Multiple use aerosol-generating system

Abstract

An aerosol-generating system is provided, including a housing having a first portion and a second portion. The housing includes an air inlet; a nicotine source; a volatile delivery enhancing compound source; and an air outlet. The first portion of the housing and the second portion of the housing are movable relative to one another between an open position and a closed position. In the open position, the air inlet and the air outlet are unobstructed and the nicotine source and the volatile delivery enhancing compound source are both in fluid communication with an airflow pathway through the housing between the air inlet and the air outlet. In the closed position, either the air inlet is obstructed or the nicotine source and the volatile delivery enhancing compound source are both not in fluid communication with an airflow pathway through the housing between the air inlet and the air outlet or both.

Claims

1. An aerosol-generating system, comprising: a housing having a first portion and a second portion, the housing comprising: an air inlet; a nicotine source; a volatile delivery enhancing compound source; and an air outlet, wherein the first portion of the housing and the second portion of the housing are movable relative to one another from: an open position in which the nicotine source and the volatile delivery enhancing compound source are both in fluid communication with an airflow pathway through the housing between the air inlet and the air outlet, to a closed position in which (i) the air flow pathway through the housing between the air inlet and the air outlet is blocked such that airflow into the housing through the air inlet, along the airflow pathway through the housing between the air inlet and the air outlet, and out of the housing through the air outlet, is substantially prevented, (ii) the nicotine source and the volatile delivery enhancing compound source are both not in fluid communication with the airflow pathway through the housing between the air inlet and the air outlet, or (iii) the air flow pathway through the housing between the air inlet and the air outlet is blocked such that airflow into the housing through the air inlet, along the airflow pathway through the housing between the air inlet and the air outlet, and out of the housing through the air outlet, is substantially prevented, and the nicotine source and the volatile delivery enhancing compound source are both not in fluid communication with the airflow pathway through the housing between the air inlet and the air outlet, and wherein the first portion of the housing and the second portion of the housing are movable relative to one another from the closed position to the open position.

2. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 1, wherein thy: nicotine source and the volatile delivery enhancing compound source are arranged in series within the housing so that in the open position an air stream drawn along the airflow pathway through the housing between the air inlet and the air outlet passes a first one of the nicotine source and the volatile delivery enhancing compound source and then passes a second one of the nicotine source and the volatile delivery enhancing compound source.

3. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 1, wherein thy: nicotine source and the volatile delivery enhancing compound source are not in fluid communication with one another in the closed position.

4. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 1, wherein the first portion of the housing and the second portion of the housing are slidable relative to one another from the closed position to the open position and from the open position to the closed position.

5. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 1, wherein the first portion of the housing and the second portion of the housing are rotatable relative to one another from the closed position to the open position and from the open position to the closed position.

6. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 1, further comprising: one or more first apertures in the first portion of the housing; and one or more second apertures in the second portion of the housing, wherein, in the open position, the one or more first apertures in the first portion of the housing and the one or more second apertures in the second portion of the housing are substantially aligned and, in the closed position, the one or more first apertures in the first portion of the housing and the one or more second apertures in the second portion of the housing are substantially misaligned.

7. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 1, wherein the nicotine source and the volatile delivery enhancing compound source are both disposed in the first portion of the housing.

8. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 7, wherein the first portion of the housing comprises the air inlet and the air outlet, and wherein the first portion of the housing and the second portion of the housing are movable relative to one another between: the open position in which the nicotine source and the volatile delivery enhancing compound source are both in fluid communication with the airflow pathway, which is through the first portion of the housing between the air inlet and the air outlet, and the closed position, in which one or both of the air inlet and the air outlet are blocked by the second portion of the housing.

9. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 7, wherein the second portion of the housing is separated from the first portion of the housing in the open position.

10. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 1, wherein a first one of the nicotine source and the volatile delivery enhancing compound source is located in the first portion of the housing, and a second one of the nicotine source and the volatile delivery enhancing compound source is located in the second portion of the housing.

11. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a first compartment comprising the nicotine source and a second compartment comprising the volatile delivery enhancing compound source.

12. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 11, wherein one or both of the first compartment and the second compartment are initially sealed by one or more frangible seals.

13. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 1, wherein thy: volatile delivery enhancing compound source comprises an acid.

14. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 13, wherein the acid is selected from the group consisting of lactic acid, 3-methyl-2-oxovaleric acid, pyruvic acid, 2-oxovaleric acid, 4-methyl-2-oxovaleric acid, 3-methyl-2-oxobutanoic acid, 2-oxooctanoic acid, and combinations thereof.

15. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 1, further comprising: an aerosol-generating article comprising the nicotine source and the volatile delivery enhancing compound source; and an aerosol-generating device comprising: a cavity configured to receive the nicotine source and the volatile delivery enhancing compound source of the aerosol-generating article; and a heater configured to heat one or both of the nicotine source and the volatile delivery enhancing compound source of the aerosol-generating article within the cavity.

Description

(1) The invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

(2) FIGS. 1a and 1b show schematic longitudinal cross-sections of an aerosol-generating system according to a first embodiment of the invention comprising an aerosol-generating article and an aerosol-generating device;

(3) FIGS. 2a and 2b show schematic longitudinal cross-sections of an aerosol-generating system according to a second embodiment of the invention comprising an aerosol-generating article and an aerosol-generating device;

(4) FIGS. 3a and 3b show schematic longitudinal cross-sections of an aerosol-generating system according to a third embodiment of the invention; and

(5) FIGS. 4a and 4b show schematic longitudinal cross-sections of an aerosol-generating system according to a fourth embodiment of the invention.

(6) FIGS. 1a and 1b schematically show an aerosol-generating system according to a first embodiment of the invention comprising an aerosol-generating article 2 and an aerosol-generating device 4. The aerosol-generating article 2 has an elongate cylindrical housing comprising a first compartment 6 comprising a nicotine source 8, a second compartment 10 comprising a volatile delivery enhancing compound source 12, and a third compartment 14. As shown in FIG. 1, the first compartment 6, the second compartment 10, and the third compartment 14 are arranged in series and in coaxial alignment within the aerosol-generating article 2. The first compartment 6 is located at the distal end of the aerosol-generating article 2. The second compartment 10 is located immediately downstream of and abuts the first compartment 6. The third compartment 14 is located immediately downstream of the second compartment 10 at the proximal end of the aerosol-generating article 2. Instead of or in addition to the third compartment 14, the aerosol-generating article 2 may comprise a mouthpiece at the proximal end thereof.

(7) The aerosol-generating device 4 comprises a housing comprising an elongate cylindrical cavity in which the aerosol-generating article 2 is received, a power source 16, a controller 18 and an internal heater 20. The power source 16 is a battery and the controller 18 comprises electronic circuitry and is connected to the power supply 16 and the internal heater 20.

(8) The length of the cavity is less than the length of the aerosol-generating article 2 so that the proximal end of the aerosol-generating article 2 protrudes from the cavity. The internal heater 20 is positioned centrally within the cavity of the aerosol-generating device 4 and extending along the major axis of the cavity. In use, as the aerosol-generating article 2 is inserted into the cavity of the aerosol-generating device 4 the internal heater 20 is inserted into the first compartment 6 and the second compartment 10 of the aerosol-generating article 2.

(9) As shown in FIG. 1b, the first compartment 6 comprising the nicotine source 8 is located in a first of the housing of the aerosol-generating article 2 and the second compartment 10 comprising the volatile delivery enhancing compound source 12 is located in a second portion 24 of the housing of the aerosol-generating article 2.

(10) A plurality of first apertures are provided in the downstream end of the first compartment 6 of the aerosol-generating article 2, a plurality of second apertures are provided in the upstream and downstream ends of the second compartment 10 of the aerosol-generating article 2 and a plurality of third apertures are provided in the upstream end of the third compartment 14 of the aerosol-generating article 2.

(11) The second portion 24 of the housing of the aerosol-generating article 2 is rotatable relative to the first portion 22 of the housing of the aerosol-generating article 2 between an open position and a closed position.

(12) In the open position the plurality of second apertures in the upstream end of the second compartment 10 are aligned with the plurality of first apertures in the downstream end of the first compartment 6 and the plurality of second apertures in the downstream end of the second compartment 10 are aligned with the plurality of third apertures in the upstream end of the third compartment 14.

(13) In the open position an air stream may be drawn into the housing of the aerosol-generating article 2 through an air inlet at the distal end thereof, along an airflow pathway through the housing between the air inlet and an air outlet at the proximal end of the aerosol-generating article 2, and out of the housing of the aerosol-generating article 2 through the air outlet. The airstream drawn along the airflow pathway through the housing between the air inlet and the air outlet passes through the first compartment 6, the second compartment 10 and the third compartment 14 of the aerosol-generating article 2 via the plurality of first apertures in the downstream end of the first compartment 6, the plurality of second apertures in the upstream end of the second compartment 10, the plurality of second apertures in the downstream end of the second compartment 10 and the plurality of third apertures in the upstream end of the third compartment 14.

(14) As the air stream is drawn along the airflow pathway through the housing between the air inlet and the air outlet nicotine vapour is released from the nicotine source in the first compartment 6 into the air stream and volatile delivery enhancing compound vapour is released from the volatile delivery enhancing compound source in the second compartment 10 into the air stream. The nicotine vapour reacts with the volatile delivery enhancing compound vapour in the gas phase in the second compartment 10 and the third compartment 14 to form an aerosol, which is delivered to the user through the air outlet at the proximal end of the aerosol-generating article 2.

(15) In the closed position the plurality of second apertures in the upstream end of the second compartment 10 of the aerosol-generating article 2 are misaligned with the plurality of first apertures in the downstream end of the first compartment 6 of the aerosol-generating article 2. In the closed position the plurality of second apertures in the downstream end of the second compartment 10 of the aerosol-generating article 2 may also be misaligned with the plurality of third apertures in the upstream end of the third compartment 14 of the aerosol-generating article 2.

(16) The misalignment of the plurality of first apertures in the downstream end of the first compartment 6 and the plurality of second apertures in the upstream end of the second compartment 10 in the closed position obstructs the airflow pathway through the housing of the aerosol-generating article 2 between the air inlet and the air outlet. This prevents an air stream from being drawn into the housing of the aerosol-generating article 2 through the air inlet, along the airflow pathway through the housing of the aerosol-generating article 2 between the air inlet and the air outlet, and out of the housing of the aerosol-generating article 2 through the air outlet in the closed position.

(17) FIGS. 2a and 2b schematically show an aerosol-generating system according to a second embodiment of the invention comprising an aerosol-generating article 2 and an aerosol-generating device 4.

(18) The aerosol-generating device 4 of the aerosol-generating system according to the second embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b is of similar construction and operation as the aerosol-generating device 4 of the aerosol-generating system according to the first embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b. However, in the aerosol-generating device of the aerosol-generating system according to the second embodiment of the invention the internal heater 20 is of reduced length so that as the aerosol-generating article 2 is inserted into the cavity of the aerosol-generating device 4 the internal heater 20 is only inserted into the first compartment 6 of the aerosol-generating article 2.

(19) The aerosol-generating article 2 of the aerosol-generating system according to the second embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b is of similar general construction to the aerosol-generating article 2 of the aerosol-generating system according to the first embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b and comprises a first compartment 6 comprising a nicotine source 8, a second compartment 10 comprising a volatile delivery enhancing compound source 12, and a third compartment 14, which are arranged in series and in coaxial alignment within a housing of the aerosol-generating article 2. However, in the aerosol-generating article of the aerosol-generating system according to the second embodiment of the invention the first compartment 6 comprising the nicotine source 8, the second compartment 10 comprising the volatile delivery enhancing compound source 12, and the third compartment 14 are all located in an elongate cylindrical first portion 22 of the housing of the aerosol-generating article 2. The first portion 22 of the housing of the aerosol-generating article 2 is partially surrounded by an elongate cylindrical second portion 24 of the housing of the aerosol-generating article 2.

(20) As shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b, a plurality of first apertures are provided in the surface of the first portion 22 of the housing overlying the first compartment 6 and the second compartment 10 and a plurality of second apertures are provided in the surface of the second portion 24 of the housing.

(21) The first portion 22 of the housing and the second portion 24 of the housing are slidable relative to one another along the longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generating article 2 between an open position (shown in FIG. 2a) and a closed position (shown in FIG. 2b).

(22) In the open position shown in FIG. 2a, the second portion 24 of the housing does not surround the plurality of first apertures provided in the surface of the first portion 22 of the housing overlying the first compartment 6 and the plurality of second apertures in the second portion 24 of the housing are aligned with the plurality of first apertures in the first portion 22 of the housing overlying the second compartment 10.

(23) In the open position an air stream may be drawn into the aerosol-generating system through an air inlet at the distal end thereof, along an airflow pathway through the aerosol-generating system between the air inlet and an air outlet at the proximal end of the aerosol-aerosol-generating system, and out of the aerosol-generating system through the air outlet. The airstream drawn along the airflow pathway through the aerosol-generating system between the air inlet and the air outlet passes the first compartment 6, the second compartment 10 and the third compartment 14 of the aerosol-generating article 2.

(24) As the air stream is drawn along the airflow pathway through the aerosol-generating system between the air inlet and the air outlet nicotine vapour is released from the nicotine source in the first compartment 6 into the air stream via the plurality of first apertures in the surface of the first portion 22 of the housing overlying the first compartment 6. As the air stream is drawn along the airflow pathway through the aerosol-generating system between the air inlet and the air outlet volatile delivery enhancing compound vapour is also released from the volatile delivery enhancing compound source in the second compartment 10 into the air stream via the plurality of first apertures in the surface of the first portion 22 of the housing overlying the second compartment 10 and the plurality of second apertures in the surface of the second portion 24 of the housing. The nicotine vapour reacts with the volatile delivery enhancing compound vapour in the gas phase to form an aerosol, which is delivered to the user through the air outlet at the proximal end of the aerosol-generating system.

(25) In the closed position shown in FIG. 2b, the second portion 24 of the housing surrounds the plurality of first apertures provided in the surface of the first portion 22 of the housing overlying the first compartment 6 and the plurality of second apertures in the second portion 24 of the housing are misaligned with the plurality of first apertures in the first portion 22 of the housing overlying the second compartment 10.

(26) In the closed position the obstruction of the plurality of first apertures provided in the surface of the first portion 22 of the housing overlying the first compartment 6 by the second portion 24 of the housing and the misalignment of the plurality of first apertures in the first portion 22 of the housing overlying the second compartment 10 and the plurality of second apertures in the surface of the second portion 24 of the housing prevents the release of nicotine vapour from the nicotine source in the first compartment 6 and the release of volatile delivery enhancing compound vapour from the volatile delivery enhancing compound source in the second compartment 10 into an air stream drawn along the airflow pathway through the aerosol-generating system between the air inlet and an air outlet.

(27) FIGS. 3a and 3b schematically show an aerosol-generating system according to a third embodiment of the invention comprising a housing having a first portion 22 and a second portion 24.

(28) The first portion 22 of the housing comprises a first air inlet 26a, a second air inlet 26b and an air outlet 28. As shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b, a nicotine source 8 and a volatile delivery enhancing compound source 12 are arranged in parallel within the first portion 22 of the housing with the nicotine source 8 downstream of the first air inlet 26a and upstream of the air outlet 28 and the volatile delivery enhancing compound source 12 downstream of the second air inlet 26b and upstream of the air outlet 28.

(29) The second portion 24 of the housing is a removable cap that is configured to fit over the distal end of the first portion 22 of the housing.

(30) The first portion 22 of the housing and the second portion 24 of the housing are movable relative to one another between an open position (shown in FIG. 3b) and a closed position (shown in FIG. 3a).

(31) In the open position the second portion 24 of the housing is separated from the first portion 22 of the housing.

(32) As illustrated by the arrows in FIG. 3b, in the open position a first air stream drawn into the first portion 22 of the housing through the first air inlet 26a and along an airflow pathway through the first portion 22 of the housing between the first air inlet 26a and the air outlet 28 passes the nicotine source 8 and a second air stream drawn into the first portion 22 of the housing through the second air inlet 26b and along an airflow pathway through the first portion 22 of the housing between the second air inlet 26b and the air outlet 28 passes the volatile delivery enhancing compound source 12. The nicotine vapour in the first air stream reacts with the volatile delivery enhancing compound vapour in the second air stream in the gas phase to form an aerosol, which is delivered to a user through the air outlet 28.

(33) In the closed position the second portion 24 of the housing is placed over the distal end of the first portion 22 of the housing.

(34) As shown in FIG. 3a, in the closed position the first air inlet 26a and the second air inlet 26b of the first portion 22 of the housing are obstructed by the second portion 24 of the housing. This prevents an air stream from being drawn into first portion 22 of the housing of the aerosol-generating article 2 through the first air inlet 26a and the second air inlet 26b.

(35) FIGS. 4a and 4b schematically show an aerosol-generating system according to a fourth embodiment of the invention.

(36) The aerosol-generating system according to the fourth embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b is of similar construction and operation as the aerosol-generating system according to the third embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b. However, in the aerosol-generating system according to the fourth embodiment of the invention the first portion 22 of the housing comprises a single air inlet 26 and an air outlet 28 and the nicotine source 8 and the volatile delivery enhancing compound source 12 are arranged in parallel within the first portion 22 of the housing with the nicotine source 8 and the volatile delivery enhancing compound source 12 both downstream of the air inlet 26 and upstream of the air outlet 28.

(37) As illustrated by the arrows in FIG. 4b, in the open position a first portion of an air stream drawn into the first portion 22 of the housing through the air inlet 26 and along an airflow pathway through the first portion 22 of the housing between the air inlet 26 and the air outlet 28 passes the nicotine source 8 and a second portion of the air stream drawn into the first portion 22 of the housing through the air inlet 26 and along an airflow pathway through the first portion 22 of the housing between the air inlet 26 and the air outlet 28 passes the volatile delivery enhancing compound source 12. The nicotine vapour in the first portion of the air stream reacts with the volatile delivery enhancing compound vapour in the second portion of the air stream in the gas phase to form an aerosol, which is delivered to a user through the air outlet 28.