Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
  • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
  • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
  • A24F40/90—Arrangements or methods specially adapted for charging batteries thereof
  • A24F40/95—Arrangements or methods specially adapted for charging batteries thereof structurally associated with cases
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
  • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
  • A24F15/00—Receptacles or boxes specially adapted for cigars, cigarettes, simulated smoking devices or cigarettes therefor
  • A24F15/01—Receptacles or boxes specially adapted for cigars, cigarettes, simulated smoking devices or cigarettes therefor specially adapted for simulated smoking devices or cigarettes therefor
  • A24F15/015—Receptacles or boxes specially adapted for cigars, cigarettes, simulated smoking devices or cigarettes therefor specially adapted for simulated smoking devices or cigarettes therefor with means for refilling of liquid inhalable precursors
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
  • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
  • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
  • A24F40/30—Devices using two or more structurally separated inhalable precursors, e.g. using two liquid precursors in two cartridges
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
  • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
  • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
  • A24F40/10—Devices using liquid inhalable precursors

Definitions

• Electronic aerosol provision systems such as electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) generally contain a reservoir of a source liquid containing a formulation, typically including nicotine, from which an aerosol is generated, e.g. through heat vaporisation.
• An aerosol source for an aerosol provision system may thus comprise a heater having a heating element arranged to receive source liquid from the reservoir, for example through wicking / capillary action. While a user inhales on the device, electrical power is supplied to the heating element to vaporise source liquid in the vicinity of the heating element to generate an aerosol for inhalation by the user.
• Such devices are usually provided with one or more air inlet holes located away from a mouthpiece end of the system.
• aerosol provision systems can look and feel quite different to cigarettes, and often cigarette users wishing to switch to aerosol provision systems do not take to these aerosol provision systems and revert back to cigarettes. Some factors for this may include the way the aerosol provision systems are operated, the taste / flavour of the aerosol delivered, and the overall ritual.
• the refill and recharge device comprises a lid movably mounted to the housing of the refill and recharge device, the lid arranged to rotate about an axis parallel to the second direction, wherein the lid is capable of moving between a closed position in which the opening of the aerosol provision device receiving portion is obscured by the lid, and an open position in which the opening of the aerosol provision device receiving portion is exposed.
• the aerosol-generating material storage portion is configured to be capable of storing an amount of aerosol-generating material capable of generating aerosol when the aerosol generator is operated at most 30 times, and/or wherein the aerosol-generating material storage portion has a volume of 0.2 ml or less.
• a method for refilling and/or recharging an aerosol provision device comprising a power source, an aerosol generator for generating aerosol from an aerosol-generating material, and an aerosol-generating material storage portion for storing aerosol-generating material
• the method including: coupling the aerosol provision device to a refill and recharge device configured to refill the aerosol-generating material storage portion of the aerosol provision device with aerosol-generating material and configured to recharge the power source of the aerosol provision device when the aerosol provision device is coupled to the refill and recharge device, refilling the aerosol-generating material storage portion of the aerosol provision device with aerosol-generating material, and recharging the power source of the aerosol provision device.
• the aerosol provision device is configured to releasably receive an aerosol modifying agent release component comprising a housing and an aerosol modifying agent, the aerosol modifying agent release component configured to releasably couple to the aerosol provision device such that generated aerosol is able to pass to the aerosol modifying agent to modify a characteristic thereof.
• a system for providing an aerosol to a user including: aerosol provision means comprising a power means, aerosol generator means for generating aerosol from an aerosol-generating material, and aerosol-generating material storage means for storing aerosol-generating material; aerosol modifying agent release means comprising a housing and an aerosol modifying agent, the aerosol modifying agent release means configured to releasably couple to the aerosol provision means such that generated aerosol is able to pass to the aerosol modifying agent to modify a characteristic thereof; and refill and recharge means configured to refill the aerosol-generating material storage means of the aerosol provision means with aerosol-generating material and configured to recharge the power means of the aerosol provision means when the aerosol provision means is coupled to the refill and recharge means.
• a "non-combustible" aerosol provision system is one where a constituent aerosol-generating material of the aerosol provision system (or component thereof) is not combusted or burned in order to facilitate delivery of at least one substance to a user.
• the non-combustible aerosol provision system is an electronic cigarette, also known as a vaping device or electronic nicotine delivery system (END), although it is noted that the presence of nicotine in the aerosol-generating material is not a requirement.
• END electronic nicotine delivery system
• the non-combustible aerosol provision system is a hybrid system to generate aerosol using a combination of aerosol-generating materials, one or a plurality of which may be heated.
• Each of the aerosol-generating materials may be, for example, in the form of a solid, liquid or gel and may or may not contain nicotine.
• the hybrid system comprises a liquid or gel aerosol-generating material and a solid aerosol-generating material.
• the solid aerosol-generating material may comprise, for example, tobacco or a non-tobacco product.
• the non-combustible aerosol provision system may comprise a non-combustible aerosol provision device and a consumable for use with the non-combustible aerosol provision device.
• the disclosure relates to consumables comprising aerosol-generating material and configured to be used with non-combustible aerosol provision devices. These consumables are sometimes referred to as articles throughout the disclosure.
• the non-combustible aerosol provision system such as a non-combustible aerosol provision device thereof, may comprise a power source and a controller.
• the power source may, for example, be an electric power source.
• the non-combustible aerosol provision system may comprise an area for receiving the consumable, an aerosol generator, an aerosol generation area, a housing, a mouthpiece, a filter and/or an aerosol-modifying agent.
• the consumable for use with the non-combustible aerosol provision device may comprise aerosol-generating material, an aerosol-generating material storage area, an aerosol-generating material transfer component, an aerosol generation area, a housing, a wrapper, a filter, a mouthpiece, and/or an aerosol-modifying agent.
• the substance to be delivered may be an aerosol-generating material.
• either material may comprise one or more active constituents, one or more flavours, one or more aerosol-former materials, and/or one or more other functional materials.
• Aerosol-generating material is a material that is capable of generating aerosol, for example when heated, irradiated or energized in any other way. Aerosol-generating material may, for example, be in the form of a solid, liquid or gel which may or may not contain an active substance and/or flavourants. In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material may comprise an "amorphous solid", which may alternatively be referred to as a "monolithic solid” (i.e. non-fibrous). In some embodiments, the amorphous solid may be a dried gel. The amorphous solid is a solid material that may retain some fluid, such as liquid, within it. In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material may for example comprise from about 50wt%, 60wt% or 70wt% of amorphous solid, to about 90wt%, 95wt% or 100wt% of amorphous solid.
• the aerosol-generating material may comprise one or more aerosol-former materials.
• the aerosol-former material may comprise one or more constituents capable of forming an aerosol.
• the aerosol-former material may comprise one or more of glycerol, propylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol, erythritol, meso-Erythritol, ethyl vanillate, ethyl laurate, a diethyl suberate, triethyl citrate, triacetin, a diacetin mixture, benzyl benzoate, benzyl phenyl acetate, tributyrin, lauryl acetate, lauric acid, myristic acid, and propylene carbonate.
• An aerosol-modifying agent is a substance, typically located downstream of the aerosol generation area, that is configured to modify the aerosol generated, for example by changing the taste, flavour, acidity or another characteristic of the aerosol.
• the aerosol-modifying agent may be provided in an aerosol-modifying agent release component, that is operable to selectively release the aerosol-modifying agent.
• the aerosol-modifying agent may, for example, be an additive or a sorbent.
• the aerosol-modifying agent may, for example, comprise one or more of an active substance, a flavourant, a colourant, water, and a carbon adsorbent.
• the aerosol-modifying agent may, for example, be a solid, a liquid, or a gel.
• the aerosol-modifying agent may be in powder, thread or granule form.
• the aerosol-modifying agent may be free from filtration material.
• the electrical contacts 29a, 29b are electrically coupled to the terminals of the battery 22 (either directly or via suitable recharging circuitry) and can facilitate recharging of the battery 22.
• the electrical contacts 29a, 29b may be arranged differently (for example, at the same end of the housing 20a), or may be omitted if, for example, the battery 22 is to be recharged inductively using suitable wireless recharging circuitry provided in the housing 20a.
• the reservoir refill mechanism 28 is accessible through the receptacle 21. That is, the reservoir refill mechanism 28 is arranged such that the suitable refilling mechanism (e.g., in the refill/recharge pack 10) is capable of passing through an opening in the base of the receptacle 21 and interacting with the reservoir refill mechanism 28.
• the air outlet 27d functions as the opening in the base of the receptacle 21 that allows both the aerosol to pass through the consumable 30 (when installed in the receptacle 21) and the suitable refilling mechanism (e.g., in the refill/recharge pack 10) to engage with the reservoir refill mechanism 28 (when the consumable 30 is not installed in the receptacle 21).
• the reservoir refill mechanism 28 may be arranged at an alternate location, for example, on a side of the housing 20a.
• the consumable 30 comprises a housing 30a, a first, distal end retaining element 31, a second, proximal end retaining element 32, and an aerosol modifying agent 33.
• the housing 30a of the consumable 30 may take any suitable shape, but in the present example is a cylindrical shape.
• the consumable 30 is sized so as to be received, at least partly, within the receptacle 21 of the aerosol provision device 20, and hence in this example, the receptacle 21 is also similarly cylindrical in shape.
• the housing 30a may be formed of any suitable material, for example a plastic material.
• the housing 30a may be formed from paper or a similar material such as card. Forming the housing 30a from paper or card may reduce the manufacturing cost of the consumable 30.
• the housing 30a of Figure 3 is shown as being a tubular with openings at either ends thereof. At each end, a retaining element 31, 32 is provided.
• the retaining elements 31, 32 are positioned to extend across the openings of the tubular housing 30a. Accordingly, the retaining elements 31, 32 and the housing 30a define a volume therebetween. Within the volume is located the aerosol modifying agent 33. Accordingly, it should be understood that the retaining elements 31, 32 help to retain the aerosol modifying agent 33 within the consumable 30.
• the retaining elements 31, 32 are configured to allow air (and aerosol from the aerosol provision device 20) to pass through the retaining elements 31, 32.
• the retaining elements 31, 32 may take any suitable configuration that allows the retaining elements 31, 32 to both retain the aerosol modifying agent in the volume between the retaining elements 31, 32 and to allow air to pass therethrough.
• the retaining elements 31, 32 comprise a planar mesh or a porous substrate.
• the retaining elements 31, 32, and in particular the retaining element 32 at the proximal end of the housing 30a may be formed from a filter material, for example cellulose acetate.
• the retaining elements 31, 32 may also act as a filter for filtering certain constituents from the air flow that passes through the retaining elements 31, 32.
• the aerosol modifying agent 33 may be any suitable aerosol modifying agent, for example any of the aerosol modifying agents listed above.
• the aerosol modifying agent 33 is configured to modify one or more properties of the aerosol that passes by or through the aerosol modifying agent 33.
• the aerosol modifying agent 33 comprises an active substance.
• the aerosol modifying agent 33 comprises nicotine.
• the aerosol modifying agent 33 comprises a flavour or flavourant.
• the aerosol modifying agent 33 comprises a tobacco flavouring.
• the aerosol modifying agent 33 is or comprises tobacco, for example, cut-rag tobacco, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco, and/or treated tobacco.
• tobacco By using tobacco as the aerosol modifying agent 33, tobacco flavouring and nicotine may be imparted to aerosol passing through the consumable 30 and the aerosol modifying agent 33.
• the aerosol that is generated and modified by such a tobacco aerosol modifying agent 33 has similar flavours/tastes to smoke generated by cigarettes, thereby helping to facilitate switching of cigarette users to aerosol provision systems by improving the familiarity of the aerosol provision system to such cigarette users.
• the consumable 30 when the consumable 30 is engaged with the aerosol provision device 20, specifically when the consumable 30 is inserted into receptacle 21, the consumable 30 is inserted such that the distal end (i.e., the end comprising retaining element 31) is inserted first into the receptacle 21. That is, when the consumable 30 is inserted into the receptacle 21, the first, distal retaining element 31 is closest to the distal end 20c of the aerosol provision system 20.
• the distal end i.e., the end comprising retaining element 31
• the control circuitry 23 detects such a drop and subsequently supplies power to the aerosol generator 26 (from battery 22) to cause the aerosol generator 26 to activate, i.e., heat, and generate vapour.
• the aerosol provision device 20 may comprise a user input mechanism, such as a button (not shown), on the housing 20a of the aerosol provision device 20 which is able to be actuated by a user to cause activation of the aerosol generator 26.
• the aerosol-generating material is free from any active ingredients and/or flavourants. "Free from” as used herein means that the aerosol-generating material does not contain any active ingredients and/or flavourants or contains no greater than negligible or trace amount of the active ingredients and/or flavourants. More concretely, the aerosol-generating material comprises an active ingredient in an amount of no greater than 0.01 wt.% based on the weight of the aerosol-generating material (such as a liquid aerosol-generating material) and/or the aerosol-generating material comprises one or more flavourants in an amount of no greater than 0.01 wt.% based on the weight of the aerosol-generating material (such as a liquid aerosol-generating material).
• the aerosol generator 26 is provided as an integral part of the aerosol provision device 20.
• the aerosol provision device 20 is intended to be used with multiple consumables 30 and thus the aerosol generator 26 is intended to be used multiple times over a prolonged period of use.
• the aerosol generator 26 may be used for a longer period than aerosol provision systems that have a disposable, integrated reservoir and heater (for example, in the form of a disposable cartomiser).
• the aerosol generator 26 integrally provided with the aerosol provision device 20 may be more prone to build-up of residue over time which may affect performance if used with an aerosol-generating material having other constituents, such as a flavour or an active substance, for example. Therefore, by using an aerosol-generating material that is free from active ingredients / flavourants, the aerosol generator 26 can be used for a longer period of time with relatively lower levels of residual build-up, thereby maintaining acceptable performance for longer.
• aerosol-generating material transport element 25 and aerosol generator 26 by providing an aerosol-generating material that is free from active ingredients / flavourants, there is a reduced chance of cross-contamination of aerosol-generating material in the reservoir 24, aerosol-generating material transport element 25 and aerosol generator 26.
• aerosol-generating material transport element 25 and aerosol generator 26 may mix with the second unflavoured aerosol-generating material and cause cross-contamination of the aerosol-generating material and the aerosol produced therefrom.
• the consumable 30 comprises an aerosol modifying agent 33, which is positioned along the airflow path (e.g., at the air outlet 27d of the aerosol provision device 20) such that the aerosol generated by the aerosol generator 26 passes to or through the aerosol modifying agent 33 to modify a characteristic of the aerosol.
• the aerosol modifying agent 33 is capable of imparting a (tobacco) flavour and/or active substance (nicotine) to the aerosol generated by the aerosol generator 26 as the aerosol passes to or through the aerosol modifying agent 33 (which, as noted above, may be or comprise a tobacco or tobacco based substance).
• the receptacle 21 provides a location where the consumable 30 couples or otherwise engages with the aerosol provision device 20.
• the consumable 30 is held in place in the receptacle 21 by friction-fit. That is, the diameter of the receptacle 21 may be the same size as (or slightly smaller than, e.g., 0.1 or less of a mm) the diameter of the consumable 30.
• the consumable 30 may be engaged with the receptacle 21 in other ways, for example based around a screw thread, latch mechanism, bayonet fixing or magnetic coupling.
• the receptacle 21 represents only an example of a suitable interface for interfacing with and engaging the consumable 30.
• the consumable 30 may be engaged with the aerosol provision device 20 in any suitable way.
• the refill/recharge pack 10 comprises a housing 10a, receptacle 11 for receiving the aerosol provision device 20, power source 12, control circuitry 13, reservoir 14, transfer mechanism 15, aerosol-generating material conduit 16a, 16b and 16c, aerosol provision device engagement mechanism 17, and electrical contacts 18a, 18b.
• the refill/recharge pack 10 is configured to have the shape and dimensions of a cigarette pack. That is, the refill/recharge pack 10 may be broadly cuboidal and have a dimension in the length direction L (i.e., along a longitudinal axis thereof) of between 14 cm and 6 cm, or between 13 cm and 7 cm, or between 10 cm and 8 cm, a total width dimension W (i.e., perpendicular to the longitudinal axis) of between 8 cm and 5 cm, or between 7 cm and 5.5 cm, and a total depth dimension (not shown in Figure 4 , but perpendicular to both the longitudinal axis and width direction) of between 3 cm and 1 cm, or between 2.5 cm and 1.5 cm.
• the dimension in the length direction L may be dependent on the length of the aerosol provision device 20.
• the refill/recharge pack 10 comprises the receptacle 11 which is sized so as to receive the aerosol provision device 20.
• the receptacle 11 may define a cylindrical recess having a similar width / diameter and length as the aerosol provision device 20.
• the receptacle 11 has a longitudinal axis that is parallel with the length dimension of the refill/recharge pack 10.
• the distal end of the aerosol provision device 20 protrudes out of the receptacle 11 when the aerosol provision device 20 is fully inserted.
• the aerosol provision device 20 may be fully enclosed within the receptacle 11. In such implementations, a mechanism may be implemented to help lift the aerosol provision device 20 from the receptacle 11 for removal from the refill/recharge pack 10.
• the outer housing 10a in the described implementation has an overall cuboidal shape having a top surface (through which the receptacle 11 is accessible), a bottom surface opposite the top surface, and one or more side surfaces extending therebetween and perpendicular thereto.
• the outer housing 10a may be formed, for example, from a plastics or metallic material. In some implementations, the outer housing 10a may be circumscribed, at least partly, by a paper material or cellulose material. Within the outer housing 10a is located the various components of the refill/recharge pack 10, such as the power source 12, control circuitry 13, etc.
• the power source 12 in this implementation is a battery 12.
• the battery 12 may be rechargeable, for example a lithium ion battery, although other battery chemistries may also be considered.
• the battery 12 is capable of being recharged via an external source (such as via a connection to mains power through a suitable cable, not shown, or via inductive charging).
• the battery 12 may not be rechargeable.
• the outer housing 10a may comprise a door or hatch that allows for the battery 12 to be replaced with a fresh (i.e., charged) battery 12.
• the battery 12 is intended to be used to recharge the battery 22 of the aerosol provision device 20, and thus has a capacity at least equal to the capacity of the battery 22 of the aerosol provision device 20.
• the control circuitry 13 is suitably configured / programmed to control the operations of the refill/recharge pack 10.
• the control circuitry 13 may be considered to logically comprise various sub-units / circuitry elements associated with different aspects of the refill/recharge pack's operation and may be implemented by provision of a (micro)controller, processor, ASIC or similar form of control chip.
• the control circuitry 13 may be arranged to control any functionality associated with the refill/recharge pack 10.
• the functionality may include the charging or re-charging of the battery 12 (e.g., from the external source), the discharging of the battery 12 (e.g., for recharging the battery 22 of the aerosol provision device 20), and the transfer of aerosol generating material from the reservoir 14 to the reservoir 24 of the aerosol provision device 20.
• other functionality such as controlling visual indicators (e.g., LEDs) / displays of the refill/recharge pack 10, communication functionality for communicating with external devices, etc. may also be controlled by the control circuitry 13.
• the control circuitry 13 may be mounted to a printed circuit board (PCB). Note also that the functionality provided by the control circuitry 13 may be split across multiple circuit boards and / or across components which are not mounted to a PCB, and these additional components and / or PCBs can be located as appropriate within the refill/recharge pack 10.
• the aerosol-generating material in the reservoir 14 is intended to be transferred to the reservoir 24 of the aerosol provision device 20 when the aerosol provision device 20 is installed in the receptacle 11.
• the reservoir 14 is intended to be used to refill the reservoir 24 of the aerosol provision device 20, and thus in some implementations has a volume at least equal to the volume of the reservoir 24 of the aerosol provision device 20.
• the volume of the reservoir 12 of the refill/recharge pack 10 may be greater, for example 5 or more, 10 or more, or 20 or more times greater than the volume of the reservoir 24 of the aerosol provision device 20. This means that the refill/recharge pack 10 is capable of refilling the reservoir 24 of the aerosol provision device 20 multiple times from the reservoir 12 of the refill/recharge pack 10.
• the reservoir 14 may be integrally formed with the refill/recharge pack 10, and may or may not be refillable. However, in other implementations, the reservoir 14 may be removable from the refill/recharge pack 10. In these implementations, once the reservoir 14 is depleted, the reservoir 14 may be removed and replaced with a new (full) reservoir 14.
• the reservoir refill mechanism 28 is accessible through the base of the receptacle 21.
• the engagement mechanism 17 is configured to engage with the reservoir refill mechanism 28 so as to facilitate refilling of the reservoir 24 of the aerosol provision device 20.
• the engagement mechanism 17 comprises a protrusion 17a at an end thereof that is arranged to protrude through the outlet 27d of the aerosol provision device 20 and engage with, and actuate (e.g., move the spring-loaded ball valve of) the reservoir refill mechanism 28.
• the protrusion 17a may be suitably shaped to engage with the reservoir refill mechanism 28, and may take different forms in dependence on the specific reservoir refill mechanism 28 employed in the aerosol provision device 20. For example, if the reservoir refill mechanism 28 is a septum, the protrusion 17a may take the form of a needle.
• the refill/recharge pack 10 comprises an aerosol-generating material conduit formed of three parts; a first conduit 16a in fluid communication with the reservoir 14 and extending to an input of the transfer mechanism 15, a second conduit 16b in fluid communication with the output of the transfer mechanism 15 and extending to and in fluid communication with a third conduit 16c extending through the engagement mechanism 17 and the protrusion 17a and terminating at an opening at the end of the protrusion 17a.
• the first, second and third conduits16a, 16b, 16c are referred to herein as aerosol-generating material conduit 16.
• the aerosol-generating material conduit 16 (or conduit 16) is configured to allow aerosol-generating material from the reservoir 14 to pass along the conduit 16 and to the reservoir 24 of the aerosol provision device 20 via the reservoir refill mechanism 28.
• the conduit 16 is capable of supplying aerosol-generating material to an opening in the protrusion 17a, which when the aerosol provision device 20 is installed in the receptacle 11, supplies aerosol-generating material to the reservoir 24 to refill the reservoir 24 of the aerosol provision device 20.
• the conduit 16 is configured to transport liquid aerosol-generating material to the opening in the protrusion 17a.
• the refill/recharge pack 10 further comprises a transfer mechanism 15, which in this implementation is in fluid communication with the conduit 16.
• the transfer mechanism 15 may be any mechanism suitable of driving the transfer of aerosol-generating material from the reservoir 14 along the conduit 16 and to the reservoir 24 of the aerosol provision device 20.
• the transfer mechanism 15 is a peristaltic pump.
• a peristaltic pump typically works through rotary motion, where a rotatable component comprises a number of rollers or the like that act to compress a flexible tube as they rotate, forcing the fluid to move through the tube.
• the conduit 16 is provided either side of the transfer mechanism 15 (i.e., coupling to an inlet and an outlet of the transfer mechanism 15).
• other pumps may be used in place of the peristaltic pump.
• the transfer mechanism 15 may alternatively include other mechanisms, such as a plunger or the like in the reservoir 14 and arranged to change the volume of the reservoir 14 to force aerosol-generating material along the conduit 16. In this case, it should be appreciated that the transfer mechanism 15 is not located on the conduit 16.
• the transfer mechanism 15 may be provided at a suitable location in the refill/recharge pack 10.
• the transfer mechanism 15 may be electronically operated.
• a motor provided in the refill/recharge pack 10, under control of the control circuitry 13, may be used to drive the peristaltic pump or other transfer mechanism 15.
• the battery 12 may be used to supply power to the transfer mechanism 15 in such implementations.
• Control of the motor may be dependent on a suitable detection process for detecting that the aerosol provision device 20 is located in the receptacle 11; that is, the transfer mechanism 15 may be operable to transfer aerosol-generating material from the reservoir 14 when the aerosol provision device 20 is determined to be present in the receptacle 11.
• the transfer mechanism 15 may be mechanically and manually operated by a user; for example, by a rotatable arm coupled to the rotational axis of the peristaltic pump and provided on the outer surface of the housing 10a.
• the transfer mechanism 15 may be omitted.
• the refill/recharge pack 10 is configured to cause aerosol-generating material provided in the reservoir 14 to pass to the reservoir 24 of the aerosol provision device 20 when the aerosol provision device 20 is located in the receptacle 11. Accordingly, the reservoir 24 of the aerosol provision device 20 is capable of being refilled with aerosol-generating material by the refill/recharge pack 10.
• the refill/recharge pack 10 comprises electrical contacts 18a and 18b.
• the electrical contacts 18a, 18b are arranged in the refill/recharge pack 10 such that they are able to be brought into electrical connection with the electrical contacts 29a, 29b of the aerosol provision device 20 when the aerosol provision device 20 is located in the receptacle 11. More specifically, a first electrical contact 18a of the refill/recharge pack 10 is arranged so as to electrically connect with the first electrical contact 29a of the aerosol provision device 20, and a second electrical contact 18b is arranged so as to electrically connect with the second electrical contact 29b of the aerosol provision device 20.
• the first electrical contact 18a of the refill/recharge pack 10 is provided at a location toward the opening of the receptacle 11 such that when the aerosol provision device 20 is inserted into the receptacle 11, the first electrical contact 29a at the distal end 20c of the aerosol provision device 20 is capable of being bought into electrical connection with the first electrical contact 18a of the refill/recharge pack 10.
• the first electrical contact 18a may take any suitable form; for example, the electrical contact 18a may be an annular ring provided extending, coaxially, with the axis of the receptacle 11. In other implementations, the electrical contact 18a may comprise one or more contact pads provided at a surface of the receptacle 11.
• the radial extent of the first electrical contact 29a of the aerosol provision device 20 about the longitudinal axis of the aerosol provision 20 and the radial extent of the first electrical contact 18a of the refill/recharge pack 10 about the longitudinal axis of the receptacle 11 is such that the aerosol provision device 20 can be inserted at any rotational position about the longitudinal axis of the aerosol provision device 20 relative to the receptacle 11 and still provide electrical contact between the first electrical contacts 18a, 29a.
• the electrical contact 29a may extend 360° around the longitudinal axis of the aerosol provision device 20, and the electrical contact 18a may extend between 1° to 360° around the longitudinal axis of the receptacle 11.
• the second electrical contact 18b of the refill/recharge pack 10 is provided at a location on the outer surface of the engagement mechanism 17.
• the second electrical contact 29b located within the receptacle 21 of the aerosol provision device 20 is capable of being bought into electrical connection with the second electrical contact 18b of the refill/recharge pack 10 when the engagement mechanism 17 engages with the receptacle 21.
• the second electrical contact 18b may take any suitable form; for example, the electrical contact 18b may be an annular ring provided extending, coaxially, with the axis of the engagement mechanism 17. In other implementations, the electrical contact 18b may comprise one or more contact pads provided at a surface of the engagement mechanism 17.
• the radial extent of the second electrical contact 29b of the aerosol provision device 20 about the longitudinal axis of the receptacle 21 and the radial extent of the second electrical contact 18a of the refill/recharge pack 10 about the longitudinal axis of the engagement mechanism 17 is such that the aerosol provision device 20 can be inserted at any rotational position about the longitudinal axis of the aerosol provision device 20 relative to the receptacle 11 and still provide electrical contact between the second electrical contacts 18b, 29b.
• the electrical contact 29b may extend 360° around the longitudinal axis of the receptacle 21, and the electrical contact 18b may extend between 1° to 360° around the longitudinal axis of the engagement mechanism 17.
• the refill/recharge pack 10 When the aerosol provision device 20 is installed in the receptacle 11 of the refill/recharge pack 10, the refill/recharge pack 10 is configured to recharge the battery 22 of the aerosol provision device 20.
• the battery 12 of the refill/recharge pack 10 is electrically connected (potentially via recharging circuitry of the control circuitry 13) to the first electrical contact 18a and the second electrical contact 18b.
• the refill/recharge pack 10 is configured to cause recharging of the battery 22 of the aerosol provision device 20 by applying suitable power from the battery 12 of the refill/recharge pack 10.
• the refill/recharge pack 10 and/or the aerosol provision device 20 may have suitable circuitry to control and/or monitor the recharging of the battery 24 of the aerosol provision device 20, for example to help ensure the recharging is performed safely and accurately.
• the refill/recharge pack 10 is also configured to cause electrical power provided in the battery 12 of the refill/recharge pack 10 to pass to the battery 22 of the aerosol provision device 20 when the aerosol provision device 20 is located in the receptacle 11. Accordingly, the battery 22 of the aerosol provision device 20 is capable of being recharged with electrical power by the refill/recharge pack 10.
• the system is arranged so as to replicate experiences that traditional cigarette users may experience when using cigarettes/cigarette packs, but in the context of a non-combustible aerosol provision system.
• the aerosol provision system formed of the consumable 30 and aerosol provision device 20
• the refill/recharge pack 10 is sized similarly to a cigarette pack.
• the consumable 30 is configured to replicate cigarette flavour / taste in the aerosol that is delivered to the user, thereby providing a familiar taste and therefore users may similarly be more likely to continue use of the system.
• the reservoir 24 may define a volume of 0.2 ml or less, or 0.15 ml or less, or 0.1 ml or less.
• the amount of aerosol-generating material that is capable of being stored in the reservoir 24 is an amount sufficient to generate aerosol for no more than 30 activations of the aerosol generator 26, and in some implementations, no more than 10 activations of the aerosol generator 26.
• the battery 22 of the aerosol provision device 20 may have a capacity that is equivalent to the power requirement for the aerosol generator 26 of between 10 to 30 discrete inhalations on the aerosol provision system.
• each activation may use on the order of 0.3 to 0.9 mAh.
• the battery 22 may have a capacity of at least one of: 30 mAh or less, 28 mAh or less, 25 mAh or less, or 20 mAh or less.
• the battery 22 is configured to be capable of storing an amount of power capable of activating the aerosol generator at most 30 times, and in some implementations, at most 10 activations of the aerosol generator 26.
• the user may take between 10 to 30 inhalations, which is similar to the number of inhalations that would be possible using a cigarette.
• the user returns the aerosol provision device 20 to the refill/recharge pack 10, where the aerosol provision device 20 is recharged.
• the battery 22 may have a greater capacity than outlined above; for example, in some implementations the battery may have a capacity of 100 mAh or greater, 200 mAh or greater, 300 mAh or greater.
• providing a battery 22 that is relative small in nature, e.g., that has a capacity less than 100 mAh means that the time required to recharge the battery 22 may be relatively shorter than for a larger battery 22.
• the battery 12 of the refill/recharge pack 10 may have a capacity that is equivalent to the power requirement for the aerosol generator 26 of between 100 to 600 discrete inhalations on the aerosol provision system. Accordingly, the battery 12 may have a capacity of at least one of: 3000 mAh or less, 2500 mAh or less, 2000 mAh or less, 1500 mAh or less, 1000 mAh or less, 550 mAh or less, 350 mAh or less, 250 mAh or less, or 200 mAh or less. It should be appreciated however, that in other implementations, the battery 12 of the refill/recharge pack 10 may be larger than specified above.
• the lid 10b is capable of moving between a closed position in which the opening of the receptacle 11 is obscured by the lid 10b, and an open position in which the opening of the receptacle 11 is exposed and an aerosol provision device 20 is able to be inserted therein.
• Cigarette packs often comprise a lid, and thus providing lid 10b on the refill/recharge pack 10 provides increased familiarity to users transitioning to non-combustible aerosol provision systems.
• the overall length dimension of the refill/recharge pack 10 includes the extent of the lid 10b in the longitudinal direction.
• Figure 6 is a flow diagram representing an example method of refilling and/or recharging an aerosol provision device 20.
• step S1 the aerosol provision device 20 is coupled to refill/recharge pack 10.
• this step may include ensuring that the receptacle 21 is free of a consumable 30, inserting the aerosol provision device 20 into the receptacle of the refill/recharge pack 10, and engaging the engagement mechanism 17 with the receptacle 21.
• the conduit 16 and reservoir 14 is fluidly coupled to the reservoir refill mechanism 28 and reservoir 24 of the aerosol provision device 20, and the electrical contacts 18a, 18b are electrically coupled to electrical contacts 29a, 29b.
• the method comprises recharging the battery 22 of the aerosol provision device 20 with power from the battery 12 of the refill/recharge pack 10.
• electrical power is capable of passing from the battery 12 to the battery 22 of the aerosol provision device 20 via the electrical contacts 18a, 18b on the refill/recharge pack 10 and electrical contacts 29a, 29b on the aerosol provision device 10.
• the recharging process starts automatically upon detection of the aerosol provision device 20 in the receptacle 11. In other implementations, the recharging process starts upon receipt of an instruction to do so, e.g., from a user. The recharging process is performed until the battery 22 is recharged, or until the reservoir 24 is refilled with aerosol-generating material.
• the aerosol-generating material is an aerosol-generating material that is free from active ingredients / flavourants.
• the aerosol-generating material may comprise other constituents; for example, such as one or more active substances and/or flavours, one or more other aerosol-former materials, and optionally one or more other functional materials.
• a system for providing an aerosol to a user including: aerosol provision means (including aerosol provision device 20) comprising a power means (including power source 22), aerosol generator means (including aerosol generator 26) for generating aerosol from an aerosol-generating material, and aerosol-generating material storage means (including reservoir 24) for storing aerosol-generating material; aerosol modifying agent release means (including consumable 30) comprising a housing and an aerosol modifying agent, the aerosol modifying agent release means configured to releasably couple to the aerosol provision means such that generated aerosol is able to pass to the aerosol modifying agent to modify a characteristic thereof; and refill and recharge means (including refill/recharge pack 10) configured to refill the aerosol-generating material storage means of the aerosol provision means with aerosol-generating material and configured to recharge the power means of the aerosol provision means when the aerosol provision means is coupled to the refill and recharge means.
• aerosol provision means including aerosol provision device 20
• aerosol generator means including aerosol generator 26
• aerosol-generating material storage means
• an aerosol provision device 20 for generating an aerosol from an aerosol-generating material
• the aerosol provision device 20 includes an elongate housing 20a having a proximal end 20b and a distal end 20c, a power source 22 for providing power to an aerosol generator 26 for generating aerosol from an aerosol-generating material, a first electrical contact 29a provided at the distal end 20c; and a second electrical contact 29b provided at, or adjacent, the proximal end 20b.
• the first electrical contact 29a and the second electrical contact 29b are arranged so as to couple to the positive and negative terminal of an external power supply (such as the battery 12 of the refill/recharge pack 10) and further arranged to allow electrical power from the external power supply to be provided to the power source 22 of the aerosol provision device 20.
• an external power supply such as the battery 12 of the refill/recharge pack 10.
• the proximal end 20c is configured to have a surface perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the elongate housing 20a.
• the first electrical contact 29a is provided on that surface.
• the second electrical contact 29b is provided on a surface of the housing 20a that is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the elongate housing 20a. In Figure 2 this is shown as the inner surface of the receptacle 21, but the second electrical contact 29b may be provided on an outer surface of the housing 20a at the proximal end 20b of the housing 20a.
• the second electrical contact 29b is provided at a plurality of locations around the longitudinal axis.
• the second electrical contact 29b may be one or more discrete contact pads provided at different locations around the longitudinal axis.
• the second electrical contact 29b may extend continuously in an annulus around the longitudinal axis.
• the power source 22 is coupled to the first and second electrical contacts 29a, 29b via wiring and the control circuitry 23 (or charge control circuitry thereof) is configured to receive power from the external power supply and recharge the power source 22.
• the proximal end 20b of the elongate housing 20a is configured to receive an aerosol modifying agent release component 30 comprising a housing 30a and an aerosol modifying agent 33, the aerosol modifying agent release component 30 configured to releasably couple to the proximal end 20b of the elongate housing 20a such that generated aerosol is able to pass to the aerosol modifying agent 33 to modify a characteristic of the generated aerosol.
• the second electrical contact 29b is arranged so as to be at least partly obstructed when the aerosol modifying agent release component 30 is coupled to the proximal end 20b of the elongate housing 20a.
• the aerosol provision device 20 comprises an aerosol-generating material storage portion 24 capable of receiving aerosol-generating material, and wherein the aerosol-generating material storage portion 24 is configured to be refillable with aerosol-generating material.
• the aerosol-generating material storage portion 24 may be configured so as to not be refillable.
• the proximal end 20b of the elongate housing 20a comprises a refilling arrangement, such as the reservoir refill mechanism 28, fluidly coupled to the aerosol-generating material storage portion 24 and capable of receiving aerosol-generating material from an external source, such as the refill/recharge dock 10.
• the second electrical contact 29b is located adjacent or in the vicinity of the refilling arrangement.
• the refilling arrangement comprises a receiving port for receiving aerosol-generating material.
• the second electrical contact 29b may be provided around the receiving port.
• an aerosol provision system comprising the aerosol provision device 20 as described above and an aerosol modifying agent release component 30 comprising a housing 30a and an aerosol modifying agent 33, the aerosol modifying agent release component 30 configured to releasably couple to the proximal end 20b of the elongate housing 20a such that generated aerosol is able to pass to the aerosol modifying agent to modify a characteristic of the generated aerosol.
• a system comprising the aerosol provision device 20 as described above an aerosol provision system for generating an aerosol from an aerosol-generating material, and a recharging device (such as the refill/recharging pack 10) configured to couple to the aerosol provision system, the recharging device comprising recharging circuitry 13 and a power supply 12 configured to recharge the power source 22 of the aerosol provision device 20 when the aerosol provision device 20 is coupled to the recharging device.
• the first electrical contact 29a and the second electrical contact 29b are arranged so as to couple to the positive and negative terminal of the power supply 12 respectively such that electrical power is able to be supplied from the power supply 12 to the power source 22 of the aerosol provision device.
• a method for recharging a power source 22 of an aerosol provision device 20, the aerosol provision device 20 for generating an aerosol from an aerosol-generating material includes providing an aerosol provision device 20 comprising an elongate housing 20a having a proximal end 20b and a distal end 20c, a power source 22 for providing power to an aerosol generator 26 for generating aerosol from an aerosol-generating material, a first electrical contact 29a provided at the distal end 20c, and a second electrical 29b contact provided at, or adjacent, the proximal end; coupling the first and second electrical contacts 29a, 29b of the aerosol provision device 20 to a recharging device, such as the refill/recharge pack 10, comprising recharging circuitry 13 and a power supply 12 configured to recharge the power source 22 of the aerosol provision device 20 when the aerosol provision device 20 is coupled to the recharging device; and supplying power from the power supply 12 to the power source 22 of the aerosol
• an aerosol provision device comprising a power source, an aerosol generator for generating aerosol from an aerosol-generating material, and an aerosol-generating material storage portion for storing aerosol-generating material; an aerosol modifying agent release component comprising a housing and an aerosol modifying agent, the aerosol modifying agent release component configured to releasably couple to the aerosol provision device such that generated aerosol is able to pass to the aerosol modifying agent to modify a characteristic thereof; and a refill and recharge device configured to refill the aerosol-generating material storage portion of the aerosol provision device with aerosol-generating material and configured to recharge the power source of the aerosol provision device when the aerosol provision device is coupled to the refill and recharge device.
• an aerosol provision device, a refill and recharge device, and a method for refilling and/or recharging an aerosol provision device are also described.

Landscapes

• Containers And Packaging Bodies Having A Special Means To Remove Contents (AREA)

Priority Applications (2)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=90473449

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (2)

Citations (4)

• 2024
  • 2024-03-25 EP EP24165934.1A patent/EP4623719A1/de active Pending
• 2025
  • 2025-03-14 WO PCT/GB2025/050516 patent/WO2025202596A1/en active Pending

Patent Citations (4)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events