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 aerosolisable material, such as a reservoir of fluid or liquid
containing a formulation,
typically but not necessarily including nicotine, or a solid material such as
a tobacco-based
product, from which a vapour/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
aerosolisable material to
generate a vapour.
Once a vapour has been generated, the vapour may, though not necessarily, be
passed
through flavouring material to add flavour to the vapour, after which the
(flavoured) vapour
may be then delivered to a user via a mouthpiece or outlet from the aerosol
provision
system.
It is common for aerosol provision systems to comprise a modular assembly,
often having
two main functional parts, namely a control unit/body, and
cartridge/consumable part. Such a
consumable part, in some embodiments, may take the resemblance of a cigarette.
Various approaches are described herein which seek to improve existing aerosol
provision
systems, such as those outlined above, in a number of different ways.
Summary
According to a first aspect of certain embodiments there is provided an
aerosol provision
system comprising an aerosolisable material transport element for receiving
aerosolisable
material to be vaporised, wherein the aerosol provision system is moveable
between a first
configuration in which at least a portion of the aerosolisable material
transport element is
uncompressed or partly compressed, and a second configuration in which the
portion of the
aerosolisable material transport element is compressed by a greater amount
than in the first
configuration for restricting the formation of vaporised aerosolisable
material from the
aerosolisable material transport element in the second configuration.
According to a second aspect of certain embodiments there is an aerosol
provision cartridge
comprising an aerosolisable material transport element for receiving
aerosolisable material
to be vaporised, wherein the aerosol provision cartridge is moveable between a
first
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configuration in which at least a portion of the aerosolisable material
transport element is
uncompressed or partly compressed, and a second configuration in which the
portion of the
aerosolisable material transport element is compressed by a greater amount
than in the first
configuration for restricting the formation of vaporised aerosolisable
material from the
aerosolisable material transport element in the second configuration.
According to a third aspect of certain embodiments there is a method of
controlling the
formation of vaporised aerosolisable material from an aerosolisable material
transport
element in an aerosol provision system, wherein the method comprises moving
the aerosol
provision system between a first configuration in which at least a portion of
the aerosolisable
material transport element is uncompressed or partly compressed, and a second
configuration in which the portion of the aerosolisable material transport
element is
compressed by a greater amount than in the first configuration for restricting
the formation of
vaporised aerosolisable material from the aerosolisable material transport
element in the
second configuration.
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 1A schematically represents an aerosol provision system in a first
configuration in
accordance with certain embodiments of the disclosure.
Figure 1B schematically represents the aerosol provision system from Figure 1A
in a second
configuration in accordance with certain embodiments of the disclosure.
Figure 2 schematically represents two perspective views of an aerosol
provision system
which is moveable between a first configuration and a second configuration in
accordance
with certain embodiments of the disclosure.
Figure 3A schematically represents a first cross section view of the aerosol
provision system
from Figure 2.
Figure 3B schematically represents a second cross section view of the aerosol
provision
system from Figure 2, and which is perpendicular to the first cross section
view from Figure
3A.
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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
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
combusted 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.
Equally in some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision system may
comprise
a consumable part/cartridge and a device/body which is configured to
releasably engage
with the consumable part/cartridge.
The aerosol provision system may be provided with a means for powering a
vaporiser
therein, and there may be provided an aerosolisable material transport element
for receiving
the aerosolisable material that is to be vaporised. The aerosol provision
system may also be
provided with a reservoir for containing aerosolisable material, and in some
embodiments a
further reservoir for containing flavouring material for flavouring a
generated vapour from the
aerosol provision system.
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In some embodiments, the vaporiser may be a heater/heating element capable of
interacting
with the aerosolisable material so as to release one or more volatiles from
the aerosolisable
material to form a vapour/aerosol. In some embodiments, the vaporiser is
capable of
generating an aerosol from the aerosolisable material without heating. For
example, the
vaporiser may be capable of generating a vapour/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, flavouring material, 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,
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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,
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 flavouring material (flavour) may comprise 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.
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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
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 (body / device) and a replaceable
consumable
(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 consumable parts. 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.
From the forgoing therefore, and with reference to the Figures, in accordance
with some
embodiments provided herein is an aerosol provision system 1 which may in some
embodiments be provided as a body 10 which can releasably accommodate, and/or
be
releasably attached to, a cartridge 100. The aerosol provision system 1
comprises a
reservoir 12 for containing an aerosolisable material for vaporising, and an
aerosolisable
material transport element 14 for receiving aerosolisable material from the
reservoir 12.
Also provided in the aerosol provision system 1 is a vaporiser 16 for
vaporising the
aerosolisable material from the aerosolisable material transport element 14.
In embodiments
where the aerosol provision system 1 comprises the body 10 and the cartridge
100, the
cartridge 100 may comprise the reservoir 12, the aerosolisable material
transport element
14, and the vaporiser 16. In this way, when the body 10 is releasably engaged
with the
cartridge 100, the vaporiser 16 may be configured to receive electrical power
via an
electrical contact 18 on the body 10 which is also electrically connected to a
power source
20 from the body 10. In this way, power from the power source 20 may be used
to power the
vaporiser 16 for vaporising the aerosolisable material from the aerosolisable
material
transport element 14.
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During the operation of the aerosol provision system 1, inlet air from an air
inlet 22 of the
aerosol provision system 1 may be configured to pass through at least one
inlet air channel
24. The inlet air channel 24 may be accordingly configured to deliver air over
the the
aerosolisable material transport element 14 to pick up vaporised aerosolisable
material from
the aerosolisable material transport element 14. The vaporised aerosolisable
material from
the aerosolisable material transport element 14 may then pass through a fluid
outlet tube 26
for delivery to an outlet 28 of the aerosol provision system 1. From there,
the vaporised
aerosolisable material from the vaporiser 16 may then pass out through the
outlet 28 through
to a user's mouth, for inhalation of the vaporised aerosolisable material by
the user (for
instance via a mouthpiece 30).
As to the structure and composition of any provided aerosolisable material
transport element
14 (wick), it will be appreciated that the aerosolisable material transport
element 14 may be
anything which can appropriately draw the aerosolisable material to a position
where it can
be vaporised by the vaporiser 16 during use of the aerosol provision system 1.
In that
respect therefore, in accordance with some embodiments, the aerosolisable
material
transport element 14 may comprise a porous material, and/or a fibrous material
or a solid
material. In some embodiments, the aerosolisable material transport element 14
may be
made of cotton, or could be made of a ceramic material. Thus appreciating the
foregoing,
and at a general level, it will be appreciated the specific structure and
composition of the
aerosolisable material transport element 14 may be varied in a number of
different ways to
best cater for any intended application of the aerosol provision system 1.
With respect to the vaporiser 16, as noted previously the vaporiser 16 may or
may not
comprise a heater/heating element to form the vaporised aerosolised material.
Though in
embodiments where the vaporiser 16 comprises a heating element, in accordance
with
some embodiments thereof, the heating element may comprise a conductive
material
located on an external surface of the aerosolisable material transport element
14, such as a
coil of wire which is wound around at least a portion of the aerosolisable
material transport
element 14 (as shown for instance with reference to the embodiment from
Figures 3A-3B).
Equally however, it will be appreciated that the conductive material may take
other shapes
on the surface of the aerosolisable material transport element 14, e.g a
spiral pattern; a
raster pattern; or a zig-zag pattern such to allow the heating element to
efficiently vaporise
the aerosolisable material in the aerosolisable material transport element 14.
In such cases,
it will be appreciated that the heating element (or the vaporiser 16 in
general, where a
heating element is not employed) may be connected to the power source 20 from
the
aerosol provision system 1, which in some embodiments may be a battery. In
embodiments
where the aerosol provision system 1 comprises the body 10 which can
releasably
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accommodate, and/or be releasably engaged with, the cartridge 100, in some
embodiments
thereof the power source 20 may be located in the body 10. Electrical power
from the power
source 20 may then be supplied via the electrical contact 18 to the vaporiser
16, and/or
appreciably may be delivered to the vaporiser 16 in some embodiments
wirelessly or
through a non-contact power transmission system between the power source 20
and the
vaporiser 16.
Appreciating the foregoing general disclosure of the aerosol provision system
1 therefore, in
accordance with certain embodiments of the disclosure, herein provided is an
aerosol
provision system 1 comprising the aerosolisable material transport element 14
for receiving
aerosolisable material to be vaporised, wherein the aerosol provision system 1
is moveable
between a first configuration in which at least a portion 31 of the
aerosolisable material
transport element 14 is uncompressed or partly compressed, and a second
configuration in
which the portion 31 of the aerosolisable material transport element 14 is
compressed by a
greater amount than in the first configuration for restricting the formation
of vaporised
aerosolisable material from the aerosolisable material transport element 14 in
the second
configuration. Such an aerosol provision system will now be described with
reference to the
embodiments from Figures 1A-3B.
The purpose of the aerosol provision system 1 being moveable between the first
configuration and the second configuration is to better allow for the
formation of vaporised
aerosolisable material from the aerosolisable material transport element 14 to
be controlled.
Specifically, this control is achieved by effectively throttling, such as via
a compression of
portion 31 of the aerosolisable material transport element 14, the amount of
aerosolisable
material which can be vaporised off the aerosolisable material transport
element 14 in the
proximity of the vaporiser 16. As will be described, it is envisaged that the
aerosol provision
system 1 may be configured to move between the first configuration and the
second
configuration in a number of different ways, as will now be described,
In a simple sense, and with reference to the embodiment illustrated in Figures
1A and 1B,
the portion 31 of the aerosolisable material transport element 14 which is
configured to be
compressed may comprise a first end portion 32, and a second end portion 34
opposite the
first end portion 32, from the aerosolisable material transport element 14. In
this way, as the
portion 31 is compressed in the second configuration (or more compressed than
in the first
configuration), this relative increase in the compression of the portion 31
better restricts
aerosolisable material from the reservoir 12 from being vaporised by the
vaporiser 16 to form
vaporised aerosolisable material.
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As to the amount of such compression, it will be appreciated that the amount
of compression
in the second configuration is configured to be more than that in the first
configuration. Put
differently, the portion 31 of the aerosolisable material transport element 14
in the first
configuration may be either not compressed at all, or be compressed by a first
amount. In
this way, the aerosolisable material transport element 14 in the second
configuration may be
compressed by a second amount which is more than that the amount of
compression in the
first configuration.
As to how the compression of the portion 31 of the aerosolisable material
transport element
14 may be increased from the first configuration to the second configuration,
it is envisaged
that this may be achieved in a number of different ways.
In this respect for instance, in accordance with some embodiments, such as
that illustrated
in Figures 1A and 1B, the aerosol provisions system 1 may comprise at least
one
compressing member 38 which is configured to be actuated for compressing the
portion 31
(and/or each of the first end portion 32 and the second end portion 34 where
such end
portions 32;34 are employed) in the second configuration. As to the exact
structure of any
such employed compressing member 38, it will be appreciated that this
structure may vary
depending on the intended application of the aerosolisable material transport
element 14.
Though in accordance with some embodiments, the compressing member 38 may
comprise
a moveable plunger for impinging on the portion 31 in the second
configuration, or an
adjustably sized collar which is configured to surround and throttle the
portion 31 in the
second configuration.
Turning to the disclosure from Figures 2-3B, other mechanisms for the aerosol
provision
system 1 being moveable between the first configuration and the second
configuration
include the aerosol provision system 1 comprising a specially configured fluid
outlet tube 26
for receiving vaporised aerosolisable material from the aerosolisable material
transport
element, which is configured to move between the first configuration and the
second
configuration for causing the portion 31 of the aerosolisable material
transport element 14 to
be compressed in the second configuration.
In accordance with such embodiments, the fluid outlet tube 26 may in some
instances
comprise at least one aperture 50 for gripping the portion 31 of the
aerosolisable material
transport element 14. In this way, when the fluid outlet tube 26 is moved, the
portion 31 of
the aerosolisable material transport element 14 may be configured to move with
the fluid
outlet tube 26. In this way, by moving the fluid outlet tube 26 from the first
configuration to
the second configuration, this may also move the portion 31 of the
aerosolisable material
transport element 14 from the first configuration to the second configuration.
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As to how the aerosol provision system 1 may be moveable between the first and
the
second configuration, it will be appreciated in accordance with some
embodiments, such as
those illustrated in Figures 2-3B, the portion 31 of the aerosolisable
material transport
element 14 may be configured to move between the first configuration and the
second
configuration. Such movement can be seen in the embodiment from Figure 2 in
particular,
where rotation of the fluid outlet tube 26 causes the portion 31 to move from
the first
configuration (see position 31A for the portion 31 in the first configuration)
to the second
configuration (see position 31B for the position of the portion 31 in the
second configuration).
Staying with such embodiments where the portion 31 of the aerosolisable
material transport
element 14 is configured to move between the first configuration and the
second
configuration for restricting the formation of vaporised aerosolisable
material from the
aerosolisable material transport element in the second configuration, in
accordance with
some narrower embodiments, the portion 31 of the aerosolisable material
transport element
14 may in particular be configured to rotate between the first configuration
and the second
configuration. Such embodiments can be seen with reference to the embodiment
from
Figures 2-3B, where the fluid outlet tube 26 is configured to move/rotate
between the first
configuration and the second configuration for causing the portion 31 of the
aerosolisable
material transport element 14 to be compressed in the second configuration. In
this way, by
virtue of this movement of the fluid outlet tube 26, the portion 31 of the
aerosolisable material
transport element 14 is configured to move/rotate between the first
configuration and the
second configuration.
Where the portion 31 of the aerosolisable material transport element 14 is
configured to
rotate between the first configuration and the second configuration, in
accordance with some
embodiments thereof, the portion may be configured to rotate about an angle of
no more
than 45 degrees, or in accordance with some narrow embodiments by an angle of
no more
than 40 degrees, or in accordance with some yet narrower embodiments by an
angle of no
more than 35 degrees. With the provision of these upper bound angles
therefore, these may
assist with inhibiting the shearing/failure of the aerosolisable material
transport element 14
during the movement of the aerosol provision system between the first
configuration and the
second configuration.
In so far as any portion 31 of the aerosolisable material transport element 14
is configured to
move or rotate between the first configuration and the second configuration
for restricting the
formation of vaporised aerosolisable material from the aerosolisable material
transport
element in the second configuration, in accordance with some embodiments
thereof, a
second portion 42 of the aerosolisable material transport element may be
configured to
remain stationary between the first configuration and the second
configuration. In this way, in
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so far as the first portion 31 is configured to move but the second portion 42
is configured to
remain stationary, movement of the aerosol provision system 1 from the first
configuration to
the second configuration may cause a shear/compressive force to be applied to
the first
portion 31 when the aerosol provision system 1 is in the second configuration.
Such a
shear/compressive force may thus further assist in restricting the formation
of vaporised
aerosolisable material from the aerosolisable material transport element in
the second
configuration. This is because of the compressive force restricting the
ability of the
aerosolisable material transport element 14 to deliver aerosolisable material
form the
reservoir 12 to the vaporiser 16.
In respect of any exact positioning of such a second portion 42 (where this is
employed), in
accordance with some embodiments, the second portion 42 may be located between
any
provided first end portion 32 and the second end portion 34 from the
aerosolisable material
transport element 14. In this way, and in accordance with some embodiments,
the
aerosolisable material transport element 14 may thus define a C-shape, or be
configured
such that the first end portion 32 projects outwardly from one end of the
second portion 42
and/or configured such that the second end portion 34 projects outwardly from
another end
of the second portion 42 which is opposite the one end.
For the sake of completeness, it is to be noted that the provision of a
second, stationary,
portion 42 from the aerosolisable material transport element 14 is not
explicitly necessary.
Indeed, rather than moving the first portion 31 relative to a second
stationary portion 42 of
the aerosolisable material transport element 14, compression of the
aerosolisable material
transport element 14 in the second configuration may also be achieved through
the entirety
of the aerosolisable material transport element 14 moving between the first
configuration and
the second configuration.
For instance, in accordance with some particular embodiments, the first
portion 31 may be
configured to abut a structure, which may in accordance with some embodiments
be
fixed/immovable, from the aerosol provision system 1, such as a wall or stop
therefrom, as
the portion 31 of the aerosolisable material transport element is moved from
the first
configuration to the second configuration. In this way, as the portion 31 then
reaches its
position in the second configuration of the aerosol provision system 1, the
structure from the
aerosol provision system 1 may act to compress the portion 31 of the
aerosolisable material
transport element for restricting the formation of vaporised aerosolisable
material from the
aerosolisable material transport element in the second configuration.
Similarly, when the
aerosol provision system is then moved back from the second position to the
first position, in
the portion 31 of the aerosolisable material transport element 14 in the first
position may
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then be configured to not be compressed by the structure, and/or may be
separated from the
structure.
In a very particular embodiment, where such a structure is employed, the
structure may
comprise a casing of the aerosol provision system 1 (or a casing of the
cartridge 100 where
a body 10/cartridge 100 arrangement is employed). Such a casing in accordance
with some
embodiments may be configured to cover and/or surround the aerosolisable
material
transport element 14 when the aerosol provision system is in use.
Turning to how the aerosol provision system 1 may be moved between the first
configuration
and the second configuration, in accordance with some embodiments (such as
those shown
in Figures 2-3B) the aerosol provision system 1 may be configured to be
manually moved
between the first and second configurations. Such manual movement may be seen,
for
instance, in accordance with the embodiment from Figure 2 where the fluid
outlet tube 26
may be configured to be manually moved, or rotated, between the first
configuration and the
second configuration of the aerosol provision system 1.
Appreciably however, in accordance with some embodiments, the aerosol
provision system
1 may be configured to move between the first configuration and the second
configuration in
response to a signal from a controller 40 from the aerosol provision system 1.
With respect to any provided controller 40, this may be configured to receive
power from the
power source 20. As to the location of any such controller 40, it will be
appreciated that in
embodiments where the aerosol provision system 1 comprises the body 10 and the
cartridge
100, the controller may be located in either the body 10 or the cartridge 100.
Depending on
the configuration of the aerosol provision system 1, electrical power from the
power source
20 to the controller 40 may then be supplied via either a wired connection,
and/or
appreciably may be delivered wirelessly, such as through a non-contact power
transmission
system between the power source 20 and the controller 40.
Where such a signal is employed, as to the type of signal itself, it will be
appreciated that in
accordance with some embodiments, the signal may be a wireless signal, or may
be
transmitted by a wired connection 43 from the controller 40 to any provided
compressing
member 38 from the aerosol provision system 1 (as can be seen for instance
with reference
to the wired connection 43 between the controller 40 and the compressing
member 38 from
Figures 1A-1B).
With respect to how any such signal may be generated, the aerosol provision
system 1 in
accordance with some embodiments may further comprise a user interface 44,
and/or an
actuator 46 which is connected to the controller 40, and which is configured
for controlling
the generation of the signal. Appreciably, in respect of any actuator 46 which
is employed,
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this may comprise a button or switch, for instance, which might in accordance
with some
embodiments be located on any employed body 10 from the aerosol provision
system 1.
With the provision of such a user interface 44 or the actuator 46, they may
each then be
used to controlling the generation of the signal ¨ for instance in response to
an input by a
user (e.g. by way of the user interacting with the user interface 44 and/or by
the user
actuating the actuator 46).
From the foregoing therefore, it will be appreciated that described herein are
a number of
different configurations of aerosol provision system 1 which can be employed
to better
control the formation of vaporised aerosolisable material from the
aerosolisable material
transport element 14 during use of the aerosol provision system.
Accordingly, there has at least been described an aerosol provision system
comprising an
aerosolisable material transport element for receiving aerosolisable material
to be vaporised,
wherein the aerosol provision system is moveable between a first configuration
in which at
least a portion of the aerosolisable material transport element is
uncompressed or partly
compressed, and a second configuration in which the portion of the
aerosolisable material
transport element is compressed by a greater amount than in the first
configuration for
restricting the formation of vaporised aerosolisable material from the
aerosolisable material
transport element in the second configuration.
There has also been described an aerosol provision cartridge comprising an
aerosolisable
material transport element for receiving aerosolisable material to be
vaporised, wherein the
aerosol provision cartridge is moveable between a first configuration in which
at least a
portion of the aerosolisable material transport element is uncompressed or
partly
compressed, and a second configuration in which the portion of the
aerosolisable material
transport element is compressed by a greater amount than in the first
configuration for
restricting the formation of vaporised aerosolisable material from the
aerosolisable material
transport element in the second configuration.
Also described herein is a method of controlling the formation of vaporised
aerosolisable
material from an aerosolisable material transport element in an aerosol
provision system,
wherein the method comprises moving the aerosol provision system between a
first
configuration in which at least a portion of the aerosolisable material
transport element is
uncompressed or partly compressed, and a second configuration in which the
portion of the
aerosolisable material transport element is compressed by a greater amount
than in the first
configuration for restricting the formation of vaporised aerosolisable
material from the
aerosolisable material transport element in the second configuration.
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There has also been described an aerosol provision system 1 comprising an
aerosolisable
material transport element 14 for receiving aerosolisable material to be
vaporised. The
aerosol provision system 1 is moveable between a first configuration in which
at least a
portion of the aerosolisable material transport element 14 is uncompressed or
partly
compressed, and a second configuration in which the portion of the
aerosolisable material
transport element 14 is compressed by a greater amount than in the first
configuration for
restricting the formation of vaporised aerosolisable material from the
aerosolisable material
transport element in the second configuration. The aerosol provision system 1
may comprise
a fluid outlet tube 26 which is configured to move between the first
configuration and the
second configuration for causing the portion 31 of the aerosolisable material
transport
element 14 to be compressed in the second configuration.
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 reservoir 12, 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.
With respect to the vaporiser 16, although the vaporiser 16 has been described
in some
embodiments as comprising a heater/heating element, such as a coil of wire
which is wound
around at least a portion of the aerosolisable material transport element 14
(as shown for
instance with reference to the embodiment from Figures 3A-38), it will be
appreciated that in
some other embodiments the vaporiser 16 may be capable of generating a
vapour/aerosol
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from the aerosolisable material in the aerosolisable material transport
element 14 without
applying heat thereto, for example via one or more of vibrational, mechanical,
pressurisation
or electrostatic means as described previously.
Finally as well, whilst a number of the features herein described have been
described with
reference to embodiments of aerosol provision system 1 which are provided as
part of a
body 10 which can releasably accommodate, and/or be releasably attached to, a
cartridge
100, it will be appreciated that in some embodiments, any of the herein
described features
from the cartridge 100 and/or the body 10 may be integrated into an aerosol
provision
system 1 which does not comprise such a cartridge/body configuration.
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