Smoking Substitute Consumable

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an aerosol-forming article (e.g., a heat-not-burn consumable) comprising an aerosol-forming substrate and one or more of a hollow bore element, a filter element, a spacer element and/or an aerosol-cooling element downstream of the substrate wherein the substrate comprises a cannabinoid-containing plant material.

Claims

1. An aerosol-forming article comprising an aerosol-forming substrate and one or more of a hollow bore element, a filter element, a spacer element and/or an aerosol-cooling element downstream of the substrate wherein the substrate comprises a cannabinoid-containing plant material.

2. An article according to claim 1 wherein the cannabinoid containing plant material comprises one or more cannabinoids selected from cannabidiol (CBD) and its derivatives/homologues, cannabinodio (CBND) and its derivatives/homologues, cannabigerol (CBG) and its derivatives/homologues, cannabinol (CBN) and its derivatives/homologues, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and its derivatives/homologues, cannabicyclol (CBL) and its derivatives/homologues, cannabichromene (CBC) and its derivatives/homologues, cannabielsoin (CBE) and its derivatives/homologues, cannabicitran (CBT) and its derivatives/homologues, cannabitriol and its derivatives/homologuesm and cannabichrornanone (CBCN) and its deriva ives/hornologues.

3. An article according to claim 1 wherein the plant material is cannabis plant material.

4. An article according to claim 1 wherein the article is a heat-not-burn (HNB) consumable.

5. An article according to claim 1 comprising a terminal hollow bore element or a terminal filter element plus one or more of an upstream hollow bore element, an upstream filter element, an aerosol-cooling element and a spacer element.

6. An article according to claim 5 comprising a terminal and an upstream hollow bore element.

7. An article according to claim 6 wherein the hollow bore in the terminal hollow bore element has a smaller bore diameter than the upstream hollow bore element.

8. An article according to claim 6 wherein the terminal hollow bore element has an increased hardness relative to the upstream hollow bore diameter.

9. An article according to claim 5 wherein the terminal hollow bore element comprises an axially off-set hollow bore.

10. An article according to claim 1 comprising a terminal filter element and an upstream hollow bore element.

11. An article according to claim 6 wherein the terminal hollow bore/filter element has a greater length than the upstream hollow bore/filter element.

12. An article according to claim 6 wherein the terminal and upstream hollow bore/filter elements are axially spaced.

13. An article according to claim 1 comprising an aerosol-cooling element.

14. An article according to claim 1 comprising a spacer element.

15. An article according to claim 1 wherein the aerosol-forming substrate is un-bored.

16. A smoking substitute system comprising an aerosol-forming article according to claim 1 and a device comprising a heating element, optionally wherein the device comprises a main body for housing the heating element and the heating element comprises an elongated heating element.

17. An aerosol-forming article comprising an aerosol-forming substrate at least partly formed of extruded cannabinoid-containing plant material.

18. An article according to claim 17 wherein the cannabinoid containing plant material comprises one or more cannabinoids selected from cannabidiol (CBD) and its derivatives/homologues, cannabinodiol (CBND) and its derivatives/homologues, cannabigerol (CBG) and its derivatives/homologues, cannabinol (CBN) and its derivatives/homologues, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and its derivatives/homologues, cannabicyclol (CBL) and its derivatives/homologues, cannabichromene (CBC) and its derivatives/homologues, cannabielsoin (CBE) and its derivatives/homologues, cannabicitran (CBT) and its derivatives/homologues, cannabitriol and its derivativeshornologuesm and cannabichromanone (CBCN) and its derivatives/homologues.

19. An article according to claim 17 wherein the plant material is cannabis plant material.

20. An article according to claim 17 wherein the substrate at least partly comprises a rod of extruded cannabinoid-containing plant material.

21. An article according to claim 20 wherein the rod of extruded cannabinoid-containing plant material may comprise an axial bore adapted to receive an external heating element.

22. An article according to claim 17 wherein the substrate at least partly comprises pellets/granules/chips of extruded cannabinoid-containing plant material.

23. An article according to claim 17 wherein the aerosol-forming article is a heat-not-burn (HNB) consumable.

24. An article according to claim 17 wherein the article comprises a terminal hollow bore element or terminal filter element at the downstream/mouth end of the article/consumable.

25. An article according to claim 24 further comprising an upstream hollow bore element or upstream filter element axially spaced from the terminal element.

26. An article according to claim 24 further comprising one or more of a spacer element and an aerosol-cooling element.

27. A smoking substitute system comprising an aerosol-forming article according to claim 17 and a device comprising a heating element.

28. A system according to claim 27 wherein the device comprises a main body for housing the heating element and the heating element comprises an elongated heating element.

29. A method of using a smoking substitute system according to claim 27, the method comprising inserting the article into the device, and heating the article/consumable using the heating element.

30. A method according to claim 29 comprising inserting the article into a cavity within a main body of the device and penetrating the substrate with the heating element upon insertion of the article.

31. A method according to claim 30 wherein the substrate comprises a rod of extruded cannabinoid-containing plant material having an axial bore and wherein the heating element is inserted into the axial bore.

Description

SUMMARY OF THE FIGURES

[0166] So that the disclosure may be understood, and so that further aspects and features thereof may be appreciated, embodiments illustrating the principles of the disclosure will now be discussed in further detail with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

[0167] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the first mode of an HNB consumable.

[0168] FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the first mode of an HNB consumable.

[0169] FIG. 3 shows a third embodiment of the first mode of an HNB consumable.

[0170] FIG. 4 shows the first embodiment of the first mode within a device forming an HNB system.

[0171] FIG. 5 shows a first embodiment of the second mode of an HNB consumable.

[0172] FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment of the second mode of an HNB consumable.

[0173] FIG. 7 shows the first embodiment of the second mode within a device forming an HNB system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0174] First Mode: An Aerosol-Forming Article, wherein the Article Comprises a Substrate Comprising a Cannabinoid-containing Plant Material

[0175] As shown in FIG. 1, the HNB consumable 1 comprises a solid (un-bored) aerosol-forming substrate 2 at the upstream end of the consumable 1.

[0176] The aerosol-forming substrate comprises cannabis plant material which includes the cannabinoid CBD as a volatile compound.

[0177] The aerosol-forming substrate 2 comprises 65 wt % cannabis plant material which is provided in the form of a gathered sheet of homogenized (e.g., slurry/paper recon) cannabis plant material or gathered shreds formed from such a sheet.

[0178] The aerosol-forming substrate 2 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape such that the consumable resembles a conventional cigarette. It has diameter of around 7 mm and an axial length of around 12 mm.

[0179] The aerosol-forming substrate 2 is circumscribed by a paper wrapping layer 3.

[0180] The consumable 1 comprises an upstream hollow bore element 4 and a downstream terminal hollow bore element 5. The two elements 4, 5 are spaced by a cardboard spacer tube 6. Both elements 4, 5 are formed of cellulose acetate tow and wrapped with a respective paper plug layer (not shown).

[0181] Both elements 4, 5 have a substantially cylindrical shape. The diameter of the upstream hollow bore element 4 matches the diameter of the aerosol-forming substrate 2. The diameter of the terminal hollow bore element 5 is slightly larger and matches the combined diameter of the aerosol-forming substrate 2 and the wrapping layer 3. The upstream hollow bore element 4 is slightly shorter in axial length than the terminal hollow bore element 5 at an axial length of 10 mm compared to 12 mm for the terminal hollow bore element 5. The cardboard spacer tube 6 is longer having an axial length of around 14 mm.

[0182] Each hollow bore element 4, 5 has a hollow, longitudinally extending bore. The diameter of the bore in the upstream hollow bore element 4 is slightly larger than the diameter of the bore in the terminal hollow bore element 5 having a diameter of 3 mm compared to 2 mm for the terminal hollow bore element 5.

[0183] The cardboard spacer tube 6 and the upstream hollow bore element 4 are circumscribed by the wrapping layer 3.

[0184] The terminal hollow bore element 5 is joined to the adjacent, upstream elements forming the consumable by a circumscribing paper tipping layer 7. The tipping layer 7 encircles the terminal hollow bore element 5 and has an axial length of around 20 mm such that it overlays a portion of the cardboard spacer tube 6.

[0185] The terminal hollow bore element 5 has a greater hardness (95%) than the upstream hollow bore element 4 hardness (90%).

[0186] FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of a consumable 1′ which is the same as the first embodiment except that the terminal hollow bore element 5 has an axially off-set hollow bore 15.

[0187] FIG. 3 shows a third embodiment of a consumable 1″ which is the same as the first embodiment except that the wrapping layer 3 does not completely circumscribe the cardboard spacer tube 6 such that there is an annular gap 9 between the tipping layer 7 and the cardboard spacer tube 6 downstream of the end of the wrapping layer 3.

[0188] FIG. 4 shows the first embodiment inserted into an HNB device 10 comprising a rod-shaped heating element 20 (shown in dashed lines). The heating element 20 projects into a cavity 11 within the main body 12 of the device.

[0189] The consumable 1 is inserted into the cavity 11 of the main body 12 of the device 10 such that the heating rod penetrates the aerosol-forming substrate 2. Heating of the cannabis plant material in the aerosol-forming substrate 2 is affected by powering the heating element 20 (e.g., with a rechargeable battery (not shown)). As the cannabis plant material is heated, moisture and volatile compound (e.g., CBD) within the cannabis plant material is released as a vapor and entrained within an airflow generated by inhalation by the user at the terminal hollow bore element 5.

[0190] As the vapor cools within the upstream hollow bore element 4 and the cardboard spacer tube 6, it condenses to form an aerosol containing the volatile compounds for inhalation by the user.

[0191] Second Mode: An Aerosol-Forming Article, wherein the Article Comprises a Substrate at least Partly Formed of an Extruded Plant Material

[0192] As shown in FIG. 5, the HNB consumable 1a comprises an aerosol-forming substrate 2a at the upstream end of the consumable 1a.

[0193] The aerosol-forming substrate 2a comprises a rod-shaped extrudate of cannabis which includes the cannabinoid CBD as a volatile compound.

[0194] The aerosol-forming substrate 2a is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape such that the consumable resembles a conventional cigarette. It has diameter of around 7 mm and an axial length of around 12 mm. The extrudate comprises an axial bore 13 which has its axial upstream end at the axial upstream end of the aerosol-forming substrate 2a. The axial bore 13 extends the entire length of the extrudate and thus has an axial length of 12 mm. It has a bore diameter of around 2 mm.

[0195] The aerosol-forming substrate 2a is circumscribed by a paper wrapping layer 3a.

[0196] The consumable la comprises an upstream hollow bore element 4a and a downstream terminal hollow bore element 5a. The two elements 4a, 5a are spaced by a cardboard spacer tube 6a. Both elements 4a, 5a are formed of cellulose acetate tow and wrapped with a respective paper plug layer (not shown).

[0197] Both elements 4a, 5a have a substantially cylindrical shape. The diameter of the upstream hollow bore element 4a matches the diameter of the aerosol-forming substrate 2a. The diameter of the terminal hollow bore element 5a is slightly larger and matches the combined diameter of the aerosol-forming substrate 2a and the wrapping layer 3a. The upstream hollow bore element 4a is slightly shorter in axial length than the terminal hollow bore element 5a at an axial length of 10 mm compared to 12 mm for the terminal hollow bore element 5a. The cardboard spacer tube 6a is longer having an axial length of around 14 mm.

[0198] Each hollow bore element 4a, 5a has a hollow, longitudinally extending bore. The diameter of the bore in the upstream hollow bore element 4a is slightly larger than the diameter of the bore in the terminal hollow bore element 5a having a diameter of 3 mm compared to 2 mm for the terminal hollow bore element 5a.

[0199] The cardboard spacer tube 6a and the upstream hollow bore element 4a are circumscribed by the wrapping layer 3a.

[0200] The terminal hollow bore element 5a is joined to the adjacent, upstream elements forming the consumable by a circumscribing paper tipping layer 7a. The tipping layer 7a encircles the terminal hollow bore element 5a and has an axial length of around 20 mm such that it overlays a portion of the cardboard spacer tube 6a.

[0201] FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment of a consumable 1a″ which is the same as the first embodiment except that the wrapping layer 3a does not completely circumscribe the cardboard spacer tube 6a such that there is an annular gap 9a between the tipping layer 7a and the cardboard spacer tube 6a downstream of the end of the wrapping layer 3a.

[0202] FIG. 7 shows the first embodiment inserted into an HNB device 10a comprising a rod-shaped heating element 20a (shown in dashed lines). The heating element 20a projects into a cavity 11a within the main body 12a of the device.

[0203] The consumable 1a is inserted into the cavity 11a of the main body 12a of the device 10a such that the heating rod 20a is received in the axial bore 13a of the aerosol-forming substrate 2a. Heating of the cannabis plant material in the aerosol-forming substrate 2a is affected by powering the heating element 20a (e.g., with a rechargeable battery (not shown)). As the cannabis plant material is heated, moisture and volatile compound (e.g., CBD) within the cannabis plant material is released as a vapor and entrained within an airflow generated by inhalation by the user at the terminal hollow bore element 5a.

[0204] As the vapor cools within the upstream hollow bore element 4a and the cardboard spacer tube 6a, it condenses to form an aerosol containing the volatile compounds for inhalation by the user.

[0205] The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or in the following claims, or in the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for obtaining the disclosed results, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilized for realizing the disclosure in diverse forms thereof.

[0206] While the disclosure has been described in conjunction with the exemplary embodiments described above, many equivalent modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art when given this disclosure. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments of the disclosure set forth above are considered to be illustrative and not limiting. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure.

[0207] For the avoidance of any doubt, any theoretical explanations provided herein are provided for the purposes of improving the understanding of a reader. The inventors do not wish to be bound by any of these theoretical explanations.

[0208] Throughout this specification, including the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the words “have”, “comprise”, and “include”, and variations such as “having”, “comprises”, “comprising”, and “including” will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

[0209] It must be noted that, as used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Ranges may be expressed herein as from “about” one particular value, and/or to “about” another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by the use of the antecedent “about,” it will be understood that the particular value forms another embodiment. The term “about” in relation to a numerical value is optional and means, for example, +/−10%.

[0210] The words “preferred” and “preferably” are used herein refer to embodiments of the disclosure that may provide certain benefits under some circumstances. It is to be appreciated, however, that other embodiments may also be preferred under the same or different circumstances. The recitation of one or more preferred embodiments therefore does not mean or imply that other embodiments are not useful, and is not intended to exclude other embodiments from the scope of the disclosure, or from the scope of the claims.