WO2023166082A1

WO2023166082A1 - Tobacco article comprising a vibrating element

Info

Publication number: WO2023166082A1
Application number: PCT/EP2023/055225
Authority: WO
Inventors: Layth Sliman BOUCHUIGUIR; Pier Paolo MONTICONE
Original assignee: Jt International S.A.
Priority date: 2022-03-04
Filing date: 2023-03-01
Publication date: 2023-09-07

Abstract

The invention concerns a tobacco article (12) extending along an article axis (X) and configured to operate with a heat-not-burn aerosol generating device (11). The aerosol generating device (11) comprises a receiving cavity (36) configured to receive at least a part of the tobacco article (12). The receiving cavity comprises or is associated to an electromagnetic wave generator configured to generate heat to or in the said part of the tobacco article (12). The aerosol generating device (11) comprises an induction coil (40) arranged relative to the receiving cavity (36) to create a magnetic field in the receiving cavity. The tobacco article (12) is configured to generate aerosol when heated by the aerosol generating device (11). The tobacco article (12) comprises a vibrating element (24) configured to vibrate when it is placed within the magnetic field created by the induction coil (40), to generate haptic feedback to user's lips.

Description

TOBACCO ARTICLE COMPRISING A VIBRATING ELEMENT

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns a tobacco article.

The present invention also concerns a heat-not-burn aerosol generating device associated to such a tobacco article.

The present invention also concerns an aerosol generating assembly comprising such a tobacco article and such a heat-not-burn aerosol generating device.

Particularly, the aerosol generating assembly comprises an aerosol generating device configured to operate with the tobacco article which comprises a tobacco substrate able to form aerosol when being heated. Thus, such type of aerosol generating assemblies, also known as heat-not-burn assemblies, are adapted to heat, rather than burn, the substrate by conduction, convection and/or radiation, to generate aerosol for inhalation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

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 vaporizable 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 aerosol or vapour by heating an aerosol substrate that typically comprises moist leaf tobacco or other suitable vaporizable material to a temperature typically in the range 150°C to 350°C. Heating an aerosol substrate, but not combusting or burning it, releases aerosol that comprises the components sought by the user but not the toxic and carcinogenic byproducts of combustion and burning. Furthermore, the aerosol produced by heating the tobacco or other vaporizable material does not typically comprise the burnt or bitter taste resulting from combustion and burning that can be unpleasant for the user and so the substrate does not therefore require the sugars and other additives that are typically added to such materials to make the smoke and/or vapour more palatable for the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One of the aims of the invention is to provide a tobacco article and associated heat- not-burn aerosol generating device with an improved user experience, in particular during the various vaping sessions.

For this purpose, the invention relates to a tobacco article extending along an article axis and configured to operate with a heat-not-burn aerosol generating device, the aerosol generating device comprising a receiving cavity configured to receive at least a part of the tobacco article; the receiving cavity comprising or being associated to a heating module configured to generate heat to or in the said part of the tobacco article ; the aerosol generating device comprising an induction coil arranged relative to the receiving cavity to create a magnetic field in the receiving cavity; the tobacco article being configured to generate aerosol when heated by the aerosol generating device; the tobacco article comprising a vibrating element configured to vibrate when it is placed within the magnetic field created by the induction coil, to generate haptic feedback to user’s lips.

Thanks to these features, the tobacco article may be excited by the induction coil when the user is vaping to create haptic feedback that is felt by the user's lips. In particular, the element (here after called “vibrating element”) is able to vibrate when excited by the induction coil. The vibration of the vibrating element propagates through the entire article until the user’s lips when he/she is vaping. The vibrations add new sensations to the user, in addition to the taste of the generated aerosol. In this way, the user experience is improved when vaping.

According to some embodiments, the article comprises a tobacco portion designed to be received in a heating part of the receiving cavity comprising the heating module configured to generate heat to or in the tobacco portion and a non-tobacco portion designed downstream to the tobacco portion, the vibrating element being inserted in or being attached to the non-tobacco portion. The heating module may be a heating element, for example, a thin film heater surrounding the cavity or forming the sidewall of the cavity or in contact with sidewalls of the cavity, or a blade or pin heater insertable in the tobacco portion. Thanks to these features, the vibrating element is arranged away from the heating part of the receiving cavity. In this way, the vibration of the vibrating element and the heating of the tobacco portion can be controlled independently by the device. It is therefore possible to disable the vibration system without affecting the heating system of the device, if needed.

According to some embodiments, the non-tobacco portion comprises a filter portion, the vibrating element being integrated into or attached to the filter portion.

According to some embodiments, the non-tobacco portion comprises a hollow tubular portion or segment, the vibrating element being inserted in or attached to the hollow tubular portion or segment.

According to some embodiments, the vibrating element is arranged upstream of the non-tobacco portion in a portion or segment adjacent to the tobacco portion.

According to some embodiments, the non-tobacco portion comprises a transition portion or segment, the vibrating element being arranged in the transition portion or segment; preferably the transition portion or segment comprising or being essentially made of fibrous material, more preferably cellulose acetate material.

According to some embodiments, the transition portion defines a longitudinal airflow hole extending along the vibrating element, preferably parallel to the element.

Thanks to these features, the vibrating element is embedded in a segment of fibrous material, preferably a segment of acetate material that may define a longitudinal airflow hole to allow air to flow unhindered through the segment. Particularly, the airflow hole provides a low pressure drop to the transition portion or segment. Preferably, the diameter of the hole is from 1 .5 to 3.5 mm.

The transition portion or segment may comprise cellulose acetate fiber bundles as a filler and a plasticiser such as triacetin, for ensuring segment hardness through bonding among cellulose acetate fibers. The cellulose acetate fiber bundles may be packed with a density of 0.250 g/cm³ to 0.450 g/cm³. For example, the cellulose acetate fiber bundles have a denier per filament of from 4.0 and 12.0 and a total denier of from 30,000 to 50,000. The plasticiser content may be between 6 wt.% and 25 wt.%, preferably 10 wt.% to 24 wt. % by the total weight of the acetate fibre and plasticiser. The high filling density of the fibers may prevent air to flow within the material and air flows through the segment essentially through the air flow hole.

According to some embodiments, the article comprises a tobacco portion designed to be received in a heating part of the receiving cavity comprising or being associated to the heating module, the heating module being an electromagnetic wave generator configured to provide an induction electromagnetic field, and a non-tobacco portion designed to be downstream of the tobacco portion; the vibrating element being inserted in or be attached to the tobacco portion, and the vibrating element being configured to heat the tobacco portion by the electromagnetic field of the electromagnetic wave generator.

Thanks to these features, with the article in use in the device, the vibrating element is arranged in the tobacco portion or attached thereto. In this way, the vibrating element is controlled by the electromagnetic wave generator in particular by an induction coil arranged around or adjacent to the receiving cavity. As a result, the vibrating element is both able to heat the tobacco portion to the aerosolisable temperature of the tobacco substrate and to vibrate when excited by the induction coil, leading to a more simple design of the article.

The invention also concerns a heat-not-burn aerosol generating device, comprising:

- a receiving cavity configured to receive part of a tobacco article as described above,

- an induction coil arranged around or adjacent to the receiving cavity and configured to create a magnetic field.

According to some embodiments, the device further comprises a heating element arranged around or adjacent to at least a part the receiving cavity and configured to heat a tobacco portion of the tobacco article to generate aerosol.

A heating element may be thin film heater, a thick film heater, a coil heater, an infrared heater, a microwave heater or any suitable heater.

According to some embodiments, the induction coil is arranged away from the heating element, the induction coil being configured to cause vibrations of the vibrating element to generate haptic feedback to user’s lips. Thanks to these features, the device is able to both heat the tobacco portion with the heating element and to excite the vibrating element with the induction coil to make it vibrate, for example when the user is vaping.

According to some embodiments, the induction coil is arranged around or adjacent to the part of the receiving cavity receiving the tobacco portion, the induction coil being configured to cause vibrations of the element:

- with a carrier frequency, to heat the tobacco portion of the tobacco article;

- with a modulated frequency, to generate haptic feedback to user’s lips when aerosol is generated.

Thanks to these features, the aerosol generating device is able to both heat and excite the vibrating element with the induction coil by generating an electromagnetic signal comprising a carrier frequency heating the element and a modulated frequency exciting the element to make it vibrate.

According to some embodiments, the device further comprises a control module configured to control the powering of the induction coil for the vibrating element.

According to some embodiments, the control module is further configured to adapt the current modulation in the induction coil to modify the type of vibrations of the element.

Thanks to these features, it is possible to modify the type of vibrations of the element by modifying for example its amplitude, its frequency or its pattern. The user may choose the type of vibrations he/she prefers to further improve the vaping experience.

According to some embodiments, the control module is further configured to detect a user puff and activate the induction coil during the user puff according to a predetermined powering profile.

Thanks to these features, the device is able to make the element vibrate when the user is puffing to adjust the vibrations with each user’s puff and therefore to improve the user’s feeling.

The invention also concerns an aerosol generating assembly, comprising:

- a heat-not-burn aerosol generating device as described above, and - a tobacco article as described above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention and its advantages will be better understood upon reading the following description, which is given solely by way of non-limiting examples and which is made with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic side view of an aerosol generating assembly according to the invention comprising a tobacco article and a heat-not-burn aerosol generating device;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of the aerosol generating assembly of Figure 1 according to a first embodiment;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a transition portion or vibrating segment of the article of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of the aerosol generating assembly of Figure 1 according to a second embodiment, and

Figure 5 is a representation of the electromagnetic field generated by an induction coil of the aerosol generating device of Figure 4.

Before describing the invention, it is to be understood that it is not limited to the details of construction set forth in the following description. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the present disclosure that the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways.

As used herein, the term “aerosol generating device” or “device” may include a vaping device to deliver an aerosol to a user, including an aerosol for vaping, by means of a heater element explained in further detail below. The device may be portable. “Portable” may refer to the device being for use when held by a user. The device may be adapted to generate a variable amount of aerosol, e.g. by activating the heater element for a variable amount of time (as opposed to a metered dose of aerosol), which can be controlled by a trigger. The trigger may be user activated, such as a vaping button and/or inhalation sensor. The inhalation sensor may be sensitive to the strength of inhalation as well as the duration of inhalation to enable a variable amount of vapour to be provided (so as to mimic the effect of smoking a conventional combustible smoking article such as a cigarette, cigar or pipe, etc.). The device may include a temperature regulation control to drive the temperature of the heater and/or the heated aerosol generating substance (aerosol pre-cursor) to a specified target temperature and thereafter to maintain the temperature at the target temperature that enables efficient generation of aerosol.

As used herein, the term “aerosol” may include a suspension of vaporizable material as one or more of: solid particles; liquid droplets; gas. Said suspension may be in a gas including air. Aerosol herein may generally refer to/include a vapour. Aerosol may include one or more components of the vaporizable material.

As used herein, the term “vaporizable material” or “aerosol substrate” or “tobacco substrate” may refer to a material that is designed to deliver aerosol upon heating in an aerosol generating device and which may for example comprise nicotine or tobacco and an aerosol former. Tobacco may take the form of various materials such as shredded tobacco, granulated tobacco, tobacco leaf and/or reconstituted tobacco. Reconstituted tobacco can be produced in the form of a sheet by any suitable process such as paper making process, cast sheet, extrusion/lamination. The sheet can then be gathered, cut or shredded, optionally mixed with cellulose or other fillers, tobacco lamina, stems, aerosol former, additives, flavour (e.g., menthol), acid (e.g., benzoic acid), and wrapped in a wrapper to form a tobacco portion. The filling density of the tobacco portion is not particularly limited, but is usually 250 mg/cm³ to 900 mg/cm³ from the viewpoint of ensuring the performance of the tobacco portion and imparting a good taste. 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, 1 ,3-butanediol, glycerin or vegetable glycerin. Suitable amount of aerosol former may be between e.g., 5 wt. % and 50 wt.% of the substrate. In some embodiments, the aerosol generating agent may be glycerol, propylene glycol, or a mixture of glycerol and propylene glycol. The substrate may also comprise at least one of a gelling agent, a binding agent, a stabilizing agent, and a humectant.

As used herein, the terms “upstream” and “downstream” refer to a position relative to the direction of the flow in the article towards the mouth end. DESCRIPTION OF A FIRST EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Figure 1 shows an aerosol generating assembly 10 comprising a heat-not-burn aerosol generating device 1 1 and a tobacco article 12. The aerosol generating device 11 is intended to operate with the tobacco article 12 in order to produce aerosol.

The tobacco article 12 presents for example a cylindrical shape extending along an article axis X. In a variant, the tobacco article 12 may present a flat cuboid shape.

In a typical example, the length L of the article 12 according to the article axis X is comprised between 10 and 80 mm, and is for example substantially equal to 60 mm. According to different examples, the value L may be selected within a range of +/- 40%, for example.

The tobacco article 12 comprises a tobacco portion 14 and a non-tobacco portion 16 arranged along the article axis X. The tobacco portion 14 may for example be slightly less longer than the non-tobacco portion 16. For example, the length ratio of the tobacco portion 14 to the non-tobacco portion 16 may be between 1 :3 to 1 :1 .5, preferably of about 1 :2. The tobacco portion 14 defines an abutting end 20 of the article 12 and the non-tobacco portion 16 defines a mouth end 22 of the article 12. The abutting end 20 is generally unwrapped and enables air flow to enter in the tobacco portion 14. The tobacco portion 14 and the non-tobacco portion 16 may be fixed one to the other by a wrapper.

The tobacco portion 14 is intended to be heated by the device 1 1 , as it will be explained in further detail below. The tobacco portion 14 comprises a vaporizable material as defined above. In some embodiments, the tobacco portion 14 further comprises one or several susceptors mixed for example with the vaporizable material.

The non-tobacco portion 16, and in particular the mouth end 22 of the article 12, is intended to be put in the user’s mouth when the user inhales. The non-tobacco portion 16 forms a cooling and/or filtering portion. The non-tobacco portion 16 is intended to act for example as a cooler and/or as a filter to cool slightly the vapour and/or to filter it, before it is inhaled by the user. The non-tobacco portion 16 must be designed long enough flow path and with enough surface to ensure heat transfer of the hot vapour to the portion. Therefore, the non-tobacco portion 16 may contain tube surface such as paper tube and/or filtering material such as paper and/or cellulose acetate fibre.

The tobacco article 12 comprises a vibrating element 24. The vibrating element 24 is in particular a susceptor. The vibrating element 24 presents for example a cylindrical shape extending along the article axis X. As visible on Figure 2, the vibrating element 24 is integrated into the non-tobacco portion 16. Advantageously, the vibrating element 24 is arranged at an upstream end of the non-tobacco portion 16 portion adjacent to the tobacco portion 14. As visible on Figure 3, the non-tobacco portion 16 may comprise a transition portion 26. The transition portion 26 is arranged adjacent to the tobacco portion 14 and can extend the cooling and/or filtering portion explained above. Thus, the transition portion 26 can comprise or can be made of the same material as the cooling and/or filtering portion. For example, the transition portion 26 can comprise or can be a segment made of acetate material such as cellulose acetate fibre. According to another embodiment, the transition portion 26 can comprise or can be essentially made of paper. As visible on Figures 2 and 3, the vibrating element 24 is arranged in the transition portion 26. The transition portion 26 further defines a longitudinal airflow hole 28 extending along to the vibrating element 24, preferably parallel to the vibrating element 24, along the article axis X. The airflow hole 28 enables the aerosol generated in the tobacco portion 14 to flow towards the non-tobacco portion 16 until the mouth end 22.

The vibrating element 24 is configured to vibrate when it is placed within the magnetic field created by an induction coil, to generate haptic feedback to user’s lips when aerosol is generated. In particular, the vibrations of the vibrating element 24 propagates through the entire article 12 until the mouth end 22 and the user’s lips when he/she is vaping.

The vibrating element 24 is notably made of :

- copper and copper alloys,

- brass, aluminum, iron,

- steel and stainless steel,

- tungsten, chrome, nickel and nickel alloys,

- cobalt, - carbon fiber,

- graphite, silicium,

- platinum,

- silver, and/or

- gold.

The aerosol generating device 11 comprises a housing 30 along a device axis Y. The housing 30 delimits an internal space of the device 1 1 receiving various elements designed to carry out different functionalities of the device 1 1 . The housing 30 may further comprise an air flow path and/or inlet for introduction of air within the tobacco article 12. In particular, the device 1 1 comprises a power supply 32, a control module 34, a receiving cavity 36 for receiving the tobacco article 12 and at least a heating module to generate energy towards the cavity 36 enabling heat to be produced in the tobacco article 12 within the vaporizing range of the aerosol substrate.

In an example, the heating module comprises a heating element 38. The device 11 further comprises an induction coil 40 configured to interact with the vibrating element 24, as it will be further explained below. In some embodiments, the device 1 1 may further comprise an external communication module 42.

The receiving cavity 36 presents a complementary shape to that of the article 12. In particular, the receiving cavity 36 presents a cylindrical sidewall. The receiving cavity 36 is designed to receive a part of the article 12, notably the tobacco portion 14. In particular, a heating part for the receiving cavity 36 is able to receive the tobacco portion 14.

The receiving cavity 36 may be surrounded by the heating element 38. The nontobacco portion 16 is preferably designed to overlap as less as possible or preferably be remote from the receiving cavity 36 surrounded by the heating element 38.

The heating element 38 is configured to heat the tobacco portion 14 to generate aerosol which flows in the article towards the mouth end 22. The heating element 38 may be arranged in contact with the sidewall. For example, the heating element 38 may comprise a thin film heater extending along substantially the total length of the tobacco portion 14 along the article axis X or only along a part of this length, and adapted to heat the tobacco portion 14 by convection or conduction. For instance, the thin film comprises a resistive metal track on a polyimide film or between two polyimide films.

According to another embodiment, the heating module is an electromagnetic wave generator and comprises a coil configured to be arranged around the tobacco portion 14. In this embodiment, the heat is generated by one or several susceptors comprised in the tobacco portion 14. This coil of the electromagnetic wave generator may be separated from the induction coil 40 explained in further detail below.

According to both embodiments, the electromagnetic wave generator is powered by the power supply 32 and controlled by the control module 34. The sidewalls of the receiving cavity 36 may be made of thin conductive material, preferably metal, such as stainless steel. In a variant, the sidewalls of the receiving cavity comprise or are made of heat resistant polymer such PEEK.

The induction coil 40 for the vibrating element 24 is arranged around or adjacent to the receiving cavity 36 and configured to create a magnetic field, notably inside the receiving cavity 36. As visible on Figure 2, the induction coil 40 is preferably arranged axially away from the heating element 38 and/or in an area of the receiving cavity 36 which is not substantially heated by the heating element 38. The induction coil 40 is arranged in order to surround in particular the transition portion 26 when the article 12 is in inserted position in the device 1 1. The induction coil 40 is configured to generate the electromagnetic field and to cause vibrations of the vibrating element 24. At least part of the vibrations is transferred to the mouth end 22 or to its wrapper to generate haptic feedback to user’s lips. The vibrations may be emitted as a response to a particular event such when aerosol is generated. The induction coil 40 is powered by the power supply 32 and controlled by the control module 34.

The power supply 32 comprises a battery, for example a rechargeable lithium-ion battery known in the art. The power supply 32 is configured to provide electrical power to the control module 34, the heating module and to the induction coil 40.

The control module 34 is configured to control for example a voltage provided by the power supply 32 to the heating module. The control module 34 is further configured to control the powering of the induction coil 40. In particular, the control module 34 is configured to adapt the current modulation in the induction coil 40 to modify the type of vibrations of the vibrating element 24. A type of vibration is for example defined by its amplitude, its frequency, its pattern, etc. The control module 34 is configured to modify the type of vibrations of the vibrating element 24 by modifying the generated electromagnetic field.

The control module 34 is further configured to detect a user puff and activate the induction coil 40 during the user puff according to a predetermined powering profile. The powering profile is associated to the desired type of vibrations for the vibrating element 24. To this end, the device 1 1 may comprise a puff sensor 44. The puff sensor 44 is configured to detect and to provide data relative to the flow of the generated aerosol in the article 12. The puff sensor 44 is for example configured to detect a pressure difference or a change of flow rate caused by the user taking a puff and creating a flow of aerosol through the article 12. Advantageously, the defection of a puff only starts when the detected change on the flow exceeds or reach a predetermined threshold value. The threshold may be set above noises, which do not correspond to a real puff. The control module 34 is configured to receive a signal from the puff sensor 44 as an input when a puff is detected and to activate the induction coil 40 as an output to generate a haptic feedback for the user while he/she is vaping. In a variant, the control module 34 is configured to activate the induction coil 40 when the heating element 38 has reached the vaping temperature to indicate to the user that he/she can starts vaping.

The external communication module 42 is configured to communicate via an antenna with an external electronic system, such as a user communication device. Advantageously, the external communication module is configured to communicate with the external electronic system via an NFC protocol (Near-Field Communication protocol), an RFID protocol (Radio-frequency identification protocol), a Bluetooth protocol or any other available protocol. The user may choose which type of vibration he/she prefers via the electronic system, which transfers the associated settings to the control module 34 via the external communication module 42. The user may also disable or activate the haptic feedback whenever he/she wants via the external communication module 42 and the control module 34.

OPERATION OF THE INVENTION

The operation of the aerosol generating assembly 10 will now be described. Initially, the tobacco article 12 is inserted in the device 1 1 . The user is not vaping and the control module 34 does not activate the heating module, e.g., the heating element 38, and the induction coil 40.

Then, the user starts a vaping session by activating, via the control module 34, the heating element 38, which heats the tobacco portion 14.

The user is then taking a puff, which is detected by the puff sensor 44. The control module 34 activates then the induction coil 40, which creates an electromagnetic field. The electromagnetic field causes the vibrating element 24 to vibrate.

The vibration of the vibrating element 24 propagates through the article 12 until the mouthpiece end 22 of the article 12 and until user’s lips while he/she is vaping.

When the user stops puffing, the puff sensor 44 detects the end of the puff and transmits a signal to the control module 34. The control module 34 deactivates the induction coil 40. The generated electromagnetic field disappears and the vibrating element 24 stop vibrating.

DESCRIPTION OF A SECOND EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Figure 4 shows an aerosol generating assembly 10 according to a second embodiment of the invention.

The aerosol generating assembly 10 according to the second embodiment is similar to the aerosol generating assembly 10 according to the first embodiment explained above except the features described below.

As visible on Figure 4, the vibrating element 24 is here integrated into the tobacco portion 14 of the article 12.

In this embodiment, the vibrating element 24 is configured to vibrate and to heat the tobacco portion 14 when placed in a magnetic field generated by the induction coil 40. In this embodiment, the induction coil 40 is also the heating module. The heating element 38 is here formed of the induction coil 40 able to heat the tobacco portion 14 and to generate the aerosol.

The induction coil 40 is configured to cause vibrations of the vibrating element 24:

- with a carrier frequency, to heat the tobacco portion 14 of the article 12;

- with a modulated frequency, to generate haptic feedback to user’s lips.

In particular, in reference to Figure 5, the induction coil 40 is configured to generate an electromagnetic field as represented on part (C) of Figure 5. The slow, sine wave (A) is utilized to modulate or impress itself upon the faster “carrier” sine wave (B). When the slow modulating signal is impressed by means of alteration of carrier amplitude, the result is as shown on signal (C). The carrier component (B) causes the vibrating element 24 to heat while the modulating component (A) causes the vibrating element 24 to vibrate.

The control module 34 is configured to control the heating and the vibrations of the vibrating element 24 by adjusting the electromagnetic field generated by the induction coil 40 and notably the carrier component and the modulating component.

DESCRIPTION OF OTHER EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

In a possible embodiment, the vibrating element of the invention can be attached to the wrapper, for example, on an inner surface of the wrapper. For example, the vibrating element may be partially glued to the wrapper. The vibrating element may be in contact with a vibration transmission element. For example, the vibration transmission element may be an element more rigid than the wrapper. The element may be elongated such as a thread or wire and may extend longitudinally. The vibration transmission element may extend towards the mouth end. It may extend to the mouth end. It may extend along the length of the non-tobacco portion. It may be, for instance, be connected to the wrapper.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that other embodiments may be carried out in various ways by combining the previous embodiments.

For example, the article 12 may comprises several elements 24 configured to vibrate and/or to heat arranged along the article axis X of the article 12.

Claims

1. A tobacco article (12) extending along an article axis (X) and configured to operate with a heat-not-burn aerosol generating device (1 1 ), the aerosol generating device

(11 ) comprising a receiving cavity (36) configured to receive at least a part of the tobacco article (12); the receiving cavity (36) comprising or being associated to an heating module configured to generate heat to or in the said part of the tobacco article

(12) ; the aerosol generating device (1 1 ) comprising an induction coil (40) arranged relative to the receiving cavity (36) to create a magnetic field in the receiving cavity; the tobacco article (12) being configured to generate aerosol when heated by the aerosol generating device (11 ); the tobacco article (12) comprising a vibrating element (24) configured to vibrate when it is placed within the magnetic field created by the induction coil (40), to generate haptic feedback to user’s lips.

2. The tobacco article (12) according to claim 1 , wherein the tobacco article (12) comprises a tobacco portion (14) designed to be received in the receiving cavity (36) and a non-tobacco portion (16) designed to be downstream of the tobacco portion (14), the vibrating element (24) being inserted in or attached to the non-tobacco portion (16).

3. The tobacco article (12) according to claim 2, wherein the vibrating element (24) is arranged at an upstream end of the non-tobacco portion (16) adjacent to the tobacco portion (14).

4. The tobacco article (12) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the non-tobacco portion (16) comprises a transition portion or segment (26), the vibrating element (24) being inserted in or attached to the transition portion or segment (26); preferably the transition portion or segment (26) comprising or being essentially made of fibrous material, more preferably cellulose acetate material.

5. The tobacco article (12) according to claim 4, wherein the transition portion or segment (26) defines a longitudinal airflow hole (28) extending along to, preferably parallel to the element (24).

6. The tobacco article (12) according to claim 1 , wherein the article (12) comprises a tobacco portion (14), designed to be received in a heating part of the receiving cavity (36) comprising the heating module, the heating module being an electromagnetic wave generator configured to provide an induction electromagnetic field, and a nontobacco portion (16) designed to be downstream of the tobacco portion (14), the vibrating element (24) being inserted in or attached to the tobacco portion (14), the vibrating element (24) being configured to heat the tobacco portion (14) by the electromagnetic field of the electromagnetic wave generator.

7. A heat-not-burn aerosol generating device (1 1 ), comprising:

- a receiving cavity (36) configured to receive at least a part of a tobacco article (12) according to any one of the preceding claims; and

- an induction coil (40) arranged around or adjacent the receiving cavity (36) and configured to create a magnetic field.

8. The heat-not-burn aerosol generating device (1 1 ) according to claim 7, further comprising a heating module comprising a heating element (38) arranged around or adjacent to at least a part the receiving cavity (36) and configured to heat a tobacco portion (14) of the tobacco article (14) to generate aerosol.

9. The heat-not-burn aerosol generating device (11 ) according to claim 8, wherein the induction coil (40) is arranged away from the heating element (38), the induction coil (40) being configured to cause vibrations of the vibrating element (24) to generate haptic feedback to user’s lips.

10. The heat-not-burn aerosol generating device (11 ) according to claim 8, wherein the induction coil (40) is arranged around or adjacent to the part of the receiving cavity (36) receiving the tobacco portion (14), the induction coil (40) being configured to cause vibrations of the element (24):

- with a carrier frequency, to heat the tobacco portion (14) of the tobacco article (12);

- with a modulated frequency, to generate haptic feedback to user’s lips.

11. The heat-not-burn aerosol generating device (11 ) according to any one of claims 7 to 10, further comprising a control module (34) configured to control the powering of the induction coil (40).

12. The heat-not-burn aerosol generating device (1 1 ) according to claim 11 , wherein the control module (34) is further configured to adapt the current modulation in the induction coil (40) to modify the type of vibrations of the element (24).

13. The heat-not-burn aerosol generating device (1 1 ) according to claim 1 1 or 12, wherein the control module (34) is further configured to detect a user puff and activate the induction coil (40) during the user puff according to a predetermined powering profile.

14. An aerosol generating assembly, comprising:

- a heat-not-burn aerosol generating device (11 ) according to any one of claims 7 to 13, and

- a tobacco article (12) according to any one of claims 1 to 6.