WO2022152700A1

WO2022152700A1 - Telescopic filter

Info

Publication number: WO2022152700A1
Application number: PCT/EP2022/050448
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alec WRIGHT; Andrew Robert John ROGAN
Original assignee: Jt International Sa
Priority date: 2021-01-15
Filing date: 2022-01-11
Publication date: 2022-07-21
Also published as: US20240049770A1; JP2024505169A; CN116761521A; KR20230132488A; EP4277478A1

Abstract

A vapour generating article comprising: a main body having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the body arranged to contain a solid vapour generating material; a filter comprising a mouthpiece end and an attachment end opposite the mouthpiece end, the attachment end arranged to be attached to the first end of the main body; an airflow passageway within the filter configured to allow a vapour to flow into the filter through the attachment end from the first end of the body and out of the filter through the mouthpiece end; wherein the filter comprises an adjuster configured to adjust the length of the airflow passageway.

Description

Telescopic Filter

Field of Invention

The present disclosure relates to aerosol generating articles for use in an aerosol generation system in which an aerosol generating substrate is heated to form an aerosol. The disclosure is particularly applicable to a portable aerosol generation device, which may be self-contained and low temperature. Such devices may heat, rather than bum, tobacco or other suitable aerosol substrate materials by conduction, convection, and/or radiation, to generate an aerosol for inhalation.

Background

The popularity and use of reduced-risk or modified-risk devices (also known as vaporisers) has grown rapidly in the past few years as an aid to assist habitual smokers wishing to quit smoking traditional tobacco products such as cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos, and rolling tobacco. Various devices and systems are available that heat or warm aerosolisable substances as opposed to burning tobacco in conventional tobacco products.

A commonly available reduced-risk or modified-risk device is the heated substrate aerosol generation device or heat-not-burn device. Devices of this type generate an aerosol or vapour by heating an aerosol substrate that typically comprises moist leaf tobacco or other suitable aerosolisable material to a temperature typically in the range 150°C to 350°C. Heating an aerosol substrate, but not combusting or burning it, releases an aerosol that comprises the components sought by the user but not the by-products of combustion and burning.

In such devices, the aerosol substrate is typically included in a consumable that is held within a heating chamber and heated by a heater. The consumable contains a quantity of aerosol generating substrate and is able to generate a quantity of aerosol.

However, within such devices, a known issue is that the user experience does not entirely mimic that of a cigarette. In particular, HNB devices are known to provide a different inhalation experience to that offered by traditional tobacco products such as cigarettes.

It would be desirable to allow a consumer to adjust the temperature of a HNB device to suit their own taste and smoking characteristics.

Summary

According to a first aspect there is provided a vapour generating article comprising: a main body having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the body arranged to contain a solid vapour generating material; a filter comprising a mouthpiece end and an attachment end opposite the mouthpiece end, the attachment end arranged to be attached to the first end of the main body; an airflow passageway within the filter configured to allow a vapour to flow into the filter through the attachment end from the first end of the body and out of the filter through the mouthpiece end; wherein the filter comprises an adjuster configured to adjust the length of the airflow passageway.

The filter may comprise an adjuster configured to adjust the effective length of the filter such that the length of the airflow passageway within the filter is adjusted.

The adjustor allows the temperature of the generated vapour to be adjusted as required by adjusting (e.g. increasing or decreasing) the length of the airflow passageway. In particular, the length of the airflow passageway may be adjusted over a continuous range. Thus, greater flexibility is provided with regard to the control of the aerosol generating properties of the article, and the temperature of the vapour may be adjusted during an aerosol generating session to more closely mimic the behaviour of traditional tobacco products such as cigarettes.

Advantageously, the adjuster of the vapour generating article allows a consumer to change the temperature a vapour to suit their own taste and smoking characteristics. Producing a single standard configuration with a fixed temperature change would therefore not be suitable for some consumers. However, it is not practical to produce many different variations with different temperatures that each are preferred by a small percentage of consumers. The provision of an adjuster therefore allows each consumer to modify the temperature of the vapour themselves by providing a means of adjusting the size of the airflow passageway through the filter, and enhance the user’s vaping experience.

In some examples, the adjuster may comprise an inner sleeve portion and an outer sleeve potion and wherein movement of the outer sleeve portion relative to the inner sleeve portion adjusts the length of the airflow passageway. In particular, the adjuster may be configured to increase the length of the airflow passageway by moving the outer sleeve portion away from the inner sleeve potion. The adjuster may also be configured to decrease the length of the airflow passageway by moving the outer sleeve portion towards the inner sleeve potion.

Increasing the length of the airflow passageway means that the vapour has further to travel within the vapour generating article before reaching the user’s mouth and so the vapour cools down. Decreasing the length of the airflow passageway means that the vapour has shorter distance to travel within the vapour generating article before reaching the user’s mouth and so the vapour retains some of its heat, providing a warmer vapour.

Having inner and outer sleeve portions which move relative to each other provides a simple mechanism for adjusting the effective length of the filter, which adjusts the length of the airflow passageway passing through the filter. The vapour generating article is therefore simple to operate.

Preferably, the outer sleeve portion is arranged to receive the inner sleeve portion. The arrangement can be thought of as a telescopic arrangement, which advantageously helps ensure that the components remain in alignment with each other throughout the adjustment process.

The filter may be made of plastic. Plastic is a readily available material and so using plastic may help reduce manufacturing costs. Furthermore, plastic is a relatively rigid material and so using a plastic filter provides a more structurally rigid filter. In some examples, the attachment end of the filter may be releasably attachable to the first end of the main body of the vapour generating article. The filter may therefore be attached to a vapour generating article when the user desires to use the article, and removed from the article when the user has consumed the substrate within the article. In this way, the filter is a re-usable filter and can be used with multiple vapour generating articles.

Typically vapour generating devices comprise a consumable article housing the substrate and a filter attached to the consumable. Once the substrate has been consumed by the user, the vapour generating device is disposed of because the consumable article is no longer usable. Since the filter is attached to the consumable article, the filter is also disposed of at the same time. As a result, filters typically comprise simple technology which is not expensive to throw away.

By providing a filter that can be releasably attached to a vapour generating article (also referred to as a consumable article), the filter can be re-used with a subsequent vapour generating article instead of being disposed of each time. For example the filter may be able to be used 20-100 times, and so the filter can be used with 20-100 different vapour generating articles, before the filter needs to be changed and disposed of.

This has the effect that more complex and expensive technology can be used within the filter, in particular more efficient and more effective means of adjusting the temperature of the vapour can be employed within the filter. As an illustration, using a re-usable filter which only needs to be changed after every 20-100 vapour generating articles means that the technology within the filter can be 20-100 times the cost of a single-use disposable filter. Thus, having a filter which is releasably attachable to a vapour generating article provides a re-usable filter including an adjuster to efficiently and effectively allow the user to adjust their vaping experience.

Some exemplary vapour generating articles comprise an adjuster which may include a fixed element and a rotatable element. The rotatable element may be configured to rotate relative to the fixed element, such that rotation of the rotatable element adjusts the length of the airflow passageway. This arrangement provides a simple and effective mechanism for changing the effective length of the filter and thus changing the length of the airflow passageway.

Preferably, the rotatable element may comprise a helical element. The rotatable element may travel along a helical path along the length of the filter in order to adjust the length of the airflow passageway. Proving a path along with the rotatable element may travel helps ensure that the components remain aligned during the adjustment process.

Rotation of the helical element in a first direction may cause the length of the airflow passageway to increase. Rotation of the helical element in a second direction may cause the length of the airflow passageway to decrease.

The rotatable element may be made of paper. Paper is a relatively inexpensive material and so the cost of manufacturing the vapour generating article may be kept low.

The main body may comprise a substrate portion forming a distal end of the vapour generating article, the substrate portion arranged to contain solid vapour generating material such as tobacco.

The main body may comprise a cooling region located between the filter and the substrate portion, the cooling region configured to allow vapour generated in the substrate portion to cool before it flows out of the first end of the main body and into the filter. This helps prevent the user inhaling a vapour which is too hot and could cause damage to the user’s mouth. The vapour cooling region may comprise a hollow chamber.

In some examples the filter of the vapour generating article may be fully disposable. The filter may be made of paper. The filter may form part of the main body of the vapour generating article which houses the consumable.

According to another aspect there is provided a vapour generating system comprising a vapour generating article and a vapour generating device configured to receive the vapour generating article and generate a vapour from the vapour generating material, where the vapour generating article is according to any of the above described vapour generating articles.

Brief Description of Drawings

Embodiments of the present invention will be now described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 shows an example aerosol generating article;

Figure 2a shows a cross-sectional side view of a first adjustable filter in a first position;

Figure 2b shows a cross-sectional side view of a first adjustable filter in a second position;

Figure 3a shows a cross-sectional side view of a second adjustable filter in a first position; and

Figure 3b shows a cross-sectional side view of a second adjustable filter in a second position.

Detailed Description

Referring to Fig. 1 an example aerosol generating article 1 , in the form of an elongate consumable 1 , is shown located within an aerosol generating device 2 in order to generate an aerosol.

The aerosol generating article 1 comprises a rod-shaped portion 11 , and a filter 14. The rod-shaped portion 11 comprises aerosol generating substrate 12 that extends over a portion of the length of the rod-shaped portion 11. The aerosol generating substrate 12 is arranged at an end of the aerosol generating article 1 that is within a heating chamber of the aerosol generating device 2 and furthest from an opening of the heating chamber. The aerosol generating substrate 12 is a material which, when heated, generates an aerosol. The aerosol generating substrate 12 may, for example, comprise tobacco or nicotine. The aerosol is drawn out of the aerosol generating article 1 by air flow through the filter 14.

The aerosol generating device 2 comprises a heating chamber 21 and a heater 22.

The heating chamber 21 is a tubular structure with an internal hollow in which the aerosol generating article 1 , or the rod-shaped portion 11 of the aerosol generating article 1 , may be received. Specifically, the heating chamber comprises a side wall extending between a first end 212 and a second end 213. The first end 212 is open, or openable in use, in order to allow the rod-shaped portion 11 to be inserted. The second end 213 may be open as shown in Fig. 1 , in order to provide an air inlet for air to flow through the aerosol generating article. Alternatively, the second end 213 may be closed in order to improve heating efficiency of the heating chamber 21.

The heating chamber 21 may be formed from ceramic or metal. For example, the heating chamber 21 may be formed by bending or stamping sheet metal. The heater 22 may be any heater suitable to deliver heat into the internal hollow of the heating chamber 21 through its side wall. For example, the heater may be in the form of a resistive track driven by electricity. Alternatively, other types of heater may be used such as ones in which heat is provided by a chemical reaction such as fuel combustion. The heating chamber may further be surrounded by a heat insulator such as a vacuum tube, heat insulation fibre and/or aerogel.

In use, the heater 22 is arranged to heat the heating chamber 21 to a temperature sufficient to cause the aerosol generating substrate 12 to release an aerosol, without burning the aerosol generating article 1. In particular, the heater 22 is configured to heat the aerosol generating substrate 12 to a maximum temperature between 150°C and 350°C, more preferably to a temperature between 200°C and 350°C.

Although the heater 22 is shown outside the heating chamber 21 in Fig. 1 , the heater 22 may in some embodiments be arranged inside the heating chamber 21 .

The aerosol generating article 1 further comprises an aerosol cooling region 15. The aerosol cooling region 15 extends over a portion of the length of the aerosol generating article 1 and comprises a hollow tubular portion of the aerosol generating article 1. This hollow tubular portion allows an aerosol (generated by heating the aerosol generating substrate 12) to pass through the aerosol generating article 1 without leaking through the sides of the hollow tubular portion. The aerosol cooling region 15 does not overlap with the part of the aerosol generating article 1 that is being heated by the heater 22, which may be referred to as a heating region, so aerosol will not continue to be heated within the aerosol cooling region 15.

As mentioned, the aerosol substrate 15 is arranged at the end of the aerosol generating article 1 that is within the heating chamber 21 and furthest from the opening 212. The filter 14 is arranged at the other end that is closest to the opening 212. The aerosol cooling region 15 extends along the length of the aerosol generating article 1 between the aerosol generating substrate 12 and the filter 14. This ensures that, in use, a generated aerosol may be cooled before inhalation by a user.

Further details of the filter 14 will now be described.

The filter 14 comprises a mouthpiece end 32 and an attachment end 34, opposite the mouthpiece end which attaches to the rod-shaped portion 11 . The filter further comprises airflow passageway 16 within the filter which allows the generated vapour to flow into the filter 14 via the attachment end 34 from the rod-shaped portion 11 and out of the filter 14 through the mouthpiece end 32. As shown in Figures 2A - 3B, the filter 14 also includes an adjuster 18 configured to control the flow of air through the airflow passage 16. This is achieved by adjusting the length of the air flow passageway 16 to alter the temperature of the air flow within the airflow passageway 16. In other words the size, in particular the length, of the airflow passageway 16 may be controlled to adjust the flow of air into and along the airflow passage 10.

For example, the size of the airflow passageway 16 may be increased from a first size (for example as seen in Figure 2A) to a second size (for example as seen in Figure 2B) to increase the path length of the flow of air through the filter 14, thereby decreasing the temperature of the vapour. Conversely, the size of the airflow passageway 16 may be decreased from the second size (as seen in Figure 2B) to the first size (as seen Figure 2A) to decrease the path length of the flow of air through the filter 14, thereby maintain the temperature of the vapour. The skilled person will appreciate that the length of the airflow passageway 16 depicted in exemplary Figures 2A and 2B serve only as an illustration, and the airflow passageway 16 may be controlled to vary across a continuous range of lengths, such that the vapour temperature may be precisely controlled by varying the length of the airflow passageway 16.

In the examples illustrated in Figures 2A and 2B, the airflow passageway 16 has a cross-sectional area which has the same shape along the length of the airflow passageway in both the first and second sizes. However in other examples, such as those illustrated in Figures 3A and 3B, the airflow passageway 16 has a cross- sectional area the changes along the length of the airflow passageway 16.

The adjuster 18 can take on different forms, some of which will be described in more detail below.

In a first exemplary form, the adjuster 18 comprises a telescopic means which is arranged to extend and retract in order to change the length of the adjuster 18. In more detail, the telescopic adjuster 18 comprises an inner sleeve portion 17 and an outer sleeve portion 19 that are arranged to move relative to each other. Moving the outer sleeve portion 19 relative to the inner sleeve portion 17 adjusts the length of the adjuster 18 which has the effect of adjusting the length of the airflow passageway 16. The outer sleeve portion 19 can be thought of as an elongate collar which is arranged to receive the inner sleeve portion 17. The outer sleeve 19 and the inner sleeve 17 are substantially coaxially aligned with each other.

In a retracted or first configuration, shown in Figure 2A, the outer sleeve portion 19 is arranged to receive and surround substantially the whole length of the inner sleeve portion 17. In an extended or second configuration, shown in Figure 2B, the outer sleeve portion 19 is arranged to surround an end portion the inner sleeve portion 17.

The outer sleeve 19 moves relative to the inner sleeve 17, as well as relative to the rod-shaped portion 11. In this way, the adjuster 18 can be thought of as comprising a telescopic region which can be moved away from and towards the rod-shaped portion to change the path length for the vapour to travel along.

In particular, moving the outer sleeve portion 19 away from the inner sleeve potion 17 increases the length of the airflow passageway 16. Conversely, moving the outer sleeve portion 19 towards the inner sleeve potion 17 increases the length of the airflow passageway 16.

In summary, the effective length of the filter 14 can be changed by moving an outer section 19 of the filter 14 in the direction away from the rod-shaped portion 11. This telescopic feature increases the distance that the vapour has to travel from the heating chamber to the user's mouth, which helps cool the vapour. For example, increasing the overall length the vapour has to travel before reaching the user’s mouth by 25 mm can have the effect of cooling the vapour by as much as 15°C. This means that if the vapour is too hot or cold for the user’s preference, they can change the effective length of the filter to suit their needs. In particular, the user has the ability to select a fixed length for the entire session or a variation of the length throughout the session. This may be required as the first puffs are typically the hottest of the session. In this example, the filter 14 is re-usable filter 14 because it can be detached from one rod-shaped portion 11 of a first aerosol generating article 1 , at the attachment end, and then re-attached to another rod-shaped portion 11 of a second aerosol generating article 1 via the attachment end 34. In particular, the filter 14 may slot into or onto the rod-shaped portion 11 using any suitable temporary attachment mechanism. The filter 14 can therefore be considered as being releasably attachable and able to be used with multiple aerosol generating articles. In other words, the filter 14 can be said to be semi-disposable.

The filter is made from plastic, which in some cases is the same type of plastic as the rod-shaped portion 11. A benefit of using a plastic filter is that it allows for a rigid structure which can be twisted and reused by the user in multiple aerosolgenerating articles 1 . As the filter 14 is reusable it is cost-effective to use a plastic body for the filter.

In a second exemplary form, illustrated in Figures 3A and 3B, the adjuster 18 comprises a fixed element 21 and a rotatable element 23 configured to rotate relative to the fixed element 21 . In this case, rotation of the rotatable element 23 adjusts the length of the airflow passageway.

In more detail, the rotatable element 23 comprises a helical element which can rotate in a first direction and a second direction, along a helical or spiral path. Rotation of the helical element in the first direction causes the length of the airflow passageway 16 to increase as shown in Figure 3B. Conversely, rotation of the helical element in the second direction causes the length of the airflow passageway 16 to decrease as shown in Figure 3A.

In a retracted or first configuration, shown in Figure 3A, the filter 14 has a substantially cylindrical shape. In an extended or second configuration, shown in Figure 3B, the filter 14 has a substantially conical shape.

In some examples the rotatable element is made of paper. In this case, the filter 14 may be made of paper and scored with a helical shape extending along the length of the filter 14. When an outer portion of the filter 14 is rotated, the rotatable element travels along a spiral path and the effective length of the filter 14 is extended. Thus, twisting the rotatable element, forming an outer portion of the filter 14, changes the shape of the filter 14 from a relatively short cylinder to a longer cone shape. This increase the distance along which the vapour travels in the airflow passageway 16 to cool the vapour. The pressure drops is maintained along the length of the filter region 14.

When the filter 14 is attached to the rod-shaped portion 11 , a vapour generating article 1 is formed. In particular, the vapour generating article 1 includes a first end and a second end, and the filter 14 attaches to the second end of the vapour generating article 1 . The first end of the vapour generating article 1 may be used to connect with a vapour generating device 2. In this case, a vapour generating system is formed comprising the a vapour generating article 1 and the vapour generating device 2 which receives the vapour generating article 1 .

It should be understood that the aerosol generation device is an electronic cigarette which could equally be referred to as a “heated tobacco device”, a “heat- not-burn tobacco device”, a “device for vaporising tobacco products”, and the like, with this being interpreted as a device suitable for achieving these effects. The features disclosed herein are equally applicable to devices which are designed to vaporise any aerosol generating medium.

The aerosol generating substrate 12 may include tobacco, for example in dried or cured form, in some cases with additional ingredients for flavouring or producing a smoother or otherwise more pleasurable experience. In some examples, the aerosol generating substrate 12 such as tobacco may be treated with a vaporising agent. The vaporing agent may improve the generation of vapour from the aerosol generating substrate 12. The vaporising agent may include, for example, a polyol such as glycerol, or a glycol such as propylene glycol. In some cases, the aerosol generating substrate 12 may contain no tobacco, or even no nicotine, but instead may contain naturally or artificially derived ingredients for flavouring, volatilisation, improving smoothness, and/or providing other pleasurable effects. The aerosol generating substrate 12 may be provided as a solid or paste type material in shredded, pelletised, powdered, granulated, strip or sheet form, optionally a combination of these. Equally, the aerosol generating substrate 12 may be a liquid or gel. Indeed, some examples may include both solid and liquid/gel parts. Indeed, some examples may include both solid and liquid/gel parts. In some examples, the substrate 12 may be a solid block, or may be loose material packed in a wrapper 13. Preferably the substrate comprises randomly oriented tobacco strands containing tobacco powder and an aerosol former. Suitable aerosol formers include: a polyol such as sorbitol, glycerol, and glycols like propylene glycol or triethylene glycol; a non-polyol such as monohydric alcohols, acids such as lactic acid, glycerol derivatives, esters such as triacetin, triethylene glycol diacetate, triethyl citrate, glycerin or vegetable glycerin. In some embodiments, the aerosol generating agent may be glycerol, propylene glycol, or a mixture of glycerol and propylene glycol.

Whilst the aerosol generating substrate 12 will typically produce a gas or a solid and/or liquid suspension in gas when heated, it will be appreciated that the terms ‘vapour’ and ‘aerosol’ are generally used interchangeably here, and refer generally to the substance which is produced when the aerosol generating substrate 12 is heated, to produce a suspension of particles or droplets of any size.

As used herein, the term “fluid” shall be construed as generically describing nonsolid materials of the type that are capable of flowing, including, but not limited to, liquids, pastes, gels, powders and the like. “Fluidized materials” shall be construed accordingly as materials which are inherently, or have been modified to behave as, fluids. Fluidization may include, but is not limited to, powdering, dissolving in a solvent, gelling, thickening, thinning and the like.

Claims

1 . A vapour generating article comprising: a main body having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the body arranged to contain a solid vapour generating material; a filter comprising a mouthpiece end and an attachment end opposite the mouthpiece end, the attachment end arranged to be attached to the first end of the main body; an airflow passageway within the filter configured to allow a vapour to flow into the filter through the attachment end from the first end of the body and out of the filter through the mouthpiece end; wherein the filter comprises an adjuster configured to adjust the effective length of the filter such that the length of the airflow passageway within the filter is adjusted.

2. The vapour generating article according to claim 1 wherein the adjuster comprises an inner sleeve portion and an outer sleeve potion and wherein movement of the outer sleeve portion relative to the inner sleeve portion adjusts the length of the airflow passageway.

3. The vapour generating article according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the adjuster is configured to increase the length of the airflow passageway by moving the outer sleeve portion away from the inner sleeve potion.

4. The vapour generating article according to any preceding claim wherein the adjuster is configured to decrease the length of the airflow passageway by moving the outer sleeve portion towards the inner sleeve potion.

5. The vapour generating article according to any preceding claim wherein the outer sleeve portion is arranged to receive the inner sleeve portion.

6. The vapour generating article according to any preceding claim wherein the filter is made of plastic.

7. The vapour generating article according to any preceding claim wherein the attachment end of the filter is releasably attachable to the first end of the main body.

8. The vapour generating article according to any preceding claim wherein the adjuster comprises a fixed element and a rotatable element configured to rotate relative to the fixed element, wherein rotation of the rotatable element adjusts the length of the airflow passageway.

9. The vapour generating article according to claim 8 wherein the rotatable element comprises a helical element.

10. The vapour generating article according to claim 9 wherein rotation of the helical element in a first direction causes the length of the airflow passageway to increase and wherein rotation of the helical element in a second direction causes the length of the airflow passageway to decrease.

11 . The vapour generating article according to any of claims 8 to 10 wherein the rotatable element is made of paper.

12. The vapour generating article according to any preceding claim wherein the main body comprises a substrate portion forming a distal end of the vapour generating article, the substrate portion arranged to contain solid vapour generating material such as tobacco.

13. The vapour generating article according to claim 12 wherein the main body comprises a cooling region located between the filter and the substrate portion, the cooling region configured to allow vapour generated in the substrate portion to cool before it flows out of the first end of the main body and into the filter.

14. The vapour generating article of claim 13 wherein the vapour cooling region comprises a hollow chamber.

15. A vapour generating system comprising: a vapour generating article according to any of claims 1 to 7; and 16 a vapour generating device configured to receive the vapour generating article and generate a vapour from the vapour generating material.