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EP-3873275-B1 - SMOKING SUBSTITUTE CONSUMABLE

EP3873275B1EP 3873275 B1EP3873275 B1EP 3873275B1EP-3873275-B1

Inventors

  • FERRIE, Kate
  • SHENTON, Edward Ross
  • JEPSEN, Kim Christian

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20191025

Claims (13)

  1. An aerosol-forming article (1) comprising an aerosol-forming substrate (2), a terminal filter element (5) at a downstream/mouth end of the article (1), and an upstream filter element (4) that is upstream of the terminal filter element (5); characterised in that the hardness of the terminal filter element (5) is greater than the hardness of the upstream filter element (4).
  2. An article (1) according to claim 1 wherein the article (1) is a heat-not-burn (HNB) consumable.
  3. An article (1) according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the hardness of the terminal filter element (5) is at least 3% greater than the hardness of the upstream filter element (4).
  4. An article (1) according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the axial length of the terminal filter element (5) is greater than the axial length of the upstream filter element (4).
  5. An article (1) according to claim 4 wherein the axial length of the terminal filter element (5) is 2 mm or more greater than the axial length of the upstream filter element (4).
  6. An article (1) according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the terminal filter element (5) is a hollow bore filter element.
  7. An article (1) according to claim 6 wherein the upstream filter element (4) is a hollow bore filter element.
  8. An article (1) according to claim 7 wherein the terminal filter element (5) has an axial bore having a smaller diameter than an axial bore in the upstream filter element (4).
  9. An article (1) according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the upstream filter element (4) and terminal filter element (5) are spaced by an aerosol-cooling element and/or a spacer element (6).
  10. A system comprising a smoking substitute article (1) according to any one of the preceding claims and a device (10) comprising a heating element (20).
  11. A system according to claim 10 wherein the device (10) comprises a main body (12) for housing the heating element (20) and the heating element (20) comprises an elongated heating element (20).
  12. A method of using the system according to claim 10 or 11, the method comprising: inserting the article (1) into the device (10); and heating the article (1) using the heating element (20).
  13. A method according to claim 12 comprising inserting the article (1) into a cavity (11) within a main body (12) of the device (10) and penetrating the article (1) with the heating element (20) upon insertion of the article (1).

Description

Field of the Disclosure The present disclosure relates to a consumable for use in a smoking substitute system and particularly, although not exclusively, to a heat-not-burn (HNB) consumable. Background The smoking of tobacco is generally considered to expose a smoker to potentially harmful substances. It is generally thought that a significant amount of the potentially harmful substances are generated through the heat caused by the burning and/or combustion of the tobacco and the constituents of the burnt tobacco in the tobacco smoke itself. Conventional combustible smoking articles, such as cigarettes, typically comprise a cylindrical rod of tobacco comprising shreds of tobacco which is surrounded by a wrapper, and usually also a cylindrical filter axially aligned in an abutting relationship with the wrapped tobacco rod. The filter typically comprises a filtration material which is circumscribed by a plug wrap. The wrapped tobacco rod and the filter are joined together by a wrapped band of tipping paper that circumscribes the entire length of the filter and an adjacent portion of the wrapped tobacco rod. A conventional cigarette of this type is used by lighting the end opposite to the filter, and burning the tobacco rod. The smoker receives mainstream smoke into their mouth by drawing on the mouth end or filter end of the cigarette. Combustion of organic material such as tobacco is known to produce tar and other potentially harmful byproducts. There have been proposed various smoking substitute systems (or "substitute smoking systems") in order to avoid the smoking of tobacco. Such smoking substitute systems can form part of nicotine replacement therapies aimed at people who wish to stop smoking and overcome a dependence on nicotine. Smoking substitute systems include electronic systems that permit a user to simulate the act of smoking by producing an aerosol (also referred to as a "vapour") that is drawn into the lungs through the mouth (inhaled) and then exhaled. The inhaled aerosol typically bears nicotine and/or flavourings without, or with fewer of, the odour and health risks associated with traditional smoking. In general, smoking substitute systems are intended to provide a substitute for the rituals of smoking, whilst providing the user with a similar experience and satisfaction to those experienced with traditional smoking and with combustible tobacco products. Some smoking substitute systems use smoking substitute articles that are designed to resemble a traditional cigarette and are cylindrical in form with a mouthpiece at one end. The popularity and use of smoking substitute systems has grown rapidly in the past few years. Although originally marketed as an aid to assist habitual smokers wishing to quit tobacco smoking, consumers are increasingly viewing smoking substitute systems as desirable lifestyle accessories. There are a number of different categories of smoking substitute systems, each utilising a different smoking substitute approach. One approach for a smoking substitute system is the so-called "heat not burn" ("HNB") approach in which tobacco (rather than an "e-liquid") is heated or warmed to release vapour. The tobacco may be leaf tobacco or reconstituted tobacco. The vapour may contain nicotine and/or flavourings. In the HNB approach the intention is that the tobacco is heated but not burned, i.e. the tobacco does not undergo combustion. A typical HNB smoking substitute system may include a device and a consumable. The consumable may include the tobacco material. The device and consumable may be configured to be physically coupled together. In use, heat may be imparted to the tobacco material by a heating element of the device, wherein airflow through the tobacco material causes moisture in the tobacco material to be released as vapour. A vapour may also be formed from a carrier in the tobacco material (this carrier may for example include propylene glycol and/or vegetable glycerine) and additionally volatile compounds released from the tobacco. The released vapour may be entrained in the airflow drawn through the tobacco. As the vapour passes through the consumable (entrained in the airflow) from an inlet to a mouthpiece (outlet), the vapour cools and condenses to form an aerosol for inhalation by the user. The aerosol will normally contain the volatile compounds. In HNB smoking substitute systems, heating as opposed to burning the tobacco material is believed to cause fewer, or smaller quantities, of the more harmful compounds ordinarily produced during smoking. Consequently, the HNB approach may reduce the odour and/or health risks that can arise through the burning, combustion and pyrolytic degradation of tobacco. In some cases, the aerosol passing from the mouthpiece (i.e. being inhaled by a user) may not be in a desirable state. Thus, it may be desirable to alter one or more characteristics of the aerosol before it is inhaled by the user. There is a need for an improved desig