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.

As yet another example, there are so-called hybrid devices. These hybrid devices typically contain separately a liquid and tobacco or other flavour material. The liquid is heated to vaporise the liquid to produce an inhalable vapour or aerosol which passes through the tobacco or other flavour material so that a flavour is imparted to the vapour or aerosol.

<CIT> (prior art under Article <NUM>(<NUM>) EPC) describes an aerosol provision device comprising a liquid cartridge having an aerosolising portion for aerosolising liquid from a liquid reservoir. The aerosolising portion may comprise at least one wick suppling liquid to at least one heating element to aerosolise the liquid.

<CIT> describes a non-combustible smoking device 2370a comprising a heater <NUM> for heating liquid from a pre-vapour formulation supply reservoir <NUM>. The device 2370a also comprises a tobacco containing section <NUM> for receiving a tobacco element <NUM>.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an aerosol provision article as defined in claim <NUM>.

The first heating element and the second heating element may be elongate.

The first and second heating elements may be arranged substantially in parallel.

The first heating element and the second heating element may be resistive heating coils.

The first heating element and the second heating element may be substantially linear resistive heating coils.

The first heating element and the second heating element are curved resistive heating coils.

The wick arrangement may comprise a first wick for transporting liquid from the liquid reservoir to the first heating element and a second wick for transporting liquid from the liquid reservoir to the second heating element.

The first heating element and the second heating element may be independently controllable of each other.

One of the first heating element and the second heating element may be activated when the other of the first heating element and the second heating element is in-active.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an aerosol provision system as defined in claim <NUM>.

The aerosol provision article and the aerosol provision device may be releasably connectable together.

Referring to <FIG>, a schematic of an aerosol provision system <NUM> is illustrated. The aerosol provision system <NUM> is an inhalation device (i.e. a user uses it to inhale an aerosol provided by the system <NUM>) and the system <NUM> is a hand-held system. In this example, the system <NUM> is an electronic device.

In broad outline, the system <NUM> volatilises a liquid <NUM>, for example, an e-cig liquid received in the system <NUM> to form a vapour and/or an aerosol which passes through a further substance <NUM> that is also received in the system <NUM>.

In at least some examples a vapour is produced that then at least partly condenses to form an aerosol before exiting the system <NUM> for inhalation by a user (not shown). The further substance may impart to or modify a property, for example the flavour, of the vapour and/or aerosol before the vapour and/or aerosol passes out of the system <NUM> for inhalation by a user.

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.

For reasons of convenience, as used herein the term aerosol should be taken as meaning an aerosol, a vapour or a combination of an aerosol and vapour.

Returning to <FIG>, the system <NUM> of this example comprises an aerosol provision article <NUM> (which may be referred to as a cartridge) and an aerosol provision device <NUM>. The aerosol provision article <NUM> is for containing the e-cig liquid <NUM> and the further substance <NUM> and the aerosol provision device <NUM> is for powering and controlling the system <NUM>.

The aerosol provision article <NUM> comprises a first 'upper' housing <NUM> and the aerosol provision device <NUM> comprises a second 'lower' housing <NUM>. In this example, the first housing <NUM> is releasably connectable to the lower housing <NUM>.

The first housing <NUM> comprises a liquid reservoir <NUM> for containing the e-liquid and a region <NUM> for receiving the further substance <NUM>.

The first housing <NUM> also contains a heating arrangement <NUM>. The heating arrangement comprises at least a first heating element (not shown in <FIG>) and a second heating element (also not shown in <FIG>) for, in use, heating e-cig liquid <NUM> from the liquid reservoir <NUM> to generate a flow of aerosol which then passes through the substance <NUM> before exiting the aerosol provision article <NUM> when a user draws on the aerosol provision article <NUM>. As the aerosol flow passes through the substance <NUM> the aerosol flow heats the substance <NUM> and one or more components of the substance <NUM> become entrained in the aerosol flow which may modify a property of the flow of aerosol, for example taste.

Advantageously, the first heating element and the second heating element are positioned close enough to the region <NUM> so that when the heating arrangement heats the liquid to generate a flow of aerosol it also provides additional heat to the substance <NUM> in addition to the heat provided by the aerosol flow which may enhance the effect the substance <NUM> has on the aerosol flow.

In some examples, a dimension or size of the region <NUM>, for example, its length and the corresponding dimension or size of the heating arrangement <NUM>, for example the length of each of the first and second heating elements, may be set at a predetermined ratio to optimise the additional heating of the substance <NUM> by the heating arrangement <NUM>.

The first housing <NUM> defines the proximal end (or mouth end) <NUM> which is a mouthpiece of the system <NUM> and at an opposite end a base section <NUM> that connects to the second housing <NUM>.

To that end, the base section <NUM> comprises a connector part, for example, a screw thread or a bayonet fit for releasably connecting the first housing <NUM> to the second housing <NUM>. The first housing <NUM> may further comprise one or more air inlets <NUM>.

The second housing <NUM> contains a power source <NUM>, typically a battery, for powering various components of the system <NUM>, including the heating arrangement <NUM>, to which it is electrically connected, as will be discussed further below.

The battery <NUM> may be a rechargeable battery or a disposable battery. A controller <NUM>, which may comprise a micro-chip and associated circuitry is also provided in the second housing <NUM> for controlling the operation of various components of the system <NUM>, as will be discussed further below. A user input means <NUM>, for example one or more control buttons, may be provided on the exterior of the second housing <NUM> for a user to operate the controller <NUM>.

The liquid reservoir <NUM> may take various different forms. In one example, the liquid reservoir <NUM> is in the form of an annular chamber which extends axially in the first housing <NUM> between the proximal end <NUM> and the base section <NUM>.

The liquid <NUM> 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 system <NUM>. Suitable materials include those conventionally used in e-cigarette devices, including for example propylene glycol and glycerol (also known as glycerine).

Accordingly, in use, as a user draws on the proximal end <NUM>, air is drawn through the one or more air inlets <NUM>. The heater arrangement <NUM> is powered by the user operating the control button <NUM> (or alternatively by a puff detector (not shown), as is known per se) and liquid <NUM> drawn from the liquid reservoir <NUM> is heated by the heater arrangement <NUM> to volatilise the liquid <NUM> to generate aerosol which mixes with air flowing from the air inlet <NUM> to produce a flow of aerosol. The flow of aerosol is drawn through the substance <NUM> in the region <NUM> and then out of the system <NUM> for inhalation by the user.

In some examples, the substance <NUM> is a substance that may be used to impart a flavour to the aerosol produced from the liquid <NUM> as the aerosol passes through the substance <NUM>. The substance <NUM> may for example consist of or comprise tobacco. As the aerosol passes through and over the tobacco, the aerosol entrains organic and other compounds or constituents from the tobacco material that lend tobacco its organoleptic properties, thus imparting the flavour to the aerosol as it passes through the region <NUM>.

The substance <NUM> may comprise tobacco per se, different varieties of tobacco, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco, ground tobacco, tobacco extract, homogenised tobacco or tobacco substitutes. In the case of tobacco, the substance <NUM>, etc. 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 substance <NUM> may include other, non-tobacco, products, which, depending on the product, may or may not contain nicotine.

The substance <NUM> may be for modifying a property of the aerosol other than (or in addition) to flavour.

In some examples, the substance <NUM> may be or include a substance that modifies one or more other organoleptic properties of the aerosol (e.g. modifying the feel or smell or look of the aerosol to the user).

In some examples, the substance <NUM> may be or include a substance that modifies the PH of the aerosol by either lowering or raising the PH (e.g. modifying the acidity or the basicity of the aerosol).

In some examples, the substance <NUM> may be or include a substance that modifies (e.g. reduces) the amount of aldehydes in the aerosol.

In some examples, the substance <NUM> may be or include a substance that modifies different combinations of two or more of these or indeed other properties of the aerosol flow.

It will be understood however that materials other than tobacco may be used to impart different flavours to the aerosol.

If the substance <NUM> is or includes tobacco, it may be that the aerosol stream draws sufficient nicotine from the substance <NUM>. Alternatively or additionally, if the substance <NUM> does not contain any tobacco, the substance <NUM> may be enhanced with nicotine, for example by coating the material with nicotine. Indeed, even in the case that the substance <NUM> is or includes tobacco, the substance <NUM> may be coated or otherwise enhanced with nicotine. As another example, whether or not the substance <NUM> is or includes tobacco and/or includes nicotine, nicotine may be provided in the liquid <NUM>. Accordingly, where it is intended that the system <NUM> provides nicotine for the user, the nicotine may be provided in the liquid <NUM>, may be obtained from the substance <NUM> in the case that the material is or includes tobacco, may be provided as a coating or the like on the substance <NUM> if it is non-tobacco material, may be provided as a coating or the like on the substance <NUM> if it is tobacco material, or any combination of these. Likewise, flavourings may be added to the substance <NUM> (whether or not the substance is or includes tobacco) and/or to the liquid <NUM>.

In some examples, it may be that the user only needs to top up or replace the substance <NUM> from time to time, with sufficient liquid <NUM> being provided for several uses. Once the liquid <NUM> has been consumed, the user disposes of the aerosol provision article <NUM> and then uses a new one.

In other examples, the housing <NUM> is not designed to be disposable and instead the user only needs to top up or replace the liquid <NUM> from time to time.

In some examples, the aerosol provision article <NUM> and the aerosol provision device <NUM> are integrated in a single device and are not arranged to be detachable from each other.

Providing the additional heating of the substance <NUM> may be an important factor in providing the user with a satisfactory sensory experience. For example, if the substance <NUM> comprises tobacco, then the additional heating of the tobacco may increase the tobacco taste amplitude experienced by a user and may cause more constituents such as nicotine to become entrained in the flow of aerosol than if the heating were provided by the flow of aerosol alone.

Using a heating arrangement that comprises at least a first heating element and second heating element that are arranged to heat the substance <NUM> provides for an efficient heat transfer to the substance <NUM> and enables a relatively large surface area of the substance <NUM> to be heated. Additionally, the power consumed per heating element may be less than would need to be consumed by an element in a heating arrangement in which that element was the only element.

In some examples, the at least a first heating element and second heating element are selectively operable independently of each other.

Referring now to <FIG>, a first example of a heating arrangement <NUM>' suitable for use as the heating arrangement <NUM> in the aerosol provision article <NUM> of <FIG> in order to heat liquid <NUM> from the liquid reservoir <NUM> and to heat the substance <NUM> in the region <NUM> is schematically illustrated.

In this example, the heating arrangement <NUM>' comprises at least a first heating element 240a' and a second heating element 240b' that each can heat liquid <NUM> from the liquid reservoir <NUM> to generate an aerosol flow and which can also heat the substance <NUM> in the region <NUM> through which the aerosol flow flows.

In this example, the first heating element 240a' and the second heating element 240b' are located adjacent to the region <NUM> slightly beneath the base of the region <NUM>. Accordingly, the first heating element 240a' and the second heating element 240b' are located close enough to the region <NUM> so as to be able to heat and raise the temperature of the substance <NUM> when the first heating element 240a' and the second heating element 240b' are activated.

The at least a first heating element 240a' and a second heating element 240b' are arranged in a common plane which is substantially parallel to the base of the region <NUM>. This arrangement facilitates a uniform heating of the substance <NUM> in the region <NUM>.

The first heating element 240a' and the second heating element 240b' may be elongate and arranged substantially in parallel, again to ensure a uniform heating of the substance <NUM> in the region <NUM>.

Each of the first heating element 240a' and the second heating element 240b' may be an electrically resistive heater, including for example a nichrome resistive heater, a ceramic heater, etc. In the example illustrated in <FIG>, the first heating element 240a' and the second heating element 240b' is a wire, which is in the form of a coil.

In alternative examples, each of the first heating element 240a' and the second heating element 240b' may be in the form of a plate (which may be a multi-layer plate of two or more different materials, one or more of which may be electrically conductive and one or more of which may be electrically non-conductive), a mesh (which may be woven or non-woven for example, and which again may be similarly multi-layer), a film heater, etc..

Other heating arrangements may be also used for the first heating element 240a' and the second heating element 240b', including non-electrical heating arrangements, or other electrical heating arrangements, for example, each of the first heating element 240a' and the second heating element 240b may be an induction heating element.

In the example shown in <FIG>, the first heating element 240a' and the second heating element 240b' are substantially linear (i.e. straight) resistive heating coils and each surrounds a respective wick <NUM>' which is in thermal contact with its heating element 240a' or 240b'. The wicks <NUM>' are also in fluidic contact with the liquid <NUM> contained in the liquid reservoir. The wicks <NUM>' are generally absorbent and act to draw in liquid <NUM> from the liquid reservoir <NUM> by capillary action.

The wicks <NUM>' are 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 some examples, the control circuitry <NUM> is configured to be able to independently control the activation of the first heating element 240a' and the second heating element 240b'.

In these examples, the control circuitry <NUM> may be configured to be able to activate one of the first heating element 240a' and the second heating element 240b' while the other of the first heating element 240a' and the second heating element is in-active 240b'.

Referring now to <FIG>, there is illustrated another example of a heating arrangement <NUM>" suitable for use as the heating arrangement <NUM> in the aerosol provision article <NUM> of <FIG>.

The heating arrangement <NUM>" is similar to the heating arrangement <NUM>' described with respect to <FIG> and similar elements have been given the same reference numerals but carry an additional '.

In this example each of the first heating element 240a" and the second heating element 240b'' is a non-linear coil (i.e. the coil is curved). Likewise, each of the wicks <NUM>'' is also non -linear.

In this particular example, each heating element 240a'' and 240b'' and its respective wick <NUM>" is generally 'C' shaped with the ends of the C shape opposing each other with a small gap G between them.

In use, and particularly in the case that the substance <NUM> is tobacco, it is preferred that the tobacco, or at least the surface of the tobacco, be heated to a temperature of between around <NUM> to <NUM> and most preferably around <NUM> so as to ensure that an adequate or appropriate amount of the compounds are released from the tobacco.

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 system (i.e. per puff) may be in the corresponding range of around <NUM> to <NUM>.

In the examples described above, the heating arrangement <NUM> is between the region <NUM> and the liquid reservoir <NUM>. Other arrangements are possible, for example, the liquid reservoir <NUM> may be to one side of or on both sides of the heating arrangement <NUM>.

In the examples discussed above, there is small gap between the heating arrangement <NUM> and the region <NUM>. This is not essential and so in some examples the heating arrangement <NUM> may touch the substance <NUM> in the region <NUM>.

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, or powder.

Claim 1:
An aerosol provision article (<NUM>) for use in an aerosol provision system (<NUM>) for generating an inhalable medium comprising an aerosol when a user draws on the aerosol provision system (<NUM>), the aerosol provision article (<NUM>) comprising:
a first housing (<NUM>) comprising a liquid reservoir (<NUM>) for containing e-liquid and a region <NUM> for receiving a substance <NUM>, the first housing defining the mouth end;
at least a first heating element (240a', 240a'') and a second heating element (240b', 240b'') comprised within the first housing (<NUM>) for heating liquid (<NUM>) from the liquid reservoir (<NUM>) to generate a flow of aerosol; wherein
the region (<NUM>) contains the substance (<NUM>) which, in use, the flow of aerosol passes through and heats the substance (<NUM>) before exiting the aerosol provision article (<NUM>), wherein the substance (<NUM>) modifies a property of the flow of aerosol, wherein the at least the first heating element (240a', 240a'') and the second heating element (240b', 240b'') are positioned so as to additionally heat the substance (<NUM>) in the region (<NUM>), wherein the at least the first heating element (240a', 240a'') and the second heating element (240b', 240b") are arranged in a common plane, and wherein the common plane is substantially parallel to the base of the region (<NUM>), and
a wick arrangement (<NUM>', <NUM>'') for transporting liquid from the liquid reservoir (<NUM>) to the first heating element (240a', 240a") and to the second heating element (240b', 240b").