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The present disclosure relates to an aerosol generation consumable comprising one or more somatosensory compounds and a system comprising the aerosol generation consumable and an aerosol generation device.
Background
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Aerosol generation devices (or electronic cigarettes or "e-cigarettes") have been developed as an alternative to traditional cigarettes as a means for volatilizing active components for inhalation without combustion, while at the same time providing the user with an oral experience similar to that of traditional cigarette smoking.
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Such aerosol generation devices typically use aerosol generation consumables. It is generally known in the prior art that devices may detect when an aerosol generation consumable is inserted into or withdrawn from a heating chamber of the aerosol generation device.
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However, there is a need for aerosol generation devices which can detect, and alert a user, when the consumable is not inserted fully or correctly, or the device is not working correctly.
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It is the object of the invention to overcome at least some of the above referenced problems.
Summary
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According to the present disclosure there is provided an aerosol generation consumable for use with an aerosol generation device, the consumable comprising: aerosol precursor material; and one or more somatosensory compounds, wherein, in use, the consumable is insertable into a chamber of the aerosol generation device such that in a first configuration the one or more somatosensory compounds are retained in the consumable and a second configuration in which the one or more somatosensory compounds are configured to be released.
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Advantageously, the somatosensory compounds are configured to be released when the consumable is in a second configuration to provide the user with a somatosensory effect. This effect may alert the user that the consumable is in the second configuration and not the first configuration. That is to say, that if the consumable has been inserted incorrectly (e.g. in the second configuration), then the user will be alerted to the fact. If the consumable has been inserted in an incorrect fashion, then user's experience may be diminished as the designed amount of aerosol may not be generated. As such, providing the somatosensory compound alerts the user to this and they would be able to reconfigure the consumable to the first configuration such that their experience will be improved.
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The one or more somatosensory compounds may be located in a first region of the aerosol generation consumable. Advantageously, the somatosensory compounds may be released and provide an effect to the user without the aerosol precursor material being released (i.e. the aerosol precursor material is retained in the consumable).
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The consumable may be substantially rod shaped and define a proximal end and a distal end. The shape of the rod allows easy insertion into the device and allows for the device to be configured to be easily held by the user. The rod-shaped consumable also allows for two regions (first and second region) to be formed easily.
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The first region may be located at the distal end of the consumable. In this example, the first region is suitably distanced from the second region so the one or more somatosensory compounds are not released unintentionally. This also allows for the second region to be heated without the first region being heated.
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The aerosol generation consumable may be insertable into the aerosol generation device, wherein in the first configuration, the first region is separated from a stimulus of the aerosol generation device and; wherein in the second configuration the stimulus of the aerosol generation device is configured to enclose or contact the first region. Advantageously, the consumable being inserting into the aerosol generation device in a different configuration to the first configuration allows a stimulus to be applied to the first region, allowing the one or more somatosensory compounds to be released.
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The one or more somatosensory compounds may be encapsulated in an encapsulating material. The encapsulating material may allow for the somatosensory compounds to be easily contained and be released when the consumable is not inserted fully or correctly, or the device is not working correctly. In this example, the somatosensory compounds are in a capsule within the encapsulating material and may be located within a region of the aerosol precursor material.
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The encapsulating material may have a melting point of between 150°C and 350°C. Advantageously, the encapsulating material may melt, thereby releasing the one or more somatosensory compounds, when exposed to heat provided by the device for heating the aerosol precursor material. In this example, the capsule containing the somatosensory compounds may be positioned so as to be heated to this temperature range when the consumable is inserted into the device in the second configuration.
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The encapsulating material may have a melting point of above 350°C. Advantageously, the encapsulating material may melt when the device is overheating to release the one or more somatosensory compounds and alert the user to the overheating.
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The one or more somatosensory compounds may be selected from safranal, 2-methylbenzaldehyde, 2-isopropylphenol, 2,4-dimethyl-3-pentanone, 3-methyl-2-pentanone, 5-methyl-2-hexanone, 4-methyl-2-pentenal, 2-ethylcrotonaldehyde, allyl isothiocyanate, amyl isothiocyanate, isoamyl isothiocyanate, sec-butyl isothiocyanate, 4-pentenyl isothiocyanate, hexyl isothiocyanate, 2-ethyl-2-hexenal, and mixtures thereof. Suitably, the one or more somatosensory compounds is not nicotine.
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According to the present disclosure there is provided a system comprising: the aerosol generation consumable according to any one of the preceding claims; and an aerosol generation device comprising: a chamber configured to receive the aerosol generation consumable in a first configuration and in a second configuration; and a stimulus configured to release the one or more somatosensory compounds in the second configuration.
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Advantageously, the somatosensory compounds are configured to be released due to a stimulus provided when the consumable is in a second configuration to provide the user with a somatosensory effect. This effect may alert the user that the consumable is in the second configuration and not the first configuration.
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The stimulus may comprise a heater configured to heat the aerosol generation consumable. The heater may heat the aerosol generation consumable and therefore heat the aerosol precursor material and the one or more somatosensory compounds such that they are released from the device as a vapour.
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The heater may extend along a predetermined distance of the chamber, which is less than the overall length of the chamber such that the chamber comprises a heater region and a cooler region, wherein in the first configuration the one or more somatosensory compounds are located in the cooler region and wherein in the second configuration the one or more somatosensory compounds are located in the heater region. Advantageously, the one or more somatosensory compounds being located in the heater region in the second configuration means that the compounds may be heated and released, thereby providing an alert to the user when in the second configuration.
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In one example, in the first configuration a distal end of the aerosol generation consumable abuts a distal end of the chamber and wherein in the second configuration the aerosol generation consumable is configured to be partially inserted into the chamber such that there is a distance between the distal end of the consumable and the distal end of the chamber.
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Advantageously, the user is alerted when the consumable is in the second configuration and therefore, is alerted when the consumable is only partially inserted.
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The heater may comprise a heater projection that is configured to extend into the chamber, wherein in the first configuration the heater projection is configured to be distanced from the one or more somatosensory compounds and wherein in the second configuration the heater projection is configured to contact the one or more somatosensory compounds to release them. Advantageously, the user is alerted when the consumable is in the second configuration.
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In the first configuration, a longitudinal axis of the heater projection is configured to be parallel with the longitudinal axis of the consumable and wherein in the second configuration the longitudinal axis of the heater projection is configured to be oblique with respect to the longitudinal axis of the consumable. Advantageously, the longitudinal axis of the heater projection being configured to be oblique with respect to the longitudinal axis of the consumable allows the heater projection to stimulate the one or more somatosensory compounds to allow them to be released.
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The above referenced features may be combined in various combinations.
Brief Description of the Drawings
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Examples of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
- Figure 1A shows an example of a schematic cross-sectional view of an aerosol generation consumable;
- Figure 1B shows another example of the aerosol generation consumable;
- Figure 1C shows another example of the aerosol generation consumable;
- Figure 1D shows another example of the aerosol generation consumable;
- Figure 2 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of an aerosol generation consumable with further optional features.
- Figure 3 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of an aerosol generation device with a consumable fully inserted;
- Figure 4A shows a schematic cross-sectional view of an aerosol generation device with an aerosol generation consumable inserted in a second configuration;
- Figure 4B shows a schematic cross-sectional view of an aerosol generation device with an aerosol generation consumable inserted in a second configuration;
- Figure 5A shows a schematic cross-sectional view of an aerosol generation device with an aerosol generation consumable inserted in a first configuration;
- Figure 5B shows a schematic cross-sectional view of an aerosol generation device with an aerosol generation consumable inserted in a second configuration.
Detailed Description
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As used herein, the term "aerosol precursor material", "vapour precursor material" or "vaporizable material" are used synonymously and may refer to a material and/or composition, which may for example comprise nicotine or tobacco and a vaporising agent. The aerosol precursor material is configured to release an aerosol when heated or otherwise mechanically stimulated (such as by vibrations). Tobacco may take the form of various materials such as shredded tobacco, granulated tobacco, tobacco leaf and/or reconstituted tobacco. Nicotine may be in the form of nicotine salts. Suitable vaporising agents include: a polyol such as sorbitol, glycerol, and glycols like propylene glycol or triethylene glycol; a non-polyol such as monohydric alcohols, acids such as lactic acid, glycerol derivatives, esters such as triacetin, triethylene glycol diacetate, triethyl citrate, glycerin or vegetable glycerin. In some examples, the aerosol precursor material is substantially a liquid or a gel that holds or comprises one or more solid particles, such as tobacco particles extracted from tobacco materials or suspended in a solution or gel.
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An aerosol generation device is configured to aerosolise an aerosol precursor material without combustion in order to facilitate delivery of an aerosol to a user. Furthermore, and as is common in the technical field, the terms "vapour" and "aerosol", and related terms such as "vaporize", "volatilize" and "aerosolise", may generally be used interchangeably.
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As used herein, the term "aerosol generation device" is synonymous with "aerosol generating device" or "device" and may include a device configured to heat an aerosol precursor material and deliver an aerosol to a user, typically without combusting the aerosol precursor material. The device may be portable. "Portable" may refer to the device being for use when held by a user. The device may be adapted to generate a variable amount of aerosol, which can be controlled by a user input.
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As used herein, the term "aerosol" may include a suspension of vaporizable material as one or more of: solid particles; liquid droplets; gas. Said suspension may be in a gas including air. Aerosol herein may generally refer to/include a vapour. Aerosol may include one or more components of the vaporizable material.
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As used herein, the term "somatosensory compound(s)" may refer to compounds which provide a somatosensory effect to the user. As used herein, the term "somatosensory effect" refers to effects such as warming, cooling, fizzing, numbing, pungency, astringency, pain, itching, touch, pressure and/or kokumi. Suitably, the somatosensory compounds provide a pain effect to the user. The term "somatosensory effect" does not include flavour and/or smell.
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The one or more somatosensory compounds may be selected from isocyanate, phenol, ketone, aldehyde, or combinations thereof, which provide a somatosensory effect. The one or more somatosensory compounds may be selected from safranal, 2-methylbenzaldehyde, 2-isopropylphenol, 2,4-dimethyl-3-pentanone, 3-methyl-2-pentanone, 5-methyl-2-hexanone, 4-methyl-2-pentenal, 2-ethylcrotonaldehyde, allyl isothiocyanate, amyl isothiocyanate, isoamyl isothiocyanate, sec-butyl isothiocyanate, 4-pentenyl isothiocyanate, hexyl isothiocyanate, 2-ethyl-2-hexenal, and mixtures thereof. Suitably, the one or more somatosensory compounds is not nicotine.
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The somatosensory compounds may be chemically synthesized or natural extracts from foods, preferably the somatosensory compounds may be chemically synthesized.
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The composition may not comprise a flavour additive. As used herein, a flavour additive refers to a compound which is added with the aim of providing a flavour and/or smell to the user. The flavour additive may provide a higher flavour and/or smell effect than the somatosensory effect thereof. The presence of such a flavour additive may disturb the somatosensory effect of the somatosensory compound on the user.
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A flavour additive may be selected from one or more of cinnamon, chamomile, kudzu (pueraria lobata), amacha (hydrangeae dulcis folium), lavender, cardamom, caryophyllus, nutmeg, bergamot, geranium, honey essence, rose oil, cassia bark, caraway, jasmine, ginger, coriander, vanilla extract, spearmint, peppermint, cassia, coffee, celery, cascarilla, sandalwood, ylang ylang, fennel, anise, licorice, St John's bread, prune extract, peach extract, glucose, fructose, isomerized saccharide, caramel, cocoa powder, cocoa extract, isoamyl acetate, linalyl acetate, isoamyl propionate, linalyl butyrate, ionone, damascenone, ethyl maltol, geraniol, linalool, anethole, vanillin, benzaldehyde, anisaldehyde, γ-undecalactone, γ-nonalactone, musk, ambergris, civet, castoreum, limonene and pinene, or any extract thereof.
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Suitably, the composition may not comprise any of cinnamon, chamomile, kudzu (pueraria lobata), amacha (hydrangeae dulcis folium), lavender, cardamom, caryophyllus, nutmeg, bergamot, geranium, honey essence, rose oil, cassia bark, caraway, jasmine, ginger, coriander, vanilla extract, spearmint, peppermint, cassia, coffee, celery, cascarilla, sandalwood, ylang ylang, fennel, anise, licorice, St John's bread, prune extract, peach extract, glucose, fructose, isomerized saccharide, caramel, cocoa powder, cocoa extract, isoamyl acetate, linalyl acetate, isoamyl propionate, linalyl butyrate, ionone, damascenone, ethyl maltol, geraniol, linalool, anethole, vanillin, benzaldehyde, anisaldehyde, γ-undecalactone, γ-nonalactone, musk, ambergris, civet, castoreum, limonene and pinene, or any extract thereof.
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Suitably, the composition may not comprise a flavour additive selected from cinnamon, ginger, vanillin, limonene and linalool, or any extract thereof. Preferably, the composition may not comprise a flavour additive selected from cinnamon, ginger and vanillin, or any extract thereof, such as cinnamaldehyde or gingerol. For example, the composition may not comprise cinnamon (cinnamaldehyde).
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Figure 1A shows an example of a schematic cross-sectional view of an aerosol generation consumable 100.
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The aerosol generation consumable 100 comprises an aerosol precursor material 104 and one or more somatosensory compounds 106. The term aerosol precursor material is a label used to mean a medium that generates an aerosol or vapour when heated. For example, the aerosol precursor material 104 may comprise cellulose-based material or natural solid material, such as tobacco or other plant (non-tobacco plant) - based or botanical material, in particulate, granulated or sheet form, such as pleated, gathered, crimped or shredded sheet material.
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As will be described in more detail below, the one or more somatosensory compounds 106 are configured to be retained in the consumable when the consumable 100 has been inserted into an aerosol generation device in a first configuration (for example, in a correct configuration) and the one or more somatosensory compounds 106 are configured to be released when the consumable 100 has been inserted into the aerosol generation device in a second configuration (for example, in an incorrect configuration).
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In figure 1A, the one or more somatosensory compounds 106 are located in a first region 118 and the aerosol precursor material 104 is located in a second region 120. That is, the aerosol precursor material 104 may be located in a second region of the aerosol generation consumable 100, and the one or more somatosensory compounds 106 may be located in a first region of the aerosol generation consumable 100. Advantageously, the somatosensory compounds 106 may be released and provide an effect to the user without the aerosol precursor material 104 being released (i.e. the aerosol precursor material is retained in the consumable). The first region 118 and second region 120 may be distinct from each other via join 122.
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In other examples, the first region 104 may be within the second region 120. That is to say that the one or more somatosensory compounds 106 may be located within the aerosol precursor material 104. For example, as shown in Figure 1B, the one or more somatosensory compounds 106 may be located in an encapsulating material 124 to form a capsule 126. In this example, the capsule 126 is located within the aerosol precursor material 104.
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The encapsulating material 124 may be selected from starch, dextrin, polysaccharide, agar, gellan gum, gelatin, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, polystyrene, styrene/acrylonitrile copolymer, styrene-butadiene-acrylonitrile copolymer, polyethylene, polypropylene, cellulose acetate, polyethylene terephthalate, polyamide, ethylene-acrylic acid plastic, ethylene-vinyl acetate plastic, ethylene-vinyl alcohol plastic, lipophilic material (oils and fats, fatty acid, fatty acid ester of sugar, hydrocarbon, aromatic hydrocarbons, chain ether, higher fatty acid ester, or higher alcohols, for example), or various natural gelling agents, or a combination thereof.
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Figure 1C shows another example of the aerosol generation consumable 100. In this example, the one or more somatosensory compounds 106 is located around a portion of a periphery of the aerosol precursor material 104. That is to say that the one or more somatosensory compounds 106 extend around an outside of the aerosol precursor material 104, but only along a partial length of the aerosol precursor material 104. In this example, the first region is considered to be partially along an outside of the second region. The diameter of the consumable 100 in this example may be uniform across its length. That is to say that the region of aerosol precursor material 104 surrounded by the at least one or more somatosensory compounds 106 has a small outer diameter.
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The one or more somatosensory compounds 106 is substantially ring-shaped in this arrangement.
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Figure 1D shows another example of the aerosol generation consumable 100. In this example, the one or more somatosensory compounds 106 is located at an end of the aerosol precursor material 104. In this example, the first region is considered to be at an end of the second region.
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For the avoidance for doubt, the one or more somatosensory compounds 106 may be surrounded by encapsulating material in any of the examples shown in Figures 1A, 1B, 1C or 1D.
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Figure 2 shows an example of a cross-section of the consumable 100 showing additional optional features.
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The aerosol generation consumable 100 may comprise an outer body 102. The outer body 102 may be formed of a single paper wrapper or of a plurality of paper wrappers, as well known in the art. The aerosol generation consumable 100 may be substantially cylindrical.
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The aerosol generation consumable 100 may comprise a cooling section 108. The one or more somatosensory compounds 106 (first region) may be located at or towards the distal end 116 of the consumable aerosol generation consumable 100. As will be described in more detail below, when the aerosol generation consumable 100 is inserted into a chamber of the aerosol generation device correctly (a first configuration), the somatosensory compound section 106 is within the cooler region of the chamber.
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The aerosol generation consumable 100 may comprise a filter section 110 and potentially a further cooling section (not shown). The aerosol precursor material 104, somatosensory compound 106, cooling section 108 and filter section 110 may be arranged along a longitudinal axis LA (as shown in Figure 2). These components may be arranged adjacent to each other and in sequence by wrapping individually and or collectively with plug wrappers and the outer wrappers forming the outer body 102.
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In another embodiment, the aerosol generation consumable 100 may not have a filter section 110.
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The length of the aerosol generation consumable 100 may be defined by the length of the aerosol precursor material section 104, the somatosensory compound section 106, the cooling section 108 and, when present, the filter section 100.
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The cooling section 108 may be formed of at least a paper tube segment and be located between the aerosol precursor material section 104 and the filter section 110. The filter section 110 may form the proximal end 112 of the aerosol generation consumable 100. It may comprise one or several segments of adjacent segments comprising filtration material, such as cellulose acetate or paper. The cooling section 108 may be substantially internally free of material. Alternatively, the cooling section 108 may be filled with a filler material such as fibres, preferably made of a natural material, for example, cellulose fibres, plant fibres or the like.
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The consumable 100 may include one or more perforations (not shown) for allowing air into the consumable 100 for cooling purposes.
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Figures 2 to 4 are based on the arrangement of aerosol precursor material 104 and somatosensory compounds 106 as shown in figure 1B, but the arrangements from any one of figures 1A, or 1C to 1D could equally be used as basis for figure 2.
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Figure 3 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of an aerosol generation consumable 100 inserted into an aerosol generation device 200. In other words, Figure 3 shows a system 300 comprising the aerosol generation device 200 and the consumable 100, In this example, the aerosol generation consumable 100 has been inserted correctly into the aerosol generation device 200. That is, the consumable 100 is in the first configuration.
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In this example, the aerosol generation device 200 includes a chamber 250 in which the consumable article 100 is received.
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The invention is not limited to the specific aerosol generation consumable 100 or aerosol generation device 200 described herein. That is, the description of the aerosol generation consumable 100 and aerosol generation device 200 is provided for illustrative purposes only. The skilled person will appreciate that alternative constructions of aerosol generation devices and aerosol generation consumables will be compatible with the present invention. For example, the aerosol generation consumable 100 may not extend out of the aerosol generation device 200.
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The chamber 250 may comprise a proximal end 252 and a distal end 254. The chamber 250 may comprise an opening 256 at the proximal end 252 for receiving the aerosol generation consumable 100. The chamber 250 may comprise one or more side walls 258 arranged between the proximal end 252 and the distal end 254. The chamber 250 may comprise a heater region 260 and a cooler region 262. The cooler region 262 is effectively the region of the chamber 250 that is not bound by the heater region 260.
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The chamber 250 defines a longitudinal axis Lc. In one example, the chamber 250 has an oval shaped (or non-circular) cross-section. The shape of the chamber 250 may enable air to flow into the chamber 250 along an outside of the aerosol generation consumable 100.
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When inserted, the aerosol generation consumable 100 may protrude from the chamber 250. The user may draw on a mouth end of the aerosol generation consumable 100 (which may typically comprise a mouthpiece part such as a filter or tube segment) to inhale generated aerosol. Alternatively, when inserted, the aerosol generation consumable 100 may be wholly contained within the chamber 250. The user may draw on a mouthpiece of the aerosol generation device 200 to inhale generated aerosol. In this example, the mouthpiece may include a filter. In this example, the chamber 250 may comprise an ejection mechanism to eject the aerosol generation consumable 100 from the chamber 250.
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The aerosol generation device 200 may comprise a heater 210 configured to provide heat to the aerosol precursor material 104 of the aerosol generation consumable 100, in use. Alternatively, the aerosol generation device 200 comprises a plurality of heaters 210. The heater 210 is positioned so as to be in thermal contact with the aerosol precursor material 104 of the aerosol generation consumable 100 to heat it, in use. The heater 210 may be a coil, an induction coil, a ceramic heater, a resistive heater (such as a flat resistive heater), a thin film heater, a thick film heater (for instance formed by additive-manufacturing technique on the outer wall of the chamber) or the like, configured to heat the aerosol precursor material 104 of the aerosol generation consumable 100. In the example shown in Figure 3, the heater 210 is substantially in contact with a wall of the chamber 250. Specifically, the heater 210 is substantially in contact with a wall of the heater region 260 of the chamber 250.
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In this example, the heater 210 is configured to be a stimulus. That is, the heater 210 as the stimulus to generate the aerosol precursor material and release the one or more somatosensory compounds 106 in the second configuration.
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The heater 210 may be arranged about one of the one or more side walls 258 of the chamber 250. Alternatively, the heater 210 may be formed as part of the one or more heater region 260 side walls 258 of the chamber 250. When the aerosol generation consumable 100 is inserted into the chamber 250 correctly (a first configuration), the heater 210 may substantially overlap with at least a portion of the aerosol precursor material 104 of the aerosol generation consumable 100, such that the aerosol precursor material section 104 of the aerosol generation consumable 100 is within the heater region 260 of the chamber 250. Further, the at least one somatosensory compound 106 is outside of the heating zone of the heaters. The at least one somatosensory may be subject to indirect or residual heating, but would not be in the heating zone bound (or enclosed) by the heater 210. In other words, the residual heat that the one or more somatosensory compounds 106 receives would not be sufficient to release the one or more somatosensory compounds 106. The one or more somatosensory compounds 106 would be considered to be distanced from the stimulus in the first configuration.
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In the first configuration, the distal end 116 of the consumable may be considered to abut the distal end of the chamber 254 and the longitudinal axis LA of the consumable 100 is substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis LC of the chamber. That is to say that the longitudinal axis LA of the consumable 100 is substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis LC of the chamber.
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Figure 4A shows the aerosol generation consumable 100, aerosol generation device 200 and chamber 250 as described in relation to Figure 3, except that the aerosol generation consumable 100 is only partially inserted into the chamber 250. That is to say that the consumable 100 is in a second configuration. In this example, the distal end 116 of the consumable 100 is not abutting the distal end of the chamber 254.
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In this configuration, the heater 210 may substantially overlap with the aerosol precursor material 104 and the at least one somatosensory compound 106 of the aerosol generation consumable 100. The somatosensory compound section 106 is at least partially located within the heater region 260 of the chamber 250.
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Upon heating, the one or more somatosensory compounds 106 may vaporise and pass through the aerosol precursor material 104 and mix with the generated aerosol. That is, the encapsulating material 124 may be melted to release the one or more somatosensory compounds 106, which would then be vaporised.
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The mix of somatosensory compounds and generated aerosol may then enter the cooling section 108 (if present) and filter section 110 (if present). The generated aerosol, comprising the somatosensory compounds, may then be inhaled by the user.
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The somatosensory compounds provide a somatosensory effect to the user, thereby alerting the user that the aerosol generation consumable 100 is only partially inserted (in the second configuration).
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That is to say that in the second configuration, the distal end 116 of the consumable 100 is separated from the distal end chamber 254 and/or the longitudinal axis LA of the consumable 100 is oblique with the longitudinal axis LC of the chamber.
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In one example, the separation distance is between 5 and 10 mm. This is because the heater 210, as shown in figure 4A is also separated from the distal end of the chamber 250 by 5 to 10 mm. If the distal end of the consumable 100 is separated from the distal end of the chamber 254, then the one or more somatosensory compounds 106 would be released irrespective of which arrangement of consumable 100 from figures 1A to 1D was utilised.
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That is to say that in the second configuration, the stimulus (in the form of a heater in this example) is configured to enclose the one or more somatosensory compounds 106.
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Figure 4B shows another example of the consumable inserted in the second configuration. In this example, the longitudinal axis of the consumable LA is not aligned with the longitudinal axis LC of the chamber. As such, the consumable 100 is not fully inserted into the chamber 250, which again results in the one or more somatosensory compounds 106 being present in the region bound by the heater 210. That is to say that the angle between the longitudinal axis LA of the consumable 100 and the longitudinal axis LC of the chamber 250 are oblique with respect to each other. In this example, the consumable 106 is as shown and described in relation to figure 1C. In one example, in the second configuration the angle between the longitudinal axis LA of the consumable 100 and the longitudinal axis LC of the chamber 250 is at least 5 degrees, more preferably 8 degrees.
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As a result, the one or more somatosensory compounds 106 would be released in the same manner as described in relation to figure 4A to indicate that the consumable had not been inserted correctly. In this example, the stimulus (in the form of the heater 210) would be considered to enclose the one or more somatosensory compounds 106 in the second configuration.
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Figure 5A shows an example of an aerosol generation device 200 in which the heater 210 comprises a heater projection 210 that is configured to extend into the chamber 250 from the distal end 254 and penetrate the consumable 100 in use.- In this example, the consumable 100 has the arrangement as shown in Figure 1C in which the at least one somatosensory compound 106 is arranged around at least part of the periphery of the aerosol precursor material 104.
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In the first configuration where the aerosol generation consumable 100 is fully inserted into the chamber 250 (shown in Figure 5A), the longitudinal axis of the consumable is configured to be parallel with the heater projection 210, and therefore distanced from the one or more somatosensory compounds 106. That is to say that the inner diameter of the ring of one or more somatosensory compounds 106 is greater than the width/diameter of the heater projection 210 (depending on whether the heater projection is relatively flat or a cylinder). That is to say that in the first configuration, the stimulus (in the form of a heater projection 210 is configured to be distanced from the one or more somatosensory compounds 106 in the first configuration, as shown in Figure 5A.
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In the second configuration, as shown in Figure 5B, where the aerosol generation consumable 100 is inserted into the chamber 250 at an oblique angle (i.e. in the second configuration), the heater projection 210 is configured to contact the one or more somatosensory compounds to release them. That is, in this example, pressure is exerted on the one or more somatosensory compounds 106 (and the encapsulating material 124, if present) to release the one or more somatosensory compounds 106. In this example, the stimulus is the heater projection that is configured to exert pressure on the one or more somatosensory compounds. In one example, the projection may not be a heater projection, but rather just act to exert pressure and the heater arrangement may be as shown in Figure 4A.
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In one example, the wherein the encapsulating material 124 has a melting point of between 150°C and 350°C. That is, the encapsulating material may be configured to melt when encapsulated or contacted by a heater 210, which would be configured to operate between 150°C and 350°C during the heating mode. In other examples, the encapsulating material has a melting point of above 350°C. Using a consumable comprising an encapsulating material 124 with this higher melting temperature means that it would only melt in the event of the aerosol generation device 200 overheating and operating outside of the design parameters. In other words, the second configuration in this example is configured to be when the device 200 is overheating. In this scenario, the one or more somatosensory compounds would be released to indicate to the user that the aerosol generation device 200 is not working optimally.
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Although preferred embodiments have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications might be made without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims and as described above.