Flat-Shaped Tobacco Article and Associated Aerosol Generating Device with Improved Heat Transfer

Abstract

A flat-shaped tobacco article configured to operate with an aerosol generating device and extending along an article axis (X) includes:a first tobacco layer defining a first layer internal surface and a first layer external surface designed to be heated by a heater of the aerosol generating device; anda non-tobacco core element in contact with the first layer internal surface and designed to exert pressure on this internal surface to push the first layer external surface toward the heater.

1 . A flat-shaped tobacco article configured to operate with an aerosol generating device and extending along an article axis, the flat-shaped tobacco article comprising:
 a first tobacco layer defining a first layer internal surface and a first layer external surface configured to be heated by a heater of the aerosol generating device; and   a non-tobacco core element in contact with the first layer internal surface, configured to exert pressure on the first layer internal surface to push the first layer external surface toward the heater,   the non-tobacco core element comprising first discontinuous surface portions in contact with the first layer internal surface and first voids extending between the first discontinuous surface portions so as to make the core element resiliently deformable when a compression force is exerted on the layer in a direction orthogonal to the first layer external surface so that the non-tobacco core element is configured to exert pressure on the first layer internal surface to push the first layer external surface outwardly.   
     
     
         2 . The flat-shaped tobacco article according to  claim 1 , further comprising a second tobacco layer defining a second layer internal surface and a second layer external surface configured to be heated by the heater of the aerosol generating device;
 wherein the core element being is arranged between the first tobacco layer and the second tobacco layer and comprises second discontinuous surface portions to be further in contact with the second layer internal surface and second voids extending between the second surface portions so as to make the core element resiliently deformable when a compression force is exerted on the second layer in a direction orthogonal to the second layer external surface so that the non-tobacco core element is configured to exert pressure on the second layer internal surface to push the second layer external surface outwardly.   
     
     
         3 . The flat-shaped tobacco article according to  claim 1 , wherein the first voids form one or several airflow channels extending along the article axis (X). 
     
     
         4 . The flat-shaped tobacco article according to  claim 1 , wherein the core element extends along the whole length of the first tobacco layer. 
     
     
         5 . The flat-shaped tobacco article according to  claim 1 , wherein the tobacco article extends between a mouth end and an abutting end along the article axis (X), the tobacco article comprising a mouthpiece portion adjacent to the mouth end and a tobacco portion adjacent to the abutting end, and
 wherein the first tobacco layer and the non-tobacco core element are arranged in the tobacco portion.   
     
     
         6 . The flat-shaped tobacco article according to  claim 1 , wherein the core element comprises a plurality of separated corrugations in contact with the first layer internal surface, and
 wherein the plurality of separated corrugations extend longitudinally along the article axis (X).   
     
     
         7 . The flat-shaped tobacco article according to  claim 1 , wherein the core element is an elastic element configured to exert pressure when compressed, and
 wherein the core element is made of paper.   
     
     
         8 . The flat-shaped tobacco article according to  claim 1 , further comprising a wrapper assembling together the first tobacco layer with the core element, and
 wherein the core element and the wrapper are made from a single sheet.   
     
     
         9 . The flat-shaped tobacco article according to  claim 1 , wherein the flat-shaped tobacco has an article thickness in an orthogonal section to the article axis and the core element has a core thickness in the orthogonal section to the article axis, and
 wherein the ratio between the core thickness and the article thickness is between 0.2 and 0.8.   
     
     
         10 . The flat-shaped tobacco article according to  claim 1 , wherein the core element is a heat expanding element configured to expand while being heated. 
     
     
         11 . An aerosol generating assembly comprising:
 a flat-shaped tobacco article according to  claim 1 ;   an aerosol generating device extending along a device axis (Y) and comprising a heating chamber between a closed end and an opening, the heating chamber comprising at least one heater;   wherein the heating chamber is configured to receive through an opening thereof the flat-shaped tobacco article, the first layer external surface facing one of the at least one heater.   
     
     
         12 . The aerosol generating assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein the flat-shaped tobacco article is configured to switch from a rest configuration to a compressed configuration in which the core element is compressed and exert pressure on the first layer internal surface, and
 wherein the flat-shaped tobacco article is in compressed configuration when inserted in the heating chamber.   
     
     
         13 . The aerosol generating assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein the flat-shaped tobacco article has an orthogonal section to the article axis (X) having an article width (Wa) and an article thickness (Da), the opening of the heating chamber having a chamber width (Wc) and a chamber height (Dc), and
 wherein the chamber height (Wc) is smaller than the article thickness (Da) in the rest configuration.   
     
     
         14 . A method of manufacturing a flat-shaped tobacco article according to  claim 1 , the method comprising the following steps:
 providing a layer of an elastic element,   forming a compressible three-dimensional core element from the layer of elastic material; the core having a flat shape with a thickness and first and second larger sides opposed one another,   attaching a tobacco layer to the first side of the core element; and   attaching a second tobacco layer to the second side of the core element to form a sandwiched structure.   
     
     
         15 . The flat-shaped tobacco article according to  claim 2 , wherein the core element extends along the whole length of at least one of the first tobacco layer or the second tobacco layer. 
     
     
         16 . The flat-shaped tobacco article according to  claim 5 , wherein the second tobacco layer is arranged in the tobacco portion. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the layer of an elastic element is a layer of paper.