Abstract: An aerosol-generating system including a cartridge is provided, the cartridge including a liquid storage portion including a housing configured to hold a liquid aerosol-forming substrate, the housing having an opening; and a heater assembly including at least one heater element fixed to the housing and extending across an opening of the housing, wherein a width of the at least one heater element of the heater assembly is smaller than a width of the opening of the housing. The heater element may be spaced from a periphery of the opening, leading to more efficient heating and aerosol production.

Abstract: An aerosol-generating system includes a main body, a cartridge, and a connecting component. The main body includes a main body housing enclosing a power supply. The cartridge includes a cartridge housing enclosing a reservoir of liquid aerosol-forming substrate. The cartridge is releasably connectable to the main body by the connecting component. The connecting component is fixed to the main body housing and is less stiff in at least one direction than the main body housing. The connecting component that is less stiff the main body housing and the cartridge housing can act as a shock absorber when the aerosol-generating system experiences a significant impact, such as when dropped on a surface. This reduces damage to other components of the system and, in particular, may prevent leaks of liquid resulting from damage to the liquid reservoir.

Abstract: An aerosol-generating system is provided, including: an aerosol-generating device including a power source; and a cartridge removably coupled to the device, the cartridge including a liquid storage portion including a housing having an open end and containing a liquid aerosol-forming substrate, a substantially flat heater assembly fixed to the open end of the housing and including an electrical heating element arranged in a curved manner and configured to heat the substrate to form an aerosol, and a capillary material disposed in contact with the heating element and being configured to convey the substrate to the heating element, the liquid storage portion being disposed at a first side of the assembly and an airflow channel at a second side of the assembly, the airflow channel defining an airflow path over the assembly and configured to convey the aerosol, and the power source being configured to supply power to the assembly.

Abstract: An aerosol-generating system includes a main body, a cartridge, and a connecting component. The main body includes a main body housing enclosing a power supply. The cartridge includes a cartridge housing enclosing a reservoir of liquid aerosol-forming substrate. The cartridge is releasably connectable to the main body by the connecting component. The connecting component is fixed to the main body housing and is less stiff in at least one direction than the main body housing. The connecting component that is less stiff the main body housing and the cartridge housing can act as a shock absorber when the aerosol-generating system experiences a significant impact, such as when dropped on a surface. This reduces damage to other components of the system and, in particular, may prevent leaks of liquid resulting from damage to the liquid reservoir.

Abstract: The split airflow system for an electrically heated smoking system for generating aerosol, the split airflow system having a downstream end comprises a first channel defining a first flow route and a second channel defining a second flow route. The first flow route directs ambient air from outside the system to the downstream end of the system. The second flow route directs ambient air from outside the system towards a preferably substantially flat, fluid permeable, heating element before conveying the ambient air to the downstream end. The first channel and the second channel define a total volume of ambient air passing through the system and the first channel provides at least 50 percent of the total volume of ambient air passing through the system. The invention also refers to a method for guiding an airflow in an electrically heated smoking system for generating aerosol and an electrically heated smoking system comprising the split airflow system.

Abstract: A fluid permeable heater assembly for an aerosol-generating system includes a cap and a substantially flat electrically conductive and fluid permeable heating element. The cap includes a hollow body with a first cap opening and a second cap opening. The first cap opening is opposite to the second cap opening. The heating element is configured to vaporise aerosol-forming substrate. The heating element is mounted on the cap, such that the heating element extends across the first cap opening. A cartridge for an aerosol-generating system includes the heater assembly, a liquid storage portion, a mouth piece, and a retainer.

Abstract: An electrically operated aerosol-generating system is provided, including: an aerosol-generating device; an aerosol-forming cartridge including at least one aerosol-forming substrate, the aerosol-forming cartridge being at least partially received within the aerosol-generating device; at least one electric heater configured to heat the at least one aerosol-forming substrate; at least one air inlet and at least one air outlet; and an air flow channel extending between the at least one air inlet and the at least one air outlet, the air flow channel being in fluid communication with the aerosol-forming substrate, the air flow channel having an internal wall surface on which one or more flow disturbing devices are disposed, the flow disturbing devices being arranged to create a turbulent boundary layer in a flow of air drawn through the air flow channel.

Abstract: An aerosol-generating system is provided, including a liquid storage portion including a container configured to hold a liquid aerosol-generating substrate and defining an opening; a heater assembly extending across the opening along a plane transverse to the opening and including at least one electrically operated heating element; and a first channel defining a first flow route, a portion of the first channel being arranged with respect to the plane transverse to the opening such that at least a portion of the first channel is configured to direct air originating from outside the system to impinge against and across a surface portion of the at least one electrically operated heating element. A method for guiding an airflow in an electrically operated aerosol-generating system is also provided.

Abstract: A fluid permeable heater assembly for an aerosol-generating system includes a cap and a substantially flat electrically conductive and fluid permeable heating element. The cap includes a hollow body with a first cap opening and a second cap opening. The first cap opening is opposite to the second cap opening. The heating element is configured to vaporize aerosol-forming substrate. The heating element is mounted on the cap, such that the heating element extends across the first cap opening. A cartridge for an aerosol-generating system includes the heater assembly, a liquid storage portion, a mouth piece, and a retainer.

Abstract: A cartridge system is provided, including a liquid storage portion including a housing to hold a liquid aerosol-forming substrate; a mouthpiece having an outlet opening removably connected to a first end of the storage portion; and a heater assembly including an electrical heating element to heat the substrate to form an aerosol, and a porous capillary material having a first face contacting part of the heating element and to convey the substrate to the heating element by capillary action, the heating element disposed across the first face of the material, the liquid storage portion disposed at a first side of the heater assembly and a first airflow channel disposed at a second side of the assembly and defining an airflow path directed at a center of the heating element, and part of a second airflow channel extending to the outlet opening via a central channel of the housing.

Abstract: There is provided an aerosol-generating system including an aerosol-generating device and an aerosol-forming cartridge including at least one aerosol-forming substrate, wherein in use the aerosol-forming cartridge is at least partially received within the aerosol-generating device. The system further includes at least one electric heater configured to heat the at least one aerosol-forming substrate, at least one air inlet, and at least one air outlet. The system further includes an air flow channel extending between the at least one air inlet and the at least one air outlet. The air flow channel is in fluid communication with the aerosol-forming substrate, and has an internal wall surface on which one or more flow disturbing devices are disposed, the flow disturbing devices being arranged to create a turbulent boundary layer in a flow of air drawn through the air flow channel.

Abstract: An aerosol-generating system is provided, including: a liquid storage portion including a container configured to hold a liquid aerosol-forming substrate and defining an opening at an end thereof; a heater assembly extending across the opening along a plane transverse to a longitudinal axis of the portion and including an arrangement of one or more electrically conductive flat filaments; a capillary material disposed between the portion and the heater assembly and being configured to convey the substrate to the one or more filaments; and conductive contacts, disposed in electrical contact with corresponding contacts of the heater assembly, the portion being disposed at a first side of the heater assembly and a first airflow channel being disposed at a second side of the heater assembly, and the first airflow channel defining an airflow pathway that extends in a direction orthogonal to the plane and to a surface of the capillary material.

Abstract: An assembly for an aerosol-generating system is provided, including: a liquid storage portion configured to hold a liquid aerosol-forming substrate; a mouthpiece having an outlet opening at a proximal end; and a heater assembly including an electrical heating element configured to heat the substrate to form an aerosol, and a porous capillary material disposed in contact with the heating element and including a ceramic or a ceramic-based material, the heating element being disposed along a surface of the capillary material, the liquid storage portion being disposed at a first side of the heater assembly and a first airflow channel is disposed at a second side of the heater assembly, the first airflow channel defining an airflow path that extends in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the capillary material and is directed at a center of the heating element. An aerosol-generating system and a heater assemble are also provided.

Abstract: An aerosol-generating system is provided, including an aerosol-generating device having a heating chamber configured to heat an aerosol-forming substrate, the heating chamber including a first end having an opening, a second end having a base, and a side wall extending between the opening and the base; and a residue collector removably insertable into the heating chamber and positionable at or near the second end, the heating chamber further including a first side opening in the side wall and a second side opening in the side wall, opposite the first side opening, and the residue collector being insertable into the heating chamber and removable from the heating chamber through the first and the second side openings.

Abstract: A cleaning tool for an aerosol-generating device is provided, the cleaning tool including an elongate body having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the distal end portion defining a recess configured to receive a heating element of an aerosol-generating device, the recess extending from an opening in a distal end face of the elongate body towards the proximal end portion of the elongate body, the distal end portion of the elongate body being provided with at least one protrusion inwardly projecting into the recess, and the elongate body further including a scraping surface at the distal end face of the elongate body.

Abstract: An aerosol-generating device configured to heat an aerosol-forming substrate to form an inhalable aerosol is provided, the aerosol-generating device including a heating chamber configured to heat the aerosol-forming substrate, the heating chamber including a first end having an opening, a second end having a base, and a side wall extending between the opening and the base, a cavity being defined by inner surfaces of the base and the side wall, and a peripheral portion of the base being contoured to provide a chamfered or filleted intersection between the inner surfaces of the base and the side wall; a heating assembly; and a power supply.

Abstract: A cartridge for an aerosol-generating system includes a storage container containing a supply of an aerosol-forming substrate, a fluid permeable heating element positioned across an opening in the storage container, a protective cover coupled to the storage container and covering the fluid permeable heating element, at least one air inlet, at least one air outlet, and an airflow path from the at least one air inlet to the at least one air outlet. The protective cover is configured such that a portion of the airflow path is between the protective cover and the fluid permeable heating element.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a fluid permeable heater assembly includes providing a heating element, and over-molding a cap on edge areas of one side of the heating element. The cap includes a hollow body having a first cap opening and a second cap opening. The first cap opening is opposite to the second cap opening, and the heating element is mounted on the cap such that the heating element extends across the first cap opening.

Abstract: An aerosol-generating system is provided, including: a liquid storage portion including a container configured to hold a liquid aerosol-forming substrate and defining an opening at an end thereof; a heater assembly extending across the opening along a plane transverse to a longitudinal axis of the portion and including an arrangement of one or more electrically conductive flat filaments; a capillary material disposed between the portion and the heater assembly and being configured to convey the substrate to the one or more filaments; and conductive contacts, disposed in electrical contact with corresponding contacts of the heater assembly, the portion being disposed at a first side of the heater assembly and a first airflow channel being disposed at a second side of the heater assembly, and the first airflow channel defining an airflow pathway that extends in a direction orthogonal to the plane and to a surface of the capillary material.

Abstract: An assembly for an aerosol-generating system is provided, including: a liquid storage portion configured to hold a liquid aerosol-forming substrate; a mouthpiece having an outlet opening at a proximal end; and a heater assembly including an electrical heating element configured to heat the substrate to form an aerosol, and a porous capillary material disposed in contact with the heating element and including a ceramic or a ceramic-based material, the heating element being disposed along a surface of the capillary material, the liquid storage portion being disposed at a first side of the heater assembly and a first airflow channel is disposed at a second side of the heater assembly, the first airflow channel defining an airflow path that extends in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the capillary material and is directed at a center of the heating element. An aerosol-generating system and a heater assemble are also provided.