Abstract
An article (1) for forming an aerosol. The article (1) is insertable, in use, into a heating chamber of a device for generating an aerosol. The article (1) comprises an aerosol-forming substrate (2) and volume limiting means (3). The volume limiting means (3) is activated or activatable by a device for generating an aerosol to limit the volume of the article (1).
Claims
1. An article for forming an aerosol, the article being insertable, in use, into a heating chamber of a device for generating an aerosol, the article comprising an aerosol-forming substrate and volume limiting means, the volume limiting means being activated or activatable by a device for generating an aerosol to limit the volume of the article.
2. Article according to claim 1, wherein the volume limiting means is activated or activatable by irradiation with electromagnetic radiation from the device for generating an aerosol.
3. Article according to claim 1, wherein the volume limiting means is activated or activatable by application thereto of electrical energy from the device for generating an aerosol.
4. Article according to claim 1, wherein the article has a first volume, prior to activation of the volume limiting means, and activation of the volume limiting means limits the article to a second volume.
5. Article according to claim 4, wherein the second volume is greater than the first volume and activation of the volume limiting means prevents the article expanding beyond the second volume.
6. Article according to claim 4, wherein the second volume is substantially equal to the first volume.
7. Article according to claim 4, wherein the second volume is less than the first volume.
8. Article according to claim 1, wherein the article is at least partially formed from a resilient material.
9. Article according to claim 8, wherein the resilient material is a matrix material.
10. Article according to claim 9, wherein the matrix material is a foam.
11. Article according to claim 8, wherein the volume limiting means comprises the resilient material.
12. Article according to claim 1, wherein the volume limiting means comprises at least a peripheral portion of the article.
13. Article according to claim 12, wherein the volume limiting means comprises a cover layer of the article.
14. Article according to claim 1, wherein the volume limiting means comprises at least one cavity in the article.
15. Article according to claim 1, wherein the aerosol-forming substrate comprises the volume limiting means.
16. A method of using an article for forming an aerosol, the method comprising: providing an article comprising an aerosol-forming substrate and a volume limiting means; inserting the article into a heating chamber of a device for generating an aerosol; and activating the volume limiting means using the device for generating an aerosol to thereby limit the volume of the article.
Description
[0057] The invention will now be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0058] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a prior art article for forming an aerosol, prior to heating of the article;
[0059] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the article shown in FIG. 1 taken along line A-A;
[0060] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the article shown in FIG. 1 subsequent to heating of the article;
[0061] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an article for forming aerosol according to an embodiment of the invention, prior to use of the article in a device for generating an aerosol;
[0062] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the article shown in FIG. 4 taken along line B-B;
[0063] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the article shown in FIG. 4 subsequent to use of the article in a device for generating an aerosol;
[0064] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of an article for forming aerosol according to a further embodiment of the invention, prior to use of the article in a device for generating an aerosol;
[0065] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the article shown in FIG. 8, subsequent to use of the article in a device for generating an aerosol;
[0066] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of an article for forming aerosol according to a further embodiment of the invention, subsequent to use of the article in a device for generating an aerosol;
[0067] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of an article for forming aerosol according to a further embodiment of the invention, prior to use of the article in a device for generating an aerosol;
[0068] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the article shown in FIG. 10 subsequent to use of the article in a device for generating an aerosol;
[0069] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of an article for forming aerosol according to a further embodiment of the invention, prior to use of the article in a device for generating an aerosol;
[0070] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the article shown in FIG. 12 subsequent to use of the article in a device for generating an aerosol;
[0071] FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of an article for forming aerosol according to a further embodiment of the invention, prior to use of the article in a device for generating an aerosol; and
[0072] FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the article shown in FIG. 14 subsequent to use of the article in a device for generating an aerosol.
[0073] Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5 there is shown an article 1 for forming an aerosol according to an embodiment of the invention. The article 1 comprises aerosol-forming substrate 2 and a foam carrier material which comprises volume limiting means 3, in this embodiment. The aerosol-forming substrate 2 comprises a powder which is deposited throughout the foam carrier material of the volume limiting means 3, in this embodiment. The aerosol-forming substrate 2 comprises reconstituted tobacco, in this embodiment.
[0074] In use, the article 1 is inserted into a heating chamber (not shown) of a device (not shown) for generating an aerosol. The article 1 has a first volume V.sub.1 at this time, as shown in FIG. 5. In particular, the article 1 has a first width w.sub.1 and thickness t.sub.1. The article 1 is then heated to a temperature T1 to generate aerosol from the aerosol-forming substrate 2. Heating of the article 1 irradiates the volume limiting means 3 with infra-red radiation, thereby activating it at temperature T1. Activation of the volume limiting means 3 causes the volume limiting means to reduce the article's 1 volume from the first volume V.sub.1 to a second volume V.sub.2, as shown in FIG. 6. At the second volume V.sub.2, the article 1 has a second width w.sub.1 (which is less than the first width w.sub.1) and a second thickness t.sub.2 (which is less than the first thickness t.sub.1).
[0075] Advantageously, the article 1 may therefore be more easily removed from the heating chamber of the device for generating an aerosol after heating therein.
[0076] Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 8, there is shown an article 11 for forming an aerosol according to a further embodiment of the invention in which like features to those described in respect of the article 1 shown in FIG. 4 are denoted by like references preceded by a ‘1’ and will not be described further herein. The article 11 differs from that shown in FIG. 4 in that it comprises a cover layer 4 which comprises the volume limiting means 13. The aerosol-forming substrate 12 comprises a reticulated open-celled foam of tobacco, in this embodiment. The periphery of the aerosol-forming substrate 12 is circumscribed by the cover layer 4.
[0077] In use, the article 11 is inserted into a heating chamber (not shown) of a device (not shown) for generating an aerosol. The article 11 has a first volume V.sub.1 at this time, as shown in FIG. 7. The article 11 is then heated to generate aerosol from the aerosol-forming substrate 12. Heating of the article 11 irradiates the volume limiting means 13 in the cover layer 4 with infra-red radiation, thereby activating it. Activation of the volume limiting means 13 causes the volume limiting means 13 to limit expansion of the articles 11 volume from the first volume V.sub.1 to a second volume V.sub.2 (as shown in FIG. 8). As shown by the dashed line in FIG. 8, an article for forming an aerosol absent the volume limiting means 13 (all other features being the same) would expand to a third volume V.sub.3. Accordingly, the volume limiting means 13 limits expansion of the article 11 upon heating thereof.
[0078] Referring now to FIG. 9, there is shown an article 111 for forming an aerosol according to an alternative embodiment of the invention in which like features to those described in respect of the article 11 shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 are denoted by like references preceded by a ‘1’ and will not be described further herein. The article 111 shown in FIG. 9 is in a post-use condition or state, for example subsequent to irradiation by infra-red radiation. The article 111 shown in FIG. 9 differs from that shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 in that the volume limiting means 113 is configured, upon activation, to reduce the volume of the article 111 from its starting volume (or from a volume of the article 111 prior to activation of the volume limiting means 113).
[0079] Referring now to FIGS. 10 and 11, there is shown an article 21 for forming an aerosol according to a further embodiment of the invention in which like features to those described in respect of the article 1 shown in FIG. 4 are denoted by like references preceded by a ‘2’ and will not be described further herein. The article 21 differs from that shown in FIG. 4 in that the carrier material comprises internal cavities 5 which comprise the volume limiting means 23. Irradiation of the article by infra-red radiation causes the carrier material and/or the aerosol-forming substrate 22 to expand. However, at least a portion of the expansion of the carrier material and/or the aerosol-forming substrate 22 expands into the internal cavities 5. Accordingly, the internal cavities 5 act to relatively reduce the amount by which the article's 21 volume increases when irradiated with infra-red radiation.
[0080] Referring now to FIGS. 12 and 13, there is shown an article 31 for forming an aerosol according to a further embodiment of the invention in which like features to those described in respect of the article 1 shown in FIG. 4 are denoted by like references preceded by a ‘3’ and will not be described further herein. The article 31 differs from that shown in FIG. 4 in that the article comprises first and second portions 31a, 31b, the first portion 31a comprising the aerosol-forming substrate 32 and the carrier material and the second portion 31b comprising a volume limiting element 6 comprising the volume limiting means 33. The second portion 31b is absent aerosol-forming substrate 32 in this embodiment. However, in embodiments, the second portion may comprise aerosol-forming substrate 32. The volume limiting element 6 is activated or activatable by irradiation with infra-red radiation to either reduce or maintain its volume, and to thereby limit the overall expansion of the second portion 31b and hence the article 31, upon heating thereof.
[0081] Referring now to FIGS. 14 and 15, there is shown an article 41 for forming an aerosol according to a further embodiment of the invention in which like features to those described in respect of the article 1 shown in FIG. 4 are denoted by like references preceded by a ‘4’ and will not be described further herein. The article 41 differs from that shown in FIG. 4 in that the volume limiting means 43 comprises an element 7 about which the aerosol-forming substrate 42 and carrier material are disposed. The element 7 is configured to reduce in volume when exposed to infra-red radiation, in use. In some embodiments the element 7 may comprise a susceptor or metallic element. The susceptor or metallic element may be operable to heat up when exposed, in use, to a magnetic field. Heating of the susceptor or metallic element may cause the element 7 (e.g. the susceptor or metallic element) to reduce in volume. For example, the susceptor or metallic element may comprise a shape memory material. The volume of the article 41 is thereby limited by such activation of the volume limiting means 43. Although the element is shown as being surrounded by the aerosol-forming substrate 42 and carrier material this need not be the case, and in embodiments the element 7 may be located at or adjacent a side and/or edge of the article.
[0082] While each of articles 1, 11, 21, 31, 41, 111 are described as comprising a single type of volume limiting means 3, 13, 23, 33, 43, 113 this need not be the case and, instead, any of the articles 1, 11, 21, 31, 41, 111 may additionally or alternatively comprise any of the other volume limiting means 3, 13, 23, 33, 43, 113 (where suitable).
[0083] While the articles 1, 11, 21, 31, 41, 111 are described as comprising aerosol-forming substrate 2, 12, 22, 32, 42, 112 comprising tobacco this need not be the case and, additionally or alternatively the aerosol-forming substrate 2, 12, 22, 32, 42, 112 may comprise any suitable material. Additionally or alternatively, whilst the aerosol-forming substrate 2, 22, 32, 42 of articles 1, 21, 31, 41 is described as comprising a powder this need not be the case and, instead, the aerosol-forming substrate 2, 22, 32, 42 may comprise any suitable form, fluid and/or solid (as described herein). Additionally or alternatively, whilst the articles 11, 111 are described as comprising aerosol-forming substrate 12, 112 comprising a reticulated open-celled foam this need not be the case and, instead, the aerosol-forming substrate 12, 112 may comprise a different type of foam and/or may comprise any other suitable form, fluid and/or solid, as described herein. Additionally or alternatively, the aerosol-forming substrate 12,112 of articles 11, 111 may be at least partially comprised or retained in a carrier material (for example as described herein). While articles 1, 21, 31, 41 are described as comprising a carrier material throughout which the aerosol-forming substrate 2 is deposited this need not be the case and, instead, the aerosol-forming substrate 2, 22, 32, 42 may be located at any suitable position of the carrier material (for example at the surface thereof, as described herein). Additionally or alternatively, the carrier material of articles 1, 21, 31, 41 may comprise any suitable structure (as described herein).
[0084] While the volume limiting means 3, 13, 23, 33, 43, 113 of the articles 1, 11, 21, 31, 41, 111 is described as being activated during heating of the aerosol-forming substrate 2, 12, 22, 32, 42, 112 to release volatile compounds at a temperature T1 this need not be the case and, instead, the volume limiting means 3, 13, 23, 33, 43, 113 may be activated at a greater temperature than that required to release volatile compounds from the aerosol-forming substrate 2, 12, 22, 32, 42, 112. For example, the volume limiting means 3, 13, 23, 33, 43, 113 may be heated to a temperature T2, which may be greater than the temperature T1 necessary to release volatile compounds from the aerosol-forming substrate 2, 12, 22, 32, 42, 112. Temperature T2 may be applied to the article 1, 11, 21, 31, 41, 111 prior to or subsequent to application to the article 1, 11, 21, 31, 41, 111 of temperature T1. Temperature T2 may comprise an ‘over-temperature’ which may be configured to occur after a predetermined time period or after a predetermined number of cycles of a device for generating an aerosol. Where a predetermined time period is used this may, for example, comprise a time interval after insertion of the article 1, 11, 21, 31, 41, 111 into a heating chamber of a device for generating an aerosol and/or a time interval after initiating a first or any subsequent heating of the article 1, 11, 21, 31, 41, 111.
[0085] The schematic drawings are not necessarily to scale and are presented for purposes of illustration and not limitation. The drawings depict one or more aspects described in this disclosure. However, it will be understood that other aspects not depicted in the drawings fall within the scope of this disclosure.
