Abstract: Encapsulated tobacco beads and processes of making the encapsulated tobacco beads are disclosed. According to an embodiment, a process of making encapsulated tobacco beads comprises mixing tobacco particles and menthol in an aqueous solution to form a wet mass; extruding the wet mass to form extrudates; spheronizing the extrudates to form tobacco beads; drying the tobacco beads; contacting the beads with a solution comprising a cation; and introducing the contacted tobacco beads into a solution of coating material in a concentration effective to induce ionic gelation of the coating material around the beads, to form encapsulated tobacco beads having gel coatings. According to another embodiment, an encapsulated tobacco bead comprises a core comprising tobacco particles and encapsulated menthol, an inner coating layer comprising hydroxypropyl methylcellulose or pectin, and an outer coating layer comprising an ionically-crosslinked gel.

Abstract: An electrically heated smoking system for receiving an aerosol forming substrate includes a heater for heating the substrate to form the aerosol. The heater includes a heating element. The electrically heated smoking system and the heating element are arranged such that, when the aerosol forming substrate is received in the electrically heated smoking system, the heating element extends a distance only partially along the length of the aerosol forming-substrate, and the heating element is positioned towards the downstream end of the aerosol forming substrate.

Abstract: Cigarettes are provided which contain a filtering system and flavorants encapsulated with polyvinyl acetate, wherein deactivation of a sorbent by the flavorant is reduced through the encapsulation of the flavorant within the polyvinyl acetate. A preferred flavorant is menthol. The encapsulated flavorants are prepared by mixing at least one flavorant with polyvinyl acetate and a solvent, such as ethanol, and forming the encapsulated flavorants. Methods of making cigarettes and smoking the articles are also provided.

Abstract: Provided is an aerosol generating apparatus including: a heater configured to generate aerosol by heating a cigarette, the heater including a first electrically conductive heating element formed along a first path on an electrically insulating substrate, a second electrically conductive heating element formed along a second path on the electrically insulating substrate, and a temperature sensor track formed along a third path in a region between the first path and the second path; a battery configured to supply power to the heater; and a controller configured to control the power supplied from the battery to the heater and monitor a temperature sensed using the temperature sensor track.

Abstract: Electrically heated cigarettes used in an electrical smoking system include a flavoring-release additive and sorbent effective to remove one or more gas-phase constituents of mainstream tobacco smoke. The flavoring-release additive includes gamma cyclodextrin and at least one flavoring. Flavoring is released in a cigarette upon the flavoring-release additive reaching at least a minimum temperature during smoking. The flavoring-release additive can have various forms including, for example, powder and films.

Abstract: An aerosol generating article (100) includes a retractable heat source (130). The aerosol generating article has a tubular body (110) positioned at the proximal end (102) of the aerosol generating article. A combustible heat source is positioned at the distal end (104) of the aerosol generating article. An aerosol generating substrate (120) is downstream of the combustible heat source. The combustible heat source is slideable from an extended position to a retracted position having a shorter article length. An entire length of the combustible heat source retracts into the tubular body in the retracted position.

Abstract: An electronic device for producing an aerosol for inhalation by a person includes a mouthpiece, a liquid container, and a mesh assembly having a mesh material and a piezoelectric material. The mesh material is in contact with a liquid of the container. The mesh material is configured to vibrate when the piezoelectric material is actuated, whereby the aerosol is produced. The aerosol may be inhaled through the mouthpiece. The device also includes circuitry and a power supply for actuating the mesh assembly. The mouthpiece, the container, and the mesh assembly are located in-line along a longitudinal axis of the device between opposite longitudinal ends of the device, with the mesh assembly extending between and separating the mouthpiece and the container. The mesh material has a rigidity that is sufficient to prevent oscillations of varying amplitudes during actuation of the piezoelectric material of the mesh assembly for consistently producing the aerosol.

Abstract: Methods for obtaining natural colorants from plant material (e.g., tobacco material) and for using such natural colorants to dye various substrates are provided. Natural colorants are obtained using particular enzymes and particular conditions (e.g., time, temperature, and pH profiles). Such colorants can be used to dye substrates, for example, using conventional dyeing techniques or using unique in situ methods.

Abstract: Vaporizer cartridges and vaporizer apparatuses, and methods for making, using, and/or delivering vapor to a user are described. In some aspects, leak-resistant vaporizer cartridges and/or apparatuses adapted for use with oil-based vaporizable materials including cannabis oils are described.

Abstract: A conical smoking shell storage apparatus, comprising of a container having a top panel, one or more side walls, an interior and a plurality of lower frustoconically shaped inserts detachable supported in a generally vertical condition and parallel to each other via cooperating upper and lower openings. Multiple nested conical smoking shells can be supported in each of the frustoconically shaped inserts which provide support from bending, wrinkling, or damage to the sidewalls of the nested conical smoking shells with a plurality of upper frustoconically shaped inserts on the top of stack of nested conical smoking shells.

Abstract: An aerosol-generating system includes an aerosol-generating article (100) comprising an article housing (110) and an aerosol-forming substrate (300) disposed in the article housing. The system further includes an aerosol-generating device (200) comprising a device housing (210) that defines a receptacle (220) configured to receive the aerosol-generating article. The device further includes control electronics (250) disposed in the device housing and includes a sensor (260) operably coupled to the control electronics and configured to detect a state of the device or the article when the article is received in the receptacle. In addition, the system includes a shape-changing element (270) disposed on or in at least one of the article housing and the device housing. The shape-changing element changes shape in response to the state of the device or the article detected by the sensor to cause a sufficient change in shape of an exterior surface of the device or the article to provide tactile feedback to a user.

Abstract: An aerosol generation device includes a case into which a cigarette is to be inserted; a protrusion pipe of a hollow shape protruding from one end portion of the case and having an opening; a heater installed in the case such that an end portion thereof is positioned inside the protrusion pipe, and configured to generate heat when an electric signal is applied thereto; and a heater fixing portion installed inside the protrusion pipe to support the heater and comprising a round surface that extends from an inner side surface of the protrusion pipe.

Abstract: An electronic vapor provision device comprising a power cell and a computer, where the computer comprises a computer processor, a memory and an input-output means; wherein the device further comprises a pressure sensor and a temperature sensor.

Abstract: Devices for generating and releasing vapor. In particular, described herein are portable devices for generating a low-temperature inhalable vapor having an elongated tubular body containing a vaporization chamber and a battery-powered heater, a removable mouthpiece covering the vaporization chamber, a display configured to indicate the temperature of the vaporization chamber; a microcontroller configured to regulate the temperature of the vaporization chamber, and a control to select from among a variety of temperature settings.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: There is described an aerosol-forming substrate for use in combination with an inductive heating device. The aerosol-forming substrate comprises a solid material capable of releasing volatile compounds that can form an aerosol upon heating of the aerosol-forming substrate, and at least a first susceptor material for heating of the aerosol-forming substrate. The first susceptor material has a first Curie-temperature and is arranged in thermal proximity of the solid material. The aerosol-forming substrate comprises at least a second susceptor material having a second Curie-temperature which is arranged in thermal proximity of the solid material. The first and second susceptor materials have specific absorption rate (SAR) outputs which are distinct from each other.

Abstract: A flavor delivery article is provided including a substantially rod-shaped carrier element and a wrapping element. The wrapping element surrounds at least a portion of the carrier element. The delivery article includes a flavor material within one or both of the carrier element and the wrapping element. The flavor delivery article is adapted for delivery of the flavor material to the mouth of a user under mouth conditions in the absence of combustion or other external heating.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: The present invention provides a conductive substrate useful for Joule heating, such as in an electronic smoking article. Particularly, the invention provides a resistive heating element formed of a conductive substrate. The conductive substrate comprises an electrically conductive material and a carbonaceous additive, such as a binder material. The conductive substrate is carbonized in that it is subjected to calcining conditions to effectively reduce the carbonaceous additive to its carbon skeleton. It has been found that such carbonized substrate has surprisingly improved resistance properties in relation a substrate of the same formulation that is not carbonized. The carbonized substrate can include an aerosol precursor material. The formed resistive heating element can be included in an electronic smoking article to simultaneously provide resistive heating and aerosol formation with a single, unitary component.

Abstract: An aerosol-generating system includes an aerosol-generating article (100) comprising an article housing (110) and an aerosol-forming substrate (300) disposed in the article housing. The system further includes an aerosol-generating device (200) comprising a device housing (210) that defines a receptacle (220) configured to receive the aerosol-generating article. The device further includes control electronics (250) disposed in the device housing and includes a sensor (260) operably coupled to the control electronics and configured to detect a state of the device or the article when the article is received in the receptacle. In addition, the system includes a shape-changing element (270) disposed on or in at least one of the article housing and the device housing. The shape-changing element changes shape in response to the state of the device or the article detected by the sensor to cause a sufficient change in shape of an exterior surface of the device or the article to provide tactile feedback to a user.