Retractable heat source for aerosol generating article

Abstract

An aerosol generating article (100) includes a retractable heat source (130). The aerosol generating article has a tubular body (110) positioned at the proximal end (102) of the aerosol generating article. A combustible heat source is positioned at the distal end (104) of the aerosol generating article. An aerosol generating substrate (120) is downstream of the combustible heat source. The combustible heat source is slideable from an extended position to a retracted position having a shorter article length. An entire length of the combustible heat source retracts into the tubular body in the retracted position.

Claims

1. An aerosol generating article having a proximal end and a distal end, comprising: a tubular body positioned at the proximal end of the aerosol generating article and extending toward the distal end; a combustible heat source positioned at the distal end of the aerosol generating article, wherein the combustible heat source is a carbonaceous heat source; and an aerosol-forming substrate downstream of, and separate from, the combustible heat source; the combustible heat source is slideable from an extended position having a first article length to a retracted position having a second article length that is less than the first article length in response to force applied to the combustible heat source in a direction along a longitudinal axis of the combustible heat source and the entire length of the combustible heat source retracts into the tubular body in the retracted position.

2. The aerosol generating article according to claim 1, wherein the tubular body comprises a retention element that maintains the extended position until sufficient force overcomes the retention element and retracts the combustible heat source into the tubular body to the retracted position.

3. The aerosol generating article according to claim 2, further comprising an inner tubular element holding the combustible heat source, the inner tubular element at least partially disposed within a distal end of the tubular body and the inner tubular element is slideable from the extended position to the retracted position.

4. The aerosol generating article according to claim 3, wherein the retention element comprises an outer wrapper that overwrap a junction of the tubular body with the inner tubular element and is fixed to both the tubular body and the inner tubular element.

5. The aerosol generating article according to claim 1, further comprising an inner tubular element holding the combustible heat source, the inner tubular element at least partially disposed within a distal end of the tubular body and the inner tubular element is slideable from the extended position to the retracted position.

6. The aerosol generating article according to claim 5, wherein the aerosol-forming substrate is at least partially disposed within the inner tubular element and is slideable from the extended position to the retracted position.

7. The aerosol generating article according to claim 5, wherein the carbonaceous heat source, aerosol-forming substrate and a first transfer element are contained within the inner tubular element.

8. The aerosol generating article according to claim 7, wherein a second transfer element is contained within the tubular body and separated from the first transfer element by a void space in the extended position.

9. The aerosol generating article according to claim 1, further comprising a filter element disposed within a proximal end of the tubular body.

10. The aerosol generating article according to claim 9, wherein the filter element is partially disposed within the proximal end of the tubular body and an exposed portion extends beyond the proximal end of the tubular body.

11. The aerosol generating article according to claim 10, wherein the filter element is slideable from an extended filter position to a retracted filter position and the filter element at least partially retracts into the tubular body in the retracted position.

12. The aerosol generating article according to claim 1, wherein the tubular body contains a transfer element and an aerosol cooling element.

13. The aerosol generating article according to claim 1, wherein the second article length is about 90% or less than the first article length.

14. The aerosol generating article according to claim 1, wherein the proximal end of the tubular body comprises a mouthpiece and a filter element.

15. The aerosol generating article according to claim 1, wherein the tubular body has an inner surface that comprises a heat reactive material that is configured to deform in response to heat from the combustible heat source in the retracted position, such that the tubular body fits tightly against the combustible heat source.

16. The aerosol generating article according to claim 15, wherein the reactive material comprises an intumescent material.

17. The aerosol generating article according to claim 15, wherein the reactive material comprises a heat-shrink material that is configured to at least partially seal around the combustible heat source.

18. The aerosol generating article according to claim 1, wherein the tubular body is lined with non-combustible material being at least one of: a metal; a metal oxide; a ceramic; graphite; or stone.

19. The aerosol generating article according to claim 1, wherein the tubular body comprises an adhesive that maintains the extended position until sufficient heat and force overcomes the adhesive and retracts the combustible heat source into the tubular body to the retracted position.

20. The aerosol generating article according to claim 1, wherein the aerosol-forming substrate comprises tobacco.

Description

(1) FIG. 1 is schematic diagram of illustrative aerosol generating article 100 in the extended position.

(2) FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the illustrative aerosol generating article 100 of FIG. 1 in the retracted position.

(3) FIG. 3 is schematic diagram of another illustrative aerosol generating article 100 in the extended position.

(4) FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the illustrative aerosol generating article 100 of FIG. 3 in the retracted position.

(5) FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of another illustrative aerosol generating article 100 in the extended position.

(6) FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of another illustrative aerosol generating article 100 in the extended position.

(7) FIG. 7 is perspective view of an illustrative aerosol generating article 100 in the extended position.

(8) FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the aerosol generating article 100 of FIG. 7 in the retracted position.

(9) 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 drawing fall within the scope and spirit of this disclosure.

(10) An aerosol generating article 100 extends between a proximal end 102 and a distal end 104. A tubular body 110 is positioned at the proximal end 102 of the aerosol generating article 100 and extends toward the distal end 104. A combustible heat source 130 is positioned at the distal end 104 of the aerosol generating article 100. An aerosol generating substrate 120 is downstream of the combustible heat source 130. The combustible heat source 130 is slideable from an extended position (FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 and FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 and FIG. 7) to a retracted position (FIG. 2 and FIG. 4 and FIG. 8) having a shorter article length. The arrows indicate a force applied to the combustible heat source 130 and the resulting direction of movement of the combustible heat source 130. The combustible heat source 130 at least partially retracts into the tubular body 110 in the retracted position. Preferably the entire length of the combustible heat source 130 retracts into the tubular body 110 in the retracted position.

(11) An inner surface 160 of the tubular body 110 may comprise a heat reactive material, as described above. Preferably the heat reactive material is disposed on or forms a portion of the inner surface 160 along a distal end portion of the tubular body 110. The heat reactive material may facilitate extinguishment of the retracted combustible heat source 130.

(12) An aerosol-forming substrate 120 is downstream of the distal end 104 and the combustible heat source 130. In many embodiments an inner tubular element 150 holds the combustible heat source 130. The combustible heat source 130 may be cylindrical. The inner tubular element 150 is at least partially disposed within a distal end of the tubular body 110 and the inner tubular element 150 is slideable from the extended position to the retracted position. In the illustrated embodiment, the aerosol-forming substrate 120 is at least partially disposed within the inner tubular element 150 and is slideable from the extended position to the retracted position. Thus, the combustible heat source 130 may be fixed to the aerosol-forming substrate 120 via the inner tubular element 150. The inner tubular element 150 may also facilitate heat transfer from the combustible heat source 130 to the aerosol-forming substrate 120. Perforations or apertures 125 may provide inhalation or inlet air that passes through the heated aerosol-forming substrate 120. The inner tubular element 150 may also contain or hold a diffuser or transfer element 185 (as shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6).

(13) The aerosol generating article 100 may further include a void space 180 and a filter element 170 in sequential, abutting coaxial alignment with the combustible heat source 130 and aerosol-forming substrate 120. A diffuser or transfer element 185 may be disposed in a portion of the void space 180. An aerosol cooling element 175 may be disposed in a portion of the void space 180. The aerosol cooling element 175 may be upstream of a mouthpiece filter element 170 and abut the mouthpiece filter element 170. The filter element 170 may include or form a portion of the mouthpiece end 102.

(14) The aerosol generating article 100 may have a length and diameter similar to a conventional cigarette. The aerosol generating article 100 may have an extended length LE (in the extended position) in a range from about 60 mm to about 100 mm, or from about 70 mm to about 90 mm, or about 70 to about 80 mm. The aerosol generating article 100 may have a retracted length L.sub.R (in the retracted position) in a range from about 40 mm to about 70 mm, or from about 40 mm to about 60 mm, or about 50 mm.

(15) The combustible heat source 130 and aerosol-forming substrate 120 may have a combined length in a range from about 15 mm to about 20 mm′ The filter element 170 may have a length in a range from about 10 mm to about 25 mm. The void space 180 may have a length from about 20 mm to about 50 mm, or from about 25 mm to about 40 mm.

(16) An optional detent element 140 or ridge or rib element may be configured to engage the inner tubular member 150 and maintain the extended position until sufficient force may be applied to the inner tubular body 150 to overcome the detent element 140 and retracts the combustible heat source 130 into the tubular body 110. An optional adhesive 141 may be configured to adhere the inner tubular member 150 to the tubular member 110 and maintain the extended position until heat from the combusting heat source melts the adhesive 141 and sufficient force is applied to the inner tubular body 150 to overcome the heated adhesive 141 and retracts the combustible heat source entirely 130 into the tubular body 110. The detent element 140 and adhesive 141 are referred to above as retention elements.

(17) As illustrated in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the filter element 170 may be partially disposed within the proximal end of the tubular body 110 and an exposed portion extends beyond the proximal end of the tubular body 110. The filter element 170 is slideable from an extended filter position (FIG. 3) to a retracted filter position (FIG. 4) and the filter element 170 at least partially retracts into the tubular body 110 in the retracted position. An optional detent element 140 or ridge or rib element may be configured to engage the filter element 170 and maintain the extended position until sufficient force is applied to the filter element 170 to overcome the detent element 140 and retracts the filter element 170 into the tubular body 110. The filter element 170 may include cellulose acetate tow.

(18) The aerosol-generating substrate 120 may be located immediately adjacent to or downstream of the combustible heat source 130 and comprises a cylindrical plug of homogenized tobacco material comprising, for example, glycerine as an aerosol former and may be circumscribed by a plug wrap. A heat-conducting element or inner tubular member 150, surrounds and may be in contact with a rear portion of the combustible heat source 130 and an abutting front portion of the aerosol-generating substrate 120.

(19) FIG. 5 illustrates the aerosol cooling element 175 upstream of and abutting the mouthpiece filter element 170. FIG. 5 illustrates the diffuser or transfer element 185 downstream of and abutting the aerosol-forming substrate 120. The diffuser or transfer element 185 may be slidable with the combustible heat source 130. The diffuser or transfer element 185 may be contained within the inner tubular member 150. The diffuser or transfer element 185 may be contained within the inner tubular member 150 and may be slidable with the combustible heat source 130 and the aerosol-forming substrate 120. The void space 180 may be eliminated once the aerosol generating article 100 is positioned in the retracted position. A retention element may be placed at a junction of the tubular body 110 and the inner tubular member 150. This retention member may be an adhesive 141, as illustrated or an outer wrapper that overwrap a junction of the tubular body 110 with the inner tubular element 150 and is fixed to both the tubular body 110 and the inner tubular element 150 by, for example an adhesive.

(20) The void space 180 may be about 15 mm to about 25 mm, or about 20 mm in length and the void space 180 separates the aerosol cooling element 175 from the diffuser or transfer element 185. The overall length of the aerosol generating article 100 of FIG. 5 may be about 50 mm to about 100 mm, or about 60 mm to about 80 mm, or about 70 mm in the extended position and about 30 mm to about 70 mm, or about 40 mm to about 60 mm, or about 50 mm in the retracted position. The length of the combustible heat source 130 may be about 5 mm to about 15 mm, or 7 mm to about 11 mm, or about 9 mm or about 10 mm. The length of the aerosol-forming substrate 120 may be about 5 mm to about 15 mm, or 6 mm to about 10 mm, or about 8 mm or about 9 mm. The length of the diffuser or transfer element 185 may be about 5 mm to about 15 mm, or 7 mm to about 11 mm, or about 9 mm or about 10 mm. The length of the aerosol cooling element 175 may be about 7 mm to about 17 mm, or 10 mm to about 14 mm, or about 11 mm or about 12 mm. The length of the mouthpiece filter element 170 may be about 7 mm to about 17 mm, or 10 mm to about 14 mm, or about 11 mm or about 12 mm.

(21) FIG. 6 illustrates the aerosol cooling element 175 upstream of and abutting the mouthpiece filter element 170. FIG. 6 illustrates a first diffuser or transfer element 185 downstream of and abutting the aerosol-forming substrate 120 and a second diffuser or transfer element 185 upstream of and abutting the aerosol cooling element 175. The diffuser or transfer element 185 may be slidable with the combustible heat source 130. An inner tubular member 150 may extend along and within a substantial portion or length of the tubular body 110. The inner tubular member 150 may be co-axial with the tubular body 110.

(22) An inner tubular member 150 may extend from the combustible heat source 130 to the aerosol cooling element 175 or to the mouthpiece filter element 170. The diffuser or transfer elements 185, aerosol cooling element 175, and the mouthpiece filter element 170 may be contained within or held by the inner tubular member 150. The inner tubular member 150 may have an area of weakness to allow the inner tubular member 150 to collapse within the tubular body 110 and retract into the retracted position (see FIG. 8). The area of weakness may be located coextensive with the void space 180.

(23) The diffuser or transfer element 185 and aerosol-forming substrate 120 may be contained within the inner tubular member 150 and may be slidable with the combustible heat source 130. The diffuser or transfer element 185 may abut or contact the second diffuser or transfer element 185 when positioned in the retracted position. The void space 180 may be eliminated once the aerosol generating article 100 is collapsed into the retracted position. An optional retention element may be placed at a junction of the tubular body 110 and the inner tubular member 150. This retention member may be an adhesive or an outer wrapper that overwrap a junction of the tubular body 110 with the inner tubular element 150 and is fixed to both the tubular body 110 and the inner tubular element 150 by, for example an adhesive.

(24) The void space 180 may be about 15 mm to about 25 mm, or about 20 mm in length and the void space 180 separates the first and second diffuser or transfer elements 185. The overall length of the aerosol generating article 100 of FIG. 6 may be about 50 mm to about 100 mm, or about 60 mm to about 80 mm, or about 70 mm in the extended position and about 30 mm to about 70 mm, or about 40 mm to about 60 mm, or about 50 mm in the retracted position. The length of the combustible heat source 130 may be about 5 mm to about 15 mm, or 7 mm to about 11 mm, or about 9 mm or about 10 mm. The length of the aerosol-forming substrate 120 may be about 5 mm to about 15 mm, or 6 mm to about 10 mm, or about 8 mm or about 9 mm. The length of each of the first and second diffuser or transfer element 185 each may each be about 4 mm to about 10 mm, or 5 mm to about 9 mm, or about 7 mm or about 8 mm. The length of the aerosol cooling element 175 may be about 5 mm to about 15 mm, or 8 mm to about 12 mm, or about 10 mm. The length of the mouthpiece filter element 170 may be about 5 mm to about 15 mm, or 7 mm to about 11 mm, or about 9 mm or about 10 mm.

(25) In use, the user ignites the combustible heat source 130 which heats the aerosol-forming substrate 120 to produce an aerosol. When the user inhales on the mouthpiece 102 air may be drawn through the aerosol-forming substrate 120 through air inlet holes 125 in the inner tubular member 150 or tubular body 110 and adjacent to the aerosol-forming substrate 120, through the expansion or void 180, through the filter element 170 to the consumer.

(26) Once consumption of the aerosol-generating substrate 120 is complete, the consumer may apply a force to the combustible heat source 130 and the inner tubular body 150 to overcome the retention element or the inner tubular member area of weakness and retract the combustible heat source 130 into the tubular body 110. Once the combustible heat source 130 retracts into the tubular body 110, the optional heat reactive material 160 may function to seal the combustible heat source 130 within the tubular body 110. In addition, the consumer may also apply a force to the filter element 170 to overcome the retention element 140 (if present) and retracts the filter element 170 into the tubular body 110, when the filter element 170 may be slidable relative to the tubular body 110. Retraction of the combustible heat source 130 within the tubular body 110 extinguishes the combustible heat source 130.