Electrically-powered aerosol delivery system

Abstract

An aerosol delivery system is provided, comprising a control body portion including a first elongate tubular member having a power source disposed therein. A cartridge body portion includes a second tubular member having opposed first and second ends. One of the first and second ends is removably engaged with one end of the control body portion. The cartridge body portion further comprises a first aerosol generation arrangement disposed within the second tubular member and configured to operably engage the power source upon engagement between the control body portion and the cartridge body portion. A second aerosol generation arrangement is disposed between the first aerosol generation arrangement and a mouth-engaging end of the aerosol delivery system, the second aerosol generation arrangement being either removably engaged with the cartridge body portion or housed within the second tubular member of the cartridge body portion. An associated method is also provided.

That which is claimed: 
     
         1 . An aerosol delivery system, comprising:
 a control body portion including a first elongate tubular member having opposed ends, and a power source disposed therein;   a cartridge body portion including a second tubular member having opposed first and second ends, the first end being engaged with one of the opposed ends of the control body portion, the cartridge body portion further comprising a first aerosol generation arrangement disposed within the second tubular member and configured to operably engage the power source upon engagement between the one of the opposed ends of the control body portion and the first end of the cartridge body portion, the second end of the cartridge body portion facing toward a mouth-engaging end of the aerosol delivery system; and   a second aerosol generation arrangement disposed between the first aerosol generation arrangement and the mouth-engaging end of the aerosol delivery system, the second aerosol generation arrangement being either removably engaged with the cartridge body portion or housed within the second tubular member of the cartridge body portion, and   wherein the second aerosol generation arrangement further includes a plurality of aerosol-generating elements in the form of beads or pellets.   
     
     
         2 . The aerosol-producing article of  claim 1 , further comprising a first separating element disposed within the second tubular member between the first aerosol generation arrangement and the second aerosol generation arrangement, the first separating element being one of heat-conductive and air permeable. 
     
     
         3 . The aerosol delivery system of  claim 2 , wherein the first separating element extends along a longitudinal axis between opposed ends so as to define a thickness, the thickness of the first separating element being configured to space the second aerosol generation arrangement from a heating element of the first aerosol generation arrangement. 
     
     
         4 . The aerosol delivery system of  claim 1 , further comprising a second separating element between the second aerosol generation arrangement and the mouth-engaging end, the second separating element being one of heat-conductive and air permeable. 
     
     
         5 . The aerosol delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein the second aerosol generation arrangement comprises a cartridge having an elongate tubular body and opposed end members, each of the end members being one of heat-conductive and air permeable, the elongate tubular body being further configured to receive the plurality of aerosol-generating elements and to cooperate with the opposed end members to contain the plurality of aerosol-generating elements therein, the cartridge being configured to be received by the second tubular member. 
     
     
         6 . The aerosol delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein the first aerosol generation arrangement comprises a liquid reservoir disposed within the second tubular member and configured to receive an aerosol precursor substance used by the first aerosol generation arrangement to generate a first aerosol. 
     
     
         7 . The aerosol delivery system of  claim 6 , wherein the aerosol precursor substance is one of glycerin, propylene glycol, water, saline, nicotine, organic acids, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The aerosol delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein the first aerosol generation arrangement includes a heating element configured to provide heat for producing a first aerosol, and the second aerosol generation arrangement includes at least one aerosol-generating element, the at least one aerosol-generating element being arranged to interact with the heat and the first aerosol, drawn therethrough toward the mouth-engaging end, in response to a suction applied to the mouth-engaging end. 
     
     
         9 . The aerosol delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein each bead or pellet is in the form of an extruded material comprising a particulate material selected from a tobacco material and a filler, at least one aerosol forming material, and at least one binder. 
     
     
         10 . The aerosol delivery system of  claim 9 , wherein the aerosol-generating elements comprise one or more of particulate tobacco, a tobacco extract, and nicotine, wherein the nicotine in free base form, salt form, as a complex, or as a solvate. 
     
     
         11 . The aerosol delivery system of  claim 9 , wherein the aerosol-generating elements further comprise one or more flavorants. 
     
     
         12 . The aerosol delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein the second aerosol generation arrangement is housed within the second tubular member of the cartridge body portion and includes a plurality of aerosol-generating elements in the form of beads or pellets retained in place by a first air permeable separating element disposed within the second tubular member between the first aerosol generation arrangement and the second aerosol generation arrangement and a second separating element between the second aerosol generation arrangement and the mouth-engaging end. 
     
     
         13 . The aerosol delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein the second aerosol generation arrangement is removably engaged with the cartridge body portion and includes a plurality of aerosol-generating elements in the form of beads or pellets retained in place by a first air permeable separating element between the first aerosol generation arrangement and the second aerosol generation arrangement and a second separating element between the second aerosol generation arrangement and the mouth-engaging end. 
     
     
         14 . The aerosol delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein the second aerosol generation arrangement comprises an outer housing body and a plurality of stackable, gas-permeable containers within the outer housing body, each container containing a plurality of aerosol-generating elements. 
     
     
         15 . The aerosol delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein the second aerosol generation arrangement comprises an outer housing body and an internal compartment subdivided into multiple subcompartments, each subcompartment containing a plurality of aerosol-generating elements. 
     
     
         16 . The aerosol delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein the beads or pellets comprise a substrate material selected from the group consisting of glass beads, fibers, honeycomb structures, porous monoliths, and polymer beads.