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, see e.g. <CIT>, <CIT> or <CIT>. 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.

According to a first example, there is provided an aerosol provision system according to appended claim <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, there is shown an example of an aerosol provision device <NUM>. In broad outline, the device <NUM> may be used to heat a replaceable consumable, to generate an aerosol or other inhalable medium which is inhaled by a user of the device <NUM>. <FIG> shows the device <NUM> without a replaceable consumable. <FIG> shows a top view of the device <NUM>.

In <FIG>, the device <NUM> of this example comprises a housing <NUM>. The housing <NUM> has an opening <NUM> in one end, which is configured to receive a replaceable consumable comprising an aerosol forming material. The aerosol forming material may be for example tobacco or other non-tobacco products, which may or may not contain nicotine and/or flavourants. 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. In some embodiments the aerosol forming material may comprise a vapour or aerosol generating agent or a humectant, such as glycerol, propylene glycol, triacetin or diethylene glycol. The replaceable consumable may be fully or partially inserted into the opening <NUM> so that it is received within a receptacle or chamber of the housing <NUM>. In use, an aerosol generating element is arranged to aerosolise the aerosol generating material to form an aerosol for user inhalation. In this example, the aerosol generating element is a heater arranged in use to heat the replaceable consumable, although it should be appreciated that other aerosol generating elements adapted to generate aerosol may equally be used in other examples. The assembly may also comprise a lid, or cap <NUM>, to cover the opening <NUM> when no consumable is in place. In <FIG>, the cap <NUM> is shown in an open configuration, however the cap <NUM> may slide into a closed configuration when the consumable is removed.

The device <NUM> may further comprise a control element <NUM>. The control element <NUM> in this example is a button or a switch, and when a user activates the control element <NUM>, the device <NUM> is switched on.

<FIG> shows a cross-sectional view of an example system <NUM> comprising the device <NUM>, shown in <FIG>, and a replaceable consumable <NUM>. In this example, the replaceable consumable <NUM> has been inserted into the opening <NUM> of the device <NUM>. The device <NUM> has a receptacle, or heating chamber <NUM> which, in use, contains the consumable <NUM> to be heated. Upon insertion, the consumable <NUM> is engaged with the receptacle. The device <NUM> comprises one or more heaters <NUM> arranged to heat the replaceable consumable <NUM> once the replaceable consumable <NUM> has been received within the receptacle <NUM>. The consumable <NUM> therefore comprises a component, such as an aerosol forming material 110a, that interacts with the heater <NUM> to generate an aerosol upon heating. The replaceable consumable <NUM> may also comprise one or more other elements, such as packaging materials and/or one or more filters. In some example systems <NUM>, the consumable comprises another component, such as a marker 110b, that is configured to be detected by a component of the device <NUM>, which is discussed in more detail below.

The consumable <NUM> in this example is elongate, although the consumable may take any suitable shape. An end of the removable consumable <NUM> projects out of the device <NUM> through the opening <NUM> of the housing <NUM> such that user may inhale the aerosol through the consumable in use. In other examples the consumable <NUM> is fully received within the heating chamber <NUM> such that it does not project out of the device <NUM>. In such a case, the user may inhale the aerosol directly from the opening <NUM>, or via a mouthpiece which may be connected to the housing <NUM> around the opening <NUM>.

The device <NUM> further has an electronics/power chamber <NUM> which in this example contains electrical control circuitry <NUM> and a power source <NUM>. The electrical control circuitry <NUM> may include a controller, such as a microprocessor arrangement, configured and arranged to control the heating of the removable consumable. In some examples the control circuitry is also configured to receive a signal from a sensor <NUM> to identify the removable consumable <NUM>, as discussed further below. The electrical control circuitry <NUM> may also receive a signal from the control element <NUM> and activate a heater <NUM> in response. As an alternative, the device <NUM> may comprise features that send a signal to the control circuity <NUM> to cause the heater <NUM> to be automatically activated when a user is drawing on the device <NUM>. Electronic elements within the device <NUM> are electrically connected via one or more wires <NUM>, shown depicted as dashed lines.

The power source <NUM> stores energy for supply as power. It may be a battery, such as a rechargeable battery or a non-rechargeable battery. Examples of suitable batteries include for example a lithium-ion battery, a nickel battery (such as a nickel-cadmium battery), an alkaline battery and/ or the like. The battery <NUM> is electrically coupled to one or more heaters <NUM> to supply electrical power when required to heat the replaceable consumable <NUM>, and thereby generate an aerosol. The heater <NUM>, is therefore a component that is configured to operate in response to power received from the power source <NUM>. Similarly, the sensor <NUM> may also be a component that is configured to operate in response to power received from the power source <NUM>.

The heater <NUM> may be an electrically resistive heater, including for example a nichrome resistive heater, a ceramic heater, etc. The heater <NUM> may be an induction heater (which includes the arrangements of a susceptor in, or forming, the chamber <NUM>, or a susceptor in the consumable <NUM>). Other heating arrangements may be used.

It is sometimes desirable for the device <NUM> to be able to restrict the orientation of the removable consumable <NUM> to a single orientation when engaged with the receptacle <NUM>. This may ensure that the aerosol forming material is correctly aligned with the heater <NUM>. In an example, some or all of the aerosol forming material 110a may not be uniformly distributed or arranged within the removable consumable <NUM>, and in the example of <FIG>, the aerosol forming material 110a is arranged closer to one side of the removable consumable <NUM>. Furthermore, in some examples the heater <NUM> may not uniformly heat all regions within the receptacle <NUM>. For instance, in the example of <FIG>, the heater <NUM> is provided adjacent a part of the receptacle <NUM>. Thus, it may be desirable control how the removable consumable <NUM> is orientated to ensure that the aerosol forming material 110a is arranged for optimal or at least improved heating of the aerosol forming material. For instance, an improved heat exchange between aerosol forming material and the heater <NUM> is provided when the two are aligned, which can reduce the total power required to generate aerosol from the aerosol forming material.

Alternatively or additionally, it may also be desirable for the device <NUM> to be able to identify or recognise the particular removable consumable <NUM> that has been introduced into the device <NUM> by a user. For example, in practice, the device <NUM> as a whole, including in particular the heating arrangement and the heating control provided by the electrical control circuitry <NUM>, will often be optimised for a particular type of removable consumable <NUM> (e.g. one or more of size, shape, particular aerosol forming material, etc.). It would therefore be undesirable for the device <NUM> to be used with a removable consumable <NUM> having (significantly) different characteristics. Thus, if the device <NUM> can identify or recognise the particular removable consumable <NUM>, or at least the general type of removable consumable <NUM>, that has been introduced into the device <NUM>, this can help eliminate or at least reduce counterfeit or other non-genuine removable consumables <NUM> being used with the device <NUM>.

The device <NUM> may therefore comprise a component, such as a sensor <NUM> to detect a corresponding component, such as a marker 110b on, or in the removable consumable <NUM>. Hence, the marker 110b is configured to interact with the sensor <NUM>. The sensor <NUM> is coupled to the control circuitry <NUM> and power source <NUM>, and thus operates in response to power received from the power source <NUM>. Upon detection, a signal may be sent from the sensor <NUM> to the control circuitry <NUM>, and the type of consumable may be determined. In some examples, the control circuitry <NUM> may only operate the heater <NUM> in cases where the consumable <NUM> is recognised, and will not operate the heater <NUM> when it does not recognise the consumable <NUM>. In other examples however, it operates regardless of the consumable. In some examples data relating to the consumable (such as a type or type of aerosol forming material) is stored within memory of the device once the marker has been detected. The marker may be a barcode in some examples, and coded data may be retrieved from the marker. An indication of this data may also be stored within memory.

The device <NUM> may be arranged so that it provides some indication to the user that the removable consumable <NUM> has not been recognised. Alternatively or additionally, the device <NUM> may be arranged so that for example it follows a first heating pattern when it recognises a first type of removable consumable <NUM> and follows a second, different heating pattern when it recognises a second type of removable consumable <NUM> (and optionally may provide yet further heating patterns for other types of removable consumable <NUM>). The heating patterns may differ in a number of ways, for example the rate of delivery of heat to the aerosol forming material 110a, the timing of various heating cycles, which part(s) of the aerosol forming material 110a are heated first, etc. This enables the same device <NUM> to be used with different types of removable consumable <NUM> with minimal interaction required of the user. If the device <NUM> is not able to identify the consumable <NUM>, or the consumable <NUM> is not positively identified, then the device <NUM> may be configured not to heat the consumable <NUM>.

In some examples the sensor <NUM> may be arranged at a specific location within the device <NUM>. For example, the sensor <NUM> may be arranged within the receptacle <NUM> and may have a limited detection range. Similarly, the marker 110b may be arranged at a specific location on, or within the removable consumable <NUM>, and may occupy a certain area or volume of the consumable <NUM>. To ensure that the marker 110b is detected when a user inserts the consumable <NUM> into the receptacle, it is desirable for the device <NUM> to be able to restrict the orientation of the removable consumable <NUM> to a single orientation when engaged with the receptacle <NUM>. This may ensure that the marker 110b is correctly aligned with the sensor <NUM>, so that it can be detected. Restricting the orientation of the consumable so that the marker and sensor are aligned can mean that only one sensor <NUM> is needed, rather than having a plurality of sensors arranged within the device <NUM>, which can reduce manufacturing costs of the device <NUM>, as well as weight and electrical power requirements. Additionally, or alternatively, it may allow a smaller marker to be provided on or in the consumable.

Accordingly, for at least these reasons, it may be desirable to control the orientation of the consumable <NUM> to ensure that components of the device <NUM> are aligned with, and can interact with, components of the removable consumable <NUM>. To achieve this, an aerosol provision system is provided wherein the removable consumable defines an outer profile having an alignment feature (or alignment features) and the receptacle defines an inner profile comprising a corresponding alignment feature (or alignment features). Thus, when the outer profile of the consumable is received within the inner profile of the receptacle, the alignment features restrict the orientation of the removable consumable to a single orientation when the removable consumable is engaged with the receptacle to ensure that one or more components of the consumable are aligned with one or more corresponding components of device. Various example alignment features will be described in relation to <FIG>.

<FIG> depicts a top down view of an example aerosol provision device <NUM>, and a perspective view of an example removable consumable <NUM>. The aerosol provision device <NUM> comprises a component configured to operate in response to power received from a power source, such as a heater or sensor, as described in relation to <FIG>. The component is configured to interact with a component of the consumable. For example, the heater may be configured to interact with aerosol forming material or the sensor may be configured to interact with a marker located on or in the consumable <NUM>.

The consumable in this example comprises a proximal end 410a and a distal end 410b. The proximal end 410a may be directly received within the mouth of a user in use, or may be situated closest to the mouth of a user in use. The distal end 410b is therefore inserted into the receptacle of the device before the proximal end. The proximal end 410a may comprise one or more features that provide a visual indication that the end is the proximal end 410a, such as a different coloured or patterned surface. In some examples the proximal end 410a comprises a filter.

To limit the orientation of the consumable within the receptacle of the device <NUM>, the consumable has an end surface <NUM> that has no rotational symmetry (sometimes referred to as rotational symmetry of the first order) about a longitudinal axis <NUM> defined by the consumable <NUM>. This is achieved by providing the consumable <NUM> with an alignment feature on its outer profile or surface that engages with the inner profile or surface of the receptacle within the device <NUM>. In <FIG>, the alignment feature is provided by a flat surface <NUM> formed along the length of the consumable <NUM>. The end surface <NUM> therefore has a cross-sectional area that resembles a circle having had a segment removed.

The receptacle <NUM> of the device <NUM> is provided with a similarly shaped inner profile having a corresponding alignment feature. For example, in <FIG>, the receptacle comprises an inner profile having straight, flat section 456a, and a rounded section 456b. The flat section 456a is configured to receive and engage the corresponding flat surface <NUM> of the consumable <NUM>. The flat section 456a of the receptacle <NUM> and the flat surface <NUM> of the consumable <NUM> may therefore be said to be alignment features that restrict orientation of the removable consumable. A user is unable to orientate the consumable differently because of the alignment features. Components of the consumable can therefore be aligned with components of the device when the consumable is engaged with the receptacle.

To further limit the orientation of the consumable in the receptacle <NUM>, the consumable <NUM> is configured to ensure that the proximal end 410a cannot be inserted in the receptacle <NUM> before the distal end 410b, the proximal end 410a may have a different shape/dimension to the remaining part of the consumable (i.e., the distal end 410b and middle part of the consumable). For example, in <FIG>, the proximal end 410a has a slightly greater diameter than the distal end 410b and middle part of the consumable <NUM>, and is also greater than the internal diameter of the receptacle <NUM>. Accordingly, when the consumable is inserted into the receptacle <NUM> distal end 410b first, the proximal end 410a protrudes above the housing of device <NUM> (in a similar manner to that as shown in <FIG>). In alternative implementations, the proximal end 410a may be completely cylindrical (i.e., alignment feature <NUM> does not extend along the proximal part of consumable <NUM>).

In one example the consumable is an elongate rod. Such a consumable may be provided by forming tobacco in the shape of the outer profile depicted in <FIG>, for example. Thus, in one example, aerosol forming material is formed to define the outer profile, or at least a portion of the outer profile of the consumable. Such a construction provides a simple and effective means for producing a consumable of any desired shape. For example, tobacco may be easily formed, compressed, cut or moulded into a variety of shapes. In some examples a thin layer of additional material, such as paper, is also wrapped around the aerosol forming material. By having the aerosol forming material on or close to the outer surface, the aerosol forming material can be more efficiently heated by a heater within the device. Similarly, a marker can be added to the outer surface of the consumable, or be embedded within the aerosol forming material or filter.

In certain examples, the aerosol forming material also defines the alignment feature. Hence, if a portion of the aerosol forming material is shaped to restrict the orientation, the alignment feature may be provided by the aerosol forming material itself, rather than being provided by non-aerosol forming materials. This construction can provide a relatively inexpensive method of producing alignment features. In addition, as mentioned above, certain aerosol forming materials, such as tobacco, can be easily formed into different shapes. In some examples a thin layer of additional material, such as paper, is also wrapped around the aerosol forming material. In other examples however, other non-aerosol forming components of the removable consumable define the alignment feature.

<FIG> depicts another example top down view of an aerosol provision device <NUM> and an example removable consumable <NUM>. The consumable <NUM> is substantially similar to that described in <FIG>, however rather than the shape of the consumable being generally cylindrical, the consumable has a greater number of exterior faces. The exterior faces may define a generally prismatic shape.

The consumable <NUM> in this example comprises a proximal end 510a and a distal end 510b. The proximal end 510a may comprise one or more features (not shown) that provide a visual indication that the end is the proximal end 510a.

To limit the orientation of the consumable within the receptacle of the device <NUM>, the consumable has an end surface <NUM> that has no rotational symmetry about a longitudinal axis <NUM> defined by the consumable <NUM>. In addition, in this example, the outer profile of the consumable <NUM> has an asymmetric exterior cross-sectional shape, which thereby defines an alignment feature. The consumable therefore is not symmetrical about a line perpendicular to an axis extending through the geometric centroid of the cross section, unlike the example of <FIG>. The outer profile of the consumable <NUM> is configured to engage with an inner profile of a receptacle <NUM> of the device <NUM>, and so the inner profile of the receptacle <NUM> also comprises an asymmetric interior cross-sectional shape. In <FIG>, the alignment feature of the consumable <NUM> is provided by a flat surface <NUM> formed along the length of the consumable <NUM>. The end surface <NUM> therefore has a cross-sectional area that resembles a square having had a portion removed, a corner cut off in this example. As shown in <FIG>, a triangular region has been "cut off" from the consumable. One side "cut off" side of the triangle is shorter in length than the other "cut off" side; resulting in the asymmetric exterior cross-sectional shape. In some examples, the triangle defined by the cut-off portion may be a scalene triangle, a triangle in which all three sides are different lengths.

The receptacle <NUM> of the device <NUM> is provided with a similarly shaped inner profile having a corresponding alignment feature. For example, in <FIG>, the receptacle comprises an inner profile defining an inner area that also resembles a square having had a portion removed. A surface <NUM> of the inner profile is configured to receive and engage the corresponding flat surface <NUM> of the consumable <NUM>. The surface <NUM> of the receptacle <NUM> and the surface <NUM> of the consumable <NUM> may therefore be said to be alignment features that restrict orientation of the removable consumable. Components of the consumable can therefore be aligned with components of the device when the consumable is engaged with the receptacle.

In one example the consumable is elongate, and has an outer profile that generally corresponds to a cuboid having had a portion of the consumable removed. Such a consumable may be provided by forming and/or joining non-aerosol forming substrate materials, such as plastic, foil, cardboard and the like, in the shape of the outer profile depicted in <FIG>, for example. The consumable may also comprise an air inlet and an air outlet to provide an airflow path through the consumable <NUM>. An aerosol forming material, such as tobacco, or a gel may be located within the consumable, along the airflow path. For example, a gel comprising nicotine may be deposited on an inner surface of the substrate. Thus, in one example non-aerosol forming components of the removable consumable define the alignment feature.

<FIG> depicts another example top down view of an aerosol provision device <NUM> and an example removable consumable <NUM>. The consumable <NUM> is substantially similar to that described in <FIG>, however the alignment feature is provided by a protrusion formed on an outer surface of the consumable <NUM>.

The consumable <NUM> in this example is generally cylindrical and comprises a proximal end 610a and a distal end 610b. The proximal end 610a may comprise one or more features (not shown) that provide a visual indication that the end is the proximal end 610a.

To limit the orientation of the consumable within the receptacle <NUM> of the device <NUM>, the consumable has an end surface <NUM> that no rotational symmetry about a longitudinal axis <NUM> defined by a cylindrical portion of the consumable <NUM>. The consumable <NUM> comprises a protrusion <NUM> or ridge formed along the length of the consumable <NUM>, the protrusion being parallel to the longitudinal axis <NUM>, which thereby defines an alignment feature. The outer profile of the consumable <NUM> is configured to engage with an inner profile of a receptacle <NUM> of the device <NUM>. In some examples the protrusion is not formed along the entire length of the consumable, for example extending along only part of the length of the consumable.

The receptacle <NUM> of the device <NUM> is provided with a similarly shaped inner profile having a corresponding alignment feature. For example, in <FIG>, the receptacle comprises an inner profile having a recess <NUM> that is dimensioned to receive the protrusion <NUM> of the consumable <NUM>. The recess <NUM> of the receptacle <NUM> and the protrusion <NUM> of the consumable <NUM> may therefore be said to be alignment features having a "lock and key" type configuration, that restrict the orientation of the removable consumable. Components of the consumable can therefore be aligned with components of the device when the consumable is engaged with the receptacle.

In some examples, a portion <NUM> of the outer profile of the consumable <NUM> is provided by a non-aerosol forming substrate material, such as plastic, and a portion <NUM> of the outer profile of the consumable is provided by aerosol forming materials, such as tobacco. In this example, the portion <NUM> forming the alignment feature <NUM> is a substrate material, and the portion <NUM> not forming the alignment feature is aerosol forming material. Generally, a substrate material is more rigid than aerosol forming material, so such a construction may provide a more robust alignment feature. However in other examples the portion <NUM> forming the alignment feature <NUM> may be aerosol forming material, and the portion <NUM> may be substrate material.

<FIG> depicts another example top down view of an aerosol provision device <NUM> and an example removable consumable <NUM>. The consumable <NUM> is substantially similar to that described in <FIG>, however the alignment feature is provided by a recess <NUM> formed on an outer surface of the consumable <NUM>.

The consumable <NUM> in this example comprises a proximal end 710a and a distal end 710b. The proximal end 710a may comprise one or more features (not shown) that provide a visual indication that the end is the proximal end 710a.

To limit the orientation of the consumable within the receptacle <NUM> of the device <NUM>, the consumable has an end surface <NUM> that has no rotational symmetry about a longitudinal axis <NUM> defined by the consumable <NUM>. The consumable <NUM> comprises a recess <NUM> formed along the length of the consumable <NUM>, between two parallel ridges, where the recess <NUM> and ridges are arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis <NUM>. The recess therefore defines an alignment feature. The outer profile of the consumable <NUM> is configured to engage with an inner profile of a receptacle <NUM> of the device <NUM>.

The receptacle <NUM> of the device <NUM> is provided with a similarly shaped inner profile having a corresponding alignment feature. For example, in <FIG>, the receptacle comprises an inner profile having a protrusion <NUM> that is dimensioned to be received within the recess <NUM> of the consumable <NUM>. The protrusion <NUM> of the receptacle <NUM> and the recess <NUM> of the consumable <NUM> may therefore be said to be alignment features having a "lock and key" type configuration, that restrict the orientation of the removable consumable. Components of the consumable can therefore be aligned with components of the device when the consumable is engaged with the receptacle.

In some examples, the recess <NUM> is offset from a midpoint of an edge of the end surface <NUM>. Similarly, the protrusion <NUM> may also be offset from a midpoint of an inner surface wall of the receptacle <NUM>. This means that the outer profile of the removable consumable defines an asymmetric shape and the inner profile of the receptacle defines an asymmetric shape.

<FIG> depicts another example removable consumable <NUM>. The consumable <NUM> in this example comprises a first portion <NUM> and a second portion <NUM>. In this example both portions <NUM>, <NUM> are cylindrical, however one, or both portions may be provided with any shape. The first portion <NUM> forms the proximal end, and the second portion <NUM> forms the distal end. The consumable <NUM> defines a longitudinal axis <NUM>, and the first and second portions <NUM>, <NUM> are arranged along the direction of the axis <NUM>.

The first portion <NUM> has a first end surface <NUM> having a first perimeter. The first perimeter encloses a first area of the first end surface <NUM>. Similarly, the second portion <NUM> has a second end surface <NUM> having a second perimeter edge different to the first perimeter, which encloses a second area of the second end surface <NUM>, the second area being smaller than the first area. The first end surface <NUM>, the first perimeter, the second end surface <NUM> and the second perimeter are arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal axis <NUM>. In this example the first portion <NUM> and the second portion <NUM> are integrally formed, however in other examples they may be formed separately and then joined together. The first portion therefore has a first cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and the second portion has a second cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. Thus, the first cross section and second cross section together define an alignment feature.

In the example of <FIG>, to limit the orientation of the consumable within a receptacle of the device, the second portion <NUM> is offset, or displaced, from the central axis of the first portion <NUM> (i.e. a longitudinal axis defined by the first portion). Hence, as a whole, the consumable has no rotational symmetry about a longitudinal axis <NUM>. The radially offset second portion <NUM> may therefore define the alignment feature. The consumable <NUM> therefore has an outer profile having an alignment feature. The outer profile of the consumable <NUM> is configured to engage with an inner profile of a receptacle <NUM> of a device <NUM>, depicted in <FIG>.

In some examples, the alignment feature can additionally or alternatively be defined by the first cross section of the first portion having a perimeter which is a different length to a perimeter of the second cross section of the second portion. For example, cross sections of the first and second portions may have different shapes and/or sizes. In some examples the alignment feature can additionally or alternatively be defined by the first cross section being oriented about the longitudinal axis differently than the second cross section. For example, cross sections of the first and second portions may have different or the same shape, but one portion may be rotated about the longitudinal axis to define the alignment feature. In some examples the alignment feature can additionally or alternatively be defined by the first cross section having an area which is different to an area of the second cross section.

<FIG> shows a cross-sectional view of an example device <NUM> comprising a replaceable consumable <NUM>. The receptacle <NUM> of the device <NUM> is provided with a similarly shaped inner profile having a corresponding alignment feature to restrict the orientation of the consumable <NUM>. The receptacle <NUM> comprises a first chamber <NUM> configured to receive the first portion <NUM> and a second chamber <NUM> configured to receive the second portion <NUM>. As with the consumable <NUM>, the second chamber is displaced from a longitudinal axis defined by the first chamber. Thus, the consumable <NUM> can only be received within the device when the consumable <NUM> is orientated correctly. This ensures components of the consumable are aligned with components of the device.

In some examples, the second portion <NUM> does not comprise aerosol forming material.

In each of the examples described in <FIG>, the alignment features of the consumable are arranged at radial positions around an axis defined by the consumable, such as the longitudinal axis. Similarly, in the examples described in <FIG>, the receptacle defines an insertion axis along which the removable consumable may be inserted by a user. Thus, the corresponding alignment features of the receptacle are also arranged at radial positions around the insertion axis.

In each of the examples described in <FIG>, one or more particular visual indicia or markers <NUM> may be present on the consumable. For example, a line, shape, or logo may be located at a particular position on the outer surface of the consumable. In one example, the indicia may become obscured by the housing of the device if the consumable is properly inserted into the device. Thus, if this indicia remains visible after insertion, the consumable may not be fully and/or properly inserted. The indicia therefore provides a means for a user to determine whether the consumable is inserted correctly.

In another example, the housing of the device may comprise a window, gap or opening in its outer surface. <FIG> shows an example of such an aerosol provision device <NUM>. The device <NUM> and consumable <NUM> may additionally comprise any of the features described in relation to <FIG>. The window, gap or opening <NUM> allows the visual indicia <NUM> on the consumable <NUM> to be seen by a user, so that the user can determine whether the consumable has been inserted correctly. For example, only when the consumable <NUM> has been inserted and aligned correctly will the visual indicia <NUM> be visible through the window <NUM>. If the consumable has not been inserted correctly, the indicator <NUM> may be vertically or rotationally offset from the window <NUM> and therefore not visible, or only partially visible. This may prompt a user to realign the consumable to ensure that the consumable is aligned correctly. In one particular example, the window, gap or opening may be a cut-out in the upper part of the housing <NUM>. For example, rather than being a through hole defined by the housing <NUM> as shown in <FIG>, a U-shaped cut-out may extend from the top edge of the housing.

According to one example, there is provided a removable consumable comprising aerosol generating material and configured to be used with an aerosol provision device to aerosolise aerosol generating material. The aerosol provision device comprises a first component configured to operate in response to power received from a power source. The removable consumable is configured to engage with a receptacle of the aerosol provision device and comprises a second component configured to interact with the first component. The removable consumable defines an outer profile having a first alignment feature configured to cooperate with a second alignment feature of the receptacle corresponding to the first alignment feature; and the first alignment feature is configured to restrict the orientation of the removable consumable to a single orientation when engaged with the receptacle such that, in use, the second component of the removable consumable is aligned with and interacts with the first component of the device.

According to another example, there is provided an aerosol provision device for generating aerosol from a removable consumable comprising an aerosol forming material. The device comprises: a power source; a receptacle configured to engage the removable consumable; and a first component configured to operate in response to power received from the power source. The first component is configured to interact with a second component of the removable consumable. The receptacle defines an inner profile having at least a first alignment feature and the removable consumable defines an outer profile comprising at least a second alignment feature corresponding to the first alignment feature. The first and second alignment features are configured to restrict the orientation of the removable consumable to a single orientation when engaged with the receptacle such that the second component is aligned with the first component of the device when the consumable is engaged with the receptacle.

Claim 1:
An aerosol provision system for generating aerosol from a removable consumable comprising an aerosol forming material, comprising:
an aerosol provision device (<NUM>) comprising:
a housing (<NUM>) having an opening (<NUM>) in one end;
a power source (<NUM>);
a receptacle (<NUM>);
a sensor (<NUM>);
an aerosol generating element;
wherein the sensor and the aerosol generating element are configured to operate in response to power received from the power source; and
a removable consumable (<NUM>) for engagement with the receptacle, wherein the removable consumable (<NUM>) is insertable into the opening (<NUM>) so that it is received within and engaged with the receptacle (<NUM>) and wherein an end of the removable consumable (<NUM>) projects out of the aerosol provision device (<NUM>) through the opening (<NUM>) when the removable consumable (<NUM>) is engaged with the receptacle (<NUM>), such that a user may inhale the aerosol through the removable consumable (<NUM>) in use,
the removable consumable comprising:
aerosol forming material (110a); and
a marker (110b);
wherein the aerosol generating element is configured to aerosolise the aerosol forming material and the sensor is configured to detect the marker when the removable consumable is engaged with the receptacle;
wherein the removable consumable defines an outer profile having at least a first alignment feature and the receptacle defines an inner profile comprising at least a second alignment feature corresponding to the first alignment feature; and
wherein the first and second alignment features are configured to restrict the orientation of the removable consumable to a single orientation when engaged with the receptacle such that the aerosol forming material is aligned with the aerosol generating element and the marker is aligned with the sensor.