TWI830799B - Heat-not-burn consumable, cooling element for heat-not-burn consumable, method of forming cooling element, smoking substitute system, and method of using smoking substitute system - Google Patents

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a heat-not-burn (HNB) consumable comprising an aerosol-forming substrate and a cooling element located downstream of the substrate. The cooling element comprises a sheet formed of a plastics material, and an additive applied to a surface of the sheet.

Description

Heat-not-burn consumables, cooling components for heat-not-burn consumables, forming cold methods, smoking alternative systems, and methods of using smoking alternative systems

The present disclosure relates to consumables for use in alternative smoking systems, and in particular, but not exclusively, to heat not burn (HNB) consumables including filter members.

It is generally believed that smoking tobacco exposes smokers to potentially harmful substances. It is generally believed that a large number of potentially harmful substances are produced by the heat caused by the combustion and/or ignition of burning tobacco components in tobacco and the tobacco smoke itself.

Conventional combustible smoking articles (such as cigarettes) generally include a cylindrical tobacco rod and usually also include a cylindrical filter. The cylindrical tobacco rod includes shredded tobacco surrounded by a wrapper, and the filter is formed with the wrapped tobacco rod. axially aligned in adjacent relationship. Filters generally include filter material enclosed by a plug. The wrapped tobacco rod and filter are joined together by a wrapped tipping tape that encompasses the entire length of the filter and adjacent portions of the wrapped tobacco rod. This conventional cigarette is made by lighting the end opposite to the filter and burning Used by burning tobacco rods. Smokers receive mainstream smoke into their mouths by puffing on the mouth end or filter end of a cigarette.

The ignition of organic materials, such as tobacco, is known to produce tar and other potentially harmful by-products. Various smoking alternative systems (or "alternative smoking systems") have been proposed to avoid smoking tobacco.

Such smoking replacement systems could form part of nicotine replacement therapy for people who wish to stop smoking and overcome their dependence on nicotine.

Smoking alternative systems include electronic systems that allow users to simulate the action of smoking by generating smoke (also called "vapor") that is drawn into the lungs through the mouth (inhalation) and then exhaled. Inhaled smoke typically contains nicotine and/or flavoring, which has none or fewer of the odors and health risks associated with traditional smoking.

Generally speaking, smoking alternative systems aim to provide an alternative to the smoking ritual while providing a similar experience to users and providing satisfaction to those who have experience with traditional smoking and combustible tobacco products. Some smoking alternative systems use a smoking alternative article that is designed to resemble a traditional cigarette and is cylindrical in form with a mouthpiece at one end.

Over the past few years, the popularity and use of smoking replacement systems has grown rapidly. Although originally marketed as an aid to assist habitual smokers who wish to quit smoking tobacco, consumers are increasingly viewing smoking replacement systems as desirable lifestyle accessories.

There are many different categories of smoking replacement systems, each utilizing different smoking replacement methods.

One method used for smoking alternative systems is the so-called "heat not burn" ("HNB") method, in which tobacco (rather than "e-liquid") is heated or warmed to release vapor. The tobacco may be tobacco leaves or reconstituted tobacco. The vapor may contain nicotine and/or flavorings. In the HNB method, the intention is that the tobacco is heated but not burned, ie the tobacco does not undergo ignition.

A typical HNB smoking replacement system may include equipment and consumables. Consumables may include tobacco materials. Equipment and consumables can be configured to be physically coupled together. In use, heat may be imparted to the tobacco material by heating means of the device, wherein the flow of air through the tobacco material causes moisture in the tobacco material to be released as vapor. The vapor may also be formed from a carrier in the tobacco material and additional volatile compounds released from the tobacco (the carrier may include, for example, propylene glycol and/or vegetable glycerin). The released vapor can become entrained in the air flow drawn through the tobacco.

As the vapor passes through the filament (entrained in the air flow) from the inlet to the mouthpiece (outlet), the vapor cools and condenses to form aerosol for inhalation by the user. Smoke will typically contain volatile compounds.

In the HNB smoking alternative system, it is believed that heating rather than burning the tobacco material results in fewer or smaller amounts of the more harmful compounds typically produced during smoking. Thus, the HNB approach can reduce odor and/or health risks that may be caused by combustion, ignition, and pyrolytic degradation of tobacco.

In some cases, the smoke delivered from the mouth of the mouthpiece (ie, inhaled by the user) may not be in a desirable state. Therefore, it may be necessary to modify one or more properties of the smoke before it is inhaled by the user.

Improvements in the design of HNB consumables are needed to enhance the user experience and improve the functionality of HNB smoking replacement systems.

This disclosure has been designed with the above considerations in mind.

In the broadest sense, the present disclosure relates to a HNB consumable that includes a cooling member in the form of a sheet formed from a plastic material.

According to a first aspect, a heat-not-burn (HNB) consumable is provided. The heat-not-burn consumable includes: a smoke-forming base material; and a cooling member located downstream of the base material, wherein the cooling member includes a plastic material. The formed sheet and the additives applied to the surface of the sheet.

Vapor formed from the aerosol-forming substrate may flow through the cooling member before exiting at the downstream end of the consumable (ie, for inhalation by the user). The additives may allow it to modify the characteristics of the vapor formed by heating the aerosol-forming substrate and flowing across the cooling member. For example, additives (or components of additives) may become entrained in the smoke as it flows through the cooling member. Alternatively or additionally, the additive (or a component of an additive) may interact with the smoke in another way (eg, without becoming entrained in the smoke) so as to affect the characteristics of the smoke.

As used herein, the terms "upstream" and "downstream" are intended to refer to the direction of flow of vapor/smoke, i.e. where the downstream end of the consumable is the mouth end or outlet where the smoke leaves the consumable for inhalation by the user flow direction. The upstream end of the consumable is the opposite end of the downstream end.

The optional features are now listed. These features are applicable individually or in any combination with any aspect.

Plastic materials may include polylactic acid (PLA). In this regard, the plastic material may be biodegradable, and thus the sheet may be biodegradable. The sheet may be formed from PLA only, or may be formed from PLA and another material, such as another plastic material.

The sheet may alternatively or additionally be formed from a plastic material selected from the group consisting of: polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polyterephthalate Ethylene glycol ester (PET).

In some embodiments, additives include flavorings. In this regard, the flavoring may be dispersed from the cooling member to the vapor flowing from the aerosol forming substrate. Flavorings dispersed into the vapor can thus modify the flavor of the vapor before it is inhaled by the user. Seasonings can be provided in solid or liquid form. This may include menthol, licorice, chocolate, fruit flavors (including, for example, citrus, cherry, etc.), vanilla, spices (eg, ginger, cinnamon), and tobacco flavors. The flavoring may be dispersed evenly throughout the cooling member, or may be provided in isolated locations or in varying concentrations throughout the cooling member.

In some embodiments, the additives include phase change materials. This facilitates cooling of the smoke/vapor (generated by the smoke-forming substrate) by heat exchange before being inhaled by the user. Additives may include flavorings (as discussed above) and phase change materials.

Phase change materials may be able to store and release energy during phase changes. The phase change material may be a solid-liquid phase change material whereby when the phase change material is heated, the phase change material melts from solid to liquid and stores thermal energy. The phase change material may have a melting point at a temperature close to room temperature (eg, 25°C to 35°C) such that heat from the vapor passing across the cooling member (which may be hotter than room temperature) is conducted to the phase change material (which during the phase change Store heat as latent heat). This heat transfer from the vapor to the phase change material can cause cooling of the vapor, which can promote condensation of the vapor to form smoke. During the phase change, the phase change material remains at a generally consistent temperature, allowing substantial heat to be conducted from the vapor (due to the temperature difference between the vapor and the phase change material) to the phase change material.

The phase change material may be an organic phase change material, which may for example be based on paraffins (C _n H _2n+2 ), for example having 14 to 34 carbons (e.g. 20 carbons (eicosane/dioxin)). Decane)) paraffin.

In some embodiments, additives may be sprayed or coated onto the surface of the sheet. Alternatively or additionally, the sheet may be impregnated with additives. In this regard, the sheet may be a porous sheet (eg, formed from a porous material).

In some embodiments, the sheet is curled. Sheets may be curled and gathered (eg, to form structures with high surface area). If the cooling member includes flavoring, a high surface area can maximize the dispersion of flavoring into the smoke. Similarly, if the cooling member includes a phase change material, the high surface area may maximize heat exchange with the smoke and therefore may promote cooling of the smoke. The assembled sheets can define a plurality of channels.

In some embodiments, the sheets are gathered so as to form a substantially cylindrical shape. If the aggregated sheets define channels, the channels may extend in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the aggregated sheets.

The cooling member and aerosol-generating substrate may be at least partially (eg, completely) surrounded by a wrapper (eg, paper wrapper). The wrapping layer may cover the inner foil layer, or may include a paper/foil laminate structure (with the foil being innermost).

The diameter of the cooling member may substantially match the diameter of the aerosol-forming substrate (with or without its associated wrapper). The axial length of the cooling member may be less than 20 mm, such as between 8 and 18 mm, such as between 13 and 15 mm.

The aerosol-forming substrate may be capable of being heated to release at least one volatile compound that may form aerosol.

To generate aerosol, the aerosol-forming substrate includes at least one volatile compound that is intended to be vaporized/aerosolized and that can provide recreational and/or medical benefits to the user when inhaled. Suitable chemically and/or physiologically active volatile compounds include the group consisting of: nicotine, cocaine, caffeine, opium and opiates, norpseudoephedrine and cathinones, kava lactones , myristyl ether, beta-carboline alkaloids, salvinorin A, and any combination, functional equivalent, and/or synthetic substitute of the foregoing items.

The aerosol-forming substrate may include plant material. The plant material may include at least one plant material selected from the list including: Amaranthus dubius, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (bearberry), Argemone mexicana , Amica , Artemisia vulgaris , Yellow Tees, Galea zacatechichi , Canavalia maritima (convalylola) , Cecropia mexicana (Guamura), Cestrum noctumum , Cynoglossum virginianum (Cynoglossum virginianum), Cytisus scoparius , Damiana , Entada rheedii, Eschscholzia califomica (flower root), Fittonia albivenis , Hippobroma longiflora, Humulus japonica (Japanese hop), Humulus lupulus (Hops), Lactuca virosa (Poisonous Lettuce), Laggera alata , Leonotis leonurus , Leonurus cardiaca (Leonurus), Leonurus sibiricus (Honeyweed), Lobelia cardinalis , Lobelia inflata (Indian tobacco), Lobelia siphilitica , Nepeta cataria (False Nepeta), Nicotiana species (Tobacco), Nymphaea alba (White Lily), Nymphaea caerulea (Blue Lily), Poppy, Passiflora incamata (Passion Flower), Pedicularis densiflora (Indian Warrior), Pedicularis groenlandica (Elephant Head), Salvia divinorum , Salvia dorrii (tobacco sage), Salvia species (sage), Scutellaria galericulata , Scutellaria lateriflora , Scutellaria nana , Scutellaria species (head grass), Sida acuta (wire grass), Sida rhombifolia , Silene capensis, Syzygium aromaticum (clove ), Tagetes lucida (Mexican tarragon), Tarchonanthus camphoratus, Tumera diffusa (Mexican beet), Verbascum (mullein), Zamia latifolia (Zinnia (Maconha Brava)), and any combinations, functional equivalents, and /or synthetic alternatives.

Preferably, the plant material is tobacco. Any type of tobacco can be used. This includes, but is not limited to, flue-cured, burley, Maryland, dark-cured, oriental, dark-cured, perique, and goldenrod. This also includes mixtures of the tobaccos mentioned above.

Any suitable part of the tobacco plant may be used. This includes leaves, stems, roots, bark, seeds and flowers.

Tobacco may include one or more of the following: leaf tobacco, stem tobacco, tobacco powder, tobacco dust, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, homogenized tobacco, chopped tobacco, extruded tobacco, cut tobacco, and/or reconstituted tobacco Tobacco (e.g. pulp reconstitution or paper reconstitution).

The aerosol-forming substrate may comprise aggregated sheets of homogeneous (eg paper/pulp composite) tobacco or aggregated fragments/strands formed from such sheets.

In some embodiments, the sheet used to form the aerosol-forming substrate has a grammage per square meter greater than or equal to 100 g/m ² , such as greater than or equal to 110 g/m ² , such as greater than or equal to 120 g/m ² .

The sheet may have a grammage per square meter of less than or equal to 300 g/m ² , such as less than or equal to 250 g/m ² or less than or equal to 200 g/m ² .

The sheet may have a grammage per square meter between 120 and 190 g/ ^m2 .

The aerosol-forming substrate may comprise at least 50 weight percent plant material, such as at least 60 weight percent plant material, such as about 65 weight percent plant material. The aerosol-forming substrate may include 80 weight percent or less plant material, such as 75 or 70 weight percent or less plant material.

The aerosol-forming substrate may include one or more additives selected from the group consisting of humectants, flavorings, fillers, aqueous and non-aqueous solvents, and binders.

Moisturizers are provided as vapor generators - the vapor generated helps carry volatile active compounds and increases visible vapor. Suitable humectants include polyols (such as propylene glycol (PG), triethylene glycol, 1,2-butanediol, and vegetable glycerin (VG)) and their esters (such as glyceryl monoacetate, glyceryl diacetate, or glyceryl diacetate). triacetin). They may be present in the aerosol-forming substrate in an amount between 1 and 50 weight percent.

The humectant content of the aerosol-forming substrate may have a lower limit of at least 1 weight percent, such as at least 2 weight percent, such as at least 5 weight percent, such as at least 10 weight percent, such as at least 20 weight percent, such as at least 30 weight percent, of the plant material. Or for example at least 40 weight percent.

The humectant content of the aerosol-forming substrate may have an upper limit of at most 50% by weight of the plant material, such as at most 40% by weight, such as at most 30% by weight, or for example at most 20% by weight.

Preferably, the humectant content is from 1 to 40 weight percent of the aerosol-forming substrate, for example from 1 to 20 weight percent.

Suitable binders are well known in the art and may include starch and/or cellulose binders (e.g., methylcellulose, ethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, and methylcellulose). cellulose), gums (such as xanthan gum, guar gum, acacia gum, and/or carob gum), organic acids, and their salts (such as alginic acid/sodium alginate, agar, and pectin).

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

Suitable fillers are well known in the art and may include fibrous fillers such as cellulosic fibers.

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

Similar to the cooling member flavoring (described above), the base material flavoring may be provided in solid or liquid form. It may include one or more of the flavorings listed above for the cooling member. The flavorings may be uniformly dispersed throughout the aerosol-forming substrate, or may be provided in isolated locations and/or in varying concentrations throughout the aerosol-forming substrate.

The aerosol-forming substrate can be formed in a substantially cylindrical shape such that the consumable resembles a conventional cigarette. It may have a diameter of between 5 and 10 mm (for example between 6 and 9 mm or between 6 and 8 mm, for example about 7 mm). It may have an axial length of between 10 and 15 mm, such as between 11 and 14 mm, such as about 12 or 13 mm.

The consumable may include at least one filter member. There may be a terminal filter member located at the downstream (ie mouth) end of the consumable (ie at the end of the consumable opposite the substrate).

The consumable may further include an upstream filter member positioned between the aerosol-forming substrate and the cooling member. The upstream filtering member may be located adjacent the aerosol-forming substrate.

The or each filter member may comprise cellulose acetate or polypropylene fiber tows. The or each filter member may include activated carbon. The or each filter member may comprise paper. The or each filter member may comprise extruded plant material. The or each filter element (eg, terminal filter element or upstream filter element) may be enclosed with a plug (eg, paper plug).

The or each filter member may have a substantially cylindrical shape, with a diameter that substantially matches the diameter of the aerosol-forming substrate (with or without its associated wrapping layer). The or each filter member may have an axial length of less than 20 mm, such as between 8 and 15 mm, such as between 9 and 13 mm, such as between 10 and 12 mm.

The or each filter member may be a solid filter member. The or each filter member may be a hollow pore filter member. The or each filter member may have a pore diameter of between 1 and 5 mm (eg between 2 and 4 mm or between 2 and 3 mm).

Any filter element upstream of the terminal filter element may be at least partially (eg completely) surrounded by a (paper) wrapping layer.

The terminal filter element (located at the downstream end of the consumable) may be joined to the upstream filter element and/or cooling element by a surrounding tie layer (eg, a layer of tie paper). The tipping paper may have an axial length that is greater than the axial length of the terminal filtration member such that the tipping paper completely surrounds the terminal filtration member plus a wrap around any adjacent upstream filtration member or cooling member.

The filter member or at least one of the filter members (eg a terminal filter member) may comprise a capsule (eg a crushable capsule (crush ball)) containing a liquid flavoring (eg as listed above any of the seasonings). The capsules can be crushed by the user during smoking of the consumable to release the flavoring. The capsule may be located at the axial center of the terminal filter member.

The consumable may include a spacing member defining a space or cavity or chamber between the aerosol-forming substrate and the downstream end of the consumable. Spacers are used to allow cooling and mixing of the smoke. The spacing member may comprise a cardboard tube. The spacing member may be at least partially (eg completely) enclosed by the (paper) wrapping layer. The spacer may, for example, be located between the cooling member and one of the filtering members.

The spacing member may have an outer diameter of between 5 and 10 mm, such as between 6 and 9 mm or between 6 and 8 mm, such as about 7 mm. It may have an axial length of between 10 and 15 mm, such as between 12 and 14 mm or 13 and 14 mm, such as about 14 mm.

In a second aspect, a heat-not-burn (HNB) consumable (such as the heat-not-burn consumable described in the first aspect) is provided. material), wherein the cooling member includes a sheet formed of a plastic material and an additive applied to a surface of the sheet.

The cooling member may be as described for the first aspect.

In a third aspect, a method of forming a cooling member (such as the cooling member described above in the first and second aspects) is provided, the method comprising the steps of: providing a cooling member formed of a plastic material a sheet; applying an additive to the surface of the sheet; and gathering the sheet to form a cooling member.

In some embodiments, the step of applying an additive to the surface of the sheet is performed separately from the step of gathering the sheet. In other embodiments, the step of applying additives to the surface of the sheet may be performed in parallel with the step of gathering the sheet.

In some embodiments, the step of applying the additive includes spraying the additive onto the surface.

In some embodiments, the method further includes the step of curling the sheet. The sheet may be crimped before being brought together to form the cooling member. The method may additionally or alternatively comprise the step of forming slots in the sheet. The slots may be formed prior to crimping the sheet (ie, if a crimping step is performed).

The cooling member formed by the method of the third aspect may be as described above for the first and second aspects. In this aspect, the method may include the step of applying flavoring and/or phase change material to the sheet.

In a fourth aspect, a smoking alternative system is provided, which includes the HNB consumable as described in the first aspect, and a device including a heating member.

The device may be a HNB device, ie a device adapted to heat but not ignite the smoke-forming substrate of the HNB consumable.

The device may include a body for housing the heating member. The heating member may include an elongated (eg, rod-shaped, tube-shaped, or blade-shaped) heating member. The heating member may project into or surround the cavity within the body for receiving the consumables described above.

The device (eg the body) may further comprise a power source (eg a (rechargeable) battery) for powering the heating member. It may further include a control unit to control the power supply to the heating member.

In a fifth aspect, a method of using the smoking alternative system of the fourth aspect is provided, the method comprising the steps of: inserting the consumable material into the device; and using the heating member to heat the consumable material.

In some embodiments, the method includes the steps of inserting the consumable into the cavity within the body, and penetrating the consumable with a heating member while inserting the consumable. For example, the heating member may penetrate the aerosol-forming substrate in the consumable.

The skilled person will understand that, except where mutually exclusive, features or parameters described with respect to any one of the above aspects may be applied to any other aspect. Furthermore, except where mutually exclusive, any feature or parameter described herein may be applied in any aspect and/or combined with any other feature or parameter described herein.

1: Consumables

2:Smoke forming substrate

3: Wrapping layer

4: Filter components

5: Filter components

6: Connecting layer

7: Cooling components

8: Cardboard spacer tube

9:Capsule

10: Annular gap/HNB equipment

11:Cavity

12:Subject

20:Heating rod

1': consumables

1": Consumables

Embodiments illustrating the principles of the invention, enabling an understanding of the invention, and enabling understanding of further aspects and features of the invention will now be discussed in more detail, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows an HNB A first embodiment of a consumable; Figure 2 shows a second embodiment of an HNB consumable; Figure 3 shows a third embodiment of an HNB consumable; and Figure 4 shows a first embodiment within a device forming an HNB system.

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

The aerosol-forming substrate includes reconstituted tobacco that includes nicotine as a volatile compound.

The aerosol forming substrate 2 comprised 65 weight percent tobacco provided in the form of aggregated chips resulting from the reconstitution of tobacco from a sheet of pulp/paper. The tobacco has 20 weight percent added humectant (such as propylene glycol (PG) or vegetable glycerin (VG)) and has a moisture content between 7 and 9 weight percent. The aerosol-forming substrate also includes cellulose pulp filler and guar gum binder.

The aerosol-forming substrate 2 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape so that the consumable resembles a conventional cigarette. It has a diameter of approximately 7 mm and an axial length of approximately 12 mm.

The aerosol-generating substrate 2 is surrounded by a paper wrapping layer 3 .

The consumable 1 includes an upstream filter member 4 and a downstream (terminal) filter member 5 . The two filter elements 4, 5 are formed from cellulose acetate fiber bundles and are wrapped with corresponding paper plug layers (not shown).

Both filter members 4, 5 have a substantially cylindrical shape. The diameter of the upstream filter 4 matches the diameter of the aerosol forming substrate 2 . The diameter of the terminal filter member 5 is slightly larger and matches the combined diameter of the aerosol-forming substrate 2 and wrapping layer 3 . The axial length of the upstream filter element is slightly shorter than that of the terminal filter element, and is 10 mm in axial length compared to 12 mm of the terminal filter element.

Each filter element 4,5 is a hollow pore filter element having a hollow, longitudinally extending pore cavity. The diameter of the pores in the upstream filter is slightly larger than the diameter of the pores in the final filter and has a diameter of 3 mm compared to 2 mm of the final filter member.

The consumable further includes a cooling member 7 located between the upstream filter member 4 and the downstream (ie terminal) filter member 5 . The cooling member 7 includes a sheet formed of a plastic material, including polylactic acid (PLA), and additives applied to the surface of the sheet (eg sprayed/coated onto the surface). Using PLA to form the sheet may mean that the cooling member 7 is biodegradable.

Although not apparent from the drawings, the sheets of cooling member 7 are curled and gathered to form a substantially cylindrical structure with a high surface area.

Additives (applied to the surface of the sheet) include flavors (eg menthol) or phase change materials (eg eicosanoids).

The cooling member 7 and the upstream filter member 4 are surrounded by the wrapping layer 3 . The filter member is longer than each of the two filter sections and has an axial length of approximately 14 mm.

The final filter element 5 is joined to the upstream element forming the consumable by means of a surrounding paper binding layer 6 . The tipping layer 6 surrounds the terminal filter part and has an axial length of approximately 20 mm, so that it covers a portion of the filter member 5 .

Figure 2 shows a second embodiment of a consumable 1' which is the same as that shown in Figure 1 except that the consumable 1' comprises a cardboard spacer tube 8 and the terminal filter member 5 is a solid filter member and Includes crushable capsules 9 (crushing balls). The crushable capsule 9 has a shell wall containing liquid menthol or cherry or vanilla flavouring. The capsule 9 is spherical and has a diameter of 3.5 mm. It is positioned in the axial center of the terminal filter section 5 .

A cardboard spacer tube 8 is provided between the cooling member 7 and the upstream filter 4 and serves to allow cooling and mixing of the smoke. The length of the cardboard tube spacer is approximately the same as the cooling member 7 and has an axial length of approximately 7 mm. The cardboard spacer tube 8 , the upstream filter member 4 , and the cooling member 7 are surrounded by the wrapping layer 3 .

Figure 3 shows a third embodiment of a consumable 1" which is identical to the first embodiment except that it includes (similar to the embodiment of Figure 2) a cardboard spacer tube 8. Furthermore, the wrapping layer 3 is not completely The cardboard spacer tube 8 is enclosed so that there is an annular gap 10 between the tipping layer 6 and the cardboard spacer tube 8 downstream of the end of the wrapping layer 3. In a third embodiment of the consumable 1", the cooling member 7 is located Between the cardboard spacer tube 8 and the upstream filter 4.

Figure 4 shows a first embodiment inserted into a HNB device 10, which HNB device includes a rod-shaped heating member 20 (shown in dashed lines). The heating member projects into a cavity 11 within the body 12 of the device.

The consumable 1 is inserted into the cavity 11 of the body 12 of the device 10 so that the heating rod 20 penetrates the aerosol-forming substrate 2 . Heating of the reconstituted tobacco in the aerosol-forming substrate 2 is achieved by energizing the heating means, for example with a rechargeable battery (not shown). As the tobacco heats, moisture and volatile compounds (such as nicotine) within the tobacco and humectant are released as vapor and become entrained in the air flow generated by the inhalation by the user at the terminal filter section 5 .

As the vapor cools within the upstream filter member 4 and cooling member 7, it condenses to form a smoke containing volatile compounds and menthol flavoring for inhalation by the user.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or in the following claims, or in the drawings may be used individually or in any combination of such features to implement the invention in its various forms, as the case may be. Expressed in their specific form or in terms of means for performing a disclosed function, or a method or process for obtaining a disclosed result.

While the invention has been described in connection with the above-described exemplary embodiments, many equivalent variations and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art given this disclosure. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments of the invention set forth above are to be regarded as illustrative and not restrictive. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

For the avoidance of any doubt, any theoretical explanations provided in this article are provided for the purpose of improving the reader's understanding. The inventors do not wish to be bound by any of these theoretical explanations.

Any section headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not to be construed as limiting the subject matter described.

Throughout this specification (including the claims below), unless the context requires otherwise, the words "have," "includes," and "includes," and variations thereof will be understood to imply the inclusion of stated integers or steps. , or a group of integers or steps, but does not exclude any other integer or step, or group of integers or steps.

It must be noted that, as used in this specification and the accompanying claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Ranges may be expressed herein as from "about" one particular value and/or to "about" another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when a value is expressed as an approximation by use of the antecedent "about," it will be understood that the particular value forms another embodiment. The word "about" with respect to a numerical value is optional and means, for example, +/-10%.

The words "preferred" and "preferably" are used herein to refer to embodiments of the invention that may provide certain benefits under certain circumstances. However, it is to be understood that other embodiments may be preferred under the same or different circumstances. Accordingly, description of one or more preferred embodiments does not imply that or It is implied that other embodiments are not useful, and it is not intended to exclude other embodiments from the scope of this disclosure or from the scope of the claims.

1: Consumables

2:Smoke forming substrate

3: Wrapping layer

4: Filter components

5: Filter components

6: Connecting layer

7: Cooling components

Claims (18)

A heat-not-burn (HNB) consumable includes: an aerosol-forming base material; and a cooling member located downstream of the aerosol-forming base material. The cooling member includes a piece of plastic material and is coated on An additive is provided on a surface of the sheet, wherein the additive includes a phase change material. The consumable as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plastic material includes polylactic acid (PLA). The consumable as claimed in claim 1, wherein the additive includes a seasoning. The consumable of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the additive is sprayed onto the surface of the sheet. The consumable of claim 1, wherein the sheet is gathered and/or curled to have a substantially cylindrical shape. The consumable as claimed in claim 1 further includes a terminal hollow cavity filter component at a downstream end of the consumable. The consumable as claimed in claim 6 further includes an upstream filter component located upstream of the terminal hollow cavity filter component. A cooling member for a heat-not-burn (HNB) consumable, the cooling member includes a sheet formed of a plastic material and an additive applied to a surface of the sheet, The additive includes a phase change material. The cooling component of claim 8, wherein the plastic material includes polylactic acid (PLA). The cooling member of claim 8, wherein the additive includes a seasoning. A cooling member as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the additive is sprayed or coated onto the surface of the sheet. The cooling member of claim 8, wherein the sheet is gathered and/or curled to have a generally cylindrical shape. A method of forming a cooling member, the method comprising the steps of: providing a sheet formed of a plastic material; applying an additive to a surface of the sheet; and gathering and/or curling the sheet to A cooling component is formed, wherein the additive includes a phase change material. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of applying an additive to the surface of the sheet is performed separately from the step of gathering and/or curling the sheet. The method of claim 13 or 14, wherein the step of applying the additive to a surface of the sheet includes the following steps: spraying the additive onto the surface of the sheet. A smoking alternative system, including: a consumable as described in any one of claims 1 to 7, or a consumable including a cooling member as described in any one of claims 8 to 12; and a device, including a heating element. The system of claim 16, wherein the device includes a body for receiving the heating member, and the heating member includes an elongated heating member. A method of using the smoking alternative system of claim 16 or 17, the method comprising the steps of: inserting the consumable into the device; and using the heating member to heat the consumable.