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(11) | EP 4 585 069 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | SMOKING ARTICLE INCLUDING LYOCELL TOW |
| (57) Provided is a smoking article including lyocell tow including a plurality of lyocell
fibers. The smoking article includes a medium portion, a cooling structure arranged
to be spaced apart from one side of the medium portion, and a support structure arranged
between the medium portion and the cooling structure, wherein the cooling structure
includes lyocell tow including a plurality of lyocell fibers.
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[Technical Field]
[0001] The present invention relates to a smoking article capable of providing users with a more improved smoking experience by applying lyocell tow to a support structure of the smoking article, thereby preventing the support structure from melting due to the high temperature applied to heat the smoking article.
[Background Art]
[0002] In smoking articles, the transfer of tobacco components (e.g., nicotine, tar) and the generation of an atomized aerosol (vapor) have a significant impact on the user's smoking experience. In general, the smoking articles operate by heating a stick to a high temperature of approximately 150 to 300°C using a device and transferring the heated heat to a medium portion so that the tobacco components such as nicotine and the like can be smoothly transferred as the temperature of the medium portion rises. In this process, substances such as glycerin and the like are heated to generate vapor, and the tobacco components contained in the vapor are transferred so that the user can inhale the tobacco components. However, when the device is set to a temperature below the boiling point of glycerin, there is a problem in that the transfer of tobacco components is limited because vapor is not generated smoothly.
[0003] To solve this problem, a support structure composed of cellulose acetate (hereinafter may be abbreviated as "CA") tow, which is a tubular structure having a hollow formed therein, was installed in a conventional smoking article to reduce the discomfort caused by hot smoke when the user inhales the hot smoke.
[0004] Also, when cellulose acetate tow is used in the cooling portion used in the past, the CA tow melts or deforms at a temperature of approximately 70°C or higher and then solidifies again. This phenomenon causes problems of interfering with the smooth transfer of smoke or generating negative off-flavors and preventing the cooling function from working properly.
[0005] Therefore, in order to improve the performance of smoking articles, there is a need for materials capable of withstanding a heating temperature of approximately 200 to 300°C so that the atomization and transfer of tobacco components can occur smoothly. Such materials should be able to effectively cool or reduce the temperature of smoke without melting or being deformed at high temperatures, thereby improving the user's feeling of smoking. Also, there is a need for materials capable of minimizing the dilution of tobacco components during a cooling process so as to deliver sufficient tar and nicotine components when inhaled.
[Disclosure]
[Technical Problem]
[0006] One object of the present invention is to provide a smoking article including: a medium portion, a support structure, a cooling structure, and a mouthpiece portion, wherein by configuring the support structure with lyocell tow composed of a plurality of lyocell fibers, deformation of the support structure, which is caused by heat transferred from a heater configured to heat the smoking article or an aerosol generated within the smoking article, may be prevented or minimized due to the excellent heat resistance of the lyocell tow.
[0007] Another object of the present invention is to provide a smoking article including: a medium portion, a support structure, a cooling structure, and a mouthpiece portion, wherein by configuring the support structure with lyocell tow composed of a plurality of lyocell fibers, an amount of moisture transferred during smoking may be effectively reduced due to the excellent moisture affinity of the lyocell tow, thereby reducing the feeling of heat felt by the user and maximizing the cooling effect.
[0008] Still another object of the present invention is to provide a smoking article including: a support structure, which includes lyocell tow composed of a plurality of lyocell fibers, and a binder, a medium portion, a cooling structure, and a mouthpiece portion, wherein appropriate hardness may be imparted to the lyocell tow through a binder, thereby stably maintaining the shape even when the support structure is a tubular structure composed of lyocell tow.
[0009] The objects of the present invention are not limited to those mentioned above, and other unmentioned objects can be clearly understood by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains from the description below.
[Technical Solution]
[0010] One aspect of the present application for achieving the above objects provides a smoking article including: a medium portion, a cooling structure arranged to be spaced apart from one side of the medium portion, and a support structure arranged between the medium portion and the cooling structure, wherein the support structure includes lyocell tow including a plurality of lyocell fibers.
[0011] In some embodiments, the lyocell tow of the support structure may have a tube shape having a hollow formed therein.
[0012] In some embodiments, the support structure may further include at least one binder dispersed in the lyocell tow.
[0013] In some embodiments, the binder may include at least one of a cellulose-based binder, a vinyl-based binder, a polyester-based binder, a dextrin-based binder, and a starch-based binder.
[0015] In some embodiments, the inner diameter of the support structure may be 10% to 90% of the outer diameter of the support structure.
[0018] In some embodiments, the support structure may have an outer diameter of 6 mm to 10 mm and an inner diameter of 2 mm to 5.5 mm.
[0019] In some embodiments, the inner diameter of the support structure may be 10% to 90% of the outer diameter of the support structure, and the support structure may have an outer diameter of 6 mm to 10 mm and an inner diameter of 2 mm to 5.5 mm.
[0020] In some embodiments, one end of the support structure may come into contact with the cooling structure.
[0021] In some embodiments, the other end located on the other side opposite to the one side of the support structure may come into contact with the medium portion.
[0022] In some embodiments, the cooling structure may have a tube shape having a hollow formed therein.
[0023] In some embodiments, the cooling structure may have a tube shape having a hollow formed therein, and the hollow of the cooling structure and the hollow of the support structure may communicate with each other.
[0024] In some embodiments, the support structure may have one end, which is located on the one side of the support structure, coming into contact with the cooling structure, and the other end, which is located on the other side opposite the one side, coming into contact with the medium portion. In this case, the cooling structure may have a tube shape having a hollow formed therein, and the hollow of the cooling structure and the hollow of the support structure may communicate with each other.
[0025] In some embodiments, the cooling structure may include at least one of a tubular structure made of a paper material, a tubular structure made of a cellulose acetate material, and a tubular structure made of a lyocell material.
[0026] In some embodiments, the smoking article may further include a mouthpiece portion arranged on one side (i.e., downstream) of the support structure with the cooling structure interposed therebetween.
[0027] In some embodiments, the smoking article may further include a mouthpiece portion arranged on one side of the cooling structure; and a wrapper configured to wrap around at least a portion of the medium portion, the support structure, the cooling structure, and the mouthpiece portion.
[0028] Another aspect of the present application for achieving the above objects provides a system including the above-described smoking article and an aerosol generation device to which the smoking article is applied.
[0029] Still another aspect of the present application provides a method of manufacturing the above-described smoking article.
[Advantageous Effects]
[0030] According to a smoking article according to one embodiment, by configuring a support structure with lyocell tow composed of a plurality of lyocell fibers, deformation of the support structure, which is caused by heat transferred from a heater configured to heat the smoking article or an aerosol generated within the smoking article, can be effectively prevented or minimized due to the excellent heat resistance of the lyocell tow.
[0031] According to the smoking article according to one embodiment, by configuring the support structure with lyocell tow composed of a plurality of lyocell fibers, an amount of moisture transferred during smoking can be effectively reduced due to the excellent moisture affinity characteristics of lyocell tow compared to cellulose acetate tow, thereby reducing the feeling of heat felt by the user and maximizing the cooling effect.
[0032] In addition, according to the smoking article according to one embodiment, by manufacturing a support structure including lyocell tow composed of a plurality of lyocell fibers and a binder, appropriate hardness can be imparted to the lyocell tow through the binder. In this way, the support structure can have the effect of stably maintaining its shape even though the support structure is a tubular structure composed of lyocell tow, and the stable shape maintenance of the support structure can prevent the quality of a smoking experience from deteriorating due to the deformation of the support structure during storage or smoking of the smoking article.
[0033] Further, according to the smoking article according to one embodiment, the quality of the user's smoking experience can be improved during smoking by configuring the cooling structure not with paper that may generate off-flavors when heated, but with lyocell tow.
[0034] Advantageous effects according to the technical spirit of the present disclosure are not limited to those mentioned above, and other unmentioned advantageous effects can be clearly understood by those of ordinary skill in the art from the description above.
[Description of Drawings]
[0035]
FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a smoking article according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing a smoking article according to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an image obtained by photographing a support structure of Example 1 and a support structure of Comparative Example 1. FIG. 3A is an image obtained by photographing the support structures of Comparative Example 1 and Example 1 before an experiment (before smoking), and FIG. 3B is an image obtained by photographing the support structures of Comparative Example 1 and Example 1 after the experiment (after smoking).
FIGS. 4 to 6 show various types of aerosol generation devices to which the smoking articles according to some embodiments of the present disclosure may be applied.
[Mode for Invention]
[0036] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Advantages and features of the present disclosure and methods of achieving the same should become clear with embodiments described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the technical spirit of the present disclosure is not limited to the following embodiments and may be implemented in various different forms. The following embodiments are only provided to make the technical spirit of the present disclosure complete and completely inform those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure pertains of the scope of the present disclosure. The technical spirit of the present disclosure is defined only by the scope of the claims.
[0037] In assigning reference numerals to components in each of the drawings, it should be noted that the same reference numerals are assigned to the same components wherever possible even when the components are shown in different drawings. Also, in describing the present disclosure, when it is determined that the detailed description of a known related configuration or function may obscure the gist of the present disclosure, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.
[0038] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical or scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure pertains. Also, terms defined in commonly used dictionaries should not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein. Terms used herein are for describing the embodiments and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. In the present specification, a singular expression includes a plural expression unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
[0039] Also, in describing components of the present disclosure, the terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), and (b) may be used. Such terms are only used for distinguishing one component from another component, and the essence, order, sequence, or the like of the corresponding component is not limited by the terms. In a case in which a certain component is described as being "connected," "coupled," or "linked" to another component, it should be understood that, although the component may be directly connected or linked to the other component, still another component may also be "connected," "coupled," or "linked" between the two components.
[0040] The terms "comprises" and/or "comprising" used herein do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more components, steps, operations, and/or devices other than those mentioned.
[0042] In the present specification, a "smoking article" may refer to any product that can be smoked or any product that can provide a smoking experience, regardless of whether the product is based on tobacco, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco, or tobacco substitutes. For example, the smoking article may include products that can be smoked, such as cigarettes, cigars, and cigarillos.
[0043] In the present specification, a "smoking material" may refer to any type of material that may be used in a smoking article.
[0045] In the present specification, the term "upstream" or "upstream direction" may refer to a direction moving away from an oral region of a smoker, and the term "downstream" or "downstream direction" may refer to a direction approaching the oral region of the smoker.
[0046] In the present specification, a "longitudinal direction" may refer to a direction corresponding to the longitudinal axis of a smoking article. The "longitudinal axis" of the smoking article may refer to an imaginary line that extends along the main longitudinal direction of the smoking article. This axis typically runs from one end of the smoking article (e.g., the mouthpiece or filter end) to the opposite end (e.g., the combustion or heat source end).
[0047] In the present specification, a "lyocell filter" refers to a filter including or composed of lyocell tow.
[0048] In the present specification, "lyocell tow" includes or is composed of a plurality of lyocell fibers. In some embodiments, the lyocell tow may refer to a bundle formed by cross-linking adjacent lyocell fibers.
[0049] In the present specification, "lyocell fiber" may refer to a fiber made of lyocell cellulose. In particular, the lyocell fiber may be a fiber made of cellulose derived from or mainly derived from wood pulp, particularly a semi-synthetic fiber.
[0050] In the present specification, a "reconstituted tobacco leaf" refers to a tobacco leaf reconstituted from tobacco materials.
[0051] In the present specification, a "reconstituted tobacco leaf" or "reconstituted tobacco sheet" may refer to a sheet made by combining tobacco by-products selected from the group consisting of stems, dust, particulates and a combination thereof with a binder. In some embodiments, the reconstituted tobacco leaf is a homogenized tobacco leaf.
[0052] In the present specification, a "hollow" may refer to a channel extending along in the longitudinal direction.
[0053] In the present specification, "consisting of" any element may mean including or consisting of that element.
[0054] In the present specification, a "recessed filter" may refer to a filter including one or more pores.
[0055] In the present specification, the "wrapping" of a medium portion, a support structure, a cooling structure, and/or a mouthpiece portion by a wrapper may refer to at least a portion of the peripheral surface along the longitudinal axis of the medium portion, the support structure, the cooling structure, and/or the mouthpiece portion being surrounded by the wrapper.
[0056] In the present specification, the hardness of the support structure is a value obtained by quantifying the degree to which the diameter of the support structure is maintained when the support structure is pressed with a certain level of force in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the support structure, and may be the percentage of the diameter of the support structure after the force is applied compared to the diameter of the support structure before the force is applied. For example, the hardness (%) of the support structure may be calculated as (D-a)/D × 100%. Here, D represents the diameter of the support structure, and a represents the distance the support structure moves downward due to a 300 g weight (i.e., when the support structure is pressed). The measured value necessary for calculating the hardness may be obtained using, for example, DHT 200™ of Filtrona. In measuring the hardness, the force applied to the support structure may be considered to be a value equivalent to the force applied when an actual user holds a smoking article.
[0057] A filter of the smoking article according to one aspect of the present invention may collect at least a portion of smoke components generated when the smoking article is smoked. In some embodiments, the filter of the smoking article may collect the total particulate matter (hereinafter, may be abbreviated as "TPM") including at least a portion of at least one of nicotine (hereinafter, may be abbreviated as "Nic"), tar, propylene glycol (hereinafter, may be abbreviated as "PG"), and glycerin (hereinafter, may be abbreviated as "Gly") included in the smoke components generated when the smoking article is smoked.
[0058] In the present specification, "resistance to draw" refers to a difference in static pressure between both ends of a sample when an airflow passes through the sample. In the present specification, "PDC" refers to a value obtained by measuring the resistance to draw in a state in which the medium portion is open, the perforations of the filter portion are blocked, and the inflow of outside air is blocked, and "PDO" refers to a value obtained by measuring the resistance to draw in a state in which the medium portion is open, the perforations of the filter portion are not blocked, and the inflow of outside air is allowed. For example, the resistance to draw may be measured using the method specified in ISO standard 6565:2015. According to ISO standard 6565:2015, the resistance to draw may refer to a difference in static pressure between both ends of the sample when an airflow passes through the sample by under normal conditions (22 ± 2 °C and 60 ± 5% relative humidity) with a volume flow rate of 17.5 mm/s at the discharge end.
[0059] In the present specification, an organic acid is a general term for organic compounds that are acidic.
[0061] In the present specification, when no separate physical quantity is indicated, "component %" and "component proportion" refer to the % by weight of the component and the weight proportion of the component, respectively.
[0062] In the present specification, "puff" refers to an action of drawing or inhaling the air through a smoking article to produce and inhale smoke or vapor. "Puff count" may refer to the total number of drawing and inhalation actions during use of the smoking article. Alternatively or additionally, the puff count may represent the maximum number of drawing and inhalation actions that the smoking article can provide before it is completely consumed or ceases to function.
[0063] In the present specification, Health Canada (HC) conditions may include a puff volume of 55 ml, a puff frequency of 30 seconds, and a puff duration of 2 seconds. Particularly, the HC conditions may be based on a state in which the perforations of a filter are blocked. In measurement under the HC conditions, the puff count may be 9.
[0064] In the present specification, the "ventilation rate (hereinafter, may be abbreviated as "Vent")" of a smoking article may be defined as the ratio (expressed as a percentage) of the total volume flow rate (e.g., mL/s) of air entering the smoking article without burning or heating through the front region, that is, the longitudinal upstream end, of the smoking article to the total volume flow rate (e.g., mL/s) of air at the outlet, that is, the longitudinal downstream end, of the smoking article. For example, the ventilation rate may be measured according to ISO 9512:2019. For example, the total volume flow rate of air entering the smoking article without burning or heating through the front region of the smoking article may be the total volume flow rate of air entering in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the smoking article. For example, the total volume flow rate of air entering the smoking article without burning or heating through the front region of the smoking article may be the total volume flow rate of air entering the smoking article through wrapping paper.
[0065] The content of the components in the total particulate matter (TPM) of the collected smoke may be analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). For example, in the case of tar or nicotine, a Cambridge filter (Cambridge filter pad (CFP)) on which the smoke components are collected is immersed in isopropyl alcohol (IPA) for a predetermined time (for example, 20 minutes to 16 hours). In the case of PG and Gly, a Cambridge filter (Cambridge filter pad (CFP)) on which the smoke components are collected is immersed in methanol for a predetermined time (for example, 2 hours to 16 hours), treated using a shaker device, and then passed through a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) syringe filter to remove impurities. Thereafter, the content of the components included in the total particulate matter (TPM) of the collected smoke may be measured using a GC/MS device. The immersion time may be 20 minutes or more, particularly for tar or nicotine, and 2 hours or more for PG and Gly.
[0067] Hereinafter, various embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0068] FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a smoking article according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing a smoking article according to another embodiment of the present invention.
[0069] Referring to FIG. 1, a smoking article 100 may include a medium portion 110, a support structure 120, and a cooling structure 130. In some embodiments, the smoking article 100 may further include a mouthpiece portion 140 and/or a wrapper 150. In particular, the smoking article 100 may include a medium portion 110, a cooling structure 130 arranged to be spaced apart from the medium portion 110 at one side of the medium portion 110, and a support structure 120 arranged between the medium portion 110 and the cooling structure 130. The cooling structure 130 may be arranged to be spaced apart from one end of the medium portion 110 along the longitudinal direction of the medium portion 110. In some embodiments, the smoking article 100 may further include a mouthpiece portion 140 arranged on one side (i.e., downstream) of the support structure 120 with the cooling structure 130 interposed therebetween. That is, the smoking article 100 may further include a mouthpiece portion 140 arranged in an opposite direction of the support structure 120 with respect to the cooling structure 130. In some embodiments, the smoking article 100 may further include a wrapper 150 configured to wrap around at least a portion of the medium portion 110, the support structure 120, the cooling structure 130, and the mouthpiece portion 140. That is, the smoking article 100 may be arranged in the order of the medium portion 110, the support structure 120, the cooling structure 130, and optionally the mouthpiece portion 140 along the longitudinal direction of the smoking article 100.
[0070] The medium portion 110 may include an aerosol-forming substrate. Since the medium portion 110 includes the aerosol-forming substrate, the medium portion 110 may generate an aerosol when heated. The medium portion 110 may have a length of approximately 10 mm to 14 mm (for example, 12 mm), but the present invention is not limited thereto. The medium portion 110 may be inserted into an aerosol generation device to generate an aerosol when heated. The generated aerosol (e.g., mainstream smoke) may be inhaled through the user's oral region.
[0071] In some embodiments, the aerosol-forming substrate may include a tobacco material, although the processed form of the tobacco material may vary. For example, the aerosol-forming substrate may include a reconstituted tobacco sheet such as a reconstituted tobacco leaf sheet. In some embodiments, the aerosol-forming substrate may include a reconstituted tobacco leaf sheet. In some embodiments, the aerosol-forming substrate may also include a plurality of tobacco strands (or shredded tobacco) formed from shredded reconstituted tobacco sheets. In some embodiments, the medium portion 110 may be filled with the plurality of tobacco strands arranged in the same (e.g., parallel) direction and/or randomly. In some embodiments, the aerosol-forming substrate may also include shredded leaf tobacco.
[0072] In some embodiments, the aerosol-forming substrate may include a reconstituted tobacco sheet and/or shredded leaf tobacco.
[0073] In some embodiments, the aerosol-forming substrate or the medium portion 110 may include at least one humectant. The humectant may include glycerin and/or propylene glycol, but the present invention is not limited thereto.
[0074] In some embodiments, the aerosol-forming substrate or the medium portion 110 may contain at least one flavoring agent (or, as may be referred to a "flavoring material") and/or other additives such as an organic acid. For example, the flavoring agent may include licorice, sucrose, fructose syrup, an artificial sweetener (e.g., Isosweet™), cocoa, lavender, cinnamon, cardamom, celery, fenugreek, cascarilla, sandalwood, bergamot, geranium, honey essence, rose oil, vanilla, lemon oil, orange oil, mint oil, cinnamon, caraway, cognac, jasmine, chamomile, menthol, ylang ylang, sage, spearmint, ginger, coriander, and/or coffee, but the present invention is not limited thereto.
[0075] The support structure 120 is located downstream (on one side) of the medium portion 110, and the upstream side of the support structure 120 may come into contact with the downstream side of the medium portion 110. The support structure 120 may function as a support member for the medium portion 110. For example, when a heating element of the aerosol generation device is inserted into the medium portion 110 and/or aligned to the outside of the medium portion 110, the support structure 120 may function to prevent the medium portion 110 from moving downstream. The support structure 120 may also serve as a passage for aerosol (e.g., mainstream smoke) formed in the medium portion 110.
[0076] In some embodiments, the support structure 120 includes a tubular structure having a hollow 120H formed therein, and the hollow 120H may function as a channel for the aerosol (i.e., through which the aerosol moves). The hollow 120H may extend along the longitudinal direction of the support structure 120. The hollow 120H is located at the center of a cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the support structure 120 and may extend along the longitudinal direction of the support structure 120. The hollow 120H and the support structure 120 may have a coaxial structure along the longitudinal direction. The support structure 120 may have a length of approximately 8 mm to 12 mm (for example, 10 mm), but the present invention is not limited thereto. In some embodiments, the length of the support structure 120 may be shorter than or equal to the length of the cooling structure 130 described below, but the present invention is not limited thereto.
[0077] The downstream end of the tubular structure included in the support structure 120 may come into contact with the upstream end of the tubular structure included in the cooling structure 130. In other words, one end located on one side (downstream) of the support structure 120 may come into contact with an end located on the other side (upstream) opposite to the one side of the cooling structure 130, and the other end located on the other side (upstream) of the support structure 120 may come into contact with one side end of the medium portion 110. Accordingly, the aerosol formed in the medium portion 110 may move toward the mouthpiece portion 140 (i.e., in the downstream direction) through the hollow 120H or 130H. The support structure 120 may effectively prevent the medium portion 110 from moving in a downstream direction when a heating element is inserted, and may also provide filtration and cooling effects for the aerosol.
[0078] In one embodiment, the support structure 120 may be composed of lyocell tow including a plurality of lyocell fibers. In particular, the lyocell tow constituting the support structure 120 may have a tube shape having a hollow 120H formed therein.
[0079] In the present invention, the lyocell fibers included in the support structure 120 are environmentally-friendly fibers made of cellulose extracted from wood pulp. The lyocell tow may refer to a bundle formed by cross-linking adjacent lyocell fibers.
[0080] When the support structure 120 is composed of lyocell tow that does not melt even at high temperatures, deformation of the support structure 120 caused by heat applied to heat the smoking article 100 and/or high-temperature aerosol passing through the hollow 120H of the support structure 120 may be minimized due to the high heat resistance characteristics of the lyocell tow. Accordingly, the support structure 120 may maintain its shape while smoking, so that the smoke components passing through the hollow 120H of the support structure 120 may also be maintained uniformly without variation depending on the smoking time, thereby providing a more improved smoking experience to the user.
[0081] In some embodiments, the support structure 120 may have an outer diameter of approximately 6 mm to 10 mm, preferably 6.1 mm to 9 mm, more preferably 6.2 mm to 8 mm, even more preferably 6.3 mm to 7.8 mm, even more preferably 6.4 mm to 7.6 mm, even more preferably 6.6 mm to 7.4 mm, even more preferably 6.8 mm to 7.2 mm, and even more preferably 7 mm. The inner diameter of the support structure 120 (i.e., the diameter of the hollow 120H) may be an appropriate value selected within the range of approximately 2 mm to 5.5 mm, preferably 2.1 mm to 5 mm, more preferably 2.2 mm to 4.5 mm, and even more preferably 2.5 mm to 4 mm, but the present invention is not limited thereto. In some embodiments, the inner diameter of the support structure 120 (i.e., the diameter of the hollow 120H) may be 2.5 mm to 3.0 mm or 3.5 mm to 4.0 mm, preferably 2.7 mm to 2.9 mm or 3.7 mm to 3.9 mm, and more preferably 2.8 mm or 3.8 mm, but the present invention is not limited thereto.
[0082] In some embodiments, the inner diameter of the support structure 120 may be 10% to 90%, preferably 20% to 80%, more preferably 25% to 75%, even more preferably 30% to 70%, and even more preferably 35% to 65% of the outer diameter of the support structure 120, but the present invention is not limited thereto.
[0083] In some embodiments, the lyocell fibers may have a Y-shaped cross-section with three protrusions branching from the center thereof, a cross-shaped cross-section with four protrusions, and/or a star-shaped cross-section with five protrusions, or may also have an O-shaped cross-section, but the present invention is not limited thereto.
[0084] Meanwhile, it may be desirable for the support structure 120 to be manufactured to have appropriate hardness and/or durability for its support role. The support structure 120 may further include at least one binder dispersed in the lyocell tow constituting the cooling structure 130. The binder may be dispersed over the entire region of the lyocell tow constituting the support structure 120. The binder may function to impart appropriate hardness to the support structure 120 by binding between a plurality of lyocell fibers constituting the lyocell tow. As described above, unlike cellulose acetate, lyocell does not have a plasticizer material that hardens lyocell fibers, so by adding a binder instead, appropriate hardness may be imparted to the support structure 120. That is, when the support structure 120 further includes at least one binder, excellent hardness may be achieved even though the support structure 120 is a structure composed of lyocell tow.
[0085] In some embodiments, the binder may include at least one of a cellulose-based binder, a vinyl-based binder, a polyester-based binder, a dextrin-based binder, a starch-based binder, guar gum, xanthan gum, gum arabic, carrageenan, konjac, and agar, but is not limited thereto as long as the binder is a material capable of binding between a plurality of lyocell fibers to impart appropriate hardness. For example, the cellulose-based binder may include hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC), ethyl cellulose (EC), methyl cellulose (MC), carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), and the like, the vinyl-based binder may include polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), ethylene vinyl acetate (EVAc), and the like, the polyester-based binder may be a polyester including one or more selected from the group consisting of alkylenes, arylenes, and heteroarylenes having 5 to 12 carbon atoms, the dextrin-based binder may include dextrin and the like, and the starch-based binder may include starch (for example, tapioca, corn, wheat, potato, sweet potato, and the like), cationic starch, esterified starch, and the like, but the present invention is not limited thereto.
[0086] In some embodiments, the binder may include at least one of a polyester including one or more selected from the group consisting of alkylenes, arylenes, and heteroarylenes having 5 to 12 carbon atoms, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC), ethyl cellulose (EC), methyl cellulose (MC), carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), ethylene vinyl acetate (EVAc), dextrin, tapioca starch, corn starch, wheat starch, potato starch, sweet potato starch, cationic starch, esterified starch, guar gum, xanthan gum, gum arabic, carrageenan, konjac, and agar.
[0087] In some embodiments, the binder may be added so that the binder can be dispersed within the lyocell tow during a process of manufacturing the support structure 120. For example, during the process of manufacturing the support structure 120, the binder may be added to the interior of the lyocell tow by wrapping the lyocell tow around a heater rod and spraying the binder onto the outer surface of the cylindrical lyocell tow formed to wrap around the heater rod from the inside. Alternatively or additionally, the binder may be added to the interior of the lyocell tow by adding the binder through the inner surface of the lyocell tow formed to wrap around the heater rod from the inside thereof, from the heater rod, but the method of manufacturing the support structure 120 is not limited thereto.
[0088] In some embodiments, the support structure 120 including the lyocell tow in which the binder is dispersed may have a hardness of 60% to 99%, preferably 70% to 98.5%, more preferably 75% to 98%, even more preferably 80% to 97.5%, and even more preferably 85% to 97%, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The hardness of the support structure 120 is a value obtained by quantifying the degree to which the diameter of the support structure 120 is maintained when the support structure 120 is pressed with a certain level of force in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the support structure 120, and may be a value indicating, as a percentage, the ratio of the diameter of the support structure 120 after the force is applied to the diameter of the support structure 120 before the force is applied. When the support structure 120 has a hardness within the above range, the support structure 120 may have the effect of stably maintaining its shape despite being a tubular structure composed of lyocell tow, and the stable shape maintenance of the support structure 120 may prevent the quality of a smoking experience from deteriorating due to the deformation of the support structure 120 during storage or smoking of the smoking article 100.
[0089] Since the support structure 120 is applied in the form of a tube composed of lyocell tow and having a hollow formed therein, the smoking article 100 according to the present invention may have the effect of effectively reducing an amount of moisture transferred during smoking due to the superior moisture affinity characteristics of lyocell tow compared to cellulose acetate tow, thereby reducing the feeling of heat felt by the user and maximizing the cooling effect.
[0090] Also, deformation of the cooling structure caused by heat transferred from a heater configured to heat the smoking article or an aerosol generated within the smoking article may be effectively prevented or minimized due to the excellent heat resistance of lyocell tow.
[0091] The cooling structure 130 may function as a cooling member for a high-temperature aerosol generated as the medium portion 110 is heated. In particular, the cooling structure 130 may include a tubular structure having a hollow 130H formed therein, and may cool an aerosol passing through the hollow 130H. In particular, the aerosol formed in the medium portion 110 may move to the hollow 130H of the cooling structure 130 through the hollow 120H of the support structure 120, and may move toward the mouthpiece portion 140 (i.e., in the downstream direction). The hollow 130H may extend along the longitudinal direction of the cooling structure 130. The hollow 130H is located at the center of a cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the cooling structure 130, and may extend along the longitudinal direction of the cooling structure 130. The hollow 130H and the cooling structure 130 may have a coaxial structure along the longitudinal direction. The hollow 120H of the support structure 120 and the hollow 130H of the cooling structure 130 are located at the center of a cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the support structure 120 and the cooling structure 130, respectively, and thus may extend along the longitudinal direction of the support structure 120 and the cooling structure 130. The hollow 120H of the support structure 120 and the hollow 130H of the cooling structure 130 may extend along the same axis along the longitudinal direction. The hollow 120H of the support structure 120 and the hollow 130H of the cooling structure 130 may have the same or different diameters in a cross-section perpendicular to the axis.
[0092] Accordingly, the user may inhale an aerosol at an appropriate temperature, and the mainstream smoke may be smoothly aerosolized to improve an amount of vapor.
[0093] In one embodiment, the cooling structure 130 may include at least one of a tubular structure made of a paper material (i.e., a paper tube filter), a tubular structure made of a cellulose acetate material, and a tubular structure made of a lyocell material. The cooling structure 130 may have a length of approximately 12 mm to 16 mm (for example, 14 mm), but the present invention is not limited thereto.
[0094] Preferably, the cooling structure 130 may include a tubular structure composed of lyocell tow including a plurality of lyocell fibers. Alternatively or additionally, the cooling structure 130 may also include a tubular structure or a paper tube including or made of a cellulose acetate material, but the present invention is not limited thereto. As the cooling structure 130 is composed of lyocell tow having a hollow formed therein and including a plurality of lyocell fibers, due to the high heat resistance characteristics of lyocell tow that does not melt even at high temperatures, deformation of the cooling structure 130 caused by heat applied to heat the smoking article 100 and/or high-temperature aerosol passing through the hollow 130H of the cooling structure 130 may be prevented. Accordingly, the cooling structure 130 may maintain its shape while smoking, so that the smoke components passing through the hollow 130H of the cooling structure 130 may be maintained uniformly without variation depending on the smoking time, thereby providing a more improved smoking experience to the user. When the cooling structure 130 is composed of lyocell tow, the cooling structure 130 may further include at least one binder dispersed in the lyocell tow so as to impart a predetermined hardness.
[0095] In some embodiments, the binder included in the cooling structure 130 may include the exemplary materials listed as the binder included in the support structure 120, but the present invention is not limited thereto.
[0096] In some embodiments, the binder included in the cooling structure 130 may be the same as or different from the binder included in the support structure 120.
[0097] In some embodiments, the binder included in the cooling structure 130 may include at least one of a polyester including one or more selected from the group consisting of alkylenes, arylenes, and heteroarylenes having 5 to 12 carbon atoms, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC), ethyl cellulose (EC), methyl cellulose (MC), carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), ethylene vinyl acetate (EVAc), dextrin, tapioca starch, corn starch, wheat starch, potato starch, sweet potato starch, cationic starch, esterified starch, guar gum, xanthan gum, gum arabic, carrageenan, konjac, and agar.
[0098] The mouthpiece portion 140 may serve as a mouthpiece that comes into contact with the user's oral region and as a filter that ultimately delivers the aerosol delivered from the upstream side to the user. The mouthpiece portion 140 may be located downstream of the cooling structure 130 and the upstream side of the mouthpiece portion 140 may come into contact with the downstream side of the cooling structure 130, and/or the mouthpiece portion 140 may form the downstream end of the smoking article 100.
[0099] In some embodiments, the mouthpiece portion 140 may be made of a cellulose acetate filter or a lyocell filter. That is, the mouthpiece portion 140 may be manufactured using cellulose acetate fibers (i.e., cellulose acetate tow) as a filter material and/or using lyocell fibers (i.e., lyocell tow) as a filter material. Although not shown, the mouthpiece portion 140 may also be made of a recessed filter. The mouthpiece portion 140 may have a length of approximately 10 mm to 14 mm (for example, 12 mm), but the present invention is not limited thereto.
[0100] In some embodiments, the mouthpiece portion 140 may include at least one capsule. Here, the capsule may have a structure in which a liquid including a flavoring is wrapped with a film. For example, the capsule may have a spherical or cylindrical shape.
[0101] For reference, the support structure 120, the cooling structure 130, and the mouthpiece portion 140 may all function as filters for aerosols. In this case, each component may be referred to as a "filter segment" to emphasize their function as filters. For example, the support structure 120, the cooling structure 130, and the mouthpiece portion 140 may be referred to as a first filter segment, a second filter segment, and a third filter segment, respectively.
[0102] The wrapper 150 may surround at least one of the medium portion 110, the support structure 120, the cooling structure 130, and the mouthpiece portion 140 and wrap the medium portion 110, the support structure 120, the cooling structure 130, and the mouthpiece portion 140. Although not shown, at least one of the medium portion 110, the support structure 120, the cooling structure 130, and the mouthpiece portion 140 may be wrapped with a separate wrapper before being wrapped by the wrapper 150. For example, the medium portion 110 may be wrapped by a medium portion wrapper (not shown), and the support structure 120, the cooling structure 130, and the mouthpiece portion 140 may be wrapped by a first filter wrapper (not shown), a second filter wrapper (not shown), and a third filter wrapper (not shown), respectively. However, a method of wrapping the smoking article 100 and components thereof is not limited thereto and may vary.
[0103] In some embodiments, the wrapper 150 may have perforations 160 (see FIG. 1) formed therein, the perforations 160 being arranged along the circumference of the cooling structure 130, or may not have perforations (no perforations, see FIG. 2) formed therein. In some embodiments, the wrapper 150 may have perforations 160 (see FIG. 1) formed therein, the perforations 160 being arranged along the circumference of the cooling structure 130, particularly along the circumference of a cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the cooling structure 130. When the perforations are formed in the wrapper 150, outside air may be introduced into the cooling structure 130 through the plurality of perforations 160. The plurality of perforations 160 may serve to lower the surface temperature of the mouthpiece portion and the temperature of mainstream smoke delivered to the smoker through the introduction of outside air. In this case, no perforations may be formed in the wrapper 150, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Even when no perforations are formed in the wrapper 150, as described later, the lyocell material constituting the support structure 120 may have excellent moisture absorption performance in the mainstream smoke due to its excellent moisture affinity, thereby significantly reducing the feeling of heat of the mainstream smoke passing through the support structure 120.
[0104] Hereinafter, the configurations of the present invention and the advantageous effects according thereto will be described in more detail with reference to examples and comparative examples. However, it should be understood that these examples are merely for describing the present invention in more detail, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.
Example 1
[0105] A support structure having the same structure as shown in FIG. 1 was manufactured using a lyocell material. In particular, a support structure having an inner diameter of approximately 3.8 mm and a circumference of 22.6 mm was manufactured using a heater rod by forming cylindrical lyocell tow to surround the heater rod and injecting a dextrin-based binder (dextrin) into the lyocell tow through the inner surface of the lyocell tow from the heater rod. Thereafter, as in the smoking article 100 shown in FIG. 1, a heating-type cigarette (as a smoking article of Example 1) having a structure, which includes a medium portion having a length of 12 mm, a support structure having a length of 10 mm, a cooling structure composed of a paper tube having an inner diameter of 6 mm and a length of 14 mm, and a mouthpiece portion composed of cellulose acetate tow and having a length of 12 mm, was manufactured, and the resistance to draw was measured. The results are shown in Table 1.
[0106] Unless otherwise stated herein, PDC may refer to a value obtained by measuring the resistance to draw in a state in which the medium portion is open, the perforations of the filter portion are blocked, and the inflow of external air is blocked, and PDO may refer to a value obtained by measuring the resistance to draw in a state in which the medium portion is open, the perforations of the filter portion are not blocked, and the inflow of external air is allowed.
Comparative Example 1
[0107] A heating-type cigarette was manufactured in the same manner as in Example 1, except that the support structure was manufactured using a cellulose acetate material, and the resistance to draw was measured. The results are shown in Table 1 below.
Experimental Example 1: Physical property evaluation
[0108] To determine the changes in the physical properties of the smoking articles according to the material constituting the support structure, this experiment was conducted to measure the physical properties of the smoking articles according to Comparative Example 1 and Example 1. In particular, the weight, circumference, and resistance to draw (ventilation rate (Vent)) of the smoking articles were measured. The measurement results are listed in Table 1 below.
[Table 1]
| Classification | Weight (mg) | Circumference (mm) | PDO (mmH20) | PDC (mmH20) | Vent (%) |
| Comparative Example 1 | 524.6 | 22.6 | 52.3 | 87.0 | 53.4 |
| Example 1 | 537.6 | 22.6 | 51.5 | 84.8 | 53.3 |
| (In Table 1, Vent represents a ventilation rate (VR).) |
[0109] Referring to Table 1 above, it can be seen that the smoking articles including lyocell tow and cellulose acetate, respectively, as a material constituting the support structure had similar physical properties, and similar levels of the ventilation rate (VR) and draw resistance, which may be associated with heat resistance and cooling during smoking, were exhibited.
Experimental Example 2: Moisture transfer amount of smoking articles according to material of support structure (heat reduction effect)
[0110] To compare the moisture transfer amounts in the mainstream smoke of the smoking articles according to the material constituting the support structure, the medium portions of the smoking articles according to Comparative Example 1 and Example 1 were heated to a heating temperature of 190°C to 280°C using an external heating method, and the moisture content (as the moisture transfer amount) in the generated smoke was measured. The results are listed in Table 2 below.
[0111] In particular, this experiment was conducted on the smoking articles according to Comparative Example 1 and Example 1 in a smoking room having an internal temperature of approximately 22 ± 2°C and an internal relative humidity of approximately 60 ± 5% (specifically, a temperature of approximately 21.9°C and a relative humidity of 64.3%). In this case, the experiment was conducted under smoking conditions, that is, HC conditions (Puff volume: 55 mL/Puff frequency: 30 s/Puff duration: 2 s/Puff count: 9 puffs). The generated smoke was collected on a Cambridge filter (i.e., a Cambridge filter pad (CFP)), and the amount of moisture (moisture transfer amount) collected within the Cambridge filter (pad) was measured. The results are listed in Table 2 below.
[Table 2]
| Classification | Moisture transfer amount (mg) |
| Comparative Example 1 | 22.91 |
| Example 1 | 16.19 |
[0112] Referring to Tables 1 and 2 above, it can be seen that the smoking articles of Example 1 and Comparative Example 1 have similar physical properties, but the moisture content of the mainstream smoke is lower in the smoking article of Example 1 than in the smoking article of Comparative Example 1. That is, since the smoking article of Example 1 has a lower moisture transfer amount in the mainstream smoke compared to the smoking article of Comparative Example 1, it can be seen that the feeling of heat (i.e., hot feeling) transmitted to the user through the mainstream smoke during smoking is lower in the smoking article of Example 1 having a support structure composed of a lyocell material than in the smoking article of Comparative Example 1 having a support structure composed of cellulose acetate. This may be inferred to be due to the fact that the moisture generated during smoking is absorbed into the lyocell tow constituting the support structure while passing through the support structure composed of lyocell because the lyocell material has superior moisture affinity compared to the cellulose acetate material. That is, it can be seen that the smoking article of Example 1, in which the support structure is composed of the lyocell material, has the superior effect of reducing the feeling of heat felt by the smoker during smoking compared to the smoking article of Comparative Example 1, in which the support structure is composed of the cellulose acetate material.
Experimental Example 3: Evaluation of deformation by heat according to material of support structure
[0113] To analyze the material deformation due to the heat generated when the medium portion of the smoking article is heated according to the material constituting the support structure, the medium portions of the smoking articles according to Comparative Example 1 and Example 1 were heated in the same manner as in Experimental Example 2 (i.e., heated to a heating temperature of 190°C to 280°C using an external heating method), and the smoking articles were then disassembled to take pictures of the support structures, which are shown in FIG. 3. In FIG. 3, FIG. 3A is an image obtained by photographing the support structures of Comparative Example 1 and Example 1 before the experiment (before smoking). Here, the left side of FIG. 3A is the support structure of Comparative Example 1, and the right side of FIG. 3A is the support structure of Example 1. Also, in FIG. 3, FIG. 3B is an image obtained by photographing the support structures of Comparative Example 1 and Example 1 after the experiment (after smoking). Here, the left side of FIG. 3B is the support structure of Comparative Example 1, and the right side of FIG. 3B is the support structure of Example 1.
[0114] Referring to FIG. 3A, it can be seen that the cellulose acetate support structure of Comparative Example 1 and the lyocell support structure of Example 1 before smoking have substantially the same appearance.
[0115] Referring to FIG. 3B, it can be seen that the support structure of Comparative Example 1 turned yellow after smoking was performed (i.e., after heating the support structure to a temperature of 190°C to 280°C and puffing), but the support structure of Example 1 was not discolored. Based on the results, it can be seen that the cellulose acetate material was discolored due to the heat generated in the smoking article during smoking, but the lyocell material was not discolored.
[0116] Also, it can be seen that the support structure of Comparative Example 1 was not only discolored but also melted and stuck (i.e., melted down) after smoking, resulting in a difference in the shape of the wrapper surrounding the support structure and becoming smaller than the initial shape, but the support structure of Example 1 was substantially the same as the shape of the wrapper and thus largely maintained its initial shape. That is, it can be seen that the cellulose acetate material (Comparative Example 1) deformed because a melting phenomenon occurred due to heat, but the lyocell material (Example 1) did not melt due to heat, and thus did not deform.
[0117] This may be due to the fact that the lyocell material has superior heat resistance compared to the cellulose acetate material, thereby effectively preventing deformation caused by heat generated during smoking, heat within the aerosol, and/or heat applied to heat the medium portion. Accordingly, it can be seen that the support structure of Example 1 has superior heat absorption performance compared to the support structure of Comparative Example 1, and has the advantage of being able to maintain the original shape without material deformation based on excellent heat resistance.
Examples 2 and 3
[0118] A support structure of Example 2 having an inner diameter of approximately 2.8 mm and a circumference of 22.8 mm and a support structure of Example 3 having an inner diameter of approximately 3.8 mm and a circumference of approximately 22.8 mm were each manufactured. As in Example 1, a smoking article having a structure including a medium portion having a length of 12 mm, the support structure of Example 2 or 3 having a length of 10 mm, a cooling structure composed of a paper tube and having an inner diameter of 6 mm and a length of 14 mm, and a mouthpiece portion composed of cellulose acetate tow and having a length of 12 mm was manufactured as in the smoking article 100 shown in FIG. 1, and the physical properties of the smoking articles were measured. The results are listed in Table 3 below.
[Table 3]
| Classification (inner diameter) | Weight (mg) | Circumference (mm) | PDO (mmH20) | PDC (mmH20) | Vent (%) |
| Example 2 (2.8 mm) | 658.4 | 22.831 | 49.1 | 52.3 | 13.22 |
| Example 3 (3.8 mm) | 643.9 | 22.893 | 50.1 | 53.6 | 13.87 |
| (In Table 3, Vent represents a ventilation rate (VR).) |
Experimental Example 4: Analysis of components in smoke according to inner diameter of support structure
[0119] To compare the components in smoke according to the inner diameter of the support structure, the medium portion of each of the smoking articles according to Examples 2 and 3 was heated to a heating temperature of 190°C to 280°C using an external heating method, and the total particulate matter (TPM), nicotine components, moisture contents, and the like were measured. The results are listed in Table 4 below.
[0120] In particular, this experiment was conducted on the smoking articles according to Examples 2 and 3 in a smoking room having an internal temperature of approximately 22 ± 2°C and an internal relative humidity of approximately 60 ± 5% (specifically, a temperature of approximately 21.9°C and a relative humidity of 64.3%). In this case, the experiment was conducted under smoking conditions, that is, HC conditions (Puff volume: 55 mL/Puff frequency: 30 s/Puff duration: 2 s/Puff count: 9 puffs). The generated smoke was collected on a Cambridge filter (i.e., a Cambridge filter pad (CFP)), and analyzed. The total particulate matter (TPM) is a value obtained by measuring the change in weight of the Cambridge filter before and after smoking using a smoking device. For the remaining components, the collected smoke was analyzed by gas chromatography (GC).
[Table 4]
| Classification | TPM (mg) | Tar (mg) | Nic (mg) | PG (mg) | Gly (mg) | Moisture (mg) |
| Example 2 | 40.78 | 18.04 | 1.00 | 0.59 | 3.52 | 21.74 |
| Example 3 | 38.54 | 18.08 | 0.97 | 0.59 | 3.33 | 19.49 |
[0121] Referring to Table 4 above, it can be seen that the smoke components transferred during smoking are generally similar depending on the difference in the inner diameter of the support structure, but the moisture transfer amount of Example 2 in which the inner diameter of the support structure is 2.8 mm is 21.74 mg, and the moisture transfer amount of Example 3 in which the inner diameter of the support structure is 3.8 mm is 19.49 mg, and that Example 3 has a smaller moisture transfer amount than Example 2, and thus the larger the inner diameter of the tubular structure, the better the effect of reducing the user's feeling of heat. That is, it can be seen that Example 3 in which the inner diameter of the support structure is 3.8 mm and Example 2 in which the inner diameter of the support structure is 2.8 mm have similar smoke components in the mainstream smoke, but the larger the inner diameter, the less moisture transfer amount, thereby improving the user's smoking quality due to the excellent cooling effect and/or effect of reducing the heat sensation of the smokers.
[0122] FIGS. 4 to 6 show various types of aerosol generation devices to which smoking articles according to some embodiments of the present disclosure may be applied. In particular, FIG. 4 is an exemplary block diagram showing a cigarette-type aerosol generation device 1000, and FIGS. 5 and 6 are exemplary configuration diagrams showing a hybrid-type aerosol generation device 1000 in which a liquid and cigarette are used together. Hereinafter, the aerosol generation device 1000 will be briefly described.
[0123] As shown in FIG. 4, the aerosol generation device 1000 may be a device configured to generate an aerosol through a cigarette 2000 inserted into an internal space. Here, the cigarette 2000 may correspond to the smoking article 100 described above. Accordingly, the cigarette 2000 may include the medium portion 110, the support structure 120, and the cooling structure 130 described above. More specifically, when the cigarette 2000 is inserted into the aerosol generation device 1000, the aerosol generation device 1000 may operate the heater portion 1300 to generate an aerosol from the cigarette 2000. The generated aerosol may be delivered to the user through the cigarette 2000.
[0124] As shown, the aerosol generation device 1000 may include a battery 1100, a controller 1200, and a heater portion 1300. However, only components related to the embodiments of the present disclosure are shown in FIG. 4. Therefore, a person skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains may understand that other general-purpose components may be further included in addition to the components shown in FIG. 4. For example, the aerosol generation device 1000 may further include a display capable of outputting visual information and/or a motor configured to output tactile information, and/or at least one sensor (such as a puff detection sensor, a temperature detection sensor, and/or a cigarette insertion detection sensor). Hereinafter, each of the components of the aerosol generation device 1000 will be described.
[0125] The battery 1100 supplies power used to operate the aerosol generation device 1000. For example, the battery 1100 may supply power to heat the heater portion 1300, and may supply power required for the controller 1200 to operate. Also, the battery 1100 may supply power required for the display, sensor, motor, and the like (not shown) installed in the aerosol generation device 1000 to operate.
[0126] Next, the controller 1200 may control the overall operation of the aerosol generation device 1000. In particular, the controller 1200 may control the operation of not only the battery 1100 and the heater portion 1300, but also other components that may be included in the aerosol generation device 1000. Also, the controller 1200 may also check the status of each of the components of the aerosol generation device 1000 to determine whether the aerosol generation device 1000 is in an operable state.
[0127] The controller 1200 may include at least one processor. The processor may be implemented as an array of multiple logic gates, or may be implemented as a combination of a general-purpose microprocessor and a memory in which a program that may be executed on the microprocessor is stored. Also, it will be understood by those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains that the processor may be implemented as other types of hardware.
[0128] Next, the heater portion 1300 may heat the cigarette 2000 using power supplied from the battery 1100. For example, when the cigarette 2000 is inserted into the aerosol generation device 1000, a heating element of the heater portion 1300 may be inserted into a portion of the inner region of the cigarette 2000 to increase the temperature of an aerosol-forming substrate in the cigarette 2000.
[0129] In some embodiments, the heater portion 1300 may alternatively or additionally include an external heating element, unlike that shown in FIG. 4. In this case, the heating element of the heater portion 1300 may be arranged on the outside of the cigarette 2000 inserted into the device 1000. Also, unlike that shown, the heater portion 1300 may also include a plurality of heating elements. For example, the heater portion 1300 may include a plurality of internal heating elements or a plurality of external heating elements. As another example, the heater portion 1300 may include one or more internal heating elements and one or more external heating elements.
[0130] The heating elements may include or may be composed of an electrically resistant material and/or any material capable of induction heating. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and any material may be used as long as it may be heated to a desired temperature under the control of the controller 1200. Here, the desired temperature may be preset in the aerosol generation device 1000 or may be set by the user.
[0131] Meanwhile, although FIG. 4 shows that the battery 1100, the controller 1200, and the heater portion 1300 are arranged in a row along the longitudinal direction, the inner structure of the aerosol generation device 1000 is not limited to the example shown in FIG. 4. In other words, the arrangement of the battery 1100, the controller 1200, and the heater portion 1300 may vary depending on the design of the aerosol generation device 1000.
[0132] Hereinafter, a hybrid-type aerosol generation device 1000 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. For clarity of the present disclosure, the description of overlapping components (1100, 1200, 1300) will be omitted.
[0133] As shown in FIG. 5 or 6, the aerosol generation device 1000 may further include a vaporizer 1400.
[0134] When the cigarette 2000 is inserted into the aerosol generation device 1000, the aerosol generation device 1000 may operate the heater portion 1300 and/or the vaporizer 1400 to generate an aerosol from the cigarette 2000 and/or the vaporizer 1400. The aerosol generated by the heater portion 1300 and/or the vaporizer 1400 may be delivered to a user through the cigarette 2000. When the cigarette 2000 is inserted into the aerosol generation device 1000, the heating element of the heater portion 1300 may come into contact with a portion of the outer region of the cigarette 2000 or may be arranged adjacent to the outer region of the cigarette 2000 to increase the temperature of an aerosol-forming substrate inside the cigarette 2000 from the outside.
[0135] The vaporizer 1400 may heat a liquid composition to generate an aerosol, and the generated aerosol may be delivered to the user through the cigarette 2000. In other words, the aerosol generated by the vaporizer 1400 may move along an airflow passage of the aerosol generation device 1000, and the airflow passage may be configured to deliver the aerosol generated by the vaporizer 1400 to the user through the cigarette 2000.
[0136] The vaporizer 1400 may include, but is not limited to, a liquid reservoir, a liquid delivery means, and a liquid heating element. For example, the liquid reservoir, the liquid delivery means, and the liquid heating element may be included as separate modules in the aerosol generation device 1000.
[0137] The liquid reservoir may store a liquid composition (i.e., a liquid aerosol-forming substrate). The liquid reservoir may be manufactured to be detachable from/attachable to the vaporizer 1400 or may also be manufactured integrally with the vaporizer 1400.
[0138] Next, the liquid delivery means may deliver a liquid composition in the liquid reservoir to the liquid heating element. For example, the liquid delivery means may be, but is not limited to, a wick such as cotton fiber, ceramic fiber, glass fiber, or a porous ceramic.
[0139] The liquid heating element is an element configured to heat the liquid composition delivered by the liquid delivery means. For example, the liquid heating element may include, but is not limited to, a metal heating wire, a metal heating plate, a ceramic heater, and the like. Also, the liquid heating element may be composed of a conductive filament such as a nichrome wire, and may be arranged in a structure that is wound around the liquid delivery means. The liquid heating element may be heated by the current supply of the controller 1200, and may transfer heat to the liquid composition in contact with the liquid heating element to heat the liquid composition. As a result, an aerosol may be generated.
[0140] As shown in FIG. 5 or 6, the vaporizer 1400 and heater portion 1300 may be arranged in parallel or series. However, the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to this arrangement.
[0141] For reference, the vaporizer 1400 may be used interchangeably with terms such as cartomizer or atomizer in the relevant technical field.
[0142] The controller 1200 may further control the operation of the vaporizer 1400, and the battery 1100 may also further supply power to enable the vaporizer 1400 to operate.
[0143] So far, various types of aerosol generation devices 1000 to which the smoking article 100 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure may be applied have been described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6.
[0144] Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure pertains should understand that the present disclosure may be embodied in other specific forms without changing the technical spirit or essential features of the present disclosure. Therefore, the embodiments described above should be understood as being illustrative, instead of limiting, in all aspects. The scope of protection of the present disclosure should be interpreted by the claims below, and all technical ideas within the scope equivalent to the claims should be interpreted as falling within the scope of rights of the technical spirit defined by the present disclosure.
[EXPLANATION OF DRAWING SYMBOLS]
1. A smoking article comprising:
a medium portion;
a cooling structure arranged to be spaced apart from one side of the medium portion; and
a support structure arranged between the medium portion and the cooling structure,
wherein the support structure includes lyocell tow including a plurality of lyocell fibers.
2. The smoking article of claim 1, wherein the lyocell tow of the support structure has
a tube shape having a hollow formed therein.
3. The smoking article of claim 1, wherein the support structure further includes a binder
dispersed in the lyocell tow.
4. The smoking article of claim 3, wherein the binder includes at least one of a cellulose-based
binder, a vinyl-based binder, a polyester-based binder, a dextrin-based binder, and
a starch-based binder.
5. The smoking article of claim 4, wherein the binder includes a dextrin-based binder.
6. The smoking article of claim 2, wherein the inner diameter of the support structure
is 10% to 90% of the outer diameter of the support structure.
7. The smoking article of claim 2, wherein the support structure has an outer diameter
of 6 mm to 10 mm and an inner diameter of 2 mm to 5.5 mm.
8. The smoking article of claim 2, wherein the support structure has one end, which is
located on one side of the support structure, coming into contact with the cooling
structure, and the other end, which is located on the other side opposite the one
side, coming into contact with the medium portion,
the cooling structure has a tube shape having a hollow formed therein, and
the hollow of the cooling structure and the hollow of the support structure communicate with each other.
9. The smoking article of claim 8, wherein the cooling structure includes at least one
of a tubular structure made of a paper material, a tubular structure made of a cellulose
acetate material, and a tubular structure made of a lyocell material.
10. The smoking article of claim 1, further comprising:
a mouthpiece portion arranged on one side of the cooling structure; and
a wrapper configured to wrap around at least a portion of the medium portion, the support structure, the cooling structure, and the mouthpiece portion.