Aerosol delivery system

Abstract

An aerosol delivery system comprising a first air passage having a first aerosol generator, and a second air passage separate from the first air passage having a second aerosol generator, wherein the first aerosol generator is operable to generate a first aerosol including an active ingredient, and the second aerosol generator is operable to generate a second aerosol including an active ingredient, the first aerosol being less visible than the second aerosol in use; and wherein the aerosol delivery system is configurable to selectively operate the first aerosol generator alone; the second aerosol generator alone; or the first and second aerosol generators together.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An aerosol delivery system comprising:
 a first air passage having a first aerosol generator, and   a second air passage separate from the first air passage having a second aerosol generator,   wherein the first aerosol generator is operable to generate a first aerosol including an active ingredient, and   the second aerosol generator is operable to generate a second aerosol including an active ingredient, the first aerosol being less visible than the second aerosol in use; and wherein   the aerosol delivery system is configurable to selectively operate:   the first aerosol generator alone; and/or   the second aerosol generator alone; and/or   the first and second aerosol generators together.   
     
     
         2 . An aerosol delivery system according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first aerosol generator comprises an air-permeable substrate disposed in the first air passage, being arranged to allow air being drawn through the first air passage to be drawn through the air-permeable substrate, the air-permeable substrate being loaded with a first source of the active ingredient.   
     
     
         3 . An aerosol delivery system according to any of  claims 1  to  2 , wherein:
 the second aerosol generator comprises:
 a wick arranged in the second air passage, 
 a heater operable to heat the wick, and 
 a liquid storage tank arranged in fluid communication with the wick, the liquid storage tank comprising a liquid, being a second source of the active ingredient. 
 
 
     
     
         4 . An aerosol delivery system according to any preceding claim, comprising:
 a base unit, and   a cartridge removably engagable with the base unit; wherein:   the first aerosol generator and second aerosol generator are comprised by or within the cartridge, and   the base unit is operable to configure the aerosol delivery system to selectively operate the first aerosol generator alone; and/or the second aerosol generator alone; and/or the first and second aerosol generators together.   
     
     
         5 . An aerosol delivery apparatus configured for engagement with a base unit, the aerosol delivery apparatus and base unit forming an aerosol delivery system, the aerosol delivery apparatus comprising:
 a first air passage having a first aerosol generator, and   a second air passage separate from the first air passage having a second aerosol generator,   wherein the first aerosol generator is operable to generate a first aerosol including an active ingredient, and   the second aerosol generator is operable to generate a second aerosol including an active ingredient, the first aerosol being less visible than the second aerosol in use.   
     
     
         6 . An aerosol delivery apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein:
 the first aerosol generator comprises:   an air-permeable substrate disposed in the first air passage and arranged to allow air being drawn through the first air passage to be drawn through the air-permeable substrate, the air-permeable substrate being loaded with a first source of the active ingredient.   
     
     
         7 . An aerosol delivery apparatus according to either of  claim 5  or  6 , wherein:
 the second aerosol generator comprises: 
 a wick arranged in the second air passage, 
 a heater operable to heat the wick, and 
 a liquid storage tank arranged in fluid communication with the wick, the liquid storage tank comprising a liquid, being a second source of the active ingredient. 
 
     
     
         8 . A base unit configured for engagement with an aerosol delivery apparatus according to any of  claims 5  to  7 , the base unit and aerosol delivery apparatus together forming an aerosol delivery system, wherein:
 the base unit is operable to configure the aerosol delivery system to selectively operate the first and/or second aerosol generators. 
 
     
     
         9 . An aerosol delivery apparatus configured for engagement with a base unit, the apparatus and base unit together forming an aerosol delivery system, the aerosol delivery apparatus comprising:
 a first air passage having a first aerosol generator, and   a second air passage separate from the first air passage having a second aerosol generator,   wherein the first aerosol generator is operable to generate a first aerosol including an active ingredient, and   the second aerosol generator is operable to generate a second aerosol including an active ingredient, the first aerosol being less visible than the second aerosol in use; and   wherein the aerosol delivery apparatus is configurable to selectively operate:
 the first aerosol generator alone; and/or 
 the second aerosol generator alone; and/or 
 the first and second aerosol generators together. 
   
     
     
         10 . An aerosol delivery apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the first aerosol generator comprises:
 an air-permeable substrate disposed in the first air passage and arranged to allow air being drawn through the first air passage to be drawn through the air-permeable substrate, the air-permeable substrate being loaded with a first source of an active ingredient for entrainment in air passing through the first air passage.   
     
     
         11 . An aerosol delivery apparatus according to any of  claims 9  to  10 , wherein the second aerosol generator comprises:
 a wick arranged in the second air passage, 
 a heater, operable to heat the wick, and 
 a liquid storage tank arranged in fluid communication with the wick, the liquid storage tank comprising a liquid, being a second source of an active ingredient. 
 
     
     
         12 . An aerosol delivery apparatus according to any of  claims 9  to  11 , wherein the aerosol delivery apparatus comprises:
 a mouthpiece comprising a mouthpiece air passage, wherein the mouthpiece is configurable to place the mouthpiece air passage in fluid communication with either the first air passage or the second air passage of the aerosol delivery apparatus to provide selectivity of operation for the first and second aerosol generators. 
 
     
     
         13 . An aerosol delivery system comprising:
 a base unit, and   an aerosol delivery apparatus according to any of  claims 9  to  12 , wherein the aerosol delivery apparatus is removably engageable with the base unit.   
     
     
         14 . A method of using an aerosol delivery system according to any one of  claims 1  to  4  to generate an aerosol, comprising a step of configuring the aerosol delivery system to selectively operate the first aerosol generator alone; and/or the second aerosol generator alone; and/or the first and second aerosol generators together. 
     
     
         15 . A method of using an aerosol delivery apparatus according to any of  claims 9  to  12  to generate an aerosol, comprising a step of configuring the aerosol delivery apparatus to selectively operate the first aerosol generator alone; and/or the second aerosol generator alone; and/or the first and second aerosol generators together.