Antimicrobial Component for an Aerosol Generating System

Abstract

A component is provided for an aerosol generating system; wherein at least a portion of the exterior of the component includes antimicrobial particles; and wherein the antimicrobial particles include monovalent copper compound particles. By providing the component in this manner, the likelihood of harmful bacteria or viruses being transmitted via the component is reduced.

Claims

1-14. (canceled)

15. A component for an aerosol generating system; wherein at least a portion of an exterior of the component comprises antimicrobial particles; wherein the antimicrobial particles comprise monovalent copper compound particles.

16. The component according to claim 15, wherein the monovalent copper compound particles comprise monovalent copper compound nanoparticles.

17. The component according to claim 15, wherein the antimicrobial particles are arranged throughout the portion.

18. The component according to claim 15, wherein the portion comprises a coating; and the antimicrobial particles are arranged throughout the coating.

19. The component according to claim 15, wherein the portion is configured to be held by a user.

20. The component according to claim 15, wherein the portion of the exterior of the component comprises a first area and a second area; and a concentration of the antimicrobial particles in the first area is greater than a concentration of the antimicrobial particles in the second area.

21. The component according to claim 15, wherein the component is an aerosol generating device.

22. The component according to claim 15, wherein the component is an accessory for the aerosol generating system.

23. The component according to claim 15, wherein the component is a cartridge for an aerosol generating device.

24. The component according to claim 15, wherein the exterior of the component comprises a polymer.

25. A method for producing a component for an aerosol generating system, the method comprising: covering at least a portion of an exterior of the component with a coating; wherein the coating comprises antimicrobial particles, and the antimicrobial particles comprise monovalent copper compound particles.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein before the step of covering, the method further comprises: dispersing the antimicrobial particles through a coating fluid to form the coating.

27. A method for producing a component for an aerosol generating system, the method comprising: providing a component portion material; dispersing antimicrobial particles throughout the component portion material to form an antimicrobial material, wherein the antimicrobial particles comprise monovalent copper compound particles; and forming at least a portion of the component from the antimicrobial material.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein the component portion material comprises a textile material, and the step of dispersing the antimicrobial particles comprises: arranging the antimicrobial particles throughout a fibre network of the textile material.

29. The method according to claim 27, wherein the component portion material comprises a polymer, and the step of dispersing the antimicrobial particles comprises: dispersing the antimicrobial particles throughout the polymer.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] Aspects of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0032] FIG. 1A schematically illustrates an example aerosol generating device;

[0033] FIG. 1B schematically illustrates another example aerosol generating device;

[0034] FIG. 1C schematically illustrates an example cartridge for an aerosol generating system;

[0035] FIG. 1D schematically illustrates an example accessory for an aerosol generating system;

[0036] FIG. 2 schematically illustrates an example portion of a component for an aerosol generating system;

[0037] FIG. 3 schematically illustrates another example portion of a component for an aerosol generating system, where the portion comprises a coating; and

[0038] FIG. 4 schematically illustrates a further example portion of a component for an aerosol generating system, where the portion comprises a textile material.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] The present invention discloses components for aerosol generating systems, where the components have antimicrobial properties provided by antimicrobial particles 20 distributed through a portion 10 of the exterior of a component. FIGS. 1A to 1D show several examples of such components and FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 show examples of how the antimicrobial particles 20 may be comprised within the component portion 10.

[0040] Specifically, the antimicrobial particles 20 discussed herein comprise monovalent copper compound particles 22. The monovalent copper compound particles 22 may reduce microorganism activity and improve hygiene through several mechanisms; one such mechanism is described below. When the monovalent copper compound particles 22 contact microorganisms such as bacteria or viruses, the monovalent copper compound particles 22 generate monovalent copper ions (Cu.sup.+). These copper ions react with oxygen (O.sub.2) in the surrounding air and generate reactive oxygen species such as hydroxide ions (OH.sup.?). Further monovalent copper ions act together with the hydroxide ions with antimicrobial effects against the microorganisms. An antimicrobial effect or property refers to the effect of eliminating, rendering inactive, or halting the reproduction/growth of microorganisms.

[0041] An advantage of using monovalent copper compound particles 22 rather than other copper particles is that the monovalent copper ions are oxidised more readily than bivalent copper ions and so are more effective at reducing microorganism activity. Monovalent copper compound particles 22 have been found to reduce bacterial and viral activity in a sample by over 99.9% in less than an hour.

[0042] In some examples of the invention, the monovalent copper compound particles 22 comprise monovalent copper compound nanoparticles. The performance of antimicrobial effects provided by these nanoparticles is greater than such effects provided by larger sized particles of the same material. This is due at least in part to the higher surface area to volume ratio of the nanoparticles and the smaller size allowing for a greater number of monovalent copper compound particles 22 to be distributed through the portion 10.

[0043] An example aerosol generating device 2 is generally illustrated in FIG. 1A. The device 2 comprises an exterior housing 3 that holds interior components (not shown) of the device 2 used for generation of an aerosol. For example, these interior components may include an aerosol generating substrate disposed within a heating chamber. In use, the substrate is heated by a nearby heater, powered by a battery, to generate an aerosol for subsequent inhalation by a user.

[0044] The device 2 further comprises a mouthpiece 6 for a user to inhale an aerosol through. In this example the mouthpiece 6 is a part of the aerosol generating device, while in other examples it may be a separate component or a part of a separate component such as a cartridge.

[0045] In the example of FIG. 1A, a portion 10 of the aerosol generating device 2 has antimicrobial properties. These antimicrobial properties are provided by antimicrobial particles 20 comprised in the portion 10 of the exterior housing 3, these particles 20 are described in more detail below. As shown in FIG. 1A, the portion 10 covers regions of the device 2 that are frequently held by a user; thereby reducing the likelihood of harmful bacteria or viruses being transmitted between separate users through sharing of the device 2.

[0046] In some examples of the invention, the exterior housing 3 comprises a grip configured to be held by a user, and in some other examples the device 2 comprises a grip that is distinct from the housing 3 (e.g. a layer of textile material wrapped around a portion of the exterior housing 3). In both examples, it is preferred that the grip comprises the antimicrobial particles 20.

[0047] FIG. 1B shows another example of an aerosol generating device 2. In contrast with the device 2 of FIG. 1A, the whole of the exterior of the device 2 comprises the antimicrobial particles 20. This increases the antimicrobial properties of the device 2, reducing the risk of harmful bacteria or viruses being transmitted irrespective of where or how the device 2 is handled by a user.

[0048] In FIG. 1A, the portion 10 is shaded to clearly distinguish the portion 10 comprising antimicrobial particles 20 from other portions of the device 2 that do not comprise antimicrobial particles 20. In FIG. 1B, the whole exterior of the device 2 comprises antimicrobial particles 20; therefore, the shading has not been included as it is not necessary to distinguish between portions of the component comprising the particles 20 and portions not comprising the particles 20.

[0049] In some examples of the invention, the concentration or density of antimicrobial particles 20 may vary across different portions 10 of a component or areas of a portion 10 of a component. This allows the antimicrobial properties provided by the particles 20 to be adjusted across the component; saving resources and reducing component costs while still reducing the activity of harmful microorganisms on the component. For example, where the component is an aerosol generating device similar to that in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the mouthpiece and grip portions of the device may comprise a higher concentration of antimicrobial particles 20 than other areas of the device. The mouthpiece and grip portions are likely to be handled more frequently by a user and so the most effective antimicrobial effects are required here.

[0050] FIG. 1C shows a cartridge 4 for an aerosol generating system. The cartridge 4 comprises an aerosolisable substrate 5 and mouthpiece 6 and is configured to be at least partially received within an aerosol generating device. As cartridges for aerosol generating systems are typically physically handled by a user, e.g. inserted and removed from a device by hand, it is advantageous that at least a portion of the exterior of such a cartridge 4 comprises antimicrobial particles 20 to provide antimicrobial effects.

[0051] In the cartridge 4 of FIG. 1C, the portion of the exterior of the cartridge 4 around the mouthpiece 6 comprises the antimicrobial particles 20. In this example, antimicrobial particles 20 are not provided on the portion of the exterior of the cartridge 4 at the substrate 5 as, in use, this portion of the cartridge 4 is heated to high temperatures that reduce the activity of many harmful bacteria and viruses; and so the risk of these microorganisms being transmitted is lower. In addition, users typically avoid touching the substrate 5 of the cartridge 4 in order to prevent residue from the substrate 5 being deposited on their person. However, in some examples of the invention the portion of the cartridge 4 at the substrate 5 may comprise the antimicrobial particles 20 in order to further increase the safety of the component.

[0052] While the cartridge 4 in the example of FIG. 1C comprises both a substrate 5 and a mouthpiece 6, in other examples the cartridge 4 may comprise different parts. For example, the cartridge 4 may comprise an aerosol cooling region arranged between the mouthpiece 6 and substrate 5, while in another example the cartridge 4 may not include the mouthpiece 6 and only comprises the substrate 5. In such components, the distribution of antimicrobial particles 20 are distributed according to the risk associated with each portion the component.

[0053] FIG. 1D shows an example accessory 8 for an aerosol generating system. Specifically, the accessory 8 is a fabric carry case comprised of a textile material and used to store other elements of an aerosol generating system, such as a cartridge 4 and aerosol generating device 2, when they are not in use. In the example of FIG. 1D, the whole of the exterior of the accessory 8 comprises the antimicrobial particles 20 to maximise the antimicrobial properties of the carry case.

[0054] FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a portion 10 of the exterior of a component for an aerosol generating system with antimicrobial particles 20 arranged throughout the portion 10. Preferably, the particles 20 are evenly distributed to ensure antimicrobial effects are provided across the full surface area of the portion 10. If the component exterior is a plastic material, polymeric material, or metal material then the antimicrobial particles 20 are typically arranged through the component in this manner.

[0055] A portion 10 of a component as shown in FIG. 2 may be produced by first providing a component portion material 40that is, the main structural material used to form a portion of the exterior of the component. Next, antimicrobial particles 20 are dispersed throughout the component portion material 40 to form an antimicrobial material 42. Subsequently, a portion 10 of the component is formed from the antimicrobial material 42; retaining the structural properties provided by the component portion material 40 while also gaining the antimicrobial benefits of the antimicrobial particles 20.

[0056] The precise nature of the dispersing step and the forming step will vary depending on the properties of the component portion material 40. For example, when the component portion material 40 comprises a polymer (e.g. for forming the exterior housing of an aerosol generating device), then it is preferable to disperse the antimicrobial particles 20 throughout the polymer when it is in a fluid or melt phase.

[0057] FIG. 3 shows another portion 10 of the exterior of a component for an aerosol generating system. The portion 10 comprises a coating 30 that covers the component exterior and comprises antimicrobial particles 20 arranged throughout the coating 30. Typically, the coating 30 comprises a coating fluid 32 and the antimicrobial particles 20 are dispersed throughout the coating fluid 32 before the coating 30 is applied to the portion 10. This helps provide an even dispersion of the particles 20 throughout the coating 30 and allows the concentration of antimicrobial particles 20 within the coating 30 to be selected prior to application. Applying an antimicrobial coating 30 to a portion of a component may be cheaper than dispersing antimicrobial particles 20 throughout the component portion material 40 itself. In addition, the coating 30 may be easily applied to existing components (to either completed components or at the end of a component manufacturing process) and provide them with antimicrobial properties.

[0058] The coating 30 may be applied to the portion 10 of the component before or after the component is assembled. For example, if the portion 10 is a grip for an aerosol generating device then the coating 30 can be applied to the grip before it is connected to the device or after it is connected to the device.

[0059] The portion 10, of the exterior of a component for an aerosol generating system, shown in FIG. 4 comprises a textile material 44. This may be, for example, a portion 10 of the carry case accessory shown in FIG. 1D. The textile material 44 is made up from a network of interlacing fibres, referred to as a fibre network 46. As shown in FIG. 4, the antimicrobial particles 20 are arranged throughout the fibre network 46. Preferably, the particles 20 are dispersed through the fibres before the network 46 is constructed and before the portion 10 of the component is formed from the textile material 44. This provides a textile material 44 that is an antimicrobial material 42 and so an even distribution of antimicrobial particles 20 through the resulting portion 10.

[0060] The coating 30 shown in FIG. 3 may also be applied to portions 10 that have antimicrobial particles 20 arranged throughout the portion 10, like those shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. This may increase the antimicrobial properties of the portion 10 and provides the portion 10 with two layers of antimicrobial protection. For instance, if the outer layer (the coating 30) is scratched or damaged then the portion retains the benefits of the antimicrobial particles 20 due to their dispersion throughout the portion 10 underneath in the second layer.