EP4287869A1

EP4287869A1 - Non-combustible aerosol provision device

Info

Publication number: EP4287869A1
Application number: EP22703365.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jeremy Campbell; Matthew Wright; Daniel Anthony WALTON
Original assignee: Nicoventures Trading Ltd
Current assignee: Nicoventures Trading Ltd
Priority date: 2021-02-03
Filing date: 2022-02-02
Publication date: 2023-12-13
Anticipated expiration: 2042-02-02
Also published as: EP4287869B1; JP7642080B2; KR20230128309A; BR112023015133A2; US20240122249A1; GB202101470D0; WO2022167475A1; CN117177677A; JP2024504770A

Abstract

Non-combustible aerosol provision device 100 for generating an aerosol from an aerosol-generating material comprised in a consumable for being received by the device. The device comprises a chamber 102 for receiving the consumable, wherein the device is configured to generate the aerosol from the aerosol-generating material when the consumable is received in the chamber 102. The device 100 further comprises a consumable holder 500 for holding the consumable in the chamber 102, wherein the consumable holder 500 comprises at least two selectively engageable gripping members which are spaced from one another in an axial direction of the chamber 102 to grip different respective points on the consumable, such that the consumable holder is capable of holding, by use of the selectively engageable gripping members, one at a time, each of a plurality of differently-dimensioned consumables at a desired position in the chamber 102.

Description

NON-COMBUSTIBLE AEROSOL PROVISION DEVICE

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a non-combustible aerosol provision device, a consumable holder for holding a consumable comprising aerosol-generating material in the non-combustible aerosol provision device and a non-combustible aerosol provision system comprising the non-combustible aerosol provision device and at least one consumable comprising aerosol-generating material.

Background

Smoking articles such as cigarettes, cigars and the like burn tobacco during use to create tobacco smoke. Attempts have been made to provide alternatives to these articles that bum tobacco by creating products that release compounds without burning. Examples of such products are heating devices which release compounds by heating, but not burning, the material. The material may be for example tobacco or other nontobacco products, which may or may not contain nicotine.

Summary

According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a non- combustible aerosol provision device for generating an aerosol from an aerosolgenerating material comprised in a consumable for being received by the device, the non-combustible aerosol provision device comprising: a chamber for receiving the consumable, wherein the non-combustible aerosol provision device is configured to generate the aerosol from the aerosol-generating material when the consumable is received in the chamber; and a consumable holder for holding the consumable in the chamber, wherein the consumable holder comprises at least two selectively engageable gripping members which are spaced from one another in an axial direction of the chamber to grip different respective points on the consumable, such that the consumable holder is capable of holding, by use of the selectively engageable gripping members, one at a time, each of a plurality of differently-dimensioned consumables at a desired position in the chamber. The selectively engageable gripping members may be selectively engageable to grip different consumables having different respective diameters.

The gripping members may be configured to be engaged to grip the consumable in response to a user operating an actuator on the device.

The actuator may be configured to be moved relative to the chamber of the device to cause the first and second gripping members to grip the consumable.

Each of the selectively engageable gripping members may comprise an annular gripping member having a central aperture for receiving a portion of the consumable, wherein a diameter of each central aperture is adjustable by a user to cause the annular gripping member to engage a portion of the consumable received in the central aperture to hold the consumable.

Each of the annular gripping members may comprise a ring and a plurality of gripping arms projecting from the ring, the plurality of gripping arms being moveable in a radial direction of the ring to adjust the diameter of the central aperture to thereby engage and grip the portion of the consumable received in the central aperture.

Each of the plurality of gripping arms may be biased in the radial direction of the ring away from the central aperture.

Each gripping arm of the plurality of gripping arms may comprise an inwardly turned portion at a free end of the arm, the inwardly turned portion being configured to engage and grip the consumable.

The consumable holder may comprise a frame which is moveable, relative to the selectively engageable gripping members, by a user to cause the selectively engageable gripping members to engage the consumable. The frame may be moveable, relative to the annular gripping members, to cause constriction of the annular gripping members to adjust the respective diameters of the respective central apertures of the annular gripping members and cause gripping of the consumable.

The frame may comprise a plurality of annular constriction members, each annular constriction member of the plurality of annular constriction members being mounted to move, when the frame is moved by a user, to constrict an annular gripping member of the plurality of annular gripping members and cause gripping of the consumable.

The consumable holder may be configured to hold each of a plurality of elongate consumables each having different respective lengths and/or diameters.

The device may be a tobacco heating product configured to receive and generate aerosol from each of a plurality of differently-dimensioned consumables comprising tobacco without combusting the tobacco.

According to a second aspect of the present disclosure there is provided a noncombustible aerosol provision system comprising a non-combustible aerosol provision device according to the first aspect of the present disclosure and at least one consumable comprising aerosol-generating material, the consumable being configured to be received by the non-combustible aerosol provision device and held by the consumable holder to allow the device to generate aerosol from the aerosol-generating material.

According to a third aspect of the present disclosure there is provided a consumable holder for holding a consumable comprising aerosol-generating material in a chamber of a non-combustible aerosol provision device for the non-combustible aerosol provision device to generate an aerosol from the aerosol-generating material; wherein the consumable holder comprises at least two selectively engageable gripping members which are spaced from one another in an axial direction of the chamber to grip different respective points on the consumable, such that the consumable holder is capable of holding, by use of the selectively engageable gripping members, one at a time, each of a plurality of differently-dimensioned consumables comprising aerosolgenerating material at a desired position in the chamber.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention, given by way of example only, which is made with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a non-combustible aerosol provision device;

Figure 2 shows a side view of the non-combustible aerosol provision device according to an example;

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the non-combustible aerosol provision device wherein the outer cover is shown as partially transparent to show features of a consumable holder of the device;

Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a frame of the consumable holder;

Figure 5A shows a perspective view of the non-combustible aerosol provision device in the same manner as in Figure 3, wherein in Figure 5A a first consumable is held by the consumable holder;

Figure 5B shows the non-combustible aerosol provision device with a second consumable being held by the consumable holder.

Detailed Description

Figure l is a simplified schematic view of an example non-combustible aerosol provision device 100. The non-combustible aerosol provision device 100 comprises a heating chamber 102. The heating chamber 102 is configured to receive a consumable article (not shown in Figure 1) which comprises aerosol-generating material, which may or may not comprise tobacco.

Aerosol-generating material is a material that is capable of generating aerosol, for example when heated, irradiated or energized in any other way. 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 flavourants. In some embodiments, the aerosolgenerating 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 dried gel. The amorphous solid is a solid material that may retain some fluid, such as liquid, within it. In some embodiments, the aerosolgenerating material may for example comprise from about 50wt%, 60wt% or 70wt% of amorphous solid, to about 90wt%, 95wt% or 100wt% of amorphous solid.

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

The active substance as used herein may be a physiologically active material, which is a material intended to achieve or enhance a physiological response. The active substance may for example be selected from nutraceuticals, nootropics, psychoactives. The active substance may be naturally occurring or synthetically obtained. The active substance may comprise for example nicotine, caffeine, taurine, theine, vitamins such as B6 or B12 or C, melatonin, cannabinoids, or constituents, derivatives, or combinations thereof. The active substance may comprise one or more constituents, derivatives or extracts of tobacco, cannabis or another botanical.

In some embodiments, the active substance comprises nicotine. In some embodiments, the active substance comprises caffeine, melatonin or vitamin B 12.

The one or more other functional materials may comprise one or more of pH regulators, colouring agents, preservatives, binders, fillers, stabilizers, and/or antioxidants.

The aerosol-former material may comprise one or more constituents capable of forming an aerosol. In some embodiments, the aerosol-former material may comprise one or more of glycerol, propylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol, erythritol, meso-Erythritol, ethyl vanillate, ethyl laurate, a diethyl suberate, triethyl citrate, triacetin, a diacetin mixture, benzyl benzoate, benzyl phenyl acetate, tributyrin, lauryl acetate, lauric acid, myristic acid, and propylene carbonate.

A consumable is an article comprising or consisting of aerosol-generating material, part or all of which is intended to be consumed during use by a user. A consumable may comprise one or more other components, such as an aerosolgenerating material storage area, an aerosol-generating material transfer component, an aerosol generation area, a housing, a wrapper, a mouthpiece, a filter and/or an aerosolmodifying agent. A consumable may also comprise an aerosol generator, such as a heater, that emits heat to cause the aerosol-generating material to generate aerosol in use. The heater may, for example, comprise combustible material, a material heatable by electrical conduction, or a susceptor.

In this example, the non-combustible aerosol provision device 100 is for heating aerosol-generating material in a consumable to volatilise at least one component of the aerosol-generating material. The non-combustible aerosol provision device 100 is hereafter referred to as the device 100. The device 100 is configured to heat the aerosolgenerating material in a consumable comprising aerosol-generating material (not shown in Figure 1) which is received in the described heating chamber 102. The device 100 comprises a heating arrangement 104 configured to provide energy for heating the aerosol-generating material in the consumable received in the heating chamber 102. In some examples, the heating arrangement 104 comprises one or more resistive heating elements arranged in thermal contact with the heating chamber 102. The flow of current against the electrical resistance of the one or more resistive heating elements generates heat. This process is called Joule, ohmic, or resistive heating.

A susceptor is a material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field, such as an alternating magnetic field. The susceptor may be an electrically- conductive material, so that penetration thereof with a varying magnetic field causes induction heating of the heating material. The heating material may be magnetic material, so that penetration thereof with a varying magnetic field causes magnetic hysteresis heating of the heating material. The susceptor may be both electrically- conductive and magnetic, so that the susceptor is heatable by both heating mechanisms. The device that is configured to generate the varying magnetic field may also be referred to as a magnetic field generator.

In some examples, the heating arrangement 104 is an induction heating arrangement and is configured to generate a varying magnetic field in order to inductively heat a susceptor. In some examples, the susceptor is configured to define the heating chamber 102 for receipt of the consumable, as will be described below in more detail. The induction heating arrangement may comprise one or more inductors through which an alternating current is passed to generate the varying magnetic field. In some examples using induction heating, the heating arrangement 104 comprises one or more susceptors. In other examples using induction heating, the heating arrangement 104 may not comprise a susceptor and one or more susceptors may instead be provided as part of/with consumables intended for use with the device 100.

The device 100 comprises a power source 106. The power source 106 supplies electrical power to the various components of the device 100. In some examples, the power source 106 is a battery. In some examples, the power source 106 comprises a battery and a DC-DC converter, and power is supplied from the battery through the DC- DC converter. The DC-DC converter may allow the power supply 106 to supply power at a different voltage to the voltage of the battery. In some examples, the device 100 may comprise a DC to AC converter for converting a DC current from, e.g., a battery to AC current, for example, to supply power to one or more inductors of the heating arrangement 104 where the heating arrangement 104 is an induction heating arrangement. In the following examples, the power source 106 is referred to simply as the battery 106.

In the example of Figure 1, the non-combustible aerosol provision device 100 comprises a processor 108 in data communication with a computer readable memory 110. The processor 108 is configured to control various aspects of the operation of the device 100. The processor 108 controls the various aspects by executing instructions stored on the computer readable memory 110. For example, the processor 108 may control the operation of the heating arrangement 104. For example, the processor may control the delivery of electrical power from the battery 106 to the heating arrangement 104 by controlling various electrical components such as switches and the like (not shown in Figure 1).

The device 100 comprises a housing 101 which forms an outer cover of the device 100 and surrounds and houses various components of the device 100. The chamber 102 in this example is configured to receive a consumable (not shown in Figure 1) comprising aerosol -generating material from which the device 100 is configured to generate aerosol. The device 100 may generate aerosol from the consumable by heating the aerosol-generating material, for example, in the ways described above. In other examples, an aerosol may be generated from the aerosolgenerating material by imparting energy to the aerosol-generating material in another way, for example, by use of ultrasonic energy.

The device 100 has an opening 105 in one end, which allows the consumable to be inserted into the chamber 102. As shown in certain examples below, in some examples a portion of the consumable may be received in the chamber 102 of the device 100, while a portion of the consumable may protrude from the opening 105 of the device 100. In examples, the portion of the consumable received in the chamber 102 comprises the aerosol-generating material from which the device 100 is configured to generate aerosol. The portion of the consumable which protrudes from the opening 105 may, for example, comprise a filter or the like, and the user may inhale the generated aerosol from the portion of the consumable which protrudes from the opening 105.

The device 100 may comprise a user-operable control element 112, such as a button or switch, which operates the device 100 when pressed. For example, a user may turn on the device 100 by operating the switch 112. The device 100 may also comprise an electrical component, such as a socket/port (not shown), which can receive a cable to charge the battery 106. For example, the socket may be a charging port, such as a USB charging port. In some examples the socket may be used additionally or alternatively to transfer data between the device 100 and another device, such as a computing device. The socket may also be electrically coupled to the battery 106 via electrical tracks.

The end of the device closest to the opening 105 may be known as the proximal end (or mouth end) of the device 100 because, in use, it is closest to the mouth of the user. In use, a user may insert the consumable into the opening 105, operate the user control 112 to begin heating the aerosol-generating material and draw on the proximal end of the device 100. This causes the aerosol to flow through the device 100 along a flow path towards the proximal end of the device 100. In examples, a portion of the consumable may protrude from the opening 105 and the user may draw on a proximal end of the consumable to cause the aerosol to flow to the proximal end of the device 100 to be inhaled. In other examples, the device 100 may comprise a mouthpiece on which the user inhales to draw the flow of aerosol.

An end of the device 100 opposite the proximal end and furthest away from the opening 105 may be known as the distal end of the device 100 because, in use, it is the end furthest away from the mouth of the user. As a user draws on the aerosol generated in the device, the aerosol flows away from the distal end of the device 100.

The device 100 may in some examples comprise a lid/cap (not shown), arranged towards the distal end of the device 100. Opening the lid/cap may provide access to the heating chamber 102. A user may, for example, open the second lid to clean components in the heating chamber 102, e.g. to remove debris from previous usage sessions.

The device 100 comprises a consumable holder 500. The consumable holder 500 is configured to hold in position, one at a time, each of a plurality of differently- sized consumables intended for use with the device 100. For example, the consumable holder 500 may allow for the device 100 to receive a first consumable and a second consumable which may have different lengths and/or different diameters to one another. It should be noted that, herein, reference to consumables of different sizes or to differently-dimensioned consumables refers to consumables which are intended to be a different size to another, and does not, for example, refer to consumables which are intended to be the same size but differ in size by some small amount due to, e.g., manufacturing tolerances. The consumables may, for example, be of different types to one another wherein each of the different types of consumables is intended to have different dimensions.

In some examples, the first consumable and the second consumable are elongate consumables, each of which may, for example, be substantially cylindrical. The first and second consumables both comprise aerosol-generating material. The first and second consumables may, for example, comprise a distal portion containing the aerosolgenerating material. The first and second consumables may also comprise a proximal portion which may comprise, for example, a filter and/or other components. Examples of the first and second consumables are described in more detail below, with reference to later figures.

It will be appreciated that the device 100 may comprise other components not shown in Figure 1, such as ventilation inlets/outlet, a control interface, a charging port, etc.. It should be noted that Figure 1 is merely a schematic sketch showing a number of components that may be included in the device 100. Figure 1 is not intended to communicate particular positions of various components.

Figure 2 shows a side view of the example device 100. The device 100 is configured to receive a first consumable 120a comprising the aerosol -generating material, and the device 100 is configured to heat the aerosol-generating material to generate an aerosol or other inhalable medium which is inhaled by a user of the device 100.

The housing 101 can be seen to form an outer cover of the device 100 which surrounds and houses various components of the device 100. The device 100 has an opening 105 in one end, through which a consumable for use with the device 100, such as the first consumable 120a, may be inserted for heating by the heating assembly 104 (not shown in Figure 2). In use, the first consumable 120a may be fully or partially inserted into the heating assembly where it may be heated by one or more components of the heater assembly 104 while being held by the consumable holder 500. The consumable holder 500 is not visible in Figure 2, being concealed inside the housing 101.

The device 100 may also comprise an electrical component, such as a socket/port 114, which can receive a cable to charge a battery of the device 100. For example, the socket 114 may be a charging port, such as a USB charging port. In some examples the socket 114 may be used additionally or alternatively to transfer data between the device 100 and another device, such as a computing device. The socket 114 may also be electrically coupled to the battery 106 via electrical tracks.

The device 100 may further comprise an insulating member (not shown) which may be generally tubular and at least partially surround the heating chamber 102. The insulating member 128 may be constructed from any insulating material, such as a plastics material for example. In this particular example, the insulating member is constructed from polyether ether ketone (PEEK). The insulating member may help insulate the various components of the device 100 from the heat generated to heat the consumable 120.

Figure 3 shows the device 100 in a perspective view wherein the housing has been visualised in partial transparency to allow the consumable holder 500 to be viewed. Other components of the device 100 have been omitted from Figure 6 to aid clarity.

The consumable holder 500 is configured to hold the first consumable 120a (not shown in Figure 3) in the heating chamber 102 of the device 100 such that the consumable 120 can be heated to generate an aerosol, in the manner described above, for example by resistive heating or by inductive heating. As mentioned above, the consumable holder 500 is configured to hold any of a plurality of t consumable, each having different dimensions, and the consumable holder 500 will now be described in more detail.

The consumable holder 500 comprises selectively engageable gripping members for engaging and holding a consumable in the chamber. In the example shown in Figure 3, the consumable holder 500 comprises a pair of selectively engageable gripping members comprising a first gripping member 510 and a second gripping member 520. The consumable holder 500 also comprises a frame 540 which is moveable by a user to cause engagement of the gripping members 510, 520 to grip a consumable. The first gripping member 510 and the second gripping member 520 are spaced from one another along an axial direction of the heating chamber. The first gripping member 510 is configured to engage and grip a point on the consumable 120 towards a proximal end of the consumable 120 while the second gripping member 520 is configured to engage and grip a point towards a distal end of the consumable 120.

In this example, each of first and second gripping members 510, 520 is annular and defines a central aperture 512a, 522a through which the consumable 120 to be held is received. The first gripping member 510 comprises a ring 512b and a plurality of gripping arms 512c depending from the ring 512b. The gripping arms 512c surround the central aperture 512a and the position of the gripping arms 512c defines a diameter of the central aperture 512a. Each of the gripping arms 512c has a free end having an inwardly turned portion 512d for gripping a point on the consumable. The inwardly turned portions 512d of the gripping arms 512c are configured to grip the point on the consumable when the free ends of the gripping arms 512c are moved in a radial direction with respect to the ring 512b.

The frame 540 comprises a first ring 542 and a second ring 544. The first ring 542 is mounted over the first gripping member 510. The first ring 542 is configured to constrict the gripping arms 512c of the first gripping member 510 when the frame 540 is caused to move axially downwards by a user. The first ring 542 is a ring of a fixed diameter which surrounds and is in contact with first gripping member 510. When the first ring 542 is moved axially downward the first ring 542 forces the radially outwardly biased arms 512 radially inward. As the point of contact between the first ring 542 and the arms 512 moves downwards and becomes closer to the free ends of the arms 512c, the inwardly turned portions 512d of the arms 512c are forced radially inward and are caused to grip the consumable 120.

The second gripping member 520 works in the same manner as described for the first gripping member 510 to grip a point towards a distal end of the consumable 120. The second gripping member 520 defines a central aperture 522a, and comprises a ring 522b, and a plurality of gripping arms 522c, each of the gripping arms 522c having an inwardly turned portion 522d at its free end. Similarly, the frame comprises a second ring 544 surrounding the second gripping member 520 and configured to constrict the arms 522c of the second gripping member 520 to cause it to grip the consumable 120 when the frame 540 is moved axially downwards.

Figure 4 shows the frame 540 of the consumable holder 500 in isolation. The frame 540 is a rigid frame comprising the first and second rings 542, 544 connected by a first connector 546 and a second connector 548. The frame 540 also comprises a button 530 for being engaged by a user to move the frame 540 to cause the first and second gripping members 510, 520 to grip the consumable. By engaging the button 530, a user can slide the frame 540 along an axial direction upwardly or downwardly to cause engagement or disengagement of the gripping members 510, 520. In Figure 4, the frame 540 is in a first axial position towards a proximal end of the device 100. In this first configuration, the gripping members 510, 520 take their widest diameter. Thus, the first configuration shown in Figure 4 may be the configuration in which the user places the consumable holder 500 in order to insert an consumable into the chamber 102.

Inward radial movement of the free ends 512d of the gripping arms reduces a diameter of the aperture 512a causing the free ends 512d to engage and grip the consumable 120. The gripping arms 522c are biased radially outwardly such that the aperture 522a has a maximum diameter when the gripping arms 522c are not constricted by the frame 540.

The consumable holder 500 is configured to hold consumables having different diameters depending on the location of the frame 540, as is shown in Figure 5A and Figure 5B.

Figure 5A shows the consumable holder 500 holding the first consumable 120a which has a first diameter and a first length. In Figure 5A the first and second gripping members 510, 520 define central apertures 512a, 522a of diameter suitable for gripping the first consumable 120a. The diameter defined by the apertures 512a, 522a is narrower than in the configuration shown in Figure 3 which allows the gripping members 510, 520 to grip the first consumable 120a. In Figure 5A the frame 540 is in a second axial position to configure the consumable holder 500 to grip the first consumable 120a. In the configuration shown in Figure 5 A, the frame 540 is lower, i.e. further towards a distal end, than in the first configuration shown in Figure 3. That is, Figure 5 A shows the consumable holder 500 in a configuration where the user has inserted the first consumable 120a and slid the frame 540 downwards to engage the gripping members 510, 520 to grip the first consumable 120a.

Figure 5B shows the consumable holder 500 holding a second consumable 120b having a diameter which is greater than the diameter of the first consumable 120a. In this example, the second consumable 120b also has a length which is shorter than the length of the first consumable 120a. In Figure 5A the consumable holder 500 is in a configuration in which the first and second gripping members 510, 520 define apertures 512a, 522a of diameter suitable for gripping the second consumable 120a. The diameter defined by the apertures 512a, 522a is wider again than in the configuration shown in Figure 5 A to allow the gripping members 510, 520 to grip the wider second consumable 120a. In Figure 5A the frame 540 is in an axial position suitable to configure the consumable holder 500 for gripping the second consumable 120b. In the configuration shown in Figure 5A, the frame 540 is lower, i.e. further towards a distal end, than in the configuration shown in Figure 4 but higher than in the configuration shown in Figure 5A. Again, the consumable holder 500 may be configured to grip the second consumable 120b by a user inserting the second consumable 120b and sliding the frame 540 downwardly, using the button 530, until the gripping members 510, 520 engage and grip the second consumable 120b.

The consumable holder 500 provides a convenient and flexible way of holding different consumables having different dimensions in the heating chamber 102 of the device 100. Since the diameter which the gripping members 510, 520 are configured to grip is adjustable by a user, the consumable holder 500 can be used to grip consumable having various different diameters. The frame 540 is movable in a continuous manner along the axial direction and so, although only shown with two different consumables 120a, 120b of different diameter in the figures, the consumable holder 500 can hold consumables having any of a range of diameters falling in the range of diameters between which the apertures 512a, 522a are configurable. Furthermore, since the consumable holder 500 comprises two gripping members 510, 520, any consumable held by the consumable holder 500 is held firmly in position for use.

Another feature of the consumable holder 500 in the example shown in Figures 3 to 5 is that the gripping members 510, 520 are open-ended. That is, a consumable can be inserted through the gripping members 510, 520 and positioned in a desired axial position before the gripping members 510, 520 are engaged to grip the consumable. Depending on the length of the consumable, therefore, a distal end of the consumable may protrude below the second gripping member 520 by differing amounts. This may be useful to allow the device 100 to accommodate consumable of different lengths, which may or may not also have different diameters.

In some examples, it may be preferable for the proximal end of a consumable inserted into the chamber 102 to protrude from the heating chamber aperture 104 by a given amount, regardless of the length of the consumable. In the example shown in Figures 5A and 5B, the respective proximal ends of first and second consumables 120a, 120b protrude from the heating chamber aperture 104 by equal amounts. This may be desired in some embodiments, e.g. to position ventilation holes in the respective consumables in an equivalent position. Since the consumable holder 500 allows a consumable to be positioned in a desired axial position it can allow a user to position the consumable such that the proximal end of the consumable protrudes by a desired amount. In other examples, a stop arrangement is provided, against which the distal end of an inserted consumable abuts on full insertion of the consumable into the chamber 102.

The above embodiments are to be understood as illustrative examples of the invention. Further embodiments of the invention are envisaged. It is to be understood that any feature described in relation to any one embodiment 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 embodiments, or any combination of any other of the embodiments. 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.

Claims

1. A non-combustible aerosol provision device for generating an aerosol from an aerosol-generating material comprised in a consumable for being received by the device, the non-combustible aerosol provision device comprising: a chamber for receiving the consumable, wherein the non-combustible aerosol provision device is configured to generate the aerosol from the aerosol-generating material when the consumable is received in the chamber; and a consumable holder for holding the consumable in the chamber, wherein the consumable holder comprises at least two selectively engageable gripping members which are spaced from one another in an axial direction of the chamber to grip different respective points on the consumable, such that the consumable holder is capable of holding, by use of the selectively engageable gripping members, one at a time, each of a plurality of differently-dimensioned consumables at a desired position in the chamber.

2. The non-combustible aerosol provision device according to claim 1 wherein the selectively engageable gripping members are selectively engageable to grip different consumables having different respective diameters.

3. The non-combustible aerosol provision device according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the gripping members are configured to be engaged to grip the consumable in response to a user operating an actuator on the device.

4. The non-combustible aerosol provision device according to claim 3 wherein the actuator is configured to be moved relative to the chamber of the device to cause the first and second gripping members to grip the consumable.

5. The non-combustible aerosol provision device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein each of the selectively engageable gripping members comprises an annular gripping member having a central aperture for receiving a portion of the consumable, and wherein a diameter of each central aperture is adjustable by a user to cause the annular gripping member to engage a portion of the consumable received in the central aperture to hold the consumable.

6. The non-combustible aerosol provision device according to claim 5, wherein each of the annular gripping members comprises a ring and a plurality of gripping arms projecting from the ring, the plurality of gripping arms being moveable in a radial direction of the ring to adjust the diameter of the central aperture to thereby engage and grip the portion of the consumable received in the central aperture.

7. The non-combustible aerosol provision device according to claim 6, wherein each of the plurality of gripping arms is biased in the radial direction of the ring away from the central aperture.

8. The non-combustible aerosol provision device according to claim 6 or claim 7, wherein each gripping arm of the plurality of gripping arms comprises an inwardly turned portion at a free end of the arm, the inwardly turned portion being configured to engage and grip the consumable.

9. The non-combustible aerosol provision device according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the consumable holder comprises a frame which is moveable, relative to the selectively engageable gripping members, by a user to cause the selectively engageable gripping members to engage the consumable.

10. The non-combustible aerosol provision device according to claim 9 when dependent on any of claims 5 to 8, wherein the frame is moveable, relative to the annular gripping members, to cause constriction of the annular gripping members to adjust the respective diameters of the respective central apertures of the annular gripping members and cause gripping of the consumable.

11. The non-combustible aerosol provision device according to claim 10, wherein the frame comprises a plurality of annular constriction members, each annular constriction member of the plurality of annular constriction members being mounted to move, when the frame is moved by a user, to constrict an annular gripping member of the plurality of annular gripping members and cause gripping of the consumable. 19

12. The non-combustible aerosol provision device according to any of claims 1 to 11, wherein the consumable holder is configured to hold each of a plurality of elongate consumables each having different respective lengths and/or diameters.

13. The non-combustible aerosol provision device according to any of claims 1 to 12 wherein the device is a tobacco heating product configured to receive and generate aerosol from each of a plurality of differently-dimensioned consumables comprising tobacco without combusting the tobacco.

14. A non-combustible aerosol provision system comprising a non-combustible aerosol provision device according to any of claims 1 to 13 and at least one consumable comprising aerosol-generating material, the consumable being configured to be received by the non-combustible aerosol provision device and held by the consumable holder to allow the device to generate aerosol from the aerosol-generating material.

15. A consumable holder for holding a consumable comprising aerosol-generating material in a chamber of a non-combustible aerosol provision device for the non- combustible aerosol provision device to generate an aerosol from the aerosol-generating material; wherein the consumable holder comprises at least two selectively engageable gripping members which are spaced from one another in an axial direction of the chamber to grip different respective points on the consumable, such that the consumable holder is capable of holding, by use of the selectively engageable gripping members, one at a time, each of a plurality of differently-dimensioned consumables comprising aerosol-generating material at a desired position in the chamber.