RU2775373C2 - Smoking products (options) - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: tobacco industry.

SUBSTANCE: group of inventions relates to smoking products. A smoking product contains a heat source made with the possibility of generating heat, when ignited, and having opposite first and second ends, as well as the first substrate material having opposite first and second ends. The first end of the first substrate material is attached to the second end of the heat source, while the first substrate material has an aerosol precursor composition related to it. The smoking product also contains an aerosol delivery component having opposite first and second ends. The first end of the aerosol delivery component is brought into interaction with the second end of the first substrate material. The aerosol delivery component contains the second substrate material having an aerosol precursor composition related to it, and located around the first end of the aerosol delivery component. The aerosol delivery component additionally contains a mouthpiece having filter material and located around the second end of the aerosol delivery component, and tobacco material located between the second substrate material and the mouthpiece. The aerosol precursor composition related to the first and the second substrate materials is made with the possibility of generating aerosol, when heat generated by the ignited heat source enters. The possibility of retracting aerosol through tobacco material and filter material of the mouthpiece when inhaling through the mouthpiece is provided. The first substrate material and the second substrate material contain acetyl cellulose, and the aerosol precursor composition contains glycerin applied to acetyl cellulose.

EFFECT: reduction in the complexity of the assembly for a consumer.

33 cl, 9 dwg

Description

FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY

The present invention relates to aerosol delivery devices and systems, such as smoking articles, and more particularly to aerosol delivery devices and systems that can use carbon-based combustible ignition sources or electrically generated heat to produce an aerosol (e.g., smoking articles for the purpose of producing tobacco components and other materials in a respirable form, commonly referred to as heated but non-burning systems or electronic cigarettes). The most preferred components of such articles are made or derived from tobacco, or alternatively these articles may be characterized as comprising tobacco for human consumption and capable of volatilizing tobacco components and/or other tobacco-related materials to form an inhalable aerosol for human consumption.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many smoking devices have been proposed over the years as an improvement or alternative to smoking products that require the combustion of tobacco. It is understood that many of these devices have been designed to provide the sensations associated with smoking cigarettes, cigars or smoking pipes, but without delivering the significant amount of incomplete combustion and/or pyrolysis products that result from tobacco combustion. To this end, a variety of smoking products, flavor generators, and medical inhalers have been proposed that use electrical energy to vaporize or heat volatile material, or attempt to provide the sensation of smoking cigarettes, cigars, or pipes without substantially burning tobacco. See, for example, various alternative smoking articles, aerosol delivery devices, and sources for generating heat set forth in the prior art as described in U.S. Patent No. 7,726,320 by Robinson et al. and U.S. Patent Application Publications No. 2013/0255702 by Griffith Jr. et al. and No. 2014/0096781 by Sears et al., which are incorporated herein by reference. See also, for example, the various types of smoking articles, aerosol delivery devices, and electrically driven heat sources referenced by trademark and source of commercial information in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0220232 by Bless et al. which is incorporated herein by reference. Additional types of smoking articles, aerosol delivery devices, and electrically driven heat sources cited by trade mark and source of commercial information are found in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0245659 by DePiano et al., which is also fully incorporated herein by reference.

Some tobacco products that use electrical energy to generate heat to form an aerosol, and in particular some products called electronic cigarettes, are commercially available throughout the world. Representative products that are similar in many attributes to traditional cigarettes, cigars, or smoking pipes are commercially available as ACCORD® manufactured by Philip Morris Incorporated; ALPHA™, JOYE 510™ and M4™ manufactured by InnoVapor LLC; CIRRUS™ and FLING™ by White Cloud Cigarettes; BLU™ manufactured by Lorillard Technologies, Inc.; COHITA™, COLIBRI™, ELITE CLASSIC™, MAGNUM™, PHANTOM™ and SENSE™ manufactured by EPUFFER® International Inc.; DUOPRO™, STORM™ and VAPORKING® manufactured by Electronic Cigarettes, Inc.; EGAR™ manufactured by Egar Australia; eGo-C™ and eGo-T™ manufactured by Joyetech; ELUSION™ manufactured by Elusion UK Ltd; EONSMOKE® manufactured by Eonsmoke LLC; FIN™TM manufactured by FIN Branding Group, LLC; SMOKE® manufactured by Green Smoke Inc. USA; GREENARETTE™ manufactured by Greenarette LLC; HALLIGAN™, HENDU™, JET™, MAXXQ™, PINK™ and PITBULL™ manufactured by SMOKE STIK®; HEATBAR™ manufactured by Philip Morris International, Inc.; HYDRO IMPERIAL™ and LXE™ manufactured by Crown7; LOGIC™ and THE CUBAN™ by LOGIC Technology; LUCI® manufactured by Luciano Smokes Inc.; METRO® manufactured by Nicotek, LLC; NJOY® and ONEJOY™ manufactured by Sottera, Inc.; NO. 7™ manufactured by SS Choice LLC; PREMIUM ELECTRONIC CIGARETTE™ manufactured by PremiumEstore LLC; RAPP E-MYSTICK™ manufactured by Ruyan America, Inc.; RED DRAGON™ manufactured by Red Dragon Products, LLC; RUYAN® manufactured by Ruyan Group (Holdings) Ltd.; SF® manufactured by Smoker Friendly International, LLC; GREEN SMART SMOKER® manufactured by The Smart Smoking Electronic Cigarette Company Ltd.; SMOKE ASSIST® manufactured by Coastline Products LLC; SMOKING EVERYWHERE® manufactured by Smoking Everywhere, Inc.; V2CIGS™ manufactured by VMR Products LLC; VAPOR NINE™ manufactured by VaporNine LLC; VAPOR4LIFE® manufactured by Vapor 4 Life, Inc.; VEPPO™ manufactured by E-CigaretteDirect, LLC; VUSE® manufactured by R. J. Reynolds Vapor Company; Mistic Menthol product manufactured by Mistic Ecigs; and the Vype product manufactured by CN Creative Ltd. Other electrically powered aerosol delivery devices, and in particular devices that have been characterized as so-called electronic cigarettes, have been sold under the trade names COOLER VISIONS™; DIRECT E-CIG™; DRAGONFLY™; EMIST™; EVERSMOKE™; GAMUCCI®; HYBRID FLAME™; KNIGHT STICKS™; ROYAL BLUES™; SMOKETIP®; SOUTH BEACH SMOKE™.

In some cases, traditional types of smoking articles such as those mentioned above are difficult to assemble for the consumer due to the many components that must be disassembled and reassembled when the aerosol delivery components provided therein are consumed. In some other cases, some smoking articles, particularly those using traditional paper wrapping, are also susceptible to burning of the paper wrapping material covering the combustible fuel source due to the high temperature reached by the fuel source near the paper wrapping material. This may reduce the enjoyment of the smoking session for some consumers and may mask or undesirably alter the taste delivered to the consumer by the aerosol delivery components of smoking articles. In still other cases, traditional types of smoking articles can generate quite significant levels of carbon monoxide during use.

Thus, it is preferable to provide smoking articles that solve the technical problems sometimes associated with traditional types of smoking articles. Such smoking articles include, but are not limited to, two-piece smoking articles, smoking articles that contain rechargeable cartridges housed in thermal cases, and/or battery powered smoking articles.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Smoking articles are disclosed herein. In one aspect, the smoking article comprises a heat source configured to generate heat when ignited; a first substrate material having opposite first and second ends, wherein the first end of the first substrate material is placed in immobile engagement with a heat source and the first substrate material has an aerosol precursor composition associated therewith; an aerosol delivery component having opposite first and second ends, wherein the first end of the aerosol delivery component is engaged with the second end of the first substrate material, the aerosol delivery component comprising: a second substrate material having an aerosol precursor composition associated therewith and positioned around the first end an aerosol delivery component; a mouthpiece having a filter material and located around the second end of the aerosol delivery component; and a tobacco material positioned between the second substrate material and the mouthpiece, wherein the aerosol precursor composition associated with the first and second substrate materials is configured to generate an aerosol upon receipt of heat generated by an ignited heat source, wherein the aerosol is drawn through the tobacco material and the filter element. mouthpiece material when puffed through the mouthpiece.

According to another aspect, the smoking article comprises an aerosol generating module, comprising: a heat source configured to generate heat when it is ignited; an aerosol delivery component having opposite first and second ends, wherein the first end is brought into contact with a heat source, the aerosol delivery component comprising tobacco material associated with the aerosol precursor composition and located in the tubular element, and the aerosol precursor composition associated with the tobacco a material configured to generate an aerosol upon receipt of heat generated by the heat source, and a mouthpiece cooperating with a second end of the aerosol delivery component, the mouthpiece being configured to receive the aerosol upon puff through the mouthpiece; and a tubular body made of thermally insulating material and configured to coaxially accommodate at least a heat source and an aerosol delivery component of the aerosol generating module, the tubular body being thermally controlled to conduct heat generated by the ignited heat source through it.

According to an additional aspect, the smoking article comprises a power source having opposite first and second ends, forming an axis passing through them; a heat source in communication with the second end of the power source and extending along said axis, the heat source being configured to generate heat upon receipt of power received from the power source; a tubular body having a first end cooperating with a second end of the power source and extending axially around the heat source to the second end; solid tobacco material placed inside the tubular body and made in the form of a cylindrical tube passing around the peripheral surface of the heat source passing in the axial direction, between the heat source and the tubular body, wherein the solid tobacco material is configured to generate an aerosol when heat generated by the heat source is received, and a mouthpiece formed by a second end of the tubular body opposite the cylindrical tube of solid tobacco material from the power source, the mouthpiece being configured to receive an aerosol from the solid tobacco material when puffed through the mouthpiece.

Thus, the present invention includes, without limitation, the following implementations:

Embodiment 1: A smoking article comprising: a heat source configured to generate heat when ignited; a first substrate material having opposite first and second ends, wherein the first end of the first substrate material is placed in immobile engagement with a heat source and the first substrate material has an aerosol precursor composition associated therewith; an aerosol delivery component having opposite first and second ends, wherein the first end of the aerosol delivery component is engaged with the second end of the first substrate material, the aerosol delivery component comprising: a second substrate material having an aerosol precursor composition associated therewith and positioned around the first end an aerosol delivery component; a mouthpiece having a filter material and located around the second end of the aerosol delivery component; and a tobacco material positioned between the second substrate material and the mouthpiece, wherein the aerosol precursor composition associated with the first and second substrate materials is configured to generate an aerosol upon receipt of heat generated by an ignited heat source, wherein the aerosol is drawn through the tobacco material and the filter element. mouthpiece material when puffed through the mouthpiece.

Embodiment 2: The smoking article of any preceding embodiment, or any combination of the preceding embodiments, wherein the aerosol delivery component comprises a cylindrical housing defining a cavity configured to receive and contain tobacco material between the second substrate material and the mouthpiece.

Embodiment 3: The smoking article of any preceding embodiment, or any combination of the preceding embodiments, further comprising an outer wrapper capable of wrapping a heat source, wherein a first substrate material is brought into engagement around its first end with the heat source, and an aerosol delivery component is introduced in engagement with the second end of the first substrate material.

Embodiment 4: The smoking article of any preceding embodiment, or any combination of the preceding embodiments, wherein the outer wrapper comprises a cover material positioned adjacent a heat source, the first substrate material, and an aerosol delivery component, the cover material being thermally adjustable to conduct heat generated by the ignited heat source, radially outward from the coating material.

Embodiment 5: The smoking article of any preceding embodiment, or any combination of the preceding embodiments, wherein the cover material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of foil, graphene, graphite, and alumina.

Embodiment 6: The smoking article of any preceding embodiment, or any combination of the preceding embodiments, wherein the first substrate material and the second substrate material comprise CA and the aerosol precursor composition comprises glycerol supported on CA.

Embodiment 7: The smoking article of any preceding embodiment, or any combination of the preceding embodiments, wherein the tobacco material comprises tobacco-containing beads, tobacco chunks, tobacco strips, pieces of reconstituted tobacco material, or combinations thereof.

Embodiment 8: The smoking article of any preceding embodiment, or any combination of the preceding embodiments, wherein the heat source comprises an extruded monolithic carbonaceous material.

Embodiment 9: The smoking article of any preceding embodiment, or any combination of the preceding embodiments, wherein the extruded monolithic carbonaceous material forms one or more channels extending longitudinally from a first end of the extruded monolithic carbonaceous material to an opposite second end of the extruded monolithic carbonaceous material.

Embodiment 10: A smoking article comprising an aerosol generating module, comprising: a heat source configured to generate heat when ignited; an aerosol delivery component having opposite first and second ends, wherein the first end is brought into contact with a heat source, the aerosol delivery component comprising tobacco material associated with the aerosol precursor composition and located in the tubular element, and the aerosol precursor composition associated with the tobacco a material configured to generate an aerosol upon receipt of heat generated by the heat source, and a mouthpiece cooperating with a second end of the aerosol delivery component, the mouthpiece being configured to receive the aerosol upon puff through the mouthpiece; and a tubular body made of thermally insulating material and configured to coaxially accommodate at least a heat source and an aerosol delivery component of the aerosol generating module, the tubular body being thermally controlled to conduct heat generated by the ignited heat source through it.

Embodiment 11: The smoking article of any preceding embodiment, or any combination of the preceding embodiments, further comprising a wrapping material configured to wrap at least a heat source and an aerosol delivery component of an aerosol generating module for bringing the heat source into engagement with a first end of the delivery component aerosol, and the tubular body is adapted to receive at least a heat source and an aerosol delivery component of the aerosol generating module wrapped in a wrapping material.

Embodiment 12: The smoking article of any preceding embodiment, or any combination of the preceding embodiments, wherein the mouthpiece of the aerosol generating module is removably engaged with the tubular body.

Embodiment 13: The smoking article of any preceding embodiment, or any combination of the preceding embodiments, wherein the tubular member of the aerosol delivery component comprises extruded carbon or graphite.

Embodiment 14: The smoking article of any preceding embodiment, or any combination of the preceding embodiments, wherein the aerosol delivery component comprises an annular member extending around the second end of the tubular member and configured to engage with the mouthpiece.

Embodiment 15: The smoking article of any preceding embodiment, or any combination of the preceding embodiments, wherein the annular member is ultrasonically welded to or sealed to the mouthpiece or the second end of the tubular member.

Embodiment 16: A smoking article according to any preceding embodiment, or any combination of the preceding embodiments, wherein a mouthpiece having an annular element welded thereto or hermetically connected thereto is configured to receive a second end of the tubular element in the annular element.

Embodiment 17: The smoking article of any preceding embodiment or any combination of the preceding embodiments wherein the mouthpiece is configured to receive an annular element welded to or sealed to the second end of the tubular element.

Embodiment 18: The smoking article of any preceding embodiment, or any combination of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one of the annulus and the mouthpiece contains biodegradable plastic.

Embodiment 19: The smoking article of any preceding embodiment, or any combination of the preceding embodiments, wherein the mouthpiece comprises a tubular body configured to receive filter material.

Embodiment 20: The smoking article of any preceding embodiment, or any combination of the preceding embodiments, wherein the tobacco material is coated with an aerosol precursor composition.

Embodiment 21: A smoking article according to any of the preceding embodiments, or any combination of the preceding embodiments, wherein the heat-insulating material of the tubular body comprises a ceramic material, graphite, or graphene.

Embodiment 22: The smoking article of any preceding embodiment, or any combination of the preceding embodiments, wherein the tobacco material comprises tobacco-containing beads, tobacco chunks, tobacco strips, reconstituted tobacco material fragments, or combinations thereof.

Embodiment 23: The smoking article of any preceding embodiment, or any combination of the preceding embodiments, wherein the aerosol precursor composition contains glycerin.

Embodiment 24: The smoking article of any preceding embodiment, or any combination of the preceding embodiments, wherein the heat source comprises an extruded monolithic carbonaceous material.

Embodiment 25: The smoking article of any preceding embodiment, or any combination of the preceding embodiments, wherein the extruded monolithic carbonaceous material forms one or more channels extending longitudinally from a first end of the extruded monolithic carbonaceous material to an opposite second end of the extruded monolithic carbonaceous material.

Embodiment 26: A smoking article comprising a power source having opposite first and second ends forming an axis passing through them; a heat source in communication with the second end of the power source and extending along said axis, the heat source being configured to generate heat upon receipt of power received from the power source; a tubular body having a first end cooperating with a second end of the power source and extending axially around the heat source to the second end; solid tobacco material placed inside the tubular body and made in the form of a cylindrical tube passing around the peripheral surface of the heat source passing in the axial direction, between the heat source and the tubular body, wherein the solid tobacco material is configured to generate an aerosol when heat generated by the heat source is received, and a mouthpiece formed by a second end of the tubular body opposite the cylindrical tube of solid tobacco material from the power source, the mouthpiece being configured to receive an aerosol from the solid tobacco material when puffed through the mouthpiece.

Embodiment 27: A smoking article according to any preceding embodiment, or any combination of the preceding embodiments, further comprising a filter material extending at least partially around the peripheral surface of the cylindrical tube of solid tobacco material and around the second end of the tubular body within the mouthpiece.

Embodiment 28: The smoking article of any preceding embodiment, or any combination of the preceding embodiments, wherein the filter material contains cellulose acetate.

Embodiment 29: The smoking article of any preceding embodiment, or any combination of the preceding embodiments, wherein the power supply comprises a lithium ion battery.

Embodiment 30: The smoking article of any preceding embodiment, or any combination of the preceding embodiments, wherein the heat source is a cylindrical rod electrically connected to a lithium ion battery.

Embodiment 31: A smoking article according to any previous embodiment, or any combination of the previous embodiments, wherein the power source is placed in a tubular controllable casing having opposite first and second ends, and the second end of the controllable tubular casing is brought into engagement with the first end of the tubular body.

Embodiment 32: The smoking article of any preceding embodiment, or any combination of the preceding embodiments, further comprising a control unit associated with a power source, the control unit configured to actuate power generated by the power source and capable of directing power to the source heat.

Embodiment 33: The smoking article of any preceding embodiment or any combination of the preceding embodiments, further comprising a push button associated with a control unit, the push button being configured to control actuation of power generated by the power source.

Embodiment 34: The smoking article of any preceding embodiment, or any combination of the preceding embodiments, wherein the tubular body comprises an insulating material.

Embodiment 35: The smoking article of any preceding embodiment, or any combination of the preceding embodiments, wherein the insulating material comprises graphite or graphene.

Embodiment 36: The smoking article of any preceding embodiment, or any combination of the preceding embodiments, wherein the solid tobacco material comprises tobacco-containing beads, tobacco chunks, tobacco strips, reconstituted tobacco material fragments, or combinations thereof.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the disclosure of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description with the accompanying drawings, which are briefly described below. The disclosure of the present invention includes any combination of two, three, four or more features or elements set forth in the present description or set forth in any one or more claims, regardless of whether such features or elements are combined in an explicit form or otherwise. as set forth in the description of a specific embodiment or the claims herein. This invention is intended to be read as a whole, so that any individual features or elements of the invention in any of its aspects and embodiments should be considered as combinable, unless the context of the invention clearly dictates otherwise.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Thus, after describing the present invention in the foregoing general terms, reference is made below to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale and in which:

in FIG. 1A is a perspective view of one aspect of a smoking article comprising a heat source and an aerosol delivery component in an exploded configuration according to the disclosure of the present invention;

in FIG. 1B shows the smoking article of FIG. 1A in an assembled configuration by an outer wrapper confining a heat source and an aerosol delivery component;

in FIG. 2A is a perspective view of another aspect of a smoking article comprising an aerosol generating module having a heat source, an aerosol delivery component and a mouthpiece, in an exploded configuration according to the disclosure of the present invention;

in FIG. 2B shows the aerosol generating module of FIG. 2A in an assembled configuration by a wrapping material confining at least a heat source and an aerosol delivery component of an aerosol generating module;

in FIG. 2C shows an exemplary implementation of a tubular body for housing at least a heat source and an aerosol delivery component of the aerosol generating module of FIG. 2A;

in FIG. 2D shows the smoking article of FIG. 2A in an assembled configuration by means of the tubular body of FIG. 2C;

in FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a further aspect of a smoking article comprising a power source and a heat source having solid tobacco material annularly arranged around the heat source and housed in a tubular body, in an exploded configuration according to the disclosure of the present invention;

in FIG. 3B shows a detailed view of the tubular body of FIG. 3A; and

in FIG. 3C shows the aerosol generating module of FIG. 3A in assembled configuration.

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is described in more detail below with reference to examples of its implementations. These implementation examples are described in such a way that this disclosure thoroughly, completely and entirely conveys the scope of the invention to a person skilled in the art. Indeed, the present invention has been embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments provided herein; on the contrary, these embodiments are provided to ensure that the invention complies with applicable legal requirements. In this description and in the appended claims, a grammatical construction indicating that an element is given in the singular also implies the plural, unless the context of the invention clearly dictates otherwise.

The present invention provides descriptions of articles (and methods for making them) that use electrical energy to heat a material (preferably without burning the material to any significant extent) to form an aerosol and/or respirable; however, such articles are most preferably compact enough to be considered portable devices. In certain most preferred aspects, the articles are characterized as smoking articles. As used herein, the term "smoking article" is intended to refer to an article and/or device that provides multiple sensations (e.g., inhalation and exhalation rituals, types of flavors and aromas, organoleptic effects, physical sensation, usage rituals, visual cues such as those which are provided by a visible aerosol, and the like) of smoking a cigarette, cigar or pipe without actually burning to any significant extent any of the components of this article and/or device. As used herein, the term "smoking article" does not necessarily mean that the article and/or device produces smoke when operated, in the sense that the aerosol is not the result of by-products of combustion or pyrolysis of tobacco, but rather said article or device most preferably produces vapors ( including vapors in the form of aerosols, which are considered to be visible aerosols and which are considered to be described as similar to smoke), resulting from the vaporization or evaporation of certain components, elements and / or similar products or devices. In most preferred aspects, articles or devices characterized as smoking articles contain tobacco and/or components derived from tobacco.

The proposed products and/or devices are also characterized as vaporizing products, aerosol delivery products, or drug delivery products. Thus, such articles or devices are adapted to deliver one or more substances in a respirable form or condition. For example, inhalable substances are essentially in the form of a vapor (eg, a substance that is in the gaseous phase at a temperature below its critical point). Alternatively, the inhaled substances are in the form of an aerosol (ie suspension of fine solid particles or liquid droplets in a gas). For the sake of simplicity, the term "aerosol" as used in this application is intended to refer to vapors, gases and aerosols of a form or type suitable for human inhalation, whether or not they are visible and whether or not in a form that can be considered "smoke-like".

In use, the smoking articles of the present invention are used in various physical activities of a person using a traditional type of smoking article (eg, a cigarette, cigar, or pipe that is consumed by igniting with a flame and used by inhaling tobacco that is subsequently combusted and/or combusted). For example, the user of the proposed smoking article holds the article like a conventional type smoking article by puffing through one end of said article to inhale the aerosol generated by the article, puffing at selected intervals.

The proposed smoking articles generally contain a number of elements made or contained in a shell of the same type as a casing, outer wrapper or wrapping material, body, component, module, element, or the like. The overall design of the casing varies, and the configuration and format of the casing, which defines the overall size and shape of the smoking article, also varies. In some aspects, it is desirable that the overall construction, size, and/or shape of the shell resemble that of a conventional cigarette or cigar. Typically, a cigarette or cigar-shaped shell contains three or more separable components, elements, or the like that interact to form the shell. For example, in some aspects, such a smoking article comprises three release components that comprise a mouthpiece component, an aerosol delivery component, and a heat source component.

However, according to specific aspects of the disclosure of the present invention, it is preferable to reduce the number of components required to assemble such smoking articles. Thus, the number of components of these smoking articles described herein is, in some cases, reduced from what is generally known to simplify the assembly of smoking articles. Thus, in one example (see, for example, FIGS. 1A and 1B), this document discloses a two-component smoking article having two components, in which an aerosol delivery component and a mouthpiece component are combined to form a single component that is configured to interact with heat source component for ease of assembly. Other simplifications of assemblies of multi-component smoking articles are also discussed in this document.

Smoking articles according to the disclosure of the present invention contain some combination of elements within the shell, such as elements including, for example, a power source (for example, a power source), at least one control component (for example, an actuation mechanism, an arrangement for actuating operation, control, regulation and interruption of power supply to generate heat, for example, by controlling the electrical current from the power source to other components of the product), a heat source or other element for generating heat (for example, a fuel cell configured to be ignited so that burn by smoldering and produce heat), an aerosol delivery component (e.g., a substrate material associated with an aerosol precursor composition, solid tobacco and/or tobacco-related material, an aerosol-forming liquid, and the like) and a mouthpiece component, an end region, part or tip to ensure the ability to puff through the smoking article to inhale aerosol through it (eg, provide a predetermined path for airflow through the article so that the generated aerosol is directed through it in response to puffing through it). The alignment and positioning of elements within a product using a wrapper is variable. In specific aspects, the aerosol delivery component is positioned between the mouthpiece component and the heat and/or energy source. However, other configurations are not excluded. For example, in some aspects, the energy and/or heat source is located between the aerosol delivery component and the mouthpiece component.

In general, the heat source is positioned close enough to the aerosol delivery component such that the aerosol generated/vaporized by the application of heat from the heat source to the aerosol delivery component (as well as one or more flavors, medicaments, and the like, which are also provided for delivery) can be delivered. user), the user using the mouthpiece. When the heat source heats the aerosol delivery component, the aerosol is formed, released, or generated in a physical form suitable for inhalation by the consumer. It should be noted that the above terms are to be considered interchangeable, so that forms of said term such as "release", "release", "release" or "released" include forms such as "form" or "generate", "shaping" or "generating", "shapes" or "generates" and "formed" or "generated". In particular, the respirable substance is released in the form of a vapor or an aerosol or a mixture thereof. In addition, the selection and arrangement of the various elements of smoking articles is clear when considering commercially available electronic smoking articles, such as those representative products listed in the Background section of the disclosure of the present invention.

In various aspects, the heat source is formed from a material that generates heat in any number of ways. For example, a heat source is made of a material that has a certain resistance and provides resistive heating when an electric current is applied to it. In another example, the heat source is formed from a combustible material that provides heat when the heat source is ignited. Regardless, the heat source is configured to generate heat to aerosolize the aerosol delivery component, which comprises, for example, an extruded structure and/or substrate, a substrate material associated with the aerosol precursor composition, tobacco and/or tobacco-derived material (i.e. a material that is naturally present in tobacco and which can be directly isolated from tobacco or obtained synthetically) in solid or liquid form (eg pellets, chunks, wrapper) or the like.

In some aspects, the aerosol delivery component comprises a blend of flavored and flavored tobaccos in the form of a cut filler. In another aspect, the aerosol delivery component comprises a reconstituted tobacco material such as described in Pryor et al. US Pat. No. 4,807,809, Pryor et al. incorporated herein by reference. Additionally, the reconstituted tobacco material comprises reconstituted tobacco packaging paper for the type of cigarettes described in the monograph Chemical and Biological Studies on New Cigarette Prototypes that Heat Instead of Burn Tobacco by R. J. Reynolds (1988), the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. For example, reconstituted tobacco material includes sheet material containing tobacco and/or tobacco-related materials. Thus, in some aspects, the aerosol delivery component is formed from a wound roll of reconstituted tobacco material. According to another aspect, the aerosol delivery component is formed from pieces, strips of reconstituted tobacco material, and/or the like.

According to another aspect, a smoking article according to the disclosure of the present invention includes an aerosol delivery component containing a porous inert material, such as, for example, a ceramic material. In another aspect, the aerosol delivery component includes a porous inert material that is substantially chemically and/or physically non-reactive with a tobacco-related material, such as, for example, a tobacco-derived extract.

Tobacco used in the aerosol delivery component includes (or may be derived from) tobaccos such as fire-cured tobacco, Burley tobacco, Oriental tobacco, Maryland tobacco, dark tobacco, dark fire-cured tobacco and shag, among others. rare or specialty tobaccos, or mixtures thereof. Various representative types of tobacco, processed types of tobacco and types of tobacco blends are given in US patent No. 4,836,224 by Lawson and others; US Patent No. 4,924,888 to Perfetti et al.; US Pat. No. 5,056,537 to Brown et al.; US Pat. No. 5,159,942 to Brinkley et al.; US Pat. No. 5,220,930 to Gentry; U.S. Patent No. 5,360,023 to Blakley et al.; US Pat. No. 6,701,936 to Shafer et al.; US Patent No. 6,730,832 to Dominguez et al.; US Pat. No. 7,011,096 Li et al.; US Pat. No. 7,017,585 Li et al.; US Patent No. 7,025,066 to Lawson et al.; in US Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0255965 by Perfetti et al.; in PCT Application Publication WO 02/37990 by Bereman and Bombick et al., Fund. Appl. Toxicol ., 39, pp. 11-17 (1997), the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure of the present invention, an aerosol delivery component includes tobacco, a tobacco component, and/or a tobacco-derived material that can be purified, processed, extracted, and/or processed to include an aerosol precursor composition (e.g., humectants such as , for example, propylene glycol, glycerin and / or the like) and / or at least one flavoring agent, as well as a flame retardant (for example, diammonium phosphate and / or other salt) configured to prevent ignition, pyrolysis, combustion and / or overheating aerosol delivery component with a heat source. Various techniques and methods for incorporating tobacco into smoking articles, and in particular smoking articles that are designed not to intentionally burn substantially all of the tobacco in those smoking articles, are described in US Pat. No. 4,947,874 to Brooks et al.; US Patent No. 7,647,932 by Cantrell et al.; U.S. Patent No. 8,079,371 to Robinson et al.; US Pat. No. 7,290,549 by Banerjee et al.; and US Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0215167 by Crooks et al., the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

According to one aspect of the disclosure of the present invention, non-flammable/flame retardant materials and additives that are included in the aerosol delivery component include organophosphates, borax, aluminum hydroxide, graphite, potassium tripolyphosphate, dipentaerythritol, pentaerythritol, and polyols. Other substances are suitable, for example nitrogenous salts of phosphonic acid, monoammonium phosphate, ammonium polyphosphate, ammonium bromide, ammonium borate, ethanolammonium borate, ammonium sulfamate, halogenated organic compounds, thiourea and antimony oxides, but they are not preferred substances. In each aspect of the non-flammable, flame retardant and/or fire resistant materials used in the aerosol delivery component and/or other components (whether singly or in combination with each other and/or with other materials), the desired properties are most preferably provided without undesirable outgassing or melting.

In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure of the present invention, the aerosol delivery component also includes tobacco additives that are commonly used in the manufacture of tobacco products. These additives include materials of the types used to improve the flavor and aroma of tobaccos in the manufacture of cigars, cigarettes, pipes, and the like. For example, these additives include various cigarette shells and/or topsheet components. See, for example, Wochnowski US Pat. No. 3,419,015; U.S. Patent No. 4,054,145 by Berndt et al.; U.S. Patent No. 4,887,619 Burcham, Jr. and etc.; U.S. Patent No. 5,022,416 by Watson; US Pat. No. 5,103,842 by Strang et al.; and U.S. Patent No. 5,711,320 by Martin, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Preferred coating materials include water, sugars and syrups (eg sucrose, glucose and high fructose corn syrup), humectants (eg glycerin or propylene glycol) and flavoring agents (eg cocoa and licorice root). These added components also include top layer materials (eg flavor materials such as menthol). See, for example, US Pat. No. 4,449,541 by Mays et al., the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Additional materials that may be added include those disclosed in Lawson et al. US Pat. No. 4,830,028 and Marshall et al. US Patent 8,186,360, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

For example, in some aspects, a substrate material having an aerosol precursor composition associated therewith is provided in an aerosol delivery component. In this example, the aerosol precursor composition contains one or more different components, such as a polyhydric alcohol (eg, glycerin, propylene glycol, or a mixture thereof). Representative types of additional aerosol precursor compositions are listed in US Pat. Nos. 4,793,365 by Sensabaugh, Jr. et al., in U.S. Patent No. 5,101,839 by Jakob et al., in PCT WO 98/57556 by Biggs et al. R. J. Reynolds (1988) Tobacco Company (1988), whose disclosures are incorporated herein by reference. In some aspects, the aerosol delivery component generates a visible aerosol when sufficiently heated (and optionally air-cooled) and the aerosol delivery component generates an aerosol that is considered "smoke-like". In other aspects, the aerosol delivery component generates an aerosol that is essentially invisible but can be recognized as being present by other characteristics such as flavor or texture. Thus, the nature of the resulting aerosol is different depending on the particular components of the aerosol delivery component. The aerosol delivery component is chemically simple compared to the chemical nature of the smoke produced by burning tobacco.

Many different types of flavoring substances or materials are suitable for use that alter the sensory or organoleptic character or nature of the base aerosol of the smoking article. In some aspects, such flavoring agents are derived from source materials other than tobacco and may be natural or artificial in nature. Of particular interest are flavorants that are coated on or incorporated into the aerosol delivery component and/or those areas of the smoking article where the aerosol is generated. In some aspects, such materials are delivered directly to a heating cavity or region near a heat source, or are provided with an aerosol delivery component. Examples of flavoring agents include vanillin, ethyl vanillin, cream, tea, coffee, fruit (e.g. apple, cherry, strawberry, peach and citrus flavors including lime and lemon), maple, menthol, mint, peppermint, spearmint, wintergreen, nutmeg walnut, clove, lavender, cardamom, ginger, honey, anise, sage, cinnamon, sandalwood, jasmine, cascarolla, cocoa, licorice and flavorings and additives of the type and nature traditionally used to flavor cigarette, cigar and pipe tobacco. In addition, syrups such as high fructose corn syrup are suitable for use. Flavoring agents also include those with acidic or basic characteristics (eg, organic acids such as levulinic acid, succinic acid, and pyruvic acid). If desired, flavoring agents may be combined with the aerosol delivery component. Exemplary suitable plant-derived compositions are described in US Pat. No. 9,107,453 and in US Patent Application Publication No. 2012/0152265 by Dube et al., the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. The choice of such additional components varies depending on factors such as the sensory characteristics that are desired in the smoking article, and the present invention embraces any such additional components that are readily apparent to those skilled in the art of tobacco and tobacco-related or tobacco-derived products. See: Gutcho, Tobacco Flavoring Substances and Methods (Tobacco Flavoring Substances and Methods, Noyes Data Corp. (1972) and Leffingwell et al., Tobacco Flavoring for Smoking Products (1972) for a description of which incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Any of the materials, such as flavors, casings, and the like, that are used in combination with the tobacco material to modify its sensory properties, including organoleptic properties, such as those described herein, are configured to be combined with the aerosol delivery component. Organic acids, in particular, may be included in the aerosol delivery component to alter the aroma, feel, or organoleptic properties of medicaments, such as nicotine, which may be combined with the aerosol delivery component. For example, organic acids such as levulinic acid, lactic acid, and pyruvic acid are included in the nicotine aerosol delivery component in amounts up to an equimolar (based on total organic acid content) nicotine. Any combination of organic acids is suitable. For example, in some cases, the aerosol delivery component includes from about 0.1 to about 0.5 moles of levulinic acid per mole of nicotine, from about 0.1 to about 0.5 moles of pyruvic acid per mole of nicotine, from about 0.1 up to about 0.5 mole of lactic acid per mole of nicotine, or combinations thereof, up to a concentration at which the total amount of organic acid present is equimolar to the total amount of nicotine present in the aerosol delivery component. Various additional examples of organic acids used to form an aerosol delivery component are described in US Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0344456 by Dull et al., which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

In yet another aspect of the disclosure of the present invention, the aerosol delivery component is in the form of an extruded structure and/or substrate that includes or essentially consists of tobacco, tobacco-related material, glycerin, water, and/or a binder material, although some compositions may not contain a binder. material. The binder is any binder typically used for tobacco compositions, including, for example, carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), gum (eg, guar gum), xanthan, pullulan, and/or alginate. In some aspects, the binder material included in the aerosol delivery component is intended to substantially maintain the structural shape and/or integrity of the aerosol delivery component. Various exemplary binders, binder properties, bonding methods, and amounts of binders are disclosed in US Pat. No. 4,924,887 by Raker et al., which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

According to another aspect, the aerosol delivery component includes a plurality of microcapsules, beads, granules, and/or the like containing tobacco-related material. For example, a typical microcapsule is generally spherical in shape and has an outer layer or shell that contains a liquid concentration region of tobacco extract and/or the like. In some aspects, the aerosol delivery component comprises a plurality of microcapsules having a substantially hollow cylindrical shape. In one aspect, the aerosol delivery component comprises a binder substantially designed to maintain the structural shape and/or integrity of a plurality of microcapsules having a hollow cylindrical shape.

In some aspects, the aerosol delivery component is in the form of an extruded material as described in Stone et al., US Patent Application Publication No. 2012/0042885, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. In yet another aspect, the aerosol delivery component includes an extruded structure and/or substrate formed from marumarized and/or non-marumarized tobacco. Marumarized tobacco is known, for example, from US Pat. No. 5,105,831 to Banerjee et al., which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Marumized tobacco comprises about 20 to about 50 percent (by weight) of a tobacco blend in powder form with glycerol (about 20 to about 30 wt%), calcium carbonate (typically about 10 to about 60 wt%, often from about 40 to about 60 wt.%) together with binders and/or flavoring agents described herein.

The aerosol delivery component has many different forms, depending on the amount of materials used in it, which can be different. For example, a suitable aerosol delivery component contains up to about 98 wt. %, up to about 95 wt. % or up to about 90 wt. % tobacco and/or tobacco material. A suitable aerosol delivery component also contains up to about 25 wt. %, approximately 20 wt. % or about 15 wt. % water, in particular from about 2 wt. % to about 25 wt. %, from about 5 wt. % to about 20 wt. % or from about 7 wt. % to about 15 wt. % water. Flavors and the like (which include drugs such as nicotine) contain up to about 10 wt. %, up to about 8 wt. % or up to about 5 wt. % aerosol delivery component.

Additionally or alternatively, the aerosol delivery component is made in the form of an extruded structure and/or substrate, which may include or consist essentially of tobacco, glycerin, water and/or a binder and, in addition, is also configured to substantially retain its structure during aerosol production. Thus, the aerosol delivery component is configured to substantially retain its shape (ie, the aerosol delivery component does not deform continuously when shear stress is applied) during the aerosol generation process. While the aerosol delivery component contains liquids and/or has some moisture content, the aerosol delivery component remains substantially solid and substantially retains structural integrity throughout the aerosol formation process. Exemplary tobacco and/or tobacco-related materials suitable as a substantially solid aerosol delivery component are described in US Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0157052 by Ademe et al.; US Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0335070 by Sears et al.; US Pat. No. 6,204,287 by White; and US Pat. No. 5,060,676 to Hearn et al., which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety, respectively.

Additionally or alternatively, the aerosol delivery component is in the form of a liquid capable of producing an aerosol when subjected to sufficient heat, having ingredients commonly referred to as "smoking juice", "electronic cigarette liquid" and "electronic cigarette juice". Exemplary aerosol generating liquid formulations are described in US Patent Application Publication No. 2013/0008457 by Zheng et al., the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

The amount of aerosol delivery component used in a smoking article is such that the article has acceptable sensory and organoleptic properties as well as desirable performance characteristics. For example, it is most preferred that sufficient aerosol precursor composition, such as, for example, glycerin and/or propylene glycol, be used in the aerosol delivery component to produce a visible base aerosol that in many respects resembles the appearance of tobacco smoke. Typically, the amount of the aerosol precursor composition contained in the aerosol delivery component of the smoking article is about 1.5 g or less, about 1 g or less, or about 0.5 g or less.

In some additional aspects, the smoking article disclosed herein contains one or more indicators or indications. Such indicators or indications include, for example, lights (eg, light emitting diodes) that provide indication(s) of multiple aspects of the use of the inventive article. Further, in another example, LED indicators are located at the distal end of a smoking article to mimic the color changes seen when a conventional cigarette is lit and puffed by the user. Other indications of operation are also covered by the disclosure of the present invention. For example, visual performance indicators also include changes in light color or intensity to show the progression of smoking. Tactile operation indicators and audible operation indicators are similarly covered by this disclosure. Moreover, combinations of such performance indicators are also suitable for use in a single smoking article. According to another aspect, the smoking article includes one or more indicators or features, such as, for example, a display configured to provide information corresponding to the operation of the smoking article, such as, for example, the amount of power remaining in the power source, the progression of the smoking process, an indication corresponding to the activation of the heat source, and/or the like.

Accordingly, although various materials for use in a smoking article according to the disclosure of the present invention have been described above, such as heaters, batteries, capacitors, switching components, aerosol delivery components, aerosol precursor compositions, and/or the like, the present invention should not be construed as being limited to these illustrative aspects. On the contrary, a person skilled in the art, having familiarized himself with the present invention, can offer similar components in this area that are interchangeable with any particular component according to the present invention. For example, US Pat. No. 5,261,424, Sprinkel, Jr. disclosed are piezoelectric sensors that are associated with the lip region of the device to detect puff activity on the user's lips and then initiate heating; US Pat. No. 5,372,148 by McCafferty et al. discloses a puff sensor for controlling the flow of energy into an array of thermal loads as pressure drops across a mouthpiece; US Patent No. 5,967,148 to Harris et al. discloses sockets in a smoking article that contain an identifier that detects an inhomogeneity in infrared transmission of an inserted component and a controller that performs a detection procedure when the component is inserted into the socket; US Pat. No. 6,040,560 to Fleischhauer et al. describes a specific power cycle being performed with multiple differential phases; US Pat. No. 5,934,289 by Watkins et al. discloses photonic-optoelectronic components; US Pat. No. 5,954,979 to Counts et al. discloses means for changing the resistance to draw through a smoking article; Blake et al. US Pat. No. 6,803,545 discloses specific battery configurations for use in smoking devices; U.S. Patent No. 7,293,565 to Griffen et al. discloses various charging systems for use in smoking articles U.S. Patent No. 8,402,976 to Fernando et al. discloses means for interfacing with a computer for smoking articles to facilitate charging and allow control of the device via the computer; U.S. Patent No. 8,689,804 to Fernando et al. discloses identification systems for smoking devices, all of the foregoing disclosures are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Other examples of components related to electronic aerosol delivery products and descriptions of materials or components that are suitable for use in the present product include US Pat. No. 4,735,217 by Gerth et al.; US Patent No. 5,249,586 by Morgan et al.; U.S. Patent No. 5,666,977 to Higgins et al.; U.S. Patent No. 6,053,176 to Adams et al.; U.S. Patent No. 6,204,287 by White; U.S. Patent No. 6,196,218 by Voges; U.S. Patent No. 6,810,883 to Felter et al.; US Pat. No. 6,854,461 by Nichols; US patent No. 7,832,410 by Hon; U.S. Patent No. 7,513,253 by Kobayashi; U.S. Patent No. 7,896,006 by Hamano; US Patent No. 6,772,756 by Shayan; US Pat. Nos. 8,156,944, 8,375,957 to Hon; US Patent Application Publication No. 2006/0196518 and No. 2009/0188490 by Hon; U.S. Patent No. 8,794,231 to Thorens et al.; U.S. Patent Nos. 8,915,254 and 8,925,555 to Monsees et al.; U.S. Patent No. 8,851,083 and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0024834 by Oglesby et al.; U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0307518 by Wang; and WO 2010/091593 by Hon. The various materials described in the above documents may be used in the present devices in various aspects, and all of the above inventions are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

While the smoking article of the present invention includes various aspects, as discussed in more detail below, consumer use of the smoking article will be similar in scope. The foregoing description of the use of a smoking article applies in various aspects described with minor modifications that may be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art in light of the additional disclosure provided herein. The above description of use, however, is not intended to limit the use of the article of the present invention, but is provided to meet all necessary requirements of the disclosure given herein.

Next, with reference to FIG. 1A and 1B disclose a first embodiment of a smoking article. The smoking article 100 advantageously provides a two-component smoking article that uses two separable components as compared to three or more separable components. The two detachable components are attached together using an outer wrapper, described in more detail below, preferably to simplify assembly for the consumer.

In some aspects, smoking article 100 includes a heat source 102 configured to generate heat when ignited. The heat source 102 includes, for example, a combustible fuel element that is generally cylindrical in shape and contains combustible carbonaceous material. Carbonaceous materials usually have a high carbon content. Preferred carbonaceous materials are predominantly carbon, typically having a carbon content greater than about 60 percent, typically greater than about 70 percent, often greater than about 80 percent, and most often greater than about 90 percent on a dry weight basis.

In some cases, the heat source 102 includes elements other than combustible carbonaceous materials (e.g., tobacco components such as powdered tobacco or tobacco extracts; flavors; salts such as sodium chloride, potassium chloride, and sodium carbonate; heat-resistant graphite fibers; powder iron oxide; glass filaments; calcium carbonate powder; alumina granules; ammonia sources such as ammonia salts and/or binding agents such as guar gum, ammonium alginate and sodium alginate). In some aspects, the heat source 102 has a length of about 12 mm and an overall outside diameter of about 4.2 mm. In other aspects, heat source 102 is extruded or blended using pulverized or powdered carbonaceous material and has a density that is greater than about 0.5 g/cm3, often greater than about 0.7 g/cm3, and most often greater than about 1 g/cm3, in terms of dry weight. See, for example, the types of fuel source components, compositions, and designs that are set forth in Riggs et al. US Pat. No. 5,551,451 and Borschke et al. in US Pat.

Thus, as shown in FIG. 1A and 1B, the heat source 102 comprises an extruded carbon monolith defining one or more channels 104 extending longitudinally from a first end of the extruded carbon monolith to an opposite second end of the extruded carbon monolith. However, in other aspects, the heat source 102 comprises alternative configurations, such as a substantially circular cross section, or the heat source 102 forms grooves or slots extending longitudinally from the first end of the extruded monolithic carbonaceous material to its opposite second end. In addition, in some additional aspects, the heat source 102 comprises a foamed carbon monolith formed in a foaming process of the type described in Lobovsky US Pat. No. 7,615,184, which is incorporated herein by reference. This implementation option provides advantages in terms of reduced time required to ignite the heat source 102. In another embodiment, heat source 102 is co-extruded with an insulation layer (not shown), thereby reducing manufacturing time and costs. Still other fuel cell embodiments include carbon fibers of the type described in Brooks et al. , each of which is incorporated herein by reference.

In some aspects, the smoking article 100 further comprises a first substrate material 106 having opposing first and second ends. As shown in FIG. 1A, the first end of the first substrate material 106 is immobilized with the heat source 102 in a variety of ways, including bonded, welded, screwed, or otherwise connected to the heat source 102. In some aspects, the heat source 102 and the first substrate material 106 are substantially the same shape and/or size such that they form a single block (eg, a cylinder) when tightly coupled. Thus, the first substrate material 106 and the heat source 102 form the first component of the two-piece construction of the smoking article 100.

In some aspects, the first substrate material 106 comprises a material having a plurality of inherent characteristics or properties. For example, the first backing material 106 comprises a plasticized material or regenerated cellulose in the form of viscose. Another example is viscose (commercially available as VISIL®), which is a regenerated cellulose product comprising silica. Preferred carbon fibers include at least 95 percent carbon or more. Similarly, natural cellulosic fibers such as cotton are suitable and are preferably infused with silica particles or otherwise treated with silica, carbon or metal particles to improve flame retardant properties and minimize outgassing, in particular any undesirable off-gas components that may have a negative impact on taste (and in particular minimizing the likelihood of any toxic off-gas products). As is known in the art, cotton can be treated with, for example, boric acid or various organophosphorus compounds to provide the desired flame retardant properties by dipping, spraying, or other methods known in the art. These fibers can also be treated (by coating, infusion, or both, such as by dipping, spraying, or vapor deposition) with organic or metallic nanoparticles to impart the desired fire retardant property without the undesirable process of off-gassing or melting.

Thus, the first substrate material 106 has an aerosol precursor composition (ie, treated, coated, impregnated, etc.) associated with it. As described herein, an aerosol precursor composition contains humectants such as, for example, propylene glycol, glycerol and/or the like and/or at least one flavoring agent, as well as a flame retardant (for example, diammonium phosphate and/or other salt), configured to prevent ignition, pyrolysis, combustion and/or overheating of the aerosol delivery component associated with the first substrate material 106 by the heat source 102.

In some aspects, smoking article 100 further comprises an aerosol delivery component 108 having opposing first and second ends. The aerosol delivery component 108 includes a centrally defined longitudinally extending axis between each of the opposite first and second ends. In some aspects, the cross section of the aerosol delivery component 108 is axially symmetrical. For example, the cross section of the aerosol delivery component 108 is substantially circular such that the aerosol delivery component defines a substantially cylindrical shape extending between opposing first and second ends thereof. However, in other aspects, the aerosol delivery component 108 forms a substantially non-circular cross section such that the aerosol delivery component 108 defines a substantially non-cylindrical shape between opposing first and second ends thereof. Otherwise, in other examples, the aerosol delivery component 108 has an asymmetric cross-section about the axis.

Each end of the aerosol delivery component 108 is, in some aspects, axially aligned with adjacent members. For example, the first end of the aerosol delivery component 108 is configured to coaxially align with the second end of the first substrate material 106 when interacting therebetween. Thus, the aerosol delivery component 108 is the second component in the two-component construction of the smoking article 100. Thus, when the first end of the aerosol delivery component 108 is brought into engagement with the second end of the first substrate material 106, the smoking article 100 is assembled for use.

To engage or otherwise connect together the first end of the aerosol delivery component 108 with the second end of the first backing material 106, an outer wrapping material 110 is provided as shown in FIG. 1b. The outer wrapping material 110, in some aspects, is configured to wrap, for example, coaxially surround, the heat source 102, the first substrate material 106 cooperating around its first end with the heat source 102, and the aerosol delivery component 108 cooperating with the second end of the first substrate material 106 . The outer wrap material 110 is configured to be held in the wrapped position by any of a number of methods, including adhesive, fastener, and the like, to ensure that the outer wrap material 110 remains in the wrapped position. Otherwise, in some other aspects, the outer wrap material 110 is removable when needed. For example, while holding the outer wrap material 110 in the wrapped position, the outer wrap material 110 can then be removed from the heat source 102, the first backing material 106 interacting with the heat source 102 around its first end, and the aerosol delivery component 108 interacting with the second end. the first substrate material 106. In this example, the adhesive, fastener, and the like are removed and the outer wrap material 110 does not wrap them.

In some aspects, the outer wrapping material 110 includes a cover material 112 located adjacent to the heat source 102, the first backing material 106, and the aerosol delivery component 108. In such cases, the outer wrap material 110 and the cover material 112 are separate materials that are made together (eg, bonded, fused, or otherwise bonded together as a laminate). In other cases, the outer wrap material 110 and the cover material 112 are the same materials. Regardless, the cover material 112, in these cases, is thermally controlled to conduct heat generated by the ignited heat source 102 radially outward from the cover material 112. To do this, the cover material 112 comprises, in some aspects, a material selected from the group , consisting of foil, graphene, graphite and aluminum oxide. In some embodiments, depending on the material of the outer wrap material 110 and/or the cover material 112, a thin layer of insulation may be provided radially outward from the outer wrap material 110. Thus, the outer wrap material 110 preferably provides, in some aspects, a way for the two individual components of the smoking article 100, while also facilitating heat transfer along it in the axial direction, but limiting heat conduction radially outward.

In some aspects, the second substrate material 114 is provided with an aerosol delivery component 108. More specifically, the second substrate material 114 has an aerosol precursor composition (ie, treated, coated, impregnated, and the like) associated with it and located around the first end of the aerosol delivery component 108. The aerosol precursor composition associated with the second substrate material 114 is substantially the same or similar to the aerosol precursor composition associated with the first substrate material 106. Otherwise, in other aspects, the first substrate material 106 has an aerosol precursor composition associated with it that is different from the aerosol precursor composition associated with the second substrate material 114.

In addition, the second substrate material 114 comprises a material substantially similar or the same as the first substrate material 106. In other cases, according to other aspects, the first substrate material 106 and the second substrate material 114 comprise different materials. In some cases, the first substrate material 106 and the second substrate material 114 comprise a cellulose acetate material, and the aerosol precursor composition comprises glycerin coated on the CA of the first substrate material 106 and the second substrate material 114.

The second end of the aerosol delivery component 108, opposite the first end cooperating with the second end of the first substrate material 106, includes a mouthpiece 116 having a filter material 118. The aerosol components generated by heating the heat source 102 during use of the smoking article 100 are drawn through the mouthpiece 116 and filter material 118 during the puff through the mouthpiece 116 by the user.

A cylindrical casing 120 defining a cavity 122 for receiving and holding tobacco material 124, the cavity being located between the second substrate material 114 and the mouthpiece 116 of the aerosol delivery component 108, is shown, for example, in FIG. 1A. The tobacco material 124 comprises, in some aspects, tobacco-containing beads, tobacco pieces, tobacco strips, pieces of reconstituted tobacco material, or combinations thereof. Thus, the tobacco material 124 is positioned between the second backing material 114 and the mouthpiece 116 in a "dry" manner such that the tobacco material 124 is not directly associated with the aerosol precursor composition compared to other products in which dry heat from a heat source directly aerosolizes the aerosol precursor composition. associated with tobacco material. Instead, the aerosol precursor composition is associated with the first and second substrate materials 106, 114 and configured to generate an aerosol when heat generated by the ignited heat source 102 is received. The aerosol is then drawn through the tobacco material 124 and through the filter material 118 of the mouthpiece 116 while puffed through the mouthpiece 116.

More specifically, ignition of the heat source 102 results in aerosolization of the aerosol precursor composition associated with each of the first substrate material 106 and the second substrate material 114. Preferably, the elements of the first substrate material 106 and the second substrate material 114 do not experience thermal degradation (eg, charring, overheating, or combustion) to any significant extent. The aerosolized components are carried away in air which is drawn in through an aerosol generating region (not shown). The aerosol thus formed is drawn through the filter material 118 and into the smoker's mouth.

Accordingly, the second component of the smoking article, namely the aerosol delivery component 108, is preferably formed by combining the mouthpiece 116 and the filter material 118 with the second backing material 114 and the tobacco material 124. By combining these components of the aerosol delivery component 108, the assembly complexity of the aerosol delivery component 108 is reduced. with the first component, namely the heat source 102 and the first substrate material 106. Thus, the first component (the heat source 102 and the first substrate material 106) are simply joined together with the second component (the aerosol delivery component 108) by the outer wrapping material 110. As shown in FIG. 1B, the outer wrapping material 110 is configured to wrap the first and second components such that the smoking article 100 is in the form of a cigar or cigarette to simulate a smoking session for the consumer while reducing the traditional number of smoking article components from three to two.

Next, with reference to FIG. 2A-2D, a second embodiment of a smoking article is disclosed. Smoking article 200, FIG. 2D preferably provides a rechargeable aerosol generating module 202 that is configured to be housed in a tubular housing 204 made of thermally insulating material. The thermally insulating material of the tubular body 204 preferably provides a reduction in the external temperature of the rechargeable aerosol generating module 202 compared to conventional aerosol generating modules 202 that lack a thermally insulating body.

More specifically, in some aspects, the aerosol generating module 202 of the smoking article 200 comprises a heat source 206 configured to generate heat upon ignition. The heat source 206 includes, for example, a combustible fuel element that is generally cylindrical in shape and includes a combustible carbonaceous material similar to that described above with reference to the heat source 102. Thus, as shown in FIG. 2A, a heat source 206 includes an extruded carbon monolith defining one or more channels 208 extending longitudinally from a first end of the extruded carbon monolith to an opposite second end of the extruded carbon monolith. However, in other aspects, the heat source 206 has alternative configurations, such as having a substantially circular cross section, or the heat source 206 forms grooves or slots extending longitudinally from the first end of the extruded monolithic carbonaceous material to its opposite second end.

The aerosol generating module 202 further comprises, in some aspects, an aerosol delivery component 210 having opposing first and second ends. The aerosol delivery component 210, in some aspects, includes a centrally defined longitudinally extending axis between each of the opposing first and second ends. The cross section of the aerosol delivery component 210 is, in some aspects, axially symmetrical. For example, the cross section of the aerosol delivery component 210 is substantially circular such that the aerosol delivery component defines a substantially cylindrical shape extending between opposite first and second ends thereof. In this example, as shown in FIG. 2A, aerosol delivery component 210 is a tubular member 212. However, in other aspects, aerosol delivery component 210 forms a substantially non-circular cross section such that aerosol delivery component 210 defines a substantially non-cylindrical shape between opposing first and second ends thereof. In these examples, the aerosol delivery component 210 includes a non-tubular element (not shown). Otherwise, in other examples, the aerosol delivery component 210 has an asymmetric cross-section about the axis.

The tubular member 212 of the aerosol delivery component 210, regardless of cross section, contains a material that is substantially rigid or inflexible along its longitudinal axis. In addition, the tubular element 212 contains a material that is essentially biodegradable. Accordingly, it is desirable that the tubular member 212 of the aerosol delivery component 210 contains extruded carbon or graphite, such that the tubular member 212 is rigid while remaining substantially biodegradable. As shown in FIG. 2A, tubular member 212 is a hollow member that defines a cavity extending between opposing first and second ends. In some cases, for example, the tubular member 212 is a hollow cylinder composed of extruded carbon or graphite.

Each end of the aerosol delivery component 210 is, in some aspects, axially aligned with the aerosol generating module element 202 when assembled therewith. For example, the first end of the aerosol delivery component 210 is configured to axially interact with the heat source 206 . In this example, the first end of the aerosol delivery component 210 is configured to interact with the heat source 206 via the wrapping material 214. In FIG. 2B shows, for example, a wrapping material 214 that is configured to wrap at least a heat source 206 and an aerosol delivery component 210 of an aerosol generating module 202 to bring the heat source 206 into engagement with a first end of the aerosol delivery component 210. Wrap material 214 is configured to be held in a wrapped position around heat source 206 and aerosol delivery component 210 in any of a number of ways, including adhesive, fastener, and the like, to ensure that wrap material 214 remains in a fixed position.

In one example, further shown in FIG. 2A, the aerosol delivery component 210 comprises tobacco material 216 associated with the aerosol precursor composition and disposed within tubular member 212. More specifically, the interior of tubular member 212 is configured to receive tobacco material 216 associated with the aerosol precursor composition such that the tobacco the material 216 associated with the aerosol precursor composition is packaged, inserted, poured, or otherwise located within the tubular member 212 between opposing first and second ends. The tobacco material 216 comprises, in some aspects, tobacco-containing beads, tobacco chunks, tobacco strips, pieces of reconstituted tobacco material, or combinations thereof. An associated aerosol precursor composition includes humectants such as, for example, propylene glycol, glycerin and/or the like and/or at least one flavoring agent, as well as a flame retardant (for example, diammonium phosphate and/or other salt) made with the ability to prevent ignition, pyrolysis, combustion, and/or charring of the tobacco material 216 and/or wrapping material 214 by the heat source 206 .

Compared to the smoking article 100 described above with reference to FIG. 1A and 1B, smoking article 200 uses tobacco material 216 coated with an aerosol precursor composition prior to placing tobacco material 216 in tubular member 212. Alternatively, tobacco material 216 is positioned in tubular member 212 and then coated with the aerosol precursor composition. Regardless, the tobacco material 216 is "wet" when heated by the heat source 206 such that the aerosol precursor composition associated with the tobacco material 216 is configured to produce a rich and highly flavored aerosol in response to the heat generated by the heat source 206 .

The mouthpiece 218 is engaged with a second end of the aerosol delivery component 210 axially opposite the first end of the aerosol delivery component interacting with the heat source 206 . Mouthpiece 218 is configured to receive aerosol through it when puffed through mouthpiece 218 by a user. The mouthpiece 218, according to some aspects, is put into motionless engagement with the aerosol delivery component 210. For example, an adhesive, bonding, welding, or the like is suitable for immobilizing the mouthpiece 218 with the aerosol delivery component 210. In one example, the mouthpiece is ultrasonic welded to the second end of the aerosol delivery component 210 and sealed therewith.

In some aspects, the mouthpiece 218 further comprises a filter material 220 configured to receive aerosol through it when puffed through the mouthpiece 218. The filter material 220 is configured, in some aspects, as a circular disc, radially and/or longitudinally located between the second end of the tubular element 212 and the mouthpiece 218. Thus, when puffing through the mouthpiece 218, the filter material 220 receives the aerosol flowing through the tubular element 212 of the aerosol delivery component 210.

In still other additional aspects, the aerosol delivery component 210 includes an annular element 222 extending around the second end of the tubular element 212 and configured to interact with the mouthpiece 218. The annular element 222 is configured to act as a sealing mechanism between the mouthpiece 218 and the tubular element 212 of the component 210 delivery of an aerosol to prevent entry of ambient air into a flow path defined along the longitudinal axis of the aerosol generating module 202. The diameter of the annular element 222, according to some aspects, is larger than that of the tubular element 212, but is small enough to be hermetically placed in the internal space of the mouthpiece 218. The annular member 222 is configured to be fixedly attached to the second end of the tubular member 212 by adhesive, bonding, welding, and the like. For example, the annular member 222 is ultrasonically welded to or sealed to the mouthpiece 218 or the second end of the tubular member 212. In such aspects, the mouthpiece 218, having the annular element 222 welded thereto or sealed therewith, is configured to receive the second end of the tubular element 212 in the annular element. In other such aspects, the mouthpiece 218 is configured to receive the annular element 222 therein. , and the annular element is welded to the second end of the tubular element 212 or hermetically connected to it. When the filter material 220 is included in the mouthpiece, the filter material 220 is located in the radial and/or longitudinal direction between the annular element 222 and the mouthpiece 218.

To make the aerosol generating module 202 substantially biodegradable, at least one of the annular member 222 and the mouthpiece 218 contains a biodegradable material. For example, at least one of the annular element 222 and the mouthpiece 218 contains a biodegradable plastic, such as polyhydroxyalkonoate (polyhydroxyalkonoate, PHA). In various aspects, the filter material 220 contains a biodegradable material or contains a non-biodegradable material, such as cellulose acetate, which is readily removed prior to composting the aerosol generating module 202.

An example implementation of the tubular body 204 is shown in more detail in FIG. 2C. The tubular body 204 is composed of a heat-insulating material. For example, the thermal insulation material of the tubular body 204 includes a ceramic material, graphene, graphite, and the like. In other cases, the thermal insulation material of the tubular body 204 is such that it facilitates the distribution and dissipation of heat generated by the heat source 206 so that the temperature of the outer surface of the tubular body 204, especially near the heat source 206, is not excessively high. The configuration of the tubular body 204 also reduces the likelihood of overheating of its outer surface near the heat source 206 .

The tubular body 204, in some aspects, is configured to accommodate at least a heat source 206 and an aerosol delivery component 210 of the aerosol generating module 202 in a coaxial relationship with each other (ie, in series). When the wrapping material 214 is used to bring the heat source 206 into engagement with the first end of the aerosol delivery component 210, the tubular body 204 is configured to receive at least the heat source 206 and the aerosol delivery component 210 of the aerosol generating module 202 wrapped in the wrapping material. material 214. Thus, tubular body 204 is configured, sized and/or shaped to be larger than each of heat source 206 and/or aerosol delivery component 210 of aerosol generating module 202 not wrapped or otherwise wrapped in wrapping material 214.

FIG. 2D shows a tubular body 204 having at least a heat source 206 and an aerosol delivery component 210 of an aerosol generating module 202 disposed therein in a coaxial relationship with each other. The heat source 206 and the aerosol delivery component 210 of the aerosol generating module 202 are configured to slide into the open end of the tubular body 204. Thus, by accommodating at least the heat source 206 and the aerosol delivery component 210 of the aerosol generating module 202, the tubular body 204 is configured with the ability to thermally control the conduction through it of the heat produced by the ignited heat source 206 (ie, radially outward). More specifically, ignition of the heat source 206 results in aerosolization of the aerosol precursor composition associated with the tobacco material 216 located within the tubular member 212. Preferably, the elements of the tobacco material 216 do not undergo thermal degradation (i.e., charring or burning) to any significant extent. The aerosolized components are thus carried away in the air, which is drawn in through the aerosol generating region (ie tobacco material 216). The aerosol thus formed will be drawn through the filter material 220 and into the smoker's mouth.

Preferably, the aerosol generating module 202 and the tubular body 204 are formed together in a packaging unit. For example, the packaging unit contains one or more aerosol generating modules 202 that are configured to be used by a smoker for disposal (eg, composting), while the tubular body 204 is configured to be reused with each new aerosol generating module 202. In this As an example, the mouthpiece 218 of each aerosol generating module 202 is releasably configured to engage with the tubular body 204 through various engagement mechanisms, including lock-fit engagement, press-fit engagement, threaded engagement, adhesive, bonding, welding, and the like. Thus, the user is able to engage the mouthpiece 218 of the new aerosol generating module 202 with the tubular body 204 prior to ignition of the heat source 206 .

Next, with reference to FIG. 3A-3C, a third embodiment of a smoking article is disclosed. Smoking article 300, FIG. 3C preferably provides a power source configured to heat a small amount of tobacco material to reduce the overall amount of heat generated during use compared to a conventional smoking article.

More specifically, an exploded view of the smoking article 300 is shown in FIG. 3A. The smoking article 300 includes, in some aspects, a power supply 302. In some cases, the power supply takes on different aspects. Preferably, the power source 302 is configured to deliver sufficient power to allow the tobacco material to rapidly form an aerosol and to power the article 300 during use for a desired period of time. The power supply 302 is preferably sized to fit comfortably within the product 300 so that the product is easy to handle; and furthermore, the preferred power supply 302 is light enough not to be distracting from the desired smoking session.

Power source 302, in some aspects, is a power source that is configured to generate, generate, or otherwise provide electrical power. For example, power supply 302 includes a lithium ion battery that is desirably rechargeable (eg, a lithium manganese dioxide rechargeable battery). In particular, lithium polymer batteries can be used, so the batteries provide increased safety. Other types of batteries can also be used, such as N50-AAA CADNICA nickel-cadmium cells. Still other additional examples of batteries that can be used in accordance with the present invention are disclosed in US Pat. No. 9,484,155 by Peckerar et al., the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. In some aspects, thin film batteries are used in certain aspects of the present invention. Any or combinations of these batteries are used in the power supply, but rechargeable batteries are preferred due to the cost and disposal considerations associated with disposable batteries. In aspects where disposable batteries are provided, the smoking article 300 includes access to remove and replace the battery. Alternatively, in aspects that use rechargeable batteries, the smoking article 300 includes charging contacts (not shown) to interface with corresponding contacts in a conventional charging box powered by a standard 120 volt AC wall outlet, or other sources, such as an automotive electrical system or a separate portable power source, including USB connections. The battery recharge structure is provided in some aspects in a portable charging case that includes, for example, a relatively large battery pack that provides multiple charges for the relatively small batteries present in the smoking article 300. Alternatively, in some aspects, the smoking article 300 includes elements for providing a non-contact inductive charging system such that smoking article 300 is charged without being physically connected to an external power source. Thus, the smoking article 300 includes, in some cases, elements to facilitate the transfer of energy from the electromagnetic field to the rechargeable battery within the smoking article 300.

In some aspects, power supply 302 also includes one or more capacitors. For example, power supply 302 contains a combination of any number of batteries and/or capacitors. In some aspects, power supply 302 includes at least one battery and at least one capacitor. Capacitors are able to discharge faster than batteries and are charged between puffs, allowing the battery to discharge into the capacitor at a slower rate than if it were used to power a heat source directly. For example, a supercapacitor, i.e. an electric double-layer capacitor (EDLC), located separately from the battery or in combination with it. When used alone, the supercapacitor is recharged before each use of the smoking article 300. Thus, the charger component is attached to the smoking article 300 between uses to recharge the supercapacitor.

Smoking article 300 further comprises, in some aspects, various power management software, hardware, and/or other control electronics (not shown). For example, such software, hardware, and/or control electronics include functions such as charging a battery, detecting battery charge and discharge, performing power saving operations, preventing unintended or excessive battery discharge, and/or the like.

Regardless of its implementation, in some aspects and as shown in FIG. 3A, power supply 302 has opposite first and second ends defining an axis passing through them. The cross section of the power source 302, according to some aspects, is symmetrical about the axis. For example, the cross section of power supply 302 is substantially circular such that power supply 302 defines a substantially cylindrical shape extending between opposite first and second ends thereof. In this example, and as shown in FIG. 3A, a power source 302 is housed in a tubular controllable shell 304 having opposite first and second ends and forming an axis therebetween. In this example, the power source 302 is located in the interior of the tubular control shell 304 such that the power source 302 and the tubular control shell 304 are coaxially aligned with each other.

However, in other aspects, the power source 302 and/or the tubular control shell 304 form a substantially non-circular cross section such that the power source 302 and/or the tubular control shell 304 form a substantially non-circular shape between opposing first and second ends thereof. In these examples, power supply 302 and/or tubular control shell 304 comprise a non-tubular element (not shown). In other cases, in other examples, the power source 302 and/or the tubular control shell 304 have an asymmetric cross-section about the axis.

The smoking article 300 further comprises, in some aspects, a power source 306 coupled to the second end of the power source 302 and extending along an axis. Power supply 306 is configured to generate conductive heat, radiant heat, inductive heat, and/or the like when power is received from power supply 302.

In some aspects, power supply 306 implements electrically conductive materials, such materials suitable as heat sources being those that have low mass, low density, and moderate resistivity that are thermally stable at the temperatures they are exposed to during use. Suitable heat sources heat up and cool down quickly and thus ensure efficient use of energy. Rapid heating provides almost immediate aerosolization, while rapid cooling (i.e. below the vaporization temperature of the aerosol delivery component/component/composition/material) prevents significant vaporization (hence waste) during periods when aerosol generation is undesirable. Such heat sources also allow for relatively precise control of the temperature range, especially when time-based current control is used.

Accordingly, in some aspects, for example, the power supply 306 comprises an electrically conductive material (ie, for resistive heating) to facilitate rapid heating and cooling of solid tobacco material provided in its immediate vicinity. Exemplary electrically conductive materials suitable for heat source 306 are preferably chemically non-reactive with respect to the material to be heated so as not to adversely affect the taste or content of the resulting aerosol or vapor. Exemplary non-limiting materials that are suitable as an electrically conductive material include carbon, graphite, carbon/graphite composites, metals, metal and non-metal carbides, ceramics, nitrides, silicides, intermetallic compounds, cermets, metal alloys, and metal foils. In particular, refractory materials are suitable. Various materials can be mixed to achieve the desired properties of resistivity, mass and thermal conductivity. In specific aspects, metals that can be used include, for example, nickel, chromium, nickel-chromium alloys (eg, nichrome), and steel. Materials that are useful in providing resistance or resistive heating are described in US Pat. No. 5,060,671 to Counts et al.; US Pat. No. 5,093,894 to Deevi et al.; No. 5,224,498 by Deevi et al.; in US patent No. 5,228,460 under the authorship of Sprinkel Jr., and others; US Pat. No. 5,322,075 to Deevi et al.; US Pat. No. 5,353,813 to Deevi et al.; US Pat. No. 5,468,936 to Deevi et al.; US Pat. No. 5,498,850 to Das; US Pat. No. 5,659,656 to Das; US Pat. No. 5,498,855 to Deevi et al.; US Pat. No. 5,530,225 by Hajaligol; US Pat. No. 5,665,262 to Hajaligol; US Patent No. 5,573,692 to Das et al.; and US Pat. No. 5,591,368 to Fleischhauer et al., the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

The power supply 306 may be in various forms such as foil, foam, discs, coils, fibers, wires, films, strands, strips, tapes, or cylinders. In some aspects, the power supply 306 of the present invention is a conductive substrate such as described in Griffith et al. As shown in particular in FIG. 3B, power source 306 includes, for example, a heating element, such as a cylindrical rod, configured to generate heat when power is received from power source 302. In this case, when the power source 302 is a lithium ion battery, the cylindrical rod is electrically connected to the lithium ion battery to supply electric power to the cylindrical rod. Such electrical connections are formed from a wire connection (not shown).

In some aspects, the power source 306 is placed within a tubular body 308 having opposite first and second ends. The tubular body 308 defines an axis extending between opposite first and second ends and has a shape and/or cross section similar/similar to the tubular steerable shell 304. For example, when the tubular steerable shell 304 is cylindrical, the tubular body 308 is cylindrical. However, the tubular body 308 and the tubular steerable shell 304 also form different shapes in alternate embodiments.

The tubular body 308 is configured to contain an insulating material. For example, the insulating material of the tubular body 308 contains graphite, graphene, or the like to control the conduction of heat generated by the heat source 306. Namely, the anisotropic thermal conductivity properties of graphite, graphene or the like are desirable for controlling the conductivity of the heat generated by the heat source 306 . Thus, by placing the power source 306 within the tubular body 308 containing one of these materials, the heat generated by the heat source 306 is controlled by the tubular body 308 so that the outer surface of the smoking article 300 is not exposed to high levels of heat during use.

In some aspects, the first end of the tubular body 308 is configured to engage with the second end of the power supply 302 via the second end of the tubular controllable shell 304. For example, an interaction mechanism such as a threaded engagement, wrapping material, press fit engagement, and the like are for bringing the second end of the tubular controllable shell 304 into engagement with the first end of the tubular body 308. Thus, the second end of the power source 302 located inside the tubular controllable shell 304 and the first end of the power source 306 located inside the tubular body 308 communicate with each other .

The solid tobacco material 310, in some aspects, is also placed within the tubular body 308. In some cases, the solid tobacco material 310 is in the form of a cylindrical tube extending around the peripheral surface of the axially extending power source 306, between the power source 306 and the tubular body 308 For example, and in particular as shown in FIG. 3B, solid tobacco material 310 is distributed around the peripheral surface of the axially extending power source 306 of substantially equal thickness around it. This design is advantageous because it allows the power source 306 to be placed in close contact with the solid tobacco material or in close proximity to the solid tobacco material 310 to produce an aerosol when receiving the heat generated by the heat source 306 .

Solid tobacco material 310 contains, in some cases, tobacco-containing beads, tobacco pieces, tobacco strips, pieces of reconstituted tobacco material, or combinations thereof. The solid tobacco material 310 is formed as an extruded annular cylinder that is placed over the peripheral surface of the axially passing heat source 306 within the tubular body 308. Otherwise, the solid tobacco material 310 is packaged, inserted, poured, or otherwise located between the inner peripheral surface of the tubular body 308 and a peripheral surface of an axially passing heat source 306 . The solid tobacco material 310, in some aspects, is a "dry" tobacco material such that the tobacco material is not associated with the aerosol precursor composition when the axial heat source 306 is distributed around the peripheral surface. However, in other aspects, solid tobacco material 310 is associated with an aerosol precursor composition such as described above with reference to smoking article 200.

With reference to FIG. 3B, the mouthpiece 312 is formed by the second end of the tubular body 310 and is configured to receive aerosol from the solid tobacco material 310 in response to a puff through the mouthpiece 312. Thus, the tubular body 310 extends axially from the first end cooperating with the second end. power source 302, around heat source 306 to a second end defining mouthpiece 312. In some aspects, mouthpiece 312 is an integral component of tubular body 310 and defines an opening through which generated aerosol is drawn in and received by a user. Otherwise, the mouthpiece 312 is a separate component. As shown in FIG. 3A and 3B, the mouthpiece 312 is provided opposite the cylindrical tube of solid tobacco material 310 from the power supply 302 when the smoking article 300 is in the assembled state.

In some still further aspects, the filter material 314 is provided in the smoking article 300. More specifically, for example, the filter material 314 extends at least partially around the peripheral surface of the cylindrical tube of solid tobacco material 310 and around the second end of the tubular body 308 within the mouthpiece 312. Due to the insulating properties tubular body 308, the filter material 314 is not exposed to high levels of heat, which is desirable for an enjoyable smoking session or smoking-like process for the user of the smoking article 300. Regardless of this, in some aspects, the filter material 314 contains cellulose acetate or other similar material.

The smoking article 300 further comprises a control unit 316 coupled to a power source 302 . The control unit 316 is located, according to some aspects, inside the tubular controllable shell 304. However, the control unit 316 is alternatively located inside the tubular body 302 or inside a separate controllable shell (not shown).

The control unit 316 is configured to perform various functions, including, for example, actuating the power generated by the power source 302 and directing the power to the heat source 306. Thus, the control unit 316 is thereby able to regulate the heat generated by the heat source 306 . The heating is characterized with respect to the amount of aerosol to be generated. More specifically, the smoking article 300 is configured to provide the amount of heat necessary to generate a given volume of aerosol (e.g., from about 0.5 ml to about 100 ml, or any other volume deemed useful in a smoking article, such as otherwise described herein). document). In specific cases, the amount of heat generated is measured in relation to a two second puff providing about 35 ml of aerosol at a heating temperature of about 290°C. In some aspects, article 300 preferably provides from about 1 to about 50 Joules of heat per second (J/s), from about 2 J/s to about 40 J/s, from about 3 J/s to about 35 J/s, or from about 5 J/s to about 30 J/s. In other cases, the amount of heat generated is measured in relation to the total puff volume. In particular cases, the amount of heat generated by article 300 preferably provides from about 15 puffs to about 20 puffs. Regardless, the aerosol generated is only limited to what is needed so that excess power is not wasted unnecessarily.

Other functions of control unit 316 include, for example, control of power output in response to stimuli, control and/or monitoring of the flow of electrical energy, and so on. More specifically, in some aspects, the control unit 316 is capable of controlling the flow of electrical energy from the power source 302 to other elements of the article 300, such as the heat source 306 . More specifically, according to some aspects, the control unit 316 drives the electric current flowing from the power source 302 to the heat source 306. According to some aspects of the present invention, the smoking article 300 includes an actuation mechanism, such as a push button 318, that is associated with (eg, connected to) the control unit 316 and configured to control actuation of the power generated by the power source 302. Thus, a push button 318, located on the tubular control shell 304 or elsewhere, is configured to manually control the flow of electric current, with the user operating the push button 318 to turn on the product 300 and/or actuate the flow of electric current to the power source 302 . In some aspects, one or more, two or more, three or more, and so on. actuating mechanisms are provided to manually turn on and off the product 300 and to actuate the power produced by the power source 302 such as, for example, the flow of electric current from a battery.

Instead of (or in addition to) push button 318, in some aspects, smoking article 300 includes one or more control devices (not shown) responsive to a consumer puffing through article 300 (i.e., puff-actuated heat). ). For example, article 300 includes a switch that is sensitive to either changes in pressure or changes in airflow as the user puffs through the article (ie, a puff-actuated switch). Other suitable current control/deactivation mechanisms include, for example, a temperature actuated switch or a pressure switch. An exemplary mechanism that provides puff actuation capability includes a model 163PC01D36 silicon sensor manufactured by the MicroSwitch division of Honeywell, Inc., Freeport, Illinois. With such a sensor, the power source 306 is quickly activated by pressure changes when the consumer puffs through the mouthpiece 318 of the product 300. In addition, flow-sensitive devices, such as devices using hot-wire anemometry principles, are suitable for energizing to the heat source 306 quickly enough after detecting a change in airflow. Another suitable puff actuated switch is a differential pressure switch such as Model MPL-502-V, Range A, from Micro Pneumatic Logic, Inc., Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Another suitable puff actuated mechanism is a sensitive pressure transducer (eg equipped with an amplifier or amplification stage) which in turn is connected to a comparator to detect a predetermined threshold pressure change. Another suitable puff-actuated mechanism is a vane which is deflected by a stream of air whose movement is detected by a motion sensing device. Another suitable actuator is a piezoelectric switch. Also another suitable switch is a properly connected Honeywell MicroSwitch Microbridge Airflow Sensor, Part # AWM 2100V from MicroSwitch Division of Honeywell, Inc., Freeport, Illinois. Additional examples of on-demand electrical switches that are suitable for a heating circuit according to the present invention are described in US Pat. No. 4,735,217 by Gerth et al., which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Other suitable differential switches, analog pressure sensors, flow sensors, or the like will be apparent to those skilled in the art familiar with the present disclosure. A pressure-sensing tube or other conduit providing a fluid connection between the puff-actuated switch and the airflow conduit within the smoking article 300 is suitable so that pressure changes during draw are readily sensed by the switch. For further description of current control circuits and other control units, including microcontrollers, that are suitable for this smoking article, see U.S. Patent Nos. 4,922,901, 4,947,874 and 4,947,875, all by Brooks et al., U.S. Patent No. 5,372,148 by McCafferty et al., US Patent No. 6,040,560 by Fleischhauer et al. and US Patent No. 7,040,314 by Nguyen et al., all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

In addition, in some cases, capacitive sensing elements are included in the smoking article 300 in various ways to provide different types of "power on" and/or "power off" for one or more elements of the smoking article 300. Measurement with a capacitive device includes the use of any sensor, including technology based on capacitive coupling, including, but not limited to, sensors that detect and/or measure proximity, position or displacement, humidity, liquid level, pressure or acceleration. Measurement with a capacitive instrument arises from electronic elements providing surface capacitance, projected capacitance, mutual capacitance, or intrinsic capacitance. Capacitive sensors generally detect anything that is conductive or has a dielectric constant other than air. Capacitive sensors, for example, replace mechanical buttons (ie pushbutton 318 above) with capacitive alternatives. Thus, one particular application of capacitive sensors according to the present invention is a touch capacitive sensor. For example, a touch portion (i.e., a touchpad) is present in smoking article 300 that allows the user to enter various commands. Basically, the touchpad provides power to the heat source 306 in much the same way as the button 318, as already described above. In other aspects, capacitive meter measurement is applied near the mouthpiece 312 of the smoking article 300 such that the presence and/or lip pressure on the smoking article 300 or puffing through the article signals the smoking article 300 to supply power to the power source 306. In addition to capacitive touch sensors, capacitance sensors, liquid capacitive sensors, and accelerometers in accordance with the present invention are suitable for obtaining a variety of responses from smoking article 300. In addition, photoelectric sensors are also suitable for use in smoking article 300.

The sensors used in the smoking article 300 are configured to explicitly signal power flow to the power source 306 to heat the solid tobacco material 310 and produce an aerosol for inhalation by the user. Sensors also provide additional functions. For example, a wake-up sensor is suitable for inclusion in smoking article 300. Other detection methods that provide a similar function may also be used in accordance with the disclosure.

The control unit 316 further comprises, in some aspects, a current control circuit (not shown), which is specifically based on time. More specifically, such circuitry includes a mechanism to ensure that current flows continuously through the heat source 306 for an initial period of time during a puff, and a timer device to subsequently regulate the current flow until the puff is complete. For example, subsequent regulation includes rapidly turning on/off current flow (eg, on the order of about 1 to 50 milliseconds) from power source 302 to maintain heat source 306 in the desired temperature range. In addition, the regulation includes simply providing a continuous flow of current until the desired temperature is reached and then completely turning off the flow of current. The power supply 306 is activated by the consumer initiating another puff on the mouthpiece 312 on the product 300 (or by manually pressing the button 318, depending on the particular aspect of the switch used to activate the heat source).

Alternatively, post-regulation includes modulating the current flowing through the heat source 306 to keep the heat source 306 within the desired temperature range. In some aspects, in order to release the required amount of aerosol, as described above, the heat source 306 is charged over a time period of from about 0.2 seconds to about 5.0 seconds, from about 0.3 seconds to about 4.5 seconds, from about 0 .5 seconds to about 4.0 seconds, from about 0.5 seconds to about 3.5 seconds, or from about 0.6 seconds to about 3.0 seconds. One exemplary time-based current control circuit includes a transistor, a timer, a comparator, and a capacitor. Suitable transistors, timers, comparators and capacitors are commercially available and will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Exemplary timers available from NEC Electronics as C-1555C and from General Electric Intersil, Inc. like the ICM7555, as well as various other sizes and configurations of the so-called "555 Timers". An exemplary comparator is available from National Semiconductor as the LM311. Additional description of such time-based current control circuits and other control units that are useful in smoking article 300 is provided in US Pat. .

The control unit 316 in particular can be configured to precisely control the amount of heat supplied to the heat source 306 by the power source 302 . In some aspects, the current control component is capable of stopping current flow to the heat source 306 after a certain temperature has been reached. Such defined temperature is in a range that is substantially high enough to atomize any solid tobacco material 310 and any other inhalables and provide an amount of aerosol equivalent to a typical puff on a conventional cigarette, as otherwise disclosed herein. Although the heat required to spray the solid tobacco material 310 in sufficient volume to provide the required volume for a single puff is variable, it is particularly useful for the heat source 306 to be heated to a temperature of about 120°C or more, about 130°C or more, about 140 °C or higher or about 160°C. In some aspects, to aerosolize a suitable amount of solid tobacco material 310, the heating temperature is about 180°C or more, about 200°C or more, about 300°C or more, or about 350°C or more. In additional aspects, the target temperature for aerosol formation is from about 120°C to about 350°C, from about 140°C to about 300°C, or from about 150°C to about 250°C.

In still other aspects, the control unit 316, including the current regulation component, is configured to cycle off and apply current to the heat source 306 from the power source 302 to maintain a first temperature that is below the aerosol formation temperature, and then allow the current to increase to reach the second temperature which is greater than the first temperature and which is the aerosol formation temperature. Such control advantageously improves the response time of article 300 to aerosol generation such that aerosol generation begins almost immediately after a puff is initiated by the consumer. In some aspects, the first temperature (which, for example, is characterized as the standby temperature) is only slightly lower than the aerosol generation temperature defined above. More specifically, for example, the standby temperature is from about 50°C to about 150°C, from about 70°C to about 140°C, from about 80°C to about 120°C, or from about 90°C to about 110°C.

Many modifications and other embodiments of the present invention will be apparent to a person skilled in the art to which this invention pertains, using the disclosures presented in the above description and in the accompanying drawings. Thus, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, and it is intended that modifications and other embodiments be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are used in this document, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

Claims (52)

1. A smoking article containing: a heat source configured to generate heat when ignited and having opposite first and second ends; a first substrate material having opposite first and second ends, wherein the first end of the first substrate material is attached to the second end of the heat source, and the first substrate material has an aerosol precursor composition associated therewith; an aerosol delivery component having opposite first and second ends, wherein the first end of the aerosol delivery component is engaged with the second end of the first substrate material, the aerosol delivery component comprising: a second support material having an aerosol precursor composition associated therewith and located around the first end of the aerosol delivery component; a mouthpiece having a filter material and located around the second end of the aerosol delivery component; and tobacco material positioned between the second substrate material and the mouthpiece, wherein the aerosol precursor composition associated with the first and second substrate materials is configured to generate an aerosol upon receipt of heat generated by an ignited heat source, wherein the aerosol is drawn through the tobacco material and the filter material mouthpiece when puffed through the mouthpiece, wherein the first support material and the second support material comprise cellulose acetate and the aerosol precursor composition comprises glycerol supported on cellulose acetate. 2. The smoking article of claim 1, wherein the aerosol delivery component comprises a cylindrical housing defining a cavity configured to receive and contain tobacco material between the second substrate material and the mouthpiece. 3. The smoking article of claim 1, further comprising an outer wrapper capable of wrapping a heat source, wherein the first substrate material is brought into engagement around its first end with the second end of the heat source, and the aerosol delivery component is brought into engagement with the second end of the first material substrates. 4. The smoking article of claim 3, wherein the outer wrapper comprises a cover material disposed adjacent the heat source, the first substrate material, and the aerosol delivery component, the cover material being thermally controlled to conduct heat generated by the ignited heat source radially outward from cover material. 5. A smoking article according to claim 4, wherein the cover material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of foil, graphene, graphite, and alumina. 6. The smoking article of claim 1, wherein the tobacco material comprises tobacco-containing beads, tobacco chunks, tobacco strips, pieces of reconstituted tobacco material, or combinations thereof. 7. The smoking article of claim 1, wherein the heat source comprises an extruded monolithic carbonaceous material. 8. The smoking article of claim 7, wherein the extruded monolithic carbonaceous material forms one or more channels extending longitudinally from a first end of the extruded monolithic carbonaceous material to an opposite second end of the extruded monolithic carbonaceous material. 9. Smoking article containing: an aerosol generating module, comprising: a heat source configured to generate heat when ignited; an aerosol delivery component having opposite first and second ends, the first end being engaged with a heat source, the aerosol delivery component comprising tobacco material associated with the aerosol precursor composition and located in the tubular member; wherein the aerosol precursor composition associated with the tobacco material is configured to produce an aerosol upon receipt of heat generated by a heat source, a mouthpiece cooperating with a second end of the aerosol delivery component, the mouthpiece being configured to receive the aerosol when puffed through the mouthpiece; and an annular member extending around the second end of the tubular member and configured to seal engagement with the mouthpiece to prevent ambient air from entering the flow path defined by the longitudinal axis of the aerosol generating module; and a tubular body made of thermally insulating material and configured to coaxially accommodate at least a heat source and an aerosol delivery component of the aerosol generating module, the tubular body being thermally controlled to conduct heat through it generated by the ignited heat source. 10. The smoking article of claim 9, further comprising a wrapping material configured to wrap at least a heat source and an aerosol delivery component of the aerosol generating module for bringing the heat source into engagement with a first end of the aerosol delivery component, wherein the tubular body is configured to receive in it and with the possibility of extracting from it at least a heat source and an aerosol delivery component of the aerosol generating module wrapped with a wrapping material. 11. The smoking article of claim 10, wherein the mouthpiece of the aerosol generating module is removably engaged with the tubular body. 12. The smoking article of claim 9, wherein the tubular member of the aerosol delivery component comprises extruded carbon or graphite. 13. A smoking article according to claim 9, wherein the annular element is ultrasonically welded to or sealed to the mouthpiece or to the second end of the tubular element. 14. The smoking article according to claim 13, wherein the mouthpiece having the annular element welded thereto or hermetically connected to it is configured to receive the second end of the tubular element in the annular element. 15. A smoking article according to claim 13, wherein the mouthpiece is adapted to receive an annular element welded to the second end of the tubular element or hermetically connected to it. 16. The smoking article of claim 9, wherein at least one of the annular element and the mouthpiece contains a biodegradable plastic. 17. A smoking article according to claim 9, wherein the mouthpiece comprises a tubular body configured to accommodate filter material. 18. The smoking article of claim 9, wherein the tobacco material is coated with an aerosol precursor composition. 19. A smoking article according to claim 9, wherein the heat-insulating material of the tubular body comprises a ceramic material, graphite or graphene. 20. The smoking article of claim 9, wherein the tobacco material comprises tobacco-containing beads, tobacco chunks, tobacco strips, pieces of reconstituted tobacco material, or combinations thereof. 21. The smoking article of claim 9, wherein the aerosol precursor composition contains glycerin. 22. The smoking article of claim 9, wherein the heat source comprises an extruded monolithic carbonaceous material. 23. The smoking article of claim 22, wherein the extruded monolithic carbonaceous material forms one or more channels extending longitudinally from a first end of the extruded monolithic carbonaceous material to an opposite second end of the extruded monolithic carbonaceous material. 24. A smoking article containing: a power source having opposite first and second ends, forming an axis passing through them; a heat source in communication with the second end of the power source and extending along said axis, the heat source being configured to generate heat upon receipt of power received from the power source; a tubular body having a first end cooperating with a second end of the power source and extending axially around the heat source to the second end; solid tobacco material placed inside the tubular body and made in the form of a cylindrical tube passing around the peripheral surface of the heat source passing in the axial direction, between the heat source and the tubular body, wherein the solid tobacco material is configured to generate an aerosol when heat generated by the heat source is received, a mouthpiece formed by a second end of the tubular body opposite the cylindrical tube of solid tobacco material from the power source, wherein the mouthpiece is configured to receive an aerosol from the solid tobacco material when puffed through the mouthpiece, and a filter material extending at least partially around a peripheral surface of the cylindrical tube of solid tobacco material and around a second end of the tubular body within the mouthpiece. 25. A smoking article according to claim 24, wherein the filter material contains cellulose acetate. 26. The smoking article of claim 24, wherein the power source comprises a lithium ion battery. 27. The smoking article of claim 26, wherein the heat source is a cylindrical rod electrically connected to a lithium ion battery. 28. A smoking article according to claim 24, wherein the power source is placed in a tubular controllable shell having opposite first and second ends, and the second end of the controllable tubular shell is brought into interaction with the first end of the tubular body. 29. The smoking article of claim 28, further comprising a control unit associated with the power source, the control unit being configured to actuate the power generated by the power source and to direct the power to the heat source. 30. The smoking article of claim 29, further comprising a push button associated with the control unit, the push button being configured to control actuation of power generated by the power source. 31. The smoking article of claim 24, wherein the tubular body comprises an insulating material. 32. The smoking article of claim 31, wherein the insulating material comprises graphite or graphene. 33. The smoking article of claim 24, wherein the solid tobacco material comprises tobacco-containing beads, tobacco chunks, tobacco strips, pieces of reconstituted tobacco material, or combinations thereof.

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