A Flat-Shaped Consumable Article for an Aerosol Generating Device, Comprising a Support Structure

Abstract

A flat-shaped consumable article for an aerosol generating device extends along an article axis and includes a tobacco substrate defining at least a first pair of opposite lateral surfaces extending along the article axis, and a support structure including an outlet portion arranged successively with the tobacco substrate along the article axis and a substrate portion extending from the outlet portion along the article axis and configured to be engaged with said first pair of opposite lateral surfaces to maintain the tobacco substrate together with the support structure. The substrate portion includes a pair of legs configured to extend along at least a part of the corresponding lateral surface.

1 . A flat-shaped consumable article for an aerosol generating device, the flat-shaped consumable article extending along an article axis and comprising:
 a tobacco substrate defining at least a first pair of opposite lateral surfaces extending along the article axis; and   a support structure comprising an outlet portion arranged successively with the tobacco substrate along the article axis and a substrate portion extending from the outlet portion along the article axis and configured to be engaged with said first pair of opposite lateral surfaces to maintain the tobacco substrate together with the support structure, the outlet portion comprising an airflow passage extending from the tobacco substrate;   the substrate portion comprising a pair of legs, each leg being configured to extend along at least a part of the corresponding lateral surface.   
     
     
         2 . The flat-shaped consumable article according to  claim 1 , wherein the tobacco substrate further defines a second pair of opposite lateral surfaces extending along the article axis, the second pair of opposite lateral surfaces being at least 5 times wider than the first pair of lateral surfaces. 
     
     
         3 . The flat-shaped consumable article according  claim 1 , wherein each leg defines an internal surface configured to be engaged with the corresponding lateral surface of the tobacco substrate. 
     
     
         4 . The flat-shaped consumable article according to  claim 3 , wherein the internal surface of each leg defines a cross-sectional shape complementary to a cross-sectional shape of the corresponding lateral surface of the tobacco substrate. 
     
     
         5 . The flat-shaped consumable article according to  claim 1 , wherein each leg defines a tapered portion extending until a leg end and defining at the leg end a taper angle. 
     
     
         6 . The flat-shaped consumable article according to  claim 1 , wherein the support structure is made of one single piece. 
     
     
         7 . The flat-shaped consumable article according to  claim 1 , wherein the support structure is made of an injection moulded paper pulp material. 
     
     
         8 . The flat-shaped consumable article according to  claim 1 , wherein the support structure comprises tobacco powder or a flavouring agent. 
     
     
         9 . The flat-shaped consumable article according to  claim 1 , further comprising a wrapper wrapping the tobacco substrate; with or without at least a part of the support structure. 
     
     
         10 . The flat-shaped consumable article according to  claim 1 , wherein the outlet portion is hollow. 
     
     
         11 . The flat-shaped consumable article according to  claim 2 , wherein the tobacco substrate comprises at least one flow channel extending along the article axis and formed on at least one of the lateral surface of the second pair of opposite lateral surfaces. 
     
     
         12 . The flat-shaped consumable article according to  claim 11 , wherein the outlet portion comprises at least two edges extending perpendicularly to the article axis, at least a part of each edge being configured to be in contact with the tobacco substrate. 
     
     
         13 . The flat-shaped consumable article according to  claim 12 , wherein each edge comprises a recess portion arranged to face the corresponding flow channel. 
     
     
         14 . The flat-shaped consumable article according to  claim 1 , wherein the support structure comprises at least one visual characteristic, defining a flavour of the tobacco substrate. 
     
     
         15 . The flat-shaped consumable article according to  claim 14 , wherein the support structure is made of an injection moulded paper pulp material, and wherein said at least one visual characteristic is a colour obtained by mixing the paper pulp material with one or several dyes during injection moulding. 
     
     
         16 . The flat-shaped consumable article according to  claim 1 , wherein the tobacco substrate further defines a second pair of opposite lateral surfaces extending along the article axis, the second pair of opposite lateral surfaces being at least 10 times wider than the first pair of lateral surfaces. 
     
     
         17 . The flat-shaped consumable article according to  claim 4 , wherein the cross-sectional shape of the internal surface of each leg having a concave rounded shape and the cross-sectional shape of the corresponding lateral surface having a convex rounded shape. 
     
     
         18 . The flat-shaped consumable article according to  claim 10 , wherein the outlet portion is empty. 
     
     
         19 . The flat-shaped consumable article according to  claim 10 , wherein the outlet portion comprises supporting elements arranged inside the outlet portion. 
     
     
         20 . The flat-shaped consumable article according to  claim 14 , wherein the at least one visual characteristic includes a colour, a symbol, or an image.