Patent Description:
Recently, the demand for alternatives to aerosol generating articles has increased.

For example, there is growing demand for an aerosol generating device that generates an aerosol by heating an aerosol generating material in an aerosol generating article, rather than by combusting an aerosol generating article.

In the case of a combustive aerosol generating article, the aerosol may not be sufficiently generated to the smoker's satisfaction. In this regard, studies on a heating-type aerosol generating article have been actively conducted.

<CIT> presents a heated aerosol-generating article that comprises a rod of aerosol-generating substrate, wherein the rod of aerosol-generating substrate comprises: a first plug of homogenised tobacco material; and a second plug of homogenised tobacco material. The first plug and the second plug are coaxially aligned, the first plug being provided downstream of the second plug, and the first plug and the second plug differ from each other in at least one property of the homogenised tobacco material such that upon heating of the aerosol-generating substrate, the first plug releases aerosol after a shorter time than the second plug.

According to one or more embodiments, problems according to the related art can be solved.

However, the technical solution is not limited to the above, and other technical solutions may be inferred from the following examples.

According to one or more embodiments, a smoker can smoke by heating an aerosol generating article using an aerosol generating device, or the smoker can smoke by combusting the aerosol generating article directly.

In addition, according to one or more embodiments, by containing a moisturizing agent in a certain amount or less in the second portion of the aerosol generating article, thermal conductivity or the aerosol generating amount of the aerosol generating article can be remarkably increased.

The effects of the present disclosure are not limited to the above but may include all effects that may be inferred from the following description.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, an aerosol generating article includes a first portion comprising an aerosol generating material; a second portion comprising a tobacco material including a moisturizing agent; a third portion configured to cool airflow that has passed through the first portion and the second portion; a fourth portion comprising a filter material; and a wrapper that surrounds the first portion, the second portion, the third portion, and the fourth portion, wherein the first portion, the second portion, the third portion, and the fourth portion are sequentially arranged in a longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating article, and wherein the second portion comprises the moisturizing agent in an amount of <NUM> wt% or less based on a total weight of the tobacco material.

The second portion may include the moisturizing agent in an amount of <NUM> wt% to <NUM> wt% based on a total weight of the tobacco material.

The wrapper includes a plurality of perforations arranged between an area covering the first portion and an area covering the second portion.

The plurality of perforations may be arranged on the wrapper at regular intervals.

A nicotine transfer amount of the aerosol generating article may be <NUM> to <NUM>/ stick.

Along a longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating article, the first portion may extend by <NUM> to <NUM>, and the second portion may extend by <NUM> to <NUM> from a point where the first portion ends.

According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, an aerosol generating system includes the aerosol generating article according to the first aspect and an aerosol generating device configured to heat at least one of the first portion and the second portion of the aerosol generating article.

The plurality of perforations may be arranged on the wrapper at regular intervals.

A nicotine transfer amount of the aerosol generating article may be <NUM> to <NUM>/stick.

Means for solving the problem is not limited to the above, and the present disclosure may include all matters that can be inferred by those skilled in the art throughout the specification.

]In addition, unless explicitly described to the contrary, the word "comprise" and variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" will be understood to imply the inclusion of stated elements but not the exclusion of any other elements. In addition, the terms "-er", "- or", and "module" described in the specification mean units for processing at least one function and/or operation and can be implemented by hardware components or software components and combinations thereof.

Throughout the specification, "A and/or B" refers to at least one of A and B.

Throughout the specification, "to be positioned on" means that a member is positioned on one side of another member, and includes all cases where a member is positioned in contact with or without contact with another member.

Throughout the specification, a "longitudinal direction of an aerosol generating article" may be a direction in which the length of an aerosol generating article extends or a direction in which the aerosol generating article is inserted into an aerosol generating device.

<FIG> are diagrams showing examples in which an aerosol generating article <NUM> is inserted into an aerosol generating device <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the aerosol generating device <NUM> may include a battery <NUM>, a controller <NUM>, and a heater <NUM>. Referring to <FIG>, the aerosol generating device <NUM> may further include a vaporizer <NUM>. Also, the aerosol generating article <NUM> may be inserted into an inner space of the aerosol generating device <NUM>.

Also, <FIG> illustrate that the aerosol generating device <NUM> includes the heater <NUM>. However, as necessary, the heater <NUM> may be omitted.

When the aerosol generating article <NUM> is inserted into the aerosol generating device <NUM>, the aerosol generating device <NUM> may operate the heater <NUM> and/ or the vaporizer <NUM> to generate an aerosol from the aerosol generating article <NUM> and/or the vaporizer <NUM>. The aerosol generated by the heater <NUM> and/or the vaporizer <NUM> is delivered to a user by passing through the aerosol generating article <NUM>.

As necessary, even when the aerosol generating article <NUM> is not inserted into the aerosol generating device <NUM>, the aerosol generating device <NUM> may heat the heater <NUM>.

For example, when the aerosol generating article <NUM> is inserted into the aerosol generating device <NUM>, the heater <NUM> may be located outside the aerosol generating article <NUM>.

In detail, the heater <NUM> may include an electrically conductive coil for heating aerosol generating article in an induction heating method, and the aerosol generating article may include a susceptor which may be heated by the induction heater.

For example, the heater <NUM> may include a tube-type heating element, a plate-type heating element, a needle-type heating element, or a rod-type heating element, and may heat the inside or the outside of the aerosol generating article <NUM>, according to the shape of the heating element.

Here, the plurality of heaters <NUM> may be inserted into the aerosol generating article <NUM> or may be arranged outside the aerosol generating article <NUM>. Also, some of the plurality of heaters <NUM> may be inserted into the aerosol generating article <NUM> and the others may be arranged outside the aerosol generating article <NUM>.

The vaporizer <NUM> may generate an aerosol by heating a liquid composition and the generated aerosol may pass through the aerosol generating article <NUM> to be delivered to a user. In other words, the aerosol generated via the vaporizer <NUM> may move along air flow passage of the aerosol generating device <NUM> and the air flow passage may be configured such that the aerosol generated via the vaporizer <NUM> passes through the cigarette <NUM> to be delivered to the user.

The liquid storage may be formed to be attached/detached to/from the vaporizer <NUM> or may be formed integrally with the vaporizer <NUM>.

The aerosol generating device <NUM> may further include other components in addition to the battery <NUM>, the controller <NUM>, the heater <NUM>, and the vaporizer <NUM>. For example, the aerosol generating device <NUM> may include a display capable of outputting visual information and/or a motor for outputting haptic information. Also, the aerosol generating device <NUM> may include at least one sensor (e.g., a puff detecting sensor, a temperature detecting sensor, a cigarette insertion detecting sensor, etc.). Also, the aerosol generating device <NUM> may be formed as a structure where, even when the cigarette <NUM> is inserted into the aerosol generating device <NUM>, external air may be introduced or internal air may be discharged.

In an example, the external air may be introduced through at least one air passage formed in the aerosol generating device <NUM>. For example, the opening or closing or size of the air passage formed in the aerosol generating device <NUM> may be adjusted by the user. Accordingly, the amount and quality of smoke (e.g., aerosols) may be adjusted by the user. In another example, the external air may be introduced into an aerosol generating article <NUM> through at least one hole formed in the surface of the aerosol generating article <NUM>.

<FIG> is a view schematically illustrating the configuration of the aerosol generating article <NUM> according to an embodiment.

According to an embodiment, the aerosol generating article <NUM> may include a first portion <NUM>, a second portion <NUM>, a third portion <NUM>, and a fourth portion <NUM>, which are sequentially arranged in a longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating article <NUM>. In an example, the first portion <NUM> may include an aerosol generating material, the second portion <NUM> may include a tobacco material and a moisturizing agent, the third portion <NUM> may cool airflow passing through the first portion <NUM> and the second portion <NUM>, and the fourth portion <NUM> may include a filter material.

In an embodiment, the first portion <NUM>, the second portion <NUM>, the third portion <NUM>, and the fourth portion <NUM> may be sequentially arranged in a longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating article <NUM>. Thus, an aerosol generated from at least one of the first portion <NUM> and the second portion <NUM> may form airflow sequentially passing through the first portion <NUM>, the second portion <NUM>, the third portion <NUM>, and the fourth portion <NUM>. Thus, the smoker may inhale the aerosol from the fourth portion <NUM>.

In an embodiment, the first portion <NUM> may have a length of about <NUM> to about <NUM>, and the second portion <NUM> may have a length of about <NUM> to about <NUM>. However, this numerical range is not limited, and the length by which each of the first portion <NUM> and the second portion <NUM> extends, may be properly adjusted within a range that may be easily changed by those skilled in the art.

In detail, the first portion <NUM> may include an aerosol generating material. Here, the aerosol generating material may include at least one of glycerin, propylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethlyene glycol, and oleyl alcohol, for example.

The second portion <NUM> may include a tobacco material. The tobacco material may be, for example, tobacco leaves, tobacco side veins, puffed tobacco, cut tobacco leaf, a cut tobacco leaf of reconstituted tobacco leaves, reconstituted tobacco, and a combination thereof.

The third portion <NUM> may cool the airflow that has passed through the first portion <NUM> and the second portion <NUM>. The third portion <NUM> may be manufactured of a polymer material or biodegradable polymer material and may have a cooling function. For example, the third portion <NUM> may be manufactured of a poly lactic acid (PLA) fiber, but embodiments are not limited thereto. Alternatively, the third portion <NUM> may be manufactured of a cellulose acetate filter having a plurality of holes. However, the third portion <NUM> is not limited to the above-described examples, and a material that performs a function of cooling an aerosol may be used to implement the third portion <NUM> without limitation. For example, the third portion <NUM> may be a tube filter or branch pipe filter including a hollow.

The fourth portion <NUM> may include a filter material. For example, the fourth portion <NUM> may be a cellulose acetate filter. There is no limit to the shape of the fourth portion <NUM>. For example, the fourth portion <NUM> may be a cylindrical rod or a tube-type rod including a hollow inside. Also, the fourth portion <NUM> may be a recess type rod. If the fourth portion <NUM> includes a plurality of segments, at least one of the plurality of segments may be manufactured in another shape.

The fourth portion <NUM> may be manufactured to generate flavor. In an example, a flavoring liquid may be sprayed on the fourth portion <NUM>, and a separate fiber coated with the flavoring liquid may be inserted into the fourth portion <NUM>.

The aerosol generating article <NUM> may include a wrapper <NUM> that surrounds at least part of the first portion <NUM> through the fourth portion <NUM>. Also, the aerosol generating article <NUM> may include a wrapper <NUM> that surrounds all of the first portion <NUM> through the fourth portion <NUM>. The wrapper <NUM> may be located at the outermost part of the aerosol generating article <NUM>. The wrapper <NUM> may be a single wrapper or a combination of a plurality of wrappers.

In an example, the first portion <NUM> of the aerosol generating article <NUM> may include a crimped corrugated sheet including an aerosol generating material, and the second portion <NUM> may include a tobacco material such as cut tobacco obtained from reconstituted tobacco sheet, and a moisturizing agent such as glycerin. Also, the third portion <NUM> may include a paper pipe, and the fourth portion <NUM> may include a cellulose acetate (CA) fiber, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

When the aerosol generating article <NUM> is coupled to the aerosol generating device <NUM>, the first portion <NUM> may be inserted in the aerosol generating device <NUM>, and second through fourth portions thereof may be exposed to the outside. Also, the entire first portion <NUM> and part of the second portion <NUM> may be inserted in the aerosol generating device <NUM>. In another embodiment, the first portion <NUM> and the second portion <NUM> may be fully inserted into the aerosol generating device <NUM>. The user may inhale the aerosol while the fourth portion <NUM> is put into the mouth. At this time, an aerosol may be generated when the external air passes through the first portion <NUM> and/or the second portion <NUM>, and the generated aerosol may pass through the third portion <NUM> and the fourth portion <NUM> and may be delivered to the user's mouth.

<FIG> is a view showing one end of an aerosol generating article <NUM> according to an embodiment.

The description of the aerosol generating device <NUM> provided above with reference to <FIG> may be applied to the embodiment of <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, the aerosol generating material <NUM> may include a first portion <NUM>, a second portion <NUM>, a third portion (not shown), a fourth portion (not shown), a wrapper <NUM>, and a plurality of perforations <NUM>.

In the invention, the plurality of perforations <NUM> are formed on the wrapper <NUM>. The perforations <NUM> are arranged between an area covering the first portion <NUM> and an area covering the second portion <NUM>. The perforations <NUM> may be arranged between the area covering the first portion <NUM> and the area covering the second portion <NUM> so that the first portion <NUM> and the second portion <NUM> of the aerosol generating article <NUM> may be visually distinguished from each other.

The perforations <NUM> may be formed on a circumference of the aerosol generating article <NUM>. About <NUM> to about <NUM> perforations <NUM> may be formed on the circumference of the aerosol generating article <NUM>.

In an embodiment, the plurality of perforations <NUM> may be arranged on the wrapper <NUM> at regular intervals.

In an embodiment, the perforations <NUM> may be formed by an on-line method or off-line method. In the case of using the on-line method, one perforation <NUM> may have a long axis and a short axis. Thus, the number of perforations <NUM> formed on the circumference of the aerosol generating article <NUM> may be relatively small.

On the other hand, in the case of using the off-line method, one perforation <NUM> may be formed in a circular shape. Thus, the number of perforations <NUM> formed on the circumference of the aerosol generating article <NUM> or the wrapper <NUM> may be relatively large.

In an embodiment, the plurality of perforations <NUM> may be arranged so that the first portion <NUM> and the second portion <NUM> may be distinguished from each other. In this case, due to the plurality of perforations <NUM>, a binding force between the first portion <NUM> and the second portion <NUM> of the aerosol generating article <NUM> may be lower than that of other portions. Thus, as will be described later, the user may easily remove the first portion <NUM> from the aerosol generating article <NUM>.

Also, the number of the plurality of perforations <NUM> may be adjusted so that draw resistance (i.e., inhalation resistance) of the aerosol generating article <NUM> may be adjusted.

<FIG> is a cross sectional view of one end of the aerosol generating article <NUM> according to an embodiment.

The contents of <FIG> described previously may be applied to the embodiment of <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, the second portion <NUM> of the aerosol generating article <NUM> may include a tobacco material <NUM>. For example, the second portion <NUM> may include cut tobacco leaves. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

The second portion <NUM> may contain a moisturizing agent <NUM>. The second portion <NUM> may include glycerin or propylene glycol, for example, as the moisturizing agent <NUM>.

The tobacco material <NUM> may include the moisturizing agent <NUM>. All or part of the tobacco material <NUM> may include the moisturizing agent <NUM>.

In an embodiment, the second portion <NUM> may include the moisturizing agent <NUM> in an amount of about <NUM> wt% or less based on the total weight of the tobacco material <NUM>. When the content of the moisturizing agent <NUM> exceeds about <NUM> wt%, thermal conductivity or aerosol generating amount inside the second portion <NUM> may not be sufficient.

In an embodiment, the second portion <NUM> may include the moisturizing agent <NUM> in an amount of about <NUM> wt% to about <NUM> wt% based on the total weight of the tobacco material <NUM> including the moisturizing agent <NUM>. When the content of the moisturizing agent <NUM> is less than about <NUM> wt%, the aerosol generating amount may not be sufficient.

By including the moisturizing agent <NUM> as described above, thermal conductivity or an aerosol generating amount of the aerosol generating article <NUM> may be remarkably increased. Also, as will be described later, when the user removes the first portion <NUM> of the aerosol generating article <NUM> and ignites the second portion <NUM> to generate an aerosol, the user may ignite the second portion <NUM> more easily. The above-described effects will be described in more detail with reference to <FIG>.

<FIG> is a view showing an example in which the aerosol generating article <NUM> is inserted into an aerosol generating device <NUM>, according to an embodiment.

The contents of <FIG> described above may be applied to the embodiment of <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, the aerosol generating device <NUM> may include a heating element <NUM> and an accommodation space <NUM> for accommodating the aerosol generating article <NUM>.

The aerosol generating article <NUM> includes a first portion <NUM>, a second portion <NUM>, and a plurality of perforations <NUM>. The aerosol generating article <NUM> may be inserted into the accommodation space <NUM> of the aerosol generating device <NUM> and may be heated by the heating element <NUM>.

In an embodiment, the heating element <NUM> may heat at least one of the first portion <NUM> and the second portion <NUM>. For example, the heating element <NUM> may heat both the first portion <NUM> and the second portion <NUM>. However, embodiments are not limited thereto.

In an embodiment, the second portion <NUM> may include the moisturizing agent <NUM> in an amount of about <NUM> w% or less based on the total weight of the tobacco material <NUM>, and the second portion <NUM> may include the moisturizing agent <NUM> in an amount of about <NUM> wt% to about <NUM> wt% based on the total weight of the tobacco material <NUM>.

<FIG> is a graph showing changes in temperature of a second portion when an aerosol generating article is heated.

The aerosol generating article includes a first portion, a second portion, a third portion, and a fourth portion, and the second portion includes a tobacco material and a moisturizing agent. The second portion is prepared to contain <NUM> wt%, <NUM> wt%, and <NUM> wt% of a moisturizing agent based on the total weight of the tobacco material. The second portion is heated by the same heater, and changes in temperature are measured and shown in a graph of <FIG>.

As a result of experiments, a rapid change in temperature of the second portion over time appeared in the order of <NUM> wt%, <NUM> wt%, and <NUM> wt%. In particular, in the case of an aerosol generating article containing <NUM> wt% of a moisturizing agent, the temperature of the second portion rose to about <NUM> in a section of <NUM> to <NUM> seconds and reached to about <NUM> in a section of <NUM> to <NUM> seconds. On the other hand, in the case of an aerosol generating article containing <NUM> wt% of the moisturizing agent, the temperature of the second portion rose to about <NUM> in a section of <NUM> to <NUM> seconds and reached to about <NUM> in a section of <NUM> to <NUM> seconds.

Analyzing the results of the experiment, when the second portion contains the moisturizing agent <NUM> in an amount of about <NUM> wt% or less based on the total weight of the tobacco material, the temperature of the second portion more rapidly increased and converged at a higher temperature compared to the case where the second portion contains about <NUM> wt% of the moisturizing agent. This means that when the second portion contains the moisturizing agent in an amount of about <NUM> wt% or less, the thermal conductivity inside the second portion is further improved and an aerosol generating amount is further increased.

Also, when the second portion contains the moisturizing agent in an amount of about <NUM> wt% to about <NUM> wt% based on the total weight of the tobacco material, the thermal conductivity or aerosol generating amount inside the second portion may significantly increase compared to the case where the content of the moisturizing agent exceeds about <NUM> wt%. Thus, the user may have a satisfactory smoking feeling with the aerosol generating article.

A nicotine transfer amount of the aerosol generating article according to an embodiment may be about <NUM> to about <NUM>/stick. However, the present disclosure is not necessarily limited thereto, and the embodiments may be applied to other aerosol generating articles having various amounts of nicotine transfer.

<FIG> is a view schematically illustrating the configuration of an aerosol generating article <NUM> according to an embodiment, and <FIG> illustrates that a first portion <NUM> is detached from other portions of the aerosol generating article <NUM>, according to an embodiment.

Referring to <FIG>, the user may insert the entire aerosol generating article <NUM> into an aerosol generating device (not shown) and may heat the aerosol generating article <NUM> to generate an aerosol.

However, the user may generate an aerosol in a different way.

Referring to <FIG>, the user may easily remove the first portion <NUM> from the aerosol generating article <NUM> using a plurality of perforations <NUM>.

When the user removes the first portion <NUM>, the aerosol generating article <NUM> may include a second portion <NUM>, a third portion <NUM>, and a fourth portion <NUM>.

The user may ignite the second portion <NUM> to generate an aerosol.

In a specific embodiment, as described above, the second portion <NUM> may include a moisturizing agent <NUM> in an amount of about <NUM> wt% or less based on the total weight of a tobacco material, and the second portion <NUM> may include the moisturizing agent <NUM> in an amount of about <NUM> wt% to about <NUM> wt% based on the total weight of the tobacco material.

Since the second portion <NUM> contains the moisturizing agent <NUM> in the above-described numerical range, the second portion <NUM> may be more easily ignited.

At least one of the components, elements, modules or units (collectively "components" in this paragraph) represented by a block in the drawings, such as the controller <NUM> in <FIG>, may be embodied as various numbers of hardware, software and/or firmware structures that execute respective functions described above, according to an exemplary embodiment. For example, at least one of these components may use a direct circuit structure, such as a memory, a processor, a logic circuit, a look-up table, etc. that may execute the respective functions through controls of one or more microprocessors or other control apparatuses. Also, at least one of these components may be specifically embodied by a module, a program, or a part of code, which contains one or more executable instructions for performing specified logic functions, and executed by one or more microprocessors or other control apparatuses. Further, at least one of these components may include or may be implemented by a processor such as a central processing unit (CPU) that performs the respective functions, a microprocessor, or the like. Two or more of these components may be combined into one single component which performs all operations or functions of the combined two or more components. Also, at least part of functions of at least one of these components may be performed by another of these components. Further, although a bus is not illustrated in the above block diagrams, communication between the components may be performed through the bus. Functional aspects of the above exemplary embodiments may be implemented in algorithms that execute on one or more processors. Furthermore, the components represented by a block or processing steps may employ any number of related art techniques for electronics configuration, signal processing and/or control, data processing and the like.

Claim 1:
An aerosol generating article (<NUM>) comprising:
a first portion (<NUM>) comprising an aerosol generating material;
a second portion (<NUM>) comprising a tobacco material including a moisturizing agent;
a third portion (<NUM>) configured to cool airflow that has passed through the first portion (<NUM>) and the second portion (<NUM>);
a fourth portion (<NUM>) comprising a filter material; and
a wrapper (<NUM>) that surrounds the first portion (<NUM>), the second portion (<NUM>), the third portion (<NUM>), and the fourth portion (<NUM>),
wherein the first portion (<NUM>), the second portion (<NUM>), the third portion (<NUM>), and the fourth portion (<NUM>) are sequentially arranged in a longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating article (<NUM>), and
wherein the second portion (<NUM>) comprises the moisturizing agent in an amount of <NUM> wt% or less based on a total weight of the tobacco material; characterised in that
the wrapper (<NUM>) comprises a plurality of perforations (<NUM>) arranged between an area covering the first portion (<NUM>) and an area covering the second portion (<NUM>).