An article for use in an aerosol provision system and a method of manufacturing an article

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an article (1) for use in an aerosol provision system (200). The article (1) comprises an aerosol generating material (3), a receiving member (2) and a blocking member (4). The receiving member (2) comprises an end wall (8), an open end (7), and a peripheral wall (5) that surrounds a storage area (6) containing the aerosol-generating material (3). The blocking member (4) comprises a body of material (12) arranged to resist the aerosol-generating material (3) from moving out of the storage area (6) through the open end (7) of the receiving member (2). The present disclosure also relates to a method (100) of manufacturing an article (1) for use in an aerosol provision system (200). The present disclosure also relates to an aerosol provision system (200) comprising an article (1) and to a package of articles. The present disclosure also relates to a sheet material (9) for forming a receiving member (2) for an aerosol provision system article (1), a receiving member (2) for an aerosol provision device system (200), and a method of manufacturing a sheet material (9).

1 . An article for use in an aerosol provision system, the article comprising:
 an aerosol-generating material;   
       a receiving member that comprises an end wall, an open end, and a peripheral wall that surrounds a storage area containing the aerosol-generating material; and, 
       a blocking member comprising a body of material arranged to resist the aerosol-generating material from moving out of the storage area through the open end of the receiving member. 
     
     
         2 . An article according to  claim 1 , wherein the receiving member comprises a sheet material. 
     
     
         3 . An article according to  claim 2 , wherein the sheet material comprises paper and/or foil. 
     
     
         4 . An article according to  claim 2 or claim 3 , wherein the sheet material is folded to form the end wall. 
     
     
         5 . An article according to any one of  claims 2 to 4 , wherein the sheet material comprises a plurality of end portions that extend radially inwardly to form the end wall and, preferably, each end portion comprises a flap of the sheet material. 
     
     
         6 . An article according to  claim 5 , wherein the end portions are fixed together by adhesive. 
     
     
         7 . An article according to  any one of the preceding claims , wherein the end wall is gas permeable. 
     
     
         8 . An article according to  claim 7 , wherein the end wall comprises one or more apertures. 
     
     
         9 . An article according to  any one of the preceding claims , wherein the receiving member is generally cup-shaped. 
     
     
         10 . An article according to  any one of the preceding claims , further comprising a wrapper that secures the blocking member relative to the receiving member and, preferably, wherein the wrapper circumscribes the receiving member and the blocking member. 
     
     
         11 . An article according to  any one of the preceding claims , wherein the blocking member is generally cylindrical. 
     
     
         12 . An article according to  any one of the preceding claims , wherein the blocking member comprises the end of a rod of aerosol generating material and, preferably, said end of the rod has a higher density than another portion of the rod and, preferably, wherein the rod is a tobacco rod. 
     
     
         13 . An article according to  any one of the preceding claims , wherein the body of material comprises a plug of material. 
     
     
         14 . An article according to  any one of the preceding claims , wherein the body of material is disposed adjacent to the open end of the receiving member. 
     
     
         15 . An article according to  any one of the preceding claims , wherein the body of material has an axial length in the range of 3 to 20 mm and, preferably in the range of 4 to 15 mm, 5 to 12 mm or 7 to 10 mm. 
     
     
         16 . An article according to  any one of the preceding claims , wherein the body of material comprises an aerosol-generating material and/or an aerosol-former material. 
     
     
         17 . An article according to  any one of the preceding claims , wherein the aerosol-generating material in the storage area has a density in the range of about 0.4 g/cm 3  to about 2 g/cm 3 . 
     
     
         18 . An article according to  any one of the preceding claims , wherein the body of material comprises aerosol-generating material with a density in the range of about 0.1 g/cm 3  to about 1 g/cm 3 . 
     
     
         19 . An article according to  any one of the preceding claims , wherein the density of the aerosol-generating material in the storage area is at least 25% higher than the density of the body of material. 
     
     
         20 . An article according to  any one of the preceding claims , wherein the blocking member comprises an aerosol-generating material comprising: from about 10 to about 50 wt % aerosol-former material; from about 15 to about 60 wt % gelling agent; and optionally filler; wherein the wt % values are calculated on a dry weight basis and, preferably, wherein the aerosol-generating material of the blocking member comprises a flavourant. 
     
     
         21 . An article according to  any one of the preceding claims , wherein the blocking member comprises tobacco material. 
     
     
         22 . An article according to  any one of the preceding claims , wherein the blocking member comprises paper. 
     
     
         23 . An article according to  any one of the preceding claims , wherein the body of material comprises a sheet material that is arranged to form the body of material and, preferably, the sheet material is gathered to form the body of material. 
     
     
         24 . An article according to  claim 23 , wherein the sheet material is crimped. 
     
     
         25 . An article according to  any one of the preceding claims , wherein the blocking member comprises an end that contacts the aerosol-generating material. 
     
     
         26 . An article according to  any one of the preceding claims , wherein the aerosol-generating material is a loose material. 
     
     
         27 . An article according to  any one of the preceding claims , wherein the aerosol-generating material comprises, consists of, or essentially consists of, tobacco material. 
     
     
         28 . An article according to  any one of the preceding claims , further comprising a cooling section and, preferably, wherein the cooling section is arranged such that, in use of the article with an aerosol provision device, the cooling section is downstream of the receiving member. 
     
     
         29 . An article according to  claim 28 , wherein the cooling section comprises an aerosol-generating material and, preferably, comprises an aerosol generating material in the form of a plug. 
     
     
         30 . An article according to  claim 29 , wherein the cooling section comprises a flavourant. 
     
     
         31 . An article according to  any one of the preceding claims , further comprising a plug of material provided on the other side of the end wall to the storage area. 
     
     
         32 . An aerosol provision system comprising the article of  any one of the preceding claims  and an aerosol provision device. 
     
     
         33 . A package comprising a plurality of articles according to any one of  claims 1 to 31  and, preferably, wherein the plurality of articles are hermetically sealed. 
     
     
         34 . A method of manufacturing an article for use in an aerosol provision system, the method comprising:
 providing a receiving member that comprises an end wall, an open end, and a peripheral wall that surrounds a storage area containing an aerosol-generating material; and,   providing a blocking member comprising a body of material arranged to resist the aerosol-generating material from moving out of the storage area through the open end of the receiving member.   
     
     
         35 . A method according to  claim 34 , wherein providing the receiving member comprises forming the receiving member and then providing the aerosol-generating material in the storage area. 
     
     
         36 . A method according to  claim 34 , wherein providing the receiving member comprises forming the receiving member around the aerosol-generating material. 
     
     
         37 . A method according to any one of  claims 34 to 36 , wherein the receiving member comprises a sheet material and, preferably, wherein the sheet material comprises paper and/or foil. 
     
     
         38 . A method according to  claim 37 , wherein providing the receiving member comprising arranging the sheet material to form the peripheral wall such that the peripheral wall is generally cylindrical and, preferably, comprising rolling the sheet material to form the peripheral wall. 
     
     
         39 . A method according to  claim 37 or claim 38 , wherein providing the receiving member comprises folding the sheet material to form the end wall of the receiving member. 
     
     
         40 . A method according to any one of  claims 37 to 39 , comprising forming a plurality of end portions in the sheet material and, preferably, forming the end portions comprising providing one or more cuts into the sheet material. 
     
     
         41 . A method according to  claim 40 , comprising adhering the end portions together using an adhesive. 
     
     
         42 . A method according to any one of  claims 37 to 41 , comprising forming one or more apertures in the portion of the sheet material that comprises the end wall. 
     
     
         43 . A method according to any one of  claims 34 to 42 , wherein the receiving member is generally cup-shaped. 
     
     
         44 . A method according to any one of  claims 34 to 43 , further comprising securing the blocking member relative to the receiving member using a wrapper and, preferably, wherein securing the blocking member relative to the receiving member using the wrapper comprises circumscribing the blocking member and receiving member with the wrapper. 
     
     
         45 . A method according to any one of  claims 34 to 44 , wherein the blocking member is generally cylindrical. 
     
     
         46 . A method according to any one of  claims 34 to 45 , wherein the blocking member comprises the end of a rod of aerosol generating material and, preferably, said end of the rod has a higher density than another portion of the rod and, preferably, said rod is a tobacco rod. 
     
     
         47 . A method according to any one of  claims 34 to 46 , wherein the blocking member comprises a plug of material. 
     
     
         48 . A method according to any one of  claims 34 to 47 , wherein the body of material is disposed adjacent to the open end of the receiving member. 
     
     
         49 . A method according to any one of  claims 34 to 48 , wherein the body of material has an axial length in the range of 3 to 20 mm and, preferably in the range of 4 to 15 mm, 5 to 12 mm or 7 to 10 mm. 
     
     
         50 . A method according to any one of  claims 34 to 49 , wherein the body of material comprises an aerosol-generating material. 
     
     
         51 . A method according to any one of  claims 34 to 50 , wherein the body of material comprises an aerosol-former material. 
     
     
         52 . A method according to any one of  claims 34 to 51 , wherein the blocking member comprises an aerosol-generating material. 
     
     
         53 . A method according to any one of  claims 34 to 52 , wherein the blocking member comprises tobacco material. 
     
     
         54 . A method according to any one of  claims 34 to 53 , wherein, the blocking member comprises a sheet material and, preferably, wherein the method comprises arranging the sheet material to form the body of material and, preferably, comprises gathering the sheet material to form the body of material. 
     
     
         55 . A method according to  claim 54 , wherein the sheet material is crimped and, preferably, the method comprises crimping the sheet material. 
     
     
         56 . A method according to any one of  claims 34 to 55 , wherein the blocking member comprises an end that contacts the aerosol-generating material. 
     
     
         57 . A method according to any one of  claims 34 to 56 , wherein the aerosol-generating material in the storage area is a loose material. 
     
     
         58 . A method according to any one of  claims 34 to 57 , wherein the aerosol-generating material in the storage area comprises, consists of, or essentially consists of, tobacco material. 
     
     
         59 . A method according to  claim 58 , wherein the tobacco material comprises tobacco beads and, preferably, wherein the tobacco material further comprises another tobacco material other than tobacco beads. 
     
     
         60 . A method according to any one  claims 34 to 59 , further comprising providing a cooling section and incorporating the cooling section into the article and, preferably, wherein the cooling section is disposed such that, in use of the article, the cooling section is downstream of the receiving member. 
     
     
         61 . A method according to  claim 60 , wherein the cooling section comprises an aerosol-generating material and, preferably, comprises an aerosol generating material in the form of a plug. 
     
     
         62 . A method according to  claim 61 , wherein the cooling section comprises a flavourant. 
     
     
         63 . A method according to any one of  claims 34 to 62 , further comprising providing a plug of material on the other side of the end wall to the storage area. 
     
     
         64 . A sheet material for forming a receiving member for an aerosol provision system article, wherein the sheet material comprises one or more regions of strength discontinuity configured to promote folding of the sheet material in a predetermined manner to form an end wall of the receiving member. 
     
     
         65 . A sheet material according to  claim 64 , wherein the one or more regions of strength discontinuity comprise one or more of: embossing; cuts partially through the thickness of the sheet material; cuts through the entire thickness of the sheet material; pin holes; crease-lines; score lines; and/or, regions of reduced thickness of the sheet material. 
     
     
         66 . A sheet material according to  claim 64 or claim 65 , wherein the one or more regions of strength discontinuity are regions of weakening. 
     
     
         67 . A sheet material according to any one of  claims 64 to 66 , wherein the one or more regions of strength discontinuity are lines of strength discontinuity. 
     
     
         68 . A sheet material according to  claim 67 , wherein the sheet material has first and second edges and wherein, wherein at least one line of strength discontinuity extends substantially perpendicular to the first and second edges. 
     
     
         69 . A sheet material according to any one of  claims 64 to 68 , wherein the sheet material has basis weight of at least 35 GSM and, preferably, at least 100, 150 or 200 GSM. 
     
     
         70 . A sheet material according to any one of  claims 64 to 69 , wherein the sheet material has basis weight of at most 300 GSM and, preferably, at most 250, 200 or 150 GSM. 
     
     
         71 . A sheet material according to any one of  claims 64 to 70 , wherein sheet material comprises one or more flaps that are configured to be folded to form the end wall. 
     
     
         72 . A sheet material according to  claim 71 , wherein the one or more flaps are generally triangular. 
     
     
         73 . A sheet material according to  claim 71 or claim 72 , wherein at least one of the regions of strength discontinuity are arranged to promote folding of the one or more flaps to form the end wall. 
     
     
         74 . A sheet material according to any one of  claims 64 to 73 , wherein the sheet material comprises paper and/or foil. 
     
     
         75 . A receiving member for an aerosol provision system article, wherein the receiving member comprises an end wall, an open end, and a peripheral wall that surrounds a storage area for containing an aerosol-generating material, wherein the receiving member comprises the sheet material of any one of  claims 64 to 74  that is arranged to form the peripheral wall and end wall. 
     
     
         76 . An article for use in an aerosol provision system, the article comprising:
 the receiving member of claim  75 ;   an aerosol-generating material provided in the storage area of the receiving member; and,   a blocking member comprising a body of material arranged to resist the aerosol-generating material from moving out of the storage area through the open end of the receiving member.   
     
     
         77 . An article according to  claim 76 , wherein the article has one or more of the features of the article of any one of  claims 1 to 31 . 
     
     
         78 . A method of manufacturing a sheet material for an article for use in an aerosol provision system, the method comprising providing a sheet material and forming one or more regions of strength discontinuity in the sheet material arranged such that the regions of strength discontinuity promote folding of the sheet material in a predetermined manner to form an end wall of the receiving member. 
     
     
         79 . A method according to  claim 78 , wherein the sheet material has any of the features of any one of  claims 64 to 74 .