CN118139542A

CN118139542A - Article for use with a non-combustible sol providing device

Info

Publication number: CN118139542A
Application number: CN202280055397.7A
Authority: CN
Inventors: S·霍尔福德
Original assignee: Nico Investment Trading Co ltd
Current assignee: Nico Investment Trading Co ltd
Priority date: 2021-06-22
Filing date: 2022-06-20
Publication date: 2024-06-04
Also published as: US20240358065A1; EP4358754A1; KR20240019156A; GB202108939D0; WO2022269241A1; JP2024522857A

Abstract

An article for use with a non-combustible sol providing device is disclosed. The article comprises: a mouth end segment received in a mouth of a user; an aerosol-generating material configured to generate an aerosol when the article is received in the device and a user draws on the mouth end segment; and a tubular cooling segment having a longitudinal axis and being located between the aerosol-generating material and the mouth-end segment through which the aerosol flows toward the mouth-end segment. The tubular cooling segment includes a ventilation zone through which air is drawn into the tubular cooling segment, and the ventilation zone is configured such that a swirling flow is generated by air entering the tubular cooling segment through the ventilation zone.

Description

Article for use with a non-combustible sol providing device

Technical Field

The following relates to an article for use with a non-combustible sol providing device, a filter assembly forming part of such an article, a non-combustible sol providing system, and a method of manufacturing an article according to the invention.

Background

Some tobacco industry products produce aerosols that are inhaled by the user. For example, a tobacco heating device heats an aerosol-generating material, such as tobacco, without burning the material to form an aerosol. A tobacco industry product of this type may include a mouthpiece through which the aerosol is drawn into the mouth of the user.

Disclosure of Invention

According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided an article for use with a non-combustible sol providing device, the article comprising: a mouth end segment received in a mouth of a user; an aerosol-generating material configured to generate an aerosol when the article is received in the device and a user draws on the mouth end segment; a tubular cooling segment having a longitudinal axis and being located between the aerosol-generating material and the mouth-end segment through which the aerosol flows toward the mouth-end segment; wherein the tubular cooling segment comprises a ventilation zone through which air is drawn into the tubular cooling segment, the ventilation zone being configured such that a swirling flow is generated by the air entering the tubular cooling segment through the ventilation zone.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided an article for use with a non-combustible sol providing device, the article comprising: a mouth end segment received in a mouth of a user; an aerosol-generating material configured to generate an aerosol when the article is received in the device and a user draws on the mouth end segment; a tubular cooling segment having a longitudinal axis and being located between the aerosol-generating material and the mouth-end segment through which the aerosol flows toward the mouth-end segment; wherein the tubular cooling segment includes a venting area through which air is drawn into the tubular cooling segment, the venting area being configured such that air is drawn into the tubular cooling segment through the venting area at an angle non-perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the tubular cooling segment.

The venting region may comprise a hole in the tubular cooling section.

Alternatively, the venting region may comprise a plurality of holes spaced from each other around the circumference of the tubular cooling section.

The plenum region may include a plurality of rows of holes, each row may be spaced from its adjacent row in a direction extending along the longitudinal axis of the tubular cooling segment.

The rows of holes may be configured to generate opposing swirling flows within the tubular cooling segment.

Alternatively, the tubular cooling segment may have an inner surface, and the at least one aperture may extend into the tubular cooling segment at a tangent to the inner surface.

The tubular cooling segment may have an inner surface and the at least one aperture may extend into the tubular cooling segment in a direction parallel to and offset from a tangent to the inner surface and parallel to a line where the tangent intersects the longitudinal axis of the tubular cooling segment.

The at least one aperture may be configured such that air entering the tubular cooling section flows from the aerosol-generating material towards the mouth-end section in a direction opposite to the aerosol flow.

The at least one aperture may be configured such that air entering the tubular cooling section flows from the aerosol-generating material towards the mouth-end section in the same direction as the aerosol flow.

The at least one aperture may taper in a direction into the tubular cooling section.

Alternatively, the at least one aperture may be at least one slot.

The at least one groove may have a major dimension that may extend in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the tubular cooling section.

The at least one groove may have a major dimension that may extend in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tubular cooling segment.

The at least one groove may have a major dimension that may extend in an angled direction between a position where a major dimension of the at least one groove extends in a direction of the longitudinal axis of the tubular cooling section and a position where a major dimension of the at least one groove extends in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tubular cooling section.

Alternatively, the tubular cooling segments may be formed from a fibrous material.

Alternatively, the fibrous material may be a filiform tow.

The filamentous tow may be cellulose acetate.

Alternatively, the fibrous material may comprise paper.

Alternatively, the article may comprise a filter segment located between the tubular cooling segment and the mouth end segment.

The filter segments may comprise a filamentary tow, such as cellulose acetate.

The article may comprise an elongate filter segment rather than a mouth end segment.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided an article for use with a non-combustible sol providing device, the article comprising: a mouth end segment received in a mouth of a user; an aerosol-generating material configured to generate an aerosol when the article is received in the device and a user draws on the mouth end segment; a tubular cooling segment having a longitudinal axis and being located between the aerosol-generating material and the mouth end segment through which the aerosol flows before passing through the mouth end segment; wherein the tubular cooling segment comprises a venting area through which air is drawn into the tubular cooling segment, the venting area comprising at least one slot in the tubular cooling segment.

The at least one slot may extend through the tubular cooling section perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the tubular cooling section.

Alternatively, the venting region may comprise a plurality of venting grooves equally spaced from each other around the circumference of the tubular cooling section.

The plenum region may include a plurality of rows of slots, each row may be spaced from its adjacent row in a direction extending along the longitudinal axis of the tubular cooling segment.

The at least one slot may be configured such that air entering the tubular cooling section flows from the aerosol-generating material towards the mouth-end section in a direction opposite to the aerosol flow.

The at least one slot may be configured such that air entering the tubular cooling section flows from the aerosol-generating material towards the mouth-end section in the same direction as the aerosol flow.

The at least one groove may comprise a flap.

Alternatively, the petals may extend at an angle into the tubular cooling segment and may be configured to deflect the aerosol flow through the tubular cooling segment.

The at least one slot may be configured such that a swirling flow is generated within the tubular cooling segment.

The rows of slots may be configured to generate opposing swirling flows within the tubular cooling segment.

The tubular cooling segment may have an inner surface and the at least one groove may extend into the tubular cooling segment at a tangent to the inner surface.

The tubular cooling segment may have an inner surface and the at least one groove may extend into the tubular cooling segment along a line parallel to and offset from a tangent to the inner surface and parallel to a line where the tangent intersects the longitudinal axis of the tubular cooling segment.

The tubular cooling segments may be formed from a fibrous material.

The fibrous material may be a filiform tow.

The filamentous tow may be cellulose acetate.

The fibrous material may comprise paper.

The tubular cooling segment may include an inner surface, and the at least one slot may extend partially through the tubular cooling segment toward the inner surface.

Alternatively, at least one groove may stop at a distance between 0.1mm and 1mm from the inner surface difference.

The article may include a filter segment located between the tubular cooling segment and the mouth end segment.

The filter segments may comprise a filamentary tow, such as cellulose acetate.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a filter assembly for attachment to a rod of aerosol generating material to form the article described above.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a system comprising a non-combustible sol providing device and the above-described article.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of manufacturing the above-described article comprising configuring the ventilation zone such that when a user draws on the mouth end segment, a swirling flow is generated in the tubular cooling segment.

Drawings

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional side view of an article according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view of an article according to another embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are cross-sectional end views of a tubular cooling segment taken along line A-A through the venting area of the article shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 2;

Fig. 4A is a cross-sectional side view of an article according to another embodiment of the invention, with a vent in a first orientation.

Fig. 4B is a cross-sectional side view of an article according to another embodiment of the invention, with the vent in a second orientation.

FIG. 5A is a side view of a portion of an article according to another embodiment of the invention, wherein the vent is a slot, the slot being in a first orientation;

FIG. 5B is a side view of a portion of an article according to another embodiment of the invention, wherein the vent is a slot, the slot being in a second orientation;

FIG. 6 is a side view of a tubular cooling segment according to another embodiment of the present invention, wherein the ventilation slots include petals.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional end view of a tubular cooling segment taken through a venting area of an article in accordance with another embodiment of the invention; and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a non-combustible sol providing device for generating an aerosol from the aerosol-generating material of the article of fig. 1 to 7.

Detailed Description

According to the present disclosure, a non-combustible aerosol provision system is an aerosol provision system in which the constituent aerosol-generating materials (or components thereof) of the aerosol provision system are not combusted or incinerated in order to facilitate delivery of at least one substance to a user.

In some embodiments, the non-combustible sol providing system is an energized non-combustible sol providing system, and the non-combustible sol providing device for use with the non-combustible sol providing system is an electronic cigarette, also referred to as a vaporization device or electronic nicotine delivery system (END), although the presence of nicotine in the aerosol generating material is not required.

In some embodiments, the non-combustible sol providing system is an aerosol-generating material heating system, also referred to as a non-incinerating heating system. An example of such a system is a tobacco heating system.

In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision system is a hybrid system to generate an aerosol using a combination of aerosol-generating materials, one or more of which may be heated. Each of the aerosol-generating materials may be, for example, in the form of a solid, liquid or gel, and may or may not comprise nicotine. In some embodiments, the mixing system comprises a liquid or gel aerosol-generating material and a solid aerosol-generating material. The solid aerosol-generating material may comprise, for example, a tobacco or non-tobacco product.

In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a consumable comprising an aerosol-generating material. The consumable is configured for use with the non-combustible sol providing device of the invention. Throughout this disclosure, these consumables are generally referred to as articles.

In some embodiments, the non-combustible sol providing device of the non-combustible sol providing system of the invention may include a power source and a controller. The power source may be, for example, an electrical power source or a exothermic power source. In some embodiments, the exothermic power source comprises a carbon substrate that can be energized to distribute power in the form of heat to the aerosol-generating material or a heat transfer material proximate to the exothermic power source.

In some embodiments, the non-combustible sol providing device includes a region for receiving an article, such as an aperture into which the article may be inserted for use with the device.

The article of the invention comprises an aerosol-generating material. An aerosol-generating material is a material that is capable of generating an aerosol (e.g., when heated, irradiated, or energized in any other manner). The aerosol-generating material may for example be in the form of a solid, liquid or gel, which may or may not contain an active substance and/or a flavouring agent. In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material may comprise an "amorphous solid," which may alternatively be referred to as a "monolithic solid" (i.e., non-fibrous). In some embodiments, the amorphous solid may be a xerogel. An amorphous solid is a solid material that can retain some fluid, such as a liquid, therein. In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material may comprise from about 50wt%, 60wt%, or 70wt% amorphous solids to about 90wt%, 95wt%, or 100wt% amorphous solids, for example.

The aerosol-generating material may comprise one or more active substances and/or flavours, one or more aerosol precursor materials, and optionally one or more other functional materials.

In the drawings described herein, like reference numerals are used to describe equivalent features, objects or components.

Fig. 1 shows an article 1 according to an embodiment of the invention. The article 1 comprises a rod of aerosol-generating material 2 at a distal end, and a mouth end segment 3 at an opposite or proximal end. The tubular cooling section 4 is located between the aerosol-generating material 2 and the mouth end section 3 and has an inner surface 5. The aerosol-generating material 2, the tubular cooling section 4 and the mouth-end section 3 are longitudinally aligned along the longitudinal axis X-X of the article 1.

The aerosol-generating material 2 may comprise an aerosol precursor material, such as glycerol. In alternative examples, the aerosol precursor material may be another material as described herein or a combination thereof. It has been found that aerosol precursor materials improve the organoleptic properties of the article 1 by helping to transfer compounds (such as flavour compounds) from the aerosol-generating substance 2 to the consumer. However, problems with adding such aerosol precursor materials to the aerosol generating substance 2 within the article 1 for use in a non-combustible aerosol provision system may be: this may increase the mass of aerosol delivered by the article 1 when the aerosol-generating material 2 is atomized upon heating. This increased mass can maintain a higher temperature as it passes through the mouth end segment 3. As the mass passes through the mouth end segment 3, the aerosol transfers heat into the mouth end segment 3 and this heats the outer surface of the mouth end segment 3, including the area that contacts the user's lips during use. The mouth end segment temperature and/or aerosol temperature may be higher than a temperature that a user may be accustomed to when smoking, for example, a conventional cigarette. It is therefore desirable to reduce the temperature of the aerosol to prevent the mouth end segment 3 from becoming hotter than normal.

In an embodiment of the invention, the tubular cooling segment 4 comprises a venting area 7 through which air is drawn into the tubular cooling segment 4. The air drawn into the tubular cooling section 4 through the ventilation zone 7 mixes with the aerosol generated by the aerosol-generating material 2 and acts to cool the aerosol as it travels towards the mouth end section 3, thereby reducing the temperature of the mouth end section 3. Along the length of the tubular cooling section 4, the ventilation zone 7 may be located closer to the mouth end section 3 than the aerosol-generating material 3.

As seen in fig. 1, the aerosol-generating material 2 is wrapped in a wrapper 8. The tubular cooling segment 4 and the mouth end segment 3 are wrapped in plug wrap 9. The tipping paper 10 connects the aerosol-generating material 2 with the tubular cooling segment 4 and the mouth end segment 3. The tipping paper 10 covers both the tubular cooling segment 2 and the mouth end segment 3 and extends over a portion of the aerosol-generating material 2.

As shown in fig. 2, an embodiment of the article 1 may further comprise a filter segment 11, the filter segment 11 being located between the tubular cooling segment 4 and the mouth end segment 3. The filter segment 11 may be formed from a filamentary tow, and optionally the filamentary tow is cellulose acetate. In this arrangement the aerosol-generating substance 2 is wrapped in the wrapper 8 and the filter segment 11 is wrapped in the first plug wrap 12. The tubular cooling section 4, the wrapped filter section 11 and the mouth end section 3 are wrapped in a second plug wrap 9. The tipping paper 10 connects the aerosol-generating material 2 with the tubular cooling segment 4, the filter segment 11 and the mouth end segment 3. The tipping paper 10 covers the tubular cooling segment 4, the filter segment 11, and the mouth end segment 3 and extends over a portion of the aerosol-generating material 2. Furthermore, the article 1 may comprise a longer filter segment 11 instead of the mouth end segment 3. In this embodiment, the article 1 comprises an aerosol-generating substrate 2, a tubular cooling section 4 and a filter section 11. The filter segment 11 is elongated to fill the space left by the lack of the mouth end segment 3.

Fig. 3A and 3B show a cross-sectional view of the tubular cooling segment 4 taken along the line A-A in each of fig. 1 and 2. In some embodiments, the tubular cooling segments 4 may be formed of a fibrous material such as paper (fig. 3A). If the tubular cooling section 4 is formed of a fibrous material, the fibrous material may also be a filiform tow, optionally cellulose acetate. The wall thickness of the tubular cooling section 4 may be larger (as shown in fig. 3B) than if the tubular cooling section 4 were made of paper (as shown in fig. 3A) or of some other material if the tubular cooling section 4 were formed of a filiform tow.

If the tubular cooling section 4 is formed of any material having a degree of breathability, the venting area 7 may not extend all the way through the tubular cooling section 4, but may stop short of reaching the inner surface 5 of the tubular cooling section 4, such that air passing through the venting area 7 diffuses through the tubular cooling section 4 before entering the tubular passage in the tubular cooling section 4 and mixing with aerosol passing through the tubular cooling section 4. Such embodiments are described in more detail below with reference to fig. 5.

The venting area 7 may comprise at least one vent hole 13 in the tubular cooling section 4. As shown in fig. 3A and 3B, the venting area comprises four venting holes 13 equally spaced around the circumference of the tubular cooling section 4. It will be appreciated that the venting area 7 may comprise any number of holes 13 spaced from each other at any distance around the circumference of the tubular cooling section 4. The venting area 7 may further comprise one or more rows of holes 13 extending into the tubular cooling section 4 and arranged circumferentially around the tubular cooling section 4. Each row may be spaced from its adjacent row in a direction along the longitudinal axis X-X of the tubular cooling section 4.

The holes 13 may extend through the tubular cooling section 4 in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X-X of the tubular cooling section 4. However, it is contemplated that the holes 13 may also extend through the tubular cooling section 4 at an angle to the longitudinal axis X-X such that air enters the tubular cooling section 4 through the holes 13 in a direction that is angled toward the longitudinal axis, but toward the distal end of the article 1, or toward the mouth end section 3.

As shown in fig. 3A and 3B, each hole extends into the tubular cooling section 4 such that air entering the tubular cooling section 4 generates a swirling flow within the tubular cooling section 4, as indicated by arrow S in fig. 3A and 3B. This swirling flow promotes mixing of the air entering the tubular cooling section 4 through the holes 13 with the aerosol travelling through the tubular cooling section 4 in the longitudinal direction along the axis X-X of the tubular cooling section 4.

In order to generate a swirling flow, the holes 13 are preferably positioned such that the air enters the tubular cooling section 4 at or near a tangent to the inner surface 5 of the tubular cooling section 4. Thus, air entering the tubular cooling section 4 through the holes 13 is caused to sweep around the tubular passage near the inner surface 5, thereby creating a vortex within the tubular cooling section 4, which promotes mixing. The improved mixing conditions created within the tubular cooling section 4 by the generated vortices increase the cooling of the aerosol generated by the aerosol-generating material 2 before it reaches the mouth end section 3. Thus, the temperature of the mouth end segment 3 will decrease.

It will be appreciated that air need not enter the tubular cooling section 4 at a tangent to the inner surface 5 of the tubular cooling section 4, but may also enter along a path that is parallel to and offset from both the tangent and a line intersecting the longitudinal axis X-X of the tubular cooling section 4. As shown in fig. 3A, the offset distance of the holes 13 from the line Y-Y, which is parallel and extends through the axis X-X, is close to the maximum value, and at this maximum value the holes 13 almost form a tangent to the inner surface 5 of the tubular cooling segment 4. Dashed arrow 14 in fig. 3A shows a potential alternative position of the aperture 13 between the tangential position and line Y-Y. It will be appreciated that the closer the holes are positioned to the line Y-Y, the less swirling effect will be generated.

Fig. 4A and 4B show another embodiment of the article 1. In fig. 4A, the ventilation holes 7 are configured such that air entering the tubular cooling section 4 flows in a direction opposite to the aerosol flow as it flows from the aerosol-generating material 2to the mouth end section 3. This is achieved by the ventilation aperture 7, the ventilation aperture 7 extending in an angular direction towards the aerosol-generating material. In fig. 4B, the ventilation holes are configured such that air entering the tubular cooling section 4 flows in the same direction as the aerosol flow as it flows from the aerosol-generating material 2to the mouth end section 3. This is achieved by the ventilation aperture 7, the ventilation aperture 7 extending in an angular direction towards the mouth end segment 3.

In some embodiments, the ventilation holes 7 may taper in a direction extending into the tubular cooling section 4. In other words, the diameter of each hole 13 at the outer surface of the tubular cooling section 4 may be larger than the diameter of the hole 13 at the inner surface 5 of the tubular cooling section 4.

In embodiments including multiple rows of holes 13, the multiple rows of holes 13 may be configured to create opposite swirling effects within the tubular cooling segment 4. For example, the first row of holes 13 may be configured to generate a clockwise swirl within the tubular cooling section 4, while the second row of holes 13 may be configured to generate a counter-clockwise swirl within the tubular cooling section 4.

The vent hole 13 may be of any shape or size and may be cylindrical. In some other embodiments, the aperture 13 is a slot 13. The slot 13 may have a major dimension extending in a longitudinal direction along the axis X-X of the tubular cooling section 4, as shown in the side view of the portion of the proximal end of the article shown in fig. 5A. Alternatively, the slot 13 may have a major dimension extending in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X-X of the tubular cooling section 4, as shown in a side view of a portion of the proximal end of the article shown in fig. 5B. Furthermore, the major dimension of the groove 13 may extend in an angular direction between a minimum at which the major dimension of the groove 13 extends in a longitudinal direction along the axis X-X and a maximum at which the major dimension of the groove 13 extends in a direction perpendicular to the axis X-X. The slots 13 may be arranged circumferentially spaced from each other around the tubular cooling section 4. Furthermore, there may be one or more rows of slots 13 arranged circumferentially around the tubular cooling section 4, wherein each row is spaced from its adjacent row in a longitudinal direction along the axis X-X of the tubular cooling section 4. If the venting areas 7 are provided by slots 13, these slots may be offset in the same way as the holes 13 are offset in fig. 3A and 3B. Alternatively, the slots may extend radially towards the longitudinal axis X-X of the tubular cooling segment 4.

In embodiments including multiple rows of slots 13, the multiple rows of slots 13 may be configured to create opposite swirling effects within the tubular cooling segment 4. For example, the first row of slots 13 may be configured to generate a clockwise swirl within the tubular cooling section 4, while the second row of slots 13 may be configured to generate a counter-clockwise swirl within the tubular cooling section 4.

FIG. 6 illustrates a tubular cooling segment according to an embodiment of the present invention. The grooves 13 in the tubular cooling segment 4 comprise petals 17. The petals 17 extend at an angle into the tubular cooling section 4 and are configured to deflect the aerosol flowing through the tubular cooling section 4. For example, the petals 17 may extend at an angle into the tubular cooling segment 4 and in a direction towards the mouth end segment 3. Thus, the air sucked into the tubular cooling section 4 through the slots 13 flows in the same direction as the aerosol generated by the aerosol-generating material 2, which aerosol flows through the tubular cooling section 4 towards the mouth end section 3. Alternatively, the petals 17 may extend at an angle into the tubular cooling section 4 and in a direction towards the aerosol-generating material 2. Thus, the air sucked into the tubular cooling section 4 through the slots 13 flows in a direction opposite to the aerosol generated by the aerosol-generating material 2, which aerosol flows through the tubular cooling section 4 towards the mouth end section 3. It will be appreciated that the petals 17 may extend into the tubular cooling segment 4 at any angle. The presence of the petals 17 within the tubular cooling segment 4 may also promote mixing of aerosol generated by the aerosol-generating material 2 and ventilation air, as the flow of aerosol and air through the tubular cooling segment 4 is deflected by the petals 17. The petals 17 may be formed by cutting the slots 13 into the tubular cooling section 4 such that a portion of the cut material remains attached to the tubular cooling section 4. The petals 17 may be angled into the tubular cooling section 4 by mechanical means. Alternatively, the petals 17 may be angled into the tubular cooling section 4 via non-mechanical means (such as controlled blowing).

In any embodiment of the invention, the tubular cooling segment 4 may be formed of a material having a degree of breathability. For example, the tubular cooling segments 4 may be formed from a fibrous material such as paper. The fibrous material used to form the tubular cooling segments 4 may also be a filiform tow, optionally cellulose acetate.

The holes or slots 13 forming the venting area 7 may extend all the way through the wall of the tubular cooling section 4 into the tubular passage. However, if the tubular cooling section 4 is formed of a material having a degree of gas permeability, it is contemplated that the holes 13 may extend only partially through the wall of the tubular cooling section 4.

Referring to the cross-sectional view of fig. 7 through the venting area 7 of the tubular cooling segment 4, the tubular cooling segment 4 comprises a wall 15 separated by an inner surface 5 and an outer surface 16. Holes or slots 13 extend into the tubular cooling section 4 from the outer surface 16 towards the inner surface 5, but stop short of reaching the inner surface 5, so that air passing through the holes or slots 13 passes through the air permeable material of the tubular cooling section 4 into the passage extending through the tubular cooling section 4 to mix with aerosol passing through the passage. The ventilation holes or grooves 13 may end at a distance D ₂ from the inner surface 5 of the tubular cooling section 4. The distance D ₂ may be between 0.2 and 1 mm.

Since the holes or slots 13 stop short of reaching the inner surface 5 of the tubular cooling segment 4, for the distance D ₂, the air drawn into the tubular cooling segment 4 through the holes or slots 13 permeates through the material of the tubular cooling segment 4 and spreads or diverges around the circumference of the inner surface 5 of the tubular cooling segment 4. Thus, the inner surface 5 of the tubular cooling section 4 is more uniformly cooled and acts as a cooling blanket to cool the aerosol generated by the aerosol-generating material 2 as it passes along the tubular cooling section 4 towards the mouth end section 3.

Although the cross-section of fig. 7 shows an arrangement in which the holes or slots 13 are substantially aligned so as to direct air in a radial direction towards the longitudinal axis X-X of the tubular cooling section 4, it will be appreciated that the holes or slots may also be offset in addition to extending partially through the wall of the tubular cooling section 4, as previously described above with reference to fig. 3A and 3B.

Fig. 8 shows an example of a non-combustible sol providing device 100, the non-combustible sol providing device 100 being for generating an aerosol from an aerosol generating medium/material, such as the aerosol generating material 2 of the article 1 described herein. In general terms, the device 100 may be used to heat aerosol-generating material of the article 1 to generate an aerosol for inhalation by a user of the device 100. The device 100 and the object 1 together form a non-combustible sol providing system.

The device 100 includes a housing 102 (in the form of a casing), the housing 102 enclosing and containing the various components of the device 100. The device 100 has an opening 104 in one end through which the article 1 may be inserted for heating by a heating component (such as an induction heating component) within the device 100. In use, the article 1 may be fully or partially inserted into the opening 104 of the device, at which opening 104 the article 1 may be heated by one or more components of the heater assembly to generate an aerosol. The user places their lips around the mouth end segment 3 and sucks on the object 1. This causes the aerosol to flow through the device towards the mouth end segment 3 and into the mouth of the user.

The various embodiments described herein are presented solely to aid in the understanding and teaching of the features of the claims. These embodiments are provided as representative examples of embodiments only, and are not exhaustive and/or exclusive. It is to be understood that the advantages, embodiments, examples, functions, features, structures and/or other aspects described herein are not to be considered limiting the scope of the invention as defined by the claims or limiting equivalents of the claims, and that other embodiments may be utilized and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims. Various embodiments of the invention may suitably comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of, the appropriate combinations of the disclosed elements, components, features, parts, steps, means, and the like, in addition to those specifically described herein. In addition, the present disclosure may include other inventions not presently claimed but which may be claimed in the future.

Claims

1. An article for use with a non-combustible sol providing device, the article comprising:

A mouth end segment received in a mouth of a user;

An aerosol-generating material configured to generate an aerosol when the article is received in the device and a user draws on the mouth end segment;

a tubular cooling segment having a longitudinal axis and being located between the aerosol-generating material and the mouth-end segment through which the aerosol flows toward the mouth-end segment;

Wherein the tubular cooling segment comprises a ventilation zone through which air is drawn into the tubular cooling segment, the ventilation zone being configured such that a swirling flow is generated by air entering the tubular cooling segment through the ventilation zone.

2. An article for use with a non-combustible sol providing device, the article comprising:

A mouth end segment received in a mouth of a user;

wherein the tubular cooling segment includes a venting region through which air is drawn into the tubular cooling segment, the venting region configured such that the air is drawn into the tubular cooling segment through the venting region at an angle that is non-perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tubular cooling segment.

3. The article of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the venting region comprises a hole in the tubular cooling section.

4. The article of claim 3, wherein the venting area comprises a plurality of holes spaced from each other around a circumference of the tubular cooling section.

5. The article of claim 4, wherein the venting area comprises a plurality of rows of holes, each row being spaced from its adjacent row in a direction extending along the longitudinal axis of the tubular cooling section.

6. The article of claim 5, wherein the plurality of rows of holes are configured to generate opposing swirling flows within the tubular cooling segment.

7. An article according to any preceding claim, wherein the tubular cooling section has an inner surface and the at least one aperture extends into the tubular cooling section at a tangent to the inner surface.

8. The article of any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the tubular cooling section has an inner surface and the at least one aperture extends into the tubular cooling section in a direction that is parallel to and offset from a tangent to the inner surface and parallel to a line where the tangent intersects the longitudinal axis of the tubular cooling section.

9. An article according to any one of claims 3 to 5 when dependent on claim 2, wherein the at least one aperture is configured such that the air entering the tubular cooling section flows from the aerosol-generating material towards the mouth end section in a direction opposite to the aerosol flow.

10. An article according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the at least one aperture is configured such that the air entering the tubular cooling section flows from the aerosol-generating material towards the mouth-end section in the same direction as the aerosol flow.

11. The article of any one of claims 3 to 10, wherein the at least one aperture tapers in a direction into the tubular cooling section.

12. The article of any one of claims 3 to 11, wherein the at least one aperture is at least one slot.

13. The article of claim 12, wherein the at least one slot has a major dimension extending in a direction of the longitudinal axis of the tubular cooling segment.

14. The article of claim 12, wherein the at least one slot has a major dimension extending in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tubular cooling segment.

15. The article of claim 12, wherein the at least one slot has a major dimension extending in an angled direction between a location where the major dimension of the at least one slot extends in a direction of the longitudinal axis of the tubular cooling section and a location where the major dimension of the at least one slot extends in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tubular cooling section.

16. The article of any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the tubular cooling segments are formed from a fibrous material.

17. The article of claim 16, wherein the fibrous material is a filiform tow.

18. The article of claim 17, wherein the filamentary tow is cellulose acetate.

19. The article of claim 16, wherein the fibrous material comprises paper.

20. An article according to any preceding claim, comprising a filter segment located between the tubular cooling segment and the mouth end segment.

21. The article of claim 20, wherein the filter segments comprise a filiform tow, such as cellulose acetate.

22. An article according to claim 20 or claim 21, comprising an elongate filter segment instead of the mouth end segment.

23. An article for use with a non-combustible sol providing device, the article comprising:

A mouth end segment received in a mouth of a user;

a tubular cooling segment having a longitudinal axis and being located between the aerosol-generating material and the mouth end segment through which the aerosol flows before passing through the mouth end segment;

wherein the tubular cooling segment comprises a venting area through which air is drawn into the tubular cooling segment, the venting area comprising at least one slot in the tubular cooling segment.

24. The article of claim 23, wherein the at least one slot extends through the tubular cooling segment perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tubular cooling segment.

25. The article of claim 23 or claim 24, wherein the venting area comprises a plurality of venting grooves equally spaced from each other around a circumference of the tubular cooling section.

26. The article of claim 54, wherein the venting area comprises a plurality of rows of slots, each row being spaced from its adjacent row in a direction extending along the longitudinal axis of the tubular cooling section.

27. The article of any one of claims 23 to 26, wherein the at least one slot has a major dimension extending in a direction of the longitudinal axis of the tubular cooling section.

28. The article of any one of claims 23 to 26, wherein the at least one slot has a major dimension extending in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tubular cooling section.

29. The article of any one of claims 23 to 26, wherein the at least one slot has a major dimension extending in an angled direction between a position where the major dimension of the at least one slot extends in a direction of the longitudinal axis of the tubular cooling section and a position where the major dimension of the at least one slot extends in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tubular cooling section.

30. An article according to any one of claims 23 to 29, wherein the at least one slot is configured such that the air entering the tubular cooling section flows from the aerosol-generating material towards the mouth-end section in a direction opposite to the aerosol flow.

31. An article according to any one of claims 23 to 29, wherein the at least one slot is configured such that the air entering the tubular cooling section flows from the aerosol-generating material towards the mouth-end section in the same direction as the aerosol flow.

32. The article of any one of claims 23 to 31, wherein the at least one slot comprises a flap.

33. The article of claim 32, wherein the petals extend into the tubular cooling segment at an angle and are configured to deflect the aerosol flow through the tubular cooling segment.

34. The article of any one of claims 23 to 29, wherein the at least one groove is configured such that a swirling flow is generated within the tubular cooling segment.

35. The article of claim 34 when dependent on claim 26, wherein the plurality of rows of slots are configured to generate opposing swirling flows within the tubular cooling segment.

36. The article of claim 34 or claim 35, wherein the tubular cooling section has an inner surface and the at least one groove extends into the tubular cooling section at a tangent to the inner surface.

37. The article of claim 34 or claim 35, wherein the tubular cooling section has an inner surface and the at least one groove extends into the tubular cooling section along a line that is parallel to and offset from a tangent to the inner surface and parallel to a line that intersects the longitudinal axis of the tubular cooling section.

38. The article of any one of claims 23 to 37, wherein the tubular cooling segments are formed from a fibrous material.

39. The article of claim 38, wherein the fibrous material is a filiform tow.

40. The article of claim 39, wherein the filamentary tow is cellulose acetate.

41. The article of claim 38, wherein the fibrous material comprises paper.

42. The article of any one of claims 38 to 41, wherein the tubular cooling segment comprises an inner surface and the at least one slot extends partially through the tubular cooling segment toward the inner surface.

43. The article of claim 42, wherein the at least one groove stops at a distance between 0.1mm and 1mm from the inner surface difference.

44. An article according to any one of claims 23 to 43, comprising a filter segment located between the tubular cooling segment and the mouth end segment.

45. The article of claim 44, wherein the filter segments comprise a filamentary tow, such as cellulose acetate.

46. An article according to claim 44 or claim 45 comprising an elongate filter segment instead of the mouth end segment.

47. A filter assembly for attachment to a rod of aerosol-generating material to form an article according to any one of claims 1 to 22 or 23 to 46.

48. A system comprising a non-combustible sol providing device and an article according to any one of claims 1 to 22 or 23 to 46.

49. A method of manufacturing an article according to any one of claims 1 to 22, the method comprising configuring the ventilation zone such that a swirl flow is generated in the tubular cooling section when a user draws on the mouth end section.

50. A method of manufacturing an article according to any one of claims 23 to 46.