Technical Field

The present invention relates to a container for containing and dispensing aerosol generating material and a method of use.

Background

Articles such as cigarettes, cigars and the like bum tobacco during use to create tobacco smoke. Attempts have been made to provide alternatives to these articles, which bum tobacco, by creating products that release compounds without burning. Examples of such products are so-called heat-not-burn products, also known as tobacco heating products or tobacco heating devices, which release compounds by heating, but not burning, the material. The material may be for example tobacco or other non tobacco products or a combination, such as a blended mix, which may or may not contain nicotine.

Users often fill the tobacco heating devices with aerosol generating material, for example tobacco, by hand. Often the aerosol generating material will require grinding or other similar preparatory steps prior to insertion into the device. These preparatory steps may also be done by hand. The user will then place the aerosol generating into the device via a chamber or storage element. This can result in aerosol generating remaining on the user after the tobacco heating device is filled and can present general hygiene issues. Summary

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a container for containing and dispensing aerosol generating material into an aerosol generating device, the container comprising: a stationary flow restrictor within the container for restricting a flow of the aerosol generating material, when the aerosol generating material is being dispensed from the container into an aerosol generating device. The container may further comprise a container body for containing aerosol generating material and a spout for dispensing aerosol generating material into a an aerosol generating device, the spout comprising an inlet and an outlet, wherein the inlet is arranged at an end adjacent the container body and the outlet is arranged at an opposite end of the spout spaced from the container body, and the stationary flow restrictor is arranged within the spout.

The container may comprise a flow path for aerosol generating material, the flow path being defined by the spout and the stationary flow restrictor.

The flow path may be a convoluted path.

The spout may comprise a longitudinal axis and the flow path may extend substantially along and turn around the longitudinal axis.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is also provided a method of inserting aerosol generating material into an aerosol generating device, the method comprising: moving a container of aerosol generating material to dispense aerosol generating material through a flow path for the aerosol generating material defined, at least in part, by a stationary flow restrictor in the container.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is also provided a spout for use with the container of the first aspect.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention, given by way of example only, which is made with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 shows a schematic front-on cross-sectional view of a container according to an example; Figure 2 shows a schematic perspective partial cross-sectional view of a spout according to an example; and

Figure 3 shows a schematic perspective view of a container in use according to an example.

Detailed Description

Referring to Figure 1, a schematic front-on cross-sectional view of a container 100 is shown. The container 100 is for containing aerosol generating material 110 and dispensing the aerosol generating material 110 into an aerosol generating device (not shown) or an aerosol generating material heating chamber of an aerosol generating device (not shown). The aerosol generating device may be a tobacco heating product device.

In broad outline, the container 100 has a stationary flow restrictor 120 for restricting a flow of the aerosol generating material 110 when the aerosol generating material 110 is being dispensed from the container 100 into the aerosol generating device. This provides a user with greater control over the dispensing of aerosol generating material 110 from the container 100 and helps mitigate against the user dispensing too much of the aerosol generating material 110.

In this example, the container 100, as shown in Figure 1, has a container body 130 in which aerosol generating material 110 is contained. The container 100 has a dispensing spout 160 at one end. The spout 160 comprises an inlet 140 between it and the container body 130 through which aerosol generating material can enter the spout 160 and also an outlet 150 through which the aerosol generating material can then exit the container 100. The spout 160 is in fluid communication with and is connected to the container body 130. In an example, the spout 160 and the container body 130 may be integral elements of the container 100. In other examples, the spout 160 may be releasably attached to the container body, for example, by a screw fit, a press fit or any other suitable of attachment. In use, the container 100 is tipped, inverted or otherwise moved from a substantially vertical position and aerosol generating material 110 contained in the container body 130 is passed through the inlet 140 into the spout 160 and from the spout 160 through the outlet 150. In the example shown in Figure 1, the stationary flow restrictor 120 is arranged in the spout 160 of the container 100. In other examples, the stationary flow restrictor 120 may be arranged in the outlet 150 or inlet 140 of the container 100. Accordingly, the container 100 has a passage or flow path A through which aerosol generating material 110 can flow to exit the container 100. The stationary flow restrictor 120 at least to some extent hinders passage of the aerosol generating material 110 from the container body 130 to the environment outside of the container 100. The flow restrictor 120 has no moving parts. It therefore provides a relatively simple arrangement for restricting the flow of material from the container.

The aerosol generating material 110 may be loose aerosol generating material. The aerosol generating material 110 may be for example tobacco, or other flavoured materials that may be used to create a desired taste or aroma, or have other properties, such as nicotine content. The aerosol generating material 110 may be formed of a number of aerosol generating elements. In one example, the aerosol generating material 110 may comprise aerosol generating elements with a flavour, aroma, or other properties that are the same as or different from other aerosol generating elements in the aerosol generating material 110. The user may select a blend of aerosol generating elements to create the aerosol generating material 110. The aerosol generating material 110 may be in the form of ground particles, powder, strips, flakes, beads, shredded, torn, loose or ground leaves, extruded material, waxes, gels, oils and/or pieces of resin.

Referring now to Figure 2, an example is illustrated in which the stationary flow restrictor 120 is arranged in the form of a strip of material, one edge of which abuts against or is integral with an interior surface 160a of the spout 160. The spout 160 comprises a longitudinal axis (A) and the flow restrictor 120 extends along and turns around the longitudinal axis (A) between the inlet 140 and the outlet 150 of the spout 160. Accordingly, in this example, the flow restrictor 120 together with the internal surface 160a of the spout 160 define a flow path or passage (P), for the aerosol generating material, that also extends along and turns (or twists) around the longitudinal axis (A) between the inlet 140 and the outlet 150.

In use, the stationary flow restrictor 120 restricts the flow of loose aerosol generating material 110 from within the container 100 to the environment outside the container 100. In this example, the spout 160 is substantially frusto-conical in shape and hence the internal diameter of the spout 160 decreases in the direction from the inlet 140 to the outlet 150.

Accordingly, the cross-sectional area of the flow path P reduces along the length of the flow path P from the inlet 140 to the outlet 150 This reduction in size of the cross-sectional area of flow path A along its length, together with the flow path P turning around the axis A, helps reduce the flow rate of loose aerosol generating material 110 through the flow path P. Reducing the flow rate of aerosol generating material enables the user to more accurately fill an aerosol generating device or a chamber for attaching to an aerosol generating device.

As the flow restrictor 120 extends along the axis A and turns around the axis A, the flow restrictor 124 can be described as being a spirally -shaped flow restrictor 124.

In this example, at its narrowest, the flow path A typically has a width of about lmm to 15m, for example, 6mm to 10mm.

The spiral flow path A through the stationary flow restrictor 120 can be further constricted by reducing the distance between subsequent turns of the spiral. Figure 2 shows a spiral stationary flow restrictor 120 with a distance D between a first turn 122 and a second turn 124 of a spiral. By reducing distance D, the flow of loose aerosol generating material 110 is further reduced. The distance D, may also be known as the pitch of the stationary flow restrictor 120 in its spiral form.

The flow path A may additionally or alternatively be restricted by increasing the width of the spirally- shaped stationary flow restrictor 120. By increasing the width from covering e.g. half of the width of the spout 160 at any one point in the spout 160 to e.g. two thirds of the width of the spout 160, the flow path A can be further narrowed.

Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the flow path A defined by the flow restrictor 120 together with the internal surface 160a of the spout 160 is a convoluted path and this helps a user control the rate at which aerosol generating material is poured from the container in use.

Although, in the examples described above the flow restrictor 120 is in the general form of a spiral member, other forms of flow restrictor 120 may be used which together with the internal surface 160a of the spout 160 define a convoluted flow path, for example, the flow restrictor 120 may be in the form of a staggered set of steps arranged within the spout 160.

Referring now to Figure 3, the container 100 may have a lid or cover 170 for covering the outlet 150 of the spout 160 to prevent loose aerosol generating material 110 being unintentionally dispensed from the container 100. During periods of non use the lid 170 can be arranged to cover the flow restrictor 120 and thereby cover the outlet 150 and/or spout 160. This will prevent loss of loose aerosol generating material 110 during e.g. transit. Prior to use, the user may remove or open the lid 170 from covering the outlet 150 and spout 160 to enable loose aerosol generating material 110 to be dispensed from the container 100. In some examples, a user may manually remove or open the lid 170. In other examples, a mechanism or other arrangement may be provided for automatically removing or opening the lid 170.

In use, having removed or opened the lid 170, the user moves or tips the container 100 such that the aerosol generating material 110 within the container body 130 flows through the inlet 140 and through the flow path A as formed by the stationary flow restrictor 120 positioned in the spout 160. The aerosol generating material 110 then passes through the outlet 150 and into a chamber or storage element 200 of an aerosol generating device. The aerosol generating device may typically be a tobacco heating product (sometime referred to as a heat not burn device). The chamber 200 can then be connected to the aerosol generating device article prior to an inhalation session. The container 100 is then righted or moved so that aerosol generating material 110 is no longer flowing through the outlet 150. The lid 170 may then be moved, closed or re-attached to cover the outlet 150 to prevent loss of aerosol generating material 110 until the next session. At no point during use does the user need to contact the aerosol generating material 110.

Using the container 100 to dispense loose aerosol generating material 110 into an aerosol generating device is more hygienic than current methods as the user need not move the loose material 110 by hand into the aerosol generating device. The user also need not prepare the aerosol generating material 110 prior to use. Furthermore, the container 100 is waterproof which prevents adverse weather affecting the loose aerosol generating material 110. The user also has greater control over the dispensing of the loose aerosol generating material 110 due to the reduced flow rate, such that the amount of loose aerosol generating material 110 desired can be accurately and carefully dispensed.

In some examples, the container 100 may be re-filled with aerosol generating material 110 when it becomes empty and a suitable inlet for recharging the container 100 with fresh aerosol generating material 110 may be provided. In other examples, the container 100 is not designed to be re-fillable with aerosol generating material 110 when it becomes empty.

In some examples, the spout 160 may itself may be provided with a flavourant, for example, carried by, for example encapsulated in, the interior surface l60a of the spout 160 or the flow restrictor 120 which adds flavour to or enhances the flavour of the aerosl generating material 110 as it passes through the spout 160 when being dispensed.

As used herein, the terms "flavour" and "flavourant" refer to materials which, where local regulations permit, may be used to create a desired taste or aroma in a product for adult consumers. They may include extracts (e.g., licorice, hydrangea, Japanese white bark magnolia leaf, chamomile, fenugreek, clove, menthol, Japanese mint, aniseed, cinnamon, herb, wintergreen, cherry, berry, peach, apple, Drambuie, bourbon, scotch, whiskey, spearmint, peppermint, lavender, cardamom, celery, cascarilla, nutmeg, sandalwood, bergamot, geranium, honey essence, rose oil, vanilla, lemon oil, orange oil, cassia, caraway, cognac, jasmine, ylang-ylang, sage, fennel, piment, ginger, anise, coriander, coffee, or a mint oil from any species of the genus Mentha), flavour enhancers, bitterness receptor site blockers, sensorial receptor site activators or stimulators, sugars and/or sugar substitutes (e.g., sucralose, acesulfame potassium, aspartame, saccharine, cyclamates, lactose, sucrose, glucose, fructose, sorbitol, or mannitol), and other additives such as charcoal, chlorophyll, minerals, botanicals, or breath freshening agents. They may be imitation, synthetic or natural ingredients or blends thereof. They may be in any suitable form, for example, oil, liquid, solid, or powder. For example, a liquid, oil, or other such fluid flavourant may be impregnated in a porous solid material so as to impart flavour and/or other properties to that porous solid material. As such, the liquid or oil is a constituent of the solid material in which it is impregnated.

The above embodiments are to be understood as illustrative examples of the invention. Further embodiments of the invention are envisaged. It is to be understood that any feature described in relation to any one embodiment may be used alone, or in combination with other features described, and may also be used in combination with one or more features of any other of the embodiments, or any combination of any other of the embodiments. Furthermore, equivalents and modifications not described above may also be employed without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined in the accompanying claims.