WO2024223879A1

WO2024223879A1 - Tobacco article for a heat-not-burn aerosol generating device and associated aerosol generating system

Info

Publication number: WO2024223879A1
Application number: PCT/EP2024/061638
Authority: WO
Inventors: Herman HIJMA; Erik SNIJDER; Eduardo Jose GARCIA GARCIA
Original assignee: Jt International Sa
Priority date: 2023-04-28
Filing date: 2024-04-26
Publication date: 2024-10-31

Abstract

The present invention concerns a tobacco article (12) for a heat-not-burn aerosol generating device (11), comprising a tobacco part (15) and a mouthpiece part (16); the tobacco part (15) comprising a first end (18) and the mouthpiece part (16) comprising a second end (19); the tobacco part (15) defining a flat shape with a substantially constant cross-section having a thickness t1 measured along a first transversal axis (T1) and a width w1 measured along a second transversal axis perpendicular to the first transversal axis (T1); the mouthpiece part (15) defining at least at the second end (19) a cross-section having a thickness t2 measured according to the first transversal axis (T1) and a width w2 measured according to the second transversal axis; wherein the ratio t2/w2 is greater than the ratio t1/w1.

Description

Tobacco article for a heat-not-burn aerosol generating device and associated aerosol generating system

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns a tobacco article for a heat-not-burn aerosol generating device. The present invention also concerns an aerosol generating system comprising such a tobacco article.

Particularly, the tobacco article according to the invention comprises for example a solid substrate able to form aerosol when being heated. Thus, the aerosol generating devices operating with such type of tobacco articles, also known as heat-not-burn devices, are adapted to heat, rather than burn, the substrate by conduction, convection and/or radiation, to generate aerosol for inhalation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The popularity and use of reduced-risk or modified-risk devices (also known as vaporisers) has grown rapidly in the past few years as an aid to assist habitual smokers wishing to quit smoking traditional tobacco products such as cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos, and rolling tobacco. Various devices and systems are available that heat or warm vaporizable substances as opposed to burning tobacco in conventional tobacco products.

A commonly available reduced-risk or modified-risk device is the heated substrate aerosol generation device or heat-not-burn device. Devices of this type generate aerosol or vapour by heating an aerosol substrate that typically comprises moist leaf tobacco or other suitable vaporizable material to a temperature typically in the range 150°C to 350°C. Heating an aerosol substrate, but not combusting or burning it, releases aerosol that comprises the components sought by the user but not the toxic and carcinogenic byproducts of combustion and burning. Furthermore, the aerosol produced by heating the tobacco or other vaporizable material does not typically comprise the burnt or bitter taste resulting from combustion and burning that can be unpleasant for the user and so the substrate does not therefore require the sugars and other additives that are typically added to such materials to make the smoke and/or vapour more palatable for the user. Tobacco articles, usable with such type of aerosol generating devices can take various forms. Some of them can present an elongated stick or any other suitable shape, like for example a flat shape. Generally, such a tobacco article is received at least partially in a heating chamber of the device which comprises one or several heaters to heat the tobacco article.

When received at least partially in the heating chamber, the tobacco article is configured to generate aerosol which is delivered to the user via a mouthpiece. In some known devices, the mouthpiece can be permanent or adapted at least for several vaping sessions. However, in this case, it may be required to clean it regularly. For example, it may be required to clean the external surface of the mouthpiece each time before using the device for hygienic reasons and at least sometimes, the internal surface of the mouthpiece in order to take off the condensation formed during vaping. In some other devices, a mouthpiece can be formed by the aerosol generating article. Thus, its cleaning can be avoided but its use may be difficult for the user, especially when the tobacco article presents reduced dimensions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One of the aims of the invention is to propose a tobacco article providing a mouthpiece that has an ergonomic and comfortable shape for the user despite reduced dimensions of the tobacco article. Additionally, this mouthpiece can be used instead of a permanent or replaceable mouthpiece mountable on the device body which requires to be cleaned regularly.

For this purpose, the invention relates to a tobacco article for a heat-not-burn aerosol generating device, the tobacco article extending along an article axis between a proximal end and a distal end, and comprising a tobacco part and a mouthpiece part extending along the article axis; the tobacco part comprising a first end and the mouthpiece part comprising a second end, the first end being adjacent to the distal end or closer to the distal end than the second end, the second end being adjacent to the proximal end or closer to the proximal end than the first end; the tobacco part defining a flat shape with a substantially constant cross-section having a thickness t1 measured along a first transversal axis and a width w1 measured along a second transversal axis perpendicular to the first transversal axis; the mouthpiece part defining at least at the second end a cross-section having a thickness t2 measured according to the first transversal axis and a width w2 measured according to the second transversal axis; wherein the ratio t2/w2 is greater than the ratio t1/w1 .

Provided with these features, the thickness of the mouthpiece part can be greater than the thickness of the tobacco part, and/or the width of the mouthpiece part can be less than the width of the tobacco part. In this case, the mouthpiece part forms a more ergonomic shape that can be easily used by the user. This is particularly advantageous when the tobacco part has a flat shape since the same flat shape of the mouthpiece part would be less ergonomic and less comfortable for the user.

The ratio t2/w2 can be comprised between 1 ,05*t1/w1 and 10*t1/w1 , advantageously between 1.1 *t1/w1 and 5*t1/w1 , and preferably between 1.1 *t1/w1 and 2.5*t1/w1.

In some embodiments, the thickness t2 of the mouthpiece part can be substantially equal to the thickness t1 of the tobacco part. In this case, the width w2 of the mouthpiece part is strictly less than the width w1 of the tobacco part.

In some other embodiments, the width w2 of the mouthpiece part can be substantially equal to the width w1 of the tobacco part. In this case, the thickness t2 of the mouthpiece part is strictly greater than the thickness t1 of the tobacco part.

In some embodiments, the tobacco part comprises a vaporizable material forming a tobacco body with a substantially constant shape. This means that the tobacco body is substantially uncompressible. For example, only a slight compression (for example less than 5%, preferably less than 3%, of its width/thickness) of the tobacco body may be possible, for example while inserting the tobacco article inside the aerosol generating device.

The tobacco body can be formed using for example compressed vaporizable material (for example compressed tobacco substrate) using any appropriate producing method such as for example stamping, moulding, printing and/or embossing/debossing.

The tobacco body can have a corrugated cross-sectional shape. In some embodiments, the tobacco part comprises one or several pre-formed airflow channels allowing airflow from the first end of the tobacco part to the mouthpiece part. The pre-formed airflow channels are formed for example during the producing of the tobacco part. The pre-formed airflow channels can be substantially uncompressible. As it will be explained below, the pre-formed airflow channels form downstream channels extending through both tobacco and mouthpiece parts. The pre-formed airflow channels can be formed by the corrugated cross-sectional shape of the tobacco part.

In a general case, the pre-formed airflow channels can be arranged in the tobacco part so as to ensure an optimal aerosol/tobacco extraction and pressure drop.

The vaporizable material of the tobacco part may be compressed in a way to ensure airflow passage only through the pre-formed airflow channels.

In some embodiments, the mouthpiece part defines a pair of peripheral walls delimiting the mouthpiece part according to the second transversal axis. These peripheral walls have a curved convex or rounded shape. In a variant, the peripheral walls have straight portions but form rounded edges with lateral walls of the mouthpiece part.

These shapes of the peripheral walls can give a particularly ergonomic shape of the mouthpiece part. Thus, the mouthpiece part can be easily used by the user during a vaping session.

According to some embodiments, the mouthpiece part defines a lozenge shape at least at the cross-section at the second end of the mouthpiece part. Particularly, in some examples, the lozenge shape formed at the second end of the mouthpiece part diminishes progressively along the article axis to become a rectangular shape of the tobacco part. In some other examples, the lozenge shape is substantially constant along the whole length of the mouthpiece part. In this case, transition between the tobacco part and the mouthpiece is formed by a shoulder forming one or several steps.

In a general case, the mouthpiece part can have any suitable and ergonomic shape for the user. For example, the mouthpiece part can have a tubular shape having a circular or elliptic cross-section. This tubular shape can be substantially constant along the whole length of the mouthpiece part or progressively diminishing from the second end of the mouthpiece part until the tobacco part. In some embodiments, the mouthpiece part can be deformable so as the user can adapt its shape in any convenient way.

According to some embodiments, the mouthpiece part comprises a constant section defining a substantially constant cross-section. Advantageously, in the constant section, the mouthpiece part presents substantially the same thickness t2 and the same width w2. The constant section can extend according to at least 50%, advantageously 70%, preferably 80% and in some cases 90%, of the total longitudinal extension of the mouthpiece part.

Advantageously, the constant section of the mouthpiece part defines the second end of the mouthpiece part. In other words, the constant section is the closest section to the user of the mouthpiece part. The constant section can comprise a filter material and/cooling member and/or a hollow support having for example a substantially cuboid shape, eventually with rounded edges.

According to some embodiments, the mouthpiece part further comprises a variable section having at each its cross-section a variable thickness t3 measured according to the first transversal axis and/or a variable width w3 measured according to the second transversal axis; t3 changing continuously or step-wisely between t1 and t2; and/or w3 changing continuously or step-wisely between w1 and w2.

The variable section is advantageously arranged between the constant section and the tobacco part, and ensures transition between these elements. The transition can be smooth (i.e. continuous) or by steps. In some examples, a same wrapper can be used to wrap the constant section and the variable section of the mouthpiece part. In some other examples, different wrappers are used. Additionally, the wrapper wrapping the variable section can further wrap at least a part of the tobacco part. This wrapper can also be used to fix the mouthpiece part to the tobacco part.

In some embodiments, the variable section can define substantially the same width w3 and a changing thickness t3, preferably decreasing, from t2 to t1 . In some embodiments, the variable section can define substantially the same thickness t3 and a changing width w3, preferably increasing, from w2 to w1. In some other embodiments, both thickness t3 and width w3 are changing in the variable section. For example, the thickness t3 can decrease from t2 to t1 and the width w3 can increase from w2 to w1 .

The variable section can extend according to at least 10%, advantageously 20%, preferably 30% and in some cases 50%, of the total longitudinal extension of the mouthpiece part.

In some embodiments, the variable section comprises a filter material, a cooling member and/or a hollow support for cooling and/or filtering aerosol formed by the tobacco part. Similarly, the constant section can comprise a filter material and/or a hollow support for cooling and/or filtering aerosol formed by the tobacco part.

According to some embodiments, both constant and variable sections (i.e. the whole mouthpiece part) comprise the same filter material, cooling member and/or hollow support. Such an element can for example form a single piece extending through both constant and variable sections. In some other embodiments, the constant and variable sections comprise different elements. For example, the constant section can comprise a filter material and/or cooling member whereas the variable section can comprise a hollow support. The hollow support can attach the constant section of the mouthpiece part to the tobacco part. In this case, aerosol formed by the tobacco part is cooled in the variable section before passing to the constant section.

According to some embodiments, the tobacco article further comprises one or several upstream channels extending from an air inlet to the first end of the tobacco part. Advantageously, the tobacco article further comprises one or several downstream channels extending from the first end of the tobacco part through both tobacco and mouthpiece parts.

Provided with these features, airflow used to generate aerosol can be guided mainly through the tobacco article: first, by one or several upstream channels for achieving the tobacco part and then, by one or several downstream channels through the tobacco and mouthpiece parts to deliver aerosol to the user. Thus, any contact of the airflow with the heating chamber can be avoided or at least minimized. Thanks to these features, pollution and condensation which can be generated while operating the tobacco article, remain inside the article and can be easily evacuated from the device when the tobacco article is extracted. Additionally, the airflow used to generate aerosol can be entirely controlled inside the tobacco article by respective arrangements of the downstream and upstream channels inside the article. Thus, airflow distribution inside the tobacco article can be optimized and an optimal pressure drop can be achieved.

According to some embodiments, the or each upstream channel is formed between an inner wrapper wrapping at least the tobacco part with the mouthpiece part and an outer wrapper overlapping at least partially with the inner wrapper. Particularly, the outer wrapper can be sealed at least partially along its periphery to form an envelope receiving the tobacco part wrapped in the inner wrapper.

In some embodiments, a support can be used between the inner wrapper and the outer wrapper to maintain the shape of the or each upstream channel. The support can form a frame extending at least partially around the tobacco part. In some embodiments, the same support can be used to maintain the shape of the gap or end chamber and the shape of the or each upstream channel extending along a respective narrow lateral wall of the tobacco article.

In some embodiments, no support is provided. In this case, at least the outer wrapper can be formed from a rigid material, such as cardboard for example.

In some other embodiments, only inner wrapper is used and the or each upstream channel is formed by a sleeve extending at least partially around the inner wrapper. Still in some other embodiments, no wrapper is used and both mouthpiece and tobacco parts are at least partially received in a sleeve which forms also upstream channels.

The or each wrapper can comprise paper. Alternatively or additionally, the or each wrapper can comprise a heat conducting material such as aluminium. This can improve or optimize heat transfer from the heating chamber to the tobacco part. In some embodiments, the material is porous.

The or at least one the wrappers is fluidically impermeable. This can be achieved using an appropriate material or coating. The coating may be a water-based lacquer or a hot melt adhesive. For example, the wrapper, the barrier coating may have a water vapour transmission rate of 0 - 10 g/m²/day (at 23°C, 50% RH) and an oxygen transmission rate of <10 ccm/m²/day (at 23°C, 50% RH). Suitable materials for the outer wrapper and/or inner wrapper may be high barrier paper such as Avantguard S Gloss or Avantguard S Nature. Provided with these features, the wrapper can prevent any leakage from inside of the tobacco article. For example, such type of wrapper can contain condensation or other type of pollution inside the tobacco article. Thus, pollution of the heating chamber can be avoided.

According to some embodiments, the air inlet is formed by one or several holes calibrated to control a pressure drop of the tobacco article. The calibrated holes can be formed on a wrapper or sleeve extending around the mouthpiece part and/or tobacco part. The calibrated holes can be arranged in any suitable way on the wrapper or sleeve. For example, the calibrated holes can be arranged on lateral walls formed by the wrapper or sleeve. For example, the calibrated holes form a total open surface area comprised between 0,5 mm² and 5 mm².

The calibrated holes are calibrated to ensure the desired pressure drop by the tobacco article. In such a case, an accurate resistance to draw can be achieved. The calibrated holes can for example be formed by laser cuts.

In some embodiments, the or each air inlet is selectively closed by a one-way valve.

According to some embodiments, the tobacco part is receivable in a cavity (for example the heating chamber) of the aerosol generating device. In this case, the or each air inlet is designed to be arranged closer to the proximal end than to the distal end, preferably in the first quarter of length from the proximal end, so as to be outside the cavity, advantageously outside the aerosol generating device, when the tobacco part is received in the cavity.

Thanks to these features, airflow can enter the upstream airflow path outside the cavity. Thus, no airflow contacts the walls of the cavity.

Thus, air can be aspired from the outside of the device and no internal components of the device enters in contact with the airflow. Additionally, pollution and condensation can be avoided not only inside the cavity but also inside the whole device.

According to some embodiments, the tobacco article further comprises a positioning member designed to position the tobacco part inside the cavity of the aerosol generating device so as the or each air inlet is arranged outside the cavity. The positioning member prevents against an erroneous insertion of the tobacco article in the cavity so as the air inlet can always be positioned outside the cavity. Preferably, the positioning member is formed by a shoulder formed on a lateral wall of the tobacco article. Thus, the mouthpiece part can present a greater cross-sectional area preventing its insertion inside the cavity.

Depending on different embodiments of the invention, the positioning member can be formed in the variable section of the mouthpiece part and/or in the transition between the mouthpiece part and the tobacco part.

The present invention also concerns an aerosol generating system comprising:

- a tobacco article as defined above;

- a heat-not-burn aerosol generating device configured to operate with the tobacco article.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention and its advantages will be better understood upon reading the following description, which is given by way of non-limiting example and which is made with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 is a perspective view of an aerosol generating system, the aerosol generating system comprising an aerosol generating device and a tobacco article usable with the aerosol generating device;

- Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the aerosol generating system of Figure 1 according to plane II where the tobacco article is inserted into the aerosol generating device;

- Figure 3 is a perspective view (complete at the left part and partial at the right part) of the tobacco article according to a first embodiment of the invention;

- Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the tobacco article of Figure 3 according to plane IV;

- Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the tobacco article of Figure 3 according to plane V; - Figure 6 is a perspective view of the tobacco article according to a second embodiment of the invention;

- Figure 7 is a schematic view showing airflow circulation inside the tobacco article of Figure 6, the left part of the Figure corresponding to a cross-sectional view of the tobacco article of Figure 6 according to plane VII;

- Figure 8 is a perspective view of the tobacco article according to a third embodiment of the invention;

- Figure 9 show a side (part A), top (part B) and front (part C) views of the tobacco article of Figure 8;

- Figure 10 is a perspective view of the tobacco article according to a fourth embodiment of the invention;

- Figure 11 is a perspective view of the tobacco article according to a fifth embodiment of the invention; and

- Figure 12 is a front view of the tobacco article of Figure 1 1 .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Before describing the invention, it is to be understood that it is not limited to the details of construction set forth in the following description. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the present disclosure that the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways.

The expression “substantially equal to” is understood hereinafter as an equality at plus or minus 10% and preferably at plus or minus 5%.

As used herein, the term “aerosol generating device” or “device” may include a vaping device to deliver an aerosol to a user, including an aerosol for vaping, by means of a heater element explained in further detail below. The device may be portable. “Portable” may refer to the device being for use when held by a user. The device may be adapted to generate a variable amount of aerosol, e.g. by activating the heater element for a variable amount of time (as opposed to a metered dose of aerosol), which can be controlled by a trigger. The trigger may be user activated, such as a vaping button and/or inhalation sensor. The inhalation sensor may be sensitive to the strength of inhalation as well as the duration of inhalation to enable a variable amount of vapour to be provided (so as to mimic the effect of smoking a conventional combustible smoking article such as a cigarette, cigar or pipe, etc.). The device may include a temperature regulation control to drive the temperature of the heater and/or the heated aerosol generating substance (aerosol pre-cursor) to a specified target temperature and thereafter to maintain the temperature at the target temperature that enables efficient generation of aerosol.

As used herein, the term “aerosol” may include a suspension of vaporizable material as one or more of: solid particles; liquid droplets; gas. Said suspension may be in a gas including air. Aerosol herein may generally refer to/include a vapour. Aerosol may include one or more components of the vaporizable material.

As used herein, the term “vaporizable material” or “precursor” may refer to a smokable material which may for example comprise nicotine or tobacco and an aerosol former. Tobacco may take the form of various materials such as shredded tobacco, granulated tobacco, tobacco leaf and/or reconstituted tobacco. Suitable aerosol formers include: a polyol such as sorbitol, glycerol, and glycols like propylene glycol or triethylene glycol; a non-polyol such as monohydric alcohols, acids such as lactic acid, glycerol derivatives, esters such as triacetin, triethylene glycol diacetate, triethyl citrate, glycerin or vegetable glycerin. In some embodiments, the aerosol generating agent may be glycerol, propylene glycol, or a mixture of glycerol and propylene glycol. The substrate may also comprise at least one of a gelling agent, a binding agent, a stabilizing agent, and a humectant.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Figure 1 shows an aerosol generating system 10 comprising an aerosol generating device 11 , also called heat-not-burn aerosol generating device, and an aerosol generating article 12, also called tobacco article 12. The aerosol generating device 11 is intended to operate with the tobacco article 12. In the example of Figure 1 , the tobacco article 12 is extracted from the aerosol generating device 1 1. In the example of Figure 2, the tobacco article 12 is inserted into the aerosol generating device 11 . The tobacco article 12 extends between a proximal end 14 and a distal end 13 along an article axis X. The proximal end 14 is intended to be closer to a user than the distal end 13 when the tobacco article 12 is operated with the aerosol generating device 1 1 to generate aerosol. The distal end 13 is designed to be received inside the aerosol generating device 11 as it will be explained in further detail below.

As it is shown in Figure 2, the tobacco article 12 comprises a tobacco part 15 and a mouthpiece part 16 arranged along the article axis X. The tobacco part 15 comprises a first end 18 adjacent to or facing the distal end 13 of the tobacco article 12. Particularly, as it will be explained below in reference to different embodiments of the tobacco article 12, the first end 18 of the tobacco part 15 can be adjacent to the distal end 13 of the tobacco article 12 or can be spaced from this distal end 13 to form a gap. The mouthpiece part 16 comprises a second end 19 adjacent to or facing the proximal end 14 of the tobacco article 12, depending on the embodiments. In any case, the first end 18 is closer to the distal end 13 comparing to the second end 19 and the second end 19 is closer to the proximal end 14 comparing to the first end 18.

According to different embodiments, the tobacco article 12 has a generally flat shape. In some embodiments, both tobacco part 15 and the mouthpiece part 16 present a generally flat shape and have different cross-sectional shapes. In some other embodiments, only the tobacco part 15 presents a generally flat shape and the mouthpiece part 16 presents any other suitable shape, as it will be explained in further detail below.

The flat shape of the tobacco part 15 defines a substantially constant cross-section, for example a substantially constant rectangular cross-section. Additionally, the flat shape of the tobacco part 15 forms at least a pair of narrow lateral walls and a pair of lateral wide walls, extending along the tobacco article X. The flat shape of the tobacco article 12 has a thickness t1 and a width w1 , as it is shown in Figures 1 and 2. Particularly, the thickness t1 is measured along a first transversal axis T 1 substantially perpendicular to the lateral wide walls and the width w1 is measured along a second transversal axis T2 substantially perpendicular to the narrow lateral walls. The transversal axes T1 , T2 are thus perpendicular between them and perpendicular to the article axis X.

According to different embodiments, the mouthpiece part 16 defines a substantially constant or varying cross-section. At least at the second end 19, the mouthpiece part 16 has a thickness t2 measured according to the first transversal axis T1 and a width w2 measured according to the second transversal axis T2.

In the embodiments explained below, the cross-sectional shapes of the tobacco part 15 and the mouthpiece part 16 are adapted so as the ratio t2/w2 is greater than the ratio t1/w1.

The tobacco part 15 may for example be slightly longer than the mouthpiece part 16. For example, the length of the tobacco part 15 according to the article axis X may be comprised between 10 and 25 mm, for example, substantially equal to 18 mm. The length of the mouthpiece part 16 according to the article axis X may be substantially comprised between 8 and 20 mm, for example be equal to 15 mm. The above-mentioned length values for both tobacco and mouthpiece parts 15, 16 can be selected within a range of +/- 40%, for example. The tobacco part 15 and the mouthpiece part 16 may be fixed one to the other by one or several wrappers as it will be explained in reference to different embodiments of the tobacco article 12.

The mouthpiece part 16 comprises a core intended to act for example as a cooling member to cool slightly the vapour before it is inhaled by the user. The core may comprise for this purpose for example corrugated or channelled paper. The core may be formed through an extrusion and/or rolling process into a stable shape. Advantageously, the core is arranged inside the mouthpiece part 16 to be entirely in contact with the internal surface of the wrapper delimiting this mouthpiece part 16. Additionally or alternatively, the core acts as a filter. The core may be formed by a flow guiding element having a corrugated cross- sectional shape. The mouthpiece part 16 can also comprise a hollow part formed for example by a hollow support.

The tobacco part 15 comprises a vaporizable material forming a tobacco body and is intended to be heated by a heating chamber, as it will be explained in further detail below. The tobacco body may have a corrugated cross-sectional shape.

In the embodiments explained in detail below, the tobacco article 12 defines an upstream airflow path and a downstream airflow path. The downstream airflow path extends from the distal end 13 to the proximal end 14 in contact with or adjacent to the tobacco part 15 and the mouthpiece part 16. The upstream airflow path extends from an air inlet to the distal end 13 outside the tobacco part 15. The upstream airflow path comprises one or several upstream channels guiding fresh air from the outside of the tobacco article 12 until the tobacco part 15. The downstream airflow path comprises one or several downstream channels guiding aerosol formed further to heating the tobacco part 15. Advantageously, the or each downstream channel extends through both tobacco and mouthpiece parts 15, 16. Additionally, the or each upstream channel is fluidically isolated from the or each downstream channel. As a result, air is forced through the upstream channel and through the downstream channel without possible shortcut from one to the other.

Referring to Figure 1 , the aerosol generating device 11 comprises a device body 40 extending along a device axis Y between an open end 41 and a closed end 42. The open end 41 is designed to receive at least partially the tobacco article 12, notably the tobacco part 15 of the tobacco article 12 so as the article axis X and the device axis Y coincide one with the other.

The device body 40 comprises various internal components of the aerosol generating device 1 1. Particularly, these internal components can comprise in particular a battery, a controller and at least one heating element (e.g., a ceramic or film heater) for heating tobacco article when inserted in a heating chamber, etc. Among these components, only a heating chamber 60 will be explained in further detail in reference to Figure 2. As it is shown in this Figure 2, the heating chamber 60 is adapted to receive and heat the tobacco part 15 of the tobacco article 12. The heating chamber 60 extends according to the device axis Y between an open end 61 adjacent to the open end 41 of the device body 40 and a closed end 62 opposite to the open end 61 . The heating chamber 60 has a cross-sectional shape complementary to the cross-sectional shape of the tobacco part 15 of the tobacco article 11 . For example, when the tobacco part 15 is flat-shaped, the heating chamber 60 has also a flat shape. In this case, the heating chamber 60 can for example be delimited at least by a pair of wide walls and a pair of narrow walls extending parallel to the device axis Y. The heating chamber 60 further includes a heating element powered by the battery in order to heat the tobacco part 15. The heating element can comprise for example one or several resistive elements attached for example to the wide walls of the heating chamber. In this case, the wide walls can act as heat transferring elements from the heating elements to the tobacco part. The wide walls can be designed to be in contact with at least one wrapper wrapping the tobacco part 15 to heat it by conduction and in some cases, slightly compress the tobacco part 15 between the wide walls. According to other embodiments, a gap can be formed between the lateral wide walls the tobacco article 12 to heat the tobacco part 15 by convection. According to still another embodiment, at least one heating element presents a coil arranged around the heating chamber 60 and designed to heat the tobacco part 15 by induction.

FIRST EMBODIMENT OF THE TOBACCO ARTICLE

Figures 3 to 5 show a tobacco article 12 according to a first embodiment. According to this embodiment, the tobacco article 12 comprises an inner wrapper 121 and an outer wrapper 122 overlapping at least partially the inner wrapper 121 .

The inner wrapper 121 wraps together the tobacco and mouthpiece parts 15, 16. Particularly, the inner wrapper 121 can extend around the article axis X and is delimited according to this axis by the first end 18 of the tobacco part 15 and the second end 19 of the mouthpiece part 16, while keeping these ends transversally opened in respect with the article axis X. The inner wrapper 121 can be formed from several sheets used to wrap separately the parts 15, 16 close to their shape. The inner wrapper 121 can comprise paper and can be made impermeable for example using an appropriate selection of thickness, density and/or a coating made of impermeable material.

The outer wrapper 122 overlaps partially the inner wrapper 121 . As shown in Figure 3, the outer wrapper 122 is in offset with the inner wrapper 121 according to the article axis X. Particularly, the outer wrapper 122 extends around the article axis X and is delimited according to this axis X by an air inlet end 125 and the distal end 13 of the tobacco article 12. The air inlet end 125 is advantageously arranged between the second end 19 of the mouthpiece part 16 and a junction point between the tobacco and mouthpiece parts 15, 16. At the distal end 13 of the tobacco article 12, the outer wrapper 122 is sealed and forms a gap or end chamber 128 with the first end 18 of the tobacco part 15. At the air inlet end 125, the outer wrapper 122 is opened to form one or several air inlets 130 between the inner wrapper 121 and the outer wrapper 122. The outer wrapper 122 has a greater cross-section than the inner wrapper 121 so as form one or several upstream channels 132 delimited by an external surface of the inner wrapper 121 and an internal surface of the outer wrapper 122.

Particularly, the or each upstream channel 132 extends between an air inlet 130 and the distal end 13 of the tobacco article 12, according to the article axis X. Advantageously, in case of a flat-shaped tobacco article 12, two channels are formed on opposite sides of the tobacco article 12. For example, when the tobacco part 15 forms a pair of lateral narrow walls and a pair of lateral wide walls extending along the article axis X, each channel 132 is adjacent to a respective lateral narrow wall of the tobacco part 15.

To form the upstream channels 132 on opposite side of the tobacco article 12, the outer wrapper 122 can comprise two rectangular sheets sealed together at the periphery of three of their sides, including the bottom side and two lateral sides. The air inlets 130 are thus formed on the unsealed side, i.e., the front side, as it is shown in Figure 3.

To maintain the shape of the or each upstream channel 132, a support 135 can be provided. Advantageously, the support 135 can also maintain the shape of the gap or end chamber 128. In the example of Figure 3, this support 135 can for example comprise a frame comprising two longitudinal parts extending along the upstream channels 132 and a transversal part connecting the longitudinal parts and arranged in the gap 128. The tobacco part 15 can be received in a central space delimited by the frame.

Alternatively or additionally, the outer wrapper 122 can be made from a rigid material such as cardboard or moulded cellulose pulp to maintain the shape of the or each upstream channel 132 and/or the gap or end chamber 128.

The outer wrapper 122 and/or inner wrapper 121 can comprise paper. As the inner wrapper 121 , the outer wrapper 122 can also be made fluid impermeable by adding a barrier coating made of fluid barrier material. The coating may be a water-based lacquer or a hot melt adhesive. For example, the wrapper, the barrier coating may have a water vapour transmission rate of 0 - 10 g/m²/day (at 23°C, 50% RH) and an oxygen transmission rate of <10 ccm/m²/day (at 23°C, 50% RH). Suitable materials for the outer wrapper and/or inner wrapper may be high barrier paper such as Avantguard S Gloss or Avantguard S Nature.

As shown in Figure 4, the or each upstream channel 132 forms an upstream airflow path intending to guide an airflow from the outside of the tobacco article 11 until the gap or end chamber 128. From the gap or end chamber 128 until the second end 19 of the mouthpiece part 16, one or several downstream channels forming a downstream airflow path guiding the airflow through both tobacco and mouthpiece parts 15, 16 are formed. Thus, in the gap or end chamber 128, the airflow is turned at 180° to flow according to an opposite direction inside the tobacco and mouthpiece parts 15, 16. In the example of Figure 4, the arrows represented with a continuous line show the airflow direction in the upstream airflow path and the arrows represented with a dashed line show the airflow direction in the downstream airflow path.

According to this embodiment, the mouthpiece part 16 has a greater cross-section than the tobacco part 15. Particularly, as it is shown in Figure 5, the mouthpiece part 16 defines a constant section 151 extending along the article axis X and defining the second end 19, and a variable section 152 extending along the article axis X between the constant section 151 and the tobacco part 15.

The constant section 151 defines for example a constant thickness t2 and a constant width w2 along its whole length according to the article axis X. It can thus form in its crosssection a rectangular shape, having for example rounded angles. Alternatively, this crosssection can have any curved convex or rounded or circular shape. For example, in some examples, the constant section 151 can form a circular tubular shape. The width w2 of this section 151 can be substantially equal to or less than the width w1 of the tobacco part 15. As for the thickness t2 of the constant section 151 , it is greater than the thickness t1 of the tobacco part 15. For example, the ratio t2/t1 may be comprised between 5:1 to 1 ,5:1. For example, the thickness t2 of the constant section 151 is about 2,5-8 mm and the thickness t1 of the tobacco part 15 is about 0,8-3 mm.

The variable section 152 defines for example a variable thickness t3 and a constant width w3 along the article axis X. For example, the width w3 of this section can be substantially equal to widths w2 and w1 of the constant section 151 and the tobacco part 15. The thickness t3 can decrease along the article axis X from the constant section 152 to the tobacco part 15. In other words, t3 is decreasing from t2 to t1. The decreasing can be continuous or by steps.

The interior part of the variable section 152 can be different from the interior part of the constant section 151. For example, the constant section 151 can contain a filtering and/or cooling member having for the example a substantially cuboid shape, eventually with rounded edges. The variable section 151 can contain a hollow support or depending on the nature of the inner wrapper 121 be empty.

In reference to Figure 3, the variable section 152 of the mouthpiece part 16 forms a shoulder 140 on at least one wide lateral wall of the tobacco article 12, preferably on each wide lateral walls of the article 12. This shoulder 140 can act as a positioning member while inserting the tobacco article 12 in the heating chamber 60. Particularly, in this case, the shoulder 140 prevents the mouthpiece part 16 from being inserted inside the heating chamber 60 and ensures the positioning of the or each air inlet 130 outside the heating chamber 60. Advantageously, the or each air inlet 130 is positioned outside the device body 40 or inside a chamber of the device communicating with the outside.

SECOND EMBODIMENT OF THE TOBACCO ARTICLE

Figures 6 and 7 show a tobacco article 12 according to a second embodiment. The tobacco article 12 according to this embodiment also comprises at least one upstream channel 232 forming the upstream airflow path. Contrary to the previous embodiment, this upstream channel 232 extends through a center of the tobacco part 15 from an air inlet 230 to a gap or end chamber 228 formed between the distal end 13 of the tobacco article 12 and the first end 18 of the tobacco part 15. As in the previous embodiment, the gap or end chamber 228 can be formed by sealing a wrapper 221 at the distal end 13 of the tobacco article 12. The wrapper 221 may also be sealed in the axial direction by a single sealing seam (if the wrapper is formed of a single tubular containment layer) or, alternatively, a pair of side seams as an envelop (if the wrapper is formed of two containment layers).

According to this embodiment, the upstream channel 232 can for example be formed by a tubular insert 260 inserted in the center of the tobacco part 15, extending along the article axis X, and opening to the air inlet 230 using a curved element 261 . In this case, the air inlet 230 can be arranged on a lateral wide wall of the tobacco article 12. Additionally, as it is shown at the right part of Figure 6, the air inlet 230 can be arranged between the second end 19 of the mouthpiece part 16 and a junction point between the tobacco and mouthpiece parts 15, 16

During operation of the tobacco article, airflow enters the upstream channel 232 through the air inlet 230. It flows then through the upstream channel 232 until achieving the gap or end chamber 228 where it turns at 180° and enters the downstream airflow path extending through both tobacco and mouthpiece parts 15, 16.

Similarly to the previous embodiment, the mouthpiece part 16 defines a constant section 251 and a variable section 252, the variable section 252 extending between the constant section 251 and the tobacco part 15. As in the previous case, the constant section 251 defines for example a constant thickness t2 and a constant width w2 along its whole length according to the article axis X. These values t2 and w2 can be the same as in the previous embodiment. As for the variable section 252, it can define a variable thickness t3 and a constant width w3 along the article axis X, also as explained in the previous embodiment. This thickness t3 can decrease continuously or by steps.

Also as in the previous embodiment, the variable section 252 forms a shoulder 240. Contrary to the previous embodiment, the shoulder 240 can be formed only on one of the wide lateral walls of the tobacco article 12. This shoulder 240 can act as a positioning member while inserting the tobacco article 12 in the heating chamber 60. Particularly, in this case, the shoulder 240 ensures the positioning of the air inlet 230 outside the heating chamber 60 and advantageously outside the device body 40.

THIRD EMBODIMENT OF THE TOBACCO ARTICLE

Figures 8 and 9 show a tobacco article 12 according to a third embodiment. The tobacco article 12 according to this embodiment also comprises at least one, advantageously two upstream channel(s) forming the upstream airflow path. In case of two upstream channels, each channel can extend along a lateral narrow wall of the tobacco part 15 from an air inlet 330 to a gap or end chamber 328 formed between the distal end 13 of the tobacco article 12 and the first end 18 of the tobacco part 15. In the example of Figure 8, the upstream channels are formed by a sleeve 322 receiving at least the tobacco part 15 of the article 12. Particularly, each upstream channel can be formed by a gap formed between an internal surface of the sleeve 322 and a lateral narrow wall of the tobacco part 15. The internal arrangement of the upstream channels and their connection with downstream channels can be similar to those explained in reference to the first embodiment and shown in Figure 4. The tobacco part 15 can further be wrapped by an internal wrapper (not shown in the Figures), eventually together with the mouthpiece part 16.

As shown in Figure 9, the width w2 of the mouthpiece part 16 and the width w1 of the tobacco part 15 can be substantially equal. The width of the sleeve 322 according to the second transversal axis T2 can however be greater that the width w2 of the mouthpiece part 16, due to the upstream channels extending on either side of the tobacco part 15. In some embodiments, the width w1 of the tobacco part 15 can be slightly greater than the width w2 of the mouthpiece part 16. The thickness t2 of the mouthpiece part 16 is greater than the thickness t1 of the tobacco part 15. The thickness t2 of the mouthpiece part 16 can for example be constant along the whole length of the mouthpiece part 16. In this case, a shoulder 340 is formed in the transition between the mouthpiece part 16 and the tobacco part 15. Advantageously, a shoulder 340 is formed on each wide lateral wall of the tobacco article 12. The or each shoulder 340 can be formed by the sleeve 322 attaching together the tobacco part 15 and the mouthpiece part 16. As in the previous embodiments, the or each shoulder 340 can act as a positioning member to position the tobacco part 15 inside the heating chamber 60 while keeping the air inlets 330 outside.

As shown in Figure 9, the mouthpiece part 16 can form an oval (elliptical) cross- sectional shape with diameters formed by the thickness t2 and width w2 of this part 16.

FOURTH EMBODIMENT OF THE TOBACCO ARTICLE

Figure 10 shows a tobacco article 12 according to a fourth embodiment. This embodiment is similar to the third embodiment. Particularly, according to the fourth embodiment, the tobacco article 12 also comprises a sleeve 422 receiving the tobacco part 15 and advantageously, the mouthpiece part 16. As in the previous case, the sleeve 422 forms an upstream channel on each side of the tobacco part 15. Like in the previous embodiment, each upstream channel extends between an air inlet and a gap or end chamber formed by the sleeve 422 at the first end 18 of the tobacco part 15. Contrary to the previous case, according to the fourth embodiment, the or each air inlet is formed by several holes 433 in the sleeve 422. These holes 433 can be calibrated to ensure the desired pressure drop through the tobacco article 12. The calibrated holes 433 can be arranged in any suitable way on the sleeve 422. In the example of Figure 10, the holes 433 are arranged circumferentially at the end of the mouthpiece part 16 adjacent to the tobacco part 15. Finally, as in the previous cases, at least one shoulder 440 is formed by the sleeve 422 in the transition between the mouthpiece part 16 and the tobacco part 15.

FIFTH EMBODIMENT OF THE TOBACCO ARTICLE

Figures 1 1 and 12 show a tobacco article 12 according to a fifth embodiment. This embodiment is similar to the third and fourth embodiments. Particularly, according to the fifth embodiment, the tobacco article 12 also comprises a sleeve 522 receiving the tobacco part 15 and advantageously, the mouthpiece part 16.

According to this embodiment, the sleeve 522 presents an envelope which can be sealed along its lateral and distal sides. The sleeve 522 can be made of a single piece and/or can comprise paper, cardboard, moulded cellulose pulp, plastic or combinations thereof. As in the previous examples, one or several upstream channels are formed inside the sleeve 522, advantageously on either side of the tobacco part 15. The or each upstream channel can extend from an air inlet formed by one or several holes defined in the sleeve 522.

According to the fifth embodiment, the cross-section of the sleeve 522 at the second end 19 of the mouthpiece part 16 presents a substantially lozenge shape shown in Figure 12. This lozenge shape defines at the second end 19 the maximal thickness t2 of the mouthpiece part 16. This thickness t2 then progressively decreases along the article axis X until achieving the thickness t1 of the tobacco part 15. The width w2 of the mouthpiece part 16 can be substantially the same as the width w1 of the tobacco part 15. In the transition between the mouthpiece part 16 and the tobacco part 15, a shoulder 540 is formed. For example, a shoulder 540 can be formed on each wide lateral wall of the tobacco article 12. As in the previous embodiments, the or each shoulder 540 can act as a positioning member to position the tobacco part 15 inside the heating chamber 60 while keeping the air inlets outside.

Claims

1. A tobacco article (12) for a heat-not-burn aerosol generating device (1 1 ), the tobacco article extending along an article axis (X) between a proximal end (14) and a distal end (13), and comprising a tobacco part (15) and a mouthpiece part (16) extending along the article axis (X); the tobacco part (15) comprising a first end (18) and the mouthpiece part (16) comprising a second end (19), the first end (18) being adjacent to the distal end (13) or closer to the distal end (13) than the second end (19), the second end (19) being adjacent to the proximal end (14) or closer to the proximal end (14) than the first end (19); the tobacco part (15) defining a flat shape before insertion in the aerosol generating device (1 1 ) with a substantially constant cross-section having a thickness t1 measured along a first transversal axis (T 1 ) and a width w1 measured along a second transversal axis (T2) perpendicular to the first transversal axis (T1 ); the mouthpiece part (15) defining at least at the second end (19) a cross-section having a thickness t2 measured according to the first transversal axis (T1 ) and a width w2 measured according to the second transversal axis (T2); wherein the ratio t2/w2 is greater than the ratio t1/w1 .

2. The tobacco article (12) according to claim 1 , wherein the mouthpiece part (16) defines a pair of peripheral walls delimiting the mouthpiece part according to the second transversal axis (T2); the peripheral walls having a curved convex or rounded shape.

3. The tobacco article (12) according to claim 1 , wherein the mouthpiece part (16) defines a lozenge shape at least at the cross-section at the second end (19) of the mouthpiece part (16).

4. The tobacco article (12) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mouthpiece part (16) comprises a constant section (151 ; 251 ) defining a substantially constant cross-section.

5. The tobacco article (12) according to claim 4, wherein the mouthpiece part (16) further comprises a variable section (152; 252) having at each its cross-section a variable thickness t3 measured according to the first transversal axis (T1 ) and/or a variable width w3 measured according to the second transversal axis (T2); t3 changing continuously or step-wisely between t1 and t2; and/or w3 changing continuously or step-wisely between w1 and w2.

6. The tobacco article (12) according to claim 5, wherein the variable section (152; 252) comprises a filter material, a cooling member and/or a hollow support for cooling and/or filtering aerosol formed by the tobacco part (15).

7. The tobacco article (12) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mouthpiece part (16) comprises a filter material, a cooling member and/or a hollow support for cooling and/or filtering aerosol formed by the tobacco part (15).

8. The tobacco article (12) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising one or several upstream channels (132; 232) extending from an air inlet (130; 230; 330) to the first end (18) of the tobacco part (15).

9. The tobacco article (12) according to claim 8, wherein the or each upstream channel (132) is formed between an inner wrapper (121 ) wrapping at least the tobacco part (15) with the mouthpiece part (16) and an outer wrapper (122) overlapping at least partially with the inner wrapper (121 ).

10. The tobacco article (12) according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the air inlet (130; 230; 330) is formed by one or several holes calibrated to control a pressure drop of the tobacco article (12).

1 1. The tobacco article (12) according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein:

- the tobacco part (15) is receivable in a cavity of the aerosol generating device (1 1 ); and

- the or each air inlet (130; 230; 330) is designed to be arranged closer to the proximal end (14) than to the distal end (13), preferably in the first quarter of length from the proximal end (14), so as to be outside the cavity, advantageously outside the aerosol generating device (1 1 ), when the tobacco part (15) is received in the cavity.

12. The tobacco article (12) according to claim 11 , further comprising a positioning member (140; 240; 340; 440; 540) designed to position the tobacco part (15) inside the cavity of the aerosol generating device (11 ) so as the or each air inlet (130; 230; 330) is arranged outside the cavity.

13. The tobacco article (12) according to claim 12, wherein the positioning member comprises (140; 240; 340; 440; 540) a shoulder formed between the mouthpiece part (16) and the tobacco part (15).

14. The tobacco article (12) according to claim 13 taken in combination with at least claim 5, wherein the shoulder is formed by the variable section (152; 252) of the mouthpiece part (16).

15. An aerosol generating system (10) comprising:

- a tobacco article (12) according to any one of the preceding claims;

- an aerosol generating device (11 ) configured to operate with the tobacco article.