Non-combustible aerosol provision device

Abstract

A non-combustible aerosol provision device for generating an aerosol from aerosol-generating material included in a consumable, the non-combustible aerosol provision device having: a receptacle for receiving the consumable; and an adaptor configured to adapt the non-combustible aerosol provision device by varying an effective length of the receptacle such that each of a plurality consumables of different lengths, which are individually receivable in the receptacle, when received in the receptacle for use, protrude from the non-combustible aerosol provision device by substantially equal amounts.

1 . A non-combustible aerosol provision device for generating an aerosol from aerosol-generating material comprised in a consumable, the non-combustible aerosol provision device comprising:
 a receptacle for receiving the consumable; and   an adaptor configured to adapt the non-combustible aerosol provision device by varying an effective length of the receptacle such that each of a plurality consumables of different lengths, which are individually receivable in the receptacle, when received in the receptacle for use, protrude from the non-combustible aerosol provision device by substantially equal amounts.   
     
     
         2 . The non-combustible aerosol provision device according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the non-combustible aerosol provision device comprises a housing;   the adaptor is configurable to adopt a first operating configuration or a second operating configuration with respect to the housing of the non-combustible aerosol provision device; and   the effective length of the receptacle in the first configuration of the adaptor is less than the effective length of the receptacle in the second configuration of the adaptor.   
     
     
         3 . The non-combustible aerosol provision device according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 the adaptor is pivotably attached to a proximal end of the non-combustible aerosol provision device, the proximal end being the end of the non-combustible aerosol generating device which is nearest to the user's mouth when the user inhales, in use, aerosol provided by the non-combustible aerosol provision device; and   the adaptor transitions between the first operating configuration and the second operating configuration by pivoting relative to the housing of the non-combustible aerosol provision device.   
     
     
         4 . The non-combustible aerosol provision device according to  claim 3 , wherein:
 the adaptor comprises a first opening and a second opening;   when in the first operating configuration, the first opening is aligned with the receptacle;   when in the second operating configuration, the second opening is aligned with the receptacle; and   the second opening is formed to commence at a greater distance from the receptacle towards the proximal end, when aligned with the receptacle, than the first opening.   
     
     
         5 . The non-combustible aerosol provision device according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 the first opening is positioned in the first configuration such that the first opening is centrally aligned with the receptacle;   the second opening is positioned in the second configuration such that the second opening is centrally aligned with the receptacle; and   the first opening has a first inner diameter and the second opening has a second inner diameter different to the first inner diameter.   
     
     
         6 . The non-combustible aerosol provision device according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 the adaptor is slidably attached to a proximal end of the non-combustible aerosol provision device, the proximal end being the end of the non-combustible aerosol generating device which is nearest to the user's mouth when the user inhales, in use, aerosol provided by the non-combustible aerosol provision device; and   the adaptor is configured to transition between the first operating configuration and the second operating configuration by sliding relative to the housing of the non-combustible aerosol provision device.   
     
     
         7 . The non-combustible aerosol provision device according to  claim 6 , wherein:
 the adaptor comprises an insertion opening which is aligned with the receptacle;   the insertion opening is positioned closer to the receptacle in the first operating configuration than in the second operating configuration.   
     
     
         8 . The non-combustible aerosol provision device according to  claim 7 , wherein:
 the adaptor comprises a first retention element and a second retention element;   the first retention element comprises a first resilient opening of a first initial size;   the second retention element comprises a second resilient opening of a second initial size smaller than the first initial size;   the first resilient opening is configured to allow the size of the first resilient opening to become greater than the first initial size against a bias of the first resilient opening, and the second resilient opening is configured to allow the size of the second resilient opening to become greater than the first initial size against a bias of the second resilient opening; and   at least the second resilient opening is configured to allow the size of the second resilient opening to become greater than the second initial size against the bias of the second resilient opening.   
     
     
         9 . The non-combustible aerosol provision device according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 the adaptor is configured to be installed at a proximal end of the non-combustible aerosol provision device, wherein the adaptor is removable from the proximal end of the device, the proximal end being the end of the non-combustible aerosol generating device which is nearest to the user's mouth when the user inhales, in use, aerosol provided by the non-combustible aerosol provision device;   in the first operating configuration, the adaptor is not installed at the proximal end; and   in the second operating configuration, the adaptor is installed at the proximal end.   
     
     
         10 . The non-combustible aerosol provision device according to  claim 9 , wherein:
 the adaptor is dimensioned, and positioned relative to the receptacle when installed at the proximal end, such that the adaptor defines a centrally aligned insertion opening into the receptacle.   
     
     
         11 . The non-combustible aerosol provision device according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 the non-combustible aerosol provision device comprises a heating arrangement for heating the aerosol-generating material in a consumable received in the receptacle, wherein the heating arrangement comprises two or more heating portions for providing heat substantially to respective portions of the receptacle;   when the adaptor is in the second operating configuration, the adaptor is configured to hold a supplementary heating switch in an on state to activate at least one of the two or more heating portions, which is not activated in the first operating configuration, to provide heat.   
     
     
         12 . A non-combustible aerosol provision system comprising:
 the non-combustible aerosol provision device according to  claim 8 ;   a first consumable comprising aerosol-generating material, the first consumable having a first width; and   a second consumable comprising aerosol-generating material, the second consumable having a second width, the second width being less than the first width,   
       wherein:
 when the first consumable is inserted into the insertion opening, the size of the first resilient opening and the size of the second resilient opening becomes greater than the first initial size such that the first consumable is accommodated and held in position by both the first retention element and the second retention element; and 
 when the second consumable is inserted into the insertion opening, the size of at least the second resilient opening becomes greater than the second initial size such that the second consumable is accommodated and held in position by at least the second retention element. 
 
     
     
         13 . A non-combustible aerosol provision system comprising:
 the non-combustible aerosol provision device according to  claim 1 ;   a first consumable comprising aerosol-generating material, the first consumable having a first length; and   a second consumable comprising aerosol-generating material, the second consumable having a second length, the second length being greater than the first length.