BIODEGRADABLE CARTRIDGE FOR AN AEROSOL-GENERATING DEVICE

Abstract

A cartridge for an aerosol-generating device is provided, the cartridge including: a container configured to hold sensorial media, the cartridge being made from biodegradable material, the cartridge further including a plant seed, and the plant seed being germinable. An aerosol-generating system including an aerosol-generating device and the cartridge is also provided.

Claims

1.-14. (canceled)

15. A cartridge for an aerosol-generating device, the cartridge comprising: a container configured to hold sensorial media, wherein the cartridge is made from biodegradable material, wherein the cartridge further comprises a plant seed, and wherein the plant seed is germinable.

16. The cartridge according to claim 15, wherein the plant seed has flavoring properties.

17. The cartridge according to claim 15, wherein the plant seed is selected from one or more of: seeds of sparagales, monocotyledonous flowering plants, including Orchid plants, Cymbidium Orchid, Pimpinella Anisum, Illicium Verum, Foeniculum Vulgaris, Calendula Officinalis, Anthemis Tomentosa, and Anthriscus Cerefolium.

18. The cartridge according to claim 15, wherein the biodegradable material is selected from one or more of biodegradable plastics, Polylacticacid (PLA), Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), Polysaccharide derivatives, and Poly(amino acid).

19. The cartridge according to claim 15, wherein the plant seed is provided at an outside of the container defined by the cartridge.

20. The cartridge according to claim 15, wherein the plant seed is provided in an herbal sheet.

21. The cartridge according to claim 20, wherein the herbal sheet comprises an adhesive layer and a flavor layer.

22. The cartridge according to claim 21, wherein the adhesive layer comprises the plant seed.

23. The cartridge according to claim 21, wherein the flavor layer is formed in a wax type.

24. The cartridge according to claim 21, wherein the flavor layer is selected from one or more of: tamarind seed gum, locust bean gum from plant seeds, gum arabic and karaya gum from sap, or konjac mannan and soy polysaccharides containing cellulose and agarose (as main components from other plants).

25. The cartridge according to claim 21, wherein the herbal sheet is provided in an airflow channel defined by the cartridge.

26. The cartridge according to claim 21, wherein the herbal sheet is configured as a sealing layer fixed to the cartridge.

27. The cartridge according to claim 26, wherein the sealing layer is configured to sealingly close at least one end of an airflow channel defined by the cartridge.

28. An aerosol-generating system, comprising an aerosol-generating device and a cartridge according to claim 15.

Description

[0085] FIG. 1 shows a cartridge comprising an herbal sheet in the airflow channel;

[0086] FIG. 2 shows a cartridge comprising an herbal sheet configured as sealing layer;

[0087] FIG. 3 shows a cartridge assembly;

[0088] FIG. 4 shows a main piece of a cartridge assembly;

[0089] FIG. 5 shows a seed holder of a cartridge assembly;

[0090] FIG. 6 illustrates germination of a plant seed comprised in a seed holder;

[0091] FIG. 7 shows an aerosol-generating article comprising plant seeds.

[0092] In FIG. 1 a cartridge 10 according to the present invention is depicted. The cartridge 10 is configured to be replaceable and is made from biodegradable polylactic acid. The replaceable cartridge 10 assembly has a generally tubular shape and defines a container portion 12 for holding liquid aerosol-forming substrate 14. An air flow channel 16 extends centrally through the cartridge 10 along its longitudinal axis 18. The proximal end of the airflow channel 16 is adopted as an outlet 20 and the distal end of the airflow channel 16 is adopted as an inlet 22, which is configured to receive an aerosol from the upstream vaporizing unit of an aerosol-generating device (not depicted).

[0093] An herbal sheet 24 is arranged in the airflow channel 16. In more detail, the herbal sheet 24 is attached to an inner wall 26 of the cartridge 10 defining the central airflow channel 16. The herbal sheet 24 comprises an adhesive layer 30 and a flavor layer 32. The adhesive layer 30 comprises plant seeds 34. In this embodiment, the plant seeds 34 within the adhesive layer 30 belong to a species of jewel orchid. The plant seeds 34 have a generally spherical shape with a diameter of about 0.05 millimeters. The adhesive layer 30 comprises an organic adhesive on the basis of cyanoacrylate.

[0094] The flavor layer 32 is formed in a wax type layer, made from tamarind seed gum as main component. During a user experience, aerosol is generated and guided through the central airflow channel 16 of the cartridge 10. The aerosol is mixed with volatile flavor components originating from the plant seed 34 and the flavor layer 32 of the herbal sheet 24. The aerosol and the entrained flavour components from the herbal sheet 24 are carried downstream through the outlet 20 of the airflow channel 16 and are eventually being inhaled by a user.

[0095] After consumption of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate 14 stored within the cartridge 10, the cartridge 10 is to be replaced by a new cartridge 10. The consumed cartridge 10 is disposed. Since the cartridge 10 is made from biodegradable material, the used replaceable cartridge 10 does not cause an environmental impact. In addition, the orchid seeds comprised in the herbal sheet 24 within the used replaceable cartridge 10 are germinable and may germinate to contribute to the ecosystem.

[0096] FIG. 2 shows a further cartridge 10 according to the present invention. The construction of the cartridge 10 is largely identical to the construction of the cartridge 10 depicted in FIG. 1. The cartridge of FIG. 2 comprises two herbal films. The herbal films are configured as sealing films 40, 42, which prevent unexpected particles or liquid from contaminating the airflow channel 16. Each sealing film 40, 42 is made from biodegradable heat seal adhesives and comprises plant seeds 34. In the depicted embodiment the sealing films 40, 42 are made from paper that is glued to the cartridge 10.

[0097] One sealing film 40 is placed on and covers the inlet 22 of the replaceable cartridge 10. The other sealing film 42 is placed on and covers the outlet 20 of the replaceable cartridge 10. The user removes the sealing films 40, 42 before insertion of the cartridge 10 into an aerosol-generating device. After peeling the sealing films 40, 42 from the cartridge 10, the user can put the sealing films 40, 42 into the ground so that the seeds 34 within each of the sealing films 40, 42 germinate to contribute to the ecosystem.

[0098] FIG. 3 shows a cartridge assembly 50 that comprises a main piece 52 and a seed holder 54. The main piece 52 and the seed holder 54 are releasably connectable via a unique engaging structure.

[0099] The main piece 52 is configured to receive and engage with the seed holder 54, as depicted in FIG. 3. In this embodiment the seed holder 54 is configured to define a container for holding liquid aerosol-forming substrate and to hold one or more plant seeds 34. When the substrate is consumed the seed holder 54 may be disposed of, while the main piece 52 may be reused together with a new seed holder 54. Thus, in this embodiment the main piece 52 is reusable.

[0100] The construction of the main piece 52 is shown in more detail in FIG. 4. The main piece comprises 52 two main sections, an airflow channel section 56 and a docking section 58. The airflow channel section 56 defines an air channel 16 through the cartridge assembly 50. The airflow channel section 56 and the docking section 58 are separated by a wall element 62 having an aperture 64.

[0101] The docking section 58 includes a recess 66 for receiving the seed holder 54. The recess 66 is defined by a bottom side 68, the wall element 62, and two lateral sides 70.

[0102] The main piece 52 is provided with suitable engaging means to securely retain the seed holder 54 on its engaged position. In the depicted embodiment several engaging means are configured to restrict movement of the seed holder 54 in any direction while attached to the main piece 52. On the lateral sides 70 of the recess 66 of the main piece 52 a spring element 72 is included that pushes towards the recess 66 and that thereby provides a force against a groove 84 of the seed holder 54.

[0103] A protrusion 74 is formed at the bottom side of the recess 66. This protrusion 74 cooperates with a corresponding recession 86 in the downwards-facing side of the seed holder 54. In this embodiment, the protrusion 74 and the corresponding recession 86 have a tetragonal shape. Upon assembly of the cartridge the protrusion 74 at the bottom side of the docking section 58 penetrates into the recession 86 in the downwards-facing side 88 of the seed holder 54. Thereby sideward movement of the main piece 53 and the seed holder 54 relative to each other is limited.

[0104] As shown in FIG. 5, the seed holder 54 has an L-shape profile along the longitudinal axis of the replaceable cartridge assembly 50. The seed holder 54 is designed to fit into the recess 66 of the docking section 58 of the main piece 52. A front surface 80 of the seed holder 54 includes an arrangement of plant seed 34.

[0105] Upon engagement of the main piece 52 and the seed holder 54, front surface 80 of the seed holder 54 closes the aperture 64 in the wall element 62 of the main piece 52 and thereby establishes a closed tubular airflow channel 16 through the cartridge assembly 50.

[0106] Moreover, the lateral surfaces 82 of the seed holder 54 include a groove 84. Upon engagement of the seed holder 54 and main piece 52, the spring elements 72 of the main piece 54 bend into the groves 84 at the lateral surfaces 82 of the seed holder 54. In the engaged position the spring elements 72 provide retention between the main piece 52 and the seed holder 54.

[0107] A recession 86 is formed into the downwards-facing surface 88 of the seed holder 54. As described above the protrusion 74 of the main piece 52 enters into the recession 86 and limits sideward movement of the main piece 52 and the seed holder 54.

[0108] An herbal sheet 24 as described above comprising the plant seeds 34 is arranged on the seed holder 54. During operation of the aerosol-generating device with the replaceable cartridge assembly 50, aerosol is guided through the airflow channel 16 of the cartridge assembly 50. The aerosol contacts the herbal sheet 24 so that the volatile flavors comprised in the herbal sheet 24 are entrained in the aerosol.

[0109] The seed holder 54 also comprises a friction arrangement 90 to facilitate the disengagement from the main piece 52. The friction arrangement 90 supports the user fingertip to provide the necessary force to unlock the mechanical engagement features and to release the seed holder 54 from its engaged position. The friction arrangement 90 comprises a series of parallel channel indentations embedded at the top surface 92 of the seed holder 54.

[0110] After the liquid aerosol-forming substrate 12 or the flavor layer of the herbal sheet 24 in the replaceable cartridge assembly 50 is completely consumed, the seed holder 54 is separated from the main piece 52 and disposed of. The seed holder 54 can act as a plant pot so that the user can plant the seed holder 54 into the ground. This may help to let the plant seeds 34 within the herbal sheet 24 germinate as illustrated in FIG. 6.

[0111] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a further embodiment of the present invention. As depicted in the upper view of FIG. 7, the cartridge is provided in form of an aerosol-generating article 100 that is to be used in an aerosol-generating device 102. In this case the aerosol-generating device is an inductively heated aerosol-generating device 102. The aerosol-generating article 100 comprises four main elements. The first element is a porous front plug 104 made of acetate tow. A plurality of plant seeds 34 are randomly distributed within the front plug 104. The second element is the aerosol-generating substrate 106 with a susceptor heating element 108. The third element is a hollow acetate tube 110. A plurality of plant seeds 34 are randomly distributed within the hollow acetate tube 110. The fourth element is a mouthpiece 112 made of acetate tow.

[0112] During a user experience aerosol-generating article 100 is inserted in the inductively heating aerosol-generating device 102. As depicted in the lower view of FIG. 7, the aerosol-generating device 102 is configured to generate a varying magnetic field which induces heat in the susceptor heating element 108. This heat is used to vaporize volatalizible components of the aerosol-forming substrate 106. When a user draws a puff an airflow is provided, which enters the aerosol-generating article 100 at the porous front plug 104 and mixes with the emanated scent of the seeds 34 contained in the porous front plug 104. When passing through the aerosol-forming substrate 106, the air flow is heated and is mixed with vaporized substrate to form a heated flavored aerosol. This heated aerosol is again blended with the scents of the seeds 34 comprised in the hollow acetate tube 110. The aerosol exits the aerosol-generating article 100 at the downstream end of the mouthpiece 112.