Aerosol delivery device

Abstract

An aerosol delivery device comprises: a storage for storing an aerosol precursor; an aerosol generator comprising an aerosol generator portion configured to receive the aerosol precursor from the storage; an air flow passage configured to direct air past the aerosol generator portion to pick up the aerosol precursor from the aerosol generator portion to form an aerosol; and a barrier arrangement for inhibiting evaporation of aerosol precursor when the barrier arrangement is closed, the barrier arrangement being openable to permit generation of aerosol.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An aerosol delivery device comprising:
 a storage for storing an aerosol precursor;   an aerosol generator comprising an aerosol generator portion configured to receive the aerosol precursor from the storage;   an air flow passage configured to direct air past the aerosol generator portion to pick up the aerosol precursor from the aerosol generator portion to form an aerosol; and   a barrier arrangement for inhibiting evaporation of aerosol precursor when the barrier arrangement is closed, the barrier arrangement being openable to permit generation of aerosol.   
     
     
         2 . An aerosol delivery device according to  claim 1 , wherein the barrier arrangement is configured to open in response to a user inhaling on the aerosol delivery device. 
     
     
         3 . An aerosol delivery device according to  claim 1 or claim 2 , wherein the barrier arrangement is selectively openable by a user. 
     
     
         4 . An aerosol delivery device according to  claim 3 , and further comprising a mouthpiece and a body, wherein the barrier arrangement is configured to open in response to sliding of the mouthpiece relative to the body. 
     
     
         5 . An aerosol delivery device according to  any one of the preceding claims , wherein the barrier arrangement comprises a barrier element between the aerosol generator portion and a mouthpiece aperture of the aerosol delivery device to inhibit evaporation of aerosol precursor. 
     
     
         6 . An aerosol delivery device according to  claim 5 , wherein the barrier element comprises a non-return valve. 
     
     
         7 . An aerosol delivery device according to  claim 5 , wherein the barrier element comprises a movable shield. 
     
     
         8 . An aerosol delivery device according to any one of  claims 1 to 4 , wherein the barrier arrangement is configured to inhibit flow of aerosol precursor between the storage and the aerosol generator portion to inhibit evaporation of aerosol precursor. 
     
     
         9 . An aerosol delivery device according to  claim 8  and further comprising a transfer element, wherein the transfer element is movable with respect to the barrier arrangement to open the barrier arrangement so that the transfer element can transfer aerosol precursor from the storage to the aerosol generator portion. 
     
     
         10 . An aerosol delivery device according to  claim 8  and further comprising a member, the member comprising the transfer element and the aerosol generator portion, wherein the member is movable from a first position to a second position to open the barrier arrangement. 
     
     
         11 . An aerosol delivery device according to  claim 10  when dependent on  claim 4 , and further comprising a supporting portion for maintaining a position of the member with respect to the mouthpiece during sliding of the mouthpiece. 
     
     
         12 . An aerosol delivery device according to  any one of the preceding claims , further comprising: a pressure relief opening in the storage; and a blocking arrangement for inhibiting flow through the pressure relief opening, wherein the blocking arrangement is openable to permit air to flow through the pressure relief opening and into the storage as the storage empties of aerosol precursor. 
     
     
         13 . An aerosol delivery device according to  any one of the preceding claims , wherein the aerosol delivery device is a consumable for a vaping device. 
     
     
         14 . An aerosol delivery device according to  any one of the preceding claims  and further comprising an additional aerosol generator, the additional aerosol generator configured to produce an additional aerosol from an additional aerosol precursor. 
     
     
         15 . An aerosol delivery device according to  claim 14 , wherein the additional aerosol generator is configured to heat the additional aerosol precursor to form the additional aerosol. 
     
     
         16 . An aerosol delivery device comprising an aerosol generator and a switching device, the aerosol generator comprising:
 an aerosol generator portion configured to receive an aerosol precursor; and   an air flow passage configured to direct air past the aerosol generator portion to pick up the aerosol precursor from the aerosol generator portion to form an aerosol during a delivery event,   wherein the switching device is configured to provide relative movement between the aerosol generator portion and the airflow passage to vary a mass of aerosol precursor per delivery event.   
     
     
         17 . An aerosol delivery device according to  claim 16 , wherein the switching device is configured to provide the relative movement to vary a surface area of the aerosol generator portion located in an aerosol generation region of the airflow passage and thereby vary the mass of aerosol precursor per delivery event. 
     
     
         18 . An aerosol delivery device according to  claim 16 or 17 , wherein the switching device is configured to provide the relative movement to vary a velocity of airflow past the aerosol generator portion and thereby vary the mass of aerosol precursor per delivery event. 
     
     
         19 . An aerosol delivery device according to any one of  claims 16-18 , wherein the switching device is configured to slide the aerosol generator portion to provide the relative movement. 
     
     
         20 . An aerosol delivery device according to any  claims 16-19 , wherein the aerosol delivery device comprises a storage for storing the aerosol precursor, wherein the switching device is further configured to slide the storage with the aerosol generator portion. 
     
     
         21 . An aerosol delivery device according to any one of  claims 16-20 , wherein the switching device is configured to provide a relative bias between the aerosol generator and the airflow passage towards a position in which the mass of aerosol precursor per delivery event is reduced. 
     
     
         22 . An aerosol delivery device according to any one of  claims 16-21 , wherein the switching device permits switching between a normal mode and a boost mode, wherein the aerosol generator is configured to:
 in the normal mode, produce aerosol comprising a first mass of aerosol precursor per delivery event; and   in the boost mode, produce aerosol comprising a second mass of aerosol precursor per delivery event, wherein the second mass is greater than the first mass.   
     
     
         23 . An aerosol delivery device according to any one of  claims 16-22 , wherein the switching device permits switching into an off mode, wherein in the off mode, the aerosol delivery device is configured not to produce aerosol during the delivery event. 
     
     
         24 . An aerosol delivery device according to any one of  claims 16-23 , wherein the switching device permits continuous variation in mass of aerosol precursor per delivery event. 
     
     
         25 . An aerosol delivery device according to  claim 23 , wherein the aerosol generator comprises a member, the member comprising the aerosol generator portion, wherein the member is configured to transfer the aerosol precursor to the aerosol generator portion. 
     
     
         26 . An aerosol delivery according to any one of  claims 16-25 , wherein the aerosol comprises a flavor component. 
     
     
         27 . An aerosol delivery device according to any of  claims 16-26 , wherein the aerosol delivery device is a consumable for a smoking substitute device. 
     
     
         28 . An aerosol delivery device according to any of  claims 16-27 , and further comprising an additional aerosol generator, the additional aerosol generator configured to produce an additional aerosol from an additional aerosol precursor during the delivery event. 
     
     
         29 . An aerosol delivery device according to  claim 28 , wherein the additional aerosol generator is configured to produce the additional aerosol comprising substantially the same mass of additional aerosol precursor per delivery event independently of the mass of aerosol precursor per delivery event. 
     
     
         30 . An aerosol delivery device according to  claim 29 , wherein the additional aerosol generator is configured to heat the additional aerosol precursor to form the additional aerosol. 
     
     
         31 . An aerosol delivery device comprising:
 a passive aerosol generator, located within a first airflow path, and configured to aerosolize an aerosol precursor; a second airflow path;   wherein the second airflow path at least partially bypasses the aerosol generator; and   wherein the first airflow path is configured to direct around or through the passive aerosol generator to form an aerosol, the aerosol being provided to the first airflow path.   
     
     
         32 . The aerosol delivery device of  claim 31 , wherein the first airflow path and the second airflow path converge at a point downstream of the aerosol generator. 
     
     
         33 . The aerosol delivery device of  claim 31 or claim 32 , wherein the first airflow path and the second airflow path converge in a mouthpiece of the aerosol delivery device. 
     
     
         34 . The aerosol delivery device of any of  claims 31-33 , wherein the aerosol delivery device includes a mouthpiece, and a portion of the aerosol generator is provided within the mouthpiece. 
     
     
         35 . The aerosol delivery device of  claim 33 or claim 34 , wherein the mouthpiece includes one or more air outlet holes, which form a portion of the second airflow path. 
     
     
         36 . The aerosol delivery device of any of  claims 33-35 , wherein the mouthpiece includes a central aperture, within which a portion of the aerosol generator is disposed. 
     
     
         37 . The aerosol delivery device of any of  claims 31-36 , wherein the passive aerosol generator includes a Venturi aperture and a porous member is located within the Venturi aperture and fluidly connected to a reservoir of aerosol precursor. 
     
     
         38 . The aerosol delivery device of any of  claims 31-37 , wherein the aerosol generator is located within a cylindrical tube, a porous member of the aerosol generator extends coaxially through a first end of the tube into a mouthpiece of the aerosol delivery device, said first end having a first radius greater than a radius of the porous member, and the porous member extending through a second end of the tube into a reservoir of aerosol precursor, said second end being dimensioned such that the aerosol generator is retained therein through an interference fit. 
     
     
         39 . The aerosol delivery device of any of  claim 31-38 , wherein the aerosol precursor is a flavor aerosol precursor, and is substantially nicotine free. 
     
     
         40 . The aerosol delivery device of any of  claim 31-39 , further including a vapor generator, configured to vaporize a vapor precursor and provide the vapor to the second airflow path. 
     
     
         41 . The aerosol delivery device of  claim 40 , wherein the vapor precursor contains nicotine. 
     
     
         42 . The aerosol delivery device of  claim 40 or 41 , wherein the vapor generator includes a coil and wick assembly, and the vapor generator is configured to heat vapor precursor contained within the wick by passing an electrical current through the coil. 
     
     
         43 . The aerosol delivery device of any of  claims 31-42 , wherein the aerosol delivery device is a consumable for a smoking substitute device. 
     
     
         44 . The aerosol delivery device of any of  claim 31-43 , wherein the second airflow path completely bypasses the aerosol generator. 
     
     
         45 . A substitute smoking device, including the aerosol delivery device according to any of  claims 31-44 . 
     
     
         46 . An aerosol delivery device comprising:
 an aerosol generator comprising an aerosol generator portion, configured to generate an aerosol from an aerosol precursor;   a reservoir, containing the aerosol precursor; and   an airflow passage, configured to direct air past the aerosol generator portion to pick up the aerosol precursor from the aerosol generator portion to form an aerosol,   wherein the reservoir is a deformable container, configured such that exerting pressure on the deformable container provides or increases the provision of aerosol precursor to the aerosol generator.   
     
     
         47 . The aerosol delivery device of  claim 46 , wherein the deformable container is located within a flexible housing, the flexible housing being configured to impart any pressure exerted thereto on to the deformable container. 
     
     
         48 . The aerosol delivery device of either  claim 46 or claim 47 , further including a button located on a housing of the aerosol delivery device, the button being configured to impart any force exerted thereto on to the deformable container. 
     
     
         49 . The aerosol delivery device of any of  claim 46-48 , further comprising a pressure-actuatable seal located between the reservoir and the aerosol generator, the pressure-actuatable seal being configured to open when a threshold pressure is exerted on to the deformable container. 
     
     
         50 . The aerosol delivery device of any of  claim 46-49 , wherein the aerosol generator is made of a material having a different color to the aerosol precursor. 
     
     
         51 . The aerosol delivery device of any of  claim 46-50 , further comprising a one-way valve, located between the reservoir and the aerosol generator, configured to allow aerosol precursor to flow only from the reservoir to the aerosol generator. 
     
     
         52 . The aerosol delivery device of any of  claim 46-51 , further comprising a vapor generator, for vaporizing a vapor precursor, and wherein the aerosol generated by the aerosol generator is mixed with the vapor downstream of the vapor generator. 
     
     
         53 . The aerosol delivery device of any of  claim 46-52 , wherein the aerosol precursor is a flavor precursor and is substantially nicotine free. 
     
     
         54 . The aerosol delivery device of any of  claim 46-53 , wherein the aerosol delivery device is a consumable for a smoking substitute device. 
     
     
         55 . The aerosol delivery device of any of  claim 46-54 , further comprising an additional aerosol generator, the additional aerosol generator being configured to heat an additional aerosol precursor to produce an additional aerosol. 
     
     
         56 . The aerosol delivery device of any one of  claims 46-55 , wherein the aerosol generator portion includes a Venturi aperture and a porous member located within the Venturi aperture and fluidly connected to the reservoir. 
     
     
         57 . A substitute smoking device, including the aerosol delivery device according to any of  claims 46-56 . 
     
     
         58 . A refill device for an aerosol delivery device comprising:
 a porous liquid transfer element containing aerosol precursor; and   an engagement unit, located at one end of the refill device and including at least a portion of the porous liquid transfer element, the engagement unit being suitable for engaging with a corresponding engagement unit of the aerosol delivery device, so as to allow aerosol precursor to flow from the porous liquid transfer element into the aerosol delivery device, characterized in that the engagement unit is a cavity, into which a mouthpiece of the aerosol delivery device can be introduced;   wherein a portion of the porous liquid transfer element extends into the cavity so as to contact a protruding portion of an aerosol generator within the mouthpiece of the aerosol delivery device.   
     
     
         59 . The refill device of  claim 58 , further comprising a liquid reservoir, fluidly connected to the porous liquid transfer element and containing aerosol precursor. 
     
     
         60 . The refill device of  claim 59 , wherein the porous liquid transfer element extends into the liquid reservoir. 
     
     
         61 . The refill device of either of  claim 59 or 60 , wherein the liquid reservoir contains no more than 5 ml of aerosol precursor. 
     
     
         62 . The refill device of any of  claims 59 to 61 , further comprising a pump which, when operated, pressurizes the liquid reservoir to a pressure above an ambient pressure. 
     
     
         63 . The refill device of any of  claims 58-62 , wherein the porous liquid transfer element is partially contained within a housing. 
     
     
         64 . The refill device of  claim 63 , wherein the engagement unit is integrally formed from the housing. 
     
     
         65 . The refill device of  claim 63 or 64  as dependent on  claim 59 , wherein the housing is deformable so as to exert a pressure on aerosol precursor stored within the liquid reservoir when a force is applied to the housing. 
     
     
         66 . An aerosol delivery system comprising: a reservoir-less aerosol delivery device comprising:
 an aerosol generator, configured to generate an aerosol from an aerosol precursor; and   a mouthpiece, in which a portion of the aerosol generator is provided;   wherein the aerosol generator is not provided with a reservoir of aerosol precursor, and the refill device of any one of claims  58  to  65 , and   wherein the aerosol generator is charged with aerosol precursor solely through use with the refill device.   
     
     
         67 . A method of charging an aerosol generator of an aerosol delivery device using the refill device of any of  claims 58 to 65 , comprising:
 engaging the engaging unit of the refill device with the corresponding engagement unit of the aerosol delivery device, such that aerosol precursor flows from the porous liquid transfer element into the aerosol delivery device.   
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 67  as dependent on  claim 62 , further comprising a step of actuating the pump after the engaging unit of the refill device has engaged the corresponding engagement unit of the aerosol delivery device. 
     
     
         69 . A smoking substitute system, including:
 an aerosol delivery device and the refill device of any of  claims 58 to 65 , wherein the aerosol delivery device includes an aerosol generator connected to the porous liquid transfer element and a corresponding engagement unit engaged with the engagement unit of the refill device.   
     
     
         70 . The smoking substitute system of  claim 69 , wherein the aerosol generator includes:
 an aerosol generator portion configured to receive the aerosol precursor; and   an airflow passage, configured to direct air past the aerosol generator portion to pick up the aerosol precursor from the aerosol generator portion to form an aerosol.   
     
     
         71 . The smoking substitute system of  claim 70 , wherein the aerosol generator portion includes a Venturi aperture and a porous member located within the Venturi aperture.