KR20230128309A - Non-flammable aerosol delivery device - Google Patents

Abstract

A non-flammable aerosol providing device (100) for generating an aerosol from an aerosol generating material contained in a consumable to be received by the device is disclosed. The non-combustible aerosol-providing device 100 includes a chamber 102 for receiving a consumable, and the non-combustible aerosol-providing device 100 is configured to generate an aerosol from an aerosol-generating material when the consumable is received in the chamber 102. It consists of The device 100 further comprises a consumable holder 500 for holding a consumable in the heating chamber 102, the consumable holder 500 axially of the chamber 102 for gripping different individual points on the consumable. It includes at least two selectively engageable gripping members spaced apart from each other, whereby the consumable holder is sized in a plurality of differently dimensioned positions in the chamber 102, one at a time, using the selectively engageable gripping members. It is possible to keep each of the specified consumables.

Description

Non-flammable aerosol delivery device

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

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Smoking articles such as cigarettes, cigars, and the like burn tobacco during use to produce tobacco smoke. Attempts have been made to provide alternatives to these articles that burn tobacco by creating products that release compounds without burning. Examples of such products are heating devices that release compounds by heating the material without burning it. The material may be, for example, tobacco or other non-tobacco products that may or may not contain nicotine.

According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a non-combustible aerosol-providing device for generating an aerosol from an aerosol-generating material contained in a consumable to be received by the device, comprising: The device includes a chamber for receiving a consumable, wherein the non-flammable aerosol providing device is configured to generate an aerosol from an aerosol-generating material when the consumable is received in the chamber; and a consumable holder for holding a consumable in the chamber, the consumable holder including at least two selectively engageable gripping members spaced apart from each other in an axial direction of the chamber for gripping different individual points on the consumable, so as to The consumable holder is capable of holding each of a plurality of differently sized consumables in a desired position in the chamber, one at a time, using selectively engageable gripping members.

The selectively engageable gripping members may be selectively engageable to grip different consumables having different individual diameters.

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

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

Each of the selectively engageable gripping members can include an annular gripping member having a central aperture for receiving a portion of a consumable, the diameter of each central aperture being such that the annular gripping member holds the consumable. It is adjustable by the user to engage a portion of the consumable to be accommodated in the central aperture to do so.

Each of the annular gripping members can include a ring and a plurality of gripping arms protruding from the ring, the plurality of gripping arms being movable in a radial direction of the ring to adjust the diameter of the center aperture, whereby the center aperture It engages and grips a part of the consumables accommodated in the.

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

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

The consumable holder can include a frame that is movable relative to the selectively engageable gripping members by a user to cause the selectively engageable gripping members to engage the consumable.

The frame may be movable relative to the annular gripping members to allow constriction of the annular gripping members to adjust individual diameters of respective central apertures of the annular gripping members and grip the consumable.

The frame may include a plurality of annular constriction members, and each annular constriction member of the plurality of annular constriction members is one of the plurality of annular gripping members when the frame is moved by a user. It is movably mounted to retract the annular gripping member and cause gripping of the consumable.

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

The device may be a tobacco heating product configured to receive an aerosol from and generate an aerosol therefrom from each of a plurality of differently sized consumables comprising a cigarette without burning the cigarette.

According to a second aspect of the present disclosure there is provided a non-flammable aerosol providing system comprising a non-flammable aerosol providing device according to the first aspect of the present disclosure and at least one consumable comprising an aerosol-generating material, the consumable comprising: It is received by a non-flammable aerosol providing device and is configured to be held by a consumable holder to enable the device to generate an aerosol from an aerosol generating material.

According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, a consumable holder for holding a consumable comprising an aerosol generating material in a chamber of a non-combustible aerosol-providing device for generating an aerosol from the aerosol-generating material is provided, comprising: ; The consumable holder includes at least two selectively engageable gripping members spaced apart from each other in an axial direction of the chamber for gripping different individual points on the consumable, whereby the consumable holder uses the selectively engageable gripping members to hold one One at a time, it is possible to hold each of the plurality of differently sized consumables containing the aerosol generating material in a desired position in the chamber.

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

1 shows a schematic diagram of a non-flammable aerosol providing device.
2 depicts a side view of a non-flammable aerosol providing device according to an example.
3 shows a perspective view of a non-flammable aerosol-providing device, the outer cover shown being partially transparent to show the features of the device's consumable holder.
4 shows a perspective view of the frame of the consumable holder.
Figure 5a shows a perspective view of the non-combustible aerosol providing device in the same manner as in Figure 3, in Figure 5a a first consumable is held by a consumable holder.
5B shows a non-flammable aerosol providing device, wherein a second consumable is held by a consumable holder.

1 is a simplified schematic diagram of an exemplary non-combustible aerosol providing device 100 . The non-flammable aerosol providing device 100 includes a heating chamber 102 . The heating chamber 102 is configured to receive a consumable article (not shown in FIG. 1 ) that includes an aerosol generating material that may or may not include tobacco.

An aerosol generating material is a material capable of generating an aerosol, for example when energized, irradiated or heated in any other way. The aerosol-generating material may be in the form of a solid, liquid or gel, which may or may not, for example, contain active substances and/or flavoring agents. In some embodiments, the aerosol generating material may include an “amorphous solid,” which may alternatively be referred to as a “monolithic solid” (ie, non-fibrous). In some embodiments, an amorphous solid may be a dried gel. Amorphous solids are solid materials that can hold some fluids, such as liquids, inside them. In some embodiments, the aerosol generating material can include, for example, from about 50 wt %, 60 wt % or 70 wt % amorphous solids to about 90 wt %, 95 wt % or 100 wt % amorphous solids.

The aerosol generating material may include one or more active substances and/or flavors, one or more aerosol former materials, and optionally one or more other functional materials.

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

In some embodiments, the active substance includes nicotine. In some embodiments, the active substance includes caffeine, melatonin or vitamin B12.

The one or more other functional materials may include one or more of pH adjusters, colorants, preservatives, binders, fillers, stabilizers, and/or antioxidants.

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

A consumable is an article that contains or consists of an aerosol generating material, some or all of which is intended to be consumed during use by a user. The consumable may include one or more other components, such as an aerosol generating material storage area, aerosol generating material delivery component, aerosol generating area, housing, wrapper, mouthpiece, filter, and/or aerosol modifier. The consumable may also include an aerosol generator, such as a heater, which releases heat to cause the aerosol-generating material to produce an aerosol upon use. The heater may include, for example, a combustible material, a material capable of being heated by electrical conduction, or a susceptor.

In this example, the non-flammable aerosol-providing device 100 is for heating the aerosol-generating material in the consumable to volatilize at least one component of the aerosol-generating material. The non-flammable aerosol providing device 100 is hereinafter referred to as device 100. The device 100 is configured to heat an aerosol-generating material in a consumable (not shown in FIG. 1 ) containing the aerosol-generating material contained in the described heating chamber 102 . The device 100 includes a heating arrangement 104 configured to provide energy for heating an aerosol generating material in a consumable contained in a heating chamber 102 . In some examples, the heating arrangement 104 includes one or more resistive heating elements arranged in thermal contact with the heating chamber 102 . The flow of current across the electrical resistance of one or more resistive heating elements creates heat. This process is called Joule, ohmic or resistive heating.

A susceptor is a material that can be heated by penetration by a changing magnetic field, such as an alternating magnetic field. The susceptor may be an electrically conductive material, such that its penetration by a changing magnetic field causes inductive heating of the heating material. The heating material may be a magnetic material, such that penetration thereof by a changing magnetic field causes magnetic hysteresis heating of the heating material. The susceptor can be both electrically conductive and magnetic, so the susceptor can be heated by both heating mechanisms. A device configured to generate a changing magnetic field is referred to as a magnetic field generator.

In some examples, the heating arrangement 104 is an induction heating arrangement and is configured to generate a changing magnetic field to induction heat the susceptor. In some examples, the susceptor is configured to define a heating chamber 102 for receiving a consumable, as described in more detail below. The induction heating arrangement may include one or more inductors through which an alternating current is passed to create a changing magnetic field. In some examples using induction heating, the heating arrangement 104 includes one or more susceptors. In other examples using induction heating, heating arrangement 104 may not include a susceptor, and instead one or more susceptors may be used as part of/with consumables intended for use with device 100. can be provided together.

Device 100 includes a power source 106 . Power source 106 supplies power to various components of device 100 . In some examples, power source 106 is a battery. In some examples, power source 106 includes a battery and a DC-DC converter, with power supplied from the battery via the DC-DC converter. The DC-DC converter may allow the power supply 106 to supply power at a voltage different from that of the battery. In some examples, device 100 includes a DC-AC converter, eg, to convert DC current from a battery to AC current, eg, to power one or more inductors of heating arrangement 104 . may include, wherein the heating arrangement 104 is an induction heating arrangement. In the examples that follow, power source 106 is referred to simply as battery 106 .

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

The device 100 includes a housing 101 that forms an outer cover of the device 100 and surrounds and accommodates various components of the device 100 . In this example, chamber 102 is configured to receive a consumable (not shown in FIG. 1 ) containing an aerosol generating material with which device 100 is configured to generate an aerosol. Device 100 may generate an aerosol from a consumable, for example by heating the aerosol generating material in the manners described above. In other examples, an aerosol may be created from the aerosol-generating material by otherwise energizing the aerosol-generating material, such as by use of ultrasonic energy.

Device 100 has an opening 105 at one end, which allows consumables to be inserted into chamber 102 . As shown in specific examples below, in some examples, a portion of the consumable may be received in the chamber 102 of the device 100, while a portion of the consumable may protrude from the opening 105 of the device 100. there is. In examples, a portion of the consumable contained in chamber 102 includes an aerosol generating material with which device 100 is configured to generate an aerosol. The part of the consumable protruding from the opening 105 may include, for example, a filter, and the user may inhale an aerosol generated from the protruding part of the consumable from the opening 105 .

Device 100 may include a user-operable control element 112 such as a button or switch that, when pressed, operates device 100 . For example, a user may turn on the device 100 by operating the switch 112 .

Device 100 may also include electrical components such as a socket/port (not shown) that may receive a cable for charging battery 106 . For example, the socket may be a charging port such as a USB charging port. In some examples, a socket can additionally or alternatively be used to pass data between device 100 and another device, such as a computing device. The socket may also be electrically coupled to the battery 106 via electrical tracks.

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

The end of device 100 opposite the proximal end and furthest from opening 105 may be known as the distal end of device 100 because, in use, it is the end farthest from the user's mouth. As the user inhales the aerosol generated by the device, the aerosol flows away from the distal end of device 100 .

Device 100 may include a lid/cap (not shown) arranged towards the distal end of device 100 in some examples. Opening the lid/cap may provide access to the heating chamber 102 . A user may open the second lid, eg, to clean components within the heating chamber 102, eg, to remove debris from previous sessions of use.

The device 100 includes a consumable holder 500 . Consumable holder 500 is configured to hold in place each of a plurality of differently sized consumables intended for use with device 100 , one at a time. For example, consumable holder 500 can allow device 100 to accommodate a first consumable and a second consumable that can have different lengths and/or different diameters. Reference herein to consumables of different sizes or differently dimensioned consumables refers to consumables intended to be a different size than other consumables, eg intended to be the same size but with, for example, manufacturing tolerances. It should be noted that we are not referring to consumables that are slightly smaller in size due to Consumables may, for example, be of different types, where each of the different types of consumables is intended to have different dimensions.

In some examples, the first consumable and the second consumable are elongate consumables, each of which can be substantially cylindrical, for example. Both the first consumable and the second consumable include an aerosol generating material. The first consumable and the second consumable may include, for example, a distal portion holding an aerosol generating material. The first consumable and the second consumable may also include a proximal portion, which may include, for example, a filter and/or other components. Examples of the first consumable and the second consumable are described in more detail below with reference to the following drawings.

It will be appreciated that the device 100 may include other components not shown in FIG. 1 , such as vent inlets/outlets, a control interface, a charging port, and the like. It should be noted that FIG. 1 is merely a schematic sketch illustrating a number of components that may be included in device 100 . 1 is not intended to communicate specific positions of various components.

2 shows a side view of an exemplary device 100 . The device 100 is configured to receive a first consumable 120a containing an aerosol generating material, and the device 100 heats the aerosol generating material to cause an aerosol or other inhalable medium to be inhaled by a user of the device 100. It is configured to generate.

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

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

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

3 shows the device 100 in a perspective view, where the housing is visible with partial transparency to allow the consumable holder 500 to be seen. Other components of device 100 have been omitted from FIG. 6 to aid clarity.

The consumable holder 500 is provided in the heating chamber 102 of the device 100 so that the consumable 120 can be heated in the manner described above by, for example, resistive heating or induction heating to generate an aerosol. 120a) (not shown in FIG. 3).

As mentioned above, the consumable holder 500 is configured to hold any of a plurality of t consumables each having different dimensions, and the consumable holder 500 will now be described in more detail.

The consumable holder 500 includes selectively engageable gripping members for engaging and holding a consumable in the chamber. In the example shown in FIG. 3 , the consumable holder 500 includes a pair of selectively engageable gripping members including a first gripping member 510 and a second gripping member 520 . The consumable holder 500 also includes a frame 540 that is movable by a user such that engagement of the gripping members 510 and 520 causes the consumable to be gripped. The first holding member 510 and the second holding member 520 are spaced apart from each other along the axial direction of the heating chamber. The first gripping member 510 is configured to engage and grip one point on the consumable 120 toward the proximal end of the consumable 120, while the second gripping member 520 grips the distal end of the consumable 120. It is configured to engage and grip one point toward the end.

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

Frame 540 includes a first ring 542 and a second ring 544 . A first ring 542 is mounted over the first gripping member 510 . The first ring 542 is configured to retract the gripping arms 512c of the first gripping member 510 when the frame 540 is moved axially downward by a user. The first ring 542 is a ring of fixed diameter that surrounds the first gripping member 510 and contacts the first gripping member. When the first ring 542 is moved axially downward, the first ring 542 forces the arms 512 deflected radially outward radially inward. Inwardly rotated portions of arms 512c as the point of contact between first ring 542 and arms 512 moves downward and closer to the free ends of arms 512c. 512d is forced radially inward and grips the consumable 120.

The second gripping member 520 operates in the same manner as described for the first gripping member 510 to grip one point towards the distal end of the consumable 120 . The second gripping member 520 defines a central aperture 522a and includes a ring 522b and a plurality of gripping arms 522c, each gripping arm 522c inwardly at its free end. It has a rotated portion 522d. Similarly, the frame includes a second ring 544, which surrounds the second gripping member 520 and when the frame 540 is moved axially downward. It is configured to retract arms 522c of 520 to cause them to grip consumable 120 .

4 shows the frame 540 of the consumable holder 500 alone. Frame 540 is a rigid frame that includes first and second rings 542 , 544 connected by first connector 546 and second connector 548 . The frame 540 also includes a button 530 for engagement by a user to move the frame 540 to cause the first and second gripping members 510 and 520 to grip consumables. By engaging the button 530, the user can cause the gripping members 510 and 520 to engage or disengage by sliding the frame 540 upward or downward along the axial direction. In FIG. 4 , frame 540 is in a first axial position towards the proximal end of device 100 . In this first configuration, the gripping members 510 and 520 have their widest diameter. Accordingly, the first configuration shown in FIG. 4 may be a configuration in which the user places the consumable holder 500 to insert the consumable into the chamber 102 .

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

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

5A shows a consumable holder 500 holding a first consumable 120a having a first diameter and a first length. In FIG. 5A , first and second gripping members 510 and 520 define central apertures 512a and 522a of a diameter suitable for gripping the first consumable 120a. The diameter defined by apertures 512a, 522a is narrower than in the configuration shown in FIG. 3, which allows gripping members 510, 520 to grip first consumable 120a. In FIG. 5A , frame 540 is in a second axial position to configure consumable holder 500 to grip first consumable 120a. In the configuration shown in FIG. 5A , the frame 540 is lower than in the first configuration shown in FIG. 3 , that is, farther towards the distal end. That is, FIG. 5A shows a configuration in which the user inserts the first consumable 120a and slides the frame 540 downward to engage the holding members 510 and 520 to hold the first consumable 120a. The consumable holder 500 is shown.

5B shows a consumable holder 500 holding a second consumable 120b having a larger diameter than the diameter of the first consumable 120a. In this example, the second consumable 120b also has a shorter length than the length of the first consumable 120a. In FIG. 5A , consumable holder 500 is configured such that first and second gripping members 510 , 520 define apertures 512a , 522a of a diameter suitable for gripping second consumable 120a. . The diameter defined by apertures 512a, 522a is again wider than in the configuration shown in FIG. 5A, allowing gripping members 510, 520 to grip wider second consumable 120a. In FIG. 5A , frame 540 is in an axial position suitable for configuring consumable holder 500 to grip second consumable 120b. In the configuration shown in FIG. 5A , the frame 540 is lower than in the configuration shown in FIG. 4 , ie further away towards the distal end, but higher than in the configuration shown in FIG. 5A . Again, the consumable holder 500 allows the user to insert the second consumable 120b using the button 530 until the gripping members 510 and 520 engage and grip the second consumable 120b, and the second consumable 120b is inserted into the frame frame. It may be configured to grip the second consumable 120b by sliding the 540 downward.

Consumable holder 500 provides a convenient and flexible way to hold different consumables having different dimensions in heating chamber 102 of device 100 . Since the diameters the gripping members 510 and 520 are configured to grip are adjustable by the user, the consumable holder 500 can be used to grip consumables having a variety of different diameters. The frame 540 is movable in a continuous manner along the axial direction, and so, while shown in the drawings as only two different consumables 120a, 120b of different diameters, the consumable holder 500 has apertures 512a, 522a can hold consumables having any range of diameters that fall within the range of configurable diameters. Moreover, because the consumable holder 500 includes two gripping members 510 and 520, any consumable held by the consumable holder 500 is held firmly in place for use.

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

In some examples, it may be desirable for the proximal end of a consumable inserted into chamber 102 to protrude from heating chamber aperture 104 by a given amount, regardless of the length of the consumable. In the example shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B , the respective proximal ends of first and second consumables 120a and 120b protrude from heating chamber aperture 104 by equal amounts. This may be desired in some embodiments, for example to position the vent holes of individual consumables in equivalent positions. Because the consumable holder 500 allows the consumable to be positioned in a desired axial position, it may allow the user to position the consumable such that the proximal end of the consumable protrudes a desired amount. In other examples, a stop arrangement is provided whereby the distal end of an inserted consumable abuts upon complete insertion of the consumable into the chamber 102 .

The above embodiments are to be understood as illustrative examples of the present invention. Additional embodiments of the present invention are envisioned. Any feature described in connection with any one embodiment may be used alone or in combination with other features described, and may also be used as one or more features of any other embodiment or any other feature of any other embodiment. It should be understood that it can be used in combination with a combination of Moreover, equivalents and variations not described above may also be used without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (15)

A non-flammable aerosol providing device comprising:
the non-flammable aerosol-providing device is for generating an aerosol from an aerosol-generating material contained in a consumable to be received by the device;
The non-flammable aerosol providing device,
a chamber for receiving the consumable, wherein the non-flammable aerosol providing device is configured to generate the aerosol from the aerosol generating material when the consumable is received in the chamber; and
a consumable holder for holding the consumable in the chamber, the consumable holder comprising at least two selectively interlockable spaced apart axially of the chamber for gripping different individual points on the consumable; wherein the consumable holder is capable of holding each of a plurality of differently sized consumables in a desired position in the chamber, one at a time, using the selectively engageable gripping members;
A non-flammable aerosol delivery device. According to claim 1,
wherein the selectively engageable gripping members are selectively engageable to grip different consumables having different individual diameters;
A non-flammable aerosol delivery device. According to claim 1 or 2,
wherein the gripping members are configured to engage to grip the consumable in response to a user operating an actuator on the device.
A non-flammable aerosol delivery device. According to claim 3,
wherein the actuator is configured to be moved relative to the chamber of the device to cause the first and second gripping members to grip the consumable.
A non-flammable aerosol delivery device. According to any one of claims 1 to 4,
Each of the selectively engageable gripping members includes an annular gripping member having a central aperture for receiving a portion of the consumable, the diameter of each central aperture being: adjustable by a user to cause an annular gripping member to engage a portion of a consumable to be received in the central aperture to hold the consumable;
A non-flammable aerosol delivery device. According to claim 5,
Each of the annular gripping members includes a ring and a plurality of gripping arms projecting from the ring, the plurality of gripping arms moving radially of the ring to adjust the diameter of the central aperture. possible, thereby engaging and gripping the portion of the consumable received in the central aperture;
A non-flammable aerosol delivery device. According to claim 6,
each of the plurality of gripping arms is biased in a radial direction of the ring away from the central aperture;
A non-flammable aerosol delivery device. According to claim 6 or 7,
Each gripping arm of the plurality of gripping arms includes an inwardly rotated portion at a free end of the arm, and the inwardly rotated portion is configured to engage and grip the consumable.
A non-flammable aerosol delivery device. According to any one of claims 1 to 8,
wherein the consumable holder includes a frame movable relative to the selectively engageable gripping members by a user to cause the selectively engageable gripping members to engage the consumable.
A non-flammable aerosol delivery device. According to claim 9,
When subject to any one of claims 5 to 8,
wherein the frame may be movable relative to the annular gripping members to allow contraction of the annular gripping members to adjust individual diameters of respective central apertures of the annular gripping members and to grip the consumable.
A non-flammable aerosol delivery device. According to claim 10,
The frame includes a plurality of annular constriction members, each annular constriction member of the plurality of annular constriction members, when the frame is moved by a user, one of the plurality of annular gripping members. movably mounted to retract the annular gripping member and cause gripping of the consumable.
A non-flammable aerosol delivery device. According to any one of claims 1 to 11,
wherein the consumable holder is configured to hold each of a plurality of elongated consumables each having different respective lengths and/or diameters.
A non-flammable aerosol delivery device. According to any one of claims 1 to 12,
wherein the device is a tobacco heating product configured to receive an aerosol from and generate an aerosol therefrom from each of a plurality of differently dimensioned consumables comprising tobacco without burning the tobacco.
A non-flammable aerosol delivery device. A non-flammable aerosol delivery system comprising:
at least one consumable comprising a non-combustible aerosol-providing device according to any one of claims 1 to 13 and an aerosol-generating material, said consumable being received by said non-combustible aerosol-providing device and comprising: configured to be held by the consumable holder to enable generating the aerosol from the aerosol generating material;
Non-flammable aerosol delivery system. A consumable holder for holding a consumable comprising an aerosol generating material in a chamber of a non-combustible aerosol-providing device for generating an aerosol from the aerosol-generating material, comprising:
The consumable holder includes at least two selectively engageable gripping members spaced apart from each other in an axial direction of the chamber for gripping different individual points on the consumable, so that the consumable holder comprises the selectively engageable gripping members. capable of using members to hold, one at a time, each of a plurality of differently sized consumables comprising the aerosol generating material in a desired position in the chamber;
A consumable holder for holding a consumable containing an aerosol generating material in a chamber of a non-flammable aerosol-providing device.