AEROSOL-GENERATING DEVICE WITH ADAPTION TO AMBIENT ENVIRONMENT

Abstract

The invention relates to a cartridge (10) for an aerosol-generating device. The cartridge comprises a downstream end comprising a fluid outlet (22) and an upstream end comprising an air inlet (16). The cartridge further comprises a liquid storage portion (12) arranged between the downstream end and the upstream end. The liquid storage portion comprises a liquid sensorial media (14). The cartridge further comprises a diffuser (20). The diffuser is arranged downstream of the air inlet. The invention further relates to a kit comprising at least two cartridges and to an aerosol-generating device.

Claims

1-22. (canceled)

23. A cartridge for an aerosol-generating device comprising: a downstream end comprising a fluid outlet, wherein the fluid outlet comprises a one-way valve, an upstream end comprising an air inlet, wherein the air inlet comprises a one-way valve, a liquid storage portion arranged between the downstream end and the upstream end, wherein the liquid storage portion comprises a liquid sensorial media, and a diffuser, wherein the diffuser is arranged downstream of the air inlet, wherein the diffuser creates bubbles from an airflow in order to entrain the liquid sensorial media in the generated bubbles, and wherein the diffuser is arranged adjacent the air inlet.

24. The cartridge according to claim 23, wherein the diffuser is attached to the air inlet.

25. The cartridge according to claim 23, wherein the diffuser is fluidly connected with the air inlet.

26. The cartridge according to claim 23, wherein the diffuser is disc-shaped or pad-shaped.

27. The cartridge according to claim 23, wherein the diffuser comprises a plurality of fibers and preferably plurality of interstices.

28. The cartridge according to claim 23, wherein the diffuser comprises a mesh.

29. The cartridge according to claim 23, wherein a fluid path is established between the air inlet, the diffuser, the liquid storage portion and the fluid outlet.

30. The cartridge according to claim 23, wherein the one-way valve of the fluid outlet protrudes from the downstream end of the cartridge, and wherein the one-way valve of the air inlet protrudes from the upstream end of the cartridge.

31. The cartridge according to claim 23, wherein the one-way valve of the fluid outlet has a smaller diameter than the one-way valve of the air inlet.

32. The cartridge according to claim 23, wherein the one-way valve of the fluid outlet has a diameter of between 0.75 millimeters to 7 millimeters, preferably of between 1 millimeters to 5 millimeters, most preferable of between 1.5 millimeters to 3 millimeters.

33. The cartridge according to claim 23, wherein the one-way valve of the air inlet has a diameter of between 8 millimeters to 25 millimeters, preferably of between 9 millimeters to 15 millimeters.

34. The cartridge according to claim 23, wherein the cartridge comprises a housing, and wherein the housing preferably comprises a transparent plastic or glass, preferably borosilicate glass.

35. The cartridge according to claim 34, wherein the housing is at least partly opaque or transparent.

36. The cartridge according to claim 35, wherein the opaque or transparent part of the cartridge is UV-resistant, wherein preferably the opaque or transparent part of the cartridge comprises a UV-resistant polymer or a UV-resistant coating.

37. The cartridge according to claim 23, wherein the downstream end of the cartridge comprises electrical connection means, and wherein the upstream end of the cartridge comprises electrical connection means.

38. The cartridge according to claim 23, wherein the liquid sensorial media comprises one or more of: flavorant, nicotine and water.

39. A kit comprising at least two cartridges according to claim 23.

40. The kit according to claim 39, wherein the kit comprises two or more series-connected cartridges.

41. The kit according to claim 39, wherein the liquid sensorial media of one cartridge is different from the liquid sensorial media of the other cartridge.

42. An aerosol-generating device comprising a cavity for receiving an aerosol-generating article comprising aerosol-forming substrate, wherein the aerosol-generating device is configured to removably receive a cartridge according to claim 23.

43. An aerosol-generating device comprising a cavity for receiving an aerosol-generating article comprising aerosol-forming substrate, wherein the device is configured to removably receive two or more parallel-connected cartridges of the kit of claim 39.

Description

[0157] The invention will be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0158] FIG. 1 shows a cartridge according to the present invention;

[0159] FIG. 2 shows an aerosol-generating device according to the present invention;

[0160] FIG. 3 shows a further embodiment comprising two cartridges;

[0161] FIG. 4 shows a further embodiment of the cartridge;

[0162] FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of the aerosol-generating device using the cartridge shown in FIG. 4; and

[0163] FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of the aerosol-generating device using cartridges similar to the cartridges shown in FIG. 3.

[0164] FIG. 1 shows a cartridge 10. The cartridge 10 comprises a liquid storage portion 12. Within the liquid storage portion 12, a liquid sensorial media 14 is provided. The liquid sensorial media 14 may comprise one or more of flavorant, nicotine and water. In a preferred embodiment, the liquid sensorial media 14 is water.

[0165] The cartridge 10 comprises an air inlet 16. The air inlet 16 comprises or is configured as a one-way valve 18. Through the air inlet 16, ambient air can enter the cartridge 10. Particularly, ambient air can be drawn into the liquid storage portion 12 of the cartridge 10.

[0166] Fluidly attached to the air inlet 16, a diffuser 20 is provided. The diffuser 20 is configured to laterally distribute the air entering the liquid storage portion 12 via the air inlet 16. The diffuser 20 is disk or pad-shaped. The diffuser 20 comprises a mesh of fibers. Between the mesh of fibers, interstices are provided. Air entering through the air inlet 16 is drawn through the diffuser 20. After exiting the diffuser 20, the air is configured as a multitude of bubbles drawn through the liquid sensorial media 14.

[0167] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the liquid sensorial media 14 fills approximately half of the liquid storage portion 12. This may represent that the liquid storage portion 12 is halfway used. A fresh liquid storage portion 12 may be completely filled with liquid sensorial media 14. At the downstream end of the cartridge 10, a fluid outlet 22 is provided. The fluid outlet 22 may comprise or consist of a one-way valve 24. The air entrained with liquid sensorial media 14 may exit the cartridge 10 through the fluid outlet 22.

[0168] FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of an aerosol-generating device 26. The cartridge 10 as described in conjunction with FIG. 1 can be used with the aerosol-generating device 26. The aerosol-generating device 26 comprises a top portion 28 and a main body 30.

[0169] Within the top portion 28, a cavity 32 is provided. The cavity 32 is configured such that an aerosol-generating article 34 can be inserted into the cavity 32. The aerosol-generating article 34 comprises an aerosol-forming substrate. In or around the cavity 32, a heating element for heating the inner of the cavity 32 is provided. For aerosol generation, the aerosol-forming substrate of the aerosol-generating article 34 is heated by means of the heating element. At the same time, the heating element is configured to heat the air that is drawn into the cavity 32.

[0170] The air that is drawn into the cavity 32 is drawn through the cartridge 10 before being drawn into the cavity 32. In other words, the cartridge 10 is arranged upstream of the cavity 32. For drawing air into the cartridge 10, the main body 30 may comprise an inlet and an airflow channel. The inlet of the main body 30 is fluidly connected with the air inlet 16 of the cartridge 10 via the airflow channel. For drawing air enriched with liquid sensorial media 14 from the fluid outlet 22 of the cartridge 10 into the cavity 32, a top airflow channel may be provided within the top portion 28.

[0171] The cartridge 10 is received in a receiving region 36 of the aerosol-generating device 26. The receiving region 36 is arranged between the top portion 28 and the main body 30. The cartridge 10 is preferably sandwiched between the top portion 28 and the main body 30. During use, a user may place the cartridge 10 between the top portion 28 and the main body 30. Additionally, a user may insert the aerosol-generating article 34 into the cavity 32. Subsequently, a user may activate the aerosol-generating device 26, preferably by pressing a button, and draw on the aerosol-generating article 34. As a consequence, a negative pressure is created within the aerosol-generating device 26. Ambient air is therefore drawn into the aerosol-generating device 26. The ambient air is initially drawn through the cartridge 10. In the cartridge 10, the ambient air is enriched with the liquid sensorial media 14 of the cartridge 10. Exemplarily, the ambient air may be enriched with flavorant, nicotine or the humidity of the ambient air may be increased due to the liquid sensorial media 14 comprising water. After passing the cartridge 10, the air is further drawn into the cavity 32 and flows through the aerosol-forming substrate of the aerosol-generating article 34. The air is heated by means of the heating element and an aerosol inhalable by the user is formed.

[0172] The generated aerosol is a combination of the air being enriched by the liquid sensorial media 14 and by being heated and flowing through the aerosol-forming substrate of the aerosol-generating article 34.

[0173] FIG. 3 shows an embodiment, in which two cartridges 10 are attached to each other. The cartridges 10 as shown in FIG. 3 have a rectangular cross-section in comparison to the circular cross-section of the cartridge 10 shown in FIG. 1. This shows that the specific shape of the cartridges 10 can be chosen as appropriate. Instead of the specific cartridges 10 being stacked as shown in FIG. 3, two cylindrical cartridges 10 as shown in FIG. 1 could be stacked, if appropriate.

[0174] The attachment between the individual cartridges 10 is facilitated by the shape of the air inlet 16 and fluid outlet 22 of the respective cartridges 10. The fluid outlet 22 is shaped such that the fluid outlet 22 of one cartridge 10 can be inserted into the air inlet 16 of another cartridge 10. The outer diameter of the fluid outlet 22 corresponds to the inner diameter of the air inlet 16. The attachment between the individual cartridges 10 is facilitated by a friction fit. As a consequence of the attachment between the individual cartridges 10, air drawn through the cartridges 10 is drawn through both cartridges 10. As a consequence, liquid sensorial media 14 from both cartridges 10 is entrained in the air drawn through the cartridges 10. A user may choose different cartridges 10 containing different liquid sensorial media 14 to create a desired effect. Exemplarily, one cartridge 10 may be used comprising a nicotine-containing liquid sensorial media 14, while the second chosen cartridge 10 may comprise a flavorant-containing liquid sensorial media 14.

[0175] FIG. 4 shows a different embodiment for combining different liquid sensorial media 14. In this embodiment, a single cartridge 10 is provided. However, two distinct liquid storage portions 12 are provided within the single cartridge 10. Each liquid storage portion 12 is configured similar to a cartridge 10 as described herein. More particularly, each liquid storage portion 12 comprises an air inlet 16, liquid sensorial media 14, a diffuser 20 and a fluid outlet 22. As shown in FIG. 4, the two liquid storage portions 12 are arranged next to each other. Air drawn into the cartridge 10 is drawn through the individual liquid storage portions 12 in parallel. After exiting the individual liquid storage portions 12, the air is combined and flows through the fluid outlet 22 of the cartridge 10.

[0176] FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of an aerosol-generating device 26, in which two cartridges 10 are received in the receiving region 36 of the aerosol-generating device 26. Alternatively to providing two cartridges 10 as shown in FIG. 5, a cartridge 10 containing two individual liquid storage portions 12 such as shown in FIG. 4 may be arranged in the receiving region 36 for a similar effect.

[0177] FIG. 6 shows an exploded view of the aerosol-generating device 26, in which two cartridges 10 are stacked on top of each other similar to the arrangement of the cartridge 10 as shown in FIG. 3. The air is subsequently drawn through the individual cartridges 10 for a desired effect.