JP2022506160A - Smoking substitute consumables - Google Patents

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an aerosol-forming article (1) (eg, a non-combustion heated (HNB) consumable) comprising an aerosol-forming substrate (2) and a plurality of hollow filter elements (4, 5) having different internal diameters. .. The terminal filter element may be located downstream / oral end of the article, the upstream filter element may be located upstream of the terminal filter element, and the internal diameter of the terminal hollow filter element is smaller than the internal diameter of the upstream hollow filter element. .. [Selection diagram] Fig. 3

Description

The present disclosure relates to, but is not limited to, consumables for use in smoking substitution systems, and more particularly to non-combustion heating (heat-not-burn: HNB) consumables.

Tobacco smoking is generally regarded as exposing smokers to potentially harmful substances. It is generally believed that significant amounts of potentially harmful substances are produced through the burning of tobacco and / or the heat caused by the burning of tobacco, as well as the components of the burning tobacco in the tobacco smoke itself. There is.

Traditional combustible smoking articles, such as cigarettes, typically include a columnar tobacco rod containing tobacco strips surrounded by a wrapper and are usually axially aligned with the wound tobacco rod in an abuttal relationship. Also includes a columnar filter. The filter usually contains a filter material circumscribed by a plug wrap. The rolled tobacco rod and filter are bundled together by a rolled strip of chip paper circumscribing the entire length of the filter and adjacent portions of the rolled tobacco rod. Traditional cigarettes of this type are used by igniting the end opposite the filter to burn a cigarette rod. Smokers receive mainstream smoke from their mouth by inhaling at the mouth end or filter end of the cigarette.

Burning organic materials such as tobacco is known to produce tar and other potentially harmful by-products. Various smoking substitution systems (or "substitute smoking systems") have been proposed to avoid smoking tobacco.

Such smoking substitution systems can form part of nicotine replacement therapy for people who want to quit smoking and overcome their dependence on nicotine.

Smoking substitution systems include an electronic system that allows the user to simulate smoking behavior by producing an aerosol (also known as "steam"), which is inhaled through the mouth into the lungs. (Inhaled) and then exhaled. Inhaled aerosols usually have nicotine and / or flavoring without the odor and health risk associated with conventional smoking, or with less odor and health risk.

In general, smoking substitution systems are intended to provide a substitute for smoking habits while providing users with the same experience and satisfaction that they have experienced with traditional smoking and flammable tobacco products. Some smoking substitute systems use smoking substitutes, which are designed to resemble traditional cigarettes and are in the form of a cylinder with a mouthpiece at one end.

The popularity and use of smoking substitution systems has grown rapidly over the past few years. Originally marketed as an aid to addicted smokers who want to quit smoking, consumers are increasingly seeing smoking substitution systems as a desirable lifestyle accessory.

There are several different categories of smoking substitution systems, each utilizing a different smoking substitution approach.

One approach for smoking substitution systems is the so-called "non-combustion heating" ("HNB") approach, in which the tobacco (not the "e-liquid") is heated or heated. Release steam. The tobacco may be a leaf tobacco or a reconstituted tobacco. The vapor can contain nicotine and / or flavor. In the HNB approach, the intent is that the tobacco is heated without being burned, i.e. the tobacco is not burned.

A typical HNB smoking substitution system can include devices and consumables. Consumables can include tobacco material. Devices and consumables may be configured to be physically coupled together. In use, the heating element of the device may apply heat to the tobacco material, and the airflow through the tobacco material causes the moisture in the tobacco material to be released as vapor. The vapor may also be formed from carriers in the tobacco material, which carriers can include, for example, propylene glycol and / or vegetable glycerin, as well as volatile compounds released from the tobacco. The released vapor may be accompanied by a stream of air inhaled through the cigarette.

As the vapor passes through the consumables (accompanied by the air stream) from the inlet to the mouthpiece (outlet), the vapor cools and condenses to form an aerosol for user inhalation. Aerosols usually contain volatile compounds.

In the HNB smoking substitution system, it is believed that heating, in contrast to burning tobacco material, causes less or less of the more harmful compounds normally produced during smoking. .. As a result, the HNB approach can reduce the odor and / or health risks that can occur through burning tobacco, burning tobacco, and pyrolytic degradation.

In some cases, the aerosol coming from the mouthpiece (ie, inhaled by the user) may not be in the desired state. Therefore, it may be desirable to change one or more characteristics of the aerosol before it is inhaled by the user.

An improved design of HNB consumables is needed to enhance the user experience and improve the functionality of the HNB smoking substitution system.

The present disclosure has been devised in view of the above issues.

Most generally, the present disclosure relates to aerosol-forming articles having hollow filter elements of different diameters, such as smoking substitutes such as HNB consumables.

According to the first aspect, an aerosol-forming article (eg, a smoking substitute article such as an HNB consumable) comprising an aerosol-forming substrate and a plurality of hollow filter elements having different internal diameters is provided.

By providing multiple hollow filter elements with different internal diameters, steam filtration and mixing performance can be adjusted during manufacturing to enhance the user experience.

The features of the optional selection will be described below. These are applicable alone or in any combination with any aspect.

Aerosol-forming articles are preferably non-combustion heating (HNB) consumables.

The aerosol-forming substrate can be heated to release at least one volatile compound capable of forming an aerosol. The aerosol-forming substrate may be located at the upstream end of the article / consumable.

As used herein, the terms "upstream" and "downstream" are intended to refer to the direction of vapor / aerosol flow, that is, the downstream end of the article / consumable is the article / article for the aerosol to be inhaled by the user. The mouth end or exit from the consumables. The upstream end of the article / consumable is the end opposite to the downstream end.

To produce an aerosol, the aerosol-forming substrate comprises at least one volatile compound, such a volatile compound is intended to be evaporated / aerosolized and is a distraction to the user when inhaled. An effect and / or a medicinal effect can be provided. Suitable chemically and / or physiologically active volatile compounds include the group consisting of nicotine, cocaine, caffeine, opioids and opioids, cathin and cathinone, cavalactone, mysticin, beta carboline alkaloids, salvinorin A, supra. Included with any combination of, functional equivalents, and / or synthetic alternatives.

Aerosol-forming substrates can include plant materials. The plant material, Amaranthus dubius, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (Bearberry), Argemone mexicana, Amica, Artemisia vulgaris, Yellow Tees, Galea zacatechichi, Canavalia maritima (Baybean), Cecropia mexicana (Guamura), Cestrum noctumum, Cynoglossum virginianum (wild comfrey) , Cytisus scoparius, Damiana, Entada rheedii, Eschscholzia califomica (California Poppy), Fittonia albivenis, Hippobroma longiflora, Humulus japonica (Japanese Hops), Humulus lupulus (Hops), Lactuca virosa (Lettuce Opium), Laggera alata, Leonotis leonurus, Leonurus cardiaca (Motherwort), Leonurus sibiricus (Honeyweed), Lobelia cardinalis, Lobelia inflata (Indian-tobacco), Lobelia siphilitica, Nepeta cataria (Catnip), Nicotiana species (Tobacco), Nymphaea alba (White Lily), Nymphaea caerulea (Blue Lily), Opium poppy, Passiflora incamata (Passionflower), Pedicularis densiflora (Indian Warrior), Pedicularis greenlandica (Elephant's Head), Salvi divinorum, Salvia dorrii (Tobacco Sage), Salvia species (Sage), Scutellaria galericulata, Scutellaria lateriflora, Scutellaria nana, Scutellaria species (Skullcap), Sida acuta (Wireweed), Sida rhombifolia, Silene capensis, Syzygium aromaticum (Clove), Tagetes lucida (Mexican Tarragon), Skullcaps camphoratus, Tumala diffusa (Damiana), Verbascum (Mullein), Zamia latifolia (Maconha Brava) selected from the list including one of the above plant equivalents, one of the above. And / or can be included with synthetic alternatives.

Preferably, the plant material is tobacco. Any type of tobacco may be used. This includes, but is not limited to, iron tube dried tobacco, Burleigh potatoes, Maryland tobacco, dark air dried tobacco, oriental tobacco, dark fire dried tobacco, peric tobacco, and rustica tobacco. It also includes the tobacco blends mentioned above.

Any suitable portion of the tobacco plant may be used. It includes leaves, stems, roots, skins, seeds, and flowers.

Tobacco is of leaf tobacco, stem tobacco, tobacco powder, tobacco dust, tobacco derivatives, puffed tobacco, homogeneous tobacco, chopped tobacco, extruded tobacco, chopped rug tobacco, and / or reconstituted tobacco (eg, slurry recon or cigarette). It can include one or more.

Aerosol-forming substrates can include homogeneous (eg, paper / slurry recon) tobacco collection sheets, or collection pieces / strips formed from such sheets.

In some embodiments, the sheet used to form the aerosol-forming substrate has a basis weight of 100 g / m ² or more, for example 120 g / m ² or more and 110 g / m ² or more.

The sheet can have a basis weight of 300 g / m ² or less, for example 250 g / m ² or less, or 200 g / m ² or less.

The sheet can have a basis weight of 120-190 g / m ² .

Aerosol-forming substrates can include at least 50% by weight plant material, such as at least 60% by weight plant material, such as about 65% by weight plant material. Aerosol-forming substrates can include up to 80% by weight plant material, such as 75 or up to 70% by weight plant material.

Aerosol-forming substrates can include one or more additives selected from wetting agents, flavoring agents, fillers, aqueous / non-aqueous solvents, and binders.

Wetting agents are provided as a source of steam, and the resulting steam helps retain the volatile active compounds and increases the visible steam. Suitable wetting agents are polyhydric alcohols (eg, propylene glycol (PG), triethylene glycol, 1,2-butanediol, and vegetable glycerin (VG)) and esters thereof (eg, glycerol monoacetate, diacetate, or Triacetate) is included. The wetting agent may be present in an aerosol-forming substrate in an amount of 1-50% by weight.

The wetting agent content of the aerosol-forming substrate is at least 2% by weight, at least 5% by weight, at least 10% by weight, at least 20% by weight, at least 30% by weight, or at least 40% by weight of the plant material. It can have a lower limit of at least 1% by weight.

The wetting agent content of the aerosol-forming substrate can have an upper limit of at most 50% by weight, such as at most 40% by weight, at most 30% by weight, or at most 20% by weight.

Preferably, the wetting agent content is 1-40% by weight of the aerosol-forming substrate, such as 1-20% by weight.

Suitable binders are known in the art and can act to bind together the components that form the aerosol-forming substrate. Binders include starch and / or cellulose binders such as methylcellulose, ethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, and methylcellulose, gums such as xanthan gum, guar gum, arabic gum, and / or locust bean gum, alginate / sodium alginate, agar. , And organic acids such as pectin and salts thereof.

Preferably, the binder content is 5-10% by weight, for example about 6-8% by weight, of the aerosol-forming substrate.

Suitable fillers are known in the art and can act to enhance aerosol-forming substrates. Fillers can include fibrous (non-tobacco) fillers such as cellulosic fibers, lignocellulosic fibers (eg, wood fibers), jute fibers, and combinations thereof.

Preferably, the filler content is 5-10% by weight, for example about 6-9% by weight, of the aerosol-forming substrate.

Aerosol-forming substrates can include aqueous and / or non-aqueous solvents. In some embodiments, the aerosol-forming substrate has a water content of 5-10% by weight, for example 6-9% by weight, such as 7-9% by weight.

The flavoring agent may be provided in solid or liquid form. Flavoring agents can include menthol, licorice, chocolate, fruit flavors (including, for example, citrus, cherries, etc.), vanilla, spices (eg, ginger, cinnamon, etc.), and tobacco flavors. The flavoring agent may be uniformly dispersed throughout the aerosol-forming substrate or may be provided at distant locations and / or at various concentrations throughout the aerosol-forming substrate.

The aerosol-forming substrate may be formed in a substantially columnar shape so that the article / consumable resembles a conventional cigarette. Aerosol-forming substrates can have a diameter of 5-10 mm, such as 6-9 mm or 6-8 mm, such as about 7 mm. Aerosol-forming substrates can have an axial length of 10-15 mm, for example 11-14 mm, such as about 12 or 13 mm.

The aerosol-forming substrate may be circumscribed, at least in part, by a wrap layer, such as a paper wrap layer. The wrap layer may overlap the inner foil layer or may include a paper / foil laminate (foil is the innermost).

Articles / consumables include at least two hollow filter elements with different internal axial diameters. A terminal hollow filter element may be located downstream / mouth end of the article / consumable. The upstream hollow filter element may be located upstream of the terminal filter element but downstream of the aerosol-forming substrate.

The terminal filter element and the upstream filter element may be axially adjacent to each other or spaced apart from each other. The upstream filter element may be circumscribed by a (paper) wrap layer, at least partially (eg, entirely).

At least one of the filter elements (eg, terminal filter element and / or upstream filter element) may be composed of cellulose acetate or polypropylene tow. At least one of the filter elements (eg, terminal filter element and / or upstream filter element) may be composed of activated carbon. At least one of the filter elements (eg, the terminal filter element and / or the upstream filter element) may be composed of paper. At least one of the filter elements (eg, terminal filter element and / or upstream filter element) may be composed of extruded plant material. The filter elements or each filter element may be circumscribed by a plug wrap, such as a paper plug wrap.

Each filter element can have a substantially columnar shape, the diameter of which is substantially consistent with the diameter of the aerosol-forming substrate (with or without its associated wrap layer).

In some embodiments, the axial length of the terminal filter element is greater than the axial length of the upstream filter element. For example, the axial length of the terminal filter element may be 1 mm or more greater than the axial length of the upstream filter element. The axial length of the terminal filter element may be 2 mm or 3 mm or 4 mm or 5 mm or more greater than the axial length of the upstream filter element.

The axial length of the end filter element may be less than 20 mm, for example 8-15 mm, for example 9-13 mm, for example 10-12 mm such as about 12 mm.

In some embodiments, the upstream filter element can have an axial length of 10 mm or less, and the terminal filter element has an axial length greater than 10 mm, eg, about 12 mm.

Each hollow filter element can have a diameter of 1-5 mm, for example 2-4 mm, or 2-3 mm. The upstream hollow filter element preferably has a larger diameter than the terminal hollow filter element. For example, the upstream hollow filter element can have a diameter that is 1 mm or more larger than the diameter of the terminal filter element. For example, the upstream hollow filter element can have a diameter of 3 or 3.5 mm and the terminal filter element can have a diameter of about 2 mm.

By providing a terminal filter element with a reduced caliber (compared to the upstream hollow filter element), the terminal hollow allows all components of the vapor / aerosol to share the same location within a more restricted hollow hole. Greater mixing effects are achieved within the filter element. In a preferred embodiment, increasing the length of the end hollow filter also provides good mixing of vapor components (in the pores).

The terminal hollow filter element can have a higher density or hardness than the upstream filter element, i.e. the upstream filter element can have more porosity than the terminal filter element. This is to increase the vapor / aerosol flow and mixing in the hollow holes of the end filter element.

An circumscribed chip layer, such as a chip paper layer, can be used to connect end filter elements (downstream ends of articles / consumables) to upstream elements to form articles / consumables. The chip paper can have an axial length longer than the axial length of the end filter element, so the chip paper is completely circumscribed to the end filter element and the wrap layer surrounding any adjacent upstream element.

In some embodiments, the article / consumable can include an aerosol cooling element adapted to cool the aerosol produced (by heat exchange) from the aerosol-forming substrate before it is inhaled by the user. ..

The aerosol cooling element is located downstream of the aerosol-forming substrate. For example, the aerosol cooling element may be between the aerosol-forming substrate and the upstream filter element and / or between the two filter elements. The aerosol cooling element may be circumscribed, at least partially (eg, completely), by a (paper) wrap layer.

The aerosol cooling element may be formed from a plastic material selected from the group consisting of polylactic acid (PLA), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene (PE), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The aerosol cooling element may be formed from a crimp / collection sheet of material to form a large surface area structure with multiple longitudinal channels to maximize heat exchange and cooling of the aerosol.

The article / consumable may include a spacer element that defines a space or cavity or chamber between the aerosol-forming substrate and the downstream end of the article / consumable. For example, the spacer element may be provided between the aerosol-forming substrate and the upstream filter element and / or between the two filter elements. The spacer acts to allow both cooling and mixing of the aerosol. The spacer element can be a tubular spacer element and can include, for example, a paper cylinder. The spacer element may be circumscribed by a (paper) wrap layer, at least partially (eg, entirely).

The spacer element can have an outer diameter of 5-10 mm, such as 6-9 mm or 6-8 mm, such as about 7 mm. The spacer element can have an axial length greater than the axial length of the terminal filter element. The spacer element can have any axial length of 10-15 mm, such as 12-14 mm or 13-14 mm, such as about 14 mm.

In a second aspect, a smoking substitute system comprising the aerosol-forming article according to the first aspect and a device comprising a heating element is provided.

The device may be an HNB device, i.e. a device adapted to heat the aerosol-forming substrate without burning.

The device can include a body for accommodating the heating element. The heating element can include an elongated, eg rod, tubular, or blade heating element. The heating element may project into or surround the cavity within the body for receiving the articles / consumables described above.

In some embodiments, the heating element is a rod-shaped heater with a diameter of about 2 mm (eg, 2.1 mm). Providing a diameter of about 3 mm or 3.5 mm within the upstream hollow filter element of the article may be particularly suitable for use with devices with such rod heaters. Because the plant material closest to the rod heater (exposed to the highest temperature), for example tobacco, is axially aligned with the upstream axial end of the hole in the upstream hollow filter element and thus this axially aligned. This is because the vapor released from the portion of the plant material can flow directly into the pores of the upstream hollow filter element. Therefore, in a preferred embodiment of the system, the inner diameter of the hole in the upstream hollow filter element is larger than the outer diameter of the rod heater.

The device (eg, body) may further include a power source for powering the heating element, eg, a (rechargeable) battery. The device can further include a control unit for controlling the supply of power to the heating element.

In a third aspect, a method of using the smoking substitution system according to the second aspect is provided, in which the method is:
Inserting goods / consumables into the device and
Includes heating articles / consumables using heating elements.

In some embodiments, the method comprises inserting the article / consumable into a cavity within the body and, when inserting the article / consumable, penetrating the heating element into the article / consumable. For example, the heating element can penetrate the aerosol-forming substrate in the article / consumable.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the features or parameters described in connection with any one of the above embodiments may be applied to any of the other embodiments, except when mutually exclusive. .. Further, except as mutually exclusive, any feature or parameter described herein may apply to any aspect and / or any other feature or other feature described herein. It may be combined with a parameter.

In more detail, with reference to the accompanying drawings, embodiments illustrating the principles of the invention so that the invention can be understood and further aspects and features thereof can be recognized. I will discuss it.

It is a figure which shows the 1st Embodiment of HNB consumables. It is a figure which shows the 2nd Embodiment of HNB consumables. It is a figure which shows the 1st Embodiment in the device which forms the HNB system.

As shown in FIG. 1, the HNB consumable 1 contains an aerosol-forming substrate 2 at the upstream end of the consumable 1.

Aerosol-forming substrates include reconstituted tobacco, and reconstituted tobacco contains nicotine as a volatile compound.

Aerosol-forming substrate 2 contains 65% by weight tobacco provided in the form of collected strips produced from a sheet of slurry / paper recon tobacco. Tobacco is adhered with a 20% by weight wetting agent such as propylene glycol (PG) or vegetable glycerin (VG) and has a moisture content of 7-9% by weight. Aerosol-forming substrates further include cellulose pulp fillers and guar gum binders.

The aerosol-forming substrate 2 is formed in a substantially columnar shape so that the consumables resemble a conventional cigarette. The aerosol-forming substrate 2 has a diameter of about 7 mm and an axial length of about 12 mm.

The aerosol-forming substrate 2 is circumscribed by the paper wrap layer 3.

Consumables 1 include an upstream filter element 4 and a downstream (terminal) filter element 5. The two filter elements 4 and 5 are separated by a paper cylinder spacer 6. Both filter elements 4 and 5 are made of cellulose acetate tow and are wrapped with their respective paper plug layers (not shown).

Both filter elements have a substantially columnar shape. The diameter of the upstream filter 4 corresponds to the diameter of the aerosol-forming substrate 2. The diameter of the terminal filter element 5 is slightly larger and corresponds to the combined diameter of the aerosol-forming substrate 2 and the wrap layer 3. The upstream filter element is shorter in axial length than the terminal filter element and has an axial length of 10 mm compared to 12 mm relative to the terminal filter element.

The paper cylinder spacer is longer than each of the two filter elements and has an axial length of about 14 mm.

Each of the filter elements 4 and 5 is a hollow filter element having hollow holes 4a and 5a extending in the longitudinal direction, respectively. The diameter of the hole 4a in the upstream filter element 4 is larger than the diameter of the hole 5a in the terminal filter element 5 and has a diameter of 3 mm compared to 2 mm with respect to the terminal filter element 5. The porosity of the upstream filter element 4 is greater than the porosity of the terminal filter element 5.

The paper cylinder spacer 6 and the upstream filter element 4 are circumscribed by the wrap layer 3.

The circumscribed paper chip layer 7 connects the end filter element 5 to the upstream element to form a consumable. The chip layer 7 surrounds the terminal filter element 5 and has an axial length of about 20 mm and thus overlaps a portion of the paper tube spacer 6.

FIG. 2 shows a third embodiment of the consumable 1 ", in which the wrap layer 3 is not completely circumscribed to the paper tube spacer 6 and thus downstream of the end of the wrap layer 3. , The same as the first embodiment except that an annular gap 9 exists between the chip layer 7 and the paper cylinder spacer 6.

FIG. 3 shows a first embodiment inserted into an HNB device 10 that includes a rod-shaped heating element 20. The heating element 20 projects into the cavity 11 in the body 12 of the device.

The consumables 1 are inserted into the cavity 11 of the body 12 of the device 10, so that the heating rod 20 penetrates into the aerosol-forming substrate 2. The heating of the reconstituted tobacco in the aerosol-forming substrate 2 is carried out by supplying power to the heating element (eg, by a rechargeable battery (not shown)). When the tobacco is heated, the moisture and volatile compounds (eg, nicotine) in the tobacco and wetting agent are released as vapor and entrained in the air stream generated by inhalation by the user at the terminal filter element 5.

As the vapor cools in the upstream filter element 4 and the paper cylinder spacer 6, the vapor condenses to form an aerosol containing volatile compounds for user inhalation.

By providing a terminal filter element 5 with a hole 5a with a reduced diameter (compared to the hole 4a in the upstream hollow filter element 4), all of the vapor / aerosol components within the more restricted hollow hole 5a. By sharing the same location, a greater mixing effect is achieved within the terminal hollow filter element 5. Increasing the length of the end hollow filter 5 also provides good mixing of vapor components (in the pores).

Increasing the density of the end filter element 5 also helps to increase the aerosol / vapor flow, and thus the mixture, in the holes 5a of the end filter element 5.

The features disclosed in the above description, or the claims below, or in the accompanying drawings, are in their particular form, or means of performing the disclosed functions, or methods or processes for obtaining the disclosed results. As appropriate, they may be utilized to realize the invention in a wide variety of forms thereof, either separately or in any combination of such features.

Although the present invention has been described with exemplary embodiments described above, many equivalent modifications and variations will be apparent to those of skill in the art given this disclosure. Therefore, the exemplary embodiments of the invention described above are considered to be exemplary rather than limiting. Various changes may be made to the embodiments described without departing from the scope of the invention.

To avoid any doubt, all theoretical explanations provided herein are provided for the purpose of improving the reader's understanding. We do not want to be bound by any of these theoretical explanations.

All item names used herein are for structural purposes only and should not be construed as limiting the subject matter described.

Throughout the specification, including the scope of the claims that follow, the words "have," "comprise," and "include," as well as "having," "comprises," unless otherwise required by the context. , "Comprising", and "incuring" are to be understood to imply including the described perfect field or step, or a group of perfect field or step, but any other. It does not exclude a perfect field or a step, or a group of a perfect field or a step.

It should be noted that, as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms "a", "an", and "the" include multiple references unless expressly indicated in the context. sea bream. As used herein, the range may be expressed as "about" one particular value and / or "about" another particular value. When such a range is represented, another embodiment includes from one particular value and / or to another particular value. Similarly, by using the prefix "about", it will be appreciated that when a value is expressed as an approximation, a particular value forms another embodiment. The term "about" associated with the numerical value is optional and means, for example, ± 10%.

The words "preferred" and "preferrably" are used herein to refer to embodiments of the invention that can provide a particular benefit under some circumstances. However, it should be understood that other embodiments may also be preferred under the same or different circumstances. Accordingly, reference to one or more preferred embodiments does not imply or imply that the other embodiments are not useful and exclude other embodiments from the scope of the present disclosure or claims. It is not intended.

Claims (14)

An aerosol-forming article comprising an aerosol-forming substrate and a plurality of hollow filter elements having different internal diameters. The article according to claim 1, wherein the article is a non-combustion heating type (HNB) consumable item. The article according to claim 1 or 2, comprising an end hollow filter element located at the downstream / mouth end of the article and an upstream hollow filter element located upstream of the end filter element. The article according to claim 3, wherein the terminal hollow filter element has an axial hole having a diameter smaller than that of the axial hole in the upstream hollow filter element. The article according to claim 4, wherein the diameter of the axial hole in the upstream hollow filter element is at least 1 mm larger than the diameter of the axial hole in the terminal filter element. The article according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the axial length of the terminal hollow filter element is larger than the axial length of the upstream hollow filter element. The article according to claim 6, wherein the axial length of the terminal hollow filter element is 2 mm or more larger than the axial length of the upstream hollow filter element. The article according to any one of claims 3 to 7, wherein the upstream hollow filter element has a porosity larger than that of the terminal hollow filter element. The article according to any one of claims 3 to 8, wherein the upstream hollow filter element and the terminal hollow filter element are separated by an aerosol cooling element and / or a spacer element. A system comprising the smoking substitute according to any one of claims 1 to 9 and a device comprising a heating element. 10. The system of claim 10, wherein the device comprises a body for accommodating the heating element, wherein the heating element comprises an elongated heating element. 10. The system of claim 10 or 11, comprising a rod-shaped heater having an outer diameter, wherein the inner diameter of the hole in the upstream hollow filter element is larger than the outer diameter of the rod-shaped heater. A method of using the system according to any one of claims 10 to 12.
Inserting the article into the device and
A method comprising heating the article using the heating element. 13. The method of claim 13, comprising inserting the article into a cavity within the body of the device and allowing the heating element to penetrate the article when the article is inserted.

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