Patent Description:
Smoking articles such as cigarettes, cigars and the like burn tobacco during use to create tobacco smoke. Attempts have been made to provide alternatives to these articles that burn tobacco by creating products that release compounds without burning.

Examples of such products are heating devices which release compounds by heating, but not burning, the material. The material may be for example tobacco or other non-tobacco products, which may or may not contain nicotine. As another example, there are so-called e-cigarette devices. These devices typically contain a liquid which is heated to vaporise the liquid to produce an inhalable vapour or aerosol. The liquid may contain nicotine and/or flavourings and/or aerosol-generating substances, such as glycerol. The known e-cigarette devices typically do not contain or use tobacco.

<CIT> discloses an aerosol generating device comprising solid-liquid phase change materials positioned around a perimeter of a cavity.

<CIT> discloses a smoking article having a heat conductive capsule which upon heating ruptures to release aerosol forming material.

<CIT> discloses a device for enhancing nicotine content in a gaseous carrier.

<CIT> discloses a fragrance transmission device including a cartridge, an atomiser having a heater, and a fragrance supply unit.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided the apparatus according to claim <NUM>.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the method of claim <NUM>.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the cartridge of claim <NUM>.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the atomiser of claim <NUM>.

The dependent claims define embodiments of the invention.

Referring to <FIG>, a schematic cross section of an example of an apparatus <NUM> for generating an inhalable medium is illustrated. In broad outline, the apparatus <NUM> volatilises a liquid to form a vapour or an aerosol which passes through a solid material so as to produce an inhalable medium that contains one or more constituents derived from the material.

In this respect, first it may be noted that, in general, a vapour is a substance in the gas phase at a temperature lower than its critical temperature, which means that for example the vapour can be condensed to a liquid by increasing its pressure without reducing the temperature. On the other hand, in general, an aerosol is a colloid of fine solid particles or liquid droplets, in air or another gas. A "colloid" is a substance in which microscopically dispersed insoluble particles are suspended throughout another substance.

Returning to <FIG>, the apparatus <NUM> comprises an outer body <NUM> which houses a cartridge <NUM>, a battery <NUM>, and a mouthpiece <NUM> on which a user can draw. The cartridge <NUM> is connected to, but removable from, the battery <NUM>. At least a portion of the outer body <NUM> may be removed so as to expose the cartridge <NUM>, and hence allow installation, removal and/or replacement of the cartridge <NUM>. The cartridge <NUM> has a liquid container <NUM> for containing liquid <NUM> and a receptacle <NUM> which has received therein solid material <NUM>.

The solid material <NUM> may be for example tobacco, or other flavoured materials that may be used to create a desired taste or aroma, or other properties, such as nicotine content.

In the example of <FIG>, the receptacle <NUM> is generally cylindrical in shape and is integral to the liquid container <NUM>. The receptacle <NUM> comprises a first retainer <NUM> and a second retainer <NUM> to retain the solid material <NUM> within the receptacle <NUM>. The first and second retainers <NUM>, <NUM> are permeable so as to allow gas phase material, such as vapour or an aerosol, to pass through, but to prevent material in the solid phase, such as solid material <NUM> from passing through. For example, the first and second retainers <NUM>, <NUM> may comprise a mesh made from metal or plastic or ceramic or rubber or the like, or a permeable membrane, or simply a disc with holes running there through. In some examples, it may be useful that a retainer close to the heater <NUM>, for example the first retainer <NUM> as shown in <FIG>, is made from a heat resistant material and/or a material with high thermal conductivity. The retainers <NUM>, <NUM> may be integral to the receptacle <NUM>, and hence may be integral to the liquid container <NUM> (or cartridge <NUM>) itself. In examples where the liquid container <NUM> is removable from the apparatus <NUM>, one or more of the retainers <NUM>, <NUM>, for example the first retainer <NUM>, may be removable so as to allow access to the receptacle <NUM> and hence allow a user to add, remove, or exchange the solid material <NUM> received therein.

In the example of <FIG>, the cartridge <NUM> is arranged so that as the liquid <NUM> is volatilised so as to produce an aerosol of liquid droplets or sufficiently heated to produce a vapour, at least some and preferably all or substantially all of the aerosol or vapour passes through the solid material <NUM> for example so as to pick up flavour from the solid material <NUM>.

In this example, the liquid container <NUM> is provided generally centrally of the cartridge <NUM>. The liquid container <NUM> in the example shown is frustoconical in shape, but may have a different shape, such as conical, cylindrical, etc. The liquid container <NUM> is annular in shape and its inner wall <NUM> defines a cylindrical channel <NUM> running through the length of the liquid container <NUM> which extends from one end of the liquid container to the other. The liquid container <NUM> may be formed of rigid, watertight and airtight materials, such as metal, suitable plastics, etc..

The cartridge <NUM> is provided with a heater <NUM> and a wick (not shown) in (thermal) contact with the heater <NUM>. In this example, the heater <NUM> and the wick are provided as a single unit <NUM>, sometimes known as an "atomiser" <NUM>. In this case, where the cartridge <NUM> includes an atomiser <NUM>, such a cartridge <NUM> is often referred to as a "cartomiser" <NUM>. The orientation of the heater <NUM> is shown schematically and for example the heater <NUM> may be a coil having its longitudinal axis perpendicular or parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cartridge <NUM>. The wick (not shown) is in contact with the liquid <NUM>. This may be achieved by for example the wick (not shown) being inserted through a through hole (not shown) in an end wall <NUM> of the liquid container <NUM>. Alternatively or additionally, the end wall <NUM> may be a porous member which allows liquid to pass through from the liquid container <NUM>, and the wick (not shown) may be in contact with the porous end wall <NUM>. The end wall <NUM> may be for example in the form of a porous ceramic disk. A porous end wall <NUM> of this type helps to regulate the flow of liquid onto the wick (not shown). The wick is generally absorbent and acts to draw in liquid <NUM> from the liquid container <NUM> by capillary action (shown in <FIG> by arrows A). The wick is preferably non-woven and may be for example a cotton or wool material or the like, or a synthetic material, including for example polyester, nylon, viscose, polypropylene or the like, or a ceramic material.

In this example, the cartridge <NUM> is connected to the battery <NUM> to enable the heater <NUM> to be powered. When the heater <NUM> is powered (which may be instigated for example by the user operating a button of the apparatus <NUM> or by a puff detector of the overall apparatus, as is known per se), liquid <NUM> is drawn in from the liquid container <NUM> by the wick (shown in <FIG> as arrows A) and is heated by the heater <NUM> to volatilise or vaporise the liquid, so as to generate a flow of at least one of a vapour and an aerosol. As the user draws on the mouthpiece <NUM>, air is drawn through an air inlet (not shown). The liquid <NUM> is volatised or vaporised by the heater <NUM> into air from the air inlet (not shown) thereby to produce one of a vapour and an aerosol. The vapour or aerosol is drawn towards the first retainer <NUM> of the receptacle <NUM>, and through the solid material <NUM> as shown by arrow B. The vapour or aerosol picks up (entrains) flavour (and/or other constituents) from the solid material <NUM>. One or more constituents of the solid material <NUM> is thereby mixed with the flow of at least one of a vapour and an aerosol. In examples where the solid material <NUM> contains or includes nicotine, the vapour or aerosol may also contains nicotine entrained from that solid material. The vapour or aerosol passes through the second retainer <NUM> into the cylindrical channel <NUM> inside the length of the liquid container <NUM> as shown by arrow B, before exiting through the mouthpiece <NUM> (as shown by arrow B) for inhalation by a user. A one way valve (not shown) may be provided at or near the mouthpiece <NUM> so that the vapour or aerosol can only exit the cartridge <NUM> and cannot back-flow to the heater <NUM> or the electronics (not shown) of the apparatus <NUM>.

In this example, the solid material <NUM> is not removable from the receptacle <NUM>, and the cartridge <NUM> is disposable.

The material <NUM> is a material that may be used to impart a flavour (and/or one or more other constituents of the solid material <NUM>) to the aerosol or vapour produced from the liquid <NUM> as the aerosol or vapour passes through the material <NUM>. In some examples, the one or more constituents of the solid material <NUM> may comprise constituents inherent to the solid material itself. The material <NUM> may for example consist of or comprise tobacco. As the aerosol or vapour passes through and over the tobacco material <NUM>, the hot aerosol or vapour entrains organic and other compounds or constituents from the tobacco material that lend tobacco its organoleptic properties, thus imparting the flavour to the aerosol or vapour as it passes to the mouthpiece <NUM>. It will be understood however that materials other than tobacco may be used to impart different flavours (and/or one or more other constituents) to the aerosol or vapour stream. The one or more constituents of the solid material <NUM> may comprise constituents added to the solid material <NUM>. For example, flavourants could be included in the material or in the liquid. In addition, where the material <NUM> is or includes tobacco, it may be that the aerosol or vapour stream draws sufficient nicotine from the tobacco material <NUM>.

Alternatively or additionally, where the material <NUM> does not contain any tobacco, nicotine may be provided in the liquid <NUM>. Accordingly, where it is intended that the apparatus <NUM> provides nicotine for the user, the nicotine may be provided in the liquid <NUM>, may be obtained from the material <NUM> in the case that the material is or includes tobacco, or any combination of these. Likewise, flavourings may be added to the material <NUM> (whether or not the material is or includes tobacco) and/or to the liquid <NUM>. The solid material <NUM> may itself be a mixture of solid materials, one or more of each comprising one or more constituents that can be mixed with the flow of vapour or aerosol. It will be appreciated that the solid material <NUM> may comprise one or more other constituents that are not entrained into the aerosol or vapour passing there through.

In this example, the receptacle <NUM>, and hence the solid material <NUM> received therein, is adjacent to the heater <NUM>.

The placement of the receptacle <NUM> and hence the material <NUM> adjacent to the heater <NUM> allows the material <NUM> to be heated by the residual heat of the heater <NUM>. For example, the heater <NUM> may heat the receptacle <NUM> and the material <NUM> received therein via radiation (in particular infrared radiation) emitted by the heater <NUM> (or components thereof) falling directly on the receptacle <NUM> (or a portion thereof) or a retainer <NUM> of the receptacle <NUM>, or directly on the solid material <NUM> itself (for example via perforations in the retainer <NUM>). The heater <NUM> may alternatively or additionally heat the receptacle <NUM> and the material <NUM> received therein by thermal conduction from the heater <NUM> (and/or any surrounding components thereof) to the receptacle <NUM>. The thermal conduction to the receptacle <NUM> may be via intermediate components between the heater <NUM> and the receptacle <NUM>. It may be preferable that the receptacle <NUM> and/or components between the receptacle <NUM> and the heater <NUM> (for example, the retainer <NUM>) comprise good thermal conductors, for example, copper or other metals, non-metals such as graphene or other carbon based materials. There may also be provided a dedicated thermal conduction component (not shown) connecting the heater or a component thereof to the receptacle or directly to the solid material <NUM> to ensure good thermal conduction of heat from the heater <NUM> to the receptacle <NUM> and/or the material <NUM> received therein. The receptacle <NUM>, being heated by the heater <NUM>, in turn heats the solid material <NUM> received therein by for example, thermal conduction, radiation, convection, or any combination thereof. In this case, the heater <NUM> heats the material <NUM> via the receptacle <NUM>.

The material <NUM> being heated by the heater <NUM> encourages release of constituents from the material <NUM>. In the example that the material <NUM> is or comprises tobacco, heating of the tobacco (for example above ambient temperature) increases the release of volatile constituents of the tobacco, thereby increasing the level of flavour imparted to, for example, vapour and/or aerosol passing there through. The heating of the material <NUM> by the heater <NUM> that volatises the liquid <NUM> reduces a need to provide a separate, dedicated, heater to heat the material <NUM>, and hence the electricity required to power the device may be reduced, and hence battery life may be preserved.

Moreover, vapour or aerosol adjacent to the heater may have a temperature higher than vapour or aerosol that has travelled away from the heater. The temperature of the vapour or aerosol adjacent to the heater may therefore be higher than the ambient temperature of the material <NUM>. The receptacle <NUM> and hence the material <NUM> being placed adjacent to the heater <NUM> may therefore allow the vapour or aerosol passing through the solid material to contribute to the heating of the solid material <NUM>. This may improve release of constituents from the solid material <NUM> into the vapour or aerosol passing there through.

In the above example, the receptacle <NUM> formed part of the liquid container <NUM>. In other examples, the receptacle <NUM> may be placed in other portions of the cartridge <NUM>, such as within the atomiser <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a schematic cross section of an example cartridge <NUM> that can be used, for example, in apparatus <NUM> of <FIG> instead of cartridge <NUM>. For brevity, features in <FIG> that are the same or similar to those features already described with reference to <FIG> are given similar reference numerals to as in <FIG> but increased by <NUM>, and will not be described in detail again. The main difference of the cartridge <NUM> in <FIG> with respect to the cartridge <NUM> in <FIG> is that in the cartridge <NUM> of <FIG> the receptacle <NUM> is positioned within the atomiser <NUM>, whereas in the cartridge <NUM> of <FIG> the receptacle <NUM> is positioned within the liquid container <NUM>.

Referring now to the example of <FIG>, the cartridge <NUM> comprises an atomiser <NUM> and a liquid container <NUM> for containing liquid <NUM>. The liquid container <NUM> is annular in shape and its inner wall <NUM> defines a cylindrical channel <NUM> running through the length of the liquid container <NUM> which extends from one end of the liquid container <NUM> to the other. The atomiser <NUM> has a receptacle <NUM> which has received therein solid material <NUM>. The atomiser <NUM> is provided with a heater <NUM> and a wick (not shown) in (thermal) contact with the heater <NUM>, and in contact with the liquid <NUM>. The wick acts to draw in liquid <NUM> from the liquid container <NUM> (shown in <FIG> by arrows A). The receptacle <NUM> comprises a first retainer <NUM> and a second retainer <NUM> to retain the solid material <NUM> within the receptacle <NUM>.

In the example of <FIG>, the receptacle <NUM> is located within and is integral to the atomiser <NUM>. The retainers <NUM>, <NUM> may be integral to the receptacle <NUM>, and hence may be integral to the atomiser <NUM> (or cartridge <NUM>) itself. In the case that the liquid container <NUM> is not removable from the atomiser <NUM> (i.e. the cartridge <NUM> is a "cartomiser"), the cartridge <NUM> may be disposable. In examples where the atomiser <NUM> is removable from the liquid container <NUM>, one or more of the retainers <NUM>, <NUM>, for example, the second retainer <NUM>, may be removable from the atomiser <NUM> so as to allow access to the receptacle <NUM>, and hence allow a user to add, remove, or exchange the material <NUM> received therein. Optionally, the first retainer <NUM> (i.e. the upper retainer as drawn in <FIG>) may be omitted such that material <NUM> is held in the receptacle <NUM> by only the second retainer <NUM> (i.e. the lower retainer as drawn in <FIG>) and, for example, gravity, and/or liquid container <NUM>. The material <NUM> may be, for example, loose material such as tobacco that may be placed in and removed from the receptacle <NUM>. The material <NUM> may be formed so as to be self-supporting, for example a plug or rod of tobacco or the like, that may be placed in and removed from the receptacle <NUM>. The material <NUM>, whether self-supporting or not, may be received in a self-supporting container (not shown) that is permeable to vapour or aerosol. The container <NUM> may be placed in and removed from the receptacle <NUM>. The container (not shown) may be made, for example, from a heat resistant material and/or a material with high thermal conductivity.

In this example, liquid <NUM> drawn in from the liquid container <NUM> by the wick (shown in <FIG> as arrows A) and is heated by the heater <NUM> to volatilise or vaporise the liquid <NUM> into air from an inlet (not shown) so as to generate a flow of at least one of a vapour and an aerosol. The vapour or aerosol is drawn towards the first retainer <NUM> of the receptacle <NUM>, and through the solid material <NUM> as shown by arrow B. The vapour or aerosol picks up (entrains) flavour (and/or other constituents) from the solid material <NUM>. Constituents of the material are therefore mixed with the flow of at least one of a vapour and an aerosol to generate the inhalable medium. The vapour or aerosol passes through the second retainer <NUM> into the cylindrical channel <NUM> inside the length of the liquid container <NUM> as shown by arrow B, before exiting for inhalation by a user.

In this example, the receptacle <NUM>, and hence the solid material <NUM> received therein, is adjacent to the heater <NUM> of the atomiser <NUM>. Similarly to as described above with reference to <FIG>, the placement of the receptacle <NUM> and hence the material <NUM> adjacent to the heater <NUM> in the atomiser <NUM> ensures that the vapour or aerosol passing through the material <NUM> is still at an elevated temperature, and allows the material <NUM> to be heated by the residual heat of the heater <NUM> itself. This encourages release of constituents from the material <NUM> and hence provides similar power consumption and liquid usage reductions as described above.

In the above examples, the cartridge <NUM>, <NUM> was arranged such that the receptacle <NUM>, <NUM> was placed downstream of the heater <NUM>, and hence the liquid volatised by the heater <NUM>, <NUM> (flowing in the form of at least one of a vapour and an aerosol) passed through the solid material <NUM>, <NUM> received in the receptacle <NUM>, <NUM> before being inhaled by a user. However, in other examples, the receptacle, and hence the solid material received therein, is upstream of the heater, and liquid volatised by the heater flowing as one of a vapour and an aerosol is mixed with a gas flow that has passed through solid material received in the receptacle.

<FIG> illustrates a schematic cross section of another example cartridge <NUM> that may be used in apparatus <NUM> of <FIG> instead of the cartridge <NUM> in <FIG>. For brevity, features in <FIG> that are the same or similar to those features already described with reference to <FIG> (and hence <FIG>) are given similar reference numerals to as in <FIG> but increased by <NUM>, and will not be described in detail again. The main difference of the cartridge <NUM> in <FIG> with respect to the cartridge <NUM> in <FIG> is that in the cartridge <NUM> of <FIG> the receptacle <NUM> is positioned upstream of the heater <NUM>, whereas in the cartridge <NUM> of <FIG> the receptacle <NUM> is located downstream of the heater <NUM>.

Referring now to the example of <FIG>, similarly to as in the examples described above with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, the cartridge <NUM> comprises an atomiser <NUM> and a liquid container <NUM> for containing liquid <NUM>. The liquid container <NUM> is annular in shape and its inner wall <NUM> defines a cylindrical channel <NUM> running through the length of the liquid container <NUM> which extends from one end of the liquid container <NUM> to the other. The atomiser <NUM> has a receptacle <NUM> which has received therein solid material <NUM>. The atomiser <NUM> is provided with a heater <NUM> and a wick (not shown) in (thermal) contact with the heater <NUM>, and in contact with the liquid <NUM>. The wick acts to draw in liquid <NUM> from the liquid container <NUM> (shown in <FIG> by arrows Q). The receptacle <NUM> comprises a first retainer <NUM> and a second retainer <NUM> to retain the solid material <NUM> within the receptacle <NUM>.

In this example, the atomiser <NUM> has a gas inlet <NUM> to allow a gas, for example, air, into the atomiser <NUM>. In this example, the receptacle <NUM> is integral to the atomiser <NUM>, and the receptacle <NUM> is upstream of the heater <NUM>. In this example, the receptacle <NUM> is integral to inlet <NUM>. The retainers <NUM>, <NUM> may be integral to the receptacle <NUM>, and hence may be integral to the atomiser <NUM> (or cartridge <NUM>) itself. In such cases, the cartridge <NUM> may be disposable. In examples where one or more of the retainers <NUM>, <NUM>, for example, the second retainer <NUM>, are removable a user may access the receptacle <NUM>, and hence add, remove, or exchange the material <NUM> received therein.

In this example, as a result of a user drawing on a mouthpiece (not shown in <FIG>) of an overall apparatus (not shown in <FIG>), gas, for example air, is drawn into inlet <NUM>. The gas is drawn towards the first retainer <NUM> and passes through the solid material <NUM> received in the receptacle <NUM>, thereby to entrain one or more constituents (for example, flavour) of the solid material <NUM> into the gas flow. The solid material <NUM> is adjacent to the heater <NUM> and hence is heated by the heater <NUM>. The heating of the solid material <NUM> improves release of the constituents of the solid material <NUM> into the gas flow as compared to if the solid material <NUM> was not heated. The gas flow, having the one or more constituents entrained therein, is then drawn through the second retainer <NUM> and over (or near) heater <NUM> (shown in <FIG> by arrow P). Liquid <NUM> drawn in from the liquid container <NUM> by the wick (shown in <FIG> as arrows Q) and is heated by the heater <NUM> to volatilise the liquid <NUM> into a flow of at least one of a vapour and an aerosol. The vapour or aerosol flow is therefore mixed with the gas flow, having the one or more constituents entrained therein, to produce an inhalable medium. The mixture of flows then passes through the second retainer <NUM> into the cylindrical channel <NUM> inside the length of the liquid container <NUM> (shown in <FIG> shown as arrow R), before exiting for inhalation by a user.

In this example, the receptacle <NUM>, and hence the solid material <NUM> received therein, is adjacent to the heater <NUM> of the atomiser <NUM>. Similarly to as described above with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, the placement of the receptacle <NUM> and hence the material <NUM> adjacent to the heater <NUM> in the atomiser <NUM> allows the material <NUM> to be heated by the residual heat of the heater <NUM> itself. This improves release of constituents from the material <NUM> into the gas flow, and hence the inhalable medium as compared to if the solid material was not heated. The heating of the material <NUM> by the heater <NUM> that volatises the liquid <NUM> reduces the need to provide a separate heater to heat the material <NUM>, and hence the electricity required to power the device may be reduced, and hence battery life may be preserved. Further, since the material <NUM> is heated by the heater <NUM> itself and the constituents thereof are entrained in a gas flow into which the vapour or aerosol is subsequently added, the temperature of the aerosol or vapour need not be relied upon itself to release constituents from the material <NUM>. Moreover, in this example, the vapour or aerosol does not need to pass through the solid material <NUM> in order that the generated inhalable medium has constituents of the solid material <NUM> entrained therein. As a result, the vapour or aerosol is not filtered by the solid material <NUM>, (i.e. has a clear flow path from the heater <NUM> to the mouthpiece (not shown in <FIG>)). For a given heater <NUM> temperature and liquid <NUM> amount therefore, the vapour or aerosol yield exiting the cartridge <NUM> is therefore increased as compared with cases in which the aerosol or vapour must pass through the solid material. Alternatively, a reduced heater <NUM> temperature and/or liquid <NUM> amount can be used for a given yield of vapour or aerosol exiting the cartridge <NUM>, and hence associated power and liquid consumption savings are provided.

In the above examples, the cartridge <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> was arranged such that the liquid container <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> was annular in shape and its inner wall <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> defined a cylindrical channel <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> running through the length of the liquid container <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. However, in other examples, the liquid container may not be annular in shape, and the cartridge may comprise an outer shell that defines an annular channel between the liquid container and the outer shell through which vapour or aerosol may pass for inhalation by the user.

Moreover, in the above examples, the receptacle <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> was generally cylindrical in shape, and the gas or vapour/aerosol flowed through the receptacle from one end of the receptacle <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> to the other. However, in other examples the receptacle may be annular, and the gas or aerosol/vapour may flow radially outwards (or inwards) through the receptacle, and hence the solid material received therein.

<FIG> illustrates a schematic cross section of an example cartridge <NUM> that can be used, for example, in apparatus <NUM> of <FIG> instead of cartridge <NUM>. For brevity, features in <FIG> that are the same or similar to those features already described with reference to <FIG> (and hence <FIG> and <FIG>) are given similar reference numerals to as in <FIG> but increased by <NUM>, and will not be described in detail again. The main difference of the cartridge <NUM> of <FIG> with respect to the other cartridges described above is that in the cartridge <NUM> of <FIG>, the vapour or aerosol produced at the heater <NUM> flows radially out through an annular receptacle <NUM> containing a solid material <NUM> so as to entrain constituents of the solid material <NUM> into the vapour or aerosol flow. Moreover, in the cartridge <NUM> of <FIG>, vapour or aerosol exiting the receptacle <NUM> flows through an annular channel <NUM> between the liquid container <NUM> and an outer shell <NUM>, before flowing out of the cartridge <NUM> for inhalation by a user.

Referring to <FIG>, a cartridge <NUM> comprises an atomiser <NUM> and a liquid container <NUM> for containing liquid <NUM>. The atomiser <NUM> has an annular receptacle <NUM> which has received therein solid material <NUM>. The atomiser <NUM> is provided with a heater <NUM> and a wick <NUM> in (thermal) contact with the heater <NUM>, and in contact with the liquid <NUM>. The wick <NUM> draws in liquid <NUM> from the liquid container <NUM> (shown in <FIG> by arrow X).

In this example, the receptacle <NUM> is generally annular in shape, is integral to the atomiser <NUM> and is downstream of the heater <NUM>. The receptacle <NUM> is located such that the heater <NUM> is generally central of the receptacle <NUM>, that is, the annular receptacle <NUM> surrounds the heater <NUM>. The receptacle <NUM> comprises a first retainer <NUM> and a second retainer <NUM> to retain the solid material <NUM> within the receptacle <NUM>. The first and second retainers <NUM>, <NUM> are permeable so as to allow gas phase material, such as vapour or an aerosol, to pass through, but to prevent material in the solid phase, such as solid material <NUM> from passing through. The retainers <NUM>, <NUM> may themselves be annular, or may only extend part way around the outer and inner walls of the annular receptacle <NUM>. The retainers <NUM>, <NUM> may be integral to the receptacle <NUM>, and hence may be integral to the atomiser <NUM> (or cartridge <NUM>) itself. The cartridge <NUM> may therefore be disposable. The receptacle <NUM> comprises a top wall <NUM> and a bottom wall <NUM> that, in addition to the retainers <NUM>, <NUM>, may hold the solid material in place within the receptacle <NUM>. One or both of the top wall <NUM> and bottom wall <NUM> may be removable from the atomiser <NUM> so as to allow access to the receptacle <NUM>, and hence allow a user to add, remove, or exchange the material <NUM> received therein. It will be appreciated that to be received in the annular receptacle, the solid material <NUM> may itself need to be annular in shape.

In this example, the liquid container <NUM> is not annular and is frustroconical in shape, but may be any other shape such as cylindrical or the like. The cartridge <NUM> comprises an outer shell <NUM> that is connected to the atomiser <NUM> and encases the liquid container <NUM>. In this example, the outer shell is frustroconical in shape, but may be any shape, such as cylindrical etc. The liquid container <NUM> and the outer shell <NUM> define between them an annular channel <NUM> running the length of the liquid container <NUM>.

In this example, liquid <NUM> is drawn in from the liquid container <NUM> by the wick <NUM> (shown in <FIG> as arrow X) and is heated by the heater <NUM> to volatilise or vaporise the liquid <NUM> into a flow of at least one of a vapour and an aerosol. The vapour or aerosol is drawn outwards from the heater <NUM> towards the first retainer <NUM> of the annular receptacle <NUM>, and through the solid material <NUM> (shown in <FIG> by arrows Y). The vapour or aerosol picks up flavour (and/or other constituents) from the solid material <NUM>. The vapour or aerosol passes through the second retainer <NUM> into the annular channel <NUM> defined between the outer shell <NUM> and the liquid container <NUM> (shown in <FIG> by arrows Y), before exiting for inhalation by a user (shown in <FIG> by arrow Z).

In this example, the annular receptacle <NUM>, and hence the solid material <NUM> received therein, is adjacent to the heater <NUM> of the atomiser <NUM>, and surrounds the heater <NUM>. Similarly to as described above with reference to <FIG>, the placement of the receptacle <NUM> and hence the material <NUM> adjacent to the heater <NUM> in the atomiser <NUM> allows the material <NUM> to be heated by the residual heat of the heater <NUM> itself. Moreover, since the vapour or aerosol adjacent to the heater may have a temperature higher the ambient temperature of the material <NUM>, the vapour or aerosol passing through the solid material <NUM> may contribute to the heating of the material <NUM>. Heating of the solid material <NUM> encourages release of constituents from the material <NUM> and hence provides similar improvements in constituent yield and/or power consumption reductions as described above. Moreover, the receptacle <NUM> surrounding the heater <NUM> as per this example enables the receptacle <NUM> to cover a larger proportion (i.e. a larger solid angle) of the space surrounding the heater <NUM>, and hence to collect more residual heat of the heater <NUM>. This further encourages release of constituents from the material <NUM> and hence provides similar improvements in constituent yield and/or power consumption reductions as described above.

<FIG> illustrates in more detail and in perspective view the annular shaped receptacle <NUM> and solid material <NUM> surrounding the heater <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG>. The solid material <NUM> may comprise loose material which is formed into an annular shape by being received into an annular receptacle <NUM>. Alternatively or additionally, the solid material <NUM> may be pre-formed to be annular in shape and so as to be a self-supporting. Alternatively or additionally, the solid material <NUM> may be contained in a self-supporting container (not shown) that is annular in shape and is permeable to vapour or aerosol, which container mat be placed in the receptacle <NUM>. In any case, in the solid material <NUM> is generally disc shaped, and comprises a bore <NUM> along the principal axis of the disc that extends from a first opening <NUM> on one side of the disk, all the way through the solid material, to a second opening <NUM> on the opposite side of the disk. In use, the heater <NUM> sits substantially inside the bore <NUM>. Residual heat from the heater <NUM> is collected from the surface of the solid material defined by the bore <NUM>.

Although in <FIG> and <FIG> the receptacle <NUM> and solid material <NUM> are annular in shape, this need not necessarily be the case. For example, the solid material may be generally disk shaped and comprise a recess into which the heater may be docked (i.e. at least partially inserted). However, the receptacle is annular in all embodiments of the invention as claimed.

<FIG> illustrates a perspective view of a disk shaped receptacle <NUM> and solid material <NUM> placed over a heater <NUM>. The generally disk shaped solid material <NUM> comprises a recess <NUM> along the principal axis of the disc that extends from a first opening <NUM> on one side of the disk, part way through the solid material, to a closed end <NUM> located within the disk. In use, the heater <NUM> sits substantially inside the recess <NUM>. Residual heat from the heater <NUM> is collected from the surface of the solid material defined by the recess <NUM>, which includes closed end <NUM>. In this case, a large solid angle of the area surrounding the heater <NUM> may be covered by the solid material <NUM>, and hence a large proportion of the residual heat from the heater <NUM> may be collected by the solid material <NUM>. The receptacle <NUM> into which the solid material <NUM> is received may be shaped accordingly. In examples where the solid material is pre-formed into a self-supporting structure, or where the solid material is itself contained in a self-supporting container (not shown), the structure of the recess <NUM> may be built into the solid material itself. In this case, the receptacle <NUM> need not provide the structure for the recess <NUM>, and may be generally disk shaped. The receptacle <NUM> and/or the recessed solid material <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> may be used with, for example, the cartridge <NUM> shown in <FIG> in place of the receptacle <NUM> and/or annular solid material <NUM> shown therein, which cartridge <NUM> may in turn be used, for example, in the apparatus <NUM> shown in <FIG> in place of the cartridge <NUM> shown therein.

Although in <FIG>, <FIG> the receptacle <NUM>, <NUM> and solid material <NUM>, <NUM> were of a single and continuous shape, this need not necessarily be the case. For example, the receptacle may be formed of two or more discrete portions, and solid material may be received in either or both.

<FIG> illustrates a perspective view of a receptacle <NUM> which has received therein two separate blocks of solid material 724a, 724b placed either side of a heater <NUM>. In this example, the two blocks of solid material 724a, 724b are cuboidal. Each block 724a, 724b is positioned so that one of the faces of each block 724a, 724b with the largest surface area is facing the heater <NUM>. The receptacle <NUM> into which the one or both of the blocks of solid material 724a, 724b may be received may be shaped so as to comprise two cuboidal recesses accordingly. In examples where the solid material 724a, 724b is pre-formed into a self-supporting structure, or where the solid material blocks 724a, 724b are themselves contained in self-supporting containers (not shown), the receptacle <NUM> may, for example, comprise one generally cuboidal recess into which the solid material blocks 724a, 724b may be placed. The receptacle <NUM> and/or the blocks of solid material 724a, 724b illustrated in <FIG> may be used with, for example, the cartridge <NUM> shown in <FIG> in place of the receptacle <NUM> and/or annular solid material <NUM> shown therein, which cartridge <NUM> may in turn be used, for example, in the apparatus <NUM> shown in <FIG> in place of the cartridge <NUM> shown therein.

Although in the above examples, the receptacle and/or solid material was described as being generally disk shaped, or generally annular, or generally cuboidal, it will appreciated that in some examples, any shaped volume may be used instead. However, the receptacle is annular in all embodiments of the invention as claimed.

Although the examples above referred to use of a receptacle <NUM>, <NUM> etc. with a cartridge <NUM>, <NUM> etc., it will be readily appreciated that there are many configurations of so called e-cigarettes (some of which not having cartridges as such, but rather, for example, refillable chambers integral to the apparatus <NUM>) and that the above examples may also be applied to these other configurations. Indeed, locating a receptacle <NUM>, <NUM>, etc. adjacent to a heater <NUM>, <NUM> etc. for volatising liquid <NUM>, <NUM>, etc. such that the heater <NUM>, <NUM> etc. heats solid material <NUM>, <NUM>, etc. received in the receptacle <NUM>, <NUM>, etc., and mixing one of more constituents of the solid material <NUM>, <NUM>, etc. with a flow of vapour or aerosol as described above may be independent of the configuration or arrangement of the apparatus.

A number of other variations and alternatives to the examples described above are possible.

For example, in some cases it may be possible for the receptacle having solid material received therein to be located, exclusively or additionally, in the battery section <NUM>, etc. with which the cartridge described above is used, provided that the receptacle is adjacent to the heater.

As another example, in cases where the solid material is removable from the receptacle, the solid material may be omitted from the receptacle, for example at the option of the user. This provides the user with more flexibility.

In some examples described above, the cartridge comprises an annular channel <NUM> that completely surrounds the liquid container <NUM>. In other examples, the channel <NUM> is not annular and does not surround the liquid container <NUM>. For example, the channel <NUM> may only partially surround the liquid container <NUM>, and there may be multiple separate channels each only partly surrounding the liquid container <NUM>.

In some of the examples above, the liquid container and the receptacle are arranged substantially in-line, along a longitudinal axis of the apparatus or cartridge. In other examples, the liquid container and the receptacle are arranged so as to at least partially overlap in the longitudinal direction of the apparatus or cartridge; in such examples, the liquid container and the receptacle may still be arranged generally in-line along the longitudinal axis of the apparatus or cartridge, or may be arranged side by side, or with one partially or completely inside the other. In yet other examples, the liquid container and the receptacle are arranged concentrically (either with the liquid container inside the receptacle or vice versa), and may be arranged to be entirely offset with respect to each other along the longitudinal axis of the apparatus or cartridge, or overlapping, or one completely within the other.

The liquid is preferably a liquid that is volatilisable at reasonable temperatures, preferably in the range of <NUM>-<NUM> or more particularly around <NUM>-<NUM>, as that helps to keep down the power consumption of the apparatus with which the cartridge is used. Suitable materials include those conventionally used in e-cigarette devices, including for example propylene glycol and glycerol (also known as glycerine). Also as described in relation to the examples above, the solid material is a material that may be used to impart a flavour (or other constituent) to the aerosol or vapour produced from the liquid as the aerosol or vapour passes through the material. For example, the material may comprise constituents that impart cooling sensations, heating sensations, neutriceutical benefits, stimulating benefits or produce or induce any other sensation or benefit in the user. The material may for example consist of or comprise tobacco. As the aerosol or vapour passes through and over the tobacco material, the aerosol or vapour entrains organic and other compounds or constituents from the tobacco material that lend tobacco its organoleptic properties, thus imparting the flavour to the aerosol or vapour as it passes to the mouthpiece. Materials other than tobacco may be used to impart different flavours to the aerosol or vapour stream. For example, materials other than tobacco may be blended with tobacco, or blends of other materials such as, for example, vanilla pods, star anise, mint leaves, other herbs, and the like. For example, flavourants could be included in the material or in the liquid or both.

In any of the examples described above, an apparatus controller may control operation of the apparatus as a whole. The controller for example may cause the heater to be powered as and when required and switch off the heater when heating is not required. Operation of the heater may be controlled so that the liquid and/or material is heated to an optimum temperature. Particular considerations include ensuring that the solid material does not burn, ensuring that adequate vaporisation of the liquid is achieved, ensuring that the vaporised liquid or aerosol is at an appropriate temperature to liberate compounds from the solid material, and ensuring that the vapour or aerosol that reaches the user is at a comfortable and safe temperature. A puff detector, a device which is known per se, may be provided to signal to the controller when the heating elements need to be energised. Alternatively or additionally, the user may control the apparatus via controls or an interface external to the overall apparatus (not shown), for example via radio control signals, or Bluetooth or the like from a separate control device, such as a smartphone or the like. The apparatus may also have one or more filters for filtering the vapour or aerosol before it reaches the user, cooling arrangements for cooling the vapour or aerosol before it reaches the user, insulation internally of the apparatus to protect the user from the heat generated inside the housing, etc..

In use, and particularly in the case that the solid material is tobacco, it is preferred that the tobacco, or at least an outer portion or the surface of the tobacco (or other material), be heated to a temperature of between around <NUM> to <NUM> and most preferably between <NUM> and <NUM> so as to improve the release of constituents of the tobacco as compared to ambient temperatures. The material may be heated only by the heater or may be additionally heated by vapour or aerosol with a temperature higher than the temperature of the solid material that passes through the solid material. In the case of heating by the heater, the material, particularly in the case of tobacco, may be heated to a temperature in the range of around <NUM> to <NUM>, although it will be appreciated that any temperature above ambient temperature of the material and/or above the ambient temperature of the apparatus as a whole will improve release of constituents from the solid material. It will be appreciated however that other temperatures may be used. For example, the solid material, or at least the surface of the material, may be heated to a temperature above <NUM>, such as up to around <NUM> or <NUM> or so and even as high as <NUM> or so. The amount of tobacco present may be for example in the range <NUM> to <NUM> or so. A most suitable value for the amount of tobacco may be for example in the range <NUM> to <NUM>, with <NUM> being a value that is currently found to be particularly suitable in some applications. In a typical example, the amount of tobacco that is heated per operation of the apparatus (i.e. per puff) may be in the corresponding range of around <NUM> to <NUM>.

In use, the liquid may be heated to a temperature of between around <NUM>-<NUM> or more particularly around <NUM> to <NUM>. Suitable liquid materials <NUM> etc. include materials that provide volatilised components upon heating, typically in the form of an aerosol. Suitable solid materials <NUM> etc. include any tobacco-containing material and may, for example, include one or more of tobacco per se, different varieties of tobacco, tobacco derivatives, pelletised tobacco, extruded tobacco, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco, ground tobacco, tobacco extract, homogenised tobacco or tobacco substitutes. In the case of tobacco, the solid material may be in the form of a rod of tobacco, a pod or plug of tobacco, loose tobacco, agglomerates, etc., and may be in relatively dry form or in relatively moist form for example. The tobacco may have been modified, for example chemically modified, for example had its pH modified so as to promote the release of selected constituents of the tobacco such as nicotine. Suitable solid materials may include other, non-tobacco, products, which, depending on the product, may or may not contain nicotine. The tobacco rod may be formed using a transparent material as a wrapping material, so that the user can see the tobacco. A particularly suitable material is "NatureFlex" (trade mark), a biodegradable film made from renewable raw materials by Innovia Films Limited.

As used herein, the terms "flavour" and "flavourant" refer to materials which, where local regulations permit, may be used to create a desired taste or aroma in a product for adult consumers. They may include extracts (e.g., licorice, hydrangea, Japanese white bark magnolia leaf, chamomile, fenugreek, clove, menthol, Japanese mint, aniseed, cinnamon, herb, wintergreen, cherry, berry, peach, apple, Drambuie, bourbon, scotch, whiskey, spearmint, peppermint, lavender, cardamom, celery, cascarilla, nutmeg, sandalwood, bergamot, geranium, honey essence, rose oil, vanilla, lemon oil, orange oil, cassia, caraway, cognac, jasmine, ylang-ylang, sage, fennel, piment, ginger, anise, coriander, coffee, or a mint oil from any species of the genus Mentha), flavour enhancers, bitterness receptor site blockers, sensorial receptor site activators or stimulators, sugars and/or sugar substitutes (e.g., sucralose, acesulfame potassium, aspartame, saccharine, cyclamates, lactose, sucrose, glucose, fructose, sorbitol, or mannitol), and other additives such as charcoal, chlorophyll, minerals, botanicals, or breath freshening agents. They may be imitation, synthetic or natural ingredients or blends thereof. They may be in any suitable form, for example, oil, liquid, solid, or powder. For example, a liquid, oil, or other such fluid flavourant may be impregnated in a porous solid material so as to impart flavour and/or other properties to that porous solid material. As such, the liquid or oil is a constituent of the solid material in which it is impregnated.

Although in the above examples the material was referred to as being a solid material or material in solid form, this need not necessarily be the case. In other examples, the material may be a fluid, for example a liquid.

The above embodiments are to be understood as illustrative examples of the invention as claimed, and of comparative examples.

Claim 1:
Apparatus (<NUM>) for generating an inhalable medium, the apparatus comprising:
a container (<NUM>) configured to hold a liquid;
a wick (<NUM>) arranged to draw in liquid from the container (<NUM>);
a heater (<NUM>) in thermal contact with the wick (<NUM>), the heater (<NUM>) configured to volatilise liquid drawn in from the container (<NUM>) by the wick (<NUM>) to generate a flow of at least one of a vapour and an aerosol in use; and
an annular receptacle (<NUM>) having material (<NUM>) received therein;
wherein the annular receptacle (<NUM>) is located adjacent to and surrounds the heater (<NUM>) such that in use, the material (<NUM>) received in the annular receptacle (<NUM>) is heated by the heater (<NUM>), and wherein one or more constituents of the material (<NUM>) received in the annular receptacle (<NUM>) are mixed with the flow of at least one of a vapour and an aerosol in use to produce the inhalable medium; wherein the apparatus (<NUM>) is arranged such that in use, the flow of at least one of a vapour and an aerosol passes radially out through the material (<NUM>) received in the annular receptacle (<NUM>), thereby to entrain the one or more constituents in the flow of at least one of a vapour and an aerosol.