Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present disclosure generally relates to an aerosol generating device. In particular, the present disclosure relates to the construct of an aerosol generating device comprising an aerosol generating article.

The present disclosure is patent of addition of IN201931021574A which relates to an aerosol generating device comprising of at least three segments, wherein the first segment comprising an aerosol generating substrate; a second segment is a tubular segment configured for cooling the aerosol generating substrate; and a third segment with a filtering material. The current invention relates to an aerosol generating article with a combination of segments comprising, at least one segment with an aerosol generating substrate, optionally with a metal piece (susceptor) embedded therein, at least one segment which is tubular or a cavity like structure contained within, at least one segment which is the mouth end and at least one segment which is a condensate absorbing segment. The condensate absorbing segment absorbs the condensates leaking from the aerosol generating substrate resulting into elimination of frequent cleaning issue associated with the aerosol generating device.

BACKGROUND
Various aerosol-generating articles through various heating means are known. They essentially comprise a plurality of segments, including an aerosol-forming substrate and a mouthpiece. Further segments may be aerosol treating segments, for example, for altering aerosol characteristics. Typically, in a heated aerosol- generating article, an inhalable aerosol is generated by the transfer of heat from a heat source to an aerosol-forming substrate, which may be located within, around or downstream of the heat source. During consumption of the aerosol- generating article, volatile compounds are released from the aerosol-forming substrate by heat transfer from the heat source and entrained in air drawn through the article. As the released compounds cool, they condense to form an aerosol.

Aerosol generating products upon heating the aerosol generating solid substrates to a temperature suitable to release actives and flavor without burning. In order to provide enhanced consumer sensorial experience, the aerosol needs to be cooled down without filtering the active content.

Further, the aerosol generating substrate in the aerosol generating article releases aerosol when heated in a heating device. A small fraction of released aerosol condenses and deposits in the heating cavity of the device. The deposited condensate in the heating device requires frequent cleaning and failing that might lead to undesired smell which ultimately affects the overall user experience, during subsequent use.

Hence, there is a need to design an aerosol generating article that can address the issue of deposition of condensate in the device and can improve user experience.

Reference is made to US10039318B2. This document recites that a capsule is positioned on a capsule seat on or in the housing of the electronic cigarette. After the liquid in the capsule is consumed and the capsule is spent, the mouthpiece of the electronic cigarette is removed, the spent cartridge is captive in the mouthpiece so that it is removed with the mouthpiece. A fresh capsule is placed on the capsule seat. As the mouthpiece is reattached to the housing, the spent cartridge is ejected out of the mouthpiece. An absorber in the mouthpiece may be provided to absorb any condensed vapor liquid. US’318 describes electronic smoking devices, such as electronic cigarettes, having mouthpiece, an electric power source, an electrically heatable atomizer, and a controller. When the sensor detects a user inhaling on the mouth piece, the control electronics switches on a heater in the atomizer which heats a liquid to create vapor which is inhaled by the user. US’318 also discloses the application of an absorbent liner to absorb the condensate liquid and prevent it from touching the skin of the consumer while removing the spent cartridge. US’318 is related to technology domain of using liquid substrate for aerosol generation.

Further reference is made to US11116920B2. This document recites an aerosol-generating article, comprising a plurality of elements coaxially aligned and assembled within a wrapper, the aerosol-generating article having an outlet end and a distal end upstream from the outlet end; a liquid aerosol-forming substrate, the liquid aerosol-forming substrate being releasably contained within at least one frangible capsule; and a liquid retention medium being configured to retain the liquid aerosol-forming substrate within the aerosol-generating article after the release of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate from the at least one frangible capsule, the liquid retention medium being devoid of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate prior to the release of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate from the at least one frangible capsule, the wrapper being formed from a sheet of liquid-impervious material, the liquid retention medium being in a first element of the plurality of elements, and the liquid retention medium being positioned on the distal end.

Further reference is made to US10499690B2. This document discloses that the aerosol-generating article is capable of being used with an electrically-operated aerosol-generating device. The aerosol-generating article is a consumable article having an outlet end, a distal end upstream from the outlet end, and a mid-point located an equal distance between the outlet end and the distal end. The article includes a first volatile liquid substrate contained within a first frangible capsule, the frangible capsule being located between the distal end and the mid-point, and a second volatile liquid substrate contained within a second frangible capsule, the second frangible capsule being located between the distal end and the mid-point. The article also includes a liquid retention medium, at least a portion the liquid retention medium being located between the distal end and the mid-point, wherein the article is configured to allow air to be drawn through the article from the distal end to the outlet end.

Further reference is made to CN202021872069U. The document discloses a smoke cartridge and an electronic cigarette which are used for well solving the problem that in the prior art, an electronic cigarette cannot well filter condensate in atomized gas. According to the method, the cigarette cartridge comprises a filter tip, an oil storage pipe and a heating assembly installed in the oil storage pipe. The filter tip comprises a filter shell, filter ceramic and filter cotton, the filter ceramic and the filter cotton are contained in the filter shell, an air outlet is formed in one end of the filter shell, the filter cotton is contained at the position close to the air outlet, the filter ceramic is contained below the filter cotton, and the filter cotton is contained below the filter ceramic. The other end of the filter shell is connected with the tar storage pipe, is matched with a heating assembly and is used for heating smoke formed by tobacco tar in the tar storage pipe, and when the smoke passes through the filter ceramic and the filter cotton, the filter ceramic is used for adsorbing condensate in the smoke, and the filter cotton is used for absorbing the condensate in the smoke. CN’069 discloses the construction of a tar storage pipe having plurality of condensate absorption and adsorption capacity which helps to reduce the condensate enter human body.

None of the prior art describes the problem associated with the deposition of condensate in the aerosol generating device employing the use of an aerosol generating solid substrate. The aerosol generating solid substrate when heated in an aerosol generating device releases aerosol, a small fraction of released aerosol remains in the device and has tendency to condense in the heating column of the device. The deposited condensate in the heating device requires frequent cleaning and might lead to undesired smell and user experience during the subsequent use.

Therefore, there remain a need for an aerosol generating device which overcomes all the above mentioned shortcomings of prior art technologies.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION:
An object of the present invention is to provide an aerosol generating article for an aerosol generating device, that can address the issue of deposition of condensate in the device and can improve device usage and user experience.

Another object of present invention is to provide an aerosol generating article having an absorbing material at the distal end, an aerosol generating substrate upward to the absorbing material, a tubular cooling segment and a mouth end. The absorbing material as disclosed, absorbs the condensates leaking from the aerosol generating substrate.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an aerosol generating article with an aerosol cooling segment which cools down the aerosol to the comfortable temperature before the aerosol enters to consumers’ mouth.

SUMMARY
This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified format that is further described in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential inventive concepts.

In accordance with the purposes of the invention, the present invention as embodied and broadly described herein provides a design of an aerosol generating article for an aerosol generating device. The invention is various combinations of segments that can cool the aerosol without significant filtration of actives. The inventors of the present invention surprisingly found that the current design of aerosol generating article substantially reduces the aerosol temperature without filtering out the flavor and actives and fulfill consumers need.

The current invention focuses on the choice of aerosol generating article segments and sequence in which the same are arranged to achieve the desired cooling effect.

Thus, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an aerosol generating article for an aerosol generating device comprising: at least four segments, wherein the first segment having an aerosol generating substrate; a second segment, substantially tubular, placed immediately downstream to the aerosol generating segment; and the third segment having a filtering material, preceded by the tubular segment, and the fourth segment having a condensate absorbing segment; wherein said segments have different size dimensions.

The present invention discloses the aerosol generating device which comprises a heating element and an aerosol generating article which further comprises an aerosol generating solid substrate. The aerosol generating solid substrate can be heated inside the device to release aerosol. The present invention further relates to the presence of a condensate absorbing segment which is designed to condensate the aerosol volatiles and retain in that segment of aerosol generating article. The present invention majorly addresses the problems associated with the condensate of the aerosol generation from solid substrate. Thus, the present invention describes a filter design to cool the aerosol to a comfortable temperature before entering the mouth of the consumer. The present invention further describes the presence of an absorbing element at the distal end of the aerosol generating article to trap and condensate the aerosol which tends to leak out of the aerosol generating article.

Other aspects, advantages, and salient features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses exemplary embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES
It is appreciated that the drawings provided in the present disclosure only illustrate application examples of the present disclosure and are therefore not to be construed as limiting its scope. The foregoing disclosure provides additional information with additional specificity and detail with the accompanying drawings, which are listed below for quick reference.

Fig. 1 illustrates a schematic layout of the aerosol generating article with its segments, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 2 illustrates a schematic layout of the aerosol generating article with its segments and flavoring capsule, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 3 illustrates a schematic layout of the aerosol generating article with its segments and ventilation holes on the cooling tube segment, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

It may be noted that the one or more elements may have been represented in the drawings by conventional symbols, and the drawings may show only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding of the embodiments of the present disclosure so as not to obscure the drawings with details that will be readily apparent to those of the ordinary skilled in the art having the benefit of the description herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
It should be understood at the outset that although illustrative implementations of the present disclosure are illustrated below, the present invention may be implemented using any number of techniques, whether currently known or in existence. The present disclosure should be in no way limited to illustrative implementations, drawings, and techniques, illustrated below, including the exemplary design and implementation illustrated and described herein, but may be modified within the scope of equivalents.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms and especially technical and/or scientific terms, used herein, may be taken to have the same meaning as commonly understood by one having an ordinarily skilled in the art.

Reference is made herein to some “embodiments”. It should be understood that an embodiment is an example of a possible implementation of any features and/or elements presented in the foregoing claims. Some embodiments have been described for the purpose of illuminating one or more potential ways in which the specific features and/or elements of the foregoing claims fulfill the requirements of uniqueness, utility, and non-obviousness.

The present disclosure generally relates to an aerosol generating device. In particular, the present disclosure relates to the construct of an aerosol generating article for an aerosol generating device, wherein said article comprises the combination of an aerosol generating substrate, tubular filter which acts as a cooling segment and a mouth end.

The aerosol-generating article comprises of the two ends, a proximal end (103) through which aerosol exits the aerosol- generating article and is delivered to a user and a distal (101) end opposite to the proximal end. In use, a user may draw on the proximal end. The proximal end may also be referred to as the mouth end, mouthpiece or the downstream end and is downstream of the distal end. The distal end may also be referred to as the upstream end and is upstream of the proximal end. As used herein, the terms 'upstream' and 'downstream' are used to describe the relative positions of elements or segments, or portions of elements or segments, of the aerosol-generating articles in relation to the direction in which a user draws on the aerosol-generating device during use thereof.

In one implementation, the present disclosure provides at least three segments, wherein the first segment (101) comprises of an aerosol generating substrate.

In one implementation, the present disclosure provides a second segment (102) which is a tubular segment configured for cooling the aerosol generating substrate.

In one implementation, the present disclosure provides a third segment (103) with a filtering material having significantly lower filtration efficiency, preceded by the second segment.

In one implementation, the aerosol generating article comprises an additional segment called condensate absorbing segment (104) upstream to the substrate.

In another implementation, the said condensate absorbing segment is substantially cylindrical in shape, porous and is made of absorbent material that can absorb the constituent of aerosol. The condensate absorbing segment has the same outer diameter as of the rest of the aerosol generating article. The length of the condensate absorbing segment is in between 4 mm – 10 mm, more preferably in between 4 mm – 8 mm and most preferably in between 5 mm – 7mm.

In further implementation, the condensate absorbing segment has combustion temperature more than 200 °C.

In further implementation, the condensate absorbing segment is made of crimped polymer such as cellophane, crimped paper or crimped reconstituted paper recon and the like.

In another embodiment, the condensate absorbing segment is placed at the distal end.

In another implementation of the present invention, the second segment (102) is placed immediately downstream to the first segment (101).

In one another implementation of the present invention, second segment (102) has ventilation holes (102a) running along both its length, configured for dilution, which further reduces the temperature of the aerosol generated from the preceding segment.

In another implementation of the present invention, first segment (101) comprises of reconstituted tobacco packed at required densities.

In one implementation of the present invention the third segment (103) includes a filtering material and acts as the mouthpiece of the device. It further comprises a flavorant material encapsulated in a capsule (105), thread, flavored sheets/ inserts and the like, embedded onto the filtering material. The filter material for the device is selected from cellulose acetate, crimped paper and combinations thereof.

In one implementation of the present invention, the three segments have different size dimensions. The size of first segment (101) may vary from 12-20mm in length, the size of the second segment may vary from 15-60 mm and the size of the third segment may vary from 8-20mm. This filter design provides aerosol at a comfortable temperature without impacting the active deliveries.
, Claims:
1. An aerosol generating article (100) for an aerosol generating device comprising: atleast four segments, wherein the first segment (101) having an aerosol generating substrate; a second segment (102), substantially tubular, placed immediately downstream to the aerosol generating segment (101); and the third segment (103) having a filtering material, preceded by the tubular segment (102), and the fourth segment (104) having a condensate absorbing segment; wherein said segments have different size dimensions.

2. The aerosol generating article (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first segment (101) further comprises a metal piece (susceptor) embedded therein.

3. The aerosol generating article (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fourth (104) is substantially cylindrical in shape.

4. The aerosol generating article (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fourth segment (104) is made of absorbent material.

5. The aerosol generating article (100) as claimed in claim 4, wherein said absorbent material is composed of crimped polymer.

6. The aerosol generating article (100) as claimed in claim 5, wherein said crimped polymer is selected from the group consisting of cellophane, crimped paper, crimped reconstituted paper recon or combination thereof.

7. The aerosol generating article (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fourth segment (104) has the same outer diameter as of the rest of the aerosol generating article.

8. The aerosol generating article (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fourth segment (104) length is in between 4 mm – 10 mm, more preferably in between 4 mm – 8 mm and most preferably in between 5 mm – 7mm.

9. The aerosol generating article (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fourth segment (104) has as combustion temperature more than 200°C.