Aerosol generating system

Abstract

There is provided an aerosol generating system (100) comprising: a consumable unit (110) having a plurality of air flow paths (112) therethrough, each of the plurality of air flow paths being associated with at least a respective one of a corresponding plurality of sources of aerosol generating medium (114); and, a housing (120) for housing the consumable unit, the housing having an air inlet (122) and an air outlet (124), wherein the system is configured so that any of the air flow paths can be selectively brought into contact with the inlet and the outlet to form an air flow path.

1 . An aerosol generating system comprising:
 a consumable unit having a plurality of air flow paths therethrough, each of the plurality of air flow paths being associated with at least a respective one of a corresponding plurality of sources of aerosol generating medium; and   a housing for housing the consumable unit, the housing having an air inlet and an air outlet,   wherein the system is configured so that any of the air flow paths can be selectively brought into contact with the inlet and the outlet to form an air flow path.   
     
     
         2 . The aerosol generating system according to  claim 1 , wherein the consumable unit is selectively moveable so that an air flow path in the consumable unit can be selectively brought into contact with the inlet and the outlet to form an air flow path through the system. 
     
     
         3 . The aerosol generating system according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing is selectively moveable so that an air flow path in the consumable unit can be selectively brought into contact with the inlet and the outlet to form an air flow path through the system. 
     
     
         4 . The aerosol generating system according to  claim 3 , wherein the inlet is selectively moveable so that an air flow path in the consumable unit can be selectively brought into contact with the inlet and the outlet to form an air flow path through the system. 
     
     
         5 . The aerosol generating system according to  claim 3 , wherein the outlet is selectively moveable so that an air flow path in the consumable unit can be selectively brought into contact with the inlet and the outlet to form an air flow path through the system. 
     
     
         6 . The aerosol generating system according to  claim 1 , the consumable unit further comprising a corresponding plurality of dividing walls,
 wherein the plurality of air flow paths through the consumable unit are separated from one another by the corresponding plurality of dividing walls in the consumable unit.   
     
     
         7 . The aerosol generating system according to  claim 1 , wherein the consumable unit further comprises a cover,
 the cover covering a portion of the consumable unit, the cover providing a condensing surface for aerosol generated in the device.   
     
     
         8 . The aerosol generating system according to  claim 1 , wherein the consumable unit further comprises a plurality of apertures through which air can flow, wherein one aperture is an air inlet aperture and one aperture is an air outlet aperture,
 wherein aerosol generating medium is arranged between the air inlet aperture and the air outlet aperture.   
     
     
         9 . The aerosol generating system according to  claim 8 , further comprising filter material arranged in one of the plurality of apertures through which air can flow. 
     
     
         10 . The aerosol generating system according to  claim 8 , wherein the air inlet aperture is arranged at an angle to the air outlet aperture. 
     
     
         11 . The aerosol generating system according to  claim 8 , wherein the air inlet aperture of the consumable unit abuts the air inlet of the housing so as to form the air flow path from the air inlet of the housing to the air outlet of the housing. 
     
     
         12 . The aerosol generating system according to  claim 8 , the consumable unit comprising biased caps to cover respectively the air inlet aperture and the air outlet aperture of the consumable unit after use of the device has ceased. 
     
     
         13 . The aerosol generating system according to  claim 1 , wherein the consumable unit is rotatable relative to the housing. 
     
     
         14 . The aerosol generating system according to  claim 1 , wherein relative movement of the consumable unit to the housing is affected by a user of the aerosol generating system. 
     
     
         15 . The aerosol generating system according to  claim 1 , wherein relative movement of the consumable unit to the housing is automatically initiated. 
     
     
         16 . The aerosol generating system according to  claim 1 , the consumable unit further comprising a plurality of layers providing condensing surfaces,
 wherein each of the plurality of sources of aerosol generating medium is arranged on a layer of the plurality of layers.   
     
     
         17 . The aerosol generating system according to  claim 1 , wherein the consumable unit is removable from the system. 
     
     
         18 . The aerosol generating system according to  claim 1 , the consumable unit further comprising:
 a base on which aerosol generating medium is arranged;   a side wall projecting from the base;   a corresponding plurality of dividing walls projecting from the base and the side wall, wherein the plurality of air flow paths through the consumable unit are separated from one another by the corresponding plurality of dividing walls; and   a cover covering a portion of the consumable unit, the cover providing a condensing surface for aerosol generated in the device,   an aperture in the side wall through which air can flow, wherein the aperture in the side wall abuts the air inlet of the housing,   an opening in the cover through which air can flow, wherein the opening in the cover is in fluid communication with the air outlet of the housing.   
     
     
         19 . An aerosol generating device configured to receive a consumable unit having a plurality of air flow paths therethrough, each of the plurality of air flow paths being associated with a respective one of a corresponding plurality of sources of aerosol generating medium, comprising:
 a housing for housing the consumable unit, the housing having an air inlet and an air outlet,   wherein the device is configured so that any of the air flow paths can be selectively brought into contact with the inlet and the outlet to form an air flow path.   
     
     
         20 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A method of generating an aerosol in an aerosol generating device, the method comprising:
 providing a consumable unit having a plurality of air flow paths therethrough, each of the plurality of air flow paths being associated with a respective one of a corresponding plurality of sources of aerosol generating medium;   providing a housing for housing the consumable unit, the housing having an air inlet and an air outlet,   selectively bringing an air flow path into contact with the air inlet and the air outlet to form an air flow path.   
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 22 , wherein selectively bringing an air flow path into contact with the air inlet and the air outlet to form an air flow path comprises selectively moving at least one of:
 the consumable unit;   the housing;   the air inlet; and,   the air outlet.   
     
     
         24 . A consumable unit for use with an aerosol generating device configured to receive the consumable unit, the device having a housing for housing the consumable unit, the housing having an air inlet and an air outlet,
 wherein the consumable unit has a plurality of air flow paths therethrough, each of the plurality of air flow paths being associated with at least a respective one of a corresponding plurality of sources of aerosol generating medium;   wherein the consumable unit is arranged such that any of the air flow paths can be selectively brought into contact with the air inlet and the air outlet to form an air flow path.   
     
     
         25 . (canceled)