proximal ends of the first consumable and the second consumable extend the same distance from the housing. 3. The non-combustible aerosol delivery device of claim 1 or 2 , wherein the first chamber is sized differently than the second chamber. The non-combustible aerosol delivery device of claim 3 , wherein the first chamber has a length that is shorter than the second chamber. 5. The non-combustible aerosol delivery device of claim 3 or 4 , wherein the first chamber has a greater width than the second chamber. The non-combustible aerosol delivery device of claim 1 , wherein each of the chambers comprises a tube configured to receive a respective substantially cylindrical consumable containing an aerosol generating material. The non-combustible aerosol delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the first opening and the second opening are on the same side of the non-combustible aerosol delivery device. The non-combustible aerosol delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the first opening and the second opening are disposed in a common plane. The non-combustible aerosol delivery device of any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising a cover movable between a first position and a second position, the cover closing at least one of the first chamber and the second chamber when in the first position, and opening at least one of the first chamber and the second chamber when in the second position. The non-combustible aerosol delivery device of claim 9, wherein the cover closes the first chamber and the second chamber when in the first position and opens the first chamber and the second chamber when in the second position. The non-combustible aerosol delivery device of any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the first chamber has a first longitudinal axis, the second chamber has a second longitudinal axis, and the first longitudinal axis and the second longitudinal axis are substantially parallel. The non-combustible aerosol delivery device of claim 11, wherein the non-combustible aerosol delivery device has a longitudinal device axis, and the first longitudinal axis and the second longitudinal axis are substantially parallel to the longitudinal device axis. The non-combustible aerosol delivery device of any one of claims 1 to 12, further comprising a user-operable input device, and the selector selects which of the first aerosol generator and the second aerosol generator is operable in response to user input received from the user-operable input device. A non-combustible aerosol delivery device according to any one of claims 1 to 13;
A system comprising at least one of a first consumable including an aerosol-forming material for insertion into the first chamber and a second consumable including an aerosol-forming material for insertion into the second chamber.

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