WO2023117994A1

WO2023117994A1 - Aerosol provision device

Info

Publication number: WO2023117994A1
Application number: PCT/EP2022/086779
Authority: WO
Inventors: Conor MCGRATH; Matthew Holden; Jorge Gomez
Original assignee: Nicoventures Trading Limited
Priority date: 2021-12-22
Filing date: 2022-12-19
Publication date: 2023-06-29
Also published as: KR20240110839A; IL313699A; CN118660643A; CA3241798A1; AU2022420654A1

Abstract

An aerosol provision device (5) is described. The device generates an aerosol from aerosol-generating material. The device has an elongate tubular member (30) that defines a heating chamber (28). The heating chamber receives at least a portion of an article (10) containing aerosol-generating material. The tubular member has at least one face (34) defining a contact surface with at least a portion of an article when the article is received in the heating chamber. The at least one face is arranged to distend away at a tangent from the at least a portion of an article when the article is received in the heating chamber.

Description

AEROSOL PROVISION DEVICE

Technical Field

The present invention relates to aerosol provision device for generating an aerosol from aerosol-generating material. The present invention also relates to an aerosol provision system comprising an aerosol generating device and an article comprising aerosol-generating material.

Background

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

Summary

In accordance with some embodiments described herein, there is provided an aerosol generating device for generating an aerosol from aerosol-generating material comprising a tubular member defining a heating chamber configured to receive at least a portion of an article containing aerosol-generating material, wherein the tubular member comprises at least one face defining a contact surface with at least a portion of an article when the at least a portion of an article is received in the heating chamber, wherein the at least one face is arranged to distend away at a tangent from the at least a portion of an article when the at least a portion of an article is received in the heating chamber.

The tubular member may be elongate.

The tubular member may comprise a peripheral side wall defining the heating chamber. The peripheral side wall may have a constant inner cross-section along the longitudinal length of the peripheral side wall.

The peripheral side wall may comprise a first inner dimension perpendicular to the longitudinal axis between diametrically opposing portions of the peripheral side wall arranged to correspond to a diameter of at least a portion of an article when the at least a portion of an article is received in the heating chamber, and a second inner dimension perpendicular to the longitudinal axis between diametrically opposing portions of the peripheral side wall arranged to be greater than a diameter of at least a portion of an article when the at least a portion of an article is received in the heating chamber.

The at least one face may be one of a plurality of inner faces defining the heating chamber. The plurality of inner faces may be configured to form a push fit with the at least a portion of an article received in the heating chamber. The plurality of inner faces may define a polygonal cross section.

At least two faces of the plurality of faces may distend away at a tangent to form a juncture radially spaced from the article. The juncture may comprise a corner. The juncture may comprise a fillet.

The polygonal cross section may comprise at least four sides. The polygonal cross section may comprise at least four junctures. The juncture may be configured to provide axial airflow passages from a first end to a second end of the tubular member. The polygonal cross section may be equilateral.

Each of the at least one face may be free from protrusions.

The tubular member may comprise an opening at a proximal end defined by the peripheral side wall.

The device may comprise a base at a distal end arranged to close the heating chamber. The device may comprise a cavity at the base. The base may define a cavity. The cavity may communicate with the or each juncture. The base may be arranged to expose at least a portion of an end of the article to the cavity. The airflow path may be defined along the juncture to the cavity.

The at least one face may be planar. The at least one face may be arcuate, convex, or concave.

The tubular member may comprise a heating element.

The tubular member may be formed from a material heatable by penetration with a magnetic field. The aerosol provision device may comprise a heating element upstanding in the heating chamber.

The tubular member may form at least part of a receptacle.

The aerosol provision device may comprise an inductor coil.

The at least one face may locate the article concentrically within the heating chamber.

In accordance with some embodiments described herein, there is provided an aerosol generating system comprising the aerosol generating device, and an article containing aerosol generating material, in which the article is at least partially receivable in the heating chamber of the aerosol generating device.

The article may be elongate. The article may be a rod. The article may be cylindrical. The article may be deformable in a radial direction. The article may comprise a circular cross section.

In accordance with some embodiments described herein, there is provided an aerosol generating device for generating an aerosol from aerosol-generating material comprising an tubular member having a longitudinal axis and defining a heating chamber configured to receive at least a portion of an article containing aerosol-generating material; wherein the tubular member comprises a plurality of inner faces defining the heating chamber, wherein each of the plurality of inner faces are configured to abut at least a portion of an article when the at least a portion of an article is received in the heating chamber.

The apparatus of these embodiments can include one or more, or all, of the features described above, as appropriate.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a schematic side view of an aerosol provision device;

Figure 2 shows a longitudinal cross section of the aerosol provision device of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 shows a tubular member defining a heating chamber of the device of Figure 1 ; Figure 4 shows schematically a transverse cross section of the tubular member of Figure 3 with an article received therein;

Figures 5a-5g show schematically transverse cross sections of different configurations of the tubular member with an article received therein.

Detailed Description

As used herein, the term “aerosol-generating material” is a material that is capable of generating aerosol, for example when heated, irradiated or energized in any other way. Aerosol-generating material may, for example, be in the form of a solid, liquid or gel which may or may not contain an active substance and/or flavourants. Aerosol-generating material may include any plant based material, such as tobacco-containing material and may, for example, include one or more of tobacco, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco or tobacco substitutes. Aerosol-generating material also may include other, non-tobacco, products, which, depending on the product, may or may not contain nicotine. Aerosolgenerating material may for example be in the form of a solid, a liquid, a gel, a wax or the like. Aerosol-generating material may for example also be a combination or a blend of materials. Aerosol-generating material may also be known as “smokable material”.

The aerosol-generating material may comprise a binder and an aerosol former. Optionally, an active and/or filler may also be present. Optionally, a solvent, such as water, is also present and one or more other components of the aerosolgenerating material may or may not be soluble in the solvent. In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material is substantially free from botanical material. In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material is substantially tobacco free.

The aerosol-generating material may comprise or be an “amorphous solid”. The amorphous solid may be a “monolithic solid”. In some embodiments, the amorphous solid may be a dried gel. The amorphous solid is a solid material that may retain some fluid, such as liquid, within it. In some embodiments, the aerosolgenerating material may, for example, comprise from about 50wt%, 60wt% or 70wt% of amorphous solid, to about 90wt%, 95wt% or 100wt% of amorphous solid.

The aerosol-generating material may comprise an aerosol-generating film. The aerosol-generating film may comprise or be a sheet, which may optionally be shredded to form a shredded sheet. The aerosol-generating sheet or shredded sheet may be substantially tobacco free.

According to the present disclosure, a “non-combustible” aerosol provision system is one where a constituent aerosol-generating material of the aerosol provision system (or component thereof) is not combusted or burned in order to facilitate delivery of at least one substance to a user.

In some embodiments, the delivery system is a non-combustible aerosol provision system, such as a powered non-combustible aerosol provision system.

In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision system is an electronic cigarette, also known as a vaping device or electronic nicotine delivery system (END), although it is noted that the presence of nicotine in the aerosolgenerating material is not a requirement.

In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision system is an aerosol-generating material heating system, also known as a heat-not-burn system. An example of such a system is a tobacco heating system.

In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision system is a hybrid system to generate aerosol using a combination of aerosol-generating materials, one or a plurality of which may be heated. Each of the aerosol-generating materials may be, for example, in the form of a solid, liquid or gel and may or may not contain nicotine. In some embodiments, the hybrid system comprises a liquid or gel aerosol-generating material and a solid aerosol-generating material. The solid aerosol-generating material may comprise, for example, tobacco or a non-tobacco product.

Typically, the non-combustible aerosol provision system may comprise a non- combustible aerosol provision device and a consumable for use with the non- combustible aerosol provision device.

In some embodiments, the disclosure relates to consumables comprising aerosol-generating material and configured to be used with non-combustible aerosol provision devices. These consumables are sometimes referred to as articles throughout the disclosure.

In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision system, such as a non-combustible aerosol provision device thereof, may comprise a power source and a controller. The power source may, for example, be an electric power source or an exothermic power source. In some embodiments, the exothermic power source comprises a carbon substrate which may be energised so as to distribute power in the form of heat to an aerosol-generating material or to a heat transfer material in proximity to the exothermic power source.

In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision system may comprise an area for receiving the consumable, an aerosol generator, an aerosol generation area, a housing, a mouthpiece, a filter and/or an aerosol-modifying agent.

In some embodiments, the consumable for use with the non-combustible aerosol provision device may comprise aerosol-generating material, an aerosolgenerating material storage area, an aerosol-generating material transfer component, an aerosol generator, an aerosol generation area, a housing, a wrapper, a filter, a mouthpiece, and/or an aerosol-modifying agent.

An aerosol generating device can receive an article comprising aerosol generating material for heating. An “article” in this context is a component that includes or contains in use the aerosol generating material, which is heated to volatilise the aerosol generating material, and optionally other components in use. A user may insert the article into the aerosol generating device before it is heated to produce an aerosol, which the user subsequently inhales. The article may be, for example, of a predetermined or specific size that is configured to be placed within a heating chamber of the device which is sized to receive the article.

Figure 1 shows an aerosol generating device 5. The device 5 can be part of a system 4 for generating aerosol from an aerosol generating material. The system comprises a replaceable article 10 comprising the aerosol generating material. The device 5 can be used to heat the replaceable article 10 comprising the aerosol generating material, to generate an aerosol or other inhalable material which can be inhaled by a user of the device 5.

The device 5 comprises a housing 20 which surrounds and houses various components of the device 5. The housing 20 is elongate. The device 5 has an opening 22 in one end, through which the article 10 can be inserted for heating by the device 5. The article may be fully or partially inserted into the device 5 for heating by the device 5. The device 5 may comprise a user-operable control element 26, such as a button or switch, which operates the device 5 when operated, e.g. pressed. For example, a user may activate the device 5 by pressing the button 26.

Referring to Figure 2, the device 5 comprises an aerosol generator 8. The aerosol generator 8 defines a longitudinal axis 15, along which the article 10 may extend when inserted into the device 5. The opening 22 is aligned on the longitudinal axis 15.

The aerosol generator 8 comprises various components for generating an aerosol from the received article. In one example, the article 10 is heated by a heater assembly 24 to generate aerosol. The opening 22 is in one end, through which the article may be inserted for heating. In use, the article 10 may be fully or partially inserted into the device where it may be heated by one or more components. The apparatus includes the heating assembly 24, a controller and a power source (not shown in figures). The heating assembly 24 is configured to heat the aerosol generating material of an article 10 inserted into the device 5, such that an aerosol is generated from the aerosol generating material. The power source supplies electrical power to the heating assembly 24, and the heating assembly converts the supplied electrical energy into heat energy for heating the aerosol generating material. The power source may, for example, be a battery, such as a rechargeable battery or a non-rechargeable battery. Examples of suitable batteries include, for example, a lithium battery (such as a lithium-ion battery), a nickel battery (such as a nickelcadmium battery), and an alkaline battery. The power source may be electrically coupled to the heating assembly 24 to supply electrical power when required and under control of the controller to heat the aerosol generating material. The control circuit may be configured to activate and deactivate the heating assembly 24 based on a user operating the control element 26. For example, the controller may activate the heating assembly 24 in response to a user operating the button 26.

The end of the device 5 closest to the opening 22 may be known as the proximal end 52 of the device 5, as it is closest to the mouth of the user in use. In use, a user inserts an article 10 into the opening 22, operates the user control 26 to begin heating the aerosol generating material, and draws on the aerosol generated in the device 5. This causes aerosol to flow through the article 10 along a flow path towards the proximal end 52 of the device 5. The other end of the device furthest away from the opening 22 may be known as the distal end 54 of the device 5, as it is the end furthest away from the mouth of the user in use. The terms proximal and distal as applied to the features of the device 5 will be described by reference to the relative positioning of such feature with respect to each other in a proximal-distal direction along the axis 15.

The aerosol generator 8 comprises an induction-type heater, including a magnetic field generator. The magnetic field generator comprises an inductor coil 29. The aerosol generator 8 comprises a heating element. The heating element is also known as a susceptor.

A susceptor is a material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field, such as an alternating magnetic field. The susceptor may be an electrical ly-conductive material, so that penetration thereof with a varying magnetic field causes induction heating of the heating material. The heating material may be magnetic material, so that penetration thereof with a varying magnetic field causes magnetic hysteresis heating of the heating material. The susceptor may be both electrical ly-conductive and magnetic, so that the susceptor is heatable by both heating mechanisms. The device that is configured to generate the varying magnetic field is referred to as a magnetic field generator, herein.

The heating assembly 24 comprises various components to heat the aerosol generating material of the article 10 via an inductive heating process. Induction heating is a process of heating an electrically conducting heating element by electromagnetic induction. In this embodiment, the heating element is the tubular member 30. An induction heating assembly may comprise the inductor coil 29, acting as an inductive element, for example, one or more inductor coils, and a device for passing a varying electric current, such as an alternating electric current, through the inductive element. The varying electric current in the inductive element produces a varying magnetic field. The varying magnetic field penetrates a susceptor (heating element) suitable positioned with respect to the inductive element, and generates eddy currents inside the susceptor. The susceptor has electrical resistance to the eddy currents, and hence the flow of the eddy currents against this resistance causes the susceptor to be heated by Joule heating. In cases where the susceptor comprises ferromagnetic material such as iron, nickel or cobalt, heat may also be generated by magnetic hysteresis losses in the susceptor, i.e. by the varying orientation of magnetic dipoles in the magnetic material as a result of their alignment with the varying magnetic field. In inductive heating, as compared to heating by conduction for example, heat is generated inside the susceptor, allowing for rapid heating. Further, there need not be any physical contact between the inductive element and the susceptor, allowing for enhanced freedom in construction and application.

The heating assembly 24 comprises the tubular member 30. The tubular member defines a heating chamber 28. The tubular member 30 acts as a receptacle to receive at least a portion of the article 10. The tubular member 30 is a heating element configured to heat the heating chamber 28. In other embodiments the heating element and the tubular member 30 may be separate components. Such a heating element extends axially within the tubular member 30. The heating element in such embodiments protrudes in the heating chamber 28. The heating element protrudes into the heating zone from the distal end. The heating element upstands in the receptacle.

The tubular member 30 acting as the heating element is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field. The tubular member 30 comprises electrically conducting material suitable for heating by electromagnetic induction. For example, the tubular member 30 may be formed from a carbon steel. It will be understood that other suitable materials may be used, for example a ferromagnetic material such as iron, nickel or cobalt.

The inductor coil is a helical coil, however other arrangements are envisaged. In embodiments, the number of inductor coils differs. In embodiments, the inductor coil 29 comprises two or more coils. The two or more coils in embodiments are disposed adjacent to each other and may be aligned co-axially along the axis 15.

In some examples, in use, the inductor coil is configured to heat the heating element to a temperature of between about 200 °C and about 350 °C, such as between about 240°C and about 300°C, or between about 250°C and about 280°C.

The inductor coil 29 is disposed external to the heating chamber 28. The inductor coil 29 encircles the heating chamber 28. The inductor coil 29 is configured to generate a varying magnetic field that penetrates the tubular member 30. The inductor coil 29 is arranged coaxially with the heating chamber 28.

In use, alternating current is supplied to the inductor coil 29 by the power source. The alternating current in the inductor coil 29 generates a varying magnetic flux adjacent to the heating element. The magnetic flux generates a current in the heating element, which in turn causes the heating element to heat.

The heating chamber 28 is configured and dimensioned to receive the article 10 to be heated. The heating chamber 28 defines a heating zone. In the present example, the article 10 is generally cylindrical, and the heating chamber 28 is dimensioned to receive the article 10. A sealing member 60 holds the heating chamber 28 in place in the device. The sealing member 60 provides a seal between the tubular member 30 and the rest of the device 5.

The receptacle comprises the tubular member 30 and a base 58. In this embodiment the tubular member 30 is the heating element. The heating chamber 28 is defined by a peripheral side wall 32 of the tubular member 30 and a base wall. The base wall is formed by the base 58. The peripheral side wall 32 of the tubular member 30 extends axially within the heating chamber 28 and upstands from the base 58. The tubular member 30 is elongate. The base 58 is at the distal end 54 of the device 5. In this embodiment, the base 58 and the tubular member 30 are separate components. In other embodiments, the tubular member and base may be a one- piece component to define the heating chamber 28. The tubular member 30 and the base 58 may be made of different materials or the same material. The base 58 attaches to the distal end 54 of the tubular member 30 to form the heating chamber 28. The attachment between the base 58 and the tubular member 30 may be such that air can flow into the heating chamber 28 from gaps between the peripheral side wall 32 and the base 58.

The peripheral side wall 32 of the tubular member 30 extends axially within the device from the base 58 at the distal end 54 towards the opening 22 of the device 5 at the proximal end 52. The heating chamber 28 is open at the proximal end 52 to receive the article 10 through the opening 22 of the device 5. The tubular member 30 extends along and around and substantially coaxial with the longitudinal axis 15 of the device 5.

Figure 3 shows the tubular member 30. The cross section of the tubular member 30 has a constant inner cross section along the longitudinal length of the peripheral side wall 32. The tubular member 30 comprises four inner faces 34. In this embodiment, the tubular member 30 has a substantially square cross section with four inner faces 34 and four rounded junctures 40 where adjacent inner faces 34 meet. In other embodiments, the cross section of the tubular member 30 may be other polygonal shapes with more than four sides and four corners, such as pentagonal (shown in Figure 5b), hexagonal (shown in Figure 5c), octagonal (shown in Figure 5d), and decagonal (shown in Figure 5e). The cross section may also have a different profile.

The cross section may have one or two junctures with curved sides. The cross section may be teardrop shaped or lachrymiform (shown in figure 5f) such that only one juncture protrudes from otherwise cylindrical tubular member. The cross section may be ellipse shaped. The cross section may be eye-shaped (shown in Figure 5g) where the shape comprises two curved sides and two junctures. The cross section may have a lozenge shape. The radius of the cross section may vary throughout the circumference of the cross section. The cross section may have an equilateral shape. The junctures may be corners. The junctures 40 may be filleted or have curved corners of equal radii. In this embodiment, the inner faces 34 are planar. The inner faces 34 are free from protrusions. The inner faces 34 do not include features that protrude from a plane into the heating chamber 28.

One or more of the inner faces 34 may have a non-planar shapes such as arcuate. One or more faces may be convex. One or more faces may be concave. Each inner face 34 distends away from its contact point with the article 10 at a tangent to the article 10 to form the juncture 40. The inner faces 34 may contact the article 10 at a tangent, and distend away in both directions, each inner face 34 meeting its adjacent inner face 34 at the juncture 40. Each juncture 40 is defined by the point at which the two adjacent tangential inner faces 34 intersect.

Figure 4 shows a cross section of the system 4 with the substantially square tubular member 30 of Figure 2. The article 10 is located within the heating chamber 28 by the inner faces 34 of the tubular member 30. The inner faces 34 define a contact surface with the article 10. On insertion of the article 10, a portion of each inner face 34 is in contact with a portion of the exterior of the article. The inner faces 34 locate the article 10 concentrically within the tubular member 30 and therefore concentrically within the heating chamber 28. The inner faces 34 interact with the article 10 such as to provide a push fit with the article 10 within the heating chamber 28. A first inner dimension is defined 46 by the distance, perpendicular to the axis 15, between diametrically opposing inner faces 34. A second inner dimension 48 is defined by the distance, perpendicular to the axis 15, between diametrically opposing junctures 40. The second inner dimension 48 is greater than the first inner dimension 46. The article 10 does not contact the junctures 40 of the peripheral side wall 32. The space between the exterior of the article 10 and the inner surface of the juncture 40 defines an airflow passage 50. Each juncture defines an airflow passage 50 between the juncture 40 and the article.

The number of airflow passages 50 corresponds to the number of junctures 40. The radius of the tubular member 30 at the juncture 40 is larger than the radius of the tubular member 30 at the inner face 34. The airflow passages 50 allow for axial airflow from a proximal end 52 to a distal end 54 of the system 4. The airflow passages 50 are within the heating chamber 28. The tubular member 30 having a polygonal cross section allows for airflow passages 50 to be created without creating protrusions or cutaways in the tubular member 30. This allows for ease of manufacture and easy insertion for the user.

Figures 5a, 5b, 5, 5d and 5e show embodiments of tubular members having different cross sections. Each different shape comprises inner faces 43, and junctures 40 which define airflow passages 50 between the junctures and the article 10. Each inner face defines a contact surface which receives the article 10 and retains the article 10 concentrically within the tubular member 30. The airflow passages 50 allow for airflow between the proximal end 52 and distal end 54 of the system 4. In each embodiment, the radius of the tubular member 30 at the juncture is greater than the radius of the tubular member 30 at the inner face 34. It is this difference in radius that defies the airflow passages 50. In other embodiments, different polygonal cross section shapes are used.

Figures 5f and 5g show embodiments of tubular members having different cross sections. Each different shape comprises at least one curved inner face 34 and at least one juncture 40 that defines at least one airflow passage 50 between the juncture 40 and the article 10. Figure 5f has one curved inner face 34 that contacts the article around a substantial proportion of its circumference. The juncture 40 is a single juncture formed from two portions of the sidewall of the tubular member distending at a tangent away from the article 10 to meet one another. Figure 5f defines a single airflow passage 50. Figure 5g has two curved inner faces 34 and two junctures and defines two airflow passages 50 between the junctures 40 and the article 10. The curved inner faces 34 contact the article 10 at diametrically opposing locations on the article 10. The junctures 40 are diametrically opposite from one another, each formed by two portions of the sidewall of the tubular member distending at a tangent away from the article 10 to meet one another at the juncture 40. In the above described embodiments, the heating arrangement is an inductive heating arrangement. In embodiments, other types of heating arrangement are used, such as resistive heating. The configuration of the device is generally as described above and so a detailed description will be omitted. In such arrangements the heating assembly 24 comprises a resistive heating generator including components to heat the heating element via a resistive heating process. In this case, an electrical current is directly applied to a resistive heating component, and the resulting flow of current in the heating component causes the heating component to be heated by Joule heating. The resistive heating component comprises resistive material configured to generate heat when a suitable electrical current passes through it, and the heating assembly comprises electrical contacts for supplying electrical current to the resistive material.

In embodiments, the heating element forms the resistive heating component itself. In embodiments the resistive heating component transfers heat to the heating element, for example by conduction.

The various embodiments described herein are presented only to assist in understanding and teaching the claimed features. These embodiments are provided as a representative sample of embodiments only, and are not exhaustive and/or exclusive. It is to be understood that advantages, embodiments, examples, functions, features, structures, and/or other aspects described herein are not to be considered limitations on the scope of the invention as defined by the claims or limitations on equivalents to the claims, and that other embodiments may be utilised and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the claimed invention. Various embodiments of the invention may suitably comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of, appropriate combinations of the disclosed elements, components, features, parts, steps, means, etc, other than those specifically described herein. In addition, this disclosure may include other inventions not presently claimed, but which may be claimed in future.

Claims

1. An aerosol provision device for generating an aerosol from aerosolgenerating material comprising: an elongate tubular member defining a heating chamber configured to receive at least a portion of an article containing aerosol-generating material; wherein the tubular member comprises at least one face defining a contact surface with at least a portion of an article when the at least a portion of an article is received in the heating chamber, wherein the at least one face is arranged to distend away at a tangent from the at least a portion of an article when the at least a portion of an article is received in the heating chamber.

2. The aerosol provision device of claim 1 , wherein the tubular member comprises a peripheral side wall defining the heating chamber

3. The aerosol provision device of claim 2, wherein the peripheral side wall defining the heating chamber has a constant inner cross-section along the longitudinal length of the peripheral side wall.

4. The aerosol provision device of claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the peripheral side wall comprises a first inner dimension perpendicular to the longitudinal axis between diametrically opposing portions of the peripheral side wall arranged to correspond to a diameter of at least a portion of an article when the at least a portion of an article is received in the heating chamber, and a second inner dimension perpendicular to the longitudinal axis between diametrically opposing portions of the peripheral side wall arranged to be greater than a diameter of at least a portion of an article when the at least a portion of an article is received in the heating chamber.

5. The aerosol provision device of any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the at least one face is one of a plurality of inner faces defining the heating chamber.

6. The aerosol provision device of claim 5, wherein the plurality of inner faces is configured to form a push fit with the at least a portion of an article received in the heating chamber.

7. The aerosol provision device of claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the plurality of inner faces define a polygonal cross section.

8. The aerosol provision device of any of claims 5 to 7, wherein at least two faces of the plurality of faces distend away at a tangent to form a juncture radially spaced from the article.

9. The aerosol provision device of claim 8 wherein the juncture comprises a corner.

10. The aerosol provision device of claim 8 or claim 9 wherein the juncture comprises a fillet.

11. The aerosol provision device of any of claims 7 to 10, wherein the polygonal cross section comprises at least four sides.

12. The aerosol provision device of any of claims 7 to 11, wherein the polygonal cross section comprises at least four junctures.

13. The aerosol provision device of claim 12, wherein the junctures are configured to provide axial airflow passages from a proximal end to a distal end of the tubular member.

14. The aerosol provision device of any of claims 7 to 13, wherein the polygonal cross section is equilateral.

15. The aerosol provision device of any of claims 1 to 14, wherein each of the at least one face is free from protrusions.

16. The aerosol provision device of any of claims 1 to 15, wherein the tubular member comprises an opening at a proximal end defined by the peripheral side wall. - 16 -

17. The device of any of claims 1 to 16, wherein the tubular member comprises a heating element.

18. The device of any of claims 1 to 17, wherein the at least one face locates the article concentrically within the heating chamber.

19. An aerosol provision device for generating an aerosol from aerosolgenerating material comprising: an elongate tubular member having a longitudinal axis and defining a heating chamber configured to receive at least a portion of an article containing aerosol-generating material; wherein the tubular member comprises a plurality of inner faces defining the heating chamber, wherein each of the plurality of inner faces are configured to abut at least a portion of an article when the at least a portion of an article is received in the heating chamber.

20. An aerosol provision system comprising the aerosol provision device of any of claims 1 to 19, and an article containing aerosol generating material, in which the article is at least partially receivable in the heating chamber of the aerosol provision device.