FIELD
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The present disclosure relates to an aerosol-generating system and a filter for an aerosol-generating system.
BACKGROUND
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An aerosol-generating system is a type of system in which an aerosol-forming material is aerosolised by an aerosol-generating unit to produce an aerosol that can be inhaled by a user.
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A heat-not-burn system is a type of aerosol-generating system in which a solid aerosol-forming material (e.g. tobacco) is heated by a heating system to produce an aerosol that can be inhaled by the user. Filters are known to be included with the solid aerosol-forming material. The filter typically is porous and provided to remove one or more components of the fluid passing therethrough, e.g. solid particles from a liquid or gas passed through the filter.
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It is against this background that the present invention has been developed.
SUMMARY
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The present disclosure provides an aerosol-generating system that comprises an aerosol-generating unit operable to generate aerosol from an aerosol-forming material in a storage portion; an air inlet; a mouth end; and an air passageway extending therebetween via a region in proximity to the aerosol-generating unit; wherein the mouth end includes a filter receptacle for receiving a filter.
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The aerosol-generating system may comprise a filter received into the filter receptacle; wherein the filter has a first portion defining a first end of the filter and a second portion defining a second end of the filter; and wherein either portion is receivable into the filter receptacle so that the other portion is exposed from the filter receptacle for delivery of aerosol to a user via the exposed end.
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The filter being receivable into the filter receptacle such that the first portion is received and the second portion exposed, or such that the second portion is received and the first portion is exposed, enables the user of the aerosol-generating system to reverse the filter as may be desired by the user. For example, where the exposed portion has become undesirably wet, it is possible for the user to reverse the filter for a dryer experience. In some examples described below, the filter is configured to provide different a different flavour sensory experience and/or a different tactile sensory experience when reversed.
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The filter may be insertable into the filter receptacle in an insertion direction and may be removable from the filter receptacle in a removal direction. The insertion direction and the removal direction may be opposite directions.
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In some examples, the aerosol-generating system may be configured for independent removal and insertion of the filter, i.e. removal and insertion of the filter without affecting other components of the aerosol-generating system. Suitably, the filter may be provided separate from the other components of the aerosol-generating system. In particular, the filter may be separate from the aerosol-forming material and may be removable from the filter receptacle without removal of the aerosol-forming material.
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The filter may be insertable into the filter receptacle until the filter is in a fully inserted configuration. The fully inserted configuration may be defined by a base of the filter receptacle which delimits the filter receptacle in the insertion direction and which inhibits further insertion of the filter.
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The filter may include at least one filter element. In some examples, the filter may include a first filter element included in the first portion of the filter, and a second filter element included in the second portion of the filter.
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The filter may include a wrapper which is wrapped around the filter. In some examples, the wrapper is wrapped around the first filter element and the second filter element, such that the first portion includes the first filter element and a part of the wrapper and the second portion includes the second filter element and another part of the wrapper.
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The first portion and/or the second portion of the filter may include at least one flavourant. The at least one flavourant may be any substance for providing a flavour sensory experience, e.g. a flavour of menthol, fruit, cooling, tobacco, capsaicin, ethylvanillin (vanilla), or isoamyl acetate (banana oil).
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The at least one flavourant may be tobacco extract or other plant extracts, such as fig, maple, or acer saccharum extract. In some examples, the at least one flavourant may provide flavour and odour to the filter.
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In some examples, the filter does not contain tobacco or tobacco extract.
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In some examples, the filter may include a plurality of flavourants. For example, the first portion of the filter may include a first flavourant and the second portion of the filter may include a second flavourant.
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By including different flavourants in the first portion and the second portion of the filter, the user can select a desired flavour experience by suitably arranging the filter in the filter receptacle. That is to say, the filter can be arranged in the filter receptacle such that the desired flavourant or flavourants are exposed. The flavourant or flavourants so exposed may dominate the flavour experience of the user by virtue of being exposed.
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The filter may have an outside surface which extends around the filter. The outside surface may in use be engaged by the user, e.g. the user's lips may seal around the outside surface of the filter.
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The at least one flavourant may applied to the outside surface of the filter. For example, the at least one flavourant may be applied to entire outside surface.
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By providing the at least one flavourant on the outside surface, the flavour sensory experience may be improved. In particular, the user may in use directly engage the outside surface of the filter, which may increase the user's exposure to the flavourant thereat.
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The at least one flavourant may applied by any suitable process, such as coating the outside surface with a film through dipping, spraying or painting the outside surface of the filter.
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The first portion of the filter may include a first part of the outside surface and the second portion of the filter may include a second part of the outside surface. The at least one flavourant may be applied to the first part of the outside surface and may be applied to the second part of the outside surface. For example, a first flavourant may be applied to the first part of the outside surface and a second flavourant may be applied to the second part of the outside surface. In some examples, the first flavourant may be applied to the entire first part of the outside surface, and the second flavourant may be applied to the entire second part of the outside surface.
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In some examples, the same flavourant or flavourants may be applied to both parts of the outside surface of the filter.
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The filter receptacle may be configured to extend around and seal against the outside surface of the filter, when the filter is received into the filter receptacle, so as to seal within the filter receptacle the at least one flavourant applied to the outside surface.
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By configuring the filter receptacle to extend around and seal against the outside surface of the filter, any flavourant applied to the part of the outside surface which is received into the filter receptacle may be at least partly contained within the filter receptacle. This may reduce exposure of the user to any flavourant applied said part of the outside surface, and so the flavour sensory experience of the user may be dominated by any flavourant applied to the exposed portion of the filter. Additionally or alternatively, loss of the flavourant so sealed within the filter receptacle may be inhibited such that upon reversing the filter the user may experience an improved flavour sensory experience.
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In some examples, the filter receptacle may be configured to extend around the entire portion of the filter which is received into the filter receptacle and seal around said portion to contain any flavourant applied to said portion within the filter receptacle.
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The first portion and the second portion of the filter may have different structural configurations. The structural configuration of the filter may refer to any type of structural configuration for providing a tactile sensory experience to the user, e.g. an internal structural configuration (such as density/stiffness within the filter) or an external structural configuration (such as outside texture). By providing the first portion and the second portion of the filter with different structural configurations, different tactile sensory experiences may be provided to the user. For example, the filter may be inserted into the filter receptacle such that the portion with the preferred structural configuration is exposed to the user.
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The first portion of the filter may have a first outside texture and the second portion of the filter may have a second outside texture. The outside textures of the first portion and the second portion may differ, for example, in their roughness or smoothness. For example, the first outside texture may be rough and the second outside texture is smooth.
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In some examples, the outside surface may have one or more outside textures and, in addition, the at least one flavourant may be applied to the outside surface. In particular, the same part of the outside surface may have an outside texture and at least one flavourant applied thereto.
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The first portion of the filter may have a first stiffness and the second portion of the filter have a second stiffness. The first stiffness may be greater than the second stiffness, or the second stiffness may be greater than the first stiffness. The portion with greater stiffness may require greater force to compress. Different stiffness may be provided, for example, through use of different materials in the first portion and the second portion, or using the same material(s) but with different density.
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The first portion and the second portion of the filter may include the same flavourant or flavourants.
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By including the same flavourant or flavourants in the first portion and the second portion of the filter, the same flavour sensory experience can be provided to the user and the same time as a different tactile sensory experience. For example, the filter may provide a menthol flavour to the user, but the user may prefer to engage the first portion or the second portion dependent on a tactile preference, e.g. in terms of surface texture.
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The filter may be receivable into the filter receptacle to arrange either the entire first portion or the entire second portion inside the filter receptacle. For example, the entire portion or the entire second portion may be inside the filter receptacle when the filter is fully received into the filter receptacle.
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The filter may be receivable into the filter receptacle so that either the entire first portion or the entire second portion is exposed from the filter receptacle.
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The aerosol-forming material may be a liquid. The storage portion may be a tank which contains the liquid aerosol-forming material.
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The aerosol-forming material may be a solid.
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The present disclosure further provides for a filter for use with an aerosol-generating system, optionally for use with the aerosol-generating system as described above, wherein the filter has a first portion defining a first end of the filter and a second portion defining a second end of the filter; wherein either: the first portion and the second portion include different flavourants; or: the first portion and the second portion include the same flavourant or flavourants and have different structural configurations.
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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 of the subject matter described herein in any way. Moreover, the above and/or following 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 figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
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Aspects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following description of examples in reference to the appended figures in which like numerals denote like elements.
- Figure 1 shows an example of an aerosol-generating system;
- Figure 2 shows internal components of the aerosol-generating system;
- Figure 3 shows part of the aerosol-generating system with a filter received in a first configuration;
- Figure 4 shows part of the aerosol-generating system with a filter received in a second configuration;
- Figure 5 shows the filter;
- Figure 6 shows a second example of a filter;
- Figure 7 shows internal parts of the second example of a filter;
- Figure 8 shows a third example of a filter;
- Figure 9 shows internal parts of the third example of a filter.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
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It is to be understood that the present disclosure, which includes the specification and claim(s), is not limited by specific construction details or process steps. Rather, it will be clear to those skilled in the art that the systems, apparatuses, and methods described herein can be embodied and practiced in various alternative ways without departing from the scope of the invention.
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Unless defined otherwise, scientific and technical terms used herein have their meanings commonly understood by those skilled in the art and that known techniques and procedures may be performed according to conventional methods.
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In the present disclosure, the terms "a" and "an" may mean "one", "one or more", "at least one", and "one or more than one" unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Likewise, plural terms shall include the singular unless otherwise required by context.
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In the present disclosure, the term "or" means an inclusive "and/or" unless explicitly indicated to refer to alternatives only or unless the alternatives are mutually exclusive.
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In the present disclosure, the terms "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.
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Unless stated otherwise, the features of examples disclosed herein, and of the claims, may be integrated together in any suitable arrangement such that combinations of features are not limited by the described forms, particularly the form (e.g. numbering) of example(s), embodiment(s), or dependency of claim(s). This also applies to the phrase "in one example", "according to an example" and the like, which are merely a stylistic form of wording not to be construed as limiting the features to a separate embodiment. This is to say, a reference to 'an,' 'one,' or 'some' examples(s) may be a reference to any one or more, and/or all examples, or combination(s) thereof, disclosed. Also, similarly, reference to "the" example 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.
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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.
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As used herein, an "aerosol generating system" (or "electronic(e)-cigarette") may be a system configured to deliver an aerosol to a user for inhalation by the user. The system may additionally/alternatively be referred to as a "smoking substitute system", 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).
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As used herein, an "article" may refer to a component that includes an aerosol-forming material. The article may include an aerosol-generating unit e.g. it may be arranged as a cartomizer. The article may include a mouth end. The article may include an information carrying medium. The article may include a storage portion, e.g. a reservoir or tank, for storage of the aerosol-forming material.
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With liquid or gel implementations of the aerosol-forming material, e.g. an e-liquid, the article may be referred to as a "capsule" or a "pod" or an "e-liquid consumable".
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With solid material implementations of the aerosol-forming material, e.g. tobacco or reconstituted tobacco formulation, the article may be referred to as a "heat-not-burn consumable". The consumable may be implemented as a dosage or pre-portioned amount of material, including a loose-leaf product.
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The article, e.g. the pod or consumable, may be for releasable coupling to a device body to form the aerosol-generating system. The device body may comprise a power supply for powering the aerosol-generating unit. The device body may additionally/alternatively be referred to as an "aerosol-generating apparatus".
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As used herein, an "aerosol" may include a suspension of aerosol-forming material, 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 aerosol-forming material.
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As used herein, an "aerosol-forming material" may include one or more of a: liquid; solid; gel; loose leaf material; other substance. The aerosol-forming material may be processed by an aerosol-generating unit of an aerosol-generating system to generate an aerosol. The aerosol-forming material 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 aerosol-forming material may include a substrate, e.g. reconstituted tobacco to carry one or more of the active component; a carrier; a flavouring.
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As used herein, a "storage portion" may be a portion of the system adapted to store the aerosol-forming material. It may be implemented as fluid-holding reservoir or carrier for solid material depending on the implementation of the aerosol-forming material as defined above.
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As used herein, an "air passageway" (or "flow path") may refer to a path or enclosed passageway through an aerosol-generating system, e.g. for delivery of an aerosol to a user. The air passageway may be arranged to receive aerosol from an aerosol-generating unit. When referring to the air passageway, 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.
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As used herein, an "aerosol-generating unit" may refer to a device configured to generate an aerosol from an aerosol-forming material. The aerosol-generating unit may include a unit to generate a vapour directly from the aerosol-forming material (e.g. a heating system or other system) or an aerosol directly from the aerosol-forming material (e.g. an atomiser including an ultrasonic system, a flow expansion system operative to carry droplets of the aerosol-forming material 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-forming materials) may be present in an aerosol-generating system.
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As used herein, a "heating system" may refer to an arrangement of at least one heating element, which is operable to aerosolise an aerosol-forming material 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 an aerosol-forming material to below 300 or 350 degrees C, including without combustion. The heating system may be provided within the article or within the device body.
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As used herein, "heat-not-burn" (or "HNB" or "heated aerosol-forming material") may refer to the heating of an aerosol-forming material, typically tobacco, without combustion, or without substantial combustion (i.e. localised combustion may be experienced of limited portions of the aerosol-forming material, including of less than 5% of the total volume).
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As used herein, a "filter" may refer to a body, e.g. a porous body, configured to remove one or more components of the fluid passing therethrough, e.g. solid particles from a liquid or gas passed through the filter. The filter may be formed from materials including cellulose acetate, polypropylene tow, activated charcoal, paper, extruded plant material, and like materials. The filter may be circumscribed with a plug wrap, e.g. a paper plug wrap, to help maintain the form of the filter.
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The filter may retain flavorant elements, such as granules, pellets, strips, capsules or other objects.
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Figure 1 shows an example of an aerosol-generating system 1. In this example, the aerosol-generating system 1 is an electronic vapour product (EVP) configured to produce an aerosol from an aerosol-forming material 10 (e.g. a liquid or gel aerosol-forming material, see Figure 2), although it will be appreciated that the invention may be similarly applicable to a heat-not-burn product (HNB) configured to produce an aerosol from heating an aerosol-forming material (e.g. a solid aerosol-forming material such as tobacco) to a temperature below its combustion temperature.
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The term "aerosol-forming material" refers to a substrate or formulation capable of releasing volatile components that can form an aerosol, e.g. by releasing volatile compounds in the aerosol-forming material. An "aerosol" is a dispersion of solid particles and/or liquid droplets dispersed in a gas. The aerosol may be visible or invisible.
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Figure 2 shows a schematic representation of the internal components of the aerosol-generating system 1. The aerosol-generating system 1 comprises an aerosol-generating unit 2 configured to generate an aerosol from the aerosol-forming material 10 held in a storage portion 3 of the aerosol-generating system 1 (implemented here as a "tank"). In this example, the aerosol-generating unit 2 is a heating system including a heating element 2a although it will be appreciated that an aerosol-generating unit comprising an ultrasonic element, atomiser or similar component may be provided.
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The aerosol-forming material 10 may be referred to as "e-liquid". Typically, the aerosol-forming material 10 includes a base liquid and optionally nicotine and/or flavourings such that the resulting aerosol contains nicotine and/or flavourings.
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The aerosol-generating system 1 includes a power source 4. In this example, the power source 4 includes a battery 4a configured to supply electrical energy to operate the aerosol-generating unit 2 and other components. The aerosol-generating system 1 may be powered, alternatively or in addition to the battery 4a, by an external power source. In an alternative example, the power source 4 may be omitted, e.g. an aerosol aerosol-generating unit implemented as an atomiser with flow expansion may not require a power supply.
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The aerosol-generating unit 2 includes a wick 2b having at least one end that extends into the storage portion 3 and is configured to draw aerosol-forming material 10 out from the storage portion 3. In this example, the heating element 2a is in the form of a heating filament wrapped around a portion of the wick 2b. In this manner, the heating element 2a can heat up the aerosol-forming material 10 drawn out of the storage portion 3 by the wick 2b to produce the aerosol. In other examples, the heating element 2a may be a mesh heater, ceramic heater, or other means of generating heat. The heating element 2a may be part of an induction heater having a susceptor configured to produce heat when penetrated by an alternating magnetic field.
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The aerosol-generating system 1 includes an aerosol-delivery system 5 for delivery of the aerosol to a user. In this example, the aerosol-delivery system 5 comprises an air inlet 6, a mouth end 8, and an air passageway 7 extending therebetween via a region in proximity to the aerosol-generating unit 2 and in use drawing aerosol generated by the aerosol-generating unit 2 through the air passageway 7 and out of the mouth end 8.
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The mouth end 8 of the aerosol-generating system 1 includes a filter 100. In some examples, the filter 100 is separate from all other components of the aerosol-generating system 1, e.g. such that the filter 100 can be removed or replaced without affecting other components of the aerosol-generating system 1, and may in particular be separate from the aerosol-forming material 10.
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The filter 100 defines a downstream portion of the air passageway 7 from which aerosol is released to the user. Suitably, the filter 100 is received into a filter receptacle 11 of the mouth end 8. In the present example, the filter receptacle 11 is formed by the article 30, but in other examples the filter receptacle 11 (or generally the mouth end 8) may be separate from the article 30.
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The aerosol-generating system 1 may be a two-part construction comprising a device body 20 and an article 30 (alternatively referred to as a "pod" or "cartomizer") configured to be releasably connected/disconnected by an end user. The device body 20 and article 30 are each configured to house respective components of the aerosol-generating system 1.
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In some examples, the article 30 may be configured to be disposed of upon depletion of aerosol-forming material 10 from the storage portion, in which case the article 30 may referred to as a "consumable". Alternatively, the article 30 may be configured for reuse, such that it is configured to be refillable upon depletion of the aerosol-forming material 10 from the storage portion.
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In this example, the device body 20 comprises the power source 4, and the article 30 comprises the aerosol-generating unit 2 and storage portion 3, although it will be appreciated that the device body 20 and article 30 may house any respective set of components. The device body 20 and article 30 are configured to physically interlock to secure the article 30 relative to the device body 20.
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Upon connection, electrical connectors 40 of the device body 20 and article 30 may establish an electrical connection between the device body 20 and the article 30. In this way, electrical power can be supplied from the power source 4 to the aerosol-generating unit 2 (or other components of the article 30) without the article 30 needing to have its own power supply.
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The device body 20 may include any one or more of electrical circuitry, a memory, a wireless interface, and one or more other components. The device body 20 may include a printed circuit board (PCB) on which components of the electrical circuitry, memory, wireless interface, and other components may be mounted.
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The electrical circuitry may include a processing resource for controlling one or more operations of the device body 20 and article 30, e.g. based on instructions stored in the memory. The wireless interface may be configured to communicate wirelessly with an external (e.g. mobile) device, e.g. via Bluetooth. The other component(s) may include one or more user interface devices configured to convey information to a user, a pressure sensor 15, and/or a charging port 18 (see e.g. figure 2).
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The aerosol-generating system 1 may comprise one or more input and/or output elements. In this example, the aerosol-generating system 1 includes an input element in the form of a pressure sensor 15 arranged to detect a "puff" of the user, and particularly the resultant change in air pressure, i.e. a vacuum pressure generated by the user. Alternatively, or in addition, the aerosol-generating system 1 may include other means of detecting airflow, such as a flowmeter or microphone. The user can thereby activate the aerosol-generating unit 2 when inhaling through the mouth end 8. The aerosol-generating unit 2 creates an aerosol which is carried by the flow through the air passageway 7 and out of the mouth end 8.
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The input and/or output elements may form part of a user interface (UI) of the aerosol-generating system 1. For instance, figure 2 shows an output element in the form of a light 17 (e.g. an LED). The light 17 is configured to convey information to the user regarding the state of the system 1. It will be appreciated that the input element(s) may be provided in various forms, such as touch screens, switches, and sensors, and the output element(s) may be provided in various forms, such as display screens, speakers, or a haptic output generated by a vibration generator.
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Figures 3 and 4 are cross-sectional views showing the mouth end 8 of the aerosol-generating system 1. Figure 3 shows the mouth end 8 in a first configuration in which the filter 100 is received into the filter receptacle 11 in a first orientation. Figure 4 shows the mouth end 8 in a second configuration in which the filter 100 is received into the filter receptacle 11 in a second orientation. 12
The filter 100 has a first portion 110 and a second portion 120. The first portion 110 defines a first end 112 of the filter 100, while the second portion 120 defines a second end 122 of the filter 100. The first end 112 and the second end 122 are opposite ends. In the present example, the filter 100 is substantially cylindrical and the first end 112 and the second end 122 delimit an axial extent of the filter 100.
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In this example, the first portion 110 and the second portion 120 are joined together, and the filter 100 contains no further portions. In other examples, a further portion or portions may be present, for example between the first portion 110 and the second portion 120.
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In Figure 3, the first portion 110 is received into the filter receptacle 11 such that the second portion 120 extends from the filter receptacle 11 and is exposed. In Figure 4, the second portion 120 is received into the filter receptacle 11 such that the first portion 110 extends from the filter receptacle 11 and is exposed.
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The first end 112 and the second end 122 are open ends through which, in use, aerosol is communicable. Where the first portion 110 is received into the filter receptacle 11, the first end 112 is in use an inlet through which aerosol is received into the filter 100, while the second end 122 is in use an outlet from which aerosol is released from the filter 100. Where the second portion 120 is received into the filter receptacle 11, the second end 122 is in use an inlet through which aerosol is received into the filter 100, while the first end 112 is in use an outlet from which aerosol is released from the filter 100.
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In this example, the first portion 110 and the second portion 120 have different structural configurations. More particularly, the first portion 110 stiffer than the second portion 120. That is to say, a stiffness of the first portion 110 is greater than a stiffness of the second portion 120. In use, the stiffer portion resists compression more strongly, whereas the softer portion is more easily compressible, thereby providing a different tactile sensory experience. The user may choose to insert the filter 100 such that the portion with the preferred stiffness is exposed for an improved tactile sensory experience.
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The filter receptacle 11 has a base 12 which bounds the filter receptacle 11 in an insertion direction in which the filter 100 is received into the filter receptacle 11. When fully inserted, the filter 100 engages the base 12 of the filter receptacle 11 and resists further insertion. The filter 100 is removable from the filter receptacle 11 in a removal direction, which is opposite to the insertion direction.
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When the filter 100 is fully inserted into the filter receptacle 11 with the first portion 110 first, the entire first portion 110 is arranged within the filter receptacle 11, and only the second portion 120 extends from the filter receptacle 11 and is exposed. Likewise, when the filter 100 is fully inserted into the filter receptacle 11 with the second portion 120 first, the entire second portion 120 is arranged within the filter receptacle 11, and only the first portion 110 extends from the filter receptacle 11 and is exposed.
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The filter receptacle 11 includes a wall 13 which bounds the width of the filter receptacle 11 in a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction. The wall 13 extends around the filter 100 and contacts the filter 100. For purposes of illustration, the wall 13 is shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4 spaced from the filter 100 but generally these may be in close contact.
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The filter 100 has an outside surface 130. The outside surface 130 bounds the filter 100 in a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction, while the first end 112 and the second end 122 bound the filter 100 in the insertion direction. In the present example, the filter 100 is cylindrical and the ends bounds the filter 100 axially, while outside surface 130 bounds the filter 100 radially.
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The outside surface 130 is in contact with the wall 13 of the filter receptacle 11 when the filter 100 is received into the filter receptacle 11. In some examples, the wall 13 of the filter receptacle 11 engages the outside surface 130 around the entire first portion 110 or the entire second portion 120, depending on which portion is received. Suitably, the wall 13 of the filter receptacle 11 substantially matches the size and shape of the outside surface 130 of the first portion 110 / the second portion 120.
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Figure 5 shows the filter 100. In this example, the filter 100 includes a first filter element 114, a second filter element 124, and a wrapper 140 which is wrapped around the first filter element 114 and a second filter element 124 of the second portion 120. The first portion 110 of the filter 100 includes the filter element 114 and a first part 141 of the wrapper 140, while the second portion 120 of the filter 200 includes the filter element 124 and a second part 142 of the wrapper 140.
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In Figure 5, the wrapper 140 is shown partially removed to expose the first filter element 114 and the second filter element 124. The first filter element 114 and the second filter element 124 are in some examples integrally formed, while in other examples they are formed separately and held together (e.g. by the wrapper 140, adhesive or otherwise).
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The first part 141 of the wrapper 140 defines a first part of the outside surface 130, while the second part 142 of the wrapper 140 defines a second part of the outside surface 130.
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Figures 6 and 7 illustrate a second filter 200. Figure 6 is a perspective view, while Figure 7 is a sectional view of the second filter 200.
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The second filter 200 has a first portion 210 defining a first end 212, a second portion 220 defining a second end 222, and an outside surface 230 which extends around the second filter 200.
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The outside surface 230 of the second filter 200 includes a first part 231, which is formed by the first portion 210 of the filter 200, and includes a second part 232, which is formed by the second portion 220 of the filter 200.
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The first part 231 and the second part 232 of the outside surface 230 are provided with different flavourants. In the present example, the first part 231 of the outside surface 230 includes at least one flavourant, whereas the second part 232 of the outside surface 230 is plain, i.e. without flavourant added thereto.
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The external structural configuration of the first portion 210 and the second portion 220 are substantially identical and, in particular, the outside texture is substantially identical. Likewise, the internal structural configuration of the first portion 210 and the second portion 220 are substantially identical.
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The second filter 200 is insertable into the filter receptacle 11 with the first portion 210 first such that the plain second portion 220 is exposed. Thus the user can have a plain flavour sensory experience when engaging the second portion 220 of the filter 200. The second filter 200 is alternatively insertable into the filter receptacle 11 with the second portion 220 first such that the first portion 210 including the at least one flavourant is exposed. Thus the user can have a flavour sensory experience as provided by the at least one flavourant added to the first part 231 of the outside surface 230.
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The tactile sensory experience is substantially identical for both portions since the internal and external structural configuration of the first portion 210 and the second portion 220 are substantially identical.
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Figures 8 and 9 illustrate a third filter 300. Figure 8 is a perspective view, while Figure 9 is a sectional view of the third filter 300.
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The third filter 300 has a first portion 310 defining a first end 312, a second portion 320 defining a second end 322, and an outside surface 330 which extends around the third filter 300. The outside surface 330 of the third filter 300 includes a first part 331, which is formed by the first portion 310, and includes a second part 332, which is formed by the second portion 320 of the third filter 300.
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The first part 331 and the second part 332 of the outside surface 330 are structurally different. In the present example, the first part 331 of the outside surface 330 has a rougher texture, while the second part 332 of the outside surface 330 has a smoother texture.
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The first part 331 and the second part 332 of the outside surface 330 include different flavourants. In the present example, the first part 331 includes at least one flavourant which is not included in the second part 332, and similarly the second part 332 includes at least one flavourant which is not included in the first part 331.
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The internal structural configurations of the first portion 310 and the second portion 320 of the third filter 300 are different in the present example. The first portion 310 has a stiffness which is greater than a stiffness of the second portion 320, and therefore the first portion 310 provides greater resistance to compression.
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The third filter 300 provides different tactile experiences and different flavour experiences for each orientation.
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In summary, examples of filters have been described above which can improve the user's sensory experience, e.g. flavour sensory experience or tactile sensory experience. The exemplary filters described can be provided with one or more flavourants such that upon inhalation the released flavours enhance the user's experience, where the released flavourant or flavourants can dependent on the orientation in which the filter is inserted into the filter receptacle. Additionally or alternatively, the filter may also deliver other sensory experiences, such as the 'feel' of the filter material texture and strength when compressed.
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When removed, the filter can be rotated 180 degrees and re-inserted. Each end portion of the filter can deliver a different experience to the user. These experience include, but are not limited by:
- flavour - e.g. plain, menthol, fruit, cooling, tobacco, capsaicin;
- texture - e.g. smooth, matt, course texture;
- density - e.g. softer or harder internal structural configuration.
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The flavour may be implemented onto the filter through:
- Coating (part of) the outer surface of the filter with a film through dipping, spraying or painting the surface;
- Impregnating the filter material with flavouring;
- Soaking the filter material in a liquid to aboard the liquid flavour.
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The filter material could be, but is not limited to, cellulose acetate or polyethylene terephthalate.
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The above-described examples of filters can give the user an enhanced experience and can enable delivery of different sensory experiences using one filter. For example, the user might choose which end portion they use, delivering versatility and options, depending on their mood/desire.
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The above-described filters also have sustainability benefits, as the filters may be used longer than regular filters, due to the ability to rotate. In some cases, the filters may be used twice as long as regular filters.