Europaisches Patentamt
`
`European Patent Office
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`Office europeen des brevets
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`@ Publication number:
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`0 277 519
`A2
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`EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION
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`@ Application number: 88100499.8
`
`@ Int. Cl.4: A24F 47/00 , A61 M 15/06
`
`@ Applicant: R.J. REYNOLDS TOBACCO
`COMPANY
`403 North Main Street
`Winston-Salem North Carolina 27102(US)
`
`@ Inventor: Roberts, Donald Leroy
`631 Chester Road
`Winston-Salem, N.C. 27104(US)
`Inventor: Morrison, Carl Christopher
`3175 Kittering Lane
`Winston-Salem, N.C. 27105(US)
`Inventor: Brooks, Johnny Lee
`817 South Hawthorne Road
`Winston-Salem, N.C. 27103(US)
`Inventor: Crooks, Evon Llewellyn
`5405 Alamo Drive
`Winston-Salem, N.C. 27104(US)
`Inventor: lngebrethsen, Bradley James
`2591 Azalea Place
`Winston-Salem, N.C. 27103(US)
`® Representative: Hoeger, Stellrecht & Partner
`Uhlandstrasse 14c
`0•7000 Stuttgart 1(DE)
`
`As the heat conductive container is in a heat ex(cid:173)
`change relationship with the fuel element, aerosol is
`thereby formed within the container and passed to
`the mouth of the user.
`
`@ Date of filing: 15.01.88
`
`@ Priority: 23.01.87 US 6191
`
`@ Date of publication of application:
`10.08.88 Bulletin 88/32
`
`@ Designated Contracting States:
`AT BE CH DE ES FR GB GR IT LI LU NL SE
`
`@ Aerosol delivery article.
`
`@) An aerosol delivery article is capable of produc(cid:173)
`ing substantial quantities of smoke, both initially and
`over the useful lifetime of the product, without signifi·
`("I cant thermal degradation of the aerosol former and
`c:t without the presence of substantial pyrolysis or in•
`er, complete combustion products or sidestream smoke .
`.- The article also delivers very low levels of carbon
`Ln monoxide. The article is able of providing the user
`,-... with the sensations and benefits of cigarette smoking
`,-... without burning tobacco. The article includes a car(cid:173)
`N bonaceous fuel element, an aerosol forming sub-
`0 stance within a heat conductive container, an outer
`Q. member surrounding the heat conductive container,
`Wand a mouthend piece. Upon draw on the mouthend
`piece air enters the peripheral region of the outer
`member and enters the heat conductive container.
`
`Xerox Copy Centre
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`NJOY Exhibit 1017.001
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`NJOY Exhibit 1017.002
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`NJOY Exhibit 1017.002
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`AEROSOL DELIVERY ARTICLE
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates to cigarette-type
`smoking articles that produce an aerosol resem(cid:173)
`bling tobacco smoke, but which contain no more
`than a minimal amount of incomplete combustion
`or pyrolysis products.
`Many smoking articles have been proposed
`through the years, especially over the last 20 to 30
`years.
`Tobacco substitutes have been made from a
`wide variety of treated and untreated plant material,
`such as cornstalks, eucalyptus
`leaves,
`lettuce
`leaves, corn leaves, cornsilk, alfalfa, and the like.
`Numerous patents teach proposed tobacco sub(cid:173)
`stitutes made by modifying cellulosic materials,
`such as by oxidation, by heat treatment, or by the
`addition of materials to modify the properties of
`cellulose. One of the most complete lists of these
`substitutes is found in U.S. Patent No. 4,079,742 to
`Rainer et al. Despite these extensive efforts, it is
`believed that none of the proposed products has
`been found to be satisfactory as a tobacco sub(cid:173)
`stitute.
`Many smoking articles have been based on the
`generation of an aerosol or a vapor. Some of these
`products purportedly produce an aerosol or a vapor
`without heat. See, for example, U.S. Patent No.
`4,284,089 to Ray. However, the aerosols or vapors
`from these articles fail to adequately simulate to(cid:173)
`bacco smoke.
`Some proposed aerosol generating smoking
`articles are believed to have used a heat or fuel
`source in order to produce an aerosol. One of the
`earliest of these proposed articles is described by
`Siegel in U.S. Patent No. 2,907,686. The Siegel
`reference proposed a cigarette substitute which
`includes an absorbent carbon fuel, preferably a 2.5
`inch (63.5 mm) stick of charcoal, which is burnable
`to produce hot gases, and a flavoring agent carried
`by the fuel, which is adapted to be distilled off
`incident to the production of the hot gases. Siegel
`also proposed that a separate carrier, such as clay,
`may be used for the flavoring agent, and that a
`smoke-forming agent, such as glycerol, may be
`admixed with the flavoring agent. Siegel's pro(cid:173)
`posed cigarette substitute may be coated with a
`concentrated sugar solution to provide an impervi(cid:173)
`ous coat and to force the hot gases and flavoring
`agents to flow toward the mouth of the user. It is
`believed that the presence of the flavoring and/or
`smoke-forming agents in the fuel of Siegel's article
`would cause substantial thermal degradation of
`those agents and an attendant off-taste. Moreover,
`
`it is believed that the article would tend to produce
`substantial sidestream smoke containing the afore(cid:173)
`mentioned unpleasant thermal degradation pro(cid:173)
`ducts.
`Another smoking article is described by Ellis et
`al in U.S. Patent No. 3,258,015. Ellis et al proposed
`a smoking article which has an outer cylinder of
`fuel having good smoldering characteristics, prefer(cid:173)
`ably fine cut tobacco or reconstituted tobacco, sur-
`rounding a metal tube containing tobacco, recon(cid:173)
`stituted tobacco, or other source of nicotine and
`water vapor. It is believed that upon smoking, the
`burning fuel heats the nicotine source material to
`cause the release of nicotine vapor and potentially
`aerosol generating material, including water vapor.
`It is proposed that the vaporized materials are
`mixed with heated air which enters the open end of
`the tube. A substantial disadvantage of this article
`includes the ultimate protrusion of the metal tube
`as the tobacco fuel is consumed. Other apparent
`disadvantages of this proposed smoking article in(cid:173)
`cluded
`the presence of substantial
`tobacco
`pyrolysis products,
`the
`substantial
`tobacco
`sidestream smoke and ash, and
`the possible
`pyrolysis of the nicotine source material in the
`metal tube.
`In U.S. Patent No. 3,356,094, Ellis et al dis(cid:173)
`close a modification of their original design to
`eliminate the protruding metal tube upon use. The
`allegedly improved design employed a tube made
`out of a material, such as certain inorganic salts or
`an epoxy bonded ceramic, which is disclosed as
`becoming frangible upon heating. This frangible
`tube is disclosed as being removable when the
`smoker eliminates ash from the end of the article.
`Even though the appearance of this article is very
`similar to a conventional cigarette, apparently no
`commercial product ever has been marketed.
`In U.S. Patent No. 3,738,374, Bennett proposed
`the use of carbon or graphite fibers, mat, or cloth
`associated with an oxidizing agent as a substitute
`cigarette filler. Flavor is provided by the incor(cid:173)
`poration of a flavor or fragrance into the mouthend
`of an optional filter tip.
`U.S. Patent Nos. 3,943,941 and 4,044,777 to
`Boyd et al and British Patent No. 1,431,045 pro(cid:173)
`posed the use of a fibrous carbon fuel which is
`mixed or impregnated with volatile solids or liquids
`which are capable of distilling or subliming into the
`smoke stream to provide "smoke" to be inhaled
`upon burning of the fuel. Among the enumerated
`smoke producing agents are polyhydric alcohols,
`such as propylene glycol, glycerol, and 1,3-
`butylene glycol, and glyceryl esters, such as
`triacetin. Despite Boyd et al's desire that the vola-
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`NJOY Exhibit 1017.003
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`tile materials distill without chemical change, it is
`believed that the mixture of these materials with
`the fuel would lead to substantial thermal decom(cid:173)
`position of the volatile materials and to bitter off
`tastes. Similar products are proposed in U.S. Pat(cid:173)
`ent No. 4,286,604 to Ehretsmann et al and in U.S.
`Patent No. 4,326,544 to Hardwick et al.
`Bolt et al, in U.S. Patent No. 4,340,072, pro(cid:173)
`posed a smoking article having a fuel rod with a
`central air passageway and a mouthend chamber
`containing an aerosol forming agent. The fuel rod
`preferably is a molding or extrusion of reconstituted
`tobacco and/or tobacco substitute, although the
`patent also proposed the use of tobacco, a mixture
`of tobacco substitute material and carbon, or a
`sodium carboxymethylcellulose (SCMC) and car(cid:173)
`bon mixture. The aerosol forming agent is pro(cid:173)
`posed to be a nicotine source material, or granules
`or microcapsules of a flavorant in triacetin or ben(cid:173)
`zyl benzoate. Upon burning during use of the arti(cid:173)
`cle, air enters the air passage where it is mixed
`with combustion gases from the burning rod. The
`flow of these hot gases reportedly ruptures the
`granules or microcapsules to release the volatile
`material. This material reportedly forms an aerosol
`and/or is transferred into the mainstream aerosol. It
`is believed that the articles of Bolt et al, due in part
`to the long fuel rod, would produce. insufficient
`aerosol from the aerosol former to be acceptable,
`especially in the early puffs. The use of micro(cid:173)
`capsules or granules further would appear to impair
`aerosol delivery because of the heat needed to
`rupture the wall material. However, total aerosol
`delivery would appear dependent on the use of a
`large mass of tobacco or tobacco substitute materi(cid:173)
`als, which would provide substantial pyrolysis pro(cid:173)
`ducts and sidestream smoke. Such attributes would
`not be desirable in such types of smoking articles.
`U.S. Patent No. 3,516,417 to Moses proposed
`a smoking article, with a tobacco fuel, which is
`essentially identical to the article of Bolt et al,
`except that Moses proposed a double density plug
`of tobacco in lieu of the granular or microen(cid:173)
`capsulated flavorant of Bolt et al. (See Figure 4,
`and col. 4 lines 17-35 of the Moses reference.)
`Similar tobacco-based fuel articles are described in
`U.S. Patent No. 4,347,855 to Lanzilotti et al and in
`U.S. Patent No. 4,391,285 to Burnett et al. Eu(cid:173)
`ropean Patent Application 117,355, by Hearn et al,
`described similar smoking articles having a
`pyrolyzed ligno-cellulosic heat source with an axial
`passageway therein. These articles would be ex(cid:173)
`pected to suffer many of the same problems as the
`articles proposed by Bolt et al.
`in U.S. Patent No. 4,474,191, de(cid:173)
`Steiner,
`scribed "smoking devices" containing an air-intake
`channel which, except during the lighting of the
`device, is completely isolated from the combustion
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`chamber by a fire resistant wall. To assist in the
`lighting of the device, Steiner proposed providing a
`means for allowing the brief, temporary passage of
`air between the combustion chamber and the air-
`intake channel. Steiner's heat conductive wall also
`serves as a deposition area for nicotine and other
`tobacco simulating sub(cid:173)
`volatile or sublimable
`stances. In one embodiment (Figs. 9 and 10), the
`Steiner device is provided with a hard, heat trans-
`10 mitting envelope. Materials reported to be useful
`for the envelope include ceramics, graphite, metals,
`etc. In another embodiment, Steiner envisions the
`replacement of the tobacco (or other combustible
`material) fuel source with some purified cellulose-
`based product in an open cell configuration, mixed
`with activated charcoal. This material, when im(cid:173)
`pregnated with an aromatic substance, is stated to
`dispense a smoke-free, tobacco-like aroma.
`None of the foregoing types of smoking articles
`have ever achieved any commercial success, and
`it is believed that none has ever been widely mar(cid:173)
`keted. The absence of such smoking articles from
`the marketplace is believed to be due to a variety
`of reasons, including insufficient aerosol genera-
`tion, both initially and over the life of the product,
`poor taste, off-taste due to the thermal degradation
`of the smoke former and/or flavor agents, the pres(cid:173)
`ence of substantial pyrolysis products and
`sidestream smoke, and unsightly appearance.
`More recently, Sensabaugh et al, in European
`Patent Application 174,645, described smoking arti(cid:173)
`cles having fuel elements, preferably carbonaceous
`fuel elements, normally in a conductive heat ex(cid:173)
`change relationship with a substrate bearing an
`aerosol forming material. Such smoking articles are
`believed to be capable of providing the benefits
`and advantages associated with conventional ciga(cid:173)
`rette smoking, without delivering considerable
`quantities of incomplete combustion and pyrolysis
`products, and without the many drawbacks asso(cid:173)
`ciated with the previously mentioned smoking arti(cid:173)
`cles. However, in the embodiments described by
`Sensabaugh et al, such as Figure 3 in European
`Patent Application 174,645, air contacting the fuel
`element and combustion gases produced from the
`burning fuel element are normally drawn through
`the article and delivered to the user.
`There does not appear to be known a smoking
`article capable of providing the benefits and advan-
`tages associated with conventional cigarette smok(cid:173)
`ing, without delivering considerable quantities of
`incomplete combustion and pyrolysis products,
`such as is proposed in the aforementioned Sen(cid:173)
`sabaugh European Patent Application, but wherein
`the air employed in aerosol formation is precluded
`from directly contacting with the fuel element.
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`NJOY Exhibit 1017.004
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`mouthend of the article, as is done in puffing a
`conventional cigarette, air enters the periphery of
`the article, is heated as it passes by, through or
`near a heat conducting member, and passes
`through the aerosol generating means where the
`aerosol forming substances are volatilized. The
`heated air and the volatile aerosol forming materi(cid:173)
`als then are drawn into the mouth of the user, akin
`to the smoke of a conventional cigarette.
`Advantageously, a heat conductive container
`contains or encloses a substrate or carrier bearing
`one or more aerosol forming substances. Prefer(cid:173)
`ably, the heat conductive container is manufactured
`from a metal or ceramic conductor; and the sub-
`strata or carrier is a heat stable material in a
`conductive heat exchange relationship with the heat
`source. Preferably, the heat conductive container is
`closed or sealed at its fuel element end and con(cid:173)
`tacts the heat source or is embedded in the heat
`source to efficiently conduct or transfer heat gen(cid:173)
`erated by the heat source to the aerosol forming
`substance(s).
`The heat source preferably is a fuel element
`such as a carbonaceous fuel element molded or
`extruded from a combustible carbonaceous ma(cid:173)
`terial. The fuel element may contain binders and
`burn additives to improve the lightability thereof.
`fuel elements produce
`Preferred carbonaceous
`minimal pyrolysis or incomplete combustion pro-
`ducts, little or no visible sidestream smoke, and
`minimal ash. Advantageously, the fuel element is
`about 5 mm to about 30 mm in length. Preferred
`carbonaceous fuel elements also have high heat
`capacities. Preferably, the heat conductive con-
`tainer is positioned very near or slightly beyond the
`extreme lighting end of the fuel element.
`The fuel element preferably extends from one
`extreme end of the article (eg., the lighting end)
`along a longitudinal portion of the heat conductive
`container. Preferably, the fuel element is provided
`with a central cavity or passage into which the
`conductive container fits. Such a configuration per(cid:173)
`mits the heat conductive container to be in contact
`with, close to, or adjacent to the fuel element to
`provide a heat conductive relationship between the
`fuel element and the heat conductive container
`during use of the article. Thus, heat transfer to the
`conductive container and the resultant production
`of aerosol is maximized. Because the aerosol for-
`so ming substance is physically separate from the fuel
`element, such substance is exposed to lower tem(cid:173)
`peratures than are present in the heat generating
`(eg., burning) fuel element, thereby reducing the
`possibility of thermal degradation of the aerosol
`forming substance.
`The heat conductive container preferably is in
`the form of a housing including (i) an outer mem(cid:173)
`ber in the form of a cartridge extending lengthwise
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates to a smoking
`article which is capable of producing substantial
`quantities of aerosol, both initially and over the
`useful life of the product, preferably without signifi(cid:173)
`cant thermal degradation of the aerosol forming
`material, and without the presence of substantial
`. combustion products or sidestream smoke. Pre(cid:173)
`ferred articles of the present invention are capable
`of providing the user with the sensations and bene(cid:173)
`fits of cigarette smoking without the necessity of
`burning tobacco. The articles of this invention mini(cid:173)
`mize or even prevent combustion gases from en(cid:173)
`tering the mouth of the user during draw.
`to a cigarette-type
`relates
`invention
`This
`aerosol delivery article having a heat source, a
`physically separate aerosol generating means in(cid:173)
`cluding at least one aerosol forming substance, and
`a means for the introduction of peripheral air for
`aerosol generation. In addition, a barrier means
`normally is provided and is physically separate
`from, as well as adjacent to, the heat source and
`the aerosol generating means. The barrier means
`substantially precludes the combustion gases from
`passing directly through the article, and the gases
`employed in aerosol formation from contacting the
`heat source.
`More particularly, this invention relates to a
`cigarette-type aerosol delivery article normally hav(cid:173)
`ing an outer member with a means for introducing
`peripheral air, a heat source, and an aerosol gen(cid:173)
`erating means contained within and physically sep(cid:173)
`arate from the outer member. The aerosol forming
`the heat
`substance is physically separate from
`source; and at least a portion of the aerosol gen(cid:173)
`erating means normally is positioned in a conduc(cid:173)
`the heat
`tive heat exchange relationship with
`source. Normally, the aerosol generating means is
`contained within a heat conductive container. Typi(cid:173)
`cally, the article also includes a mouthend piece.
`In a preferred aspect, the article is arranged to
`substantially preclude contact between the air used
`for aerosol generation and the heat source, while
`the air is within the article. For example, a barrier
`means can be positioned adjacent to the heat
`source, while the outer member, aerosol generating
`means and barrier means can be arranged to sub(cid:173)
`stantially preclude the passage of gases from the
`heat source directly through the article (i.e., within
`the
`into contact with
`the outer member) and
`aerosol forming substance(s).
`In operation, the user initiates (eg., lights) the
`heat source which thereby generates heat. The
`heat is conducted or otherwise transferred to the
`aerosol generating means and acts to volatilize the
`aerosol forming substance(s) of the aerosol gen(cid:173)
`erating means. When the user draws upon the
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`within the article having a closed end in contact
`with the fuel element and an opening spaced from
`the fuel element to allow air to enter; and (ii) a heat
`conductive inner container, chamber or tube-like
`member at least partially within the cartridge being
`in contact with the outer cartridge, and having at
`least a portion of the outer cartridge to form at
`least one air passageway therebetween. The inner
`container forms at least one air passageway. Pref(cid:173)
`erably, the draw induced airflow entering through
`perforations in the outer member of the article
`enters the heat conductive container through the
`open end of the cartridge. The air drawn into the
`cartridge is directed so as to come into contact
`with the aerosol forming substance(s) carried within
`the inner container or within a nonconductive tube
`in registry with the inner container, and is then
`directed to the mouth of the user through an open
`end of the inner container or nonconductive tube.
`Flow of peripheral air through the heat conductive
`housing can be assured by providing barrier means
`between the fuel element and the aerosol generat(cid:173)
`ing means; as well as in a region between the
`peripheral air openings and the mouthend of the
`article. Such seals between the fuel element and
`the aerosol forming substances minimize the pos(cid:173)
`sibility that air drawn through the peripheral per(cid:173)
`forations in the outer member will come into con(cid:173)
`tact with the fuel element. Air seals positioned near
`the mouthend of the heat conductive container,
`the
`the peripheral air openings and
`between
`mouthend of the article, assure that the required
`amount of drawn air passes through the aerosol
`generating means and not directly into the mouth
`of the user.
`Alternatively, the heat conductive container in
`the form of a cartridge includes a closed end in the
`region thereof surrounded by the fuel element; and
`an open end spaced from the fuel element in the
`region thereof towards the mouthend of the article.
`The aerosol forming substance(s) are carried by a
`substrate or carrier which is positioned within the
`cartridge. The substrate or carrier is in a heat
`exchange relationship with the fuel element. Prefer(cid:173)
`ably, the draw induced airflow entering through a
`perforation in the peripheral portion of the outer
`member of the article enters the heat conductive
`container through a passageway provided by a
`tube-like member which extends from the perfora(cid:173)
`the cartridge. Flow of peripheral air
`into
`tion
`through the heat conductive container can be as(cid:173)
`sured by providing an air seal between the fuel
`element and the aerosol generating means in order
`to minimize the possibility that air drawn there(cid:173)
`within will come into contact the fuel element.
`In another embodiment, the heat conductive
`container in the form of a cartridge includes a
`closed end embedded in the fuel element; and an
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`open end near the mouthend of the article. The
`aerosol forming substance(s) are carried by a sub(cid:173)
`strate or carrier positioned within the cartridge,
`which is in a heat exchange relationship with the
`induced airflow
`fuel element. Preferably, draw
`through perforations in the peripheral portion of the
`outer member (eg., through an air permeable outer
`the heat conductive container
`member) enters
`through peripheral perforations therein. Airflow into
`the heat conductive container can be assured by
`providing air seals positioned adjacent to the fuel
`element; as well as near the mouthend of the heat
`conductive container.
`The article of this invention normally is pro-
`vided with a mouthend piece which extends behind
`the open or delivery end of the heat conductive
`the aerosol delivery means. The
`container of
`mouthend piece can be provided by a unitary
`extension of the outer member thereby providing a
`built-in mouthend piece. Alternatively, the heat
`source, outer member and aerosol generating
`means can be provided· as a disposable cartridge
`without a built-in mouthend piece, for use with a
`separate mouthend piece. In such an embodiment,
`the
`the outer member and
`a seal between
`mouthend piece provided by a circumscribing wrap
`such as tape, can assure that the air passes into
`the article through the perforations, as required. In
`other embodiments, the separate mouthend piece
`can be disposable or reusable.
`If desired, an insulating member (eg., an in(cid:173)
`sulating jacket) can circumscribe at least a portion
`of the heat source and/or the heat conductive con(cid:173)
`tainer in order to reduce radial heat loss. Prefer-
`ably, an insulating member is positioned between
`the heat conductive container and the physically
`separate outer member.
`Preferred embodiments of the invention are
`capable of delivering at least 0.6 mg of aerosol,
`40 measured as wet total particulate matter (WTPM),
`in the first 3 puffs, when smoked under FTC smok(cid:173)
`ing conditions. (FTC smoking conditions consist of
`two seconds of puffing (35 ml total volume) sepa(cid:173)
`rated by 58 seconds of smolder.) More preferred
`embodiments of the invention are capable of de(cid:173)
`livering 1.5 mg or more of aerosol in the first 3
`puffs. Most preferably, embodiments of the inven(cid:173)
`tion are capable of delivering 3 mg or more of
`aerosol in the first 3 puffs when smoked under FTC
`smoking conditions. Moreover, preferred embodi(cid:173)
`ments of the invention deliver an average of at
`least about 0.8 mg of wet total particulate matter
`per puff for at least about 6 puffs, preferably for at
`least about 10 puffs, under FTC smoking con-
`ditions.
`The aerosol delivery article of the present in(cid:173)
`vention also is capable of providing an aerosol
`which is chemically simple, consisting essentially
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`of air, the aerosol former, and any desired flavor(cid:173)
`ants or other desired volatile materials. This aerosol
`preferably has no significant mutagenic activity ac(cid:173)
`cording to the Ames test, Ames et al, Mut. Res.,
`31:347-364 (1975); Nagals et al, Mut. ~ . 42:335
`(1977). The preferred articles of this invention,
`when used, deliver very low levels of carbon mon(cid:173)
`oxide, preferably less than about 2 mg total CO
`delivery over the life of the article, more preferably
`less than about 1 mg total CO delivery, most
`preferably essentially no total CO delivery.
`As used herein, and only for the purposes of
`this application, "aerosol" is defined to include
`vapors, gases, particles, and the like, both visible
`invisible, and especially those components
`and
`perceived by the user to be "smoke-like," gen(cid:173)
`erated by action of the heat from the heat source
`(eg., the burning fuel element) upon substances
`contained within the aerosol generating means, or
`elsewhere in the article. As so defined, the term
`"aerosol" also includes volatile flavoring agents
`and/or pharmacologically or physiologically active
`agents, irrespective of whether they produce a visi(cid:173)
`ble aerosol.
`As used herein, the term "conductive heat ex(cid:173)
`change relationship" is defined as a physical ar(cid:173)
`rangement of the aerosol generating means and
`the heat source whereby heat is transferred by
`conduction from the heat generating heat source
`(eg., burning fuel element) to the aerosol generat(cid:173)
`ing means substantially throughout the heat gen(cid:173)
`erating period of the heat source. Conductive heat
`exchange relationships can be achieved by locating
`the aerosol generating means in contact with the
`heat source and in close proximity to the heat
`generating (eg., burning) portion of the heat source.
`"carbonaceous"
`term
`the
`As used herein,
`means primarily comprising carbon.
`As used herein, the term "insulating member"
`applies to all materials which act primarily as in(cid:173)
`sulators. Preferably, these materials do not burn
`during use. Insulators also can be slow burning
`carbon materials, and the like; and materials which
`fuse during use, such as low temperature grades of
`glass fibers. Suitable insulators have a thermal
`conductivity in g-cal/(sec) (cm2) (°C/cm), of less
`than about 0.05, preferably less than about 0.02,
`most preferably less than 0.005. See, Hackh's
`(4th ed., 1969) and
`Chemical Dictionary, 34
`Lange's Handbook of Chemistry, 10, 272-274 (11th
`ed., 1973).
`The article of this invention is described in
`greater detail in the accompanying drawings and
`detailed description of the invention which follow.
`
`--
`--
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`Figures 1 through 8 are longitudinal sectional
`views of various embodiments of the invention;
`Figure 1 A is a sectional view of the embodi-
`ment of Figure 1, taken along lines 1-1 in Figure 1;
`Figure SA is a perspective of a portion of the
`embodiment of Figure 5 showing the crown-like
`heat conductive member and a portion of heat
`conductive cartridge;
`Figure 58 is a sectional view of the embodi(cid:173)
`ment of Figure 5, taken along lines 5-5 in Figure 5;
`and
`
`5
`
`10
`
`Figure 6A is a sectional view of the embodi-
`15 ment of Figure 6, taken along lines 6-6 in Figure 6.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF I!:i§. PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
`
`20
`
`25
`
`The embodiments of this invention shown in
`Figures 1 through 8 each show an elongated, rod(cid:173)
`shaped, cigarette-type aerosol delivery article 1 O.
`For example, the embodiments each include an
`outer member 14 having an elongated or generally
`tubular shape, a heat source in the form of a
`combustible fuel element 18, and substrate 22
`which carries an aerosol forming substance or sub(cid:173)
`stances. The outer member 14 also forms the
`30 mouthend portion 24 of the article 10 (as shown in
`Figures 1 and 8) thereby forming an outer con(cid:173)
`tainer. Alternatively, the mouthend portion 24 can
`be a separate piece (as shown in Figures 2 through
`7).
`
`As shown in Figures 1 through 6, the aerosol
`forming substance is in a conductive heat ex(cid:173)
`change relationship with the fuel element 18 as a
`result of the heat conductive housing 26 which is in
`contact with the fuel element, and carries the sub-
`strata 22 which in tum carries the aerosol forming
`in Figures 7 and 8, the
`substance. As shown
`aerosol forming substance is contained within an
`essentially nonconductive tube shaped member 27.
`The nonconductive tube 27 is positioned such that
`one end is directed towards the mouthend of the
`article 10, while the other end is in registry with the
`heat conductive housing 26.
`The article 10 also includes at least one periph(cid:173)
`eral perforation 28 such as in the outer member 14
`for providing a source of air within the heat conduc(cid:173)
`tive housing 26. Peripheral perforations are posi(cid:173)
`tioned such that drawn air enters the article through
`a region along the length of the article and not
`through the ends of the article.
`Referring to Figures 1 and 2. the fuel element
`18 preferably has a length of about 5 mm to about
`30 mm, and the heat conductive housing 26 has
`two parts or portions. The first portion of the hous-
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`5a
`
`55
`
`6
`
`NJOY Exhibit 1017.007
`
`

`

`11
`
`0 277 519
`
`12
`
`ing 26 is an elongated cartridge 32 having a closed
`end 33 extending into and in contact with the fuel
`element to provide for conductive heat transfer,
`and an open end 34 to allow airflow to enter. The
`second portion of the housing 26 is a tube shaped
`member 36 which extends into the elongated car(cid:173)
`tridge 32. contains the substrate 22, provides a
`region for the formation and/or transfer of aerosol
`to the mouthend 24 of the article, and has an open
`end 37 in order to deliver aerosol to the user.
`Normally. the tube shaped member 36 is in contact
`with the cartridge 32, as shown in Figure 1 A, in
`order that the tube shaped member is in a conduc(cid:173)
`tive heat exchange relationship with the fuel ele(cid:173)
`ment 18.
`Typically, the outer diameter of the elongated
`cartridge 32 ranges from about 2 mm to about 8
`mm; while the length thereof ranges from about 10
`mm to about 80 mm. The outer diameter of the
`tube 36 is less than the inner diameter of the
`elongated cartridge and ranges from about 1 mm
`to about 7 mm; while the length thereof ranges
`from about 10 mm to about 85 mm. Preferably, the
`tube 36 extends into the elongated cartridge 32 to
`a distance of up to about 95 percent of the length
`of the cartridge.
`Preferably, the closed end 33 of the cartridge
`32 is surrounded by the fuel element or extends a
`substantial distance into the fuel element (eg., from
`about 10 percent to about 100 percent of the
`length of the fuel element) in order that the car(cid:173)
`tridge can be quickly heated by the fuel source,
`especially when the fuel element is initially lit and
`during the first few puffs. As shown in Figures 1
`and 2, cartridge 32 has a portion thereof extending
`as a flattened heat receiving element or