WO2025155070A1 - Smoking article comprising lyocell tow - Google Patents

Abstract

A smoking article comprising a lyocell tow that includes a plurality of lyocell fibers is provided. The smoking article comprises: a medium portion; a cooling structure spaced apart from one side of the medium portion; and a support structure disposed between the medium portion and the cooling structure, wherein the cooling structure includes a lyocell tow that includes a plurality of lyocell fibers.

Description

Smoking articles containing lyocell tow

The present invention relates to a smoking article which applies lyocell tow to a cooling structure of the smoking article, thereby preventing the cooling structure from melting due to a high temperature applied to heat the smoking article, thereby providing a user with an improved smoking experience.

In smoking products, the transfer of tobacco components (e.g., nicotine, tar) and the generation of vapor (vapor) have a significant impact on the user's smoking experience. In general, smoking products operate by heating a stick to a high temperature of about 150 to 300°C using a device, and the heated heat is transferred to a medium portion, so that nicotine and other tobacco components are smoothly transferred as the temperature of the medium portion rises. In this process, substances such as glycerin are heated to generate vapor, and the tobacco components contained in the vapor are transferred so that the user can inhale them. However, if the device is set to a temperature below the boiling point of glycerin, a problem occurs in which vaporization does not occur smoothly and the transfer of tobacco components is limited.

To solve this problem, a cooling unit has been installed in smoking articles in the past to reduce discomfort caused by hot smoke when the user inhales.

The conventionally used cooling unit has a structure in which a perforation is formed in the paper tube to introduce cold air from the outside, thereby reducing the temperature of the smoke. However, this conventional technology has several limitations. For example, the process of introducing air through the perforation in the design of the cooling unit can result in excessive dilution of the tobacco components. This reduces the concentration of the tar and nicotine components delivered, resulting in a problem in which the flavor and smoking sensation expected by the user are not sufficiently provided.

In addition, when cellulose acetate (hereinafter abbreviated as “CA”) tow is used in the cooling section used in the past, the CA tow melts or deforms at a temperature of about 70℃ or higher and then solidifies again, which causes problems such as this phenomenon interfering with the smooth transfer of smoke or generating a negative odor and preventing the cooling function from being properly performed.

Therefore, in order to improve the performance of smoking articles, a material that can withstand a heating temperature of about 200 to 300℃ is required so that the tobacco components can be smoothly atomized and transferred. Such a material should be able to effectively cool or reduce the temperature of smoke without melting or deforming at high temperatures, thereby improving the user's smoking sensation. In addition, a material that can minimize dilution of tobacco components during the cooling process and deliver sufficient tar and nicotine components when inhaled is required.

The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a smoking article including a medium portion, a support structure, a cooling structure, and a mouthpiece portion, wherein the cooling structure is formed of lyocell tow composed of a plurality of lyocell fibers, thereby preventing or minimizing deformation of the cooling structure due to heat transferred from a heater that heats the smoking article or an aerosol generated within the smoking article due to the excellent heat resistance of the lyocell tow.

Another problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a smoking article including a medium portion, a support structure, a cooling structure, and a mouthpiece portion, wherein the cooling structure is formed of lyocell tow made of a plurality of lyocell fibers, thereby effectively reducing the amount of moisture transferred during smoking 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.

Another problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a smoking article including a cooling structure, a medium part, a support structure, and a mouthpiece part, which includes lyocell tow made of a plurality of lyocell fibers and a binder, wherein the smoking article can stably maintain its shape despite the cooling structure being a tubular structure made of lyocell tow by imparting appropriate hardness to the lyocell tow through the binder.

The technical problems of the present invention are not limited to the technical problems mentioned above, and other technical problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention belongs from the description below.

According to one aspect of the present application for solving the above problem, a smoking article comprises a medium portion, a cooling structure 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 comprises lyocell tow including a plurality of lyocell fibers.

In some embodiments, the lyocell tow of the cooling structure may have a tube shape with a hollow cavity formed therein.

In some embodiments, the cooling structure may further comprise at least one binder dispersed in the lyocell tow.

In some embodiments, the binder may include at least one of a cellulosic binder, a vinyl binder, a polyester binder, a dextrin binder, and a starch binder.

In some embodiments, the binder may comprise at least one dextrin-based binder.

In some embodiments, the inner diameter of the cooling structure may be 10% to 90% of the outer diameter of the cooling structure.

In some embodiments, the outer diameter of the cooling structure may be from 6 mm to 10 mm.

In some embodiments, the inner diameter of the cooling structure can be from 2 mm to 6 mm, and the inner diameter of the cooling structure is smaller than the outer diameter.

In some embodiments, the outer diameter of the cooling structure can be from 6 mm to 10 mm, and the inner diameter of the cooling structure can be from 2 mm to 6 mm. The inner diameter of the cooling structure is smaller than the outer diameter.

In some embodiments, the inner diameter of the cooling structure can be 10% to 90% of the outer diameter of the cooling structure, the outer diameter of the cooling structure can be 6 mm to 10 mm, and the inner diameter of the cooling structure can be 2 mm to 6 mm.

In some embodiments, one end of the support structure may be in contact with the cooling structure.

In some embodiments, the other end located on the opposite side of the one side of the support structure may be in contact with the medium portion.

In some embodiments, the cooling structure may have a tube shape with a hollow space formed therein.

In some embodiments, the cooling structure has a tube shape with a hollow space formed inside, and the hollow space of the cooling structure and the hollow space of the support structure can be communicated with each other.

In some embodiments, the support structure has one end located on the one side of the support structure in contact with the cooling structure, and the other end located on the other side opposite the one side in contact with the medium, and the support structure has a tube shape with a hollow space formed therein, and the hollow space of the cooling structure and the hollow space of the support structure can be communicated.

In some embodiments, the support structure may include at least one of cellulose acetate, lyocell, and a tube.

In some embodiments, the cooling structure may further include a mouthpiece disposed on one side of the cooling structure.

In some embodiments, the cooling structure may further include a wrapper surrounding at least a portion of the cooling structure, optionally the wrapper may include a plurality of perforations arranged along a perimeter of the cooling structure.

In some embodiments, the length of the support structure may be shorter than or equal to the length of the cooling structure.

In another aspect of the present application, a system comprising the smoking article described above and an aerosol generating device applying the same is provided.

In another aspect of the present application, a method of manufacturing the smoking article described above is provided.

According to a smoking article according to one embodiment, by configuring the cooling structure with lyocell tow made of a plurality of lyocell fibers, the excellent heat resistance of the lyocell tow effectively prevents or minimizes deformation of the cooling structure due to heat transferred from a heater that heats the smoking article or an aerosol generated within the smoking article.

In addition, according to a smoking article according to one embodiment, by configuring the cooling structure with lyocell tow made of a plurality of lyocell fibers, the amount of moisture transferred during smoking is effectively reduced due to the excellent moisture affinity characteristics of lyocell tow compared to cellulose acetate tow, thereby reducing the heat felt by the user and maximizing the cooling effect.

In addition, according to a smoking article according to one embodiment, by manufacturing a cooling structure including lyocell tow made of a plurality of lyocell fibers and a binder, it is possible to provide appropriate hardness to the lyocell tow through the binder. Through this, the cooling structure can have the effect of stably maintaining its shape even though it is a tubular structure made of lyocell tow, and due to the stable maintenance of the shape of the cooling structure, it is possible to prevent or minimize the deterioration of the quality of the smoking experience due to deformation of the cooling structure during storage or smoking of the smoking article.

In addition, according to a smoking article according to one embodiment, the quality of the user's smoking experience can be improved by configuring the cooling structure not with paper that may generate an unpleasant odor when heated, but with lyocell tow.

The effects according to the technical idea of the present disclosure are not limited to the effects mentioned above, and other effects not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description below.

FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing of a smoking article according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic drawing of a smoking article according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a photograph of the cooling structure of Example 1 and the cooling structure of Comparative Example 2. FIG. 3(a) is a photograph of the cooling structure of Comparative Example 1 and Example 1 before the experiment (before smoking), and FIG. 3(b) is a photograph of the cooling structure of Comparative Example 1 and Example 1 after the experiment (after smoking).

Figures 4 to 6 illustrate various types of aerosol generating devices to which smoking articles according to some embodiments of the present disclosure may be applied.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The advantages and features of the present disclosure and the methods for achieving them will become apparent with reference to the embodiments described in detail below together with the accompanying drawings. However, the technical idea of the present disclosure is not limited to the following embodiments but may be implemented in various different forms, and the following embodiments are provided only to make the technical idea of the present disclosure complete and to fully inform a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure belongs of the scope of the present disclosure, and the technical idea of the present disclosure is defined only by the scope of the claims.

When adding reference signs to components of each drawing, it should be noted that the same components are given the same signs as much as possible even if they are shown on different drawings. In addition, when describing the present disclosure, if it is determined that a specific description of a related known configuration or function may obscure the gist of the present disclosure, the detailed description is omitted.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used in this specification can be used in the meaning that can be commonly understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. In addition, terms defined in commonly used dictionaries are not to be ideally or excessively interpreted unless explicitly specifically defined. The terminology used in this specification is for the purpose of describing embodiments and is not intended to limit this disclosure. In this specification, the singular also includes the plural unless specifically stated in the phrase.

Also, in describing components of the present disclosure, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), (b), etc. may be used. These terms are only intended to distinguish the components from other components, and the nature, order, or sequence of the components are not limited by the terms. When it is described that a component is "connected," "coupled," or "connected" to another component, it should be understood that the component may be directly connected or connected to the other component, but another component may also be "connected," "coupled," or "connected" between each component.

As used herein, the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising” do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other components, steps, operations and/or elements.

First, let us clarify some terms used in this specification.

As used herein, a "smoking article" may mean any smokeable product or any product capable of providing a smoking experience, whether based on tobacco, a tobacco derivative, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco or a tobacco substitute. For example, smoking articles may include smokeable products such as cigarettes, cigars and cigarillos.

In this specification, “smoking material” may mean any type of material that can be used in a smoking article.

In this specification, the term “user” may be used interchangeably with “consumer.”

In this specification, “upstream” or “upstream direction” may mean a direction away from the smoker’s mouth, and “downstream” or “downstream direction” may mean a direction approaching the smoker’s mouth.

In this specification, “longitudinal direction” may mean a direction corresponding to the longitudinal axis of the smoking article.

The “longitudinal axis” of a smoking article may mean an imaginary line extending 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).

As used herein, “lyocell filter” refers to a filter comprising or consisting of lyocell tow.

As used herein, “Lyocell tow” means a bundle comprising or consisting of a plurality of Lyocell fibers. In some embodiments, Lyocell tow may mean a bundle formed by cross-linking adjacent Lyocell fibers.

In this specification, “Lyocell fiber” may mean a fiber made from lyocell cellulose. In particular, the lyocell fiber may be a fiber made from cellulose derived from or mainly derived from wood pulp, particularly a semi-synthetic fiber.

In this specification, “leaflet” may mean reconstituted tobacco leaves.

As used herein, the term “reconstituted tobacco leaf” or “reconstituted tobacco sheet” may mean a sheet made by combining tobacco by-products selected from the group consisting of stems, dust, particulates and combinations thereof with a binder. In some embodiments, the reconstituted tobacco leaf is homogenized tobacco leaf.

In this specification, the term “non-circular cross-section” is defined as a cross-section whose shape is not circular but includes a plurality of protrusions. For example, a cross-section having a shape in which a plurality of protrusions branch and/or extend from the center and/or the center of the cross-section may be referred to as a non-circular cross-section. Here, “protrusion” may mean a distinct and extended segment or arm extending outward from the central core or bonding point of the Lyocell fiber cross-section.

In some embodiments, the lyocell fibers may have a Y-shaped cross-section having three protrusions branching and/or extending from the center and/or the center of the cross-section, a cruciform cross-section having four protrusions, and/or a star-shaped cross-section having five or more protrusions, but are not limited thereto, or may have an O-shaped cross-section.

In some embodiments, the lyocell fibers may include three or more protrusions branching and/or extending from the center and/or the center of the cross-section.

In some embodiments, the lyocell fibers included in the lyocell tow may have a Y-shaped cross-section for use in cigarette filters.

In this specification, “hollow” may mean a channel extending along the longitudinal direction.

In this specification, "consisting of" an element may mean including or consisting of that element.

In this specification, a “recess filter” as a filter may refer to a filter including one or more pores.

In this specification, “wrapping” of a smoking article by a wrapper may refer to the wrapping of at least a portion of the periphery surface of the longitudinal axis of each part and/or structure of the smoking article by the wrapper.

In this specification, the hardness of the cooling structure is a value that quantifies the degree to which the diameter of the cooling structure is maintained when the cooling structure is pressed with a certain level of force in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the structure, and may be the percentage of the diameter of the cooling structure after the force is applied compared to the diameter of the cooling structure before the force is applied. For example, the hardness (%) of the cooling structure can be calculated as (Da)/D × 100%. Here, D is the diameter of the cooling structure, and a represents the distance lowered by a 300 g weight (i.e., the cooling structure is pressed). The measurement value necessary for calculating the hardness can be obtained using, for example, DHT 200 ^TM of Filtrona. In measuring the hardness, the force applied to the cooling structure can be considered to be a value equivalent to the force applied when an actual user holds a smoking article.

A filter of a smoking article according to one aspect of the present invention can capture at least a portion of a smoke component generated when the smoking article is smoked. In some embodiments, the filter of the smoking article can capture particulate matter (Total Particulate Matter (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 component generated when the smoking article is smoked.

In this specification, “aspiration resistance” means the static pressure difference between two ends of a sample when an airflow passes through the sample. In this specification, “PDC” means a value of aspiration resistance measured when the medium portion is open, the perforations of the filter portion are blocked, and the inflow of outside air is blocked, and “PDO” means a value of aspiration resistance measured when 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 aspiration resistance can be measured using the method specified in ISO standard 6565:2015. According to ISO standard 6565:2015, the aspiration resistance can mean the static pressure difference between two ends of a sample when it passes through an airflow under normal conditions (22±2℃, 60±5% relative humidity) with a volume flow rate of 17.5 mm/s at the discharge end.

In this specification, organic acid is a general term for organic compounds that are acidic.

In some embodiments, room temperature may mean 20 ° C. to 25 ° C.

In this specification, if no separate physical quantity is indicated, component % and component ratio mean weight % of component and weight ratio of component, respectively.

As used herein, “puff” means the act of inhaling or drawing air through a smoking article to produce and inhale smoke or vapor. “Puff count” may mean the total number of inhalations or draws during use of the smoking article. Alternatively, or in addition, the puff count may represent the maximum number of inhalations or draws that the smoking article can provide before being completely consumed or ceasing to function.

In this specification, the HC (Health Canada) conditions may be conditions in which the puff volume per puff is 55 ml, the puff frequency is every 30 seconds, and the puff duration is 2 seconds. In particular, the HC conditions may be a state in which the perforation portion of the filter is blocked. The number of puffs measured under the HC conditions may be a condition in which 9 puffs are taken.

In this 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 volumetric flow rate (e.g., ml/s) of air entering the smoking article without burning or heating through the front area, i.e., the longitudinal upstream end, of the smoking article to the total volumetric flow rate (e.g., ml/s) of air at the outlet, i.e., the longitudinal downstream end, of the smoking article. For example, the air dilution rate may be measured according to ISO 9512:2019. For example, the total volumetric flow rate of air entering the smoking article without burning or heating through the front area of the smoking article may be the total volumetric flow rate of air entering in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the smoking article. For example, the total volumetric flow rate of air entering the smoking article without burning or heating through the front area of the smoking article may be the total volumetric flow rate of air entering the smoking article through the wrapper.

The content of components in the total particulate matter (TPM) of the captured smoke can be analyzed by GC/MS (gas chromatography-mass spectrometry). For example, in the case of tar or nicotine, the Cambridge filter (Cambridge Felter Pad (CFP)) containing the smoke components is immersed in IPA (Isopropyl Alcohol) for a predetermined time (for example, 20 minutes to 16 hours), and in the case of PG and Gly, the Cambridge filter (Cambridge Felter Pad (CFP)) containing the smoke components is immersed in methanol for a predetermined time (for example, 2 hours to 16 hours), treated with a shaker device, and passed through a PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene) syringe filter to remove impurities, and then the content of components included in the total particulate matter (TPM) of the captured smoke can be measured using GC/MS equipment. The soaking time may be 20 minutes or more, particularly for tar or nicotine, and 2 hours or more for PG and Gly.

The above GC/MS may be, for example, a measuring device from Agilent.

Hereinafter, various embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

FIG. 1 is a drawing schematically illustrating a smoking article according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a drawing schematically illustrating a smoking article according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a smoking article (100) may include a medium portion (110), a support structure (120), and a cooling structure (130). According to an embodiment, the smoking article (100) may further include at least one of a mouthpiece portion (140) and a wrapper (150). In particular, the smoking article (100) may include a medium portion (110), a cooling structure (130) disposed at one side of the medium portion (110) and spaced apart from the medium portion (110), and a support structure (120) disposed between the medium portion (110) and the cooling structure (130). The cooling structure (130) may be disposed spaced apart from one end of the medium portion (110) along the longitudinal direction of the medium portion (110). In addition, 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). 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). In addition, the smoking article (100) may further include a wrapper (150) that wraps at least a portion of the medium portion (110), the support structure (120), the cooling structure (130), and the mouthpiece portion (140).

The medium portion (110) may include an aerosol-forming substrate. The medium portion (110) may generate an aerosol when heated by including the aerosol-forming substrate. The length of the medium portion (110) may be about 10 mm to 14 mm (e.g., 12 mm), but is not limited thereto. The medium portion (110) may be inserted into an aerosol generating device and may generate an aerosol when heated, and the generated aerosol (e.g., mainstream smoke) may be inhaled through the user's mouth.

In some embodiments, the aerosol-forming substrate may comprise tobacco material, although the processed form of the tobacco material may vary. For example, the aerosol-forming substrate may comprise a reconstituted tobacco sheet, such as a sheet of leaf tobacco. In some embodiments, the aerosol-forming substrate may comprise a sheet of leaf tobacco. In some embodiments, the aerosol-forming substrate may comprise a plurality of tobacco strands (or slivers) formed from shredded reconstituted tobacco sheets. For example, the substrate (110) may be filled with a plurality of tobacco strands arranged in the same direction (e.g., parallel) and/or randomly. Still further, in some embodiments, the aerosol-forming substrate may comprise leaf tobacco slivers.

In some embodiments, the aerosol-forming substrate may comprise a reconstituted tobacco sheet and/or a leaf tobacco sheet.

In some embodiments, the aerosol forming substrate or medium portion (110) may include at least one humectant. The humectant may include, but is not limited to, glycerin and/or propylene glycol.

In some embodiments, the aerosol-forming substrate or medium portion (110) may contain at least one flavoring agent (or, as may be referred to, a "flavoring agent") and/or other additives, such as an organic acid. For example, the flavoring agent may include, but is not limited to, licorice, sucrose, fructose syrup, an artificial sweetener (e.g., Isosweet ^TM ), 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, cinnamon, ylang ylang, sage, spearmint, ginger, coriander, and/or coffee.

The support structure (120) is positioned downstream (on one side) of the medium portion (110), and the upstream side of the support structure (120) may be in 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 an aerosol generating device is inserted/inserted into the medium portion (110) and aligned to the outside of the medium portion (110), the support structure (120) may perform a function of preventing 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).

In some embodiments, the support structure (120) includes a tubular structure having a hollow (120H) formed therein, and the hollow (120H) can function as a channel for the aerosol (i.e., through which the aerosol moves). The hollow (120H) can 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 can extend along the longitudinal direction of the support structure (120). The hollow (120H) and the support structure (120) can be designed to have a coaxial structure. The length of the support structure (120) can be about 8 mm to 12 mm (e.g., 10 mm), but is not limited thereto. In some embodiments, the length of the support structure (120) can be shorter than or equal to a length of the cooling structure (130) described below, but is not limited thereto.

The upstream end of the tubular structure included in the support structure (120) can be in contact with the downstream 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) can be in contact with an end located on the other side (upstream) opposite to one side of the cooling structure (130), and the other end located on the other side (upstream) of the support structure (120) can be in contact with one end of the medium portion (110). Accordingly, the aerosol formed in the medium portion (110) can be moved toward the mouthpiece portion (140) (i.e., in the downstream direction) through the hollow portion (120H, 130H).

The support structure (120) may include at least one of cellulose acetate, lyocell, and a tube. In particular, the support structure (120) may include a tubular structure made of cellulose acetate material or a tubular structure made of lyocell material including a plurality of lyocell fibers. In other words, the support structure (120) may be a tube filter made of cellulose acetate fibers or a tube filter made of lyocell fibers. The support structure (120) can effectively prevent the medium portion (110) from moving in a downstream direction in a situation where a heating element is inserted, and can also provide a filtration and cooling effect for the aerosol.

Preferably, the support structure (120) may include a tubular structure composed of lyocell tow including a plurality of lyocell fibers. However, the support structure (120) is not limited thereto, and may also include a tubular structure made of cellulose acetate material. Since the support structure (120) includes a hollow space therein and is composed of lyocell tow including a plurality of lyocell fibers, due to the high heat resistance of lyocell tow that does not melt even at high temperatures, the support structure (120) can prevent or minimize deformation of the support structure (120) due to heat applied to heat the smoking article (100) and/or high-temperature aerosol passing through the hollow space (120H) of the support structure (120). Accordingly, the support structure (120) can maintain its shape while smoking, so that the smoke component passing through the hollow space (120H) of the support structure (120) can be maintained uniformly without variation depending on the smoking time, thereby providing a more improved smoking experience to the user.

Meanwhile, it may be desirable for the support structure (120) to be manufactured to have appropriate hardness and/or durability for its supporting role. In some embodiments, when the support structure (120) includes cellulose acetate, the hardness of the support structure (120) may be controlled by controlling the amount of a plasticizer added when manufacturing the support structure (120) using the cellulose acetate. In addition, as the inner diameter of the support structure (120) increases (i.e., as the difference between the outer diameter and the inner diameter of the support structure 120 decreases), the content of the added plasticizer may increase. In some other embodiments, the support structure (120) may be manufactured by inserting a structure such as a film or tube of the same or different material into the interior (i.e., the hollow 120H).

In some other embodiments, when the support structure (120) includes lyocell, the support structure (120) may be a lyocell filter having a hollow space (120H) formed therein and at least one binder added thereto. Unlike cellulose acetate, lyocell does not have a plasticizer material that hardens lyocell fibers, so that by adding a binder instead, the support structure (120) can be appropriately provided with hardness. That is, even though the support structure (120) is a lyocell filter composed of lyocell tow, excellent hardness can be implemented by further including at least one binder.

In some embodiments, the binder may include at least one or more 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 it 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), etc., the vinyl-based binder may include polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), ethylene vinyl acetate (EVAc), etc., the polyester-based binder may be a polyester including at least one selected from the group consisting of alkylene, arylene, and heteroarylene having 5 to 12 carbon atoms, the dextrin-based binder may include dextrin, etc., and the starch-based binder may include starch (for example, tapioca, corn, wheat, potato, sweet potato, etc.), cationic starch, esterified starch, etc., but is not limited thereto.

In some embodiments, the binder can include at least one of a polyester, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC), ethylcellulose (EC), methylcellulose (MC), carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), polyvinylpyrrolidone (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, agar, and more.

In some embodiments, the support structure (120) may be a flavored filter to which a flavoring agent such as menthol has been added (i.e., flavored). In this case, the flavor development of the smoking article (100) may be enhanced.

The cooling structure (130) can function as a cooling member for high-temperature aerosol generated as the medium portion (110) is heated. In particular, the cooling structure (130) can include a tubular structure having a hollow portion (130H) formed therein, and can cool an aerosol passing through the hollow portion (130H). In particular, the aerosol formed in the medium portion (1130) can move to the hollow portion (130H) of the cooling structure (130) through the hollow portion (120H) of the support structure (120), and can move in the direction of the mouthpiece portion (140) (i.e., downstream). The hollow portion (130H) can extend along the longitudinal direction of the cooling structure (130). The hollow portion (130H) is located at the center of a cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the cooling structure (130), and can 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 respectively positioned at the center of a cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the support structure (120) and the cooling structure (130), and 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. However, 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, respectively.

Accordingly, the user can inhale aerosol at an appropriate temperature, and the mainstream smoke can be smoothly aerosolized to improve the amount of vapor.

In one embodiment, the cooling structure (130) may be composed of a lyocell tow including a plurality of lyocell fibers. In particular, the lyocell tow constituting the cooling structure (130) may have a tube shape with a hollow space (130H) formed therein. The length of the cooling structure (130) may be about 12 mm to 16 mm (for example, 14 mm), but is not limited thereto.

The lyocell fiber included in the cooling structure (130) in the present invention is an environmentally friendly fiber made from cellulose extracted from wood pulp. The lyocell tow may mean a bundle formed by cross-linking adjacent lyocell fibers.

In some embodiments, the outer diameter of the cooling structure (130) may be about 6 mm to 10 mm, preferably about 6.1 mm to 9 mm, more preferably about 6.2 mm to 8 mm, more preferably about 6.3 mm to 7.8 mm, more preferably about 6.4 mm to 7.6 mm, more preferably about 6.6 mm to 7.4 mm, more preferably about 6.8 mm to 7.2 mm, more preferably about 7 mm. The inner diameter of the cooling structure (130) (i.e., the diameter of the hollow 130H) may be smaller than the outer diameter of the cooling structure (130), and may be an appropriate value within the range of about 2 mm to 6 mm, preferably about 2.1 mm to 5.5 mm, more preferably about 2.2 mm to 5 mm, more preferably about 2.3 mm to 4.5 mm, more preferably about 2.4 mm to 4 mm, but is not limited thereto. Preferably, the inner diameter of the cooling structure (130) (i.e., the diameter of the hollow 130H) 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, or more preferably 2.8 mm or 3.8 mm, but is not limited thereto.

In some embodiments, the inner diameter of the cooling structure (130) may be, but is not limited to, 10% to 90%, preferably 20% to 80%, more preferably 25% to 75%, more preferably 30% to 70%, and more preferably 35% to 65% of the outer diameter of the cooling structure (130).

In some embodiments, the lyocell fibers may have a non-circular cross-section. A non-circular cross-section is defined as a cross-section whose shape is not circular but includes a plurality of protrusions. For example, a cross-section having a shape in which a plurality of protrusions extend from a center may be referred to as a non-circular cross-section.

In some embodiments, the lyocell fibers may have a Y-shaped cross-section with three protrusions branching from the center, a cruciform cross-section with four protrusions, and/or a star-shaped cross-section with five or more protrusions, but are not limited thereto, and may have an O-shaped cross-section.

In some embodiments, the cooling structure (130) may further include at least one binder. The binder may be dispersed in the lyocell tow constituting the cooling structure (130). In particular, the binder may be distributed over the entire area of the lyocell tow constituting the cooling structure (130). The binder may perform a function of binding between a plurality of lyocell fibers constituting the lyocell tow to impart appropriate hardness to the cooling structure (130). As described above, unlike cellulose acetate, lyocell does not have a plasticizer material that hardens lyocell fibers, and thus, by adding a binder instead, the cooling structure (130) may be imparted with appropriate hardness.

In some embodiments, the binder may include at least one or more 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 it 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), etc., the vinyl-based binder may include polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), ethylene vinyl acetate (EVAc), etc., the polyester-based binder may be a polyester including at least one selected from the group consisting of alkylene, arylene, and heteroarylene having 5 to 12 carbon atoms, the dextrin-based binder may include dextrin, etc., and the starch-based binder may include starch (for example, tapioca, corn, wheat, potato, sweet potato, etc.), cationic starch, esterified starch, etc., but is not limited thereto.

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).

In some embodiments, the binder can include at least one of a polyester, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC), ethylcellulose (EC), methylcellulose (MC), carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), polyvinylpyrrolidone (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, agar, and more.

In some embodiments, the binder may be added to be dispersed within the lyocell tow during the manufacturing process of the cooling structure (130). For example, during the manufacturing process of the cooling structure (130), the binder may be added to the interior of the lyocell tow by wrapping the lyocell tow around the heater rod and spraying the binder onto the outer surface of the cylindrical lyocell tow formed to wrap the heater rod from the inside, or alternatively, or in addition, 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 the heater rod from the inside, from the heater rod, but the method of manufacturing the cooling structure (130) is not limited thereto.

In some embodiments, the hardness of the cooling structure (130) including the binder-dispersed lyocell tow may be, but is not limited to, 60% to 99%, preferably 70% to 98.5%, more preferably 75% to 98%, more preferably 80% to 97.5%, and more preferably 85% to 97%. The hardness of the cooling structure (130) is a numerical value indicating the degree to which the diameter of the cooling structure (130) is maintained when the cooling structure (130) is pressed with a certain level of force in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the cooling structure (130), and may be a value indicating the ratio of the diameter of the cooling structure (130) after the force is applied to the diameter of the cooling structure (130) before the force is applied as a percentage. Since the cooling structure (130) has a hardness within the above range, the cooling structure (130) can have the effect of stably maintaining its shape despite being a tubular structure composed of lyocell tow, and due to the stable maintenance of the shape of the cooling structure (130), it is possible to prevent or minimize the deterioration of the quality of the smoking experience due to deformation of the cooling structure (130) during storage or smoking of the smoking article (100).

The smoking article (100) according to the present invention uses a cooling structure (130) made of lyocell tow and formed in a tube shape with a hollow interior, thereby effectively reducing the amount of moisture transferred during smoking due to the superior moisture affinity characteristics of lyocell tow compared to cellulose acetate tow, thereby reducing the heat felt by the user and maximizing the cooling effect.

In addition, due to the excellent heat resistance of lyocell tow, deformation of the cooling structure caused by heat transferred from a heater heating the smoking article or an aerosol generated within the smoking article can be effectively prevented or minimized, and even when heated differently from paper, no unpleasant odor is generated, thereby preventing deterioration of smoking quality caused by material characteristics.

The mouthpiece (140) is a mouthpiece that comes into contact with the user's mouth and can serve as a filter that ultimately delivers the aerosol delivered from upstream to the user. The mouthpiece (140) can be located downstream of the cooling structure (130) and the upstream can be in contact with the downstream of the cooling structure (130) and/or can form the downstream end of the smoking article (100).

In some embodiments, the mouthpiece portion (140) may be manufactured from 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 manufactured from a recessed filter. The length of the mouthpiece portion (140) may be about 10 mm to 14 mm (e.g., 12 mm), but is not limited thereto.

In some embodiments, the mouthpiece portion (140) may include at least one capsule. Here, the capsule may be a structure in which a liquid containing a flavoring agent is wrapped with a film. For example, the capsule may have a spherical or cylindrical shape. In some other embodiments, the mouthpiece portion (140) may be a flavoring filter in which a flavoring agent is dispersed within the filter.

For reference, the support structure (120), the cooling structure (130), and the mouthpiece portion (140) may all function as filters for aerosols, and 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.

The wrapper (150) surrounds and may wrap at least one of 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, the method of wrapping the smoking article (100) and its components is not limited thereto and may vary.

In some embodiments, the wrapper (150) may have perforations (160, see FIG. 1) arranged along the perimeter of the cooling structure (130), or may not have perforations (non-perforated, see FIG. 2). In some embodiments, the wrapper (150) may have perforations (160, see FIG. 1) arranged along the perimeter of the cooling structure (130), particularly along the perimeter of a cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the cooling structure (130). When perforations (160) 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. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the wrapper (150) may not have perforations. Even if no perforations are formed in the wrapper (150), as described later, the moisture absorption performance in the mainstream smoke is excellent due to the excellent moisture affinity of the lyocell material constituting the cooling structure (130), so that the heat of the mainstream smoke passing through the cooling structure (130) can be significantly reduced.

In some embodiments, the second filter wrapper wrapping the cooling structure (130) may correspond to porous paper or nonporous paper, etc., which can maintain the cylindrical structure in which the cooling structure (130) has a hollow structure. In addition, the cooling structure (130) may be manufactured from flax, wood pulp, etc., and may be required to maintain combustibility and the taste of a cigarette when burned. Although not limited thereto, the second filter wrapper wrapping the cooling structure (130) may be applied with nonporous hard paper or porous general paper. In addition, the second filter wrapper included in the cooling structure (130) may include a plurality of perforations arranged along the perimeter of the cooling structure (130). In some embodiments, the second filter wrapper may be formed with a plurality of perforations arranged along the perimeter of the cooling structure (130), particularly along the perimeter of a cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the cooling structure (130). However, without being limited thereto, the second filter wrapper of the cooling structure (130) may not have perforations formed. Since the cooling structure (130) is formed of a lyocell tow including a plurality of lyocell fibers, it is possible to provide an excellent smoking sensation despite the fact that the second filter wrapper wrapping the cooling structure (130) is a non-perforated paper having no perforations formed therein.

Hereinafter, the composition of the present invention and the effects thereof will be described in more detail through examples and comparative examples. However, these examples are intended to explain the present invention more specifically, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to these examples.

Example 1

A cooling structure having the same structure as that shown in Fig. 1 was manufactured using lyocell material. In particular, a cylindrical lyocell tow was formed to surround the heater rod using a heater rod, and a dextrin-based binder (dextrin) was injected into the lyocell tow through the inner surface of the lyocell tow from the heater rod, thereby manufacturing a cooling structure having an inner diameter of about 3.8 mm and a circumference of 22.6 mm. Thereafter, a heated cigarette (as a smoking article of Example 1) having a structure including a medium portion having a length of 12 mm, a support structure made of a cellulose acetate material having a hollow inner diameter of 2.7 mm, an outer diameter of 7 mm, and a length of 10 mm, a cooling structure having a length of 14 mm, and a mouthpiece portion made of cellulose acetate tow having a length of 12 mm, as in the smoking article (100) shown in Fig. 1, was manufactured, and the physical properties were measured, which are shown in Table 1.

Unless otherwise specified herein, PDC may refer to a value of suction resistance measured in a state where the medium section is open, the perforations of the filter section are blocked, and the inflow of outside air is blocked, and PDO may refer to a value of suction resistance measured in a state where the medium section is open, the perforations of the filter section are not blocked, and the inflow of outside air is allowed.

Comparative Example 1

A heated cigarette was manufactured in the same manner as in Example 1, except that the cooling structure was manufactured using cellulose acetate material, and the physical properties such as suction resistance were measured, which are shown in Table 1 below.

Experimental Example 1. Property Evaluation

In order to find out the change in the physical properties of smoking articles according to the material constituting the cooling structure, an experiment was conducted to measure the physical properties of smoking articles according to Comparative Example 1 and Example 1. In particular, the weight, circumference, and suction resistance (Vent (Ventilation Rate)) of smoking articles were measured, and the measurement results are recorded in Table 1 below.

division 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 above, Vent means ventilation rate (air dilution rate, VR).)

Referring to Table 1 above, it can be confirmed that smoking articles each composed of a cooling structure of lyocell tow and cellulose acetate exhibit similar physical properties, and that the ventilation rate (VR) and suction resistance characteristics that can be associated with heat resistance and cooling during smoking are similar.

Experimental Example 2. Moisture transfer amount of smoking articles according to the material of the cooling structure (heat reduction effect)

In order to compare the amount of moisture transferred into the mainstream smoke of smoking articles according to the material constituting the cooling structure, the medium part of the smoking articles according to Comparative Example 1 and Example 1 was heated at a heating temperature of 190°C to 280°C by an external heating method, and the moisture content (as the amount of moisture transferred) in the generated smoke was measured, and the results are shown in Table 2 below.

In particular, the experiment was conducted in a smoking room (in particular, the temperature was about 21.9°C, the relative humidity was 64.3%) with the internal temperature being about 22±2°C and the internal relative humidity being about 60±5%, targeting smoking articles according to Comparative Example 1 and Example 1, and the smoking conditions were HC conditions (Puff volume: 55 ml / Puff frequency: 30 s / Puff duration: 2 s / Number of puffs: 9 puffs), and the generated smoke was captured on a Cambridge filter (i.e., Cambridge filter pad (CFP)), and the moisture content (moisture transfer amount) captured within the Cambridge filter (pad) was measured, which is shown in Table 2 below.

division Moisture transfer amount (mg) Comparative Example 1 22.91 Example 1 16.19

Referring to Table 1 and Table 2 above, it can be confirmed that the smoking articles of Example 1 and Comparative Example 1 have similar physical properties, while 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 amount of moisture transfer in the mainstream smoke of the smoking article of Example 1 is lower than that of the smoking article of Comparative Example 1, it can be confirmed that the thermal sensation (i.e., hot sensation) transmitted to the user through the mainstream smoke during smoking is lower in the smoking article of Example 1 having a cooling structure composed of a lyocell material than in the smoking article of Comparative Example 1 having a cooling structure composed of cellulose acetate. It can be presumed that this is because the moisture generated during smoking passes through the cooling structure composed of lyocell and is absorbed into the lyocell tow constituting the cooling structure due to the excellent moisture affinity of the lyocell material compared to the cellulose acetate material. That is, it can be confirmed that the smoking article of Example 1, in which the cooling structure is composed of lyocell material, is more effective in reducing the heat felt by the smoker when smoking than the smoking article of Comparative Example 1, in which the cooling structure is composed of cellulose acetate material.

Experimental Example 3. Evaluation of thermal deformation according to the material of the cooling structure

In order to analyze the material deformation due to the heat generated when the medium portion of the smoking article is heated depending on the material constituting the cooling 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. by external heating), and then the smoking articles were disassembled to take pictures of the cooling structures, which are shown in FIG. 3. In FIG. 3, FIG. 3(a) is a picture of the cooling structures of Comparative Example 1 and Example 1 before the experiment (before smoking), in which FIG. 3(a) shows the cooling structure of Comparative Example 1 on the left and FIG. 3(a) shows the cooling structure of Example 1 on the right. In addition, FIG. 3(b) is a picture of the cooling structures of Comparative Example 1 and Example 1 after the experiment (after smoking), in which FIG. 3(b) shows the cooling structure of Comparative Example 1 on the left and FIG. 3(b) shows the cooling structure of Example 1 on the right.

Referring to FIG. 3 (a) in FIG. 3, it can be confirmed that the appearances of the cellulose acetate cooling structure of Comparative Example 1 before smoking and the lyocell cooling structure of Example 1 are substantially the same.

Referring to FIG. 3(b) in FIG. 3, it can be confirmed that after smoking was performed (i.e., after heating to a temperature of 190° C. to 280° C. and puffing), the cooling structure of Comparative Example 1 was discolored to yellow, but the cooling structure of Example 1 was not discolored. From this, it can be confirmed that the cellulose acetate material was discolored due to the heat generated during smoking, but the lyocell material was not discolored.

In addition, it can be confirmed that the cooling structure of Comparative Example 1 after smoking not only discolored but also melted and stuck (i.e., melted and stuck) and shrank, resulting in a difference in the shape of the wrapper surrounding the cooling structure and becoming smaller than the initial shape, but the cooling structure of Example 1 was confirmed to be substantially the same as the shape of the wrapper and thus largely maintained its initial shape. That is, it can be confirmed 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 therefore did not deform.

This is because the lyocell material has superior heat resistance compared to the cellulose acetate material, and thus can effectively prevent or minimize deformation caused by heat generated during smoking, heat within the aerosol moving within smoking, and/or heat applied to heat the medium. Accordingly, it can be confirmed that the cooling structure of Example 1 has superior heat absorption performance than the cooling 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.

Example 2 and Example 3

As in Example 1, a cooling structure of Example 2 having an inner diameter of about 2.8 mm and a circumference of 22.6 mm and a cooling structure of Example 3 having an inner diameter of about 3.8 mm and a circumference of about 22.6 mm were manufactured, and, as in Example 1, a smoking article having a structure including a medium portion having a thickness of 12 mm, a support structure made of a cellulose acetate material having a hollow inner diameter of 2.7 mm, an outer diameter of 7 mm, and a length of 10 mm, a cooling structure of Example 2 or Example 3 having a length of 14 mm, and a mouthpiece portion made of a cellulose acetate tow having a length of 12 mm was manufactured. The physical properties of the smoking articles were measured, and the results are shown in Table 3 below.

division
(inner diameter) Weight (mg) Circumference (mm) PDO( _mmH20 ) PDC( _mmH20 ) Vent(%) Example 2 (2.8 mm) 643.5 22.589 54.1 61.4 22.99 Example 3 (3.8 mm) 629.0 22.663 54.9 62.6 23.71

(In Table 3 above, Vent means ventilation rate (VR).)

Experimental Example 4. Analysis of smoke components according to the inner diameter of the cooling structure

In order to compare the components in smoke according to the inner diameter of the cooling structure, the medium portion of each smoking article according to Examples 2 and 3 was heated at a heating temperature of 190°C to 280°C by an external heating method, and the total particulate matter (TPM), nicotine components, moisture content, etc. were measured, which are shown in Table 4 below.

In particular, the experiment was conducted in a smoking room (in particular, the temperature was about 21.9°C, the relative humidity was 64.3%) with an internal temperature of about 22±2°C and an internal relative humidity of about 60±5%, targeting smoking articles according to Examples 2 and 3, and the smoking conditions were HC conditions (Puff volume: 55 ml / Puff frequency: 30 s / Puff duration: 2 s / Number of puffs: 9 puffs), and the generated smoke was captured and analyzed by a Cambridge filter (i.e., Cambridge Filter Pad (CFP)). The total particulate matter (TPM) is a value obtained by measuring the change in the weight of the Cambridge filter before smoking and after smoking using the smoking device, and for the remaining components, the captured smoke was analyzed by GC (Gas Choromatography).

division TPM(mg) Tar(mg) Nic(mg) PG(mg) Gly(mg) Moisture (mg) Example 2 31.03 12.88 0.39 0.19 0.87 17.77 Example 3 30.17 12.93 0.47 0.23 1.11 16.77

Referring to Table 4 above, the smoke components transferred during smoking may differ depending on the difference in the inner diameter of the cooling structure. In particular, the moisture transfer amount of Example 2, where the inner diameter of the cooling structure is 2.8 mm, is 17.77 mg, and the moisture transfer amount of Example 3, where the inner diameter of the cooling structure is 3.8 mm, is 16.77 mg. It can be confirmed 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 thermal sensation. In addition, the atomization amount (sum of PG + Gly) of Example 2 is 1.06 mg, and the atomization amount (sum of PG + Gly) of Example 3 is 1.34 mg, confirming that Example 3 has a larger atomization amount than Example 2. That is, Example 3, in which the inner diameter of the cooling structure is 3.8 mm, has a similar Tar content to Example 2, in which the inner diameter of the cooling structure is 2.8 mm, but has a lower moisture transfer amount and a higher atomization amount, so it can be confirmed that the cooling effect is excellent and the atomization is excellent, thereby improving the user's smoking quality.

FIGS. 4 to 6 illustrate various types of aerosol generating devices to which smoking articles according to some embodiments of the present disclosure may be applied. In particular, FIG. 4 is an exemplary configuration diagram illustrating a cigarette-type aerosol generating device (1000), and FIGS. 5 and 6 are exemplary configuration diagrams illustrating a hybrid aerosol generating device (1000) in which liquid and cigarette are used together. Hereinafter, the aerosol generating device (1000) will be briefly described.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the aerosol generating device (1000) may be a device that generates 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 generating device (1000), the aerosol generating device (1000) may operate the heater portion (1300) to generate an aerosol from the cigarette (2000). The generated aerosol may pass through the cigarette (2000) and be delivered to the user.

As illustrated, the aerosol generating device (1000) may include a battery (1100), a control unit (1200), and a heater unit (1300). However, only components related to the embodiment of the present disclosure are illustrated in FIG. 4. Therefore, a person skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains may further understand that other general components may be included in addition to the components illustrated in FIG. 4. For example, the aerosol generating device (1000) may further include a display capable of outputting visual information, a motor for outputting 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 component of the aerosol generating device (1000) will be described.

The battery (1100) supplies power used to operate the aerosol generating device (1000). For example, the battery (1100) can supply power so that the heater unit (1300) can be heated, and can supply power required for the control unit (1200) to operate. In addition, the battery (1100) can supply power required for the display, sensor, motor, etc. (not shown) installed in the aerosol generating device (1000) to operate.

Next, the control unit (1200) can control the overall operation of the aerosol generating device (1000). In particular, the control unit (1200) can control the operation of not only the battery (1100) and the heater unit (1300), but also other components that can be included in the aerosol generating device (1000). In addition, the control unit (1200) can check the status of each of the components of the aerosol generating device (1000) to determine whether the aerosol generating device (1000) is in an operable state.

The control unit (1200) may include at least one processor. The processor may be implemented as an array of a plurality of logic gates, or may be implemented as a combination of a general-purpose microprocessor and a memory storing a program that can be executed by the microprocessor. In addition, 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.

Next, the heater unit (1300) can heat the cigarette (2000) by power supplied from the battery (1100). For example, when the cigarette (2000) is inserted into the aerosol generating device (1000), the heating element of the heater unit (1300) can be inserted into a portion of the inner side of the cigarette (2000) to increase the temperature of the aerosol forming material within the cigarette (2000).

In some embodiments, the heater unit (1300) may alternatively, or in addition to, include an external heating element, as depicted in FIG. 4. In this case, the heating element of the heater unit (1300) may be positioned on the exterior of the cigarette (2000) inserted into the device (1000). Furthermore, as depicted, the heater unit (1300) may include multiple heating elements. For example, the heater unit (1300) may include multiple internal heating elements or multiple external heating elements. As another example, the heater unit (1300) may include one or more internal heating elements and one or more external heating elements.

The above heating element may include or be made of an electrically resistive material and/or any material capable of induction heating. However, it is not limited thereto, and any material may be used as long as it can be heated to a desired temperature by the control of the control unit (1200). Here, the desired temperature may be preset in the aerosol generating device (1000) or may be set to a desired temperature by the user.

Meanwhile, although FIG. 4 illustrates that the battery (1100), the control unit (1200), and the heater unit (1300) are arranged in a row along the longitudinal direction, the internal structure of the aerosol generating device (1000) is not limited to the example illustrated in FIG. 4. In other words, the arrangement of the battery (1100), the control unit (1200), and the heater unit (1300) may vary depending on the design of the aerosol generating device (1000).

Hereinafter, a hybrid aerosol generating device (1000) will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. For clarity of the present disclosure, descriptions of overlapping components (1100, 1200, 1300) will be omitted.

As illustrated in FIG. 5 or FIG. 6, the aerosol generating device (1000) may further include a vaporizer (1400).

When a cigarette (2000) is inserted into an aerosol generating device (1000), the aerosol generating device (1000) can operate the heater unit (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 unit (1300) and/or the vaporizer (1400) can pass through the cigarette (2000) and be delivered to a user. When the cigarette (2000) is inserted into the aerosol generating device (1000), the heating element of the heater unit (1300) can be placed in contact with or adjacent to an outer portion of the cigarette (2000) to increase the temperature of an aerosol forming material inside the cigarette (2000) from the outside.

The vaporizer (1400) can heat the liquid composition to generate an aerosol, and the generated aerosol can pass through the cigarette (2000) and be delivered to the user. In other words, the aerosol generated by the vaporizer (1400) can travel along the airflow passage of the aerosol generating device (1000), and the airflow passage can be configured so that the aerosol generated by the vaporizer (1400) can pass through the cigarette (2000) and be delivered to the user.

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 in the aerosol generating device (1000) as independent modules.

The liquid reservoir can store a liquid composition (i.e., a liquid aerosol-forming substrate). The liquid reservoir can be constructed to be detachable from/attachable to the vaporizer (1400) or can be constructed integrally with the vaporizer (1400).

Next, the liquid transfer means can transfer the liquid composition from the liquid storage tank to the liquid heating element. For example, the liquid transfer means can be a wick such as, but not limited to, cotton fibers, ceramic fibers, glass fibers, or porous ceramics.

The liquid heating element is an element for heating a liquid composition delivered by a 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, etc. In addition, 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 control unit (1200), and may transfer heat to the liquid composition in contact with the liquid heating element, thereby heating the liquid composition. As a result, an aerosol may be generated.

As shown in FIG. 5 or FIG. 6, the vaporizer (1400) and the heater unit (1300) may be arranged in parallel or series. However, the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to this arrangement.

For reference, the term vaporizer (1400) may be used interchangeably with terms such as cartomizer or atomizer in the relevant technical field.

The control unit (1200) can additionally control the operation of the vaporizer (1400), and the battery (1100) can additionally supply power so that the vaporizer (1400) can operate.

So far, various types of aerosol generating devices (1000) to which smoking articles (100) according to some embodiments of the present disclosure can be applied have been described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6.

Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described with reference to the attached drawings, those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains will understand that the present disclosure can be implemented in other specific forms without changing the technical ideas or essential features thereof. Therefore, it should be understood that the embodiments described above are exemplary and not restrictive in all respects. The protection scope of the present disclosure should be interpreted by the following claims, and all technical ideas within a scope equivalent thereto should be interpreted as being included in the scope of rights of the technical ideas defined by the present disclosure.

Claims (12)

Medium; A cooling structure spaced apart from one side of the above medium; and Including a support structure arranged between the above medium portion and the above cooling structure, The above cooling structure comprises a lyocell tow comprising a plurality of lyocell fibers. Smoking items. In the first paragraph, The lyocell tow of the above cooling structure has a tube shape with a hollow space formed inside. Smoking items. In the first paragraph, The above cooling structure further comprises a binder dispersed in the lyocell tow. Smoking items. In the third paragraph, The above binder comprises 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. Smoking items. In the fourth paragraph, The above binder comprises a dextrin-based binder, Smoking items. In the second paragraph, The inner diameter of the above cooling structure is 10% to 90% of the outer diameter of the above cooling structure. Smoking items. In the second paragraph, The outer diameter of the above cooling structure is 6 mm to 10 mm, The inner diameter of the above cooling structure is 2 mm to 6 mm. Smoking items. In the second paragraph, The above support structure has one end located on the one side of the above support structure in contact with the cooling structure, and the other end located on the other side opposite to the one side in contact with the medium. The above support structure has a tube shape with a hollow space formed inside, The hollow of the above cooling structure and the hollow of the above support structure are in communication, Smoking items. In Article 8, The support structure comprises at least one of cellulose acetate, lyocell, or a tube. Smoking items. In the first paragraph, Further comprising a mouthpiece arranged on one side of the cooling structure; Smoking items. In the first paragraph, Further comprising a wrapper surrounding at least a portion of the cooling structure, The above wrapper comprises a plurality of perforations arranged along the perimeter of the cooling structure. Smoking items. In the first paragraph, The length of the above support structure is shorter than or equal to the length of the above cooling structure. Smoking items.