US20240251862A1

US20240251862A1 - Mouthpiece for inhaling an aerosol with an airflow channel

Info

Publication number: US20240251862A1
Application number: US18/685,386
Authority: US
Inventors: Rui Nuno BATISTA; Ricardo CALI; Cheng Peng
Original assignee: Philip Morris Products SA
Current assignee: Philip Morris Products SA
Priority date: 2021-09-01
Filing date: 2022-08-29
Publication date: 2024-08-01
Also published as: KR20240053049A; CN117858636A; JP2024530757A; EP4395579A1; WO2023031126A1

Abstract

A mouthpiece for inhaling an aerosol is provided, including: an airflow channel for the aerosol extending through the mouthpiece; and a flavor compartment including at least one flavoring agent configured to flavor the aerosol, the flavor compartment being in fluid communication with the airflow channel in a central portion of the airflow channel, a cross-sectional area of the airflow channel in the central portion increasing in a flow direction through the airflow channel, and the airflow channel having a frustoconical shape at a downstream end of the mouthpiece. An aerosol-generating system including the mouthpiece and a cartridge containing an aerosol-forming substrate is also provided.

Description

The present invention relates to a mouthpiece for inhaling an aerosol. The present invention further relates to an aerosol-generating system for providing an aerosol to a user.
Aerosol-generating systems comprise either a cartridge including liquid aerosol-forming substrate or an aerosol-generating article including solid aerosol-forming substrate. These products can be consumed as heat-not-burn products and often contain flavorings which cannot be changed while the cartridge is in use. Cartridges often cannot be disconnected from their respective aerosol-generating devices without the risk of leakages or breaking the cartridge. Any flavorings present in the liquid aerosol-forming substrates of cartridges may have a short shelf life, mainly due to the chemically reactive nicotine component. Similarly, a user may purchase a complete set of aerosol-generating articles, which all include the same flavor.
It would be desirable to provide a user with the possibility to change the flavor of an aerosol-generating system while being in use. Furthermore, it would be desirable to provide the user with the possibility to change the flavoring of individual aerosol-generating articles which are contained in a set of aerosol-generating articles at the user's convenience. Additionally, it would be desirable to provide the user with the possibility to change the flavoring provided by aerosol-generating systems without great energy consumption.
According to an embodiment of the present invention a mouthpiece for inhaling an aerosol is provided. The mouthpiece may comprise an airflow channel for the aerosol extending through the mouthpiece. The mouthpiece may comprise a flavor compartment comprising at least one flavoring agent for flavoring the aerosol. The flavor compartment of the mouthpiece may be in fluid communication with the airflow channel in a central portion of the airflow channel. A cross-sectional area of the airflow channel in the central portion may increase in the flow direction through the airflow channel.
Another embodiment of the present invention may provide a mouthpiece for inhaling an aerosol. The mouthpiece comprises an airflow channel for the aerosol extending through the mouthpiece. The mouthpiece comprises a flavor compartment comprising at least one flavoring agent for flavoring the aerosol. The flavor compartment of the mouthpiece is in fluid communication with the airflow channel in a central portion of the airflow channel. A cross-sectional area of the airflow channel of the mouthpiece in the central portion increases in the flow direction through the airflow channel.
The flow direction through the airflow channel of the mouthpiece is defined as the flow direction of the aerosol through the mouthpiece. The aerosol may enter the mouthpiece at an upstream end of the mouthpiece and may exit the mouthpiece to be inhaled by a user at the downstream end of the mouthpiece.
As used herein, the terms “upstream”, and “downstream”, are used to describe the relative positions of components, or portions of components, of the mouthpiece or an aerosol-generating device used together with the mouthpiece in relation to the direction in which air flows through the mouthpiece or aerosol-generating device during use thereof along the air flow channel driven by a user's puff. The mouthpiece according to the invention comprise a proximal end through which, in use, an aerosol exits the mouthpiece to be consumed by a user. A proximal end of a aerosol generating device may also be referred to as the mouth end or the downstream end of the aerosol-generating device. The proximal end of the aerosol generating device may be connectable to the mouthpiece. The mouth end is downstream of the distal end. The distal end of the aerosol generating device or the distal end of the mouthpiece may also be referred to as the upstream end. Components, or portions of components, of the mouthpiece or the aerosol generating device may be described as being upstream or downstream of one another based on their relative positions with respect to the airflow channel through the mouthpiece or the aerosol generating device.
A cross-sectional area of the airflow channel in the central portion increasing in the flow direction through the airflow channel may lead to a cross-sectional area of the airflow channel being smaller in an upstream portion of the central portion in comparison to a downstream portion of the central portion.
An increasing cross-sectional area of the airflow channel in the central portion in the flow direction may decrease the speed of the aerosol in flow direction when passing through the central portion of the airflow channel. This may provide a Venturi effect. This may increase the mixing of the aerosol with the at least one flavoring agent, which is in fluid communication with the central portion of the airflow channel. This also may lead to an increase in turbulent air flow through the mouthpiece, additionally aiding in the mixing of the aerosol and the at least one flavoring agent. This may also aid in the volatilization of the at least one flavoring agent. Thus, a more homogeneous mixture of the aerosol and the at least one flavoring agent may be provided to the user through the mouthpiece.
The aerosol received by the mouthpiece for further flavoring may be generated from a variety of different aerosol-forming substrates. The aerosol-forming substrate may be one or more of a liquid, a gel or a solid aerosol-forming substrate. The mouthpiece may be configured to be detachably connected to one or both of an aerosol-generating article or a cartridge containing an aerosol-forming substrate. The aerosol-generating article may comprise a substrate section containing aerosol-forming substrate. The aerosol-forming substrate may form an aerosol upon heating or upon combustion.
The at least one flavoring agent may be configured to be entrained in the airstream upon a user's puff. This may provide an additional flavoring of the aerosol without the necessity of heating the at least one flavoring agent in the flavor compartment. This may provide a simple method for flavoring an aerosol by simply puffing through the mouthpiece.
One or both of a cross-sectional area of the airflow channel at the upstream end of the mouthpiece may be smaller than a cross-sectional area of the airflow channel in the central portion or a cross-sectional area of the airflow channel in the central portion may be smaller than a cross-sectional area of the airflow channel at the downstream end of the mouthpiece.
According to this embodiment of the mouthpiece of the present invention, the mouthpiece therefore may comprise at least two or three expansion areas for the aerosol. One first expansion area may be located at the upstream end of the mouthpiece at the upstream end of the airflow channel through the mouthpiece and a second expansion area may be located in the central portion of the airflow channel. The cross-sectional area of the first expansion area may be smaller than the cross-sectional area of the second expansion area in the central portion of the airflow channel. This may lead to the speed of the aerosol being lower in the second expansion area in comparison to the first expansion area. This may lead to a reduction of the speed of the aerosol going from the first expansion area through the second expansion area. This may provide a Venturi effect. This may facilitate in the mixing of the aerosol with the at least one flavoring agent in the central portion of the airflow channel. A third expansion area of the mouthpiece may be located at the downstream end of the mouthpiece. A cross-sectional area of the airflow channel at the central portion of the airflow channel may be smaller than a cross-sectional area of the airflow channel at this downstream end of the mouthpiece. Thus, the third expansion area may have a cross-sectional area of the airflow channel being larger than the cross-sectional area in the central portion and the cross-sectional area at the upstream end of the mouthpiece. The speed of the mixture of the aerosol and the at least one flavoring agent may therefore be decreasing when passing through the third expansion area. This may provide a Venturi effect. This also may aid in the mixing of the aerosol and the at least one flavoring agent. These expansion areas may “flush” the aerosol generated from an aerosol-forming substrate towards the mouthpiece and through the central portion of the airflow channel of the mouthpiece to the downstream end of the mouthpiece to be delivered to a user.
Preferably, the cross-sectional area of the airflow channel in the first expansion area at the upstream end of the mouthpiece may increase in the flow direction through the airflow channel. Furthermore, the cross-sectional area of the airflow channel in the third expansion area at the downstream end of the mouthpiece may increase in the flow direction through the airflow channel. As already mentioned above, the cross-sectional area of the airflow channel in the central portion, the second expansion area also may increase in the flow direction through the airflow channel.
This may enable an efficient channeling of the aerosol or of the mixture of the aerosol and the at least one flavoring agent through the mouthpiece towards the user.
One or both of a cross-sectional area of the airflow channel between the upstream end and the central portion remains at least partly the same or a cross-sectional area of the airflow channel between the central portion and the downstream end remains at least partly the same.
This may enable the speed of the aerosol or the speed of the mixture of the aerosol and the at least one flavoring agent to remain the same between the upstream end of the airflow channel and the central portion of the airflow channel or between the central portion of the airflow channel and the downstream end.
Preferably, the cross-sectional area of the airflow channel does not change between the upstream end and the central portion of the airflow channel or between the central portion of the airflow channel and the downstream end of the mouthpiece. This may enable an expansion of the aerosol or of the mixture of the aerosol and the at least one flavoring agent only in the expansion areas of the mouthpiece, where the cross-sectional area of the airflow channel changes in flow direction.
The cross-sectional area of the airflow channel may be one or more of: circular, rectangular, or oval. Preferably, the airflow channel may have a tubular shape. When the airflow channel has a tubular shape, resulting in a circular cross-sectional area, the diameter of the airflow channel at the upstream end of the mouthpiece may be smaller than the diameter of the airflow channel in the central portion. Similarly, the diameter of the airflow channel in the central portion may then be smaller than the diameter of the airflow channel at the downstream end of the mouthpiece.
The walls of the airflow channel in the central portion may comprise a porous material for releasing the at least one flavoring agent. The porous material may be a retention material configured to retain the at least one flavoring agent. The retention material may be configured to release the at least one flavoring agent into the aerosol. The porous material may direct the at least one flavoring agent from the flavor compartment to the central portion of the airflow channel for volatilization with the aerosol.
The retention material may be configured to release the at least one flavoring agent when a stream of air driven by a user's puff passes along its surface. The retention material may be configured to retain the at least one flavoring agent in the absence of the stream of air. This may avoid undesired evaporation of the at least one flavoring agent during storage of the mouthpiece.
The porous material may be selected from: porous ceramic, basalt stone, bamboo fiber composites, cork, modal fabric composite, nonwoven, cellulose composite. These materials are particularly well suited in order to absorb and retain the at least one flavoring agent and release it into the airstream of the aerosol.
Opposing walls of the airflow channel in the central portion may comprise the porous material for releasing the at least one flavoring agent. A distance between the opposing walls may increase in the central portion in the flow direction through the airflow channel.
The flavor compartment of the mouthpiece may comprise the at least one flavoring agent in a liquid form or gel form. The at least one flavoring agent preferably may volatile. This may aid in the utilization of the at least one flavoring agent. The at least one flavoring agent may be selected from a group consisting of: mint oil, menthol, isomenthone, menthyl acetate.
The flavor compartment may also comprise at least one aerosol-former. The at least one aerosol former may be selected from a group consisting of: propanediol, propanediol, glycerol, diacetate, diethyl phthalate.
These aerosol-formers may be included in the aerosol in addition to the at least one flavoring agent when a user pulls on the mouthpiece. These aerosol-formers may also control the volatilization rate of the at least one flavoring agent.
The mouthpiece may comprise a longitudinal axis, preferably a central longitudinal axis. The airflow channel extending through the mouthpiece may extend along the longitudinal axis. The airflow channel may extend along the longitudinal axis through one or more of: the upstream end of the mouthpiece, the central portion of the airflow channel and the downstream end of the mouthpiece.
This may ensure that the airflow channel may extend along the longitudinal axis of the mouthpiece in one or more of: the first expansion area, the second expansion area in the central portion of the airflow channel and the third expansion area at the downstream end of the mouthpiece.
This may enable an easy and straightforward “flushing” of the aerosol and the mixture of the aerosol and the at least one flavoring agent towards the user through the mouthpiece.
The flavor compartment may be annular-shaped. Preferably, the annular-shaped flavor compartment may be arranged around the airflow channel of the mouthpiece. This may provide an easy design for arranging the flavor compartment around the airflow channel of the mouthpiece. The mouthpiece may comprise inner walls. The inner walls may surround the airflow channel extending through the mouthpiece. At least a part of the inner wall in the central portion of the airflow channel may comprise the porous material for releasing the at least one flavoring agent from the flavor compartment into the airflow channel.
The flavor compartment may extend at least along the central portion of the airflow channel to the downstream end of the mouthpiece. This may provide a large flavor compartment being able to store a large amount of the at least one flavoring agent.
The mouthpiece may comprise outer walls. The outer walls may comprise any material suitable for the mouthpiece. One or both of the outer walls and the inner walls may comprise plastic, cardboard or metal.
The mouthpiece may further comprise an inlet portion. The inlet portion may be configured for receiving the aerosol. The mouthpiece furthermore may comprise an outlet portion. The outlet portion may be configured for outflow of the aerosol to a user. The airflow channel through the mouthpiece may be arranged between the inlet portion and the outlet portion.
The inlet portion of the mouthpiece may be configured for being detachably connectable to one or more of a cartridge for an aerosol-forming substrate, an aerosol-generating device or an aerosol-generating article. The inlet portion may be configured to receive the aerosol generated from the aerosol-forming substrate of the cartridge or the aerosol-generating article. The inlet portion may contain a hollow connection portion configured for being detachably connectable to the one or more of a cartridge, the aerosol-generating device or the aerosol-generating article. The hollow connection portion may be adjacent to the outer walls of the mouthpiece. The hollow connection portion may be configured to accommodate parts of the cartridge upon connection with the cartridge. The outer walls of the inlet portion may be configured to at least partly be put over the cartridge or the aerosol-generating article or the aerosol-generating device.
The inlet portion of the mouthpiece may include connection taps. The connection taps may be configured for being detachably connectable to one or more of a cartridge for an aerosol-forming substrate, an aerosol-generating device or an aerosol-generating article.
The inlet portion of the mouthpiece may comprise a tubular section. The tubular section may be configured for being detachably connectable to a cartridge. The tubular section may be arranged along the longitudinal axis of the mouthpiece.
The tubular section may enable contact to a cartridge, in particular to a central hollow portion of an annular-shaped cartridge.
The tubular section may comprise an opening at the upstream end. The opening of the tubular section at the upstream end may correspond to the upstream end of the mouthpiece. The opening of the tubular section at the upstream end may correspond to the first expansion area of the mouthpiece, already mentioned above. This may lead to a reduction of the speed of the aerosol at the downstream end of the tubular section compared to the upstream end. This may enable a better mixing of the air and the aerosol originating from the aerosol-forming substrate. The tubular section may be arranged along the longitudinal axis of the mouthpiece.
The outer walls of the mouthpiece may comprise at least one mouthpiece air inlet configured for allowing ambient air to enter the mouthpiece. Preferably, the inlet portion of the mouthpiece may comprise the at least one mouthpiece air inlet.
The mouthpiece may further comprise an outlet sealing layer. The outlet sealing layer may seal the outlet portion of the mouthpiece. The mouthpiece may further comprise an inlet sealing layer. The inlet sealing layer may seal the inlet portion of the mouthpiece. The presence of one or both of the outlet sealing layer and the inlet sealing layer may prevent the evaporation of the at least one flavoring agent out of the mouthpiece during storage. A user may remove the inlet sealing layer and the outlet sealing layer before using the mouthpiece. After removal of the outlet sealing layer and the inlet sealing layer a user may connect the mouthpiece with one or both of an aerosol-generating article or a cartridge.
The airflow channel may have a frustoconical shape at the downstream end of the mouthpiece. This may correspond to the third expansion area mentioned above. This may enable a final efficient mixing of the aerosol originating from the aerosol-forming substrate and the at least one flavoring agent entrained in the aerosol in the central portion of the airflow channel.
One embodiment of the invention also provides an aerosol-generating system. The aerosol-generating system may comprise a mouthpiece as described herein. The aerosol-generating system furthermore may comprise a cartridge containing an aerosol-forming substrate and may comprise an aerosol-generating device. The mouthpiece may be configured to be detachably connectable to the cartridge.
Another embodiment of the invention provides an aerosol-generating system. The aerosol-generating system comprises a mouthpiece as described herein. Additionally, the aerosol-generating system comprises a cartridge containing an aerosol-forming substrate and an aerosol-generating device. The mouthpiece is configured to be detachably connectable to the cartridge.
The cartridge may be configured to be detachably connectable to the aerosol-generating device. Subsequently, the mouthpiece may be detachably connectable to the cartridge, the cartridge being connected to the aerosol-generating device.
Such an aerosol-generating system may provide an aerosol from the aerosol-forming substrate of the cartridge upon heating. This aerosol may be further flavorized by the at least one flavoring agent contained in the flavor compartment of the mouthpiece. A user may add further flavor from the mouthpiece to the aerosol by simply pulling on the mouthpiece. This may not require additional heating. In particular, the heat of the aerosol generated from the aerosol-forming substrate may be sufficient together with the airstream generated by the user's puff in order to entrain the at least one flavoring agent in the aerosol.
The aerosol-forming substrate contained in the cartridge may be liquid.
The cartridge of the aerosol-generating system may comprise a vaporizer assembly for vaporizing the aerosol-forming substrate. The vaporizer assembly may comprise a porous evaporation element. The porous evaporation element may be in fluid communication with the aerosol-forming substrate contained in the cartridge. The porous evaporation element may be configured to absorb the aerosol-forming substrate, in particular the liquid aerosol-forming substrate. The porous evaporation element may comprise a porous ceramic material for absorbing the aerosol-forming substrate.
The vaporizer assembly may comprise a heater element. The porous evaporation element may be connected to the heater element in a thermally conducting manner. The heater element may be configured to heat the porous evaporation element. This may result in evaporation and aerosolization of the aerosol-forming substrate contained in the porous evaporation element. The heater element may comprise connections pins. The connection pins may be configured for being detachably connectable to an energy source of an aerosol-generating device.
As used herein, the term ‘aerosol-forming substrate’ relates to a substrate capable of releasing one or more volatile compounds that can form an aerosol. Such volatile compounds may be released by heating the aerosol-forming substrate.
The aerosol-forming substrate may comprise liquid components. The aerosol-forming substrate may comprise a tobacco-containing material containing volatile tobacco flavour compounds which are released from the substrate upon heating. The aerosol-forming substrate may comprise tobacco extract. The aerosol-forming substrate may comprise a non-tobacco material. The aerosol-forming substrate may comprise an aerosol former that facilitates the formation of a dense and stable aerosol. Suitable aerosol-formers are well known in the art and include, but are not limited to: polyhydric alcohols, such as triethylene glycol, 1,3-butanediol and glycerine; esters of polyhydric alcohols, such as glycerol mono-, di- or triacetate; and aliphatic esters of mono-, di- or polycarboxylic acids, such as dimethyl dodecanedioate and dimethyl tetradecanedioate. Aerosol formers may be polyhydric alcohols or mixtures thereof, such as triethylene glycol, 1,3-butanediol and glycerine. The aerosol-former may be propylene glycol. The aerosol former may comprise both glycerine and propylene glycol.
The cartridge may comprise a central hollow portion. The cartridge may have an annular shape. The mouthpiece may be configured to be detachably connectable to the central hollow portion of the cartridge.
The tubular section of the inlet portion of the mouthpiece may be configured for being insertable into the central hollow portion of the cartridge. This may provide an airflow channel leading from the cartridge through the tubular section of the inlet portion of the mouthpiece to the central portion of the airflow channel where the at least one flavoring agent is entrained in the aerosol.
The cartridge may comprise inner walls. The inner walls of the cartridge may be adjacent to the central hollow portion of the cartridge. The cartridge furthermore may comprise outer walls.
Upon connection of the mouthpiece with the cartridge an airflow channel may be formed between the outer walls of the cartridge and the inlet portion of the mouthpiece and between the inner wall of the cartridge and the tubular section of the mouthpiece. This airflow channel may direct ambient air to the vaporizer assembly of the cartridge. The airflow channel may receive ambient air through the mouthpiece air inlet.
This may enable an airflow channel to be formed only upon connection of the cartridge with the mouthpiece.
Upon connection of the mouthpiece with the cartridge, the tubular section of the inlet portion may be positioned adjacent to the vaporizer assembly of the cartridge. In particular, the upstream end of the tubular section may be positioned adjacent to the vaporizer assembly of the cartridge.
This may enable any aerosol generated at the vaporizer assembly of the cartridge to be directed through the tubular section of the mouthpiece to the central portion of the airflow channel.
The cartridge of the aerosol-generating system may be configured to be detachably connectable to an aerosol-generating device. The aerosol-generating device may comprise electrical connections. These electrical connections may be configured to be detachably connectable to the cartridge. In particular, the electrical connections may be configured to be detachably connectable to the connection pins of the cartridge.
This aerosol-generating device may comprise a power supply. The power supply may be configured to operate the heater element of the cartridge. The power supply may be a battery, within a main body of the aerosol-generating device. In one embodiment, the power supply is a Lithium-ion battery. Alternatively, the power supply may be a Nickel-metal hydride battery, a Nickel cadmium battery, or a Lithium based battery, for example a Lithium-Cobalt, a Lithium-Iron-Phosphate, Lithium Titanate or a Lithium-Polymer battery. As an alternative, the power supply may be another form of charge storage device such as a capacitor. The power supply may require recharging and may have a capacity that enables to store enough energy for one or more usage experiences; for example, the power supply may have sufficient capacity to continuously generate aerosol for a period of around six minutes or for a period of a multiple of six minutes. In another example, the power supply may have sufficient capacity to provide a predetermined number of puffs or discrete activations of the heater element.
The aerosol-generating device may comprise electric circuitry. The electric circuitry may comprise a microprocessor, which may be a programmable microprocessor. The microprocessor may be part of a controller. The electric circuitry may comprise further electronic components. The electric circuitry may be configured to regulate a supply of power to the heater element.
Another embodiment of the invention provides an aerosol generating system, which may comprise a mouthpiece as described herein. Furthermore, the aerosol-generating system may comprise an aerosol-generating article. The aerosol-generating system may comprise an aerosol-generating device comprising a cavity for receiving the aerosol-generating article. The mouthpiece may be configured to be detachably connectable to the aerosol-generating article.
An aerosol-forming substrate may conveniently be part of an aerosol-generating article or smoking article. The aerosol-forming substrate may be part of a substrate portion of the aerosol-generating article.
Another embodiment of the invention provides an aerosol-generating system comprising a mouthpiece as described herein. Additionally, the aerosol-generating system comprises an aerosol-generating article. The aerosol-generating system also comprises an aerosol-generating device, the aerosol-generating device comprising a cavity for receiving the aerosol-generating article. The mouthpiece is configured to be detachably connectable to the aerosol-generating article.
Mouthpieces according to the invention can also be configured to be detachably connectable to aerosol-generating articles. These aerosol-generating articles may comprise a substrate section, including aerosol-forming substrate. The aerosol-generating article may have a tubular shape. The aerosol-generating article may have a rod-like shape.
The aerosol-forming substrate may be solid. The aerosol-forming substrate is a substrate capable of releasing volatile compounds that can form an aerosol. The volatile compounds may be released by heating the aerosol-forming substrate. The aerosol-forming substrate may comprise nicotine. The aerosol-forming substrate may comprise plant-based material. The aerosol-forming substrate may comprise tobacco. The aerosol-forming substrate may comprise a tobacco-containing material containing volatile tobacco flavour compounds, which are released from the aerosol-forming substrate upon heating. The aerosol-forming substrate may alternatively comprise a non-tobacco-containing material. The aerosol-forming substrate may comprise homogenised plant-based material, including homogenized tobacco, for example made by, for example, a paper making process or a casting process.
The aerosol-forming substrate may comprise at least one aerosol-former. The aerosol-former may be any of the aerosol-formers already described above in connection with the aerosol-forming substrate contained in the cartridge.
The mouthpiece of the invention can therefore be used in order to change the flavor of the aerosol-generating articles at a user's convenience. The user may consume an aerosol-generating article employing the aerosol-generating system described herein. After usage, the user may disconnect the mouthpiece from the aerosol-generating article. The user may reuse the mouthpiece or any other mouthpiece comprising flavor compartment with different flavorings with further aerosol-generating articles.
The aerosol-generating article may generate an aerosol by heating the aerosol-forming substrate to a temperature below combustion temperature. Such an aerosol-generating article may also be referred to as a “heat-not-burn product”.
The cavity of the aerosol-generating device may have an open end into which the aerosol-generating article is inserted. The open end may be a proximal end. The cavity may have a closed end opposite the open end. The closed end may be the base of the cavity. The closed end may be closed except for the provision of air apertures arranged in the base. The base of the cavity may be flat. The base of the cavity may be circular. The base of the cavity may be arranged upstream of the cavity. The open end may be arranged downstream of the cavity. The cavity may have an elongate extension. The cavity may have a longitudinal central axis. A longitudinal direction may be the direction extending between the open and closed ends along the longitudinal central axis. The longitudinal central axis of the cavity may be parallel to the longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generating device.
The cavity may be configured as a heating chamber. The cavity may have a cylindrical shape. The cavity may have a hollow cylindrical shape. The cavity may have a shape corresponding to the shape of the aerosol-generating article to be received in the cavity. The cavity may have a circular cross-section. The cavity may have an elliptical or rectangular cross-section. The cavity may have an inner diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of the aerosol-generating article.
The aerosol-generating device may comprise a heating element. The heating element may be configured to heat an aerosol-generating article received in the cavity. The heating element may be configured to heat the aerosol-generating article to a temperature ranging from 220 degrees Celsius to 400 degrees Celsius, preferably from 250 degrees Celsius to 290 degrees Celsius. At these temperatures an aerosol may be generated from the aerosol-forming substrate included in the aerosol-generating article.
The heating element may comprise one or both of an inductive heating element and a resistive heating element. The inductive heating element may comprise an inductor coil disposed around at least a portion of the cavity and connected to a power supply. The power supply may be configured to provide an alternating electric current to the inductor coil, such that in use, the inductor coil may generate an alternating magnetic field to heat a susceptor by creating eddy currents. The susceptor may be part of one or both of the aerosol-generating device and the aerosol-generating article received in the cavity of the aerosol-generating device. Preferably, the susceptor may be part of the aerosol-generating device or the aerosol-generating article.
As described herein, induction heating may be utilized. For induction heating, the induction coil and the susceptor are provided. In general, a susceptor is a material that is capable of generating heat, when penetrated by an alternating magnetic field. When located in an alternating magnetic field. If the susceptor is conductive, then typically eddy currents are induced by the alternating magnetic field. If the susceptor is magnetic, then typically another effect that contributes to the heating is commonly referred to hysteresis losses. Hysteresis losses occur mainly due to the movement of the magnetic domain blocks within the susceptor, because the magnetic orientation of these will align with the magnetic induction field, which alternates. Another effect contributing to the hysteresis loss is when the magnetic domains will grow or shrink within the susceptor. Commonly all these changes in the susceptor that happen on a nano-scale or below are referred to as “hysteresis losses”, because they produce heat in the susceptor. Hence, if the susceptor is both magnetic and electrically conductive, both hysteresis losses and the generation of eddy currents will contribute to the heating of the susceptor. If the susceptor is magnetic, but not conductive, then hysteresis losses will be the only means by which the susceptor will heat, when penetrated by an alternating magnetic field. According to the invention, the susceptor may be electrically conductive or magnetic or both electrically conductive and magnetic. An alternating magnetic field generated by one or several induction coils heat the susceptor, which then transfers the heat to the aerosol-forming substrate, such that an aerosol is formed. The heat transfer may be mainly by conduction of heat. Such a transfer of heat is best, if the susceptor is in close thermal contact with the aerosol-forming substrate.
An airflow channel may run through the cavity. Ambient air may be drawn into the aerosol-generating device, into the cavity and towards the user through the airflow channel. Downstream of the cavity, a mouthpiece may be arranged or a user may directly draw on the aerosol-generating article. The airflow channel may extend through the mouthpiece.
The aerosol-generating device of the present invention is arranged to heat the aerosol-forming substrate to a temperature below a combustion temperature of the aerosol-forming substrate, but at or above a temperature at which one or more volatile compounds of the aerosol-forming substrate are released to form an inhalable aerosol for inhalation by a user.
The aerosol-generating device may comprise electric circuitry. The electric circuitry may comprise a microprocessor, which may be a programmable microprocessor. The microprocessor may be part of a controller. The electric circuitry may comprise further electronic components. The electric circuitry may be configured to regulate a supply of power to the heating element, particularly to the induction coil. Power may be supplied to the heating element continuously following activation of the aerosol-generating device or may be supplied intermittently, such as on a puff-by-puff basis. The power may be supplied to the heating element in the form of pulses of electrical current. The electric circuitry may be configured to monitor the electrical resistance of the heating element, and preferably to control the supply of power to the heating element dependent on the electrical resistance of the heating element.
The aerosol-generating device may comprise a power supply, typically a battery, within a main body of the aerosol-generating device. The power supply can be the same power supply as already described above with regard to the aerosol-generating device which is configured to be detachably connectable to the cartridge.
Another embodiment of the invention provides an aerosol-generating system comprising a mouthpiece as described herein. Furthermore, the aerosol-generating system comprises an aerosol-generating article configured for providing an aerosol upon combustion. The mouthpiece is configured to be detachably connectable to the aerosol-generating article.
The aerosol-generating article may generate an aerosol by lighting the article and heating the aerosol-forming substrate above a combustion temperature. The mouthpiece of the present invention may serve to add a flavoring to the aerosol created by combusting the aerosol-generating article.
Below, there is provided a non-exhaustive list of non-limiting examples. Any one or more of the features of these examples may be combined with any one or more features of another example, embodiment, or aspect described herein.

- Example A: Mouthpiece for inhaling an aerosol, comprising
  - an airflow channel for the aerosol extending through the mouthpiece,
  - a flavor compartment comprising at least one flavoring agent for flavoring the aerosol,
  - the flavor compartment being in fluid communication with the airflow channel in a central portion of the airflow channel, wherein
  - a cross-sectional area of the airflow channel in the central portion increases in the flow direction through the airflow channel.
- Example B: Mouthpiece according to the preceding example, wherein one or both of:
  - a cross-sectional area of the airflow channel at the upstream end of the mouthpiece is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the airflow channel in the central portion or
  - the cross-sectional area of the airflow channel in the central portion is smaller than a cross-sectional area of the airflow channel at the downstream end of the mouthpiece.
- Example C: Mouthpiece according to any of the preceding examples, wherein one or both of: a cross-sectional area of the airflow channel between the upstream end and the central portion remains at least partly the same or a cross-sectional area of the airflow channel between the central portion and the downstream end remains at least partly the same.
- Example D: Mouthpiece according to any of the preceding examples, wherein the walls of the airflow channel in the central portion comprise a porous material for releasing the at least one flavoring agent, preferably wherein the porous material is selected from: porous ceramic, basalt stone, bamboo fiber composites, cork, modal fabric composite, nonwoven, cellulose composite.
- Example E: Mouthpiece according to any of the preceding examples, wherein the flavor compartment comprises at least one volatile flavoring agent, preferably wherein the at least one flavoring agent comprises a liquid or a gel, more preferably wherein the at least one flavoring agent is selected from a group consisting of: mint oil, menthol, isomenthone, menthyl acetate.
- Example F: Mouthpiece according to any of the preceding examples, wherein the flavor compartment comprises at least one aerosol-former, preferably wherein the at least one aerosol-former is selected from a group consisting of: propanediol, propanediol, glycerol, diacetate, diethyl phthalate.
- Example G: Mouthpiece according to any of the preceding examples, comprising a longitudinal axis, wherein the airflow channel extends along the longitudinal axis.
- Example H: Mouthpiece according to any of the preceding examples, wherein the flavor compartment is annular-shaped, preferably wherein the flavor compartment is arranged around the airflow channel.
- Example I: Mouthpiece according to any of the preceding examples, further comprising an inlet portion configured for receiving the aerosol and an outlet portion configured for outflow of the aerosol, wherein the airflow channel is arranged between the inlet portion and the outlet portion.
- Example J: Mouthpiece according to the preceding example, wherein the inlet portion is being configured for being detachably connectable to one or both of a cartridge for an aerosol-forming substrate, and an aerosol-generating device.
- Example K: Mouthpiece according to any of the preceding examples I or J, wherein the inlet portion comprises a tubular section configured for being detachably connected to a cartridge, preferably wherein the tubular section is arranged along a longitudinal axis of the mouthpiece.
- Example L: Mouthpiece according to the preceding example, wherein the tubular section comprises an opening at the upstream end, preferably wherein the opening at the upstream end has a smaller cross-sectional area than the downstream end of the tubular section.
- Example M: Mouthpiece according to any of the preceding examples, further comprising an outer wall, wherein the outer wall comprises at least one mouthpiece air inlet configured for allowing ambient air to enter the mouthpiece, preferably according to examples I to L, wherein the inlet portion comprises the at least one mouthpiece air inlet.
- Example N: Mouthpiece according to any of the preceding examples I to M, further comprising one or both of an outlet sealing layer, sealing the outlet portion and an inlet sealing layer, sealing the inlet portion.
- Example O: Mouthpiece according to any of the preceding examples, wherein the airflow channel has a frustoconical shape at the downstream end of the mouthpiece.
- Example P: Aerosol-generating system, comprising
  - a mouthpiece according to any of the preceding examples A to N, and
  - a cartridge containing an aerosol-forming substrate, wherein
  - the mouthpiece is configured to be detachably connectable to the cartridge.
- Example Q: Aerosol-generating system according to the preceding example, wherein the cartridge comprises a central hollow portion, preferably wherein the cartridge is annular shaped, the mouthpiece being configured to be detachably connectable to the central hollow portion of the cartridge.
- Example R: Aerosol-generating system according to the preceding example further according to example K, wherein the tubular section of the inlet portion is configured for being insertable into the central hollow portion of the cartridge.
- Example S: Aerosol-generating system according to the preceding example, wherein the cartridge comprises inner walls, the inner wall being adjacent to the central hollow portion, the cartridge further comprising outer walls, wherein upon connection of the mouthpiece with the cartridge an additional airflow channel is formed between the outer walls of the cartridge and the inlet portion of the mouthpiece and between the inner wall of the cartridge and the tubular section of the mouthpiece.
- Example T: Aerosol-generating system according to the preceding examples P to S, wherein the cartridge comprises an aerosolization element configured for aerosolization of the aerosol-forming substrate of the cartridge, wherein upon connection of the mouthpiece with the cartridge, the tubular section of the inlet portion is positioned adjacent to the aerosolization element.
- Example U: Aerosol-generating system according to the preceding example, wherein the aerosolization element comprises a porous element configured for absorbing the aerosol-forming substrate, preferably wherein the aerosolization element further comprises a heater element, the heater element being thermally conductively connected to the porous element.
- Example V: Aerosol-generating system according to the preceding example, wherein the heater element comprises connection pins configured for being connected to an energy source of an aerosol-generating device.
- Example W: Aerosol-generating system according to the preceding examples P to W, further comprising an aerosol-generating device, the aerosol-generating device being configured to be detachably connectable to the cartridge.
- Example X: Aerosol-generating system according to the preceding example, wherein the aerosol-generating device comprises electrical connections, being configured to be connectable to the cartridge, preferably according to example V, wherein the electrical connections are configured to be detachably connectable to the connection pins of the cartridge.

Features described in relation to one embodiment may equally be applied to other embodiments of the invention.

The invention will be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGS. 1A and 1B show cross-sectional views of two different embodiments of mouthpieces according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of a disassembled aerosol-generating system including a mouthpiece according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 depicts a cross-sectional view of a mouthpiece connected to a cartridge, showing the respective flow channels; and

FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of another aerosol-generating system including an aerosol-generating article and an aerosol-generating device including a cavity for receiving the aerosol-generating article.

In the following the same elements are marked with the same reference numerals throughout all the figures.
FIG. 1A depicts a cross-sectional view of a mouthpiece 10 in accordance with the present invention. The mouthpiece 10 includes a flavor compartment 16, which is annular shaped and which is arranged around the air flow channel 14 of the mouthpiece (airflow channel indicated by the dashed arrow 14). The airflow channel 14 runs along the longitudinal axis 22 of the mouthpiece and has a tubular shape. The mouthpiece includes an inlet portion 10B, which is configured to be detachably connectable to a cartridge. The inlet portion includes a tubular section 18 which can be connected to the cartridge. The inlet portion comprises a hollow connection portion 11 adjacent to the outer walls 10C of the mouthpiece. This hollow connection portion 11 can accommodate parts of the cartridge upon connection of the mouthpiece with the cartridge. The hollow connection portion 11 with the outer walls 10C can be put over the cartridge upon connection of the mouthpiece with the cartridge. The mouthpiece 10 also includes an outlet portion 10A which is configured to provide an outflow of the mixture of the aerosol and the at least one flavoring agent to a user. The mouthpiece 10 includes three different expansion areas. At the upstream end of the mouthpiece 10 a first expansion area is present, indicated by the dashed circle 15, wherein the air flow channel has a certain cross-sectional area. This is indicated by the diameter of the tubular airflow channel indicated by the double arrow 14A in FIG. 1A. The flavor compartment 16 includes at least one flavoring agent 12, which preferably is a volatile flavoring agent. The mouthpiece 10 also includes a mouthpiece air inlet 20 which allows ambient air to enter the mouthpiece. In a central portion of the airflow channel a second expansion area, indicated by the dashed circle 17 is present. This central portion also includes a porous material 16A, which allows fluid communication of the flavor compartment with the airflow channel in this portion. The diameter of the airflow channel in the central portion is indicated by the double arrow 14B. At the downstream end of the mouthpiece a third expansion area indicated by the dashed circle 19 is present. This third expansion area would be adjacent to a user's mouth when the user takes a puff. The diameter of the third expansion area is indicated by the double arrow 14 C.
The diameter of the second expansion area in the central portion of the airflow channel increases in the flow direction through the airflow channel. As shown in FIG. 1A, the diameter 14A of the airflow channel at the upstream end of the mouthpiece is smaller than the diameter 14B of the mouthpiece in the central portion of the airflow channel. Furthermore, the diameter 14B of the mouthpiece in the central portion is smaller than the diameter 14C at the downstream end of the mouthpiece. This allows a more effective mixing of the aerosol with the at least one flavoring agent in the central portion and at the downstream end of the mouthpiece.
FIG. 1B depicts a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the mouthpiece of the present invention. In contrast to the mouthpiece of FIG. 1A, the mouthpiece of this FIG. does not include a tubular section 18 in the inlet portion 10B of the mouthpiece. This mouthpiece of FIG. 1B can therefore be connected to different elements within an aerosol-generating system compared to the mouthpiece of FIG. 1A. In particular, the mouthpiece of FIG. 1B can be connected to a rod-shaped aerosol-generating article. The mouthpiece additionally contains an outlet sealing layer 10F and an inlet sealing layer 10E, which both seal the outlet portion and the inlet portion, respectively in order to avoid that the at least one flavoring agent evaporates during storage. Both sealing layers can be removed by a user prior to use.
FIG. 2 depicts a cross-sectional view of a disassembled aerosol-generating system, including a mouthpiece 10 in accordance with the present invention, a cartridge 24 and an aerosol-generating device 32. The direction of assembling the aerosol-generating system is indicated by the arrows in FIG. 2 . The tubular portion 18 of the inlet portion 10B of the mouthpiece 10 can be inserted into the central hollow portion 24A of the cartridge 24. The cartridge contains liquid aerosol-forming substrate 23. The aerosol-forming substrate 23 of the cartridge is in fluid communication with a porous evaporation element 26. This porous evaporation element 26 forms a vaporizer assembly 30 together with the heater element 28. The porous evaporation element 26 is connected to the heater element 28 in a thermally conductive manner. Thus, when heating the heater element 28, any aerosol-forming substrate absorbed in the porous evaporation element 26 will be evaporated in order to form an aerosol. The heater element 28 contains connection pins 28A which are configured to be detachably connectable to the aerosol-generating device 32, in particular its electrical connections 34. The aerosol-generating device 32 also contains control circuitry 36 and a power supply 38 for powering the heater element of the cartridge.
FIG. 3 depicts a cross-sectional view of an aerosol-generating system during operation. For the sake of clarity, the aerosol-generating device is not shown in FIG. 3 . During operation any aerosol-forming substrate absorbed in the porous evaporation element 26 will be evaporated, when the evaporation element 26 is heated by the heater element 28. Upon connection of the cartridge 24 with the mouthpiece 10, an additional airflow channel 14D is formed. This additional airflow channel is formed through a gap between the mouthpiece 10 and the cartridge 24. In particular, ambient air can enter the aerosol-generating system through the mouthpiece air inlet 20 and can be directed through a newly formed airflow channel which is formed between the inner walls of the cartridge, which are adjacent to the central hollow portion of the cartridge and between the tubular section 18 of the mouthpiece. The ambient air can mix with the aerosol-forming substrate in the first expansion area to form an aerosol. This aerosol is then directed through the tubular section 18 of the mouthpiece towards the second expansion area in the central portion of the airflow channel of the mouthpiece. Any flavoring agent absorbed by the porous material 16A in the central portion can be entrained in the aerosol in order to provide a further flavoring of the aerosol. Since the cross-sectional area of the airflow channel in the central portion increases in the flow direction, the speed of the aerosol and the at least one entrained flavoring agent decreases, favoring the mixing of both components. Finally, the mixture of the aerosol and the at least one flavoring agent reaches the third expansion area at the downstream end of the mouthpiece before being inhaled by a user.
FIG. 4 depicts another disassembled aerosol-generating system, including a mouthpiece 10 in accordance with the present invention. In this aerosol-generating system the mouthpiece 10 can be connected to an aerosol-generating article 40. This aerosol-generating article 40 contains a hollow tube section 42 and substrate section 44. The substrate section 44 can comprise solid aerosol-forming substrate. The assembly of the mouthpiece 10 and the aerosol-generating article 40 can be inserted into the cavity 46 of an aerosol-generating device 32. The aerosol-generating device includes a heater element 48 adjacent to the cavity 46 for heating the substrate section 44 of the aerosol-generating article to a temperature below the combustion temperature of the aerosol-forming substrate. The aerosol-generating device also includes control circuitry 38 and the power supply 36 for the heater element 48.

Claims

1.-15. (canceled)

16. A mouthpiece for inhaling an aerosol, comprising:

an airflow channel for the aerosol extending through the mouthpiece; and

a flavor compartment comprising at least one flavoring agent configured to flavor the aerosol, the flavor compartment being in fluid communication with the airflow channel in a central portion of the airflow channel,

wherein a cross-sectional area of the airflow channel in the central portion increases in a flow direction through the airflow channel, and

wherein the airflow channel has a frustoconical shape at a downstream end of the mouthpiece.

17. The mouthpiece according to claim 16, wherein one or both of:

a cross-sectional area of the airflow channel at the upstream end of the mouthpiece is smaller than a cross-sectional area of the airflow channel in the central portion,

the cross-sectional area of the airflow channel in the central portion is smaller than a cross-sectional area of the airflow channel at the downstream end of the mouthpiece.

18. The mouthpiece according to claim 16, wherein one or both of:

a cross-sectional area of the airflow channel between the upstream end and the central portion remains at least partly the same,

a cross-sectional area of the airflow channel between the central portion and the downstream end remains at least partly the same.

19. The mouthpiece according to claim 16, wherein walls of the airflow channel in the central portion comprise a porous material configured to release the at least one flavoring agent.

20. The mouthpiece according to claim 19, wherein the porous material is selected from porous ceramic, basalt stone, bamboo fiber composites, cork, modal fabric composite, nonwoven, and cellulose composite.

21. The mouthpiece according to claim 16,

further comprising an inlet portion configured to receive the aerosol and an outlet portion configured for outflow of the aerosol,

wherein the airflow channel is arranged between the inlet portion and the outlet portion.

22. The mouthpiece according to claim 21, wherein the inlet portion is configured to be detachably connectable to one or both of a cartridge for an aerosol-forming substrate, and an aerosol-generating device.

23. The mouthpiece according to claim 21, wherein the inlet portion comprises a tubular section configured to be detachably connected to a cartridge.

24. The mouthpiece according to claim 23, wherein the tubular section is arranged along a longitudinal axis of the mouthpiece.

25. The mouthpiece according to claim 16,

further comprising an outer wall,

wherein the outer wall comprises at least one mouthpiece air inlet configured for allowing ambient air to enter the mouthpiece.

26. The mouthpiece according to claim 21, further comprising one or both of an outlet sealing layer sealing the outlet portion, and an inlet sealing layer sealing the inlet portion.

27. An aerosol-generating system, comprising:

a mouthpiece according to claim 16; and

a cartridge containing an aerosol-forming substrate,

wherein the mouthpiece is configured to be detachably connectable to the cartridge.

28. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 27, wherein the cartridge comprises a central hollow portion, the mouthpiece being configured to be detachably connectable to the central hollow portion of the cartridge.

29. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 28, wherein the cartridge is annular shaped.

30. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 28,

wherein the inlet portion comprises a tubular section configured to be detachably connected to a cartridge, and

wherein the tubular section of the inlet portion is further configured to be insertable into the central hollow portion of the cartridge.

31. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 30,

wherein the cartridge comprises inner walls, the inner walls being adjacent to the central hollow portion,

wherein the cartridge further comprises outer walls,

wherein upon connection of the mouthpiece with the cartridge an additional airflow channel is formed between the outer walls of the cartridge and the inlet portion of the mouthpiece and between the inner wall of the cartridge and the tubular section of the mouthpiece.

32. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 27,

wherein the cartridge comprises an aerosolization element configured for aerosolization of the aerosol-forming substrate of the cartridge, and

wherein upon connection of the mouthpiece with the cartridge, the tubular section of the inlet portion is positioned adjacent to the aerosolization element.

33. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 32, wherein the aerosolization element comprises a porous element configured for absorbing the aerosol-forming substrate.

34. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 33, wherein the aerosolization element further comprises a heater element, the heater element being thermally conductively connected to the porous element.