Smoking substitute apparatus

Abstract

A smoking substitute apparatus for generating an aerosol for inhalation by a user. The smoking substitute apparatus comprising: an air inlet and an outlet; a passage between the air inlet and the outlet. Air flows, in use, along the passage for inhalation by a user drawing air through the apparatus. An aerosol generation chamber contains an aerosol generator to generate an aerosol from an aerosol precursor. The aerosol generation chamber communicates with the passage having a downstream portion. Wherein, in use, aerosol is entrained in airflow in the downstream portion of the passage. The downstream portion of the passage and the aerosol generation chamber may have at least one inner-facing wall having a drop guidance drain, such that, in use, when the apparatus is held upright, drops of condensate formed on the inner-facing wall flow downwards and are guided by the drop guidance drain to the aerosol generator.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A smoking substitute apparatus for generating an aerosol for inhalation by a user, the smoking substitute apparatus comprising:
 an air inlet and an outlet;   a passage extending between the air inlet and the outlet, air flowing in use along the passage for inhalation by a user drawing air through the apparatus; and   an aerosol generation chamber containing an aerosol generator being operable to generate an aerosol from an aerosol precursor, the aerosol generation chamber being in communication with the passage, a downstream portion of the passage being provided downstream of the aerosol generator and,   in use, aerosol being entrained in airflow in the downstream portion of the passage, the downstream portion of the passage and the aerosol generation chamber each having at least one inner-facing wall,   there being provided at least one drop guidance drain formed on the inner-facing wall of the downstream portion of the passage and/or of the aerosol generation chamber, such that, in use, when the apparatus is held upright so that air flow to the outlet is upwards, drops of condensate formed on the inner-facing wall flow downwards under gravity and are guided by the drop guidance drain to the aerosol generator.   
     
     
         2 . The smoking substitute apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one drop guidance drain extends circumferentially at least part of the way around the inner-facing wall, and slopes towards the aerosol generator. 
     
     
         3 . The smoking substitute apparatus of either  claim 1  or  claim 2 , wherein the aerosol generator includes a wick and a heater. 
     
     
         4 . The smoking substitute apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein, in use, the heater heats the wick such that the wick has a high temperature portion and a low temperature portion, and wherein the drop guidance drain guides the drops of condensate to the low temperature portion of the wick. 
     
     
         5 . The smoking substitute apparatus of either  claim 3  or  claim 4 , wherein the one or more drop guidance drain is configured to guide the drops of condensate away from a central portion of the wick. 
     
     
         6 . The smoking substitute apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the air inlet is provided below the aerosol generation chamber. 
     
     
         7 . The smoking substitute apparatus of any preceding claim, including a first and second drop guidance drain, wherein the first and second drop guidance drains start from a same point on the inner-facing wall of the downstream portion of the passage and/or of the aerosol generation chamber and respectively extend in opposite circumferential directions. 
     
     
         8 . The smoking substitute apparatus of  claim 7 , including a third and fourth drop guidance drain, formed on an opposing side of the inner-facing wall to the first and second drop guidance drains, the third and fourth drop guidance drain starting from a same point on the inner-facing wall of the downstream portion of the passage and/or of the aerosol generation chamber and respectively extending in opposite circumferential directions. 
     
     
         9 . The smoking substitute apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the first and third drop guidance drains guide drops of condensate to a same first location. 
     
     
         10 . The smoking substitute apparatus of  claim 8  or  9 , wherein the second and fourth drop guidance drains guide drops of condensate to a same second location. 
     
     
         11 . The smoking substitute apparatus of  claim 10  as dependent on  claim 9 , wherein the aerosol generator includes a wick and heater and the first location and the second location are axially separated along the wick. 
     
     
         12 . The smoking substitute apparatus off  claim 11 , wherein the heater is between the first and second locations. 
     
     
         13 . The smoking substitute apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the passage and/or aerosol generation chamber has an oval cross-section, and the at least one drop guidance drain is arranged on a circumference of the oval cross-section.