WO2024023083A1

WO2024023083A1 - Aerosol-generating article with embedded aversive agent

Info

Publication number: WO2024023083A1
Application number: PCT/EP2023/070565
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gennaro CAMPITELLI; Eva SAADE LATORRE; Paola ORSOLINI
Original assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
Priority date: 2022-07-29
Filing date: 2023-07-25
Publication date: 2024-02-01

Abstract

There is provided an aerosol-generating article (10, 100), particularly for generating an inhalable aerosol upon heating, the aerosol-generating article (10, 100) comprising: an aerosol-generating substrate (12), a downstream section (14) extending from a downstream end of the aerosol-generating substrate (12) to a downstream end of the aerosol-generating article (10, 100); and an upstream section (16, 116) extending from an upstream end of the aerosol-generating substrate (10, 100) to an upstream end of the aerosol-generating article (10, 100), wherein the upstream section (16, 116) comprises an aversive agent.

Description

AEROSOL-GENERATING ARTICLE WITH EMBEDDED AVERSIVE AGENT

The present invention relates to an aerosol-generating article comprising an aerosolgenerating substrate and adapted to produce an inhalable aerosol upon heating. In particular, the present invention relates to an aerosol-generating article comprising an aversive agent.

Aerosol-generating articles in which an aerosol-generating substrate, such as a tobacco-containing substrate, is heated rather than combusted, are known in the art. Typically, in such heated smoking articles an aerosol is generated by the transfer of heat from a heat source to a physically separate aerosol-generating substrate or material, which may be located in contact with, within, around, or downstream of the heat source. During use of the aerosol-generating article, volatile compounds are released from the aerosol-generating substrate by heat transfer from the heat source and are entrained in air drawn through the aerosol-generating article. As the released compounds cool, they condense to form an aerosol.

A number of prior art documents disclose aerosol-generating devices for consuming aerosol-generating articles. Such devices include, for example, electrically heated aerosolgenerating devices in which an aerosol is generated by the transfer of heat from one or more electrical heater elements of the aerosol-generating device to the aerosol-generating substrate of a heated aerosol-generating article. For example, electrically heated aerosolgenerating devices have been proposed that comprise an internal heater blade which is adapted to be inserted into the aerosol-generating substrate. As an alternative, inductively heatable aerosol-generating articles comprising an aerosol-generating substrate and a susceptor arranged within the aerosol-generating substrate have been proposed by WO 2015/176898.

A need is generally felt to deter and prevent dangerous behaviours, such as for example accidental ingestion of objects, including aerosol-generating articles and their components, particularly by children. Risks associated with one such behaviour may be increased for an aerosol-generating article comprising hard parts, as may be the case of a susceptor element embedded within the aerosol-generating substrate.

Use of compounds having an unpleasant, for example bitter, taste as aversive agents is known. By way of example, denatonium benzoate has been proposed as a deterrent to the accidental ingestion of toxic substances, such as liquid detergents, by children. For use in that context, denatonium benzoate has been chosen among other candidate compounds based on its existing uses in alcohol as a denaturant and in thumb-sucking and nail-biting deterrent products. It has also been proposed to exploit the unpleasant, bitter flavour associated with certain aversive agents to encourage consumers to quit smoking. For example, WO 2019/056029 A1 discloses a smoking cessation attachment which may be fitted onto a circumferential surface of a cigarette and brought into contact with a consumer's lips during use of the cigarette. The attachment contains a bitter substance, which may be absorbed through the consumer’s lips or oral mucosa or both. This causes a change in taste during the normal use of the cigarette.

The smoke cessation attachment disclosed by WO 2019/056029 A1 aims at making the intended use of a cigarette highly unpleasant for the consumer. In contrast to that, in the context of the present disclosure a need is felt to deter and prevent incorrect uses of an aerosol-generating article (such as, for example, ingesting or chewing on the aerosolgenerating article), whilst at the same time aiming to ensure that the normal, intended use of the aerosol-generating article is substantially unaffected.

In practice, the technical solution disclosed by WO 2019/056029 A1 effectively relies on direct contact between the attachment and the consumer’s lips to intentionally deliver to the consumer the bitter substance during normal use of the cigarette and trigger an unpleasant sensorial response. In diametrically opposite fashion, in the present context it is desirable that contact between the aerosol-generating article and the consumer’s lips and oral mucosa during normal use of the aerosol-generating article is not associated with any kind of strong, unpleasant taste response, which certain compounds used as aversive agents may elicit even at high dilutions.

An additional challenge is represented by the fact that the consumer’s fingers may become contaminated by an aversive agent when handling the aerosol-generating article, which is also undesirable, as it may subsequently cause an unpleasant sensorial experience. Therefore, in the present context a need is felt to ensure that contact between the consumer’s fingers and the aerosol-generating article during the normal handling and use of the aerosolgenerating article does not result in transfer of the aversive agent onto the consumer’s fingers.

Further, it must be borne in mind that an aversive agent may have a less than desirable impact on the quality of the aerosol delivered to the consumer, particularly if even trace amounts of the aversive agent may be volatilised into the aerosol upon heating the aerosolgenerating substrate and be thus delivered to the consumer.

Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a new and improved aerosol-generating article adapted to deter ingestion of the aerosol-generating article or of components of the aerosol-generating article while at the same time generally limiting or preventing at least one of the undesirable effects referred to above. The present disclosure relates to an aerosol-generating article, particularly for generating an inhalable aerosol upon heating.

The aerosol-generating article may comprise an aerosol-generating substrate.

The aerosol-generating article may comprise a downstream section extending from a downstream end of the aerosol-generating substrate to a downstream end of the aerosolgenerating article.

The aerosol-generating article may comprise an airflow pathway through which air may enter the aerosol-generating article, pass through the aerosol-generating substrate, and exit the aerosol-generating article. For example, air may exit the aerosol-generating article through a downstream section of the aerosol-generating article, if one such downstream section is present. The aerosol-generating article may further comprise an aversive agent.

The aversive agent may be provided at a location within the aerosol-generating article such that direct contact between the aversive agent and the consumer’s lips or oral mucosa during the normal, intended use of the aerosol-generating article may be substantially prevented.

The aversive agent may be provided at a location within the aerosol-generating article such that direct contact between the aversive agent and the consumer’s fingers during the normal, intended use of the aerosol-generating article may be substantially prevented.

Further, the aversive agent may be provided at a location within the aerosol-generating article such that the aversive agent is not directly exposed to the airflow pathway, such that the aversive agent may be substantially prevented from directly entering the airflow pathway.

For example, the aerosol-generating article may comprise an upstream section extending from an upstream end of the aerosol-generating substrate to an upstream end of the aerosol-generating article.

The upstream section may comprise an aversive agent.

According to the present invention, there is provided an aerosol-generating article, particularly for generating an inhalable aerosol upon heating, the aerosol-generating article comprising an aerosol-generating substrate. The aerosol-generating article further comprises a downstream section extending from a downstream end of the aerosol-generating substrate to a downstream end of the aerosol-generating article, and an upstream section extending from an upstream end of the aerosol-generating substrate to an upstream end of the aerosolgenerating article. The upstream section comprises an aversive agent.

In contrast to existing aerosol-generating articles, in aerosol-generating articles in accordance with the present invention an aversive agent is provided in an upstream section of the aerosol-generating article positioned upstream of the aerosol-generating substrate. As will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments of aerosol-generating articles in accordance with the present invention, by providing the aversive agent in the upstream section it is advantageously possible to substantially prevent contact between the aversive agent and the consumer’s lips and oral mucosa during the normal, intended use of the aerosol-generating article. This is because the aversive agent being provided at the end of the aerosol-generating article opposite the mouth end, it is highly unlikely that the aversive agent may inadvertently come into contact with the consumer’s lips or oral mucosa during normal use of the aerosol-generating article.

Additionally, by providing the aversive agent at locations within the upstream section away from an outer surface of the aerosol-generating article, contact between the consumer’s fingers and the aversive agent during normal handling and use of the aerosol-generating article may desirably be excluded.

Since the aversive agent is not on an outer surface of the aerosol-generating article, migration of aversive agent to other aerosol-generating articles - such as other aerosolgenerating articles provided within a same package during transportation or storage - may also advantageously be avoided.

In certain embodiments, it may be possible to exclude direct exposure of the aversive agent to the flow of aerosol being generated, and in certain preferred embodiments it may be possible to prevent even trace amounts of the aversive agent from being released into the aerosol.

This is because the aversive agent is not directly exposed to the mainstream airflow pathway, and because the aversive agent is not provided at a location within the aerosolgenerating article to which heat should be supplied during normal use.

Thus, it will be appreciated that the present invention effectively provides an aerosolgenerating article comprising: an aerosol-generating substrate, a downstream section extending from a downstream end of the aerosol-generating substrate to a downstream end of the aerosol-generating article, and an airflow pathway through which air may enter the aerosol-generating article, pass through the aerosol-generating substrate, and exit the aerosol-generating article - such as through the downstream section. The aerosol-generating article further comprises an aversive agent, the aversive agent being provided at a location within the aerosol-generating article such that the aversive agent is not directly exposed to the airflow pathway.

In the context of the present invention, the expression “not directly exposed to the airflow pathway” means that that there is at least a layer of another material separating the aversive agent at its intended location from the airflow pathway. For example, the aversive agent may be embedded in a component of the aerosol-generating article far from any surface of the component that may be directly contacted by the aerosol during use.

At the same time, by arranging the aversive agent at one end of the aerosol-generating article, and particularly in a section of the aerosol-generating article adjacent the aerosolgenerating substrate, accidental ingestion of the aerosol-generating substrate can be efficiently prevented. This is because the aversive agent will be released rapidly if the upstream section is chewed upon. Such deterrent effect is particularly beneficial in those embodiments wherein a susceptor element is embedded within the aerosol-generating substrate.

Providing the aversive agent at a location within the aerosol-generating article such that the aversive agent is not directly exposed to the airflow pathway may have the desirable effect that direct release of the aversive agent into the aerosol at said location is substantially prevented. However, migration of the aversive agent from its intended location to other portions or components of the aerosol-generating article may not be entirely preventable, and so trace amounts of the aversive agent may be detected at other locations within the aerosolgenerating article. Nevertheless, the inventors have found that, with aerosol-generating articles in accordance with the present invention, the aversive agent is not detected in the aerosol delivered to the consumer at the downstream end of the aerosol-generating article. Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is hypothesised that, if trace amounts of the aversive agent migrate from the intended location as far as into the aerosol-generating substrate, the heat supplied to the aerosol-generating substrate during use raises its temperature above the decomposition temperature of the aversive agent. As a result, only trace amounts of the decomposition products may actually be delivered to the consumer.

As described briefly above, the present invention provides an aerosol-generating article for generating an inhalable aerosol upon heating.

The term “aerosol-generating article” is used herein to denote an article wherein an aerosol-generating substrate is heated to produce and deliver an inhalable aerosol to a consumer. As used herein, the term “aerosol-generating substrate” denotes a substrate capable of releasing volatile compounds upon heating to generate an aerosol.

A conventional cigarette is lit when a user applies a flame to one end of the cigarette and draws air through the other end. The localised heat provided by the flame and the oxygen in the air drawn through the cigarette causes the end of the cigarette to ignite, and the resulting combustion generates an inhalable smoke. By contrast, in heated aerosol generating articles, an aerosol is generated by heating a flavour generating substrate, such as tobacco, without combustion of the flavour generating substrate. Known heated aerosol generating articles include, for example, electrically heated aerosol generating articles and aerosol generating articles in which an aerosol is generated by the transfer of heat from a heat source to a physically separate aerosol forming material.

Aerosol-generating articles according to the invention find particular application in aerosol-generating systems comprising an aerosol-generating device having a heating chamber into which the aerosol-generating article is received such that heat can be supplied to the aerosol-generating substrate. This may be achieved by providing one or more heating elements arranged about the periphery of the heating chamber, the one or more heating elements being heated resistively or inductively. Alternatively, this may also be achieved by way of a resistively heated blade-shaped component of the aerosol-generating device, which is inserted into the aerosol-generating substrate when the aerosol-generating article is inserted into the heating chamber.

According to yet another alternative, a susceptor element may be provided within the aerosol-generating substrate, and the aerosol-generating device may have an inductor for producing an alternating or fluctuating electromagnetic field. When the aerosol-generating article engages with the aerosol-generating device, the fluctuating electromagnetic field produced by the inductor induces a current in the susceptor element, causing the susceptor element to heat up. The electrically-operated aerosol-generating device may be capable of generating a fluctuating electromagnetic field having a magnetic field strength (H-field strength) of between 1 and 5 kilo amperes per metre (kA m), preferably between 2 and 3 kA/m, for example about 2.5 kA/m.

The aerosol-generating article may be in the form of a rod. As used herein with reference to the present invention, the term “rod” is used to denote a generally cylindrical element of substantially circular, oval or elliptical cross-section.

As used herein, the term “longitudinal” refers to the direction corresponding to the main longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generating article, which extends between the upstream and downstream ends of the aerosol-generating article. As used herein, the terms “upstream” and “downstream” describe the relative positions of elements, or portions of elements, of the aerosol-generating article in relation to the direction in which the aerosol is transported through the aerosol-generating article during use.

During use, air is drawn through the aerosol-generating article in the longitudinal direction. The term “transverse” refers to the direction that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. Any reference to the “cross-section” of the aerosol-generating article or a component of the aerosol-generating article refers to the transverse cross-section unless stated otherwise. The term “length” denotes the dimension of a component of the aerosol-generating article in the longitudinal direction. For example, it may be used to denote the dimension of the aerosol-generating substrate or of the upstream section in the longitudinal direction.

The term “aerosol former” is used herein to describe a compound which, upon volatilisation, can help convey other vaporised compounds released upon heating an aerosolgenerating substrate, such as nicotine and flavourants, in an aerosol. Suitable aerosol formers for inclusion in an aerosol-generating substrate are known in the art and include, but are not limited to: polyhydric alcohols, such as triethylene glycol, propylene glycol, 1 ,3-butanediol and glycerol; esters of polyhydric alcohols, such as glycerol mono-, di- or triacetate; and aliphatic esters of mono-, di- or polycarboxylic acids, such as dimethyl dodecanedioate and dimethyl tetradecanedioate.

The term “aversive agent” is used herein to describe a compound which may be added to a product with the intent of deterring or limiting its ingestion. The chemical properties of an aversive agent determine the types of products the aversive agent can be added to. For example, chemical stability and solubility may have an impact on the compatibility of an aversive agent with a given type of product. Examples of aversive agents include pungent agents (also referred to as irritants) and bittering agents.

The term “pungent agents” is used herein to describe a group of compounds that produce a sharp biting taste and a burning sensation when topically applied to mucosal and skin surfaces. Common pungent agents include, but are not limited to, capsaicin (red chile peppers), piperine (black pepper), allyl isothiocyanate (mustard oil), resinferatoxin.

The term “bittering agents” is used herein to describe a group of chemically dissimilar compounds that have a common trait of imparting a bitter taste to substances. Compounds considered to be bittering agents include, but are not limited to, denatonium benzoate, columbin, amarogentin, quassin, absinthin, quinine hydrochloride.

The “bitterness value” of a given substance, such as a bittering agent, can be determined in accordance with a standardised procedure described in the European Pharmacopoeia (European Pharmacopoeia. Volume 1 : General part of monograph groups, 5th edition, basic work. Stuttgart 2005, ISBN 3-7692-3638-6, 2.8.15 Bitterwert, p. 278). In more detail, the “bitterness value” can be determined as the reciprocal of the dilution of a compound, a liquid or an extract that still has a bitter taste. The bitterness value of a given substance is effectively determined by comparing the threshold bitter concentration of an extract of the substance with that of a dilute solution of quinine hydrochloride.

The bitterness value of quinine hydrochloride is set at 200,000. This means that 1 gram of quinine hydrochloride makes 200,000 grams of water taste bitter. In order to assess the bitterness value of a given test compound, stock and diluted quinine hydrochloride solutions at increasing concentrations of quinine hydrochloride are prepared as reference solutions. In parallel, stock and diluted solutions of the test compound at increasing concentrations of the given compound are also prepared.

A test panel is assembled. To correct for individual differences in tasting bitterness among members of the test panel, a correction factor may be determined for each panel member based on their response to tasting the quinine hydrochloride reference solutions.

Before each tasting, a test panel member rinses their mouth with drinking water. The highest dilution still having a bitter taste is determined by taking 10 millilitres of the most diluted solution into the mouth and passing it from side to side over the back of the tongue for 30 seconds. If the solution is found not to be bitter, the test panel member spits it out and waits for one minute before rinsing their mouth again with drinking water. After 10 minutes, the next dilution in order of increasing concentration is tasted.

For each test panel member, the highest dilution at which the test compound continues to cause a bitter taste sensation after 30 seconds is taken as their individual threshold bitter concentration. The bitterness value of the test compound results from calculating an average of the individual threshold bitter concentrations of all the test panel members.

As described briefly above, an aerosol-generating article in accordance with the present invention comprises an aerosol-generating substrate and an upstream section positioned upstream of the aerosol-generating substrate and extending from an upstream end of the aerosol-generating substrate all the way to an upstream end of the aerosol-generating article. The upstream section comprises an aversive agent.

The aversive agent may comprise a pungent agent or a bittering agent or both.

In preferred embodiments, the aversive agent is a bittering agent.

The aversive agent may, in particular, have a bitterness value of at least 500,000. Preferably, the aversive agent has a bitterness value of at least 1 ,000,000. More preferably, the aversive agent has a bitterness value of at least 2,500,000. Even more preferably, the aversive agent has a bitterness value of at least 5,000,000.

In particularly preferred embodiments, the aversive agent has a bitterness value of at least 10,000,000. More preferably, the aversive agent has a bitterness value of at least 25,000,000. Even more preferably, the aversive agent has a bitterness value of at least 50,000,000.

Denatonium benzoate is generally considered to be the most bitter compound known, its bitterness value being estimated at over 100,000,000. The following Table lists some known bittering agents with the respective bitterness values.

Table 1

In preferred embodiments, the aversive agent is selected from the group consisting of denatonium benzoate, columbin, amarogentin, quassin, absinthin, quinine hydrochloride, and combinations thereof. For example, denatonium benzoate is commercially available under the trade name Bitrex®.

In an aerosol-generating article in accordance with the present invention, the aversive agent may be provided in a concentration of at least 1 part per million relative to the overall weight of the aerosol-generating article. Preferably, the aversive agent is provided in a concentration of at least 2 parts per million relative to the overall weight of the aerosolgenerating article. More preferably, the aversive agent is provided in a concentration of at least 5 parts per million relative to the overall weight of the aerosol-generating article.

In preferred embodiments, the aversive agent is provided in a concentration of at least 10 parts per million relative to the overall weight of the aerosol-generating article. Preferably, the aversive agent is provided in a concentration of at least 25 parts per million relative to the overall weight of the aerosol-generating article. More preferably, the aversive agent is provided in a concentration of at least 50 parts per million relative to the overall weight of the aerosol-generating article.

In an aerosol-generating article in accordance with the present invention, the aversive agent may be provided in a concentration of less than or equal to 250 parts per million relative to the overall weight of the aerosol-generating article. Preferably, the aversive agent may be provided in a concentration of less than or equal to 200 parts per million relative to the overall weight of the aerosol-generating article. More preferably, the aversive agent may be provided in a concentration of less than or equal to 150 parts per million relative to the overall weight of the aerosol-generating article.

In some embodiments, the aversive agent may be provided in a concentration of from 2 parts per million to 250 parts per million relative to the overall weight of the aerosolgenerating article, preferably from 5 parts per million to 250 parts per million relative to the overall weight of the aerosol-generating article, more preferably from 10 parts per million to 250 parts per million relative to the overall weight of the aerosol-generating article, even more preferably from 25 parts per million to 250 parts per million relative to the overall weight of the aerosol-generating article, most preferably from 50 parts per million to 250 parts per million relative to the overall weight of the aerosol-generating article.

In other embodiments, the aversive agent may be provided in a concentration of from 2 parts per million to 200 parts per million relative to the overall weight of the aerosolgenerating article, preferably from 5 parts per million to 200 parts per million relative to the overall weight of the aerosol-generating article, more preferably from 10 parts per million to 200 parts per million relative to the overall weight of the aerosol-generating article, even more preferably from 25 parts per million to 200 parts per million relative to the overall weight of the aerosol-generating article, most preferably from 50 parts per million to 200 parts per million relative to the overall weight of the aerosol-generating article.

In further embodiments, the aversive agent may be provided in a concentration of from 2 parts per million to 100 parts per million relative to the overall weight of the aerosolgenerating article, preferably from 5 parts per million to 100 parts per million relative to the overall weight of the aerosol-generating article, more preferably from 10 parts per million to 100 parts per million relative to the overall weight of the aerosol-generating article, even more preferably from 25 parts per million to 100 parts per million relative to the overall weight of the aerosol-generating article, most preferably from 50 parts per million to 100 parts per million relative to the overall weight of the aerosol-generating article.

In an aerosol-generating article in accordance with the present invention, an overall amount of the aversive agent may be at least 0.5 micrograms. Preferably, an overall amount of the aversive agent is at least 0.75 micrograms. More preferably, an overall amount of the aversive agent is at least 1.0 micrograms. Even more preferably, an overall amount of the aversive agent is at least 1.5 micrograms. In particularly preferred embodiments, an overall amount of the aversive agent is at least 2 micrograms, preferably at least 2.5 micrograms, more preferably at least 2.7 micrograms.

In an aerosol-generating article in accordance with the present invention, an overall amount of the aversive agent may be less than or equal to 50 micrograms. Preferably, an overall amount of the aversive agent is less than or equal to 45 micrograms. More preferably, an overall amount of the aversive agent is less than or equal to 40 micrograms. Even more preferably, an overall amount of the aversive agent is less than or equal to 35 micrograms. In particularly preferred embodiments, an overall amount of the aversive agent is less than or equal to 30 micrograms, preferably less than or equal to 28 micrograms, more preferably less than or equal to 27 micrograms.

In some embodiments, an overall amount of the aversive agent in the aerosolgenerating article is from 0.5 micrograms to 50 micrograms, preferably from 0.75 micrograms to 50 micrograms, more preferably from 1.0 micrograms to 50 micrograms, even more preferably from 1.5 micrograms to 50 micrograms, and particularly preferably from 2.0 micrograms to 50 micrograms or 2.5 micrograms to 50 micrograms or 2.7 micrograms to 50 micrograms.

In other embodiments, an overall amount of the aversive agent in the aerosolgenerating article is from 0.5 micrograms to 45 micrograms, preferably from 0.75 micrograms to 45 micrograms, more preferably from 1.0 micrograms to 45 micrograms, even more preferably from 1.5 micrograms to 45 micrograms, and particularly preferably from 2.0 micrograms to 45 micrograms or 2.5 micrograms to 45 micrograms or 2.7 micrograms to 45 micrograms.

In further embodiments, an overall amount of the aversive agent in the aerosolgenerating article is from 0.5 micrograms to 40 micrograms, preferably from 0.75 micrograms to 40 micrograms, more preferably from 1.0 micrograms to 40 micrograms, even more preferably from 1.5 micrograms to 40 micrograms, and particularly preferably from 2.0 micrograms to 40 micrograms or 2.5 micrograms to 40 micrograms or 2.7 micrograms to 40 micrograms.

In yet further embodiments, an overall amount of the aversive agent in the aerosolgenerating article is from 0.5 micrograms to 35 micrograms, preferably from 0.75 micrograms to 35 micrograms, more preferably from 1.0 micrograms to 35 micrograms, even more preferably from 1.5 micrograms to 35 micrograms, and particularly preferably from 2.0 micrograms to 35 micrograms or 2.5 micrograms to 35 micrograms or 2.7 micrograms to 35 micrograms.

In another group of embodiments, an overall amount of the aversive agent in the aerosol-generating article is from 0.5 micrograms to 30 micrograms, preferably from 0.75 micrograms to 30 micrograms, more preferably from 1.0 micrograms to 30 micrograms, even more preferably from 1.5 micrograms to 30 micrograms, and particularly preferably from 2.0 micrograms to 30 micrograms or 2.5 micrograms to 30 micrograms or 2.7 micrograms to 30 micrograms.

In a further group of embodiments, an overall amount of the aversive agent in the aerosol-generating article is from 0.5 micrograms to 27 micrograms, preferably from 0.75 micrograms to 27 micrograms, more preferably from 1.0 micrograms to 27 micrograms, even more preferably from 1.5 micrograms to 27 micrograms, and particularly preferably from 2.0 micrograms to 27 micrograms or 2.5 micrograms to 27 micrograms or 2.7 micrograms to 27 micrograms. In an aerosol-generating article in accordance with the present invention, the aversive agent is preferably provided on a solid aversive component. As will be described in more detail below, this may advantageously facilitate manufacturing of the aerosol-generating article, since the solid aversive component carrying the aversive agent may even be assembled at a different location, and incorporated into the aerosol-generating article using conventional article manufacturing techniques.

More preferably, the aversive component comprises a substrate, the aversive agent being absorbed on the substrate. Even more preferably, the substrate is a thread substrate, the aversive agent being absorbed in the thread substrate. Methods and apparatus for incorporating a thread substrate - such as, for example, a flavoured thread - into an aerosolgenerating article are known to the skilled person, and so providing the aversive component absorbed in a thread substrate may facilitate manufacture of aerosol-generating articles in accordance with the present invention without requiring extensive modifications to the existing equipment or to procedures already in place.

Additionally, depending on a binding affinity between the thread and the absorbed aversive agent, the thread may be configured to substantially prevent migration of the aversive agent from the thread. This is beneficial in that it lessens the risk that some of the aversive agent may transfer from one aerosol-generating article to another, such as for example within the same packet. Further, it may also contribute to prevent release even of trace amounts of the aversive agent from the thread during normal use of the aerosol-generating article, which may otherwise have a less than desirable impact on the quality of the aerosol delivered to the consumer.

The thread substrate preferably comprises cotton yarn.

In certain embodiments, the thread substrate is generally aligned with the longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generating article.

The upstream section may further comprise a plug. The plug may be circumscribed by a wrapping paper. The plug may be porous or substantially air-impermeable. For example, the plug may be made of a filtration material that has been compressed to the point that it is substantially air-impermeable. As an alternative, the plug may be made of an air-impermeable material, such as a silicone polymeric material.

In preferred embodiments, the upstream section comprises a plug circumscribed by a wrapping paper.

Preferably, the aversive agent is embedded in the plug of the upstream section. For example, as discussed above, the aversive agent may be provided on a solid aversive component and the solid aversive component may be embedded in the plug of the upstream section. One such arrangement has the benefit that the aversive agent may be maintained away from the airflow pathway. As such, during use of the aerosol-generating article the flow of aerosol being generated cannot come into contact with the aversive agent, such that no aversive agent is delivered to the consumer with the aerosol.

Further, because the aversive agent is kept at a distance from an outer surface of the upstream section, accidental transfer of the aversive agent to the fingers of the consumer when the consumer holds or uses the aerosol-generating article is advantageously prevented.

The plug of the upstream section may comprise any material suitable for use in an aerosol-generating article. In some embodiments, the plug of filtration material of the upstream section comprises at least one of cellulose acetate fibres, polylactic acid fibres, polyhydroxybutyrate fibres, and polyhydroxyalkanoate fibres.

The plug of the upstream section may have a length of at least 2 millimetres. Preferably, the plug of the upstream section has a length of at least 3 millimetres. More preferably, the plug of the upstream section has a length of at least 4 millimetres. Even more preferably, the plug of the upstream section has a length of at least 5 millimetres.

The plug of the upstream section may have a length of less than or equal to 15 millimetres. Preferably, the plug of the upstream section has a length of less than or equal to 12 millimetres. More preferably, the plug of the upstream section has a length of less than or equal to 10 millimetres. Even more preferably, the plug of the upstream section has a length of less than or equal to 7 millimetres.

In some embodiments, the plug of the upstream section has a length of from 2 millimetres to 12 millimetres, preferably from 3 millimetres to 12 millimetres, more preferably from 4 millimetres to 12 millimetres, even more preferably from 5 millimetres to 12 millimetres. In other embodiments, the plug of the upstream section has a length of from 2 millimetres to 10 millimetres, preferably from 3 millimetres to 10 millimetres, more preferably from 4 millimetres to 10 millimetres, even more preferably from 5 millimetres to 10 millimetres. In further embodiments, the plug of the upstream section has a length of from 2 millimetres to 7 millimetres, preferably from 3 millimetres to 7 millimetres, more preferably from 4 millimetres to 7 millimetres, even more preferably from 5 millimetres to 7 millimetres.

The plug of the upstream section may have an external diameter substantially equal to an external diameter of the upstream section of the aerosol-generating article. In turn, the external diameter of the upstream section of the aerosol-generating article may be substantially equal to an external diameter of the aerosol-generating article.

The plug of the upstream section may have an external diameter of at least 4 millimetres. Preferably, the plug of the upstream section has an external diameter of at least 5 millimetres. The plug may have an external diameter of less than or equal to 9 millimetres. Preferably, the plug of the upstream section has an external diameter of less than or equal to 8 millimetres.

In some embodiments, the plug of the upstream section has an external diameter of from 4 millimetres to 9 millimetres, preferably from 5 millimetres to 9 millimetres. In other embodiments, the plug of the upstream section has an external diameter of from 4 millimetres to 8 millimetres, preferably from 5 millimetres to 8 millimetres.

A resistance to draw (RTD) of the plug of the upstream section will depend on several parameters, including the porosity of the material of which the plug is made and the geometry of the plug (e.g. cross-sectional area, length). As will be discussed in more detail below, in certain embodiments the plug may be provided in the form of a hollow body and define an internal airflow channel that extends through the plug from an upstream end of the plug to a downstream end of the plug. In such embodiments, an RTD of the plug will generally be very low - if not null - as airflow through the plug will occur primarily - if not entirely - through the internal airflow channel.

By contrast, in other embodiments wherein the plug is a solid (that is, not hollow) body, such as for example a solid plug made of a porous material, then an RTD of the plug may generally be higher and may vary more significantly with the length of the plug and the porosity of the material of which the plug is made. This is because airflow will occur generally across the whole cross-section of the plug rather than along a preferential pathway.

In certain embodiments, the plug of the upstream section comprises cellulose acetate. Preferably, the plug of the upstream section comprises cellulose acetate that has been crimped, fluffed, and has had plasticiser applied on it. In other embodiments, the cellulose acetate may be at least partly replaced by other fibres suitable for use in an aerosol-generating article, such as PHA-PBA fibres, PLA fibres, etc. As mentioned before, in certain embodiments, the upstream section further comprises a predefined airflow channel extending through the plug from an upstream end of the plug to a downstream end of the plug. In these embodiments, the aversive agent is embedded in the plug at a location away from the airflow channel. Preferably, where the plug of the upstream section comprises cellulose acetate, the cellulose acetate may be further compressed around the predefined airflow channel. This is advantageously understood to further increase the resistance to draw (RTD) associated with the portion of the plug formed of filtration material relative to the predefined airflow channel, which thus comes to provide a preferential pathway, such that a resistance to draw (RTD) of the plug is negligible or substantially null.

The resistance to draw (RTD) of an aerosol-generating article or of a component thereof, such as a plug of filtration material, may be assessed as the negative pressure that has to be applied to a downstream end of the article or component in order to sustain a steady volumetric flow of air of 17.5 ml/s through the article or component. The skilled person may find further details about the measurement method, test conditions, and so forth in ISO 6565:2015 (2015).

Controlling the resistance to draw of the plug of the upstream section may be beneficial since, as will be described in more detail below, establishing a certain resistance to draw differential between the plug of the upstream section and the remainder of the aerosolgenerating article (in particular, the downstream section) contributes to preventing the aversive agent from being directly exposed to the aerosol airflow pathway, which is understood to help prevent even trace amounts of the aversive agent from being delivered to the consumer with the aerosol. This aspect is of course particularly significant in those embodiments wherein the plug of the upstream section comprises a predefined airflow channel extending through the plug from an upstream end of the plug to a downstream end of the plug. From a practical viewpoint, control over the resistance to draw of one such hollow plug may be achieved by adjusting an equivalent diameter of the predefined airflow channel.

Preferably, the upstream section further comprises a hollow tubular element defining the airflow channel. In some embodiments, the hollow tubular element is provided in the form of a cardboard tube.

In embodiments wherein the upstream section comprises a hollow tubular element defining the airflow channel, an inner surface of a peripheral wall of the hollow tubular element delimits the airflow channel. As such, the peripheral wall of the hollow tubular element may further act as a physical barrier between the aversive agent in the body of the plug and the airflow pathway. As used herein, the term “hollow tubular element” is used to denote a generally elongate element defining a lumen or airflow passage along a longitudinal axis thereof. In particular, the term "tubular" is used with reference to an element having a substantially cylindrical cross-section and defining at least one airflow conduit establishing an uninterrupted fluid communication between an upstream end of the tubular element and a downstream end of the tubular element. However, it will be understood that alternative geometries (for example, alternative cross-sectional shapes) of the tubular element may be possible.

In the context of the present invention a hollow tubular element provides an unrestricted flow channel. This means that the hollow tubular element provides a negligible level of RTD. This has the benefit that any airflow through the plug is substantially prevented, due to the differential in RTD between the hollow tubular element and the surrounding material forming the body of the plug. As a result, the aversive agent - be it contained in an aversive component or more generally provided within the material of the body of the plug - is efficiently kept away from the mainstream airflow pathway at all times.

Additionally, by adjusting an internal diameter of the hollow tubular element and, therefore, a diameter of airflow channel, an RTD of the airflow channel extending through the plug can be controlled and, in particular, set to a very low, if not substantially null, value.

A diameter of the airflow channel extending through the plug may be at least 30 percent of the external diameter of the upstream section of the aerosol-generating article. Preferably, a diameter of the airflow channel extending through the plug is at least 35 percent of the external diameter of the upstream section of the aerosol-generating article. More preferably, a diameter of the airflow channel extending through the plug is at least 40 percent of the external diameter of the upstream section of the aerosol-generating article. Even more preferably, a diameter of the airflow channel extending through the plug is at least 45 percent of the external diameter of the upstream section of the aerosol-generating article. In some particularly preferred embodiments, a diameter of the airflow channel extending through the plug is at least 50 percent of the external diameter of the upstream section of the aerosolgenerating article or at least 55 percent of the external diameter of the upstream section of the aerosol-generating article or at least 60 percent of the external diameter of the upstream section of the aerosol-generating article.

A diameter of the airflow channel extending through the plug may be less than or equal to 90 percent of the external diameter of the upstream section of the aerosol-generating article, preferably less than or equal to 80 percent of the external diameter of the upstream section of the aerosol-generating article, more preferably less than or equal to 70 percent of the external diameter of the upstream section of the aerosol-generating article. In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating article further comprises at least one ventilation zone downstream of the upstream section to allow air to enter the aerosolgenerating article.

The admission of ventilation air into the aerosol-generating article has a plurality of beneficial effects. For example, a flow of ventilation air admitted into the downstream section of the article - that is, admitted into the aerosol-generating article at a location downstream of the aerosol-generating substrate - may rapidly cool down the volatilised species released from the aerosol-generating substrate upon heating. This has been observed to have a favourable impact on nucleation and growth of aerosol particles, such that aerosol delivery to the consumer may be enhanced. At the same time, the temperature of the aerosol delivered to the consumer may be advantageously lowered to a desirable value without the need to include in the downstream section an aerosol-cooling element providing a large specific surface area for heat exchange or a material with a significant heat capacity.

In the context of the present invention, the admission of ventilation air into the aerosolgenerating article downstream of the upstream section has the added benefit that an overall RTD of aerosol-generating substrate and downstream section is significantly lower than an RTD of the upstream section. For example, where a ventilation zone is provided downstream of the upstream section, an overall RTD of aerosol-generating substrate and downstream section is significantly lower than an RTD of the body of the upstream plug wherein the aversive agent or aversive component is embedded. As such, the provision of a ventilation zone downstream of the upstream plug - be it in addition, or as an alternative, to the provision of a predefined airflow channel extending through the plug as described above - has the effect of substantially preventing airflow through the plug of filtration material due to the differential in RTD between the upstream section and the remainder of the aerosol-generating article. Thus, the aversive agent may be conveniently kept away from the mainstream airflow pathway at all times.

The aerosol-generating article may typically have a ventilation level of at least about 10 percent, preferably at least about 20 percent.

The term “ventilation level” is used throughout the present specification to denote a volume ratio between the airflow admitted into the aerosol-generating article via the ventilation zone (ventilation airflow) and the sum of the aerosol airflow and the ventilation airflow. The greater the ventilation level, the higher the dilution of the flow ultimately delivered to the consumer.

In preferred embodiments, the aerosol-generating article has a ventilation level of at least about 30 percent. More preferably, the aerosol-generating article has a ventilation level of at least about 35 percent. In addition, or as an alternative, the aerosol-generating article preferably has a ventilation level of less than about 60 percent. More preferably, the aerosolgenerating article has a ventilation level of less than about 50 percent. In particularly preferred embodiments, the aerosol-generating article has a ventilation level from about 30 percent to about 60 percent. More preferably, the aerosol-generating article has a ventilation level from about 35 percent to about 50 percent. In some particularly preferred embodiments, the aerosol-generating article has a ventilation level of about 40 percent.

Without wishing to be bound by theory, the inventors have found that the temperature drop caused by the admission of cooler, external air into the aerosol-generating article via the ventilation zone may have an advantageous effect on the nucleation and growth of aerosol particles. Additionally, providing a ventilation zone configured to admit into the article a ventilation airflow leading to a ventilation level within the ranges described above may result in an RTD differential between the upstream section and the remainder of the aerosolgenerating article that ensures a good separation between the aversive agent and the mainstream airflow path at all times.

In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating substrate may be in the form of an aerosol-generating rod. The aerosol-generating rod may comprise a susceptor element, wherein the susceptor element is thermally coupled with the aerosol-generating substrate. In more detail, this may be achieved by having the susceptor element extend longitudinally within the aerosol-generating rod and be embedded within the aerosol-generating substrate.

By way of example, the aerosol-generating rod may comprise a sheet of homogenised tobacco material gathered to form a rod extending along a longitudinal axis of the aerosolgenerating article. The susceptor element may be embedded within the gathered sheet of homogenised tobacco material. As an alternative, the aerosol-generating rod may comprise a cut filler obtained by cutting tobacco leaf material or a reconstituted or homogenised tobacco material. The susceptor element may be embedded within the cut filler, for example such as to be surrounded by cut filler.

The aerosol-generating substrate preferably comprises one or more aerosol formers. Upon volatilisation, an aerosol former can convey other vaporised compounds released from the first aerosol-generating substrate upon heating, such as for example nicotine and flavourants, in an aerosol. Suitable aerosol formers for inclusion in the aerosol-generating substrate are known in the art and include, but are not limited to: polyhydric alcohols, such as triethylene glycol, propylene glycol, 1 ,3-butanediol and glycerol; esters of polyhydric alcohols, such as glycerol mono-, di- or triacetate; and aliphatic esters of mono-, di- or polycarboxylic acids, such as dimethyl dodecanedioate and dimethyl tetradecanedioate. The aerosol-generating substrate may have an aerosol former content of between about 5 percent and about 30 percent by weight on a dry weight basis.

Preferably, the aerosol-generating substrate has an aerosol former content of at least about 10 percent by weight on a dry weight basis, more preferably at least about 15 percent by weight on a dry weight basis.

The aerosol-generating substrate has preferably an aerosol former content of less than or equal to about 25 percent by weight on a dry weight basis, more preferably less than or equal to about 20 percent by weight on a dry weight basis.

In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating substrate has an aerosol former content from 5 percent to 25 percent by weight on a dry weight basis, preferably from 10 percent to 25 percent by weight on a dry weight basis, more preferably from 15 percent to 25 percent by weight on a dry weight basis. In other embodiments, the aerosol-generating substrate has an aerosol former content from 5 percent to 20 percent by weight on a dry weight basis, preferably from 10 percent to 20 percent by weight on a dry weight basis, more preferably from 15 percent to 20 percent by weight on a dry weight basis.

These relatively high levels of aerosol former are particularly suitable for an aerosolgenerating substrate that is intended to be heated at a temperature of less than 275 degrees Celsius.

The downstream section may comprise one or more elements.

In some embodiment, the downstream section may comprise a support element positioned downstream of the aerosol-generating substrate. For example, the support element may be provided immediately downstream of the aerosol-generating substrate, and preferably in abutting arrangement with the aerosol-generating substrate. The support element may for example be in the form of a plug of cellulose acetate. The support element may be hollow. In some embodiments, the support element may be circumscribed by its own plug wrap.

The downstream section may comprise an aerosol-cooling element positioned downstream of the aerosol-generating substrate. The aerosol-cooling element may be provided immediately downstream of the aerosol-generating substrate. Alternatively, another element may be provided between the aerosol-generating substrate and the aerosol-cooling element. For example, a support element as described above may be positioned between the aerosol-generating substrate and the aerosol-cooling element. In such case, all three elements may be arranged in abutting relationship along the longitudinal axis of the aerosolgenerating article. In certain embodiments, an aerosol-cooling element may be provided in the form of a hollow tubular element comprising, and a ventilation zone as described above may be arranged at a location along the hollow tubular element of the aerosol-cooling element, and configured to enable ingress of air from the outer environment when a consumer draws upon the aerosol-generating article. In some embodiments, the aerosol-cooling element may be circumscribed by its own plug wrap. In other embodiments, the aerosol-cooling element and a support element upstream of the aerosol-cooling element may be combined and circumscribed by a single plug wrap.

The downstream section may comprise a mouthpiece element. The mouthpiece element may be positioned at the downstream end of the aerosol-generating article, and therefore not only downstream of the aerosol-generating substrate, but also downstream of any other one of the optional elements of the downstream section. The mouthpiece element extends all the way to the mouth end of the aerosol-generating article.

Preferably, the mouthpiece element comprises at least one mouthpiece filter segment of a fibrous filtration material. Suitable fibrous filtration materials would be known to the skilled person. Particularly preferably, the at least one mouthpiece filter segment comprises a cellulose acetate filter segment formed of cellulose acetate tow.

In certain embodiments of the invention, the downstream section may comprise a mouth end cavity at the downstream end, downstream of a mouthpiece filter segment as described above. The mouth end cavity may be defined by a hollow tubular element provided at the downstream end of the mouthpiece. The mouth end cavity may be defined by the outer wrapper of the mouthpiece element, wherein the outer wrapper extends in a downstream direction from the mouthpiece element.

The mouthpiece element may optionally comprise a flavourant, which may be provided in any suitable form. For example, the mouthpiece element may comprise one or more capsules, beads or granules of a flavourant, or one or more flavour loaded threads or filaments.

Preferably, the mouthpiece element has a low particulate filtration efficiency.

Preferably, the mouthpiece is formed of a segment of a fibrous filtration material.

In some embodiments, the mouthpiece element is circumscribed by its own plug wrap.

In any one of the embodiments described above, the aerosol-generating article may further comprise an outer wrapping paper, the outer wrapping paper including an impermeable coating to prevent aversive agent from migrating to the outer surface of the aerosol-generating article. This is beneficial in that it provides a further barrier layer between the aversive component and the consumer during regular use or any manipulation of the aerosol- generating article. At the same time, the use of a paper wrapper makes it possible for the aversive agent to reach a consumer in case of inadvertent ingestion of the article, and so forth.

As described briefly above, an aerosol-generating system in accordance with the present invention comprises a heating device and an aerosol-generating article in line with the foregoing description.

Thus, the present invention also relates to an aerosol-generating system comprising one such heating device, such as an electrically heated aerosol-generating device, and an aerosol-generating article.

Examples of suitable aerosol-generating devices will be known to the person of skill in the art. In general, suitable aerosol-generating devices will comprise a cavity (that is, a heating chamber) for receiving the aerosol-generating article, and one or more heating elements to supply heat to the aerosol-generating substrate.

For example, the one or more heating elements may comprise one or more inductor elements adapted to generate a fluctuating electromagnetic field within the cavity, if the aerosol-generating article comprises a susceptor element embedded within the aerosolgenerating substrate.

Alternatively, the one or more heating elements may comprise one or more resistively heatable elements arranged at or about the periphery of the heating chamber at a location facing the aerosol-generating substrate when the aerosol-generating article is received within the heating chamber.

These heating arrangements are such that, during use, heat is supplied selectively to the aerosol-generating substrate, whilst at the same time only negligible amounts of heat - or substantially no heat - are supplied to the upstream section.

Additionally, a suitable aerosol-generating device will typically comprise an electrical power supply connected to the one or more inductor elements or resistively heatable elements; and a control element configured to control the supply of power from the power supply to the one or more inductor elements or resistively heatable elements.

Preferably, the aerosol-generating device is a portable or handheld aerosol-generating device that is comfortable for a user to hold between the fingers of a single hand.

The aerosol-generating device may be substantially cylindrical in shape

The aerosol-generating device may have a length of between approximately 70 millimetres and approximately 120 millimetres.

The power supply may be any suitable power supply, for example a DC voltage source such as a battery. In one embodiment, the power supply is a Lithium-ion battery. The control element may be a simple switch. Alternatively the control element may be electric circuitry and may comprise one or more microprocessors or microcontrollers.

Features described in relation to one or more aspects may equally be applied to other aspects of the invention. In particular, features described in relation to the aerosol-generating article may be equally applied to the aerosol-generating system.

The invention is defined in the claims. However, below there is provided a non- exhaustive list of non-limiting examples. Any one or more of the features of these examples may be combined with any one or more features of another example, embodiment, or aspect described herein.

Example Ex1 : An aerosol-generating article for generating an inhalable aerosol upon heating, the aerosol-generating article comprising: an aerosol-generating substrate; and a downstream section extending from a downstream end of the aerosol-generating substrate to a downstream end of the aerosol-generating article.

Example Ex2: An aerosol-generating article according to Ex1 , further comprising an upstream section extending from an upstream end of the aerosol-generating substrate to an upstream end of the aerosol-generating article; wherein the upstream section comprises an aversive agent.

Example Ex3: An aerosol-generating article according to Ex2, wherein the aversive agent is a bittering agent.

Example Ex4: An aerosol-generating article according to Ex3, wherein the aversive agent has a bitterness value of at least 10,000.

Example Ex5: An aerosol-generating article according to any one of Examples Ex2 to Ex4, wherein the aversive agent comprises at least one of denatonium benzoate (bitrex), columbin, amarogentin, quassin, absinthin, and quinine hydrochloride.

Example Ex6: An aerosol-generating article according to any one of Examples Ex2 to Ex5, wherein the aversive agent is provided in a concentration of at least 2 parts per million.

Example Ex7: An aerosol-generating article according to any one of Examples Ex2 to Ex6, wherein the aversive agent is provided on a solid aversive component.

Example Ex8: An aerosol-generating article according to Ex7, wherein the aversive component comprises a substrate, the aversive agent being absorbed on the substrate.

Example Ex9: An aerosol-generating article according to Ex8, wherein the substrate is a thread substrate, the aversive agent being absorbed in the thread substrate.

Example Ex10: An aerosol-generating article according to Ex9, wherein the thread substrate comprises cotton yarn. Example Ex11 : An aerosol-generating article according to Ex8 or Ex9, wherein the thread substrate is generally aligned with the longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generating article.

Example Ex12: An aerosol-generating article according to any one of the preceding Examples, wherein the aerosol-generating article comprises at least one ventilation zone downstream of the upstream section to allow air to enter the aerosol-generating article.

Example Ex13: An aerosol-generating article according to any one of the preceding Examples, wherein the upstream section further comprises a plug circumscribed by a wrapping paper.

Example Ex14: An aerosol-generating article according to Ex13, wherein the aversive component is embedded in the plug of the upstream section.

Example Ex15: An aerosol-generating article according to Examples Ex13 or Ex14, wherein the plug of the upstream section comprises at least one of cellulose acetate fibres, polylactic acid fibres, polyhydroxybutyrate fibres, and polyhydroxyalkanoate fibres.

Example Ex 16: An aerosol-generating article according to any one of the preceding Examples, wherein the upstream section further comprises an airflow channel extending through the plug from the upstream end of the plug to the downstream end of the plug.

Example Ex17: An aerosol-generating article according to Ex16, wherein the upstream section further comprises a tube defining the airflow channel.

Example Ex18: An aerosol-generating article according to Ex17, wherein the tube is a cardboard tube.

Example Ex19: An aerosol-generating article according to any one of Ex16 to Ex18, wherein the diameter of the airflow channel is at least 45 percent of the total external diameter of the upstream section.

Example Ex20: An aerosol-generating article according to Ex1 , further comprising an airflow pathway through which air may enter the aerosol-generating article, pass through the aerosol-generating substrate, and exit the aerosol-generating article through the downstream section, wherein the aerosol-generating article further comprises an aversive agent, the aversive agent being provided at a location within the aerosol-generating article such that the aversive agent is not directly exposed to the airflow pathway.

Example Ex 21 : An aerosol-generating article according to any one of the preceding Examples, further comprising an outer wrapping paper, the outer wrapping paper including an impermeable coating to prevent aversive agent from migrating to the outer surface of the aerosol-generating article.

Examples will now be further described with reference to the figures in which: Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of an embodiment of an aerosol-generating article in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a schematic illustration of another embodiment of an aerosol-generating article in accordance with the present invention; and

Figure 3 is a schematic illustration of an aerosol-generating system in accordance with the present invention.

An aerosol-generating article 10 in accordance with the present invention is shown in Figure 1. The aerosol-generating article 10 shown in Figure 1 comprises a rod 12 of aerosolgenerating substrate and a downstream section 14 at a location downstream of the rod 12 of aerosol-generating substrate. Further, the aerosol-generating article 10 comprises an upstream section 16 at a location upstream of the rod 12 of aerosol-generating substrate.

A ventilation zone 60 is provided at a location downstream of the rod 12 of aerosolgenerating substrate.

In more detail, in the embodiment of Figure 1 , the downstream section 14 comprises a mouthpiece element 18 and a hollow section 20. The hollow section 20 comprises an aerosol-cooling element 22 comprising a hollow tubular element and the ventilation zone 60, which comprises a plurality of openings formed through a wall of the hollow tubular element. The aerosol-cooling element 22 is positioned immediately downstream of the rod 12 of aerosol-generating substrate. As shown in the drawing of Figure 1 , an upstream end of the aerosol-cooling element 22 abuts a downstream end of the rod 12 of aerosol-generating substrate. The mouthpiece element 18 is positioned immediately downstream of the aerosolcooling element 22. As shown in the drawing of Figure 1 , an upstream end of the mouthpiece element 18 abuts a downstream end of the aerosol-cooling element 22. The mouthpiece element 18 comprises a plug 24 of low-density filtration material.

The rod 12 comprises an aerosol-generating substrate in the form of a gathered sheet of homogenised tobacco material. However, other types of tobacco-containing substrate, such as a tobacco cut filler, can replace the gathered sheet of homogenised tobacco material.

The upstream section 16 comprises a cylindrical plug 26 of compressed and plasticised cellulose acetate circumscribed by a wrapper 28. The plug 26 of the upstream section 16 has a length of about 5 millimetres. An RTD of the plug 26 is about 100 millimetres H₂O.

Further, the upstream section 16 comprises an aversive component 50. The aversive component 28 comprises a thread substrate comprising cotton yarn and an aversive agent absorbed onto the cotton yarn. The aversive agent is a bittering agent. The bittering agent is present in an amount of from 2.7 micrograms to 27 micrograms. Because the aversive component 50 is provided within the upstream section 16, the aversive agent is advantageously kept at a distance from any surface that the consumer’s fingers may come into contact with during normal use of the aerosol-generating article. Further, because the upstream section 16 is separated from the mouth end of the aerosolgenerating article by multiple components, it is highly unlikely that the consumer’s lips or oral mucosa may even come into contact with the upstream section 16 during the normal, intended use of the aerosol-generating article.

Another example of an aerosol-generating article 100 in accordance with the present invention is shown in Figure 2. The aerosol-generating article 100 is similar to the aerosolgenerating article 10 of Figure 1 and will be described below only insofar as it differs from the aerosol-generating article 10 of Figure 1.

In the aerosol-generating article 100 the upstream section 116 comprises a hollow plug 30 of filtration material and a cardboard tube 32. The cardboard tube 32 is arranged coaxially with the hollow plug 30 of filtration material, and defines an airflow channel 34 extending through the hollow plug 30 from an upstream end of the hollow plug 30 to a downstream end of the hollow plug 30. An internal diameter of the cardboard tube 32 is about 55 percent of an outer diameter of the upstream section 116.

Further, the upstream section 116 comprises an aversive component 50 embedded within the filtration material of the hollow plug 30. Like in the aerosol-generating article 10 of Figure 1 , the aversive component 28 comprises a thread substrate comprising cotton yarn and an aversive agent absorbed onto the cotton yarn. The aversive component 50 extends longitudinally along the hollow plug 30, at a distance from both a periphery of the hollow plug 30 and a wall of the cardboard tube 32. Thus, the aversive component 28 is isolated from the airflow channel 34. Additionally, the aversive component 50 is advantageously kept at a distance from any surface that the consumer’s fingers may come into contact with during normal use of the aerosol-generating article.

The aerosol-generating article 100 further comprises a susceptor element 70 provided within the rod 12 of aerosol-generating substrate. In more detail, the susceptor element 70 is elongate and extends longitudinally within the rod 12, such as to be thermally coupled with the aerosol-generating substrate. No ventilation zone is provided downstream of the rod 12 of aerosol-generating substrate.

Figure 3 illustrates an aerosol-generating system 200 comprising an exemplary aerosol-generating device 1 and the aerosol-generating article 100 of Figure 2.

The aerosol-generating device 200 comprises a housing (or body) 40. The housing 40 comprises a peripheral wall 42 and an end wall 44. The peripheral wall 40 defines a device cavity for receiving an aerosol-generating article 100. The device cavity is defined by a closed, distal end and an open, mouth end. The mouth end of the device cavity is located at the mouth end of the aerosol-generating device 1. The aerosol-generating article 10 is configured to be received through the mouth end of the device cavity and is configured to abut a closed end of the device cavity.

A device airflow inlet 46 is defined within the end wall 44. Air may be admitted into the upstream section 116 of the aerosol-generating article via the device airflow inlet 46. At the same time, because a diameter of the device airflow inlet 46 is smaller than the diameter of the cardboard tube 32, the end wall 44 effectively occludes an end surface of the hollow plug 30. As such, a fluid communication is established between an exterior of the aerosolgenerating device 200 and the rod 12 of aerosol-generating substrate, while airflow into the hollow plug 30 is disabled.

The aerosol-generating device 200 further comprises a heater element in the form of an inductor coil 48 adapted to induce a current in the susceptor element 70. The aerosolgenerating device 200 further comprises a power source (not shown) for supplying power to the heater element. A controller (not shown) is also provided to control such supply of power to the heater element. The heater element is configured to controllably heat the aerosolgenerating substrate within the rod 12 during use, when the aerosol-generating article 100 is received within the device 200.

For the purpose of the present description and of the appended claims, except where otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing amounts, quantities, percentages, and so forth, are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term "about". Also, all ranges include the maximum and minimum points disclosed and include any intermediate ranges therein, which may or may not be specifically enumerated herein. In this context, therefore, a number A is understood as A ± 5 percent of A. Within this context, a number A may be considered to include numerical values that are within general standard error for the measurement of the property that the number A modifies. The number A, in some instances as used in the appended claims, may deviate by the percentages enumerated above provided that the amount by which A deviates does not materially affect the basic and novel characteristic(s) of the claimed invention. Also, all ranges include the maximum and minimum points disclosed and include any intermediate ranges therein, which may or may not be specifically enumerated herein.

Claims

1. An aerosol-generating article comprising: an aerosol-generating substrate, a downstream section extending from a downstream end of the aerosol-generating substrate to a downstream end of the aerosol-generating article; and an upstream section extending from an upstream end of the aerosol-generating substrate to an upstream end of the aerosol-generating article, wherein the upstream section comprises an aversive agent.

2. An aerosol-generating article according to claim 1 , wherein the aversive agent comprises at least one of denatonium benzoate (bitrex), columbin, amarogentin, quassin, absinthin, and quinine hydrochloride.

3. An aerosol-generating article according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the aversive agent is provided in a concentration of at least 2 parts per million.

4. An aerosol-generating article according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the aversive agent is provided on a solid aversive component.

5. An aerosol-generating article according to claim 4, wherein the aversive component comprises a substrate, the aversive agent being absorbed on the substrate.

6. An aerosol-generating article according to claim 5, wherein the substrate is a thread substrate, the aversive agent being absorbed in the thread substrate.

7. An aerosol-generating article according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one ventilation zone downstream of the upstream section to allow air to enter the aerosol-generating article.

8. An aerosol-generating article according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the upstream section further comprises a plug circumscribed by a wrapping paper.

9. An aerosol-generating article according to claim 8, wherein the aversive component is embedded in the plug of the upstream section.

10. An aerosol-generating article according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the plug of the upstream section comprises at least one of cellulose acetate fibres, polylactic acid fibres, polyhydroxybutyrate fibres, and polyhydroxyalkanoate fibres.

11. An aerosol-generating article according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the plug is a solid plug and has a resistance to draw of at least 50 millimetres H2O.

12. An aerosol-generating article according to any one of claims 8 to 11 , wherein the upstream section further comprises an airflow channel extending through the plug from the upstream end of the plug to the downstream end of the plug.

13. An aerosol-generating article according to claim 12, wherein the upstream section further comprises a tube defining the airflow channel.

14. An aerosol-generating article according to claim 12 or 13, wherein a diameter of the airflow channel is at least 45 percent of a total external diameter of the upstream section.

15. An aerosol-generating article comprising: an aerosol-generating substrate, a downstream section extending from a downstream end of the aerosol-generating substrate to a downstream end of the aerosol-generating article, and an airflow pathway through which air may enter the aerosol-generating article, pass through the aerosol-generating substrate, and exit the aerosol-generating article through the downstream section, the aerosol-generating article further comprising an aversive agent, the aversive agent being provided at a location within the aerosol-generating article such that the aversive agent is not directly exposed to the airflow pathway.