Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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AEROSOL PROVISION SYSTEM
Field
The present disclosure relates to aerosol provision systems such as, but not
limited to,
nicotine delivery systems (e.g. electronic cigarettes and the like).
Background
Electronic aerosol provision systems such as electronic cigarettes (e-
cigarettes) generally
contain an aerosol precursor material, such as a reservoir of a source liquid
containing a
formulation, typically but not necessarily including nicotine, or a solid
material such a
tobacco-based product, from which an aerosol is generated for inhalation by a
user, for
example through heat vaporisation. Thus, an aerosol provision system will
typically comprise
a vaporiser, e.g. a heating element, arranged to vaporise a portion of
precursor material to
generate an aerosol in an aerosol generation region of an air channel through
the aerosol
provision system. As a user inhales on the device and electrical power is
supplied to the
heating element, air is drawn into the device through one or more inlet holes
and along the
air channel to the aerosol generation region, where the air mixes with the
vaporised
precursor material and forms a condensation aerosol. The air drawn through the
aerosol
generation region continues along the air channel to a mouthpiece opening,
carrying some
of the aerosol with it, and out through the mouthpiece opening for inhalation
by the user.
It is common for aerosol provision systems to comprise a modular assembly,
often having
two main functional parts, namely a control unit and disposable / replaceable
cartridge part.
Typically the cartridge part will comprise the consumable aerosol precursor
material and the
vaporiser/heating element (atomiser), while the control unit part will
comprise longer-life
items, such as a power supply, such as a rechargeable battery, device control
circuitry,
activation sensors and user interface features. The control unit may also be
referred to as a
reusable part or battery section and the replaceable cartridge may also be
referred to as a
disposable part or cartomiser.
The control unit and cartridge are mechanically coupled together at an
interface for use, for
example using a screw thread, bayonet, latched or friction fit fixing. When
the aerosol
precursor material in a cartridge has been exhausted, or the user wishes to
switch to a
different cartridge having a different aerosol precursor material, the
cartridge may be
removed from the control unit and a replacement cartridge may be attached to
the device in
its place.
Electrical contacts / electrodes are provided on each of the control unit and
cartridge for
transferring power between the two components. In the case of each electrode
on the
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cartridge, a lead is employed to transfer power from the electrode to the
heating element in
the cartridge.
A potential drawback in such cartridges is that the lead may become detached
from the
electrode during use, causing unwanted short-circuits and faulty operation of
the cartridge. A
potential further drawback for such cartridges, which typically contain liquid
aerosol
precursor (e-liquid) is the risk of leakage. An e-cigarette cartridge will
typically have a
mechanism, e.g. a capillary wick, for drawing liquid from a liquid reservoir
to a heating
element located in an air path / channel connecting from an air inlet to an
aerosol outlet for
the cartridge. Because there is a fluid transport path from the liquid
reservoir into the open
air channel through the cartridge, there is a corresponding risk of liquid
leaking from the
cartridge. Leakage is undesirable both from the perspective of the end user
naturally not
wanting to get the e-liquid on their hands or other items.
Various approaches are described herein which seek to help address or mitigate
some of
the issues discussed above.
Summary
According to a first aspect of certain embodiments there is provided an
aerosol provision
system comprising:
a vaporiser for generating a vapour from an aerosolisable material;
an electrode for receiving power; and
a resilient element, electrically connected to the vaporiser and the
electrode, for
transferring electrical power between the electrode and the vaporiser.
According to a second aspect of certain embodiments there is provided a
cartridge for an
aerosol provision system comprising the cartridge and a control unit, wherein
the cartridge
comprises:
a vaporiser for generating a vapour from an aerosolisable material;
an electrode for receiving power; and
a resilient element, electrically connected to the vaporiser and the
electrode, for
transferring electrical power between the electrode and the vaporiser.
According to a third aspect of certain embodiments there is provided an
electrical power
transmission system comprising:
a first object for receiving electrical power;
a second object; and
a resilient element, electrically connected to the first object and the second
object,
wherein the resilient element is configured to transfer the electrical power
between the first
object and the second object, and wherein the second object is configured to
be at least
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partly supported by the resilient element, and such that the resilient element
is configured to
be held in compression between the first object and the second object.
It will be appreciated that features and aspects of the invention described
above in relation to
the various aspects of the invention are equally applicable to, and may be
combined with,
embodiments of the invention according to other aspects of the invention as
appropriate, and
not just in the specific combinations described herein.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only,
with reference
to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 schematically represents an aerosol provision system comprising a
cartridge and a
control unit;
Figure 2A schematically represents a cross sectional view of a cartridge, for
use with the
control unit from Figure 1, in accordance with certain embodiments of the
disclosure;
Figure 2B shows a perspective view of portions of the cartridge shown in
Figure 2A, in
accordance with certain embodiments of the disclosure;
Figure 3 schematically shows a heating element, located on a surface of a
porous member,
for use in the cartridge shown in Figure 2A in accordance with certain
embodiments of the
disclosure; and
Figure 4A schematically represents a cross sectional view of a cartridge, for
use with the
control unit from Figure 1, in accordance with certain embodiments of the
disclosure;
Figure 4B schematically represents a perspective view of a portion of the
cartridge from
Figure 4A, for use with the control unit from Figure 1, in accordance with
certain
embodiments of the disclosure;
Figure 40 schematically represents a perspective view of a portion of the
cartridge from
Figures 4A and 4B, for use with the control unit from Figure 1, in accordance
with certain
embodiments of the disclosure; and
Figure 5 schematically represents a cross sectional view of a cartridge, for
use with the
control unit from Figure 1, and which is similar to the cartridge from Figure
4A, and which is
in accordance with certain embodiments of the disclosure.
Detailed Description
Aspects and features of certain examples and embodiments are discussed /
described
herein. Some aspects and features of certain examples and embodiments may be
implemented conventionally and these are not discussed / described in detail
in the interests
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of brevity. It will thus be appreciated that aspects and features of apparatus
and methods
discussed herein which are not described in detail may be implemented in
accordance with
any conventional techniques for implementing such aspects and features.
The present disclosure relates to non-combustible aerosol provision systems,
which may
also be referred to as aerosol provision systems, such as e-cigarettes.
According to the
present disclosure, a "non-combustible" aerosol provision system is one where
a constituent
aerosolisable material of the aerosol provision system (or component thereof)
is not
cornbusted or burned in order to facilitate delivery to a user. Aerosolisable
material, which
also may be referred to herein as aerosol generating material or aerosol
precursor material,
is material that is capable of generating aerosol, for example when heated,
irradiated or
energized in any other way.
Throughout the following description the term "e-cigarette" or "electronic
cigarette" may
sometimes be used, but it will be appreciated this term may be used
interchangeably with
aerosol provision system / device and electronic aerosol provision system /
device. An
electronic cigarette may also known as a vaping device or electronic nicotine
delivery system
(END), although it is noted that the presence of nicotine in the aerosolisable
material is not a
requirement.
In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision system is a hybrid
system to
generate aerosol using a combination of aerosolisable materials, one or a
plurality of which
may be heated. In some embodiments, the hybrid system comprises a liquid or
gel
aerosolisable material and a solid aerosolisable material. The solid
aerosolisable material
may comprise, for example, tobacco or a non-tobacco product.
Typically, the non-combustible aerosol provision system may comprise a non-
combustible
aerosol provision device and an article for use with the non-combustible
aerosol provision
device. However, it is envisaged that articles which themselves comprise a
means for
powering an aerosol generating component may themselves form the non-
combustible
aerosol provision system.
In some embodiments, the article for use with the non-combustible aerosol
provision device
may comprise an aerosolisable material (or aerosol precursor material), an
aerosol
generating component (or vaporiser), an aerosol generating area, a mouthpiece,
and/or an
area for receiving aerosolisable material.
In some embodiments, the aerosol generating component is a vaporiser or heater
capable of
interacting with the aerosolisable material so as to release one or more
volatiles from the
aerosolisable material to form an aerosol. In some embodiments, the aerosol
generating
component is capable of generating an aerosol from the aerosolisable material
without
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heating. For example, the aerosol generating component may be capable of
generating an
aerosol from the aerosolisable material without applying heat thereto, for
example via one or
more of vibrational, mechanical, pressurisation or electrostatic means.
In some embodiments, the substance to be delivered may be an aerosolisable
material
which may comprise an active constituent, a carrier constituent and optionally
one or more
other functional constituents.
The active constituent may comprise one or more physiologically and/or
olfactory active
constituents which are included in the aerosolisable material in order to
achieve a
physiological and/or olfactory response in the user. The active constituent
may for example
be selected from nutraceuticals, nootropics, and psychoactives. The active
constituent may
be naturally occurring or synthetically obtained. The active constituent may
comprise for
example nicotine, caffeine, taurine, theine, a vitamin such as B6 or B12 or C,
melatonin, a
cannabinoid, or a constituent, derivative, or combinations thereof. The active
constituent
may comprise a constituent, derivative or extract of tobacco or of another
botanical. In some
embodiments, the active constituent is a physiologically active constituent
and may be
selected from nicotine, nicotine salts (e.g. nicotine ditartrate/nicotine
bitartrate), nicotine-free
tobacco substitutes, other alkaloids such as caffeine, or mixtures thereof.
In some embodiments, the active constituent is an olfactory active constituent
and may be
selected from a "flavour" and/or "flavourant" which, where local regulations
permit, may be
used to create a desired taste, aroma or other somatosensorial sensation in a
product for
adult consumers. In some instances such constituents may be referred to as
flavours,
flavourants, cooling agents, heating agents, and/or sweetening agents. They
may include
naturally occurring flavour materials, botanicals, extracts of botanicals,
synthetically
obtained materials, or combinations thereof (e.g., tobacco, cannabis, licorice
(liquorice),
hydrangea, eugenol, Japanese white bark magnolia leaf, chamomile, fenugreek,
clove,
maple, matcha, menthol, Japanese mint, aniseed (anise), cinnamon, turmeric,
Indian spices,
Asian spices, herb, wintergreen, cherry, berry, red berry, cranberry, peach,
apple, orange,
mango, clementine, lemon, lime, tropical fruit, papaya, rhubarb, grape,
durian, dragon fruit,
cucumber, blueberry, mulberry, citrus fruits, Drambuie, bourbon, scotch,
whiskey, gin,
tequila, rum, spearmint, peppermint, lavender, aloe vera, cardamom, celery,
cascarilla,
nutmeg, sandalwood, bergamot, geranium, khat, naswar, betel, shisha, pine,
honey
essence, rose oil, vanilla, lemon oil, orange oil, orange blossom, cherry
blossom, cassia,
caraway, cognac, jasmine, ylang-ylang, sage, fennel, wasabi, piment, ginger,
coriander,
coffee, hemp, a mint oil from any species of the genus Mentha, eucalyptus,
star anise,
cocoa, lemongrass, rooibos, flax, ginkgo biloba, hazel, hibiscus, laurel,
mate, orange skin,
rose, tea such as green tea or black tea, thyme, juniper, elderflower, basil,
bay leaves,
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cumin, oregano, paprika, rosemary, saffron, lemon peel, mint, beefsteak plant,
curcuma,
cilantro, myrtle, cassis, valerian, pimento, mace, damien, marjoram, olive,
lemon balm,
lemon basil, chive, carvi, verbena, tarragon, limonene, thymol, camphene),
flavour
enhancers, bitterness receptor site blockers, sensorial receptor site
activators or stimulators,
sugars and/or sugar substitutes (e.g., sucralose, acesulfame potassium,
aspartame,
saccharine, cyclamates, lactose, sucrose, glucose, fructose, sorbitol, or
mannitol), and other
additives such as charcoal, chlorophyll, minerals, botanicals, or breath
freshening agents.
They may be imitation, synthetic or natural ingredients or blends thereof.
They may be in any
suitable form, for example, liquid such as an oil, solid such as a powder, or
gasone or more
of extracts (e.g., licorice, hydrangea, Japanese white bark magnolia leaf,
chamomile,
fenugreek, clove, menthol, Japanese mint, aniseed, cinnamon, herb,
wintergreen, cherry,
berry, peach, apple, Drambuie, bourbon, scotch, whiskey, spearmint,
peppermint, lavender,
cardamom, celery, cascarilla, nutmeg, sandalwood, bergamot, geranium, honey
essence,
rose oil, vanilla, lemon oil, orange oil, cassia, caraway, cognac, jasmine,
ylang-ylang, sage,
fennel, piment, ginger, anise, coriander, coffee, or a mint oil from any
species of the genus
Mentha), flavour enhancers, bitterness receptor site blockers, sensorial
receptor site
activators or stimulators, sugars and/or sugar substitutes (e.g., sucralose,
acesulfame
potassium, aspartame, saccharine, cyclamates, lactose, sucrose, glucose,
fructose, sorbitol,
or mannitol), and other additives such as charcoal, chlorophyll, minerals,
botanicals, or
breath freshening agents. They may be imitation, synthetic or natural
ingredients or blends
thereof. They may be in any suitable form, for example, oil, liquid, or
powder.
In some embodiments, the flavour comprises menthol, spearmint and/or
peppermint. In
some embodiments, the flavour comprises flavour components of cucumber,
blueberry,
citrus fruits and/or redberry. In some embodiments, the flavour comprises
eugenol. In some
embodiments, the flavour comprises flavour components extracted from tobacco.
In some
embodiments, the flavour may comprise a sensate, which is intended to achieve
a
somatosensorial sensation which are usually chemically induced and perceived
by the
stimulation of the fifth cranial nerve (trigeminal nerve), in addition to or
in place of aroma or
taste nerves, and these may include agents providing heating, cooling,
tingling, numbing
effect. A suitable heat effect agent may be, but is not limited to, vanillyl
ethyl ether and a
suitable cooling agent may be, but not limited to eucalyptol, WS-3.
The carrier constituent may comprise one or more constituents capable of
forming an
aerosol. In some embodiments, the carrier constituent may comprise one or more
of
glycerine, glycerol, propylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol,
tetraethylene
glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol, erythritol, meso-Erythritol, ethyl vanillate,
ethyl laurate, a diethyl
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suberate, triethyl citrate, triacetin, a diacetin mixture, benzyl benzoate,
benzyl phenyl
acetate, tributyrin, lauryl acetate, lauric acid, myristic acid, and propylene
carbonate.
The one or more other functional constituents may comprise one or more of pH
regulators,
colouring agents, preservatives, binders, fillers, stabilizers, and/or
antioxidants.
As noted above, aerosol provision systems (e-cigarettes) often comprise a
modular
assembly including both a reusable part (control unit) and a replaceable
(disposable)
cartridge part. Devices conforming to this type of two-part modular
configuration may
generally be referred to as two-part devices. It is also common for electronic
cigarettes to
have a generally elongate shape. For the sake of providing a concrete example,
certain
embodiments of the disclosure described herein comprise this kind of generally
elongate
two-part device employing disposable cartridges. However, it will be
appreciated the
underlying principles described herein may equally be adopted for other
electronic cigarette
configurations, for example modular devices comprising more than two parts, as
devices
conforming to other overall shapes, for example based on so-called box-mod
high
performance devices that typically have a more boxy shape..
Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of an example aerosol provision
system / device (e-
cigarette) 1 in accordance with certain embodiments of the disclosure. Terms
concerning the
relative location of various aspects of the electronic cigarette (e.g. terms
such as upper,
lower, above, below, top, bottom etc.) are used herein with reference to the
orientation of the
electronic cigarette as shown in Figure 1 (unless the context indicates
otherwise). However,
it will be appreciated this is purely for ease of explanation and is not
intended to indicate
there is any required orientation for the electronic cigarette in use.
The e-cigarette 1 comprises two main components, namely a cartridge 2 and a
control unit
4. The control unit 4 and the cartridge 2 are coupled together when in use.
The cartridge 2 and control unit 4 are coupled by establishing a mechanical
and electrical
connection between them. The specific manner in which the mechanical and
electrical
connection is established is not of primary significance to the principles
described herein and
may be established in accordance with conventional techniques, for example
based around
a screw thread, bayonet, latched or friction-fit mechanical fixing with
appropriately arranged
electrical contacts / electrodes for establishing the electrical connection
between the two
parts as appropriate. For example, in the case of the cartridge 2 shown in
Figure 1, this
cartridge 2 comprises a mouthpiece end 6 and an interface end 8. The cartridge
2 is coupled
to the control unit 4 by a coupling arrangement (not shown in the Figures) at
the interface
end 8 of the cartridge 2 such to provide a releasable mechanical engagement
between the
cartridge and the control unit. An electrical connection is established
between the control unit
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and the cartridge via a pair of electrical contacts/electrodes 10 on the
bottom of the cartridge
2 and corresponding contact pins/electrodes 11 in the control unit 4. As noted
above, the
specific manner in which the electrical connection is established is not
significant to the
principles described herein. In accordance with a particular embodiment, the
control unit 4
may comprise a cartridge receiving section that includes an interface arranged
to
cooperatively engage with the cartridge 2 so as to releasably couple the
cartridge 2 to the
control unit 4. In this way, electrical power from the control unit 4 may be
delivered to the
cartridge via the electrode 10 from the cartridge 2.
It will be appreciated the specific size and shape of the electronic cigarette
and the material
from which it is made is not of primary significance to the principles
described herein and
may be different in different implementations. That is to say, the principles
described herein
may equally be adopted for electronic cigarettes having different sizes,
shapes and / or
materials.
The control unit 4 may in accordance with certain embodiments of the
disclosure be broadly
conventional in terms of its functionality and general construction
techniques. In some
embodiments, the control unit may comprise a plastic outer housing including a
receptacle
wall that defines a receptacle for receiving the interface end 10 of the
cartridge 2.
The control unit 4 further comprises a power supply, such as a battery for
providing
operating power for the electronic cigarette 1, control circuitry for
controlling and monitoring
the operation of the electronic cigarette, a user input button, and a charging
port.
The battery in some embodiments may be rechargeable and may be of a
conventional type,
for example of the kind normally used in electronic cigarettes and other
applications
requiring provision of relatively high currents over relatively short periods.
The power
supply/battery may be recharged through the charging port, which may, for
example,
comprise a USB connector.
The input button may be considered an input device for detecting user input,
e.g. to trigger
aerosol generation, and the specific manner in which the button is implemented
is not
significant. For example, other forms of mechanical button or touch-sensitive
button (e.g.
based on capacitive or optical sensing techniques) may be used in other
implementations, or
there may be no button and the device may rely on a puff detector for
triggering aerosol
generation.
The control circuitry is suitably configured / programmed to control the
operation of the
electronic cigarette to provide conventional operating functions in line with
the established
techniques for controlling electronic cigarettes. The control circuitry
(processor circuitry) may
be considered to logically comprise various sub-units / circuitry elements
associated with
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different aspects of the electronic cigarette's operation. For example,
depending on the
functionality provided in different implementations, the control circuitry may
comprises power
supply control circuitry for controlling the supply of power from the power
supply/battery to
the cartridge in response to user input, user programming circuitry for
establishing
configuration settings (e.g. user-defined power settings) in response to user
input, as well as
other functional units / circuitry associated functionality in accordance with
the principles
described herein and conventional operating aspects of electronic cigarettes.
It will be
appreciated the functionality of the control circuitry can be provided in
various different ways,
for example using one or more suitably programmed programmable computer(s) and
/ or
one or more suitably configured application-specific integrated circuit(s) /
circuitry / chip(s) /
chipset(s) configured to provide the desired functionality.
Figure 2A schematically represents a cross sectional view of a cartridge, for
use with the
control unit from Figure 1, in accordance with certain embodiments of the
disclosure. In
general terms, the cartridge comprises the electrodes 10, wherein each
electrode 10
comprises an associated lead 12 which is operable to transfer power between
the electrode
10 and a heating element 14. The cartridge 2 may further comprise a porous
member 16 for
use in holding a fluid to be atomised using the heating element 14. As shown
in Figure 2A,
the porous member 16 may comprise a recess 18 defining a basin 20 for holding
the fluid. In
some embodiments, the porous member 16 may be a ceramic material, and may
comprise
silicone.
In the embodiment shown in Figure 2A, the heating element 14 is located
between the basin
20 and each electrode 10. In terms of the structure of the heating element 14,
in some
embodiments the heating element 14 may be located on a surface 21 of the
porous member
16. In the case of the embodiments shown in Figures 2A and 3, the surface 21
is located on
an opposite side of the porous member to that of the basin 20.
To improve the transfer of heat from the heating element to the porous member
16, in some
embodiments the heating element 14 may comprise a metal wire or some other
conductive
material, which may form a tortuous path 23 on the surface 21 of the porous
member 16. In
that arrangement, a first end of the heating element may be connected to one
of the two
leads 12, and a second end opposite the first end of the heating element
connected to the
other of the two leads 12. In terms of the exact shape of the heating element
14, it will be
appreciated that the heating element 14 in such embodiments may take any
required shape
on the surface of the porous member 16 for efficiently vaporising the
aerosolisable
material/fluid in the porous member 16. In that respect, and in accordance
with some
particular embodiments, the heating element/vaporiser 14 may define a spiral
pattern; a
raster pattern; or a zig-zag pattern on the surface of the porous member 16.
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Located towards the mouthpiece end 6 of the cartridge is a chamber 22 acting
as a primary
reservoir 24 for storing fluid to be aerosolised. The chamber 22 is connected
to the basin 20
via at least one opening 26 for topping up the level of fluid in the basin 20,
which acts a
secondary reservoir.
Extending through the centre of the chamber 22 is an outlet channel 28 for
receiving aerosol
generated from fluid emanating from the porous member 16. The outlet channel
28 extends
from the porous member up towards a mouthpiece 30 located at the mouthpiece
end 6 of
the cartridge, for allowing a user to inhale the aerosol which is generated.
The cartridge comprises an air channel 32 extending through the cartridge for
delivering air
to the heating element 14. In the embodiment shown in Figure 2A, the air
channel 32 is
located between the electrodes 10. Upon connection of the cartridge 2 with the
control unit
4, the electronic cigarette 1 would be provided with a further air channel
located in the
cartridge 2 and/or the control unit 4 which is in fluid communication with the
air channel 32,
and which is configured to allow ambient air to be passed therethrough and
into air channel
1.5 32.
The heating element 14 is located in an aerosol generation region 34 from the
cartridge 2,
and the outlet channel 28 and the air channel 30 are connected to the aerosol
generation
region 34.
In normal use, the cartridge 2 is coupled to the control unit 4 and the
control unit activated to
supply power to the cartridge 2 via the electrodes 10;11. Power then passes
through the
connection leads 12 to the heating element 14.
The function of the porous member 16 is to act as a capillary wick for drawing
fluid from the
basin 20 to the heating element 14. Accordingly, fluid which is wicked towards
the heating
element 14 through the porous member 16 is vaporised by the heat generated
from the
heating element 14. The generated vapour emanates from the surface 21 where it
mixes
with the air from the air channel 32 in the aerosol generation region 34 to
form an aerosol.
Fluid which is vaporised from the porous member 16 is replaced by more fluid
drawn from
the chamber 22 via the at least one opening 26.
Air enters the air channel 32 as a result of the user inhaling on the
mouthpiece 30 of the
cartridge 2. This inhalation causes air to be drawn through whichever further
air channel
aligns with the air channel 32 of the cartridge. The incoming air mixes with
aerosol
generated from the heating element 14 to form a condensation aerosol at the
underside of
the porous member 16 in the aerosol generation region 34. The formed aerosol
then passes
from the underside of the porous member 16, past a gap 38 located on two sides
S3;S4 of
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the porous member as shown in Figure 2B (the sides S3;S4 being perpendicular
to the sides
S1;S2 shown in Figure 2A), and then up through the outlet channel 28 to the
mouthpiece 30.
The above therefore describes a cartridge 2 for an aerosol provision system,
wherein the
cartridge 2 comprises a heating element/vaporiser 14 located in an aerosol
generation
region 34 from the cartridge 2, and is for heating/vaporising fluid from a
reservoir 20;24 to
generate aerosol in the aerosol generation region 34, wherein the cartridge 2
further
comprises an air channel 32 extending through the cartridge 2 for delivering
air to the
heating element/vaporiser 14.
With reference to Figures 4A-5, there are schematically shown modified
cartridges 2 for use
with the control unit 4 shown in Figure 1 to form an aerosol provision system
1 in accordance
with certain embodiments of the disclosure. The cartridge 2, or portions
thereof, shown in
Figures 4A-5 are based on the construction of cartridge 2 shown in Figures 1-
3, and
comprise similar components as set out by the reference numerals that are
common to both
sets of Figures. For instance, the cartridge 2 comprises the at least one
electrode 10, the
heating element/vaporiser 14, and the porous member 16.
A principal modification to the cartridge 2 shown in Figures 4A-5 over the
cartridge shown in
Figures 2A-3 is the introduction of a resilient member 100 to replace all or
part of the
connection lead 12. In this respect, the connection leads 12 may become
detached from the
electrode 10 during use, causing unwanted short-circuits and faulty operation
of the cartridge
2. A potential further drawback is that with such connection leads 12, which
are shown in
Figures 2A-2B as embedded in the electrode 10, fluid/vapour may ingress in the
gap
between the connection lead 12 and the electrode 10, which may impact on the
efficiency in
any electrical power transmitted between the connection lead 12 and the
electrode 10, e.g.
as a result of corrosion forming in this gap.
From the foregoing therefore, and as will be described, the disclosure from
Figures 4A-5
effectively provide an aerosol provision system 1 comprising a vaporiser 14
for generating a
vapour from an aerosolisable material; an electrode 10 for receiving
electrical power; and a
resilient element 100, electrically connected to the vaporiser 14 and the
electrode 10, for
transferring the electrical power between the electrode 10 and the vaporiser
14. As will be
described, via the introduction of this resilient element 100, this may
notionally alleviate the
aforementioned disadvantages caused by use of the connection lead(s) 12.
Mindful of the above, and with reference to the disclosure from Figures 4A-5,
the resilient
element 100 may be provided with a first portion 102 proximal the vaporiser 14
and a second
portion 104 proximal the electrode 10. In accordance with such embodiments,
such as that
shown in Figures 4A-5, the second portion 104 may effectively be in contact
with the
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electrode 10, with the first portion 102 in contact with the vaporiser 14.
That being said, in
accordance with some embodiments, there may be provided at least one
electrically
conductive bridging member situated between the first portion 102 and the
vaporiser 14,
and/or situated between the second portion 104 and the electrode 10.
As will be described with reference to the embodiments disclosed in Figures 4A-
5, in
accordance with some embodiments, the resilient member 100 may comprise a
helical
spring. In accordance with such embodiments, and others, the resilient element
100 may be
configured to extend around the electrode 10, as shown in Figures 4A-5.
Although not
necessarily, in accordance with some particular embodiments, the resilient
element 100 may
extend concentrically around the electrode 10. Such concentricity may better
ensure an even
distribution of forces through the resilient element 100, and may serve to
efficiently optimise
the location of the resilient element 100 relative to the electrode 10.
In accordance with the above embodiments, the resilient element 100 may be
located
between the electrode 10 and the vaporiser 14, and may be configured to
support (at least
partially or fully) the vaporiser 14 and/or the porous member 16, as is shown
in the
embodiments of Figures 4A-5. In that way, and in accordance with some
embodiments, the
resilient element 100 may by configured to provide a biasing force and/or
compression force
on the vaporiser 14, which in some particular embodiments (such as that shown
in Figures
4A-5) may extend in a direction away from the electrode 10.
From the above therefore, it can be seen that resilient nature of the
resilient element 100
may cause it to be biased into engagement with the vaporiser 14, such that the
resilient
element 100 is held in compression in use. In that respect, the resilient
member 100 may be
held in compression by the electrode 10 and/or the vaporiser 14.
Concerning the geometry of the electrode, in at least some embodiments (such
as those
shown in Figures 4A-5), the electrode 10 may extend between a first end 10A of
the
electrode 10 and a second end 10B of the electrode 10, wherein the first end
10A of the
electrode 10 is located more proximal to the vaporiser 14 than the second end
10B of the
electrode is located to the vaporiser 14, and wherein the first end 10A in
accordance with
some particular embodiments thereof may be located opposite the second end 10B
(for
instance in the case of the electrode being cylindrical). In accordance with
such geometry,
this may allow for a convenient spacing and positioning of the electrode 10
relative to the
vaporiser 14 and the resilient element 100.
In accordance with some particular embodiments of the above geometry, a
particularly
compact embodiment which optimises space may comprise the first end 10A of the
electrode 10 located between the first portion 102 and the second portion 104
of the resilient
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element 100. Such an embodiment is shown in Figures 4A-5. In accordance with
such
embodiments, the first and second ends 10A;10B of the electrode 10 may be
located on
opposite sides of the second portion 104.
To provide additional securement of the resilient member 100 to the electrode
10, in
accordance with some embodiments, the electrode 10 may comprise a shoulder
portion 108
on which the second portion 104 of the resilient element 100 may be configured
to engage
against. In accordance with some embodiments thereof, the shoulder portion 109
may
extend around a circumference of the electrode 10, which may extend around a
part of; or
the entirety of (as shown in the embodiments of Figures 4A-5); the
circumference of the
electrode 10. It will be appreciated that the shoulder portion 108 might be
constructed in a
number of different ways. In that respect, and in accordance with some
embodiments, the
shoulder portion 108 may project in an outward direction from the resilient
element 100,
and/or could be formed as a result of a step-change in the width of a portion
109 of the
electrode (as per the embodiment shown in Figures 4A-5). As to the exact
position of the
shoulder portion 108 and the portion 109, In accordance with some embodiments,
such as
those shown in Figures 4A-5, these may be located in a position which is more
proximal the
second end 10B of the electrode 100 than the portion 109 is located to the
first end 10A of
the electrode 10.
Staying with the geometry of the electrode 10, to allow the electrode 10 to be
more easily
located in place during construction relative to the rest of the cartridge 2
(where such a
cartridge is present), and to allow the resilient element 100 to be more
easily engaged with
and/or assembled next to the electrode 10, in accordance with some
embodiments, the
cross sectional area of the electrode 100 may decrease in the direction from
the second end
10B of the electrode 10 to the first end of the electrode 10A. Any such
decrease in the cross
sectional area from the second end 10B to the first end 10A of the electrode
10 may be a
progressive decrease in accordance with some embodiments. Additionally and/or
alternatively, in accordance with some embodiments, the electrode 10 may be
configured to
comprise a first section 110 of the electrode 10 comprising a first cross
sectional area, and
comprise a second section 112 of the electrode 10 comprising a second cross
sectional area
which is smaller than the first cross sectional area, wherein the second
section 112 is
located more proximal to the first end 10A and/or the vaporiser 14 than the
first section 110
is located to the first end 10A and/or the vaporiser 14. In some particular
embodiments
thereof, the electrode 10 may further comprise a third section 114 of the
electrode 10
comprising a third cross sectional area which is smaller than the second cross
sectional
area, wherein the third section 114 is located more proximal to the first end
10A and/or the
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vaporiser 14 than the second section 112 is located to the first end 10A
and/or the vaporiser
14.
Also in respect of the electrode 10, to allow the resilient element 100 to be
more easily
engaged with and/or located over the electrode 10 initially, as shown in
Figures 4A-5, in
accordance with some embodiments the electrode 10 may be provided with a
chamfered or
filleted edge 118 extending around the first end 10A. Advantageously as well,
the chamfered
or filleted edge 118 may also facilitate in the reduction of any wear of the
resilient element
100 as a result it otherwise rubbing against a sharper edge around the first
end 10A during
use, which might cause a more premature failure of the resilient element 100
during use.
Turning to the resilient element 100, as noted above, in accordance with some
embodiments
the resilient member 100 may comprise a helical spring. Where such a helical
spring is
provided, in accordance with some embodiments the first portion 112 may
comprise a
portion of the helical spring which comprises a flat surface 122. As shown in
Figures 4A-5,
the flat surface 122 may be configured to be in contact with the vaporiser 14.
In this way, the
introduction of the flat surface 122 at this interface between the resilient
element 100 and the
vaporiser 14 may provide a number of advantages, not least in terms of
providing a better
electrical contact between the resilient element 100 and the vaporiser 14, and
also in terms
of providing a wider surface on which the vaporiser 14 (and/or the porous
member 16, where
present) may be supported in use.
In embodiments where the porous member 16 is provided, it is envisaged that
the porous
member 16 may be configured to be supported (either partially or fully) by the
resilient
element 100. In that respect therefore, in accordance with some embodiments,
such as that
shown in Figure 5, the resilient element 100 may be configured to engage
against the
surface 21 of the porous member 16 (via the vaporiser 14). That being said, in
accordance
with some other embodiments, so as to provide additional support for the
resilient element
100 relative to the porous member 16, the first portion 102 of the resilient
element 100 be
embedded or recessed inside the porous member 16, as shown in the embodiment
of
Figures 4A-4C. Put differently, in such embodiments, the porous member 16 may
comprise
a cavity 124 for accommodating the first portion 102 of the resilient element
100. Where
such a cavity 124 is provided, in accordance with some embodiments thereof,
the cavity 124
may comprises a flat surface 126 on which the vaporiser 14 may be located (as
shown in the
embodiment of Figure 4A). Where this flat surface 126 in the cavity 124 is
provided, the flat
surface 122 (where present) of the resilient element 100 may be then parallel
to the flat
surface 126 of the cavity 124. In this way, a particularly stable arrangement
may be provided
between the resilient element 100 and the porous member 16, and such that the
porous
member 16 may be better supported by the resilient element 100.
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As noted above, one of the primary functions of the resilient element 100 is
to transfer
electrical power between the electrode 10 and the vaporiser 14. That being the
case, it is
envisaged that the resilient element 100 may comprise an electrically
conductive material
(such as, but not limited to, a metal) for transferring the electrical power
received by the
electrode 10 to the vaporiser 14. I nferably, and as will be appreciated, this
may be achieved
by the electrically conductive material being deposited onto the resilient
element (e.g. as a
coating extending around the surface of the resilient element, or a strip of
electrically
conductive material being located/deposited thereon), and/or the resilient
element 100 being
made of the electrically conductive material. In accordance with a particular
embodiment, the
electrically conductive material may comprise gold, which demonstrates good
electrical
conductance properties, as well as a high resistance to corrosion (which might
otherwise
occur in/around the electrode during its operation).
Staying with the materials of the resilient element 100, the resilient element
may notionally
comprise a material(s) which demonstrates a degree of corrosion resistance and
which can
withstand the operating temperatures of the vaporiser 14 during its operation.
In accordance
with some embodiments, such a material may comprise an alloy containing
cobalt;
chromium; and nickel, which can demonstrate good performance in respect of the
above
noted areas. In a very particular embodiment, the alloy may comprise Elgiloy
0, which is an
alloy that principally contains cobalt; nickel; chromium; molybdenum and
manganese.
Together, these selections of metals in the alloy can again contribute to the
resilient element
100 demonstrating a degree of corrosion resistance and which can withstand the
operating
temperatures of the vaporiser 14 during its operation. For reference, an
example
composition of Elgiloy includes the following percentage weightings of
materials in the
alloy:
Metal Co Cr Ni Mo Mn
Min (% by weight) 39 19 14 6 1.5
Max (% by weight) 41 21 16 8 2.5
Table 1
Noting these values recited in Table 1, in accordance with some embodiments
described
herein, the resilient element 100 may comprise an alloy containing any
combination of these
listed metals (and potentially other non-listed metals) from Table 1, and/or
may comprise an
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alloy containing any combination/permutation of the recited percentage weight
ranges for
each of these metals from Table 1.
As to the physical dimensions of the resilient element 100 and the electrode
10 herein
described, it will be entirely appreciated that these physical dimensions may
depend on the
intended application of these components and/or any aerosol provision system 1
in which
the components are located. In accordance with some embodiments where the
aerosol
provision system 1 is configured to be handheld or portable, in accordance
with some very
particular embodiments thereof, the resilient element 100 and/or the electrode
10 may
comprise any combination of the following physical dimensions:
i) maximum width W1 of the resilient element 100: no more than 2mm and/or
between 1.8mm and 2mm;
ii) maximum length of the resilient element 100 (extending between the first
portion
102 and the second portion 104) when in use between the electrode 10 and the
vaporiser
14: between 2mm-5mm; and
iii) maximum width W2 of the shoulder portion 108 on which the second portion
104
of the resilient element 100 is configured to engage against: between 0.5mm
and 1mm.
With respect to the resilient member 100 described herein and as illustrated
in the
embodiments from Figures 4A-5, it is envisaged (as noted previously) that this
resilient
member 100 may be used with some of the other previously described features of
the
aerosol provision system 1 described with reference to Figures 1-3, such as
but not limited
the porous member 16, the vaporiser 14, and any of the other features from the
cartridge 2
or control unit 4 shown in Figures 1-3 which collectively form the aerosol
provision systems 1
described herein.
Accordingly, there has been described an aerosol provision system comprising:
a vaporiser
for generating a vapour from an aerosolisable material; an electrode for
receiving electrical
power; and a resilient element, electrically connected to the vaporiser and
the electrode, for
transferring the electrical power between power the electrode and the
vaporiser.
There has also been described a cartridge for an aerosol provision system
comprising the
cartridge and a control unit, wherein the cartridge comprises: a vaporiser for
generating a
vapour from an aerosolisable material; an electrode for receiving electrical
power from the
control unit; and a resilient element, electrically connected to the vaporiser
and the
electrode, for transferring the electrical power between the electrode and the
vaporiser.
There has also been described an aerosol provision system 1 comprising a
vaporiser 14 for
generating a vapour from an aerosolisable material, and an electrode 10 for
receiving
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electrical power. The aerosol provision system 1 also comprises a resilient
element 100,
such as a helical spring, electrically connected to the vaporiser 14 and the
electrode 10, for
transferring the electrical power between the electrode 10 and the vaporiser
14. The aerosol
provision system 1 may comprise a cartridge 2 and a control unit 4, wherein
the electrode
10, the vaporiser 14, and the resilient element 100 are located in the
cartridge 2. The control
unit 4 may comprise a power supply for delivering electrical power to the
electrode 10 for
powering the vaporiser 14.
For the sake of completeness however, it is to be noted that the resilient
element 100
described herein need not be expressly used in an aerosol provision system 1
which
comprises a cartridge 2 and the control unit 4. Accordingly, the resilient
element 100 may be
notionally used in any aerosol provision system 1 which is configured to
generate a vapour
from an aerosolisable material.
In this respect as well, and at an even broader level, it is envisaged that
the resilient element
100 described herein may have wider applications for transferring power from a
first object to
another object which is configured to receive the power from the first object,
and which is
also configured to be at least partly supported by the resilient element, such
that the resilient
element is configured to act as a load-bearing element for the second object.
In other words,
the resilient element 100 need not expressly be for use with an electrode 10
(the first object)
and the vaporiser 14 (the second object) specifically. That being the case,
described herein
may also be an electrical power transmission system comprising: a first object
for receiving
electrical power; a second object; and a resilient element, electrically
connected to the first
object and the second object, wherein the resilient element is configured to
transfer the
electrical power between the first object and the second object, and wherein
the second
object is configured to be supported (such as at least partly, or fully) by
the resilient element,
and such that the resilient element is configured to be held in compression
between the first
object and the second object. Although not necessarily, in accordance with
some of these
embodiments, the first object may comprise the electrode 10 and/or the second
object may
comprise the vaporiser 14 for generating a vapour from an aerosolisable
material.
Where the resilient element 100 is configured to be used in such an electrical
power
transmission system, it will be appreciated that the resilient element 100 may
comprise any
of the features and/or functionality as described herein, such as (but not
limited to) the first
portion 102, the second portion 104, the flat surface 122, and/or comprise a
helical spring.
Also in respect of the resilient element 100 described herein, it will be
appreciated that there
may be provided one or more resilient elements 100, as required, depending on
how many
electrodes 10 (first objects) there are. Accordingly, although the description
has been
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principally described with reference to the operation of a single resilient
element 100, it will
be appreciated (as noted in Figures 4A-5) that more than one resilient element
100 may in
practice be employed, as required, such as there being one resilient element
100 for each
provided electrode 10. In that respect as well, and purely for the avoidance
of any doubt,
where more than one resilient element 100 is provided, the plurality of
resilient elements 100
may all electrically connect to a single vaporiser 14 (second object) and/or
electrically
connect to a separate vaporiser 14 (second object) for each electrode 100,
depending on
the particular application of the resilient element 100. In that respect, and
with reference to
the embodiments shown in Figures 4A-5, there may in accordance with some
particular
embodiments be provided an aerosol provision system 1 comprising the vaporiser
14 for
generating a vapour from an aerosolisable material; a plurality of electrodes
10 for receiving
electrical power; and a plurality of resilient elements 100, wherein each
resilient element 100
is electrically connected to the vaporiser 14 and a respective one of the
electrodes 10, for
transferring the electrical power between the respective one of the electrodes
10 and the
vaporiser 14.
In order to address various issues and advance the art, this disclosure shows
by way of
illustration various embodiments in which the claimed invention(s) may be
practiced. The
advantages and features of the disclosure are of a representative sample of
embodiments
only, and are not exhaustive and/or exclusive. They are presented only to
assist in
understanding and to teach the claimed invention(s). It is to be understood
that advantages,
embodiments, examples, functions, features, structures, and/or other aspects
of the
disclosure are not to be considered limitations on the disclosure as defined
by the claims or
limitations on equivalents to the claims, and that other embodiments may be
utilised and
modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the claims.
Various
embodiments may suitably comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of,
various
combinations of the disclosed elements, components, features, parts, steps,
means, etc.
other than those specifically described herein, and it will thus be
appreciated that features of
the dependent claims may be combined with features of the independent claims
in combinations
other than those explicitly set out in the claims. The disclosure may include
other inventions not
presently claimed, but which may be claimed in future.
For instance, although the present disclosure has been described with
reference to a
"liquid" or "fluid" in the cartridge / aerosol provision system, it will be
appreciated that this
liquid or fluid may be replaced with any aerosolisable material. Equally,
where an
aerosolisable material is used, it will be appreciated that in some
embodiments this
aerosolisable material may comprise a liquid or fluid.
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Furthermore, whilst the present disclosure has been described with reference
to a
heater/heating element being present in the cartridge / aerosol provision
system, it will be
appreciated that in accordance with some embodiments this heating element may
be
replaced with a vaporiser or some other aerosol generating component. Equally,
such an
aerosol generating component in accordance with some embodiments may in
particular
comprise a heater or heating element.
The present disclosure also provides the embodiments as set out in the
following numbered
clauses:
1. An aerosol provision system comprising:
a vaporiser for generating a vapour from an aerosolisable material;
an electrode for receiving electrical power; and
a resilient element, electrically connected to the vaporiser and the
electrode, for
transferring the electrical power between the electrode and the vaporiser.
2. An aerosol provision system according to clause 1, wherein the resilient
element
comprises a first portion proximal the vaporiser and a second portion proximal
the electrode.
3. An aerosol provision system according to clause 2, wherein the first
portion is in
contact with the vaporiser.
4. An aerosol provision system according to any of clauses 2-3, wherein the
second
portion is in contact with the electrode.
5. An aerosol provision system according to any of clauses 2-4, wherein the
electrode
comprises a shoulder portion on which the second portion of the resilient
element is
configured to engage against.
6. An aerosol provision system according to any of clauses 4-5, wherein the
shoulder
portion extends around a circumference of the electrode.
7. An aerosol provision system according to clause 6, wherein the shoulder
portion
extends around the entirety of the circumference of the electrode.
8. An aerosol provision system according to any of clauses 1-7, wherein the
electrode
extends between a first end of the electrode and a second end of the
electrode, wherein the
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first end of the electrode is located more proximal to the vaporiser than the
second end of
the electrode is located to the vaporiser.
9. An aerosol provision system according to clause 8, when further
dependent on
clause 2, wherein the first end of the electrode is located between the first
portion and the
second portion of the resilient element.
10. An aerosol provision system according to clause 8 or 9, when further
dependent on
clause 5, wherein the shoulder portion is located between the first end and
the second end.
11. An aerosol provision system according to any of clauses 8-10, wherein
the cross
sectional area of the electrode decreases in the direction from the second end
of the
electrode to the first end of the electrode.
12. An aerosol provision system according to any of clauses 8-11, wherein
the electrode
comprises a chamfered or filleted edge extending around the first end.
13. An aerosol provision system according to any of clauses 1-12,
wherein the resilient
element is configured to provide at least one of a biasing force and/or a
compression force
on the vaporiser.
14 An aerosol provision system according to clause 13, wherein the
at least one of a
biasing force and a compression force extends in a direction away from the
electrode.
15. An aerosol provision system according to any of clauses 1-14, wherein
the resilient
element is biased into engagement with the vaporiser.
16. An aerosol provision system according to any of clauses 1-15, wherein
the resilient
element comprises a helical spring.
17. An aerosol provision system according to clause 16, when further
dependent on
claim 2, wherein the first portion comprises a portion of the helical spring
which comprise a
flat surface.
18. An aerosol provision system according to clause 17, wherein the flat
surface is in
contact with the vaporiser.
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19. An aerosol provision system according to any of clauses 1-18, wherein
the resilient
element extends around the electrode.
20. An aerosol provision system according to any of clauses 1-19, wherein
the resilient
element extends concentrically around the electrode.
21. An aerosol provision system according to any of clauses 1-20, wherein
the resilient
element is held in compression by the electrode and/or the vaporiser.
22. An aerosol provision system according to any of clauses 1-21, wherein
the resilient
element comprises an electrically conductive material for transferring the
electrical power
received by the electrode to the vaporiser.
23. An aerosol provision system according to clause 22, wherein the
electrically
conductive material is deposited onto the resilient element.
24. An aerosol provision system according to clause 22, wherein the
resilient element is
made of the electrically conductive material.
25. An aerosol provision system according to any of clauses 22-24, wherein
the
electrically conductive material cornprises gold.
26. An aerosol provision system according to any of clauses 1-25,
wherein the resilient
element comprises an alloy containing cobalt; chromium; and nickel.
27 An aerosol provision system according to clause 26, wherein the
alloy is Elgiloy,
and/or an alloy containing cobalt; chromium; nickel; molybdenum and manganese.
28. An aerosol provision system according to any of clauses 1-27, further
comprising a
porous member for use in holding aerosolisable material to be vaporised using
the vaporiser.
29. An aerosol provision system according to clause 28, wherein the
vaporiser is located
on a surface of the porous member.
30. An aerosol provision system according to any of clauses 28-29, when
further
dependent on clause 2, wherein the first portion of the resilient element is
embedded or
recessed inside the porous member.
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31. An aerosol provision system according to any of clauses 28-30,
wherein the porous
member comprises a cavity for accommodating the first portion of the resilient
element.
32. An aerosol provision system according to any of clause 31, when further
dependent
on clause 29, wherein the cavity comprises a flat surface, and wherein the
vaporiser is
located on the flat surface.
33. An aerosol provision system according to any of clause 32, when further
dependent
on clause 17, wherein the flat surface of the helical spring is parallel to
the flat surface of the
cavity.
34. An aerosol provision system according to any of clauses 28-33, wherein
the resilient
element at least partly supports the porous member, such that the resilient
element is
configured to be held in compression between the porous member and the
electrode.
35. An aerosol provision system according to any of clauses 1-34, wherein
the resilient
element at least partly supports the vaporiser, such that the resilient
element is configured to
be held in compression between the vaporiser and the electrode.
36. An aerosol provision system according to any of clauses 1-35, wherein
the vaporiser
comprises a heating element.
37. An aerosol provision system according to any of clauses 1-36, further
comprising a
reservoir for aerosolisable material, wherein the vaporiser is configured to
receive the
aerosolisable material from the reservoir.
38. An aerosol provision system according to any of clauses 1-37, further
comprising a
cartridge and a control unit,
wherein the electrode, the vaporiser, and the resilient element are located in
the
cartridge,
wherein the control unit comprises a cartridge receiving section that includes
an
interface arranged to cooperatively engage with the cartridge so as to
releasably couple the
cartridge to the control unit, wherein the control unit further comprises a
power supply for
delivering electrical power to the electrode for powering the vaporiser.
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39. A cartridge for an aerosol provision system comprising the
cartridge and a control
unit, wherein the cartridge comprises:
a vaporiser for generating a vapour from an aerosolisable material;
an electrode for receiving electrical power from the control unit; and
a resilient element, electrically connected to the vaporiser and the
electrode, for
transferring the electrical power between the electrode and the vaporiser.
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