AEROSOL-GENERATING ARTICLE COMPRISING A WRAPPER

Abstract

An aerosol-generating article for producing an inhalable aerosol upon heating is provided, the aerosol-generating article including: a paper wrapper wrapped around at least a portion of the aerosol-generating article, the paper wrapper comprising an embossed portion having an inner surface, which is water-resistant, the embossed portion of the wrapper having a basis weight of from 50 grams per square meter to 100 grams per square meter.

Claims

1.-15. (canceled)

16. An aerosol-generating article for producing an inhalable aerosol upon heating, the aerosol-generating article comprising: a paper wrapper wrapped around at least a portion of the aerosol-generating article, the paper wrapper comprising an embossed portion having an inner surface, which is water-resistant, wherein the embossed portion of the wrapper has a basis weight of from 50 grams per square meter to 100 grams per square meter.

17. The aerosol-generating article according to claim 16, wherein the water-resistant inner surface of the wrapper comprises a surface treatment comprising one or both of polyvinyl alcohol and silicone.

18. The aerosol-generating article according to claim 16, further comprising a rod of aerosol-generating substrate.

19. The aerosol-generating article according to claim 18, wherein the rod of aerosol-generating substrate comprises an aerosol former.

20. The aerosol-generating article according to claim 19, wherein the aerosol former is glycerine.

21. The aerosol-generating article according to claim 16, wherein the inner surface of the embossed portion of the paper wrapper has a water contact angle of at least 30 degrees.

22. The aerosol-generating article according to claim 16, wherein the inner surface of the embossed portion of the paper wrapper has a water contact angle of at least 40 degrees.

23. The aerosol-generating article according to claim 16, wherein the inner surface of the embossed portion of the paper wrapper has a water contact angle of at least 45 degrees.

24. The aerosol-generating article according to claim 18, wherein the embossed portion of the paper wrapper directly circumscribes the rod of aerosol-generating substrate.

25. The aerosol-generating article according to claim 18, wherein the embossed portion of the paper wrapper fully circumscribes the rod of aerosol-generating substrate around a circumference of the rod of aerosol-generating substrate.

26. The aerosol-generating article according to claim 16, wherein the embossed portion of the paper wrapper has an embossed outer surface and a debossed inner surface.

27. The aerosol-generating article according to claim 16, wherein the embossed portion of the paper wrapper has a basis weight of from 60 grams per square meter to 90 grams per square meter.

28. The aerosol-generating article according to claim 16, wherein the embossed portion of the paper wrapper has a basis weight of from 75 grams per square meter to 80 grams per square meter.

29. The aerosol-generating article according to claim 16, wherein the embossed portion of the paper wrapper has a plurality of embossments.

30. The aerosol-generating article according to claim 16, wherein the embossed portion of the paper wrapper has a bending moment of from 3 centinewton centimeters to 8 centinewton centimeters at 90 degrees.

31. The aerosol-generating article according to claim 16, wherein the embossed portion of the paper wrapper has a bending moment of from 5 centinewton centimeters to 6 centinewton centimeters at 90 degrees.

32. The aerosol-generating article according to claim 16, wherein the embossed portion of the paper wrapper has an angle memory of from 10 degrees to 40 degrees after 90 degrees bending.

33. The aerosol-generating article according to claim 16, wherein the embossed portion of the paper wrapper has an angle memory of from 15 degrees to 35 degrees after 90 degrees bending.

34. The aerosol-generating article according to claim 16, wherein the embossed portion of the paper wrapper has an angle memory of from 20 degrees to 30 degrees after 90 degrees bending.

35. The aerosol-generating article according to claim 18, wherein the rod of aerosol-generating substrate comprises a gel composition.

Description

[0257] FIG. 1 shows a schematic side sectional view of an aerosol-generating article in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention.

[0258] FIG. 2 shows a schematic side sectional view of an aerosol-generating article in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention.

[0259] FIG. 3 shows a schematic side sectional view of an aerosol-generating article in accordance with a third embodiment of the invention.

[0260] FIG. 4 shows an aerial view of a pattern of embossments on an embossed portion of a paper wrapper to be used with an aerosol-generating article of an embodiment of the invention.

[0261] FIG. 5 shows a schematic side sectional view of a pattern of embossments on an embossed portion of a paper wrapper to be used with an aerosol-generating article of an embodiment of the invention.

[0262] Embodiments of the invention will now be described in detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0263] FIG. 1 shows an aerosol-generating article 1 article in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention. The aerosol-generating article 1 comprises a rod 111 of aerosol-generating substrate 112 and a downstream section 114 at a location downstream of the rod 111 of aerosol-generating substrate 112. Further, the aerosol-generating article 1 comprises an upstream section 16 at a location upstream of the rod 111 of aerosol-generating substrate 112. Thus, the aerosol-generating article 1 extends from an upstream or distal end 18 to a downstream or mouth end 20.

[0264] The aerosol-generating article has an overall length of about 45 millimetres.

[0265] The downstream section 114 comprises a tubular element 100 located immediately downstream of the rod 111 of aerosol-generating substrate 112, the tubular element 100 being in longitudinal alignment with the rod 111 of aerosol-generating substrate 112. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the upstream end of the tubular element 100 abuts the downstream end of the rod 111 of aerosol-generating substrate 12 and in particular the downstream end of the rod 111.

[0266] The rod 111 comprises an aerosol-generating substrate 112 comprising a porous medium loaded with a gel composition as defined above. An example of a suitable gel composition is shown below in Table 1:

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Gel composition Component Amount (% by weight) Water 20 Glycerol 73.5 Nicotine 1.5 Gelling agent 3 Lactic acid 1 Divalent cations 1

[0267] In addition, the downstream section 114 comprises a mouthpiece element 42 at a location downstream of the tubular element 100. In more detail, the mouthpiece element 42 is positioned immediately downstream of the tubular element 100. As shown in FIG. 1, an upstream end of the mouthpiece element 42 abuts the downstream end 40 of the tubular element 100.

[0268] The mouthpiece element 42 is provided in the form of a cylindrical plug of low-density cellulose acetate. The mouthpiece element 42 has a length of about 12 millimetres and an external diameter of about 7.25 millimetres. The RTD of the mouthpiece element 42 is about 12 millimetres H.sub.2O.

[0269] The aerosol-generating article 1 comprises a ventilation zone 60 provided at a location along the tubular element 100. In more detail, the ventilation zone is provided at about 4 millimetres from the downstream end of the tubular element 100. A ventilation level of the aerosol-generating article 1 is about 40 percent.

[0270] The rod 111 comprises an aerosol-generating substrate 112 of one of the types described above. The aerosol-generating substrate 112 may substantially define the structure and dimensions of the rod 111. The rod 111 comprising the aerosol-generating substrate has an external diameter of about 7.25 millimetres and a length of about 12 millimetres.

[0271] The aerosol-generating article 1 further comprises a paper wrapper 10 with an embossed portion 113 circumscribing the rod 111 of aerosol-generating substrate 112. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the embossed portion 113 of the paper wrapper 10 fully circumscribes the rod 111 of aerosol-generating substrate around the circumference of the rod 111. In this embodiment, the embossed portion 113 of the paper wrapper 10 circumscribes the rod 11 of aerosol-generating substrate along the full length of the rod 111. The embossed portion 113 of the wrapper 10 has an inner surface which is water resistant.

[0272] In this embodiment, the paper wrapper 10 extends along the full length of the aerosol-generating article 1, from an upstream end 18 to a downstream end 20. The paper wrapper fully circumscribes the upstream element 46, the rod 111 of aerosol-generating substrate 112, the tubular element 100 and the mouthpiece 42 around their circumferences. The paper wrapper 10 defines an outer surface of the aerosol-generating article 1.

[0273] The representation of the embossed portion 113 in FIG. 1 is for schematic purposes only and therefore does not show the embossments themselves or their arrangement on the embossed portion 113. FIG. 1 also does not show that the inner surface of the embossed portion 113 is water resistant. The embossed portion 113 will be described in more detail below with respect to FIGS. 4 and 5.

[0274] The rod 111 of aerosol-generating substrate 112 also comprises an elongate susceptor element 44 within the aerosol-generating substrate 112. In more detail, the susceptor element 44 is arranged substantially longitudinally within the aerosol-generating substrate 112, such as to be approximately parallel to the longitudinal direction of the rod 111. As shown in the drawing of FIG. 1, the susceptor element 44 is positioned in a radially central position within the rod and extends effectively along the longitudinal axis of the rod 111.

[0275] The susceptor element 44 extends all the way from an upstream end to a downstream end of the rod 111. In effect, the susceptor element 44 has substantially the same length as the rod 111 comprising the aerosol-generating substrate 112.

[0276] In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the susceptor element 44 is provided in the form of a strip and has a length of about 12 millimetres, a thickness of about 60 micrometres, and a width of about 4 millimetres.

[0277] The upstream section 16 comprises an upstream element 46 located immediately upstream of the rod 111 of aerosol-generating substrate 112, the upstream element 46 being in longitudinal alignment with the rod 111 of aerosol-generating substrate 112. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the downstream end of the upstream element 46 abuts the upstream end of the rod 111 and in particular the upstream end of the aerosol-generating substrate 112. This advantageously prevents the susceptor element 44 from being dislodged. Further, this ensures that the consumer cannot accidentally contact the heated susceptor element 44 after use.

[0278] The upstream element 46 is provided in the form of a cylindrical plug of cellulose acetate circumscribed by a stiff paper wrapper 10. The upstream element 46 has a length of about 5 millimetres. The RTD of the upstream element 46 is about 30 millimetres H.sub.2O.

[0279] The tubular element 100 comprises a tubular body 103 defining a cavity 106 extending from a first end 101 of the tubular body 103 to a second end 102 of the tubular body 103. The tubular element 100 also comprises a folded end portion forming a first end wall 104 at the first end 101 of the tubular body 103. The first end wall 104 delimits and opening 105, which permits airflow between the cavity 106 and the exterior of the tubular element 100. In particular, the embodiment of FIG. 1 is configured so that aerosol may flow from the rod 111 of aerosol-generating substrate 112 through the opening 105 into the cavity 106.

[0280] The cavity 106 of the tubular body 103 is substantially empty, and so substantially unrestricted airflow is enabled along the cavity 106. Consequently, the RTD of the tubular element 100 can be localised at a specific longitudinal position of the tubular element 100namely, at the first end wall 104and can be controlled through the chosen configuration of the first end wall 104 and its corresponding opening 105. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the RTD of the tubular element 100 (which is essentially the RTD of the first end wall 104) is substantially 10 millimetres H.sub.2O. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the tubular element 100 has a length of about 16 millimetres, an external diameter of about 7.25 millimetres, and an internal diameter (D.sub.FTS) of about 6.5 millimetres. Thus, a thickness of a peripheral wall of the tubular body 103 is about 0.75 millimetres.

[0281] As shown in FIG. 1, the first end wall 104 extends substantially transverse to the longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating article 1 and the longitudinal direction of the tubular element 100. The opening 105 is the only opening in the first end wall 104 and the opening 105 is positioned in a generally radially central position of the tubular element 100. Consequently, the first end wall 104 is generally annular shaped.

[0282] The combination of the first end wall 104 and its corresponding opening 105 provide an effective barrier arrangement which may restrict movement of the aerosol-generating substrate, whilst also enabling one or both of air and aerosol to flow from the rod 111 of aerosol-generating substrate 112 and through the opening 105 into the cavity 106. The opening 105 is generally aligned with the radially central position of the susceptor element 44 of the rod 111 of aerosol-generating substrate 112. This may be advantageous as it helps to keep a distance between the first end wall 105 and the susceptor, and thus mitigate undesirable heating of the first end wall 105. This may also be advantageous as it can provide direct unimpeded downstream flow of aerosol produced by the portion of the aerosol-generating substrate in close proximity to the susceptor element 44.

[0283] The first end wall 104 is formed by folding an end portion of the tubular element 100 about a fold point. The fold point generally corresponds to the first end of the tubular body 103 of the tubular element 100.

[0284] FIG. 2 shows an aerosol-generating article 2 in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention. The aerosol-generating article 2 has similarities with the aerosol-generating article 1 of the first embodiment of the invention in FIG. 1, and like-for-like reference numerals are used where appropriate. However, the aerosol-generating article 2 of FIG. 2 does not comprise a tubular element. In particular, in contrast to the aerosol-generating article 1 of FIG. 1, the aerosol-generating article 2 of FIG. 2 does not comprise a tubular element 100 between the first element 100 and the mouthpiece element 42. Instead, the aerosol-generating article 2 of FIG. 2 comprises two hollow acetate tubes between the first element 100 and the mouthpiece element 42. These are a first hollow acetate tube 280 located immediately downstream of, and in longitudinal alignment with a rod 211 of aerosol-generating substrate 212 and a second hollow acetate tube 290 located immediately downstream of the first hollow acetate tube 280.

[0285] The first hollow acetate tube 280 and the second hollow acetate tube 290 define a tubular body 203 with a cavity 206 extending from a first upstream end 201 of the tubular body 203 to a second downstream end 202 of the tubular body 203.

[0286] The first hollow acetate tube 280 defines a support element. The first upstream end of the first hollow acetate tube abuts the downstream end of the rod 211 of aerosol-generating substrate 212.

[0287] The second hollow acetate tube 290 defines an aerosol-cooling element which abuts the downstream end of the first hollow acetate tube 280.

[0288] The internal cavity 206 of the tubular body 203 defined by the first hollow acetate tube 280 and the second hollow acetate tube 290 is substantially empty, and so substantially unrestricted airflow is enabled along the cavity 206.

[0289] As a whole, the tubular body 203 does not substantially contribute to the overall RTD of the aerosol-generating article. An RTD of the tubular body 203 as a whole is substantially 0 millimetres H.sub.2O.

[0290] The first hollow acetate tube 280 has a length of about 8 millimetres, an external diameter of about 7.25 millimetres, and an internal diameter (D.sub.FTS) of about 1.9 millimetres. Thus, a thickness of a peripheral wall of the first hollow acetate tube 280 is about 2.67 millimetres.

[0291] The second hollow acetate tube 290 has a length of about 8 millimetres, an external diameter of about 7.25 millimetres, and an internal diameter (D.sub.FTS) of about 3.25 millimetres.

[0292] Thus, a thickness of a peripheral wall of the second hollow acetate tube 290 is about 2 millimetres. Thus, a ratio between the internal diameter (D.sub.FTS) of the first hollow acetate tube 280 and the internal diameter (D.sub.FTS) of the second hollow acetate tube 290 is about 0.75.

[0293] The aerosol-generating article 2 comprises a ventilation zone 60 provided at a location along the second hollow acetate tube 290. In more detail, the ventilation zone is provided at about 2 millimetres from the upstream end of the second hollow acetate tube 290. A ventilation level of the aerosol-generating article 10 is about 25 percent.

[0294] The aerosol-generating article 2 may further comprise a paper wrapper 10 with an embossed portion 213 circumscribing the rod 211 of aerosol-generating substrate 212. In this embodiment of FIG. 1, the embossed portion 213 of the paper wrapper 10 fully circumscribes the rod 211 of aerosol-generating substrate 212 around the circumference of the rod 211. In this embodiment, the embossed portion 213 of the paper wrapper 10 circumscribes the rod 211 of aerosol-generating substrate 212 along only a portion of the length of the rod 211. The embossed portion 213 of the wrapper 10 has an inner surface which is water resistant.

[0295] In this embodiment, the paper wrapper 10 extends along the full length of the aerosol-generating article 2, from an upstream end 18 to a downstream end 20. The paper wrapper 10 fully circumscribes the upstream element 46, the rod 211 of aerosol-generating substrate 212, the first hollow acetate tube 280, the second hollow acetate tube 290 and the mouthpiece 42 around their circumferences. The paper wrapper 10 defines an outer surface of the aerosol-generating article 2.

[0296] The representation of the embossed portion 213 in FIG. 2 is for schematic purposes only and therefore does not show the embossments themselves or their arrangement on the embossed portion 213. FIG. 2 also does not show that the inner surface of the embossed portion 213 is water resistant. The embossed portion 213 will be described in more detail below with respect to FIGS. 4 and 5.

[0297] FIG. 3 shows an aerosol-generating article 3 in accordance with a third embodiment of the invention. Unlike the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2, the aerosol-generating article 3 of the third embodiment does not comprise any form of upstream element 46 upstream of a rod 311 of aerosol-generating substrate 312. Consequently, the upstream or distal end 318 of the aerosol-generating article 3 is defined by the rod 311 of aerosol-generating substrate 312. Furthermore, in the third embodiment of the invention the rod 311 of aerosol-generating substrate 312 does not comprise a susceptor element 44 located within the aerosol-generating substrate 312. Such an aerosol-generating article 3 may therefore be one which is configured to receive a heater blade of an aerosol-generating device. The heater blade may be inserted into the aerosol-generating substrate 312 through the upstream end 318 of the aerosol-generating article 3.

[0298] The aerosol-generating article 3 of the third embodiment has a hollow acetate tube 380 substantially the same as the first hollow acetate tube 280 of the aerosol-generating article 2 of the second embodiment. This hollow acetate tube 380 defines a support element and has a cavity 306 extending from an upstream end of the of the hollow acetate tube 380 to a downstream end of the hollow acetate tube 380.

[0299] The cavity 306 of the hollow acetate tube 380 is substantially empty, and so substantially unrestricted airflow is enabled along the cavity 306.

[0300] The hollow acetate tube 380 does not substantially contribute to the overall RTD of the aerosol-generating article. An RTD of the intermediate hollow section 250 as a whole is substantially 0 millimetres H.sub.2O.

[0301] The aerosol-generating article 3 of the third embodiment comprises an aerosol-cooling element 370 located immediately downstream of the hollow acetate tube 380, the aerosol-cooling element 370 being in longitudinal alignment with the rod 311 of aerosol-generating substrate 312 and the hollow acetate tube 380. In more detail, the upstream end of the aerosol-cooling element 370 abuts the downstream end of the hollow acetate tube 380.

[0302] In contrast to the aerosol cooling element (hollow acetate tube 290) of the aerosol-generating device 2 of the second embodiment, the aerosol-cooling element 370 comprises a plurality of longitudinally extending channels which offer a low or substantially null resistance to the passage of air through the rod. In more detail, the aerosol-cooling element 370 is formed from a preferably non-porous sheet material selected from the group comprising a metallic foil, a polymeric sheet, and a substantially non-porous paper or cardboard. In particular, in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, the aerosol-cooling element 370 is provided in the form of a crimped and gathered sheet of polylactic acid (PLA). The aerosol-cooling element 370 has a length of about 8 millimetres, and an external diameter of about 7.25 millimetres.

[0303] The aerosol-generating article 3 may further comprise a paper wrapper 10 with an embossed portion 313 circumscribing the rod 311 of aerosol-generating substrate 312. In this embodiment of FIG. 3, the embossed portion 313 of the paper wrapper 10 circumscribes the rod 311 of aerosol-generating substrate around only a portion of the circumference of the rod 311. In this embodiment, the embossed portion 313 of the paper wrapper 10 circumscribes the rod 311 of aerosol-generating substrate along the full length of the aerosol-generating article 3. The embossed portion 313 of the wrapper 10 has an inner surface which is water resistant.

[0304] In this embodiment, the paper wrapper 10 extends along the full length of the aerosol-generating article 3, from an upstream end 18 to a downstream end 20. The paper wrapper fully circumscribes the rod 311 of aerosol-generating substrate 312, the hollow acetate tube 380, the aerosol-cooling element 370 and the mouthpiece 42 around their circumferences. The paper wrapper 10 defines an outer surface of the aerosol-generating article 3.

[0305] The representation of the embossed portion 313 in FIG. 3 is for schematic purposes only and therefore does not show the embossments themselves or their arrangement on the embossed portion 313. FIG. 3 also does not show that the inner surface of the embossed portion 313 is water resistant. The embossed portion 313 will be described in more detail below with respect to FIGS. 4 and 5.

[0306] FIGS. 4 and 5 respectively show an aerial view and a side sectional view of a pattern of embossments on an embossed portion of a paper wrapper to be used with an aerosol-generating article of an embodiment of the invention. The embossed portion 13 shown in both FIGS. 4 and 5 is in a unwrapped state. The embossed portion 13 has a plurality of embossments 4 spaced apart in a repeating pattern. Debossments 5 are defined by the space between each embossment where the paper wrapper 10 has not been embossed. Each embossment is a spherical dome. The embossed portion 13 is further defined by the pitch 6 of the embossments 4. This pitch 6 is defined by the distance between the centre of two adjacent embossments 4. An embossment 4 is also defined by its depth 7. The depth 7 of an embossment is equal to the thickness of the unembossed paper wrapper 10 plus the height of the protrusion of an embossment 4. Each embossment has substantially the same depth, pitch and profile. The embossed portion 13 has an inner surface 401 which when assembled is in direct or indirect contact with an aerosol-generating article. The inner surface 401 is water resistant. It is the debossments 5 that are in direct or indirect contact with the aerosol-generating article. The inner surface of the embossments 4 are spaced away from the aerosol-generating article. The embossed portion also has an outer surface 402.