Abstract
A cartridge for housing an aerosol-forming substrate includes a body comprising a side wall and a bottom wall; and a cavity inside the body. One or more of the walls include a heat-deformable portion constructed to form an aperture in response to exposure above a threshold temperature, wherein the cavity is in fluid communication with an outside of the cartridge body via the formed aperture.
Claims
1. A shisha cartridge for housing an aerosol-forming shisha substrate for use in a shisha device, the shisha cartridge comprising: a body comprising a side wall and a bottom wall; and a cavity inside the body; one or more of the walls comprising a heat-deformable portion configured to form an aperture in response to exposure above a threshold temperature, wherein the cavity is in fluid communication with an outside of the cartridge body via the formed aperture.
2. A shisha cartridge according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the walls comprises a second material not heat-deformable at or below the threshold temperature, the second material comprising an aperture, and wherein the heat-deformable material forms a closure to the aperture in the second material before exposure to the threshold temperature.
3. A shisha cartridge according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the walls comprises heat-deformable material having a first area with a first thickness and a second area with a second thickness, wherein the area of the second thickness forms the heat-deformable portion.
4. A shisha cartridge according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the walls comprises heat-deformable material comprising a gas pocket, wherein the gas pocket forms the heat-deformable portion.
5. A shisha cartridge according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the walls comprises heat-deformable material adjacent a slit or a cut, wherein the heat-deformable material adjacent the slit or cut forms the heat-deformable portion.
6. A shisha cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the heat-deformable portion comprises a region of shape-memory material.
7. A shisha cartridge according to claim 6, wherein the heat-deformable portion has a first state below the threshold temperature and a second state above the threshold temperature, wherein in the first state the body is closed and wherein in the second state the body is open, and wherein the heat-deformable portion is capable of transitioning from the first state to the second state and from the second state to the first state.
8. A shisha cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the heat-deformable portion comprises heat-deformable material comprising a polymer.
9. A shisha cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the threshold temperature is 250° C. or less.
10. A shisha cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the threshold temperature is at an operating temperature of a shisha device.
11. A shisha cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the heat-deformable portion is disposed at the bottom wall, at the side wall, at a top wall, or a combination thereof.
12. A shisha cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the walls comprise metal adjacent the heat-deformable portion.
13. A shisha cartridge according to claim 1 comprising an aerosol-forming shisha substrate disposed in the cavity.
14. A shisha system comprising: a shisha cartridge according to claim 1 with an aerosol-forming shisha substrate disposed in the cartridge; and a shisha device comprising: a receptacle for receiving the cartridge; a heating element for heating the aerosol-forming shisha substrate when the cartridge is received in the receptacle of the shisha device; a vessel having a liquid fill level and defining a head space above the liquid fill level; an aerosol conduit for conveying aerosol from the receptacle to the vessel; and an outlet in fluid communication with the head space.
15. A method of using the shisha system of claim 14, the method comprising: placing the shisha cartridge in the receptacle; and activating the heating element to heat the heat-deformable portion above the threshold temperature causing an aperture to form in the heat-deformable portion and the cavity to be in fluid communication with the aerosol conduit.
Description
[0096] Reference will now be made to the drawings, which depict one or more embodiments described in this disclosure. However, it will be understood that other embodiments not depicted in the drawings fall within the scope and spirit of this disclosure. Like numbers used in the figures refer to like components. The use of different numbers to refer to components in different figures is not intended to indicate that the different numbered components cannot be the same or similar to other numbered components. The figures are presented for purposes of illustration and not limitation. Schematic drawings presented in the figures are not necessarily to scale.
[0097] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a shisha device.
[0098] FIGS. 2A and 2B are schematic top and bottom perspective views, respectively, of the body of a shisha cartridge for use in the shisha device of FIG. 1 according to an embodiment.
[0099] FIGS. 3A and 3B are schematic top and bottom views of a cartridge.
[0100] FIGS. 4A and 4B are schematic plan views of a bottom wall of cartridge according to an embodiment.
[0101] FIGS. 5A and 5B are schematic cross-sectional views of a bottom wall of cartridge according to an embodiment.
[0102] FIGS. 6A and 6B are schematic cross-sectional views of a bottom wall of cartridge according to an embodiment.
[0103] FIGS. 7A and 7B are schematic cross-sectional views of a bottom wall of cartridge according to an embodiment.
[0104] FIGS. 8A and 8B are schematic cross-sectional views of a bottom wall of cartridge according to an embodiment.
[0105] FIGS. 9A and 9B are schematic cross-sectional views of a bottom wall of cartridge according to an embodiment.
[0106] FIGS. 10A and 10B are schematic plan views of a bottom wall of cartridge according to an embodiment.
[0107] FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of an example of a shisha device 100. The device 100 includes a vessel 17 defining an interior volume configured to contain liquid 19 and defining a headspace outlet 15 above a fill level for the liquid 19. The liquid 19 preferably includes water, which may optionally be infused with one or more colorants, one or more flavorants, or one or more colorants and one or more flavorants. For example, the water may be infused with one or both of botanical infusions and herbal infusions.
[0108] The device 100 also includes an aerosol-generating element 130. The aerosol-generating element 130 includes a receptacle 140 configured to receive a cartridge 200 comprising an aerosol-forming substrate. The aerosol-generating element 130 may also include a heating element 160. The heating element 160 may form at least one surface of the receptacle 140. In the depicted embodiment, the heating element 160 defines the side surfaces and the top surface of the receptacle 140. The heating element 160 is constructed to heat the cartridge 200. The aerosol-generating element 130 also includes a fresh air inlet channel 170 that draws fresh air into the device 100. In some embodiments, portion of the fresh air inlet channel 170 is formed by the heating element 160 to heat the air before the air enters the receptacle 140. The pre-heated air then enters the cartridge 200, which is also heated by heating element 160, to carry aerosol generated by the aerosol former and the aerosol-forming substrate. The air exits an outlet of the aerosol-generating element 130 and enters a conduit 190.
[0109] The conduit 190 carries the air and aerosol into the vessel 17 below the level of the liquid 19. The air and aerosol may bubble through the liquid 19 and exit the headspace outlet 15 of the vessel 17. A hose 20 may be attached to the headspace outlet 15 to carry the aerosol to the mouth of a user. A mouthpiece 25 may be attached to, or form a part of, the hose 20.
[0110] An exemplary airflow path of the device, in use, is depicted by thick arrows in FIG. 1.
[0111] The mouthpiece 25 may include an activation element 27. The activation element 27 may be a switch, button or the like, or may be a puff sensor or the like. The activation element 27 may be placed at any other suitable location of the device 100. The activation element 27 may be in wireless communication with the control electronics 30 to place the device 100 in condition for use or to cause control electronics to activate the heating element 160; for example, by causing power supply 35 to energize the heating element 160.
[0112] The control electronics 30 and power supply 35 may be located in any suitable position of the aerosol-generating element 130, including locations other than the bottom portion of the element 130 as depicted in FIG. 1.
[0113] Referring now to FIGS. 2A and 2B, various embodiments of the body 210 of the cartridge 200 are shown. The body 210 may include a side wall 212, a top wall 215, and a bottom wall 213 defining a cavity 218. The side wall 212 may be cylindrical or frustoconical, as shown. FIG. 2A shows the body 210 without a top, showing the cavity 218 inside the body. The body 210 may define a center axis A extending through the body 210. The top may comprise a flange 219 that extends from the sidewall 212 as shown in FIG. 2B. The flange 219 may rest on shoulder of a receptacle of a shisha device so that cartridge 200 may be readily removed from the receptacle after use by grasping the flange.
[0114] Referring now to FIGS. 3A and 3B, generally, the top 215 and bottom 213 of the body may have a plurality of apertures 217, 216 to allow airflow through the cartridge when the cartridge is in use. The apertures 216, 217 of the top 215 and bottom 213 may be aligned with each other. The cartridge 200 may also or alternatively include apertures along the sidewall 212.
[0115] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the apertures 216, 217 are initially closed by a heat-deformable portion 317. The heat-deformable portion may be provided in the top 215, the bottom 213, or the sidewall 212, or a combination thereof, such as both the top 215 and the bottom 213. Although FIGS. 4A-10B depict a bottom 213, the embodiments can be equally applied to the top 215 or the side wall 212.
[0116] FIGS. 4A and 4B respectively show the bottom 213 of the cartridge before exposure to a temperature at or above the threshold temperature (FIG. 4A, closed state), and after exposure to a temperature at or above the threshold temperature (FIG. 4B, open state). The wall (for example, bottom 213) has a first surface 225 and an opposing second surface 235. In some embodiments, the first surface 225 is an outer surface and the second surface 235 is an inner surface. In the closed state, the wall includes one or more heat-deformable portions 317. In the open state, after exposure to a temperature at or above the threshold temperature, the wall includes apertures 217 formed from or at the heat-deformable portions 317. Cross-sectional views of various exemplary embodiments of the heat-deformable portions 317 are shown in FIGS. 5A-9B.
[0117] FIGS. 5A and 5B show a cross section of the bottom 213 of the cartridge formed from a layer of a first material 227 adjacent a layer of a second material 237. The first material 227 is a heat-deformable material, and the second material 237 is not heat-deformable. The layer of second material 237 may have pre-formed apertures 207 extending through the layer. Prior to exposure to a temperature at or above a first threshold temperature (FIG. 5A, closed state), the layer of first material 227 forms heat-deformable portions 317 that cover the pre-formed apertures 207 of the layer of second material 237. When the cartridge wall (for example, bottom 213) is exposed to a temperature at or above the first threshold temperature, the heat-deformable portions 317 deform, causing apertures 217 to form. The apertures 217 extend through the two-layered wall, allowing airflow 900 through the wall (open state, FIG. 5B).
[0118] In another embodiment shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the bottom 213 of the cartridge is made from a single layer that has thinner portions or partial apertures 207. In the closed state (FIG. 6A), the bottom 213 has areas of first thickness T1, and in the areas of the partial apertures 207, has heat-deformable portions 317 with a second thickness T2. The second thickness T2 is smaller than the first thickness T1. When the cartridge wall (for example, bottom 213) is exposed to a temperature at or above the first threshold temperature, the material at the heat-deformable portions 317 deforms, causing apertures 217 to form. For example, when the cartridge wall (for example, bottom 213) is exposed to a temperature at or above the threshold temperature, the material at the heat-deformable portions 317 ruptures, causing apertures 217 to form. The apertures 217 extend through the wall, allowing airflow 900 through the wall (open state, FIG. 6B).
[0119] FIGS. 7A and 7B show a cartridge wall (for example, bottom 213), where heat-deformable portions 317 are formed by gas pockets 307. The gas pockets 307 may be provided, in some embodiments, by a porous closed cell material. In the closed state (FIG. 7A), the gas pockets 307 may cause the material 227 to be thinner in the area adjacent the gas pocket. When the cartridge wall (for example, bottom 213) is exposed to a temperature at or above the threshold temperature, the gas pockets 307 may rupture and/or the material at the heat-deformable portions 317 may deform, causing apertures 217 to form. The apertures 217 extend through the wall, allowing airflow 900 through the wall (open state FIG. 7B).
[0120] FIGS. 8A and 8B show a cartridge wall (for example, bottom 213) formed from a layer of a first material 227 adjacent a layer of a second material 237. The first material 227 is a heat-deformable material. The second material 237 may be an open cell foam comprising gas pockets 307. At least some of the gas pockets 307 are connected and form apertures 207 extending through the layer. Prior to exposure to a temperature at or above a threshold temperature (FIG. 8A, closed state), the layer of first material 227 forms heat-deformable portions 317 that cover the pre-formed apertures 207 of the layer of second material 237. When the cartridge wall (for example, bottom 213) is exposed to a temperature at or above the threshold temperature, the heat-deformable portions 317 deform, causing apertures 217 to form. The apertures 217 extend through the two-layered wall, allowing airflow 900 through the wall (open state, FIG. 8B).
[0121] The pre-formed apertures 207 in the wall may be covered by a shape-memory material 247, as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B. The shape-memory material 247 may include multiple pieces of material, as shown, for example, each covering a pre-formed aperture 207, or in some embodiments, the shape-memory material may be provided as a single sheet covering a plurality of the pre-formed apertures 207 (closed position, FIG. 9A). When the cartridge wall (for example, bottom 213) is exposed to a temperature at or above the threshold temperature, the shape-memory material 247 may change shape (for example, contract, bend or, as shown in FIG. 9B, curl), causing apertures 217 to form. The apertures 217 extend through the wall, allowing airflow 900 through the wall (open position, FIG. 9B).
[0122] FIG. 10A shows an embodiment where the bottom 213 of the cartridge before exposure to a temperature at or above the threshold temperature has partially cut holes 319 or slits, which form the heat-deformable portions 317. For example, the material may have a partially cut hole, where part of the circumference of the hole is cut or perforated without removing any material. The edges of the material on opposing sides of the slit or cut may be in contact with one another before the heat-deformable material is heated to the threshold temperature so that the wall is in a closed state (FIG. 10A). When the cartridge wall (for example, bottom 213) is exposed to a temperature at or above the threshold temperature, the heat-deformable material of the wall deforms (for example, shrinks or curls), and the apertures 217 are formed adjacent the partially cut holes 319 or slits in the material, as shown in FIG. 10B. In some embodiments, the heat-deformable material may be shape-memory material such that the deformation is substantially reversible. The cartridge wall (for example, bottom 213) may be formed of a single layer, or may include more than one layer. The cartridge wall (for example, bottom 213) may optionally be covered by a removable film or sticker to prevent leaks through the partially cut holes or slits.
[0123] Thus, cartridges for aerosol-generating devices, such as shisha devices, are described. Various modifications and variations of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Although the invention has been described in connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. Indeed, various modifications of the described modes for carrying out the invention which are apparent to those skilled in the mechanical arts, chemical arts, and aerosol-generating article manufacturing or related fields are intended to be within the scope of the following claims.
