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.

<CIT> discloses an adjustable vaporiser that receives atomisers having different dimensions.

According to the present invention, as defined in claim <NUM>, there is provided a non-combustible aerosol provision device for generating aerosol from a consumable comprising aerosol-generating material, the non-combustible aerosol provision device comprising: a chamber for receiving a consumable comprising aerosol generating material, the chamber having an inlet and a length, wherein the inlet has a width and wherein the width of the inlet and the length of the chamber are adjustable; and a mechanism for configuring the chamber in at least a first configuration and a second configuration; wherein, when the chamber is in the first configuration the width of the inlet is a first width and the length of the chamber is a first length, and when the chamber is in the second configuration the width of the inlet is a second width that is different from the first width and the length of the chamber is a second length that is different from the first length.

The mechanism comprises a moveable linkage and the mechanism is configured so that a single movement of the moveable linkage causes the chamber to change between the first configuration and the second configuration.

The mechanism may comprise a movable member, the movable member defining a first passage comprising the first width and a second passage comprising the second width and wherein the mechanism is arranged to move the movable member between a first member position corresponding to the first configuration and a second member position corresponding to the second configuration and wherein when the movable member is in the first member position the first passage defines the inlet of the chamber and when the movable member is in the second member position the second passage defines the inlet of the chamber.

The first passage and the second passage may intersect each other in the moveable member.

The movable member may be a rotatable member arranged to rotate relative to the chamber between the first member position and the second member position.

The rotatable member may be rotatable between the first member position and the second member position about a rotation axis that is substantially perpendicular to an axis of the chamber.

The rotation axis may be unaligned with each of the first passage and the second passage when the moveable member is in the first member position and when the moveable member is in the second member position.

The mechanism may comprise a movable base of the chamber for adjusting the length of the chamber.

The mechanism may comprise at least one mechanical linkage connecting the moveable member to the movable base of the chamber.

The at least one mechanical linkage may be arranged so that movement of the movable base from a first base position to a second base position causes the movable member to move from the first member position to the second member position.

The mechanism may convert linear motion of the movable base to rotational motion of the moveable member.

The non-combustible aerosol provision device may further comprise an opening to a recess at a distal end of the non-combustible aerosol provision device, wherein the recess is configured to receive a first removable insert that is insertable by a user into the recess through the opening to push the movable base from the first base position to the second base position.

The non-combustible aerosol provision device may further comprise the first removable insert received within the recess, wherein the first removable insert comprises a material that collects condensate in the recess that forms when the non-combustible aerosol provision device is in use.

The second length of the chamber may be wider than the first length of the chamber.

The second width may be smaller than the first width.

According to the present invention, as defined in claim <NUM>, there is provided a non-combustible aerosol provision device for generating aerosol from a consumable comprising aerosol-generating material, the non-combustible aerosol provision device comprising: a chamber for receiving a consumable comprising aerosol generating material, wherein the inlet has a width that is adjustable; and a mechanism for configuring the chamber in at least a first configuration and a second configuration; wherein, when the chamber is in the first configuration the width of the inlet is a first width and when the chamber is in the second configuration the width of the inlet is a second width that is different from the first width, wherein the mechanism comprises a movable member, the movable member defining a first passage comprising the first width and a second passage comprising the second width and wherein the mechanism is arranged to move the movable member between a first member position corresponding to the first configuration and a second member position corresponding to the second configuration and wherein when the movable member is in the first member position the first passage defines the inlet of the chamber and when the movable member is in the second member position the second passage defines the inlet of the chamber.

The chamber may further comprise an adjustable length and the mechanism may comprise a movable base of the chamber for adjusting the length of the chamber.

In accordance with a third aspect of some embodiments described herein, there is provided a non-combustible aerosol provision system comprising: a non-combustible aerosol provision device according to the first aspect or to the second aspect; and at least one consumable comprising aerosol-generating material, the consumable for being received in the chamber.

<FIG> is a simplified schematic view of a non-combustible aerosol provision device <NUM>. The non-combustible aerosol provision device <NUM> comprises a housing <NUM> that houses the various components of the non-combustible aerosol provision device <NUM>. The non-combustible aerosol provision device <NUM> comprises a chamber <NUM> configured to receive a consumable (C) which comprise aerosol generating material.

Aerosol-generating material is a material that is capable of generating aerosol, for example when heated, irradiated or energized in any other way. Aerosol-generating material may, for example, be in the form of a solid, liquid or gel which may or may not contain an active substance and/or flavourants. In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material may comprise an "amorphous solid", which may alternatively be referred to as a "monolithic solid" (i.e. non-fibrous). In some embodiments, the amorphous solid may be a dried gel. The amorphous solid is a solid material that may retain some fluid, such as liquid, within it. In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material may for example comprise from about 50wt%, 60wt% or 70wt% of amorphous solid, to about 90wt%, 95wt% or 100wt% of amorphous solid.

The aerosol-generating material may comprise one or more active substances and/or flavours, one or more aerosol-former materials, and optionally one or more other functional material.

An active substance may be a physiologically active material, which is a material intended to achieve or enhance a physiological response. The active substance may for example be selected from nutraceuticals, nootropics, psychoactives. The active substance may be naturally occurring or synthetically obtained. The active substance may comprise for example nicotine, caffeine, taurine, theine, vitamins such as B6 or B12 or C, melatonin, cannabinoids, or constituents, derivatives, or combinations thereof. The active substance may comprise one or more constituents, derivatives or extracts of tobacco, cannabis or another botanical.

In some examples, the active substance comprises nicotine. In some embodiments, the active substance comprises caffeine, melatonin or vitamin B <NUM>.

The aerosol-former material may comprise one or more constituents capable of forming an aerosol. In some embodiments, the aerosol-former material may comprise one or more of glycerol, propylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, <NUM>,<NUM>-butylene glycol, erythritol, meso-Erythritol, ethyl vanillate, ethyl laurate, a diethyl suberate, triethyl citrate, triacetin, a diacetin mixture, benzyl benzoate, benzyl phenyl acetate, tributyrin, lauryl acetate, lauric acid, myristic acid, and propylene carbonate
The one or more other functional materials may comprise one or more of pH regulators, colouring agents, preservatives, binders, fillers, stabilizers, and/or antioxidants.

The non-combustible aerosol provision device <NUM> is herein after referred to as the device <NUM>. The device <NUM> comprises an aerosol generator <NUM> for causing aerosol to be generated from the aerosol generating material in a consumable received in the chamber <NUM>.

An aerosol generator is an apparatus configured to cause aerosol to be generated from aerosol-generating material. In some embodiments, the or each aerosol generator is a heater configured to subject aerosol-generating material to heat energy, so as to release one or more volatiles from the aerosol-generating material to form an aerosol. In some embodiments, the or each aerosol generator is configured to cause an aerosol to be generated from the aerosol-generating material without heating. For example, the aerosol generator may be configured to subject the aerosol-generating material to one or more of vibration, increased pressure, or electrostatic energy.

Accordingly, in some examples the aerosol generator <NUM> comprises a heating arrangement configured to provide energy for heating the aerosol generating material in the consumable. In some examples, the heating arrangement comprises one or more resistive heating elements arranged in thermal contact with the chamber <NUM>. The flow of current against the electrical resistance of the one or more resistive heating elements generates heat. This process is called Joule, ohmic, or resistive heating.

In some examples, the aerosol generator <NUM> is an induction heating arrangement and is configured to generate a varying magnetic field in order to inductively heat a susceptor. An induction heating arrangement may comprise one or more inductors through which an alternating current is passed to generate the varying magnetic field. In some example, the aerosol generator <NUM> comprises one or more susceptors. In other examples, the aerosol generator <NUM> may not comprise a susceptor and one or more susceptors may instead be provided as part of/with consumable articles intended for use with the device <NUM>.

A susceptor is a material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field, such as an alternating magnetic field. The susceptor may be an electrically-conductive material, so that penetration thereof with a varying magnetic field causes induction heating of the heating material. The heating material may be magnetic material, so that penetration thereof with a varying magnetic field causes magnetic hysteresis heating of the heating material. The susceptor may be both electrically-conductive and magnetic, so that the susceptor is heatable by both heating mechanisms. A device that is configured to generate the varying magnetic field is referred to as a magnetic field generator, herein.

The device <NUM> comprises a power source <NUM>. The power source <NUM> supplies electrical power to the various components of the device <NUM>. In some examples, the power source <NUM> is a battery. In some examples, the power source <NUM> comprises a battery and a DC-DC converter, and power is supplied from the battery through the DC-DC converter. The DC-DC converter may allow the power supply <NUM> to supply power at a different voltage to the voltage of the battery. In some examples, the device <NUM> may comprise a DC to AC converter for converting a DC current from e.g. a battery to AC current, for example, to supply power to one or more inductors of the heating arrangement <NUM> where the heating arrangement <NUM> is an induction heating arrangement. In the following examples, the power source <NUM> is referred to simply as the battery <NUM>.

In the example of <FIG>, the device <NUM> comprises control circuitry <NUM> configured to control various aspects of the operation of the device <NUM> including the aerosol generator <NUM>. In this example, the control circuitry <NUM> is a control processor <NUM> in data communication with a computer readable memory <NUM>. The control circuitry <NUM> controls the various operations of the device, for example, by executing instructions stored on the computer readable memory <NUM>. For example, the control circuitry <NUM> may control the delivery of electrical power from the battery <NUM> to the aerosol generator <NUM> by controlling various electrical component such as switches and the like (not shown in <FIG>).

The device <NUM> further comprises a user input device <NUM> which is electrically connected to the control circuitry <NUM> and by means of which a user can operate the device <NUM>. Examples of a suitable user input device <NUM> include one or more buttons, a track pad and a touch screen although any suitable device may be used.

In this example, the device <NUM> also comprises an opening <NUM> at one end of the housing <NUM> which opens into an inlet <NUM> of the chamber <NUM>. A user can insert a consumable into the chamber <NUM> through the opening <NUM> such that a distal portion of the consumable is received within the chamber <NUM> whilst a proximal portion of the consumable protrudes from the device <NUM>.

The distal portion of the consumable that is received in the chamber <NUM> comprises the aerosol generating material from which the device <NUM> is configured to generate aerosol. The proximal portion of the consumable which protrudes from the opening <NUM> may, for example, comprise a filter or the like, and the user may insert the proximal portion into their mouth in order to inhale a flow of aerosol when the device <NUM> is being used.

In this example, the inlet <NUM> of the chamber <NUM> comprises an adjustable width and the chamber <NUM> comprises an adjustable axial length. To that end, the device <NUM> comprises a mechanism <NUM> for configuring the chamber <NUM> in at least a first configuration and a second configuration. When the chamber <NUM> is in the first configuration the inlet <NUM> has a first width and the chamber <NUM> has a first axial length whereas when the chamber <NUM> is in the second configuration the inlet <NUM> has a second width and the chamber <NUM> has a second axial length.

Advantageously therefore, the device <NUM> is easily configurable to be used with at least two different types of consumables that provide a different user experience to users and are of different sizes.

It should be noted that, herein, reference to consumables of different sizes refers to consumables which are intended to be a different size to another, and does not, for example, refer to consumables which are intended to be the same size but differ in size by some small amount due to, e.g., manufacturing tolerances.

In one example, the first axial length is longer than the second axial length and the first width is smaller than the second width. This means than when the chamber <NUM> is in the first configuration the device <NUM> is for use with a first type of consumable that is longer and narrower than a second type of consumable that the device <NUM> is for use when the chamber <NUM> is in the second configuration.

It will be appreciated that the device <NUM> may comprise other components not shown in <FIG>, such as ventilation inlets/outlet, a control interface, a charging port, etc. It should be noted that <FIG> is merely a schematic sketch showing a number of components that may be included in the device <NUM>. <FIG> is not intended to communicate particular positions of various components.

<FIG> illustrate an example of the device <NUM> with the housing <NUM> in ghosted form (i.e. the housing <NUM> is falsely illustrated as see through) so as to reveal some of the internal components of the device <NUM>. For reasons of clarity, none of the power supply <NUM>, processor <NUM> or memory <NUM> are shown in these Figures.

The housing <NUM> comprises a plurality of panels including a front panel <NUM> at the proximal end of the device <NUM>, a rear panel <NUM> at the distal end of the device, a first side panel 101a and a second side panel 101b. The first side panel and the second side are 'U' shaped in cross section and connect together, for example as a 'snap fit', to define the sides of the housing <NUM>. The front panel <NUM> and the bottom panel <NUM> are connected to the first side panel and the second side at opposite ends of the housing <NUM> to define the front and rear of the housing <NUM> respectively.

Typically, each of the plurality panels comprises a plastics material, or any other type of suitable material. Typically, each panel may be formed by injection moulding.

The front panel <NUM> defines the opening <NUM> which communicates with the inlet <NUM> of the chamber <NUM>. The front panel <NUM> has a slidable cover <NUM> that slides over the opening <NUM> so that the chamber <NUM> can be closed when the device <NUM> is not in use.

The chamber <NUM> is generally cylindrical in form and extends parallel to the axial axis of the device <NUM>.

<FIG> and <FIG> illustrate the device <NUM> when the chamber <NUM> is configured in the first configuration and <FIG> and <FIG> illustrate the device <NUM> when the chamber <NUM> is configured in the second configuration.

In the first configuration, the chamber <NUM> has a first axial length L1 and the inlet <NUM> to the chamber has a first width D1. In the second configuration, the chamber <NUM> has a second axial length L2 (which is shorter than L1) and the inlet <NUM> to the chamber has a second width D2 (which is wider than D1).

The mechanism <NUM> for configuring the chamber <NUM> from the first configuration to the second configuration (and vice versa) comprises a moveable, in this example rotatable, member <NUM> and a frame <NUM> that comprises a base portion 234a, an elongate link arm 234b and a curved link arm 234c. In this example, the base portion 234a is annular.

The rotatable member <NUM> is rotatably mounted about axes of a pair of collinear shafts <NUM> (of which only one is visible in the Figures). In some examples, the shafts <NUM> are discrete from the rotatable member <NUM> and are fixed, one either side of the rotatable member <NUM>, to the interior of the housing <NUM> below the opening <NUM>. Alternatively, in some examples, the shafts <NUM>, again one either side of the rotatable member <NUM>, are integrally formed with the rotatable member <NUM> and are rotatably fixed, for example, to respective sockets (not shown) in the interior of the housing <NUM> below the opening <NUM>. The collinear axes of the shafts <NUM> are substantially perpendicular to the axial axis of the chamber <NUM> as indicated by arrows <NUM> and <NUM> in <FIG>. In this example, the rotatable member <NUM> is roughly cuboidal in shape but has rounded edges. The rotatable member <NUM> defines a first open ended passageway P1 that extends through the rotatable member <NUM> between a first pair of opposite faces of the rotatable member <NUM> and also defines a second open ended passageway P2 that extends through the rotatable member <NUM> between a second pair of opposite faces of the rotatable member <NUM>. The rotatable member <NUM> is rotatably mounted on one of the shafts <NUM> at one of <NUM> a third pair of opposite faces of the rotatable member <NUM> and is rotatably mounted on the other of the shafts <NUM> (not visible in the figures) at the other (not visible in the Figures) of the third pair of opposite faces of the rotatable member <NUM>.

The first P1 and second P2 open ended passageways are perpendicular to each other and also to the axes of the shafts <NUM> and intersect each other in the rotatable member <NUM>. The first open ended passageway P1 defines the first width D1 and the second passageway P2 defines the second width D2.

When the chamber <NUM> is in the first configuration, the rotatable member <NUM> is rotated so that the first open ended passageway P1 is co-axial with the axial axis of the chamber <NUM> and with the opening <NUM>. Hence when the chamber <NUM> is in this configuration, the first width D1 of the first open ended passageway P1 defines the first width of the inlet <NUM> of the chamber <NUM>. When the chamber is in the second configuration, the rotatable member <NUM> is rotated so that the second open ended passageway P2 is co-axial with the axial axis of the chamber <NUM> and with the opening <NUM>. Hence when the chamber <NUM> is in this configuration, the second width D2 of the second open ended passageway P2 defines the second width of the inlet <NUM> of the chamber <NUM>.

The base portion 234a is in the form of an annular support ring arranged coaxially with the axial axis of the chamber <NUM>. The base portion 234a is moveable from a first base portion position shown in <FIG> when the chamber <NUM> is configured in the first configuration to a second base portion position shown in <FIG> when the chamber <NUM> is configured in the second configuration.

The elongate link arm 234b is connected at a first end to the base portion 234a and extends from the base portion 234a parallel to the axial axis of the chamber <NUM>. As best shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, a second end 234d of the elongate link arm 234b defines an elongate slot <NUM> within which a first end 234e of the curved link arm 234c is pivotally coupled. This coupling allows the elongate link arm 234b to slide across the first end of the curved link arm 234c by a distance defined by the upper and lower ends of the slot <NUM>. A second end 234f of the curved link arm 234c is pivotably mounted to the face of the rotatable member <NUM> by a pivot <NUM>.

When the base portion 234a is moved from the first base portion position shown in <FIG> to the second base portion position shown in <FIG>, there is an initial period during which the elongate link arm 234b slides over the first end of the curved link arm 234c which is within the slot <NUM> and the rotatable member <NUM> remains stationary because no force is transmitted to the rotatable member <NUM>. This is shown best in <FIG> where the base portion 234a is between the first base portion position and second base portion position. When the movement of the base portion 234a and the elongate link arm 234b brings the lower end of the slot <NUM> into contact with the curved link arm 234c the continued movement of the base portion 234a and the elongate link arm 234b (indicated by arrow <NUM> on <FIG>) then causes the curved link arm 234c to exert a turning force (indicated by curved arrow <NUM> on <FIG>) on the rotatable member <NUM> which rotates from the first rotatable member position to the second rotatable member position as the base portion 234a completes its movement to the second base portion position.

Similarly, when the base portion 234a is moved back from the second base portion position shown in <FIG> to the first base portion position shown in <FIG>, there is an initial period when the rotatable member <NUM> remains stationary as the elongate link arm 234b slides over the first end of the curved link arm 234c until the upper end of the slot <NUM> contacts the curved link arm 234c. This is shown best in <FIG>. The continued movement of the base portion 234a and the elongate link arm 234b (shown by arrow <NUM> on <FIG>) then causes the curved link arm 234c to exert a turning force (shown by curved arrow <NUM> on <FIG>) on the rotatable member <NUM> which rotates from the second rotatable member position to the first rotatable member position as the base portion 234a completes its movement to the first base portion position.

It will be appreciated that in this example, the rotatable member <NUM> rotates about a rotation axis that is substantially perpendicular to the axial axis of the chamber <NUM>. Furthermore, the rotation axis is substantially perpendicular to (and hence unaligned with) each of the first open ended passageway P1 and the second open ended passageway P2 whether the rotatable member <NUM> is in the first member position or in the second member position.

The device <NUM> further comprises a second opening <NUM> formed through the rear panel <NUM> to provide access to a lower internal chamber <NUM> that is to the rear of and coaxial with the chamber <NUM>. The device <NUM> comprises a door <NUM> hinged on the rear panel <NUM> for opening and closing the opening. The lower internal chamber <NUM> has a variable internal size.

In this example, in order to configure the chamber <NUM> from the first configuration to the second configuration, a user may insert a first member <NUM> into the lower internal chamber <NUM> to engage the base portion 234a and then push the base portion 234a from the first base portion position to the second base portion position. The first member <NUM> is shaped so that when the chamber <NUM> is in the second configuration and the door <NUM> is closed, the first member <NUM> sits snuggly in the lower internal chamber <NUM> between the base portion 234a and the door <NUM>.

In some examples, the base portion 234a is biased towards the first base portion 234a position. In order to configure the chamber <NUM> from the second configuration to the first configuration, a user removes the first member <NUM> from the internal chamber <NUM> and the biased base portion 234a returns to the first base portion 234a position.

When the chamber <NUM> is to be used in the first configuration, a user may insert a second member <NUM> into the lower internal chamber <NUM> to rest against the first base portion 234a. The second elongate member <NUM> is shaped so that when the heating chamber <NUM> is in the first configuration and the door <NUM> is closed, the second elongate member <NUM> sits snuggly in the lower internal chamber <NUM> between the base portion 234a and the door <NUM>. This is shown best in <FIG>.

The first member <NUM> may comprise material of the type typically used in filters for consumables, e.g. fibrous material such as cellulose acetate. When the first member <NUM> is in the lower internal chamber <NUM> and the device <NUM> is use the first member <NUM> may adsorb or otherwise collect condensate in the lower internal chamber <NUM>. Similarly, the second member <NUM> may also comprise material of the type typically used in filters and may perform a condensate collection role when located in the lower internal chamber <NUM>.

In some examples the chamber <NUM> is accessible through the second opening <NUM> formed through the rear panel <NUM>, the lower internal chamber <NUM> and the annular base in part 234a, for cleaning. Furthermore, in some examples, there are one or more holes (not shown) in or around the door <NUM> for the inlet of air in use when a user draws on a consumable received in the chamber <NUM>. This air flows through the annular base part 234a and into an axially-central part of the consumable.

In the example described above, the larger, second passageway is configured to be used when the chamber <NUM> is shortest. However, it will be appreciated that this arrangement could be different in an alternative embodiment i.e. the second passageway is used when the chamber <NUM> is longest. Furthermore, other methods of moving elongate link arm 234b and rotating the rotatable member <NUM>, could be envisaged. For example, the base portion 234a may be moved by a screw thread or with a lever. The rotatable member <NUM> could also be rotated without the mechanism shortening the length of the heating chamber <NUM>, thus achieving a device that can accommodate two different diameter consumable articles having the same length. This could be achieved in a number of ways, for example, by way of rotating a twist knob on the side of the device.

Claim 1:
A non-combustible aerosol provision device (<NUM>) for generating aerosol from a consumable (C) comprising aerosol-generating material, the non-combustible aerosol provision device (<NUM>) comprising:
a chamber (<NUM>) for receiving a consumable (C) comprising aerosol generating material, the chamber (<NUM>) having an inlet (<NUM>) and a length, wherein the inlet (<NUM>) has a width and wherein the width of the inlet (<NUM>) and the length of the chamber (<NUM>) are adjustable; and
a mechanism (<NUM>) for configuring the chamber (<NUM>) in at least a first configuration and a second configuration;
wherein, when the chamber (<NUM>) is in the first configuration the width of the inlet (<NUM>) is a first width (D1) and the length of the chamber (<NUM>) is a first length (L1), and when the chamber (<NUM>) is in the second configuration the width of the inlet (<NUM>) is a second width (D2) that is different from the first width (D1) and the length of the chamber (<NUM>) is a second length (L2) that is different from the first length (L1);
characterised in that the mechanism (<NUM>) comprises a moveable linkage (234b, 234c) and wherein the mechanism (<NUM>) is configured so that a single movement of the moveable linkage (234b, 234c) causes the chamber (<NUM>) to change between the first configuration and the second configuration.