U.S. patent application number 16/766433 was filed with the patent office on 2021-02-04 for smoking article.
The applicant listed for this patent is NICOVENTURES TRADING LIMITED. Invention is credited to William ENGLAND.
Application Number | 20210030060 16/766433 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005163345 |
Filed Date | 2021-02-04 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20210030060 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
ENGLAND; William |
February 4, 2021 |
SMOKING ARTICLE
Abstract
Described herein is an aerosol generating article, the article
including an aerosolizable material and a wrapping material
arranged around the aerosolizable material, wherein the wrapping
material includes a non-combustible material and the wrapping
material extends from a first end of the aerosolizable material and
over about 10% to about 85% of the distance to a second end of the
aerosolizable material.
Inventors: |
ENGLAND; William; (London,
GB) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
NICOVENTURES TRADING LIMITED |
LONDON |
|
GB |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000005163345 |
Appl. No.: |
16/766433 |
Filed: |
November 15, 2018 |
PCT Filed: |
November 15, 2018 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2018/081394 |
371 Date: |
May 22, 2020 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A24D 3/17 20200101; A24F
40/20 20200101; A24D 1/025 20130101; A24C 5/18 20130101; A24F 40/46
20200101 |
International
Class: |
A24F 40/20 20060101
A24F040/20; A24D 1/02 20060101 A24D001/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 24, 2017 |
GB |
1719523.1 |
Claims
1. An aerosol generating article, comprising: an aerosolizable
material; and a wrapping material arranged around the aerosolizable
material, wherein the wrapping material comprises a non-combustible
material and the wrapping material extends from a first end of the
aerosolizable material and over about 10% to about 85% of a
distance to a second end of the aerosolizable material.
2. The aerosol generating article according to claim 1, wherein the
wrapping material circumscribes the aerosolizable material.
3. The aerosol generating article according to claim 1, wherein the
aerosolizable material comprises tobacco.
4. The aerosol generating article according to claim 1, wherein the
aerosolizable material is a rod of aerosolizable material.
5. The aerosol generating article according to claim 1, wherein the
non-combustible material comprises a metal foil.
6. The aerosol generating article according to claim 5, wherein the
metal foil comprises aluminum.
7. The aerosol generating article according to claim 1, wherein the
wrapping material extends from the first end of the aerosolizable
material and over about 20% to about 70% of the distance to the
second end of the aerosolizable material.
8. The aerosol generating article according to claim 1, wherein the
wrapping material extends from the first end of the aerosolizable
material and over about 40% to about 65% of the distance to the
second end of the aerosolizable material.
9. The aerosol generating article according to claim 1, wherein the
wrapping material extends from the first end of the aerosolizable
material and over about 50% to about 60% of the distance to the
second end of the aerosolizable material.
10. The aerosol generating article according to claim 1, further
comprising at least one of a filter or a cooling element.
11. The aerosol generating article according to claim 10, wherein
the aerosol generating article comprises a filter and a cooling
element, and wherein the cooling element is arranged between the
aerosolizable material and the filter.
12. An aerosol generating assembly comprising the aerosol
generating article according to claim 1.
13. The aerosol generating assembly according to claim 12, wherein
the aerosol generating assembly is a tobacco heating product.
14. The aerosol generating assembly according to claim 12, wherein
the aerosol generating assembly is a device into which the aerosol
generating article is at least partially inserted in use.
15. A system comprising an aerosol generating device and the
aerosol generating article according to claim 1.
16. A method for making an aerosol generating article comprising:
wrapping an aerosolizable material in a wrapping material, wherein
the wrapping material comprises a non-combustible material and the
wrapping material extends from a first end of the aerosolizable
material and over about 10% to about 85% of a distance to a second
end of the aerosolizable material.
17. A method of preventing a user igniting or burning an
aerosolizable material in an aerosol generating article, the method
comprising: wrapping the aerosolizable material in a wrapping
material, wherein the wrapping material comprises a non-combustible
material and the wrapping material extends from a first end of the
aerosolizable material and over about 10% to about 85% of a
distance to a second end of the aerosolizable material.
Description
PRIORITY CLAIM
[0001] The present application is a National Phase entry of PCT
Application No. PCT/EP2018/081394, filed Nov. 15, 2018, which
claims priority from GB Patent Application No. 1719523.1, filed
Nov. 24, 2017, each of which is hereby fully incorporated herein by
reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure relates to smoking articles and
specifically, although not exclusively, to an aerosol generating
article, the aerosol generating article comprising a wrapped
aerosolizable material, and to an aerosol generating assembly
containing an aerosol generating article, the aerosol generating
article comprising a wrapped aerosolizable material.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Smoking articles such as cigarettes, cigars and the like
burn tobacco during use to create tobacco smoke. Alternatives to
these types of articles release compounds by heating without
burning an aerosolizable material.
[0004] Apparatus is known that heats aerosolizable material to
volatilize at least one component of the aerosolizable material,
typically to form an aerosol which can be inhaled, without burning
or combusting the aerosolizable material. Such apparatus is
sometimes described as a "heat-not-burn" apparatus or a "tobacco
heating product" (THP) or a "tobacco heating device" or similar.
Various different arrangements for volatilizing at least one
component of the aerosolizable material are known.
[0005] The material may be for example tobacco, other non-tobacco
products or a combination, such as a blended mix, which may or may
not contain nicotine.
SUMMARY
[0006] According to a first aspect, the disclosure provides an
aerosol generating article, the aerosol generating article
comprising an aerosolizable material and a wrapping material
arranged around the aerosolizable material, and wherein the
wrapping material comprises a non-combustible material and the
wrapping material extends from a first end of the aerosolizable
material and over about 10% to about 85% of the distance to a
second end of the aerosolizable material.
[0007] In some cases, the wrapping material circumscribes the
aerosolizable material.
[0008] In some cases, the aerosolizable material comprises
tobacco.
[0009] In some cases, the aerosolizable material is a rod of
aerosolizable material.
[0010] In some cases, the non-combustible material comprises a
metal foil. For instance, the metal foil may comprise aluminum.
[0011] In some cases, the wrapping material extends from the first
end of the aerosolizable material and over about 20% to about 70%
of the distance to the second end of the aerosolizable
material.
[0012] In some cases, the wrapping material extends from the first
end of the aerosolizable material and over about 40% to about 65%
of the distance to the second end of the aerosolizable
material.
[0013] In some cases, the wrapping material extends from the first
end of the aerosolizable material and over about 50% to about 60%
of the distance to the second end of the aerosolizable
material.
[0014] In some cases, the aerosol generating article may further
comprise a filter and/or a cooling element. In some cases, the
cooling element may be arranged between the aerosolizable material
and the filter. In some cases, the filter may be arranged between
the aerosolizable material and the cooling element.
[0015] According to a second aspect, the disclosure provides an
aerosol generating assembly comprising a heater and an aerosol
generating article according to the first aspect of the invention.
In some cases, the aerosol generating assembly may be a tobacco
heating product (also known as a heat not burn device).
[0016] A further aspect of the disclosure provides a system
comprising an aerosol generating device and an aerosol generating
article according to the first aspect.
[0017] A further aspect of the disclosure provides a process for
making an aerosol generating article comprising wrapping an
aerosolizable material in a wrapping material, wherein the wrapping
material comprises a non-combustible material and the wrapping
material extends from a first end of the aerosolizable material and
over about 10% to about 85% of the distance to a second end of the
aerosolizable material.
[0018] A further aspect of the disclosure provides a method of
preventing a user igniting or burning an aerosolizable material in
an aerosol generating article, the method comprising wrapping the
aerosolizable material in a wrapping material, wherein the wrapping
material comprises a non-combustible material and the wrapping
material extends from a first end of the aerosolizable material and
over about 10% to about 85% of the distance to a second end of the
aerosolizable material.
[0019] To the extent that they are compatible, features of the
invention described in the context of one aspect as explicitly
disclosed in combination with each other aspect.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0020] Further features and advantages of the disclosure will
become apparent from the following figures and description of
examples of the invention (which are given by way of example only
and do not place any limitation on the scope of the claims).
[0021] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a side view of an aerosol
generating article according to an example of the disclosure.
[0022] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a first end view of an
aerosol generating article according to an example of the
disclosure.
[0023] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a first end view of a
different aerosol generating article according to an example of the
disclosure.
[0024] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a side view of an aerosol
generating article according to an example of the disclosure.
[0025] FIG. 5 is an exploded schematic diagram of a wrapping
material that may be used in some examples.
[0026] FIG. 6 is an exploded schematic diagram of a wrapping
material that may be used in some examples.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0027] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of an example aerosol
generating article. The aerosol generating article 101 includes an
aerosolizable material 103 which is wrapped by a non-combustible
material 102 from a first end of the aerosolizable material. In
this example, the non-combustible material 102 extends over
approximately 50% of the distance to the second end of the
aerosolizable material.
[0028] In some cases, the wrapper may extend from the first end of
the aerosolizable material over at least about 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%
or 50% of the distance to the second end of the aerosolizable
material.
[0029] A consideration when preparing an aerosol generating
articles (such as tobacco heating products) is that they should not
produce an acceptable smoking experience if the aerosolizable
material is combusted, so that the user is not minded to burn the
aerosolizable material. This is because the formulation of the
aerosolizable material is not configured for combustion (and the
aerosol that results from combustion may be less suitable for
inhalation than the aerosol that results from heating but not
burning that aerosolizable material, or than the aerosol which
results from combustion of traditional cigarettes).
[0030] In use, the second end of the aerosolizable material is the
mouth-end and the first end is the distal-end. (Accordingly, the
second end may be alternatively referred to herein as the
mouth-end, and the first end may alternatively be referred to
herein as the distal-end.) Wrapping the distal-end of the
aerosolizable material (i.e. the end that a user would attempt to
ignite) in a non-combustible material prevents the aerosolizable
material in the aerosol generating article from being burned and
smoked as a conventional combustible cigarette. The inventors have
established that the propensity to burn decreases as the proportion
of aerosolizable material that is wrapped in a non-combustible
material increases.
[0031] In some examples, the non-combustible wrapping material may
be arranged around the circumference of the tobacco material.
Optionally, the non-combustible wrapping material may also be
arranged over the first end of the aerosolizable material, so that
the first end is completely enclosed in the wrapping material. FIG.
2 illustrates an example in which the non-combustible material 102
is wrapped around the circumference of the aerosolizable material.
The first end of the aerosol generating article 101 is not covered
by the non-combustible material. FIG. 3 illustrates an alternative
example of an aerosol generating article 101 in which the
non-combustible material 102 completely encloses the first end of
the aerosol generating article.
[0032] As used herein, the phrase "non-combustible" refers to a
material that will not ignite or burn at temperatures normally
associated with lighting (igniting) or burning of tobacco.
[0033] In some cases, the wrapper extends from the first end of the
aerosolizable material over less than about 85%, 80%, 75%, 70%, 65%
or 60% of the distance to the second end of the aerosolizable
material.
[0034] Non-combustible materials may be more expensive than
traditional tobacco wrapping materials such as paper. Therefore, it
may be beneficial to use as little as possible, whilst balancing
the need for a low propensity to burn.
[0035] Additionally, non-combustible materials are typically more
difficult to use in manufacture than traditional tobacco wrapping
materials, such as paper. For example, the inventors have
established that non-combustible materials may be harder to cut
than paper; this may influence the method of manufacture of the
aerosolizable material, where (a) lengths of aerosolizable
materials may be cut from a longer body, and (b) ventilation holes
are provided in the wrapping material.
[0036] The inventors have established that wrapping 10-85% of the
length of the aerosolizable material, the wrapper extending from
the first end, satisfies these various competing requirements.
[0037] In some cases, the wrapping material may extend from the
first end of the aerosolizable material and over about 20-70%,
40-65% or 50-60% of the distance to the second end of the
aerosolizable material.
[0038] Examples of the aerosol generating article may additionally
comprise further comprising a filter and/or a cooling element. In
some cases, these additional components are circumscribed by a
paper wrapper which also circumscribes the aerosolizable material.
In such cases, a portion of the aerosolizable material is wrapped
in a paper wrapper in addition to the wrapping material comprising
a non-combustible material, and the paper wrapper may overlie or
underlie the wrapping material comprising a non-combustible
material.
[0039] For example, the second end (i.e. the mouth-end) of the
aerosolizable material may be provided adjacent to a cooling
element and/or a filter. A cooling element, if present, allows
vapor components to condense to form an aerosol and/or spaces the
very hot parts of the apparatus from the user. A filter, if
present, may remove components from the fluid flow, affecting the
chemical composition of the inhaled aerosol.
[0040] FIG. 4 illustrates an example of an aerosol generating
article 101 which includes, in addition to the features of FIG. 1,
a cooling element 104, a filter 105 and a mouth-end tube 106. The
cooling element 104 and filter 105, as illustrated, may be arranged
between the mouth-end of the aerosolizable material 103 and the
mouth-end tube 106, so that flow from the aerosolizable material
103 passes through the cooling element 104 and filter 105 (or vice
versa if the filter is arranged before the cooling element in the
flow) before reaching the user. Although the example in FIG. 4
illustrates a cooling element 104, a filter 105 and a mouth-end
tube 106, one or more of these elements may be omitted in other
examples.
[0041] In some examples, the mouth-end tube, if present, 106 may be
formed of for example paper, for example in the form of a spirally
wound paper tube, cellulose acetate, cardboard, crimped paper, such
as crimped heat resistant paper or crimped parchment paper, and/or
polymeric materials, such as low density polyethylene (LDPE), or
some other suitable material. The mouth-end tube 106 may be a
hollow tube. Such a hollow tube may provide a filtering function to
filter volatilized aerosolizable material. The mouth-end tube 106
may be elongate, in order to be spaced from the very hot part(s) of
the main apparatus (not shown) that heats the aerosolizable
material.
[0042] In some examples, the filter 105, if present, may be a
filter plug, and may be made, for example, from cellulose
acetate.
[0043] In some cases, the cooling element 104, if present, may
comprise a monolithic rod having first and second ends and
comprising plural through holes extending between the first and
second ends. The through holes may extend substantially parallel to
the central longitudinal axis of the rod. The through holes of the
cooling element 104 may be arranged generally radially of the
element when viewed in lateral cross-section. That is, in an
example, the element has internal walls which define the through
holes and which have two main configurations, namely radial walls
and central walls. The radial walls extend along radii of the
cross-section of the element and the central walls are centered on
the center of the cross-section of the element. The central walls
in one example are circular, though other regular or irregular
cross-sectional shapes may be used. Likewise, the cross-section of
the element in one example is circular, though other regular or
irregular cross-sectional shapes may be used.
[0044] In an example, the majority of the through holes have a
hexagonal or generally hexagonal cross-sectional shape. In this
example, the element has what might be termed a "honeycomb"
structure when viewed from one end.
[0045] In some cases, the cooling element 104 may comprise a hollow
tube which spaces the filter 105, if present, from the very hot
part(s) of the main apparatus that heats the aerosolizable
material. The cooling element 104 may be formed of for example
paper, for example in the form of a spirally wound paper tube,
cellulose acetate, cardboard, crimped paper, such as crimped heat
resistant paper or crimped parchment paper, and polymeric
materials, such as low density polyethylene (LDPE), or some other
suitable material.
[0046] The cooling element 104, if present, may be substantially
incompressible. It may be formed of a ceramic material, or of a
polymer, for example a thermoplastic polymer, which may be an
extrudable plastics material. In an example, the porosity of the
element is in the range 60% to 75%. The porosity in this sense may
be a measure of the percentage of the lateral cross-sectional area
of the element occupied by the through holes. In an example, the
porosity of the element is around 69% to 70%.
[0047] Other examples of aerosol-cooling element are disclosed in
PCT/GB2015/051253, the entirety of which is hereby expressly
incorporated by reference, in particular in FIGS. 1 to 8 and the
description from page 8, line 11 to page 18, line 16.
[0048] In further examples, the cooling element 104 may be formed
from a sheet material that is folded, crimped or pleated to form
through holes. The sheet material may be made, for example, from
metal such as aluminum; polymeric plastics material such as
polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, or
polyvinyl chloride; or paper.
[0049] In some examples, the cooling element 104 and the filter 105
may be held together by a wrapper paper to form an assembly. The
assembly may then be joined to the aerosolizable material by a
further wrapper which circumscribes the assembly and at least the
mouth end of the aerosolizable material to form the aerosol
generating article 101. In other examples, the aerosol generating
article 101 is formed by wrapping the cooling element 104, the
filter 105 and the aerosolizable material 103 effectively in one
operation, with no separate tipping paper being provided for the
cooling element and/or filter components (if present).
[0050] In some cases, one or more ventilation apertures may be
formed in the article. The ventilation apertures may provide
airflow into the article during use which forms part of the inhaled
aerosol. It may be desirable to reduce airflow over the distal-end
of the aerosolizable material to reduce the propensity to burn, and
so the apertures may be formed nearer to the mouth-end than to the
distal-end. For example, the ventilation holes may be formed in the
cooling element and/or filter, if present. Moreover, the
ventilation holes may be formed in a part of the article that is
not wrapped in the non-combustible material. The inventors have
established that cutting the non-combustible material to form
ventilation apertures may not be straightforward.
[0051] The aerosolizable material may be a rod of aerosolizable
material. As used herein, the term "rod" generally refers to an
elongate body which may be any suitable shape for use in an aerosol
generating assembly. In some cases, the rod is substantially
cylindrical.
[0052] In some cases, the aerosolizable material comprises tobacco.
The tobacco may be any suitable solid tobacco, such as single
grades or blends, cut rag or whole leaf, ground tobacco, tobacco
fiber, cut tobacco, extruded tobacco, tobacco stem and/or
reconstituted tobacco. The tobacco may be of any type including,
without limitation, Virginia and/or Burley and/or Oriental
tobacco.
[0053] In use, in some cases, the aerosol generating article may be
arranged at least partially within a heating device to form an
aerosol generating assembly which heats the article to generate an
aerosol without burning. In some other cases, the article may be
provided in an assembly with a fuel source, such as a combustible
fuel source or chemical heat source, which heats but does not burn
the aerosolizable material.
[0054] Wrapping Materials Comprising a Non-Combustible Material
[0055] In some cases, the non-combustible material comprises a
metal foil. In some cases, it may consist essentially of or consist
of a metal foil. Suitably, the metal foil may comprise, essentially
consist of or consist of an aluminum foil. The metal foil is a
non-combustible material that can nevertheless act to conduct heat
to the aerosolizable material in use.
[0056] In some cases, the metal foil may be less than about 100
.mu.m, 50 .mu.m, 20 .mu.m, 10 .mu.m or 8 .mu.m thick. In some
cases, it may be more than about 1 .mu.m, 3 .mu.m or 5 .mu.m
thick.
[0057] In some cases, the aerosolizable material may be wrapped in
more than one wrapping material. That is, in addition to the
wrapping material comprising a non-aerosolizable material, the
aerosolizable material may be wrapped in one or more further
materials. These one or more further wrapping material(s) may cover
more or less of the aerosolizable material than the wrapping
material comprising a non-combustible material.
[0058] In some cases, the one or more further wrapping material(s)
may circumscribe other components of the aerosol generating article
(in addition to the wrapping material) as noted above.
[0059] In some cases, one or more further wrapping material(s) may
comprise paper that may overlie and/or underlie the non-combustible
wrapping material.
[0060] In some cases, the wrapping material that comprises a
non-combustible material may be a laminate material. In some cases,
the laminate material may comprise 2, 3, 4 or more layers.
[0061] Suitable laminate materials may comprise a paper layer and a
metal foil layer (such as an aluminum foil layer). In some cases,
the laminate material may consist of two layers, such as a paper
layer and a metal foil layer.
[0062] As used herein, the term "laminate structure" refers to a
multi-layer structure in which the layers are fastened together to
form a single body. The layers may be fastened with an adhesive,
for example. In other examples, the layers may be fastened by
static interaction. In other examples, the laminate structure might
be formed by (partially) melting a first layer, contacting the
first layer with a second layer and allowing the first layer to
solidify. Any suitable mechanism for fastening the layers together
including, but not limited to, the above examples, tying, sewing,
screwing, nailing, bolting, hooking, etc., may be employed to form
the laminate structure.
[0063] In some cases, an adhesive may coat the surface of each
layer. In other cases, an adhesive may be applied only to the
periphery of the layers. In some cases, each layer in the laminate
structure may be fastened to the adjacent layer(s). In some example
laminate structures, the periphery of two layers may be fastened
together with intermediate layers trapped in-between.
[0064] In some cases, the laminate wrapping material may comprise
an inner layer comprising a metal foil and an outer layer
comprising paper. FIG. 6 illustrates such an example. The laminate
structure (indicated by dotted lines) an inner layer 502 and an
outer layer 501. In some cases, the laminate wrapping material may
consist of these two layers.
[0065] In some cases, the laminate wrapping material may comprise
innermost and outermost layers that comprise paper, and an
intermediate metal foil layer. FIG. 5 illustrates such an example.
The laminate structure (indicated by dotted lines) includes the
peripheral layers 501,503 and the intermediate layer 502. In some
cases, the laminate wrapping material may consist of these three
layers.
[0066] Wrapping the aerosolizable material in both a metal foil
layer and a paper layer, suitably a laminate wrapper as described
above, provides the desired non-combustibility. Additionally, the
porosity of such wrapping is low, limiting the flow of side-stream
air to the tobacco, further reducing the propensity to burn.
[0067] Moreover, the inventors have established that having an
outer layer that comprises paper (and, in some cases, also having
an innermost layer that comprises paper) may be beneficial because
the laminate surface(s) then have a coefficient of friction of that
paper. This means that the laminate wrapper can be more readily
used in known cigarette manufacturing processes and machines. The
laminate surfaces having a coefficient of friction equivalent to
that of a cigarette paper allows the garniture belt of an aerosol
generating article making machine to drive the laminate wrapper
through the garniture during the aerosol generating article
manufacturing process.
[0068] The inventors have further established that having paper in
the innermost layer may be beneficial because it can act as a
flavor carrier. That is, in some cases, the innermost layer of the
laminate wrapping material comprises paper and a flavorant which is
transferred to the aerosolizable material when wrapped around the
aerosolizable material and heated. In some cases, the flavorant is
impregnated into the paper in the innermost layer. In some cases,
the flavorant may comprise menthol.
[0069] Paper in the laminate wrapping materials described herein
may have a basis weight of at least about 10 gm.sup.-2, 15
gm.sup.-2, 20 gm.sup.-2 or 25 gm.sup.-2 to about 50 gm.sup.-2, 45
gm.sup.-2, 40 gm.sup.-2 or 35 gm.sup.-2. Paper having a density in
this range has a low porosity, which further reduces the propensity
to burn through limiting the oxygen levels at the aerosolizable
material.
[0070] The paper may be treated with one or more burn-retardant
substances.
[0071] The laminate material can be wound onto a bobbin core for
use with standard cigarette makers that are fed from a single paper
bobbin.
[0072] The laminate material may be formed using any suitable
lamination technique. In one example, the layers may be adhered
together.
[0073] The above examples are to be understood as illustrative
examples of the invention. It is to be understood that any feature
described in relation to any one example may be used alone, or in
combination with other features described, and may also be used in
combination with one or more features of any other of the examples,
or any combination of any other of the examples. Furthermore,
equivalents and modifications not described above may also be
employed without departing from the scope of the invention, which
is defined in the accompanying claims.
* * * * *