A smoking substitute device

Abstract

A smoking substitute device is described. The device includes a housing with an upstream airflow inlet, a downstream airflow outlet, and an airflow path connecting the airflow inlet and the airflow outlet. The device also includes a heater for aerosol generation. The heater is located within the airflow path. The airflow inlet is occluded by an air-permeable, liquid-absorbent, blocking element.

1 . A smoking substitute device including a housing, housing including:
 an upstream airflow inlet, a downstream airflow outlet, and an airflow path connecting the airflow inlet and the airflow outlet;   a heater for aerosol generation, wherein the heater is located within the airflow path;   
       wherein the airflow inlet is occluded by an air-permeable, liquid-absorbent, blocking element wherein, the blocking element is located upstream of the heater. 
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . A smoking substitute device according to  claim 1 , wherein the airflow inlet comprises an arrangement of a plurality of airflow sub-inlets. 
     
     
         4 . A smoking substitute device according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes an upstream end cap, and wherein the end cap comprises the blocking element. 
     
     
         5 . A smoking substitute device according to  claim 1 , wherein the blocking element comprises a porous material. 
     
     
         6 . A smoking substitute device according to  claim 1 , wherein the blocking element is located in a cavity in the housing, the airflow inlet being formed in a base of the cavity. 
     
     
         7 . A smoking substitute device according to  claim 6 , wherein the cavity includes a peripheral wall having a cavity wall shape; wherein the cavity wall shape conforms to a shape of the blocking element. 
     
     
         8 . A smoking substitute device according to  claim 1 , wherein the device includes a retaining frame to hold the blocking member in the housing. 
     
     
         9 . A smoking substitute device according to  claim 7 , wherein the retaining frame abuts the peripheral wall to thereby retain the blocking member in the cavity. 
     
     
         10 . A smoking substitute device according to  claim 8 , wherein the retaining frame includes a frame airflow opening, wherein the frame airflow opening has a cross-sectional area for airflow that is equal to, or larger than, a cross-sectional area for airflow of the airflow inlet. 
     
     
         11 . A smoking substitute device according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a pair of electrode access passages adjacent the airflow inlet, each electrode access passage including an upstream opening and a downstream opening. 
     
     
         12 . A smoking substitute device according to  claim 11 , wherein the blocking element is located upstream of the downstream openings. 
     
     
         13 . A smoking substitute device according to  claim 1 , wherein the heater is substantially planar. 
     
     
         14 . A smoking substitute device according to  claim 1 , wherein the blocking element is substantially planar. 
     
     
         15 . A smoking substitute device according to  claim 14 , wherein the heater is substantially planar, and wherein a major plane of the planar heater is substantially parallel to a major plane of the blocking element. 
     
     
         16 . (canceled)