WO2020089093A1

WO2020089093A1 - Heat-not-burn consumable

Info

Publication number: WO2020089093A1
Application number: PCT/EP2019/079219
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kate FERRIE; Edward Ross SHENTON
Original assignee: Nerudia Ltd
Current assignee: Nerudia Ltd
Priority date: 2018-10-29
Filing date: 2019-10-25
Publication date: 2020-05-07
Anticipated expiration: 2021-04-29
Also published as: GB201817563D0; EP3873251A1; TW202033110A; TWI830799B

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a heat-not-burn (HNB) consumable (1) comprising an aerosol-forming substrate (2) and a cooling element (7) located downstream of the substrate. The cooling element comprises a sheet formed of a plastics material, and an additive applied to a surface of the sheet.

Description

Heat-not-burn consumable

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 comprising a filter element.

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 design of HNB consumables to enhance the user experience and improve the function of the HNB smoking substitute system. The present disclosure has been devised in the light of the above considerations.

Summary of the Disclosure

At its most general, the present disclosure relates to a HNB consumable comprising a cooling element in the form of a sheet formed of a plastics material.

According to a first aspect, there is provided a heat-not-burn (HNB) consumable comprising an aerosolforming substrate and a cooling element located downstream of the substrate wherein the cooling element comprises a sheet formed of plastics material, and an additive applied to a surface of the sheet.

Vapour formed by the aerosol-forming substrate may flow through the cooling element before exiting at the downstream end of the consumable (i.e. for inhalation by a user). The additive may be such that it alters a characteristic of the vapour formed by heating the aerosol-forming substrate that flows across the cooling element. For example, the additive (or components of the additive) may become entrained in the aerosol as it flows through the cooling element. Alternatively or additionally, the additive (or components of the additive) may interact with the aerosol in another manner (e.g. without becoming entrained in the aerosol) so as to affect a characteristic of the aerosol.

As used herein, the terms’’upstream” and“downstream” are intended to refer to the flow direction of the vapour/aerosol i.e. with the downstream end of the consumable being the mouth end or outlet where the aerosol exits the consumable for inhalation by the user. An upstream end of the consumable is the opposing end to the downstream end.

Optional features will now be set out. These are applicable singly or in any combination with any aspect.

The plastics material may comprise polylactic acid (PLA). In this respect, the plastics material (and consequently, the sheet) may be biodegradable. The sheet may solely be formed of PLA, or may be formed of PLA in combination with another material (e.g. another plastics material).

The sheet may alternatively or additionally be formed of a plastics material selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

In some embodiments the additive comprises a flavourant. In this respect, the flavourant may be dispersed from the cooling element to a vapour flowing from the aerosol-forming substrate. The flavourant that is dispersed to the vapour may thus alter the flavour of the vapour prior to it being inhaled by a user. The flavourant may be provided in solid or liquid form. It may include menthol, liquorice, chocolate, fruit flavour (including e.g. citrus, cherry etc.), vanilla, spice (e.g. ginger, cinnamon) and tobacco flavour. The flavourant may be evenly dispersed throughout the cooling element or may be provided in isolated locations and/or varying concentrations throughout the cooling element.

In some embodiments the additive comprises a phase change material. This may facilitate cooling of the aerosol/vapour (generated by the aerosol-forming substrate), by heat exchange, before being inhaled by a user. The additive may comprise both a flavourant (as discussed above) and a phase change material.

The phase change material may be capable of storing and releasing energy during phase changes. The phase change material may be a solid-liquid phase change material, whereby when the phase change material is heated, it melts from a solid to a liquid and stores the thermal energy. The phase change material may have a melting point at a temperature that is close to room temperature (e.g. 25°C to 35°C) such that heat from vapour (that may be hotter than room temperature) passing across the cooling element is transferred to the phase change material (which stores the heat as latent heat during the phase change). This transfer of heat from the vapour to the phase change material may result in cooling of the vapour that may facilitate condensation of the vapour so as to form an aerosol. During phase change, the phase change material remains at a generally consistent temperature, allowing a large amount of heat to be transferred (due to a temperature differential between the vapour and the phase change material) from the vapour to the phase change material.

The phase change material may be an organic phase change material that may, for example, be paraffin (CnH2n₊2) based e.g. paraffin with 14 to 34 carbons e.g. 20 carbons (icosane/eicosane).

In some embodiments, the additive may be sprayed or coated onto the surface of the sheet. Alternatively or additionally, the sheet may be impregnated with the additive. In this respect, the sheet may be a porous sheet (e.g. formed of a porous material).

In some embodiments the sheet is crimped. The sheet may be crimped and gathered (e.g. to form a structure having a high surface area). Where the cooling element comprises a flavourant, the high surface area may maximise dispersion of the flavourant to the aerosol. Similarly, where the cooling element comprises a phase change material, the high surface area may maximise heat exchange with the aerosol and may thus facilitate cooling of the aerosol. The gathered sheet may define a plurality of channels.

In some embodiments the sheet is gathered so as to form a substantially cylindrical shape. Where the gathered sheet defines channels, the channels may extend in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the gathered sheet.

The cooling element and the aerosol-forming substrate may be at least partly (e.g. completely) circumscribed by a wrapping layer (e.g. a paper wrapping layer). The wrapping layer may overlie an inner foil layer or may comprise a paper/foil laminate (with the foil innermost). The diameter of the cooling element may substantially match the diameter of the aerosol-forming substrate (with or without its associated wrapping layer). The axial length of the cooling element may be less than 20mm, e.g. between 8 and 18mm, for example between 13 and 15 mm.

The aerosol-forming substrate may be capable of being heated to release at least one volatile compound that can form an aerosol.

In order to generate an aerosol, the aerosol-forming substrate comprises at least one volatile compound that is intended to be vaporised/aerosolised and that may provide the user with a recreational and/or medicinal effect when inhaled. Suitable chemical and/or physiologically active volatile compounds include the group consisting of: nicotine, cocaine, caffeine, opiates and opoids, cathine and cathinone, kavalactones, mysticin, beta-carboline alkaloids, salvinorin A together with any combinations, functional equivalents to, and/or synthetic alternatives of the foregoing.

The aerosol-forming substrate may comprise plant material. The plant material may comprise least one plant material selected from the list including Amaranthus dubius, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (Bearberry), Argemone mexicana, Arnica, Artemisia vulgaris, Yellow Tees, Galea zacatechichi, Canavaiia maritima (Baybean), Cecropia mexicana (Guamura), Oestrum noctumum, Cynoglossum virginianum (wild comfrey), Cytisus scoparius, Damiana, Entada rheedii, Eschscholzia califomica (California Poppy), Fittonia albivenis, Hippobroma longi flora, Humulus japonica (Japanese Hops), Humulus lupulus (Hops), Lactuca virosa (Lettuce Opium), Laggera alata, Leonotis leonurus, Leonurus cardiaca (Motherwort), Leonurus sibiricus (Honeyweed), Lobelia cardinalis, Lobelia inflata (Indian-tobacco), Lobelia siphilitica, Nepeta cataria (Catnip), Nicotiana species (Tobacco), Nymphaea alba (White Lily), Nymphaea caerulea (Blue Lily), Opium poppy, Passiflora incamata (Passionflower), Pedicularis densiflora (Indian Warrior), Pedicularis groeniandica (Elephant's Head), Salvia divinorum, Salvia dorrii (Tobacco Sage), Salvia species (Sage), Scutellaria galericulata, Scutellaria lateriflora, Scutellaria nana, Scutellaria species (Skullcap), Sida acuta (Wireweed), Sida rhombi folia, Silene capensis, Syzygium aromaticum (Clove), Tagetes lucida (Mexican Tarragon), Tarchonanthus camphoratus, Tumera diffusa (Damiana), Verbascum (Mullein), Zamia latifolia (Maconha Brava) together with any combinations, functional equivalents to, and/or synthetic alternatives of the foregoing.

Preferably, the plant material is tobacco. Any type of tobacco may be used. This includes, but is not limited to, flue-cured tobacco, burley tobacco, Maryland Tobacco, dark-air cured tobacco, oriental tobacco, dark-fired tobacco, perique tobacco and rustica tobacco. This also includes blends of the above mentioned tobaccos.

Any suitable parts of the tobacco plant may be used. This includes leaves, stems, roots, bark, seeds and flowers. The tobacco may comprise one or more of leaf tobacco, stem tobacco, tobacco powder, tobacco dust, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, homogenised tobacco, shredded tobacco, extruded tobacco, cut rag tobacco and/or reconstituted tobacco (e.g. slurry recon or paper recon).

The aerosol-forming substrate may comprise a gathered sheet of homogenised (e.g. paper/slurry recon) tobacco or gathered shreds/strips formed from such a sheet.

In some embodiments, the sheet used to form the aerosol-forming substrate has a grammage greater than or equal to 100 g/m², e.g. greater than or equal to 1 10 g/m² such as greater than or equal to 120 g/m².

The sheet may have a grammage of less than or equal to 300 g/m² e.g. less than or equal to 250 g/m² or less than or equal to 200 g/m².

The sheet may have a grammage of between 120 and 190 g/m².

The aerosol-forming substrate may comprise at least 50 wt% plant material, e.g. at least 60 wt% plant material e.g. around 65 wt% plant material. The aerosol-forming substrate may comprise 80 wt% or less plant material e.g. 75 or 70 wt% or less plant material.

The aerosol-forming substrate may comprise one or more additives selected from humectants, flavou rants, fillers, aqueous and non-aqueous solvents and binders.

Humectants are provided as vapour generators - the resulting vapour helps carry the volatile active compounds and increases visible vapour. Suitable humectants include polyhydric alcohols (e.g. propylene glycol (PG), triethylene glycol, 1 ,2-butane diol and vegetable glycerine (VG)) and their esters (e.g. glycerol mono-, di- or tri-acetate). They may be present in the aerosol-forming substrate in an amount between 1 and 50 wt%.

The humectant content of the aerosol-forming substrate may have a lower limit of at least 1 % by weight of the plant material, such as at least 2 wt %, such as at least 5 wt %, such as at least 10 wt %, such as at least 20 wt %, such as at least 30 wt %, or such as least 40 wt %.

The humectant content of the aerosol-forming substrate may have an upper limit of at most 50 % by weight of the plant material, such as at most 40 wt %, such as at most 30 wt %, or such as at most 20 wt %.

Preferably, the humectant content is 1 to 40 wt % of the aerosol-forming substrate, such as 1 to 20 wt %

Suitable binders are known in the art and may comprise starches and/or cellulosic binders such as methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, hydroxy propyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose and methyl cellulose, gums such as xanthan, guar, arabic and/or locust bean gum, organic acids and their salts such as alginic acid/ sodium alginate, agar and pectins.

Preferably the binder content is 5 to 10 wt % of the aerosol-forming substrate e.g. around 6 to 8 wt %.

Suitable fillers are known in the art and may comprise fibrous fillers such as cellulose fibres

Preferably, the filler content is 5 to 10 wt % of the aerosol-forming substrate e.g. around 6 to 9 wt %.

Like the flavourant of the cooling element (as described above), the flavourant of the substrate may be provided in solid or liquid form. It may include one or more of the flavourants listed above with respect to the cooling element. The flavourant may be evenly dispersed throughout the aerosol-forming substrate or may be provided in isolated locations and/or varying concentrations throughout the aerosol-forming substrate.

The aerosol-forming substrate may be formed in a substantially cylindrical shape such that the consumable resembles a conventional cigarette. It may have a diameter of between 5 and 10mm e.g. between 6 and 9mm or 6 and 8mm e.g. around 7 mm. It may have an axial length of between 10 and 15mm e.g. between 1 1 and 14mm such as around 12 or 13mm.

The consumable may comprise at least one filter element. There may be a terminal filter element located at a downstream (i.e. mouth) end of the consumable (i.e. at an opposite end of the consumable to the substrate).

The consumable may further comprise an upstream filter element located between the aerosol-forming substrate and the cooling element. The upstream filter element may be located adjacent the aerosolforming substrate.

The or each filter element may be comprised of cellulose acetate or polypropylene tow. The or each filter element may be comprised of activated charcoal. The or each filter element may be comprised of paper. The or each filter element may be comprised of extruded plant material. The or each filter element (e.g. terminal filter element or upstream filter element) may be circumscribed with a plug wrap e.g. a paper plug wrap.

The or each filter element may have a substantially cylindrical shape with a diameter substantially matching the diameter of the aerosol-forming substrate (with or without its associated wrapping layer). The axial length of the or each filter element may be less than 20mm, e.g. between 8 and 15mm, for example between 9 and 13 mm e.g. between 10 and 12mm. The or each filter element may be a solid filter element. The or each filter element may be a hollow bore filter element. The or each filter element may have a bore diameter of between 1 and 5 mm, e.g. between 2 and 4 mm or between 2 and 3 mm.

Any filter element(s) upstream of the terminal filter element may be at least partly (e.g. entirely) circumscribed by the (paper) wrapping layer.

The terminal filter element (at the downstream end of the consumable) may be joined to upstream filter elements and/or the cooling element by a circumscribing tipping layer e.g. a tipping paper layer. The tipping paper may have an axial length longer than the axial length of the terminal filter element such that the tipping paper completely circumscribes the terminal filter element plus the wrapping layer surrounding any adjacent upstream filter element or the cooling element.

The or at least one of the filter elements e.g. the terminal filter element may include a capsule e.g. a crushable capsule (crush-ball) containing a liquid flavourant e.g. any of the flavourants listed above. The capsule can be crushed by the user during smoking of the consumable to release the flavourant. The capsule may be located at the axial centre of the terminal filter element.

The consumable may comprise a spacer element that defines a space or cavity or chamber between the aerosol-forming substrate and the downstream end of the consumable. The spacer acts to allow both cooling and mixing of the aerosol. The spacer element may comprise a cardboard tube. The spacer element may be at least partly (e.g. entirely) circumscribed by the (paper) wrapping layer. The spacer may, for example, be located between the cooling element and one of the filter elements.

The spacer element may have an external diameter of between 5 and 10mm e.g. between 6 and 9mm or 6 and 8mm e.g. around 7 mm. It may have an axial length of between 10 and 15mm e.g. between 12 and 14 mm or 13 and 14mm e.g. around 14mm.

In a second aspect, there is provided a cooling element for a heat-not-burn (HNB) consumable (e.g. such as that described in the first aspect) wherein the cooling element comprises a sheet formed of a plastics material, and an additive applied to a surface of the sheet.

The cooling element may be as described with respect to the first aspect.

In a third aspect, there is provided a method of forming a cooling element (e.g. such as that described above in the first and second aspects), the method comprising providing a sheet formed of a plastics material, applying an additive to a surface of the sheet, and gathering the sheet to form a cooling element. In some embodiments the step of applying an additive to the surface of the sheet is performed separately to the step of gathering the sheet. In other embodiments, the step of applying an additive to the surface of the sheet may be performed concurrently with the step of gathering the sheet.

In some embodiments the step of applying the additive comprises spraying the additive onto the surface.

In some embodiments the method further comprises crimping the sheet. The sheet may be crimped prior to gathering it to form the cooling element. The method may additionally or alternatively comprise forming slits in the sheet. The slits may be formed prior to crimping the sheet (i.e. where the crimping step is performed).

The cooling element formed by the method of the third aspect may be as described above with respect to the first and second aspects. In that respect, the method may comprise applying a flavourant and/or a phase change material to the sheet.

In a fourth aspect, there is provided a smoking substitute system comprising a HNB consumable according to the first aspect and a device comprising a heating element.

The device may be a HNB device i.e. a device adapted to heat but not combust the aerosol-forming substrate of the HNB consumable.

The device may comprise a main body for housing the heating element. The heating element may comprise an elongated e.g. rod, tube-shaped or blade heating element. The heating element may project into or surround a cavity within the main body for receiving the consumable described above.

The device (e.g. the main body) may further comprise an electrical power supply e.g. a (rechargeable) battery for powering the heating element. It may further comprise a control unit to control the supply of power to the heating element.

In a fifth aspect, there is provided a method of using a smoking substitute system according to the fourth aspect, the method comprising inserting the consumable into the device, and heating the consumable using the heating element.

In some embodiments, the method comprises inserting the consumable into a cavity within the main body and penetrating the consumable with the heating element upon insertion of the consumable. For example, the heating element may penetrate the aerosol-forming substrate in the consumable.

The skilled person will appreciate that except where mutually exclusive, a feature or parameter described in relation to any one of the above aspects may be applied to any other aspect. Furthermore, except where mutually exclusive, any feature or parameter described herein may be applied to any aspect and/or combined with any other feature or parameter described herein.

Summary of the Figures

So that the invention may be understood, and so that further aspects and features thereof may be appreciated, embodiments illustrating the principles of the invention will now be discussed in further detail with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of an HNB consumable;

Figure 2 shows a second embodiment of an HNB consumable

Figure 3 shows a third embodiment of an HNB consumable; and

Figure 4 shows the first embodiment within a device forming an HNB system.

Detailed Description of the Figures

As shown in Figure 1 , the HNB consumable 1 comprises an aerosol-forming substrate 2 at the upstream end of the consumable 1.

The aerosol-forming substrate comprises reconstituted tobacco which includes nicotine as a volatile compound.

The aerosol-forming substrate 2 comprises 65 wt% tobacco which is provided in the form of gathered shreds produced from a sheet of slurry/paper recon tobacco. The tobacco is dosed with 20wt% of a humectant such as propylene glycol (PG) or vegetable glycerine (VG) and has a moisture content of between 7-9 wt%. The aerosol-forming substrate further comprises cellulose pulp filler and guar gum binder.

The aerosol-forming substrate 2 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape such that the consumable resembles a conventional cigarette. It has diameter of around 7mm and an axial length of around 12 mm.

The aerosol-forming substrate 2 is circumscribed by a paper wrapping layer 3.

The consumable 1 comprises an upstream filter element 4 and a downstream (terminal) filter element 5. Both filter elements 4, 5 are formed of cellulose acetate tow and wrapped with a respective paper plug layer (not shown). Both filter elements 4, 5 have a substantially cylindrical shape. The diameter of the upstream filter 4 matches the diameter of the aerosol-forming substrate 2. The diameter of the terminal filter element 5 is slightly larger and matches the combined diameter of the aerosol-forming substrate 2 and the wrapping layer 3. The upstream filter element is slightly shorter in axial length than the terminal filter element at an axial length of 10mm compared to 12mm for the terminal filter element.

Each filter element 4, 5 is a hollow bore filter element with a hollow, longitudinally extending bore. The diameter of the bore in the upstream filter is slightly larger than the diameter of the bore in the terminal filter having a diameter of 3mm compared to 2 mm for the terminal filter element.

The consumable further comprises a cooling element 7 located between the upstream filter element 4 and the downstream (i.e. terminal) filter element 5. The cooling element 7 comprises a sheet formed of a plastics material, comprising polylactic acid (PLA), and an additive applied to (e.g. sprayed/coated onto) a surface of the sheet. The use of PLA to form the sheet may mean the cooling element 7 is biodegradable.

Although not apparent from the figure, the sheet of the cooling element 7 is crimped and gathered to form a substantially cylindrical structure having a high surface area.

The additive (applied to the surface of the sheet) comprises a flavourant e.g. menthol or a phase change material e.g. eicosane.

The cooling element 7 and the upstream filter element 4 are circumscribed by the wrapping layer 3. The filter element is longer than each of the two filter portions having an axial length of around 14mm.

The terminal filter element 5 is joined to the upstream elements forming the consumable by a circumscribing paper tipping layer 6. The tipping layer 6 encircles the terminal filter portion and has an axial length of around 20mm such that it overlays a portion of the filter element 7.

Figure 2 shows a second embodiment of a consumable T which is the same as that shown in Figure 1 except that the consumable T comprises a cardboard spacer tube 8, and the terminal filter element 5 is a solid filter element and comprises a crushable capsule 9 (crush-ball). The crushable capsule 9 has a shell wall containing a liquid menthol or cherry or vanilla flavourant. The capsule 8 is spherical and has a diameter of 3.5mm. It is positioned within the axial centre of the terminal filter portion 5.

The cardboard spacer tube 8 is disposed between the cooling element 7 and the upstream filter 4, and acts to allow both cooling and mixing of the aerosol. The cardboard tube spacer is approximately the same length as the cooling element 7 and has an axial length of around 7 mm. The cardboard spacer tube 8, upstream filter element 4, and cooling element 7 are circumscribed by the wrapping layer 3. Figure 3 shows a third embodiment of a consumable 1” which is the same as the first embodiment except that it comprises (like the embodiment of Figure 2) a cardboard spacer tube 8. Further, the wrapping layer 3 does not completely circumscribe the cardboard spacer tube 8 such that there is an annular gap 10 between the tipping layer 6 and the cardboard spacer tube 8 downstream of the end of the wrapping layer 3. In the third embodiment of the consumable 1” the cooling element 7 is located between the cardboard spacer tube 8 and the upstream filter 4.

Figure 4 shows the first embodiment inserted into an HNB device 10 comprising a rod-shaped heating element 20 (shown in dashed lines). The heating element projects into a cavity 1 1 within the main body 12 of the device.

The consumable 1 is inserted into the cavity 1 1 of the main body 12 of the device 10 such that the heating rod 20 penetrates the aerosol-forming substrate 2. Heating of the reconstituted tobacco in the aerosolforming substrate 2 is effected by powering the heating element (e.g. with a rechargeable battery (not shown)). As the tobacco is heated, moisture and volatile compound (e.g. nicotine) within the tobacco and the humectant are released as a vapour and entrained within an airflow generated by inhalation by the user at the terminal filter portion 5.

As the vapour cools within the upstream filter element 4 and the cooling element 7, it condenses to form an aerosol containing the volatile compounds as well as the menthol flavourant for inhalation by the user.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or in the following claims, or in the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for obtaining the disclosed results, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

While the invention has been described in conjunction with the exemplary embodiments described above, many equivalent modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art when given this disclosure. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments of the invention set forth above are considered to be illustrative and not limiting. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

For the avoidance of any doubt, any theoretical explanations provided herein are provided for the purposes of improving the understanding of a reader. The inventors do not wish to be bound by any of these theoretical explanations.

Any section headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not to be construed as limiting the subject matter described. Throughout this specification, including the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the words“have”,“comprise”, and“include”, and variations such as“having”,“comprises”,“comprising”, and “including” will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps. It must be noted that, as used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms“a,”“an,” and“the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Ranges may be expressed herein as from“about” one particular value, and/or to“about” another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by the use of the antecedent“about,” it will be understood that the particular value forms another embodiment. The term “about” in relation to a numerical value is optional and means, for example, +/- 10%.

The words "preferred" and "preferably" are used herein refer to embodiments of the invention that may provide certain benefits under some circumstances. It is to be appreciated, however, that other embodiments may also be preferred under the same or different circumstances. The recitation of one or more preferred embodiments therefore does not mean or imply that other embodiments are not useful, and is not intended to exclude other embodiments from the scope of the disclosure, or from the scope of the claims.

Claims

Claims:

1. A heat-not-burn (HNB) consumable comprising: an aerosol-forming substrate; and a cooling element located downstream of the substrate, the cooling element comprising a sheet formed of a plastics material, and an additive applied to a surface of the sheet.

2. A consumable according to claim 1 wherein the plastics material comprises polylactic acid (PLA).

3. A consumable according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the additive comprises a flavourant.

4. A consumable according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the additive comprises a phase change material.

5. A consumable according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the additive is sprayed onto the surface of the sheet.

6. A consumable according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the sheet is gathered and/or crimped so as to have a generally cylindrical shape.

7. A consumable according to any one of the preceding claims further comprising a terminal hollow bore filter element at a downstream end of the consumable.

8. A consumable according to claim 7 further comprising an upstream filter element located upstream of the terminal filter element.

9. A cooling element for a heat-not-burn (HNB) consumable, the cooling element comprising a sheet formed of a plastics material, and an additive applied to a surface of the sheet.

10. A cooling element according to claim 9 wherein the plastics material comprises polylactic acid

(PLA).

1 1. A cooling element according to claim 9 or 10 wherein the additive comprises a flavourant.

12. A cooling element according to any one of claims 9 to 11 wherein the additive comprises a phase change material.

13. A cooling element according to any one of claims 9 to 12 wherein the additive is sprayed or coated onto the surface of the sheet.

14. A cooling element according to any one of claims 9 to 13 wherein the sheet is gathered and/or crimped so as to have a generally cylindrical shape.

15. A method of forming a cooling element, the method comprising:

providing a sheet formed of a plastics material;

applying an additive to a surface of the sheet; and

gathering and/or crimping the sheet to form a cooling element.

16. A method according to claim 15 wherein the step of applying an additive to the surface of the sheet is performed separately to the step of gathering and/or crimping the sheet.

17. A method according to claim 15 or 16 wherein the step of applying the additive comprises spraying the additive onto the surface of the sheet.

18. A system comprising a consumable according to any one claims 1 to 8 or a consumable comprising a cooling element according to any one of claims 9 to 14 and a device comprising a heating element.

19. A system according to claim 18 wherein the device comprises a main body for housing the heating element and the heating element comprises an elongated heating element.

20. A method of using the system according to claim 18 or 19, the method comprising:

inserting the article into the device; and

heating the article using the heating element.