AEROSOL DELIVERY SYSTEM
An aerosol delivery system has a fluid-transfer article with a first region for holding an aerosol precursor and a second region to which the aerosol precursor is transferred from the first region. The second region includes an activation surface which interacts thermally with a heater of the aerosol delivery system to form an aerosol from said aerosol precursor. When the user sucks or inhales through the aerosol delivery system, the diaphragm flexes to open an air-flow pathway between the activation surface and the heater, so that aerosol passes from the heater to the user in the airflow. When the user ceases to suck or inhale, the flexible diaphragm flexes to close the air-flow pathway and reduce escape of aerosol precursor from the second part of the fluid-transfer article.
1 . A fluid-transfer article comprising a first region for holding an aerosol precursor and for transferring said aerosol precursor to an activation surface of a second region of said article, said activation surface being disposed at an end of said article configured for thermal interaction with a heater of an aerosol-generation apparatus, wherein said second region is a flexible diaphragm.
2 . A fluid-transfer article according to claim 1 , wherein said flexible diaphragm is formed from a polymeric wicking material.
3 . A fluid-transfer article according to claim 2 , wherein said polymeric wicking material comprises Polyetherimide (PEI).
4 . A fluid-transfer article according to claim 2 , wherein said polymeric wicking material comprises Polyether ether ketone (PEEK).
5 . A fluid-transfer article according to claim 2 , wherein said polymeric wicking material comprises Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).
6 . A fluid-transfer according to claim 2 , wherein said polymeric wicking material comprises Polyimide (PI).
7 . A fluid-transfer article according to claim 2 , wherein said polymeric wicking material comprises Polyethersylphone (PES).
8 . A fluid-transfer article according to claim 2 , wherein said polymeric wicking material comprises Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE).
9 . A fluid-transfer article according to claim 2 , wherein said polymeric wicking material comprises Polypropylene (PP).
10 . A fluid-transfer article according to claim 2 , wherein said polymeric wicking material comprises Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET).
11 . A fluid-transfer article according to claim 2 , wherein said polymeric wicking material is porous.
12 . An aerosol-generation apparatus comprising a heater and a fluid-transfer article comprising a first region for holding an aerosol precursor and for transferring said aerosol precursor to an activation surface of a second region of said article, said activation surface being disposed at an end of said article configured for thermal interaction with the heater, wherein said second region is a flexible diaphragm.
13 . An aerosol-generation apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein said flexible diaphragm is arranged to be movable between a first position in which a part of said flexible diaphragm is in contact with said heater, and a second position in which said part of said flexible diaphragm is spaced from said heater.
14 . An aerosol-generation apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein said flexible diaphragm is biased towards said first position.
15 . An aerosol delivery system comprising:
an aerosol-generation apparatus comprising a heater and a fluid-transfer article comprising a first region for holding an aerosol precursor and for transferring said aerosol precursor to an activation surface of a second region of said article, said activation surface being disposed at an end of said article configured for thermal interaction with the heater, wherein said second region is a flexible diaphragm; and
a carrier comprising housing containing said heater and said fluid-transfer article, said housing having an inlet and an outlet, an air-flow pathway being defined between said inlet and said outlet, said air-flow pathway passing between said flexible diaphragm and said heater, said air-flow pathway being obstructed when said flexible diaphragm is in said first position.
16 .- 106 . (canceled)