Smoking substitute apparatus

Abstract

The present invention provides a smoking substitute apparatus (150, 150a, 250) in which some or all of the air flow through the apparatus bypasses the aerosol generation chamber (380); this bypass air flow passes through a holder (390) which holds the aerosol generator itself.

1 . A smoking substitute apparatus for delivery of an aerosol to a user drawing air through the apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
 a housing defining a tank for holding a reservoir of an aerosol precursor;   an air inlet;   an outlet;   at least one air flow path between the air inlet and the outlet, the air flow path extending in a upstream to downstream direction;   an aerosol generator disposed in the apparatus for generating an aerosol from the aerosol precursor for entrainment in an air flow along the air flow path defined at least in part by an outlet air flow passage, downstream of the aerosol generator;   wherein the aerosol generator comprises a holder which retains a heatable wick, at least one end of the heatable wick being in fluid communication with aerosol precursor in the tank via an opening in the holder;   wherein the holder is sealed with respect to the housing and the outlet air flow passage in order to retain the aerosol precursor in the tank;   wherein the air inlet connects to at least one bypass inlet air flow passage provided through and within the holder, the bypass air inlet passage extending from an upstream end of the holder to a downstream end of the holder, air flow through the bypass inlet air flow passage bypassing the aerosol generator and passing along the outlet air flow passage, downstream of the aerosol generator;   wherein the smoking substitute apparatus further comprises at least one main inlet air flow passage provided through the holder, the main inlet air flow passage extending from the upstream end of the holder to the aerosol generator;   wherein a connecting passage extends from the air inlet to the upstream end of the holder forming an extension of the at least one bypass air inlet passage and the main inlet air flow passage.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . A smoking substitute apparatus according to claim  13 , wherein there are multiple bypass inlet air flow passages, provided through and within the holder, each extending from an upstream end of the holder to a downstream end of the holder, and air flow through each bypass inlet air flow passage bypassing the aerosol generator and passing along the outlet air flow passage, downstream of the aerosol generator. 
     
     
         5 . A smoking substitute apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the bypass inlet air flow passages are provided circumferentially around the aerosol generator. 
     
     
         6 . A smoking substitute apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein each bypass inlet air flow passage extends from a different place on the upstream end of the holder. 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . A smoking substitute apparatus according to claim  14 , wherein each bypass inlet air flow passage and the main inlet air flow passage, extends from an upstream end outer surface of the holder. 
     
     
         9 . A smoking substitute apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the holder is a monolithic moulded component. 
     
     
         10 . A smoking substitute apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the apparatus is adapted to engage with a main body to form a smoking substitute system, the main body comprising a pressure sensor sensitive to pressure in the smoking substitute system immediately upstream of the holder, the pressure sensor being adapted to energise the aerosol generator when a pressure change is detected corresponding to an inhalation event. 
     
     
         11 . A smoking substitute apparatus according to  claim 1  further comprising a second connecting passage extending from the air inlet to the upstream end of the holder forming an extension of the at least one bypass air inlet passage and the main inlet air flow passage. 
     
     
         12 . A smoking substitute apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the air inlet is positioned on in a side wall of the smoking substitute apparatus between the upstream end of the holder and the outlet such that air flow from the air inlet through the connecting passage to the upstream end of the holder flows in an opposite direction to the air flow through the bypass inlet air flow passage. 
     
     
         13 . A smoking substitute apparatus according to  claim 12  wherein the smoking substitute apparatus further comprises a pressure sensor positioned in the connecting passage upstream of the holder. 
     
     
         14 . A smoking substitute apparatus according to  claim 6  wherein the holder comprises four bypass inlet air flow passages.