EP4602949A1

EP4602949A1 - Aerosol generating apparatus

Info

Publication number: EP4602949A1
Application number: EP24157770.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: designation of the inventor has not yet been filed The
Original assignee: Imperial Tobacco Ltd United Kingdom
Current assignee: Imperial Tobacco Ltd United Kingdom
Priority date: 2024-02-15
Filing date: 2024-02-15
Publication date: 2025-08-20
Also published as: WO2025172411A1

Abstract

The invention provides an aerosol generating apparatus (1, 100) comprising a body (50) and heating system (52, 110), the heating system comprising an elongate heating element (54, 120) and a frame (130) for retaining a consumable (70) about the heating element, the frame defining a heating chamber (135). The frame comprises a transverse base portion (140) surrounding a base of the heating element and at least one longitudinal side wall (150) connected to the transverse base portion by a concave surface (160).

Description

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an aerosol generating apparatus.

BACKGROUND

A typical aerosol generating apparatus may comprise a power supply, an aerosol generating unit that is driven by the power supply, an aerosol precursor, which in use is aerosolised by the aerosol generating unit to generate an aerosol, and a delivery system for delivery of the aerosol to a user.
A drawback with known aerosol generating apparatuses is cleaning the internal components of the aerosol generating apparatus, and in particular cleaning those components that contact the aerosol precursor in use.
In spite of the effort already invested in the development of aerosol generating apparatuses/systems further improvements are desirable.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure provides aerosol generating apparatus that comprises a body and heating system, the heating system comprising an elongate heating element and a frame for retaining a consumable about the heating element and the frame defining a heating chamber. The frame comprises a transverse base portion surrounding a base of the heating element.
In some examples, the frame further comprises at least one longitudinal side wall connected to the base portion by a concave surface.
By providing a concave surface between the side wall and the base portion of the frame, the heating chamber is more easily cleaned by a tool passing over the concave surface, for example when compared to a square edge. In this way, the act of cleaning the apparatus is made easier for the user and the cleanliness of the apparatus overall may be improved.
In some examples, the at least one longitudinal side wall defines an aperture exposing the heating element. The aperture may extend along both a longitudinal axis, parallel to the at least one longitudinal side wall, and a transverse axis, parallel with the transverse base portion. In this way, the heating element and the heating chamber may be more easily accessed by the user for cleaning. In this way, the act of cleaning the apparatus is made easier for the user and the cleanliness of the apparatus overall may be improved. The aerosol generating apparatus may comprise a movable cover for selectively opening and closing the aperture.
In some examples, the frame comprises two longitudinal side walls on opposing sides of the heating element, wherein the two longitudinal side walls at least partially define the heating chamber, and wherein the two longitudinal side walls define two apertures on opposing sides of the heating element for exposing the heating element. In this way, the heating element and the heating chamber may be more easily accessed by the user for cleaning. In this way, the act of cleaning the apparatus is made easier for the user and the cleanliness of the apparatus overall may be improved. Further, by exposing the heating element on both sides, the user may access the heating element and the heating chamber from a number of different sides and angles, thereby further improving the ease of access to the heating element for the user.
In some examples, the at least one side wall defines a protruding surface extending into the heating chamber. The protruding surface may be curved, and in some examples the protruding surface is convex. In this way, the angle at which the user may insert a cleaning tool into the heating chamber may be increased as the protruding side wall allows for a shallow angle of approach compared to a flat side wall. Therefore, the user may access the heating element and the heating chamber from a wider range of angles, thereby further improving the ease of access to the heating element for the user.
Put another way, the at least one side wall may have a convex cross section in the transverse plane, i.e., the plane parallel to the transverse base portion, and a concave cross section in the longitudinal plane.
The protruding surface may extend in the longitudinal direction, for example in a direction normal to the transverse base portion of the frame. The protruding surface of the at least one longitudinal side wall may face the heating element. In the case where the frame comprises two longitudinal side walls on opposing sides of the heating element, the protruding surface of one of the longitudinal side wall may face the other longitudinal side wall and the heating element. In the case where the frame comprises two longitudinal side walls on opposing sides of the heating element, and where both of the longitudinal side walls comprises a protruding surface, the protruding surfaces of the longitudinal side walls may face each other and may both face the heating element.
A given point on the protruding surface may protrude into the heating chamber by a distance proportional to a displacement of said given point from the aperture. Put another way, the protruding surface may protrude into the heating chamber by a minimal distance adjacent to the aperture and the protruding surface may protrude into the heating chamber by a maximal distance at a central point of the at least one longitudinal side wall.
In some examples, wherein the base portion is connected to the heating element by way of one or more curved surfaces. In this way, the area between the base portion and the heating element may be more easily cleaned by a tool passing over the curved surface, for example when compared to a square edge. In this way, the act of cleaning the heating element is made easier for the user and the cleanliness of the apparatus overall may be improved.
In some examples, each of the one or more curved surfaces forms an airflow channel in the transverse base portion. In this way, the flow of air from the heating chamber into the consumable received on the heating element may be improved by providing an airflow channel in the base portion.
In some examples, a depth of the channel increases with proximity to the heating element. In this way, the flow of air may be guided into and through the consumable by the curved surface, thereby improving the flow of air through the apparatus.
In some examples, the curved surface of the base portion is at least part of a hyperbolic paraboloid in shape. In this way, the curved surface may provide two channels on either side of the heating element, whilst being flush with the heating element about the remainder of the heating element circumference. Accordingly, the cleaning of the heating element as well as the air flow through the consumable are both improved.
The present disclosure also provides an aerosol generating apparatus comprising a body and heating system, the heating system comprising an elongate heating element and a frame for retaining a consumable about the heating element and the frame defining a heating chamber. The frame comprises a transverse base portion surrounding a base of the heating element and at least one longitudinal side wall connected to the transverse base portion.
In some examples, the at least one longitudinal side wall defines a protruding surface extending into the heating chamber.
In this way, the angle at which the user may insert a cleaning tool into the heating chamber may be increased as the protruding side wall allows for a shallow angle of approach compared to a flat side wall. Therefore, the user may access the heating element and the heating chamber from a wider range of angles, thereby further improving the ease of access to the heating element for the user.
In some examples, the protruding surface is curved, and in some examples the protruding surface is convex. In this way, the angle at which the user may insert a cleaning tool into the heating chamber may be increased as the curved side wall allows for a shallow angle of approach compared to a flat side wall. Therefore, the user may access the heating element and the heating chamber from a wider range of angles, thereby further improving the ease of access to the heating element for the user.
In some examples, the at least one longitudinal side wall is connected to the base portion by a concave surface. By providing a concave surface between the side wall and the base portion of the frame, the heating chamber is more easily cleaned by a tool passing over the concave surface, for example when compared to a square edge. In this way, the act of cleaning the apparatus is made easier for the user and the cleanliness of the apparatus overall may be improved. Put another way, the at least one side wall may have a convex cross section in the transverse plane and a concave cross section in the longitudinal plane.
In some examples, the at least one longitudinal side wall defines an aperture exposing the heating element. In this way, the heating element and the heating chamber may be more easily accessed by the user for cleaning. In this way, the act of cleaning the apparatus is made easier for the user and the cleanliness of the apparatus overall may be improved. The aerosol generating apparatus may comprise a movable cover for selectively opening and closing the aperture.
In some examples, the frame comprises two longitudinal side walls on opposing sides of the heating element, wherein the two longitudinal side walls at least partially define the heating chamber, and wherein the two longitudinal side walls define two apertures on opposing sides of the heating element for exposing the heating element. In this way, the heating element and the heating chamber may be more easily accessed by the user for cleaning. In this way, the act of cleaning the apparatus is made easier for the user and the cleanliness of the apparatus overall may be improved. Further, by exposing the heating element on both sides, the user may access the heating element and the heating chamber from a number of different sides and angles, thereby further improving the ease of access to the heating element for the user.
In some examples, the base portion is connected to the heating element by way of one or more curved surfaces. In this way, the area between the base portion and the heating element may be more easily cleaned by a tool passing over the curved surface, for example when compared to a square edge. In this way, the act of cleaning the heating element is made easier for the user and the cleanliness of the apparatus overall may be improved.
In some examples, each of the one or more curved surfaces forms an airflow channel in the transverse base portion. In this way, the flow of air from the heating chamber into the consumable received on the heating element may be improved by providing an airflow channel in the base portion.
In some examples, a depth of the channel increases with proximity to the heating element. In this way, the flow of air may be guided into and through the consumable by the curved surface, thereby improving the flow of air through the apparatus.
In some examples, the curved surface of the base portion is at least part of a hyperbolic paraboloid in shape. In this way, the curved surface may provide two channels on either side of the heating element, whilst being flush with the heating element about the remainder of the heating element circumference. Accordingly, the cleaning of the heating element as well as the air flow through the consumable are both improved.
The present disclosure also provides a system for generating an aerosol. The system comprises a consumable having a flat end face and an aerosol generating apparatus as described above for receiving the consumable such that the flat end face of the consumable abuts the transverse base portion of the frame.
In some examples, the airflow channel formed in the transverse base portion permit airflow between the transverse base portion and the flat end face of the consumable.
In this way, the flow of air from the heating chamber into the consumable received on the heating element may be improved by providing an airflow channel in the base portion.
The preceding summary is provided for purposes of summarizing some examples to provide a basic understanding of aspects of the subject matter described herein. Accordingly, the above-described features should not be construed to narrow the scope or spirit of the subject matter described herein in any way. Moreover, the above and/or proceeding examples may be combined in any suitable combination to provide further examples, except where such a combination is clearly impermissible or expressly avoided. Other features, aspects, and advantages of the subject matter described herein will become apparent from the following text and the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Aspects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following description of examples in reference to the appended drawings in which like numerals denote like elements.

Fig. 1 is a block system diagram showing an example aerosol generating apparatus.
Fig. 2 is a block system diagram showing an example implementation of the apparatus of Fig. 1, where the aerosol generating apparatus is configured to generate aerosol from a solid precursor.
Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example implementation of the apparatus of Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 is a schematic cross section of a heating chamber of an aerosol generating apparatus according to an aspect of the invention.
Fig. 5 is a schematic perspective view of a heating chamber of an aerosol generating apparatus according to an aspect of the invention.
Fig. 6 is a schematic perspective view of a heating chamber of an aerosol generating apparatus according to an aspect of the invention.
Fig. 7 is a schematic perspective view of a heating chamber of an aerosol generating apparatus according to an aspect of the invention.
Fig. 8 is a schematic perspective view of a heating chamber of an aerosol generating apparatus according to an aspect of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Before describing several examples implementing the present disclosure, it is to be understood that the present disclosure is not limited by specific construction details or process steps set forth in the following description and accompanying drawings. Rather, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the present disclosure that the systems, apparatuses and/or methods described herein could be embodied differently and/or be practiced or carried out in various alternative ways.
Unless otherwise defined herein, scientific and technical terms used in connection with the presently disclosed inventive concept(s) shall have the meanings that are commonly understood by those of ordinary skill in the art, and known techniques and procedures may be performed according to conventional methods well known in the art and as described in various general and more specific references that may be cited and discussed in the present specification.
Any patents, published patent applications, and non-patent publications mentioned in the specification are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
All examples implementing the present disclosure can be made and executed without undue experimentation in light of the present disclosure. While particular examples have been described, it will be apparent to those of skill in the art that variations may be applied to the systems, apparatus, and/or methods and in the steps or in the sequence of steps of the methods described herein without departing from the concept, spirit, and scope of the inventive concept(s). All such similar substitutions and modifications apparent to those skilled in the art are deemed to be within the spirit, scope, and concept of the inventive concept(s) as defined by the appended claims.
The use of the term "a" or "an" in the claims and/or the specification may mean "one," as well as "one or more," "at least one," and "one or more than one." As such, the terms "a," "an," and "the," as well as all singular terms, include plural referents unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Likewise, plural terms shall include the singular unless otherwise required by context.
The use of the term "or" in the present disclosure (including the claims) is used to mean an inclusive "and/or" unless explicitly indicated to refer to alternatives only or unless the alternatives are mutually exclusive. For example, a condition "A or B" is satisfied by any of the following: A is true (or present) and B is false (or not present), A is false (or not present) and B is true (or present), and both A and B are true (or present).
As used in this specification and claim(s), the words "comprising, "having," "including," or "containing" (and any forms thereof, such as "comprise" and "comprises," "have" and "has," "includes" and "include," or "contains" and "contain," respectively) are inclusive or open-ended and do not exclude additional, unrecited elements or method steps.
Unless otherwise explicitly stated as incompatible, or the physics or otherwise of the embodiments, examples, or claims prevent such a combination, the features of examples disclosed herein, and of the claims, may be integrated together in any suitable arrangement, especially ones where there is a beneficial effect in doing so. This is not limited to only any specified benefit, and instead may arise from an "ex post facto" benefit. This is to say that the combination of features is not limited by the described forms, particularly the form (e.g. numbering) of example(s), embodiment(s), or dependency of claim(s). Moreover, this also applies to the phrase "in one embodiment," "according to an embodiment," and the like, which are merely a stylistic form of wording and are not to be construed as limiting the following features to a separate embodiment to all other instances of the same or similar wording. This is to say, a reference to 'an,' 'one,' or 'some' embodiment(s) may be a reference to any one or more, and/or all embodiments, or combination(s) thereof, disclosed. Also, similarly, the reference to "the" embodiment may not be limited to the immediately preceding embodiment. Further, all references to one or more embodiments or examples are to be construed as non-limiting to the claims.
The present disclosure may be better understood in view of the following explanations, wherein the terms used that are separated by "or" may be used interchangeably:
As used herein, an "aerosol generating apparatus" (or "electronic(e)-cigarette") may be an apparatus configured to deliver an aerosol to a user for inhalation by the user. The apparatus may additionally/alternatively be referred to as a "smoking substitute apparatus", if it is intended to be used instead of a conventional combustible smoking article. As used herein a combustible "smoking article" may refer to a cigarette, cigar, pipe or other article, that produces smoke (an aerosol comprising solid particulates and gas) via heating above the thermal decomposition temperature (typically by combustion and/or pyrolysis). An aerosol generated by the apparatus may comprise an aerosol with particle sizes of 0.2 - 7 microns, or less than 10 microns, or less than 7 microns. This particle size may be achieved by control of one or more of: heater temperature; cooling rate as the vapour condenses to an aerosol; flow properties including turbulence and velocity. The generation of aerosol by the aerosol generating apparatus may be controlled by an input device. The input device may be configured to be user-activated, and may for example include or take the form of an actuator (e.g. actuation button) and/or an airflow sensor.
Each occurrence of the aerosol generating apparatus being caused to generate aerosol for a period of time (which may be variable) may be referred to as an "activation" of the aerosol generating apparatus. The aerosol generating apparatus may be arranged to allow an amount of aerosol delivered to a user to be varied per activation (as opposed to delivering a fixed dose of aerosol), e.g. by activating an aerosol generating unit of the apparatus for a variable amount of time, e.g. based on the strength/duration of a draw of a user through a flow path of the apparatus (to replicate an effect of smoking a conventional combustible smoking article).
The aerosol generating apparatus may be portable. As used herein, the term "portable" may refer to the apparatus being for use when held by a user.
As used herein, an "aerosol generating system" may be a system that includes an aerosol generating apparatus and optionally other circuitry/components associated with the function of the apparatus, e.g. one or more external devices and/or one or more external components (here "external" is intended to mean external to the aerosol generating apparatus). As used herein, an "external device" and "external component" may include one or more of a: a charging device, a mobile device (which may be connected to the aerosol generating apparatus, e.g. via a wireless or wired connection); a networked-based computer (e.g. a remote server); a cloud-based computer; any other server system.
An example aerosol generating system may be a system for managing an aerosol generating apparatus. Such a system may include, for example, a mobile device, a network server, as well as the aerosol generating apparatus.
As used herein, an "aerosol" may include a suspension of precursor, including as one or more of: solid particles; liquid droplets; gas. Said suspension may be in a gas including air. An aerosol herein may generally refer to/include a vapour. An aerosol may include one or more components of the precursor. As used herein, a "precursor" may include one or more of a: liquid; solid; gel; loose leaf material; other substance. The precursor may be processed by an aerosol generating unit of an aerosol generating apparatus to generate an aerosol. The precursor may include one or more of: an active component; a carrier; a flavouring. The active component may include one or more of nicotine; caffeine; a cannabidiol oil; a non-pharmaceutical formulation, e.g. a formulation which is not for treatment of a disease or physiological malfunction of the human body. The active component may be carried by the carrier, which may be a liquid, including propylene glycol and/or glycerine. The term "flavouring" may refer to a component that provides a taste and/or a smell to the user. The flavouring may include one or more of: Ethylvanillin (vanilla); menthol, Isoamyl acetate (banana oil); or other. The precursor may include a substrate, e.g. reconstituted tobacco to carry one or more of the active component; a carrier; a flavouring.
As used herein, a "storage portion" may be a portion of the apparatus adapted to store the precursor. It may be implemented as fluid-holding reservoir or carrier for solid material depending on the implementation of the precursor as defined above.
As used herein, a "flow path" may refer to a path or enclosed passageway through an aerosol generating apparatus, e.g. for delivery of an aerosol to a user. The flow path may be arranged to receive aerosol from an aerosol generating unit. When referring to the flow path, upstream and downstream may be defined in respect of a direction of flow in the flow path, e.g. with an outlet being downstream of an inlet.
As used herein, a "delivery system" may be a system operative to deliver an aerosol to a user. The delivery system may include a mouthpiece and a flow path.
As used herein, a "flow" may refer to a flow in a flow path. A flow may include aerosol generated from the precursor. The flow may include air, which may be induced into the flow path via a puff by a user. As used herein, a "puff" (or "inhale" or "draw") by a user may refer to expansion of lungs and/or oral cavity of a user to create a pressure reduction that induces flow through the flow path.
As used herein, an "aerosol generating unit" may refer to a device configured to generate an aerosol from a precursor. The aerosol generating unit may include a unit to generate a vapour directly from the precursor (e.g. a heating system or other system) or an aerosol directly from the precursor (e.g. an atomiser including an ultrasonic system, a flow expansion system operative to carry droplets of the precursor in the flow without using electrical energy or other system). A plurality of aerosol generating units to generate a plurality of aerosols (for example, from a plurality of different aerosol precursors) may be present in an aerosol generating apparatus.
As used herein, a "heating system" may referto an arrangement of at least one heating element, which is operable to aerosolise a precursor once heated. The at least one heating element may be electrically resistive to produce heat from the flow of electrical current therethrough. The at least one heating element may be arranged as a susceptor to produce heat when penetrated by an alternating magnetic field. The heating system may be configured to heat a precursor to below 300 or 350 degrees C, including without combustion.
As used herein, a "consumable" may refer to a unit that includes a precursor. The consumable may include an aerosol generating unit, e.g. it may be arranged as a cartomizer. The consumable may include a mouthpiece. The consumable may include an information carrying medium. With liquid or gel implementations of the precursor, e.g. an e-liquid, the consumable may be referred to as a "capsule" or a "pod" or an "e-liquid consumable". The capsule/pod may include a storage portion, e.g. a reservoir or tank, for storage of the precursor. With solid material implementations of the precursor, e.g. tobacco or reconstituted tobacco formulation, the consumable may be referred to as a "stick" or "package" or "heat-not-burn consumable". In a heat-not-burn consumable, the mouthpiece may be implemented as a filter and the consumable may be arranged to carry the precursor. The consumable may be implemented as a dosage or pre-portioned amount of material, including a loose-leaf product.
As used herein "heat-not-burn" (or "HNB" or "heated precursor") may refer to the heating of a precursor, typically tobacco, without combustion, or without substantial combustion (i.e. localised combustion may be experienced of limited portions of the precursor, including of less than 5% of the total volume).
Referring to Fig. 1, an example aerosol generating apparatus 1 includes a power supply 2, for supply of electrical energy. The apparatus 1 includes an aerosol generating unit 4 that is driven by the power supply 2. The power supply 2 may include an electric power supply in the form of a battery and/or an electrical connection to an external power source. The apparatus 1 includes a precursor 6, which in use is aerosolised by the aerosol generating unit 4 to generate an aerosol. The apparatus 2 includes a delivery system 8 for delivery of the aerosol to a user.
Electrical circuitry (not shown in figure 1) may be implemented to control the interoperability of the power supply 4 and aerosol generating unit 6.
In variant examples, which are not illustrated, the power supply 2 may be omitted since, e.g. an aerosol generating unit implemented as an atomiser with flow expansion may not require a power supply.
Fig. 2 shows an implementation of the apparatus 1 of Fig. 1, where the aerosol generating apparatus 1 is configured to generate aerosol by a-heat not-burn process.
In this example, the apparatus 1 includes a device body 50 and a consumable 70.
In this example, the body 50 includes the power supply 4 and a heating system 52. The heating system 54 includes at least one heating element 54. The body may additionally include any one or more of electrical circuitry 56, a memory 58, a wireless interface 60, one or more other components 62.
The electrical circuitry 56 may include a processing resource for controlling one or more operations of the body 50, e.g. based on instructions stored in the memory 58.
The wireless interface 60 may be configured to communicate wirelessly with an external (e.g. mobile) device, e.g. via Bluetooth.
The other component(s) 62 may include an actuator, one or more user interface devices configured to convey information to a user and/or a charging port, for example (see e.g. Fig. 3).
The body 50 is configured to engage with the consumable 70 such that the at least one heating element 54 of the heating system 52 penetrates into the solid precursor 6 of the consumable. In use, a user may activate the aerosol generating apparatus 1 to cause the heating system 52 of the body 50 to cause the at least one heating element 54 to heat the solid precursor 6 of the consumable (without combusting it) by conductive heat transfer, to generate an aerosol which is inhaled by the user.
Fig. 3 shows an example implementation of the aerosol generating device 1 of Fig. 2.
As depicted in Fig. 3, the consumable 70 is implemented as a stick, which is engaged with the body 50 by inserting the stick into an aperture at a top end 53 of the body 50, which causes the at least one heating element 54 of the heating system 52 to penetrate into the solid precursor 6.
The consumable 70 includes the solid precursor 6 proximal to the body 50, and a filter distal to the body 50. The filter serves as the mouthpiece of the consumable 70 and thus the apparatus 1 as a whole. The solid precursor 6 may be a reconstituted tobacco formulation.
In this example, the at least one heating element 54 is a rod-shaped element with a circular transverse profile. Other heating element shapes are possible, e.g. the at least one heating element may be blade-shaped (with a rectangular transverse profile) or tube-shaped (e.g. with a hollow transverse profile).
In this example, the body 50 includes a cap 51. In use the cap 51 is engaged at a top end 53 of the body 50. Although not apparent from Fig. 3, the cap 51 is moveable relative to the body 50. In particular, the cap 51 is slidable and can slide along a longitudinal axis of the body 50.
The body 50 also includes an actuator 55 on an outer surface of the body 50. In this example, the actuator 55 has the form of a button.
The body 50 also includes a user interface device configured to convey information to a user. Here, the user interface device is implemented as a plurality of lights 57, which may e.g. be configured to illuminate when the apparatus 1 is activated and/or to indicate a charging state of the power supply 4. Other user interface devices are possible, e.g. to convey information haptically or audibly to a user. The body may also include an airflow sensor which detects airflow in the aerosol generating apparatus 1 (e.g. caused by a user inhaling through the consumable 70). This may be used to count puffs, for example.
In this example, the consumable 70 includes a flow path which transmits aerosol generated by the at least one heating element 54 to the mouthpiece of the consumable.
In this example, the aerosol generating unit 4 is provided by the above-described heating system 52 and the delivery system 8 is provided by the above-described flow path and mouthpiece of the consumable 70.
Referring to Fig. 4 an aerosol generating apparatus 100, which may be implemented in any of the preceding examples, comprises a body and heating system 110 arranged at a distal end of the body. The heating system comprises a heating element 120 and a frame 130 for retaining a consumable about the heating element 120.
The frame defines a heating chamber 135 and comprises a base portion 140 surrounding a base of the heating element 120 and at two side walls 150. The side walls 150 are connected to the base portion 140 by concave surfaces 160.
The concave surfaces 160 are significantly easier for the user to clean by running a cleaning tool over the concave surfaces 160 compared to cleaning a right angled corner, where debris would otherwise build up over time and use.
Referring to Fig. 5, the aerosol generating apparatus 100 is shown in a perspective view. As shown in Fig. 5, the frame 130 comprises an aperture 137 exposing the heating element 120. In particular, the frame 130 comprises no wall connecting the two side walls 150, other than the base portion 140 and optionally a top portion (not shown). Apertures 137 are provided on opposing sides of the frame 130 such that the heating chamber 135 is open on both sides and a through-hole is defined extending through the frame 130.
The apertures 137, and the through hole, provide external access to the heating element 120 for cleaning.
Referring to Fig. 6, the aerosol generating apparatus 100 is shown in a perspective view. In the example shown in Fig. 6, the side walls 150 of the frame 130 comprise a protruding surface 170 (in this case a generally convex protruding surface) that extends into the heating chamber 135 and towards the heating element 120. Put another way, the side walls 150 have a curved inner surface, or a protruding surface 170. The side walls have a convex cross section in the transverse plane and a concave cross section in the longitudinal plane.
The protruding surface 170 of the side walls 150 allow a greater angle of approach to the heating element 120, thereby improving the access of the user to the heating chamber 135 for cleaning.
Further, in the example shown in Fig. 6, the base portion 140 comprises a curved surface 180 adjacent to the heating element 120. In the particular example shown in Fig. 6, the curved surface 180 is a concave surface similar to the concaved surfaces 160 connecting the side walls 150 and the base portion 140. Once again, the curved surface 180 is significantly easier for the user to clean by running a cleaning tool over the curved surface 180 compared to cleaning a right angled corner, where debris would otherwise build up overtime and use.
Referring to Fig. 7, the base portion 140 comprises curved surfaces 190 having an alternative shape to the curved surface 180 shown in Fig. 6.
In the example shown in Fig. 7, the curved surfaces 190 are formed in the base portion 140, thereby forming airflow channels in the base portion 140. In particular, the airflow channels formed in the base portion allow air to flow from the heating chamber 135 and into a consumable received on the heating element 120. The depth of the airflow channels defined by the curved surface 190 increases with proximity to the heating element.
The curved surfaces 190 are at least part of a hyperbolic paraboloid in shape. Thus, the airflow channels formed by the curved surfaces 190 do not extend about the entire circumference of the heating element. Thus, when a consumable is received on the heating element 120, the end of the consumable rests on the surface of the base 140 absent of the curved surfaces 190, such that the airflow channels formed by the curved surfaces 190 remain unobscured by the consumable and air flow is not impeded. Referring to Fig. 8, the base portion 140 comprises a curved surface 200 having an alternative shape to the curved surfaces 180, 190 shown in Figs. 6 and 7. An additional such curved surface may be provided on the opposite side of the heating element 120.
In the example shown in Fig. 8, the curved surface 200 is formed in the base portion 140, thereby forming an airflow channel in the base portion 140. In particular, the airflow channel formed in the base portion allow air to flow from the heating chamber 135 and into a consumable received on the heating element 120.
When a consumable is received on the heating element 120, the end of the consumable rests on the surface of the base 140 absent of the curved surface 200, such that any airflow channels formed by the curved surface(s) 200 remain unobscured by the consumable and air flow is not impeded.

Claims

An aerosol generating apparatus comprising a body and heating system, the heating system comprising an elongate heating element and a frame for retaining a consumable about the heating element, the frame defining a heating chamber, wherein the frame comprises:
a transverse base portion surrounding a base of the heating element; and

at least one longitudinal side wall connected to the transverse base portion by a concave surface.
The aerosol generating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one longitudinal side wall defines an aperture exposing the heating element.
The aerosol generating apparatus of claim 2, wherein the frame comprises two longitudinal side walls on opposing sides of the heating element, wherein the two longitudinal side walls at least partially define the heating chamber, and wherein the two longitudinal side walls define two apertures on opposing sides of the heating element for exposing the heating element.
The aerosol generating apparatus of any of claims 2 to 3, wherein the at least one side wall defines a protruding surface extending into the heating chamber.
The aerosol generating apparatus of claim 4, wherein the protruding surface is curved, and optionally wherein the protruding surface is convex.
The aerosol generating apparatus of any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the transverse base portion is connected to the heating element by way of one or more curved surfaces.
The aerosol generating apparatus of claim 6, wherein the each of the one or more curved surfaces forms an airflow channel in the transverse base portion.
An aerosol generating apparatus comprising a body and heating system, the heating system comprising an elongate heating element and a frame for retaining a consumable about the heating element, the frame defining a heating chamber, wherein the frame comprises:
a transverse base portion surrounding a base of the heating element; and

at least one longitudinal side wall connected to the transverse base portion, wherein the at least one longitudinal side wall defines a protruding surface extending into the heating chamber.
The aerosol generating apparatus of claim 8, wherein the protruding surface is curved, and optionally wherein the protruding surface is convex.
The aerosol generating apparatus of any of claims 8 to 9, wherein the at least one longitudinal side wall is connected to the transverse base portion by a concave surface.
The aerosol generating apparatus of any of claims 8 to 10, wherein the at least one longitudinal side wall defines an aperture exposing the heating element.
The aerosol generating apparatus of claim 11, wherein the frame comprises two longitudinal side walls on opposing sides of the heating element, wherein the two longitudinal side walls at least partially define the heating chamber, and wherein the two longitudinal side walls define two apertures on opposing sides of the heating element for exposing the heating element.
The aerosol generating apparatus of any of claims 8 to 12, wherein the transverse base portion is connected to the heating element by way of one or more curved surfaces.
The aerosol generating apparatus of claim 13, wherein the each of the one or more curved surfaces forms an airflow channel in the transverse base portion.
A system for generating an aerosol, the system comprising:
a consumable having a flat end face; and

an aerosol generating apparatus as claimed in claim 7 or 14 for receiving the consumable such that the flat end face of the consumable abuts the transverse base portion of the frame, wherein the airflow channel formed in the transverse base portion permit airflow between the transverse base portion and the flat end face of the consumable.