Tobacco-containing smoking article
A smoking article may include a cigarette incorporated within an electrically powered aerosol generating device that acts as a holder for that cigarette. The smoking article possesses at least one form of tobacco. The smoking article also possesses a mouth-end piece that is used by the smoker to inhale components of tobacco that are generated by the action of heat upon components of the cigarette. A representative smoking article possesses an outer housing incorporating a source of electrical power (e.g., a battery), a sensing mechanism for powering the device at least during periods of draw, and a heating device (e.g., at least one electrical resistance heating element) for forming a thermally generated aerosol that incorporates components of tobacco. During use, the cigarette is positioned within the device, and after use, the used cigarette is removed from the device and replaced with another cigarette.
1. An electrically-powered, aerosol-generating smoking article comprising:
an electrical power source within a tubular outer housing having a mouth-end and an end distal to the mouth-end;
at least one electrical resistance heater powered by said electrical power source;
a puff-actuated controller within the tubular outer housing and adapted for regulating current flow through the electrical resistance heater during draw, the controller comprising a sensor adapted for sensing draw on the smoking article by a user; and
a rod-shaped carrier device engaged with the mouth-end of the tubular outer housing and comprising a cartridge providing a liquid storage compartment containing a mixture comprising a tobacco extract and an aerosol-forming material absorbed within an absorbent fibrous material, the cartridge having a generally tubular shape with open ends such that air may flow therethrough;
wherein the rod-shaped carrier device is operatively positioned such that, during draw, the mixture comprising the tobacco extract and the aerosol-forming material can be wicked into contact with the electrical resistance heater and volatilized to produce a visible mainstream aerosol incorporating tobacco components or tobacco-derived components that can be drawn into the mouth of the user of the smoking article.
2. The smoking article of claim 1 , wherein the aerosol-forming material comprises glycerin, propylene glycol, or a mixture thereof.
3. The smoking article of claim 1 , wherein the mixture further comprises a flavoring agent.
4. The smoking article of claim 3 , wherein the flavoring agent comprises menthol.
5. The smoking article of claim 1 , wherein the mixture further comprises an organic acid.
6. The smoking article of claim 1 , wherein the mixture comprises essentially pure nicotine, extracts composed predominantly of nicotine, or formulations composed predominantly of nicotine.
7. The smoking article of claim 1 , wherein the absorbent fibrous material comprises a synthetic polymeric material.
8. The smoking article of claim 1 , wherein the amount of aerosol-forming material is sufficient to provide greater than about 200 puffs per cartridge.
9. The smoking article of claim 1 , wherein the cartridge is made from paper, plastic, or heat conductive materials.
10. The smoking article of claim 1 , wherein the cartridge has a length that does not exceed about 30 mm.
11. The smoking article of claim 1 , wherein the cartridge is electrically conductive.
12. The smoking article of claim 1 , wherein the rod-shaped carrier device is removably engaged with the mouth-end of the tubular outer housing.
13. The smoking article of claim 1 , wherein the mixture comprises glycerin, tobacco extract, and a flavoring agent.
14. The smoking article of claim 1 , wherein the absorbent fibrous material is in contact with the electrical resistance heater.
15. An electrically-powered, aerosol-generating smoking article comprising:
an electrical power source in the form of a battery within a tubular outer housing having a mouth-end and an end distal to the mouth-end;
at least one electrical resistance heater powered by said electrical power source;
a puff-actuated controller within the tubular outer housing and adapted for regulating current flow through the electrical resistance heater during draw, the controller comprising a sensor adapted for sensing draw on the smoking article by a user; and
a rod-shaped carrier device removably engaged with the mouth-end of the tubular outer housing and comprising a cartridge providing a liquid storage compartment containing a mixture comprising a tobacco extract comprising nicotine and an aerosol-forming material selected from glycerin, propylene glycol, or a mixture thereof, the mixture absorbed within an absorbent fibrous material, the cartridge having a generally tubular shape with open ends such that air may flow therethrough;
wherein the rod-shaped carrier device is operatively positioned such that, during draw, the mixture comprising the tobacco extract and the aerosol-forming material can be wicked into contact with the electrical resistance heater and volatilized to produce a visible mainstream aerosol incorporating tobacco components or tobacco-derived components that can be drawn into the mouth of the user of the smoking article.
16. The smoking article of claim 15 , wherein the mixture further comprises a flavoring agent.
17. The smoking article of claim 16 , wherein the flavoring agent comprises menthol.
18. The smoking article of claim 15 , wherein the mixture further comprises an organic acid.
19. The smoking article of claim 15 , wherein the mixture comprises essentially pure nicotine, extracts composed predominantly of nicotine, or formulations composed predominantly of nicotine.
20. The smoking article of claim 15 , wherein the amount of the aerosol-forming material is sufficient to provide greater than about 200 puffs per cartridge.
21. The smoking article of claim 15 , wherein the cartridge is made from paper, plastic, or heat conductive materials.
22. The smoking article of claim 15 , wherein the cartridge has a length that does not exceed about 30 mm.
23. The smoking article of claim 15 , wherein the cartridge is electrically conductive.
24. The smoking article of claim 15 , wherein the absorbent fibrous material is in contact with the electrical resistance heater.
25. An electrically-powered, aerosol-generating smoking article comprising:
an electrical power source in the form of a battery within a tubular outer housing having a mouth-end and an end distal to the mouth-end;
at least one electrical resistance heater powered by said electrical power source;
a puff-actuated controller within the tubular outer housing and adapted for regulating current flow through the electrical resistance heater during draw, the controller comprising a sensor adapted for sensing draw on the smoking article by a user; and
a rod-shaped carrier device removably engaged with the mouth-end of the tubular outer housing and comprising a cartridge providing a liquid storage compartment containing a mixture comprising a tobacco extract comprising nicotine and an aerosol-forming material selected from glycerin, propylene glycol, or a mixture thereof, the mixture absorbed within an absorbent fibrous material, the cartridge having a generally tubular shape with open ends such that air may flow therethrough;
wherein the absorbent fibrous material is in contact with the electrical resistance heater and, during draw, the mixture comprising the tobacco extract and the aerosol-forming material can be wicked into contact with the electrical resistance heater and volatilized to produce a visible mainstream aerosol incorporating tobacco components or tobacco-derived components that can be drawn into the mouth of the user of the smoking article.