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 by creating products that release compounds without combusting. Examples of such products are so-called "heat not burn" products or tobacco heating devices or products, which release compounds by heating, but not burning, material. The material may be, for example, tobacco or other non-tobacco products, which may or may not contain nicotine. <CIT> discloses a prior art article.

A first aspect of the present invention provides an article for use with an apparatus for heating aerosolisable material to volatilize at least one component of the aerosolisable material, the article comprising: a body of aerosolisable material; and a first wrapper around the body aerosolisable material, wherein the first wrapper comprises heater material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field, the first wrapper comprising an outer surface and an inner surface and wherein the first wrapper is arranged so that two opposing strips of the outer surface are joined along ends of the first wrapper or the first wrapper is arranged so that two opposing strips of the inner surface are joined along ends of the first wrapper, so as to form a closed electrical circuit of the heater material.

The first wrapper may comprise a layer of metallised foil which is the heater material.

The first wrapper may comprise a layer of substrate material lined with the layer of metallised foil.

The first wrapper may be folded so that two opposing strips of the inner surface contact each other at joined ends of the first wrapper and the inner surface is an inner surface of the layer of metallised foil.

The first wrapper may be folded so that two opposing strips of the outer surface contact each other at joined ends of the first wrapper and the outer surface is an outer surface of the layer of metallised foil.

The joined ends of the first wrapper may be folded about the body of aerosolisable material.

A second aspect of the present invention provides a method of manufacturing an article for use with an apparatus for heating aerosolisable material to volatilize at least one component of the aerosolisable material, the method comprising: providing a body of aerosolisable material; and providing a first wrapper around the body of aerosolisable material, wherein the first wrapper comprises heater material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field and the first wrapper comprises an outer surface and an inner surface; arranging the first wrapper so that two opposing strips of the outer surface contact each other along ends of the first wrapper or, arranging the first wrapper so that two opposing strips of the inner surface contact each other along ends of the first wrapper; joining the two opposing strips so as to form a closed electrical circuit of the heater material.

A third aspect of the present invention provides an apparatus for manufacturing an article for use with an apparatus for heating aerosolisable material to volatilize at least one component of the aerosolisable material, the apparatus configured to: provide a body of aerosolisable material; and provide a first wrapper around the body of aerosolisable material, wherein the first wrapper comprises heater material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field and the first wrapper comprises an outer surface and an inner surface; arrange the first wrapper so that two opposing strips of the outer surface contact each other along ends of the first wrapper or, arranging the first wrapper so that two opposing strips of the inner surface contact each other along ends of the first wrapper; join the two opposing strips so as to form a closed electrical circuit of the heater material.

In respective exemplary embodiments, the article of the system may have any of the features of the above-described exemplary embodiments of the article of the first aspect of the present invention.

As used herein, the term "aerosolisable material" includes materials that provide volatilised components upon heating, typically in the form of vapour or an aerosol. "aerosolisable material" may be a non-tobacco-containing material or a tobacco-containing material. "Smokable material" may, for example, include one or more of tobacco per se, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco, tobacco extract, homogenised tobacco or tobacco substitutes. The aerosolisable material can be in the form of ground tobacco, cut rag tobacco, extruded tobacco, liquid, gel, gelled sheet, powder, or agglomerates. "aerosolisable material" also may include other, non-tobacco, products, which, depending on the product, may or may not contain nicotine. "aerosolisable material" may comprise one or more humectants, such as glycerol or propylene glycol.

As used herein, the term "heating material" refers to material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field.

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, gel, powder, or the like.

Induction heating is a process in which an electrically-conductive object is heated by penetrating the object with a varying magnetic field. The process is described by Faraday's law of induction and Ohm's law. An induction heater may comprise an electromagnet and a device for passing a varying electrical current, such as an alternating current, through the electromagnet. When the electromagnet and the object to be heated are suitably relatively positioned so that the resultant varying magnetic field produced by the electromagnet penetrates the object, one or more eddy currents are generated inside the object. The object has a resistance to the flow of electrical currents. Therefore, when such eddy currents are generated in the object, their flow against the electrical resistance of the object causes the object to be heated. This process is called Joule, ohmic, or resistive heating. An object that is capable of being inductively heated is known as a susceptor.

It has been found that, when the susceptor is in the form of a closed electrical circuit, magnetic coupling between the susceptor and the electromagnet in use is enhanced, which results in greater or improved Joule heating.

Magnetic hysteresis heating is a process in which an object made of a magnetic material is heated by penetrating the object with a varying magnetic field. A magnetic material can be considered to comprise many atomic-scale magnets, or magnetic dipoles. When a magnetic field penetrates such material, the magnetic dipoles align with the magnetic field. Therefore, when a varying magnetic field, such as an alternating magnetic field, for example as produced by an electromagnet, penetrates the magnetic material, the orientation of the magnetic dipoles changes with the varying applied magnetic field. Such magnetic dipole reorientation causes heat to be generated in the magnetic material.

When an object is both electrically-conductive and magnetic, penetrating the object with a varying magnetic field can cause both Joule heating and magnetic hysteresis heating in the object. Moreover, the use of magnetic material can strengthen the magnetic field, which can intensify the Joule heating.

In each of the above processes, as heat is generated inside the object itself, rather than by an external heat source by heat conduction, a rapid temperature rise in the object and more uniform heat distribution can be achieved, particularly through selection of suitable object material and geometry, and suitable varying magnetic field magnitude and orientation relative to the object. Moreover, as induction heating and magnetic hysteresis heating do not require a physical connection to be provided between the source of the varying magnetic field and the object, material deposits on the object such as smokable material residue may be less of an issue, design freedom and control over the heating profile may be greater, and cost may be lower.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG> there are shown a schematic perspective view and a schematic cross-sectional view respectively of a first example of an article <NUM> for use with an apparatus for heating, but not burning, aerosolisable material. <FIG> shows a section of the article <NUM> when the article <NUM> is in a partially assembled state and <FIG> shows the article <NUM> in a fully assembled state.

The article <NUM> comprises a body of aerosolisable material <NUM> and a first wrapper <NUM> around the body of aerosolisable material <NUM>. The article <NUM> is for use with an apparatus for heating the aerosolisable material <NUM> to volatilise at least one component of the body of aerosolisable material <NUM> without burning the body of aerosolisable material <NUM>. An example of such apparatus is described below.

The first wrapper <NUM> comprises heating material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field, as will be described in more detail below. The heating material may be heatable in use to heat the body of aerosolisable material <NUM>. In this example, the first wrapper <NUM> comprises a closed electrical circuit of the heating material.

In this example, the body of aerosolisable material <NUM> is elongate and cylindrical with a substantially circular cross section. However, in other examples, the body of aerosolisable material <NUM> may have a cross section other than circular and/or not be elongate and/or not be cylindrical. The aerosolisable material <NUM> may for example have a diameter of around <NUM> to <NUM> although of course other diameters are possible.

In some examples, the article <NUM> may form part of a larger consumable article (not shown) which has proportions approximating those of a traditional combustible cigarette.

In this example, the first wrapper <NUM> comprises an outer surface <NUM> facing generally outwardly of the article <NUM> and an inner surface <NUM> facing generally inwardly of the article <NUM>. As most clearly shown in <FIG>, the first wrapper <NUM> is arranged so that two opposing strips 9a, 9b of the inner surface <NUM> are joined along free ends 5a, 5b of the wrapper <NUM> in order to form a closed electrical circuit of the heater material (as described in more detail below).

In the example of <FIG> and <FIG>, the first wrapper <NUM> comprises a first layer, for example a sheet, of substrate material <NUM>, for example paper, lined with a second layer, for example a sheet, of metallised foil <NUM>. In this example, the layer of metallised foil <NUM> comprises the heating material. The first wrapper <NUM> may for example have a thickness that is comparable with that of tipping paper as used in traditional combustible cigarettes.

In this example, the inner surface <NUM> is an inner surface of the layer of metallised foil <NUM> and the outer surface <NUM> is an outer surface of the layer of substrate material <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, it will be appreciated that, in this example, the first wrapper <NUM> when in an 'un-wrapped' state is substantially rectangular with the free ends 5a, 5b running parallel with the longitudinal axis of the first wrapper <NUM>.

In this example, the layer of metallised foil <NUM> comprises any suitable metallic material, for example, aluminium, which acts as the heating material. The heating material is a material that is capable of being inductively heated, and may in some instances be referred to as a susceptor.

In some examples, the heating material of the first wrapper <NUM> may comprise one or more materials selected from the group consisting of: an electrically-conductive material, a magnetic material, and a non-magnetic material. In some examples, the heating material may comprise a metal or a metal alloy. In some examples, the heating material may comprise one or more materials selected from the group consisting of: aluminium, gold, iron, nickel, cobalt, conductive carbon, graphite, plain-carbon steel, stainless steel, ferritic stainless steel, copper, and bronze. Other heating material(s) may be used in other examples. It has also been found that, when magnetic electrically-conductive material is used as the heating material, magnetic coupling between the magnetic electrically-conductive material and an electromagnet of the apparatus in use may be enhanced. In addition to potentially enabling magnetic hysteresis heating, this can result in greater or improved Joule heating of the heating material, and thus greater or improved heating of the body of aerosolisable material <NUM>.

In this example, the heating material is in direct contact with the body of aerosolisable material <NUM>. Thus, when the heating material of the closed circuit is heated by penetration with a varying magnetic field, heat may be transferred directly from the heating material of the closed circuit to the body of aerosolisable material <NUM>.

Referring again to <FIG>, when the article <NUM> is in a partially assembled state, the first wrapper <NUM> is arranged so that the so that the two opposing strips 9a, 9b of the inner surface <NUM> extend radially from the body of the aerosolisable material <NUM>. This facilitates joining the two opposing strips 9a, 9b of the inner surface <NUM> together.

In some examples, the two opposing strips 9a, 9b of the inner surface <NUM> are joined together by welding, for example, by heat welding, laser welding, ultrasonic welding, or pressure welding (sometimes referred to as cold or contact welding).

In other examples, the two opposing strips 9a, 9b of the inner surface <NUM> are joined together by means of an electrically conductive adhesive.

It should be appreciated that any suitable technique can be used to join the two opposing strips 9a, 9b of the inner surface <NUM> together provided a closed electrical loop is formed by the wrapper <NUM>. Other techniques may include mechanical riveting, and crimping or embossing of the opposing strips 9a, 9b.

In the event where heat is used to join the two opposing strips 9a, 9b, or where heat is generated as a result of the joining process, a heat sink may be provided in proximity to one or both of the opposing strips 9a, 9b. For example, a heat sink (which may be a block of metal) may be pressed against the substrate <NUM> directly adjacent strip 9b. As a result, a portion (or all) of the heat may be directed to the heat sink as opposed to the aerosolisable material <NUM>. Anvil <NUM> and/or horn <NUM> shown in <FIG> and described below may be considered a heat sink.

Referring back to <FIG>, after the two opposing strips 9a, 9b of the inner surface <NUM> are joined, the ends 5a, 5b of the wrapper <NUM> are folded so that the ends 5a, 5b of the wrapper are folded about the body <NUM> of aerosolisable material, for example, substantially tangentially to the body <NUM> of aerosolisable material.

As is illustrated in <FIG>, in some examples, the article <NUM> may further comprise a further wrapper <NUM> that is wrapped around and encircles the first wrapper <NUM> and the body or aerosolisable material <NUM>.

The further wrapper <NUM> may be formed from any suitable material. In some examples, the further wrapper <NUM> comprises a non-electrically conductive material, such as paper or card. The further wrapper <NUM> may be free of heating material.

In other examples, the further wrapped may additionally or alternatively comprise an electrically conductive material. The further wrapper <NUM> may, for example, be the same as the first wrapper <NUM>. In some examples, the further wrapper <NUM> consists entirely, or substantially entirely, of the heating material, and is for example a metallised foil wrapper. In some example, the further wrapper <NUM> may comprise a closed circuit of the heating material that encircles the body of aerosolisable material <NUM>. The further wrapper <NUM> may comprise electrically-conductive material, such as a layer of electrically-conductive material that encircles the body of aerosolisable material <NUM>. The heating material of the further wrapper <NUM> may comprise any one or more of the materials discussed above for the heating material of the first wrapper <NUM>. In some cases, however, when an electrically conductive heating material is comprised in the further wrapper <NUM>, the heating material may absorb some or all of the energy from an inductive element (e.g., element <NUM> in <FIG>) which may not be desirable depending on the construction of the article <NUM>, and in particular the thermal transfer efficiency from the wrapper <NUM> to the aerosolisable material <NUM>.

In yet further examples, the further wrapper <NUM> may be formed from a thermally insulating material to prevent or reduce heat transfer from the wrapper <NUM> to the outer surface of the further wrapper <NUM>.

In some examples, the further wrapper <NUM> helps maintain the folded ends 5a, 5b of the first wrapper <NUM> in position.

The further wrapper <NUM> comprises free ends 15a, 15b which in the example shown in <FIG> are joined by an adhesive strip <NUM>. Such adhering may have the effect of holding both the first wrapper <NUM> and the further wrapper <NUM> in position relative to the body of aerosolisable material <NUM>. In particular, the further wrapper <NUM> may be wrapped so as to hold the folded portion of the wrapper <NUM> to the outer surface <NUM> of the wrapper <NUM>. This can increase the mechanical integrity of the article <NUM>, by preventing the folded portion of wrapper <NUM> from being pulled or caught during use of the article <NUM>. Additionally, the further wrapper <NUM> may be arranged to provide a more visually pleasing outer surface of the article <NUM> for the user, by hiding the folded portion of wrapper <NUM>. A benefit of using a further wrapper <NUM> is that the adhesive strip <NUM> that adheres the free ends 15a, 15b of the further wrapper <NUM> to each other need not comprise heating material; that is, the free ends 15a, 15b need not be electrically connected to one another. The adhesive strip <NUM> may comprise one or more of, for example, gum Arabic, natural or synthetic resins, starches, and varnish.

In other examples, the free ends 15a, 15b of the further wrapper <NUM> may be welded together using any of the techniques discussed above.

In other examples, the further wrapper <NUM> may partially wrap and encircle the first wrapper <NUM> and the body of aerosolisable material <NUM>. For example, and with reference to <FIG>, the further wrapper <NUM> may be wrapped such that the free end 15a abuts a first part of the folded portion of wrapper <NUM>, while the free end 15b abuts a second part of the folded portion of wrapper <NUM>. For example, the further wrapper <NUM> may be wrapped around the wrapper <NUM> so as to cover the majority of the outer surface <NUM> of the wrapper <NUM> with the exception of the folded portion of wrapper <NUM>. In this way, the further wrapper <NUM> may be arranged to form a flush outer surface of the article <NUM> with the folded portion "bookended" by the free ends of the further wrapper <NUM>. Adhesive may be provided at any suitable location between the further wrapper <NUM> and the wrapper <NUM>.

The heating material may have a skin depth, which is an exterior zone within which most of an induced electrical current and/or induced reorientation of magnetic dipoles occurs. By providing that the heating material has a relatively small thickness, a greater proportion of the heating material may be heatable by a given varying magnetic field, as compared to heating material having a depth or thickness that is relatively large as compared to the other dimensions of the heating material. Thus, a more efficient use of material is achieved. In turn, costs are reduced.

In some examples, the heating material may not be susceptible to eddy currents being induced therein by penetration with a varying magnetic field. In such embodiments, the heating material may be a magnetic material that is non-electrically-conductive, and thus may be heatable by the magnetic hysteresis process discussed above.

In the example shown in <FIG>, the first wrapper <NUM> comprises the first layer, of substrate material <NUM> lined with the second layer of metallised foil <NUM>. In alternative examples, the first wrapper <NUM> comprises the layer of metallised foil <NUM> but no first layer of substrate material <NUM>. In these examples, it will be appreciated that the outer surface of the first wrapper <NUM> is an outer surface of the layer of metallised foil <NUM>.

<FIG> schematically illustrate a second example of an article <NUM> for use with an apparatus for heating, but not burning, aerosolisable material. The article <NUM> is similar to the article <NUM> described above and like features of the two articles <NUM>, <NUM> have the same reference numerals.

The article <NUM> comprises a body of aerosolisable material <NUM> and a first wrapper <NUM> around the body of aerosolisable material <NUM>. As in the first example, the body of aerosolisable material <NUM> is elongate and cylindrical with a substantially circular cross section and the article <NUM> has proportions approximating those of a traditional combustible cigarette. However, in other examples, the body of aerosolisable material <NUM> may have a cross section other than circular and/or not be elongate and/or not be cylindrical.

In this example, the first wrapper <NUM> again comprises heating material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field. Although not shown in Figures 6a and 6b, similarly to the first wrapper <NUM> described above, in some examples the first wrapper <NUM> may comprise a first layer of substrate material lined with a second layer of metallised foil and in other examples may comprise a layer of metallised foil but no substrate layer.

In this example, the first wrapper <NUM> comprises an outer surface <NUM> and an inner surface <NUM>, but unlike in the first example described above, in this second example, it is two opposing strips 107a, 107b of the outer surface <NUM>, rather than the inner surface <NUM>, that are joined along free ends 105a, 105b of the wrapper <NUM> in order to form a closed electrical circuit of the heater material. To that end, the outer surface <NUM> is a surface of the layer of metallised foil.

It should be appreciated that <FIG> shows the article <NUM> in a partially assembled state before the two opposing strips 107a, 107b of the outer surface <NUM> have been joined along free ends 105a, 105b of the wrapper <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, when the article <NUM> is fully assembled, the free ends 105a, 105b of the wrapper <NUM> which now join the two opposing strips 107a, 107b of the outer surface <NUM> extend substantially radially into the body of aerosolisbale material <NUM>.

Referring now to <FIG> there is shown a flow diagram of an example of a method of manufacturing an article for use with apparatus for heating aerosolisable material to volatilise at least one component of the aerosolisbale material. The method may be used to manufacture the article <NUM> or the article <NUM> described above.

A body of aerosolisable material is provided, step <NUM>. A wrapper is provided, step <NUM>, around the body of aerosolisable material, the wrapper comprising a heater material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field and the wrapper comprising an outer surface and an inner surface. The wrapper is arranged, step <NUM>, so that two opposing strips of the outer surface contact each other along ends of the wrapper or, is arranged so that two opposing strips of the inner surface contact each other along ends of the wrapper. The two opposing strips are joined, step <NUM>, so as to form a closed electrical circuit of the heater material.

As already mentioned above, in the case of the article <NUM>, the two opposing strips 9a, 9b of the inner surface <NUM> may be joined together by welding, for example, by heat welding, laser welding or ultrasonic welding.

As is schematically illustrated in <FIG>, in some examples of manufacturing the article <NUM>, the first wrapper <NUM> is formed by a guide (not shown) into a tube shape around the body of aerosolisable material <NUM> with the two opposing strips 9a, 9b of the inner surface <NUM> facing each other and then the first wrapper <NUM> is continually run (as represented by arrow A) through a welding device <NUM> which welds the two opposing strips 9a, 9b of the inner surface <NUM> together.

In one example, the welding device <NUM> is a continuous ultrasonic welding device comprising an anvil <NUM> and a horn <NUM> which rotate in opposite senses as indicated by the curved arrows. The ends 5a, 5b of the wrapper <NUM>, which extend radially away from the body if aerosolisable material, travel between the anvil <NUM> and the horn <NUM>. The horn <NUM> presses the ends 5a, 5b against the anvil <NUM> and delivers ultrasonic vibrations which heat up the two opposing strips 9a, 9b of the inner surface <NUM> to weld them together.

In some examples, the article <NUM> may be manufactured using a modified cigarette making machine with the welding device <NUM> located after the section that wraps tobacco with cigarette paper.

The machine will comprise cutters to cut the article <NUM> to the correct length.

<FIG> illustrates schematically components of an apparatus <NUM> and steps that may be used, for example, to manufacture the article <NUM>.

The apparatus comprises a mould <NUM> comprising a first part 202a and second part 202b that are joined by a hinge (H). The first part 202a and the second part 202b each comprises a respective elongate track <NUM>, <NUM> that are both substantially semi-circular in cross sections and run parallel and side by side when the mould <NUM> is open as shown in <FIG>.

As shown in <FIG>, in a first step the first wrapper <NUM> is placed on the open mould <NUM> so that the first wrapper <NUM> lines the elongate tracks <NUM>, <NUM> (the first wrapper <NUM>, may for example, be pressed in the elongate tracks <NUM>, <NUM> by a correspondingly shaped press not shown).

Next, a first half 3a of aerosolisable material <NUM> is placed in the first elongate track <NUM> and a second half 3b of aerosolisable material is placed in the second elongate track <NUM> on top of the inner surface of the first wrapper <NUM>. The first 3a and second 3b halves of the aerosolisable material are also semi-circular in cross section and have exposed planar sections 3c facing away from the open mould <NUM>.

In the configuration shown in <FIG>, the free ends 105a, 105b of the first wrapper <NUM> are positioned outside of the elongate tracks <NUM>, <NUM> with the strips 107a, 107b of the outer surface <NUM> facing downwards towards the open mould <NUM>.

Next, each of the free ends 105a, 105b of the first wrapper <NUM> are folded over into the position shown in <FIG> (which for simplicity does not show the mould <NUM>) in which each of the free ends 105a, 105b partly overlies a planar section 3c of a respective one of the first 3a and second 3b halves of the aerosolisable material such that the strips 107a, 107b of the outer surface <NUM> now face upwards away from the open mould <NUM>.

Next, as is illustrated in <FIG>, the tobacco mould <NUM> (which again for clarity isn't shown in <FIG>) is closed (as illustrated by the arrows) by bringing the two hinged parts 202a and 202b together to press the planar sections 3c of the first 3a and second 3b halves of the aerosolisable material together to form a unitary body of aerosolisable material in which the two opposing strips 107a, 107b of the outer surface <NUM> are joined together and extend substantially radially into the body of aerosolisable material.

<FIG> illustrates schematically an aerosol generating device <NUM>, according to an example. The aerosol generating device <NUM> comprises a housing <NUM> that contains a DC power source <NUM>, in this example a battery <NUM>, a circuit <NUM> comprising an inductive element <NUM> and an article <NUM> (or <NUM>) as described above.

In the example of <FIG>, the DC power source <NUM> is electrically connected to the circuit <NUM> and is arranged to provide DC electrical power to the circuit <NUM>. The device <NUM> also comprises control circuitry <NUM> and in this example the circuit <NUM> is connected to the battery <NUM> via the control circuitry <NUM>.

The control circuitry <NUM> may comprise means for switching the device <NUM> on and off, for example in response to a user input. The control circuitry <NUM> may for example comprise a puff detector (not shown), as is known per se, and/or may take user input via at least one button or touch control (not shown). The control circuitry <NUM> may comprise means for monitoring the temperature of components of the device <NUM> or components of the article <NUM> inserted in the device. The circuit <NUM> comprises the inductive element <NUM> as well as other components.

The inductive element <NUM> may be, for example, a coil, which may for example be planar, which may for example be formed from copper. The circuitry <NUM> is arranged to convert an input DC current from the DC power source <NUM> into a varying, for example alternating, current through the inductive element <NUM>. The circuitry <NUM> is arranged to drive the varying current through the inductive element <NUM>.

The heating material of the article <NUM> is arranged relative to the inductive element <NUM> for inductive energy transfer from the inductive element <NUM> to the heating material. In use, the inductive element <NUM>, having varying current driven therethrough, causes the heating material to heat up by Joule heating and/or by magnetic hysteresis heating, as described above which in turn causes heating of the body of aerosolisable material <NUM> to generate an aerosol.

The aerosol generating device <NUM> may be hand-held and is arranged to heat the body of aerosolisable material <NUM> to generate aerosol for inhalation by a user.

Returning again to <FIG>, the aerosol generating device <NUM> may comprise a mouthpiece <NUM> to allow aerosol generated in use to exit the device <NUM>. In other examples, the article <NUM> itself may extend outside of the generating device <NUM> and be provided with a mouthpiece through which a user can inhale the aerosol.

The mouthpiece <NUM>, when provided, may comprise or be impregnated with a flavourant. The flavourant may be arranged so as to be picked up by heated vapour as the vapour passes through the mouthpiece <NUM> in use.

In use, a user may activate, for example via a button (not shown) or a puff detector (not shown), the circuitry <NUM> to cause alternating current to be driven through the inductive element <NUM>, thereby inductively heating the body of aerosolisable material in the article <NUM> to generate an aerosol. The aerosol is generated into air drawn into the device <NUM> from an air inlet (not shown), and is thereby carried to the mouthpiece <NUM>, where the aerosol exits the device <NUM> for inhalation by a user.

The circuit <NUM> comprising the inductive element <NUM> may be arranged to heat the body of aerosolisable material in the article <NUM> to a range of temperatures to volatilise at least one component of the aerosolisable material without combusting the aerosolisable material. For example, the temperature range may be about <NUM> to about <NUM>, such as between about <NUM> and about <NUM>, between about <NUM> and about <NUM>, between about <NUM> and about <NUM>, between about <NUM> and about <NUM>, between about <NUM> and about <NUM>, or between about <NUM> and about <NUM>. In some examples, the temperature range is between about <NUM> and about <NUM>. In some examples, the temperature range may be other than this range, and the upper limit of the temperature range may be greater than <NUM>.

The article <NUM> may be removably inserted by a user into a heating chamber in the apparatus <NUM> and may be replaced by a fresh article after use when the body of aerosolisable material <NUM> is exhausted.

Claim 1:
An article (<NUM>) for use with an apparatus for heating aerosolisable material to volatilize at least one component of the aerosolisable material, the article comprising:
a body of aerosolisable material (<NUM>); and
a first wrapper (<NUM>) around the body aerosolisable material, wherein the first wrapper comprises heater material (<NUM>) that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field, the first wrapper comprising an outer surface (<NUM>) and an inner surface (<NUM>); characterised in that
the first wrapper is arranged so that two opposing strips (107a, 107b) of the outer surface are joined along ends (5a, 5b) of the first wrapper or the first wrapper is arranged so that two opposing strips of the inner surface (9a, 9b) are joined along ends of the first wrapper, so as to form a closed electrical circuit of the heater material.