Aerosol provision system

Abstract

A body for an aerosol provision system for generating an aerosol from an aerosolizable material includes a receptacle for releasably receiving a cartridge. The receptacle includes at least one air inlet and a plenum chamber. In this way, the receptacle is configured for allowing the cartridge to engage against a portion of the plenum chamber when the receptacle is releasably receiving the cartridge, for then allowing a flow of air to pass from outside of the receptacle, through the at least one air inlet, into the receptacle, and then into the plenum chamber.

1 . A body, for an aerosol provision system for generating an aerosol from an aerosolizable material, the body comprising:
 a receptacle for releasably receiving a cartridge configured to contain aerosolizable material for aerosolizing into the aerosol, wherein the receptacle comprises:
 at least one receptacle wall; 
 at least one air inlet, wherein each air inlet extends through the at least one receptacle wall; and 
 a plenum chamber; 
   wherein the receptacle is configured for allowing the cartridge to engage against a portion of the plenum chamber when the receptacle is releasably receiving the cartridge, for then allowing a flow of air to pass from outside of the receptacle, through the at least one air inlet, into the receptacle, and then into the plenum chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The body according to  claim 1 , wherein the plenum chamber comprises a plurality of inlet orifices for allowing a flow of air to pass from the at least one air inlet into the plenum chamber;
 wherein the plurality of inlet orifices comprises a first inlet orifice on a first side of the plenum chamber, and comprises a second inlet orifice on a second side of the plenum chamber;   wherein the first side of the plenum chamber is located opposite the second side of the plenum chamber.   
     
     
         3 . The body according to  claim 2 , wherein the receptacle comprises an air-flow receiving orifice for allowing a flow of air to pass from the receptacle to an air-flow detection sensor;
 wherein the air-flow inlet orifice is located more proximal to the first inlet orifice, than the air-flow inlet orifice is located to the second inlet orifice, for allowing a flow of air passing through the first inlet orifice to also pass over the air-flow receiving orifice.   
     
     
         4 . The body according to  claim 3 , wherein the air-flow receiving orifice is located on a same side, or half, of the plenum chamber as the at least one air inlet. 
     
     
         5 . The body according to  claim 3 , the body further comprising an aerosolizable material directing portion for directing aerosolizable material away from the air-flow receiving orifice when the cartridge is releasably received by the receptacle. 
     
     
         6 . The body according to  claim 5 , wherein the plenum chamber comprises the aerosolizable material directing portion. 
     
     
         7 . The body according to  claim 4 , wherein the aerosolizable material directing portion comprises a basin, wherein the air-flow receiving orifice is located outside of the basin. 
     
     
         8 . The body according to  claim 1 , wherein the plenum chamber comprises a surrounding wall, wherein the portion of the plenum chamber comprises the surrounding wall. 
     
     
         9 . The body according to  claim 8 , wherein the surrounding wall is resilient. 
     
     
         10 . The body according to  claim 8 , wherein the surrounding wall comprises a maximum width which is no more than 5 mm. 
     
     
         11 . The body according to  claim 8 , wherein the surrounding wall prevents a line-of-sight between each air inlet and an interior of the plenum chamber. 
     
     
         12 . The body according to  claim 1 , wherein the receptacle comprises:
 a first end; and   a second, open, end for allowing a cartridge to be inserted into the receptacle;   wherein the at least one receptacle wall comprises:
 a first receptacle wall located at the first end of the receptacle; and 
 at least one second receptacle wall extending between the first end and the second end of the receptacle; 
   wherein each air inlet extends through the at least one second receptacle wall.   
     
     
         13 . The body according to  claim 12 , wherein each air inlet is located closer to the first end of the receptacle, than the air inlet is located to the second end of the receptacle. 
     
     
         14 . The body according to  claim 12 , wherein the body further comprises a plane which intersects each of the at least one air inlet and a portion of the plenum chamber. 
     
     
         15 . The body according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one air inlet comprises:
 a first air inlet defining a first air inlet channel extending about a first direction through a wall of the receptacle; and   a second air inlet defining a second air inlet channel extending about a second direction through a wall of the receptacle;   wherein the first direction is not parallel to the second direction.   
     
     
         16 . The body according to  claim 15 , wherein the angle of separation between the first direction and the second direction is between 50 degrees and 170 degrees. 
     
     
         17 . The body according to  claim 16 , wherein the angle of separation between the first direction and the second direction is not 90 degrees. 
     
     
         18 . The body according to  claim 15 , wherein each air inlet channel comprises a first, entry, end, wherein the first end of each air inlet channel is for receiving a flow of air from outside of the receptacle into the air inlet channel, wherein the first end of each air inlet channel is located on a first chamfered portion of the receptacle. 
     
     
         19 . The body according to  claim 18 , wherein the first chamfered portion comprises a first chamfered portion which is located on an outer surface of the receptacle;
 wherein each air inlet channel comprises a second, exit, end, wherein the second end of each air inlet channel is for allowing the flow of air to pass out from the air inlet channel and into receptacle, wherein the second end of each air inlet channel is located on a second chamfered portion of the receptacle;   wherein the second chamfered portion is located on an inner surface of the receptacle.   
     
     
         20 . The body according to  claim 1 , wherein the receptacle comprises a non-circular cross section. 
     
     
         21 . The body according to  claim 1 , wherein the receptacle comprises a cross section which comprises:
 a first side comprising a first end and a second end;   a second side comprising a first end and a second end;   a third side connected to, and extending in a direction away from, the first end of the first side;   a fourth side connected to, and extending in a direction away from, the second end of the first side and also extending in a direction away from the third side;   a fifth side connected to the third side and the first end of the second side; and   a sixth side connected to the fourth side and the second end of the second side.   
     
     
         22 . The body according to  claim 21 , wherein the fifth and sixth sides are parallel with each other, and wherein the third and four sides are each shorter in length than each of the first; second; and sixth sides. 
     
     
         23 . The body according to  claim 21 , wherein the third side and/or fourth side comprises the at least one air inlet. 
     
     
         24 . The body according to  claim 1 , wherein the plenum chamber comprises a main chamber and at least one entrance chamber. 
     
     
         25 . The body according to  claim 24 , wherein the at least one entrance chamber comprises a first entrance chamber on a first side of the plenum chamber, and comprises a second entrance chamber on a second side of the plenum chamber;
 wherein the main chamber is located between the first entrance chamber and the second entrance chamber.   
     
     
         26 . The body according to  claim 1 , wherein the plenum chamber is configured to be covered by, and/or or at least partly defined by, the cartridge when the cartridge is engaging the portion of the plenum chamber. 
     
     
         27 . The body according to  claim 1 , wherein the receptacle further comprises an outer chamber between the at least one air inlet and the plenum chamber, wherein the outer chamber extends around the plenum chamber, and wherein the outer chamber comprises at least one cartridge-supporting portion configured to engage against a cartridge which is received by the receptacle. 
     
     
         28 . The body according to  claim 1 , wherein the receptacle further comprises at least one electrode which is configured, in use, for supplying electrical power to a cartridge received in the receptacle. 
     
     
         29 . An aerosol provision system comprising the body according to  claim 1 , the aerosol provision system further comprising a cartridge configured to contain aerosolizable material for aerosolizing into the aerosol, wherein the aerosol provision system is configured for allowing the flow of air to pass from the plenum chamber into an air inlet of the cartridge, when the cartridge is engaged against the portion of the plenum chamber. 
     
     
         30 . An aerosol provision system according to  claim 29 , wherein each air inlet of the receptacle is configured, when the receptacle is receiving the cartridge, to extend through a wall of the receptacle about a length direction which is not parallel to a length direction of the air inlet from the cartridge. 
     
     
         31 . A method of directing a flow of air through an aerosol provision system, wherein the method comprises:
 causing a flow of air to pass through at least one air inlet from a body of the aerosol provision system;   delivering the flow of air from the at least one air inlet into a plenum chamber of the body; and   delivering the flow of air from the plenum chamber into an air inlet of a cartridge which is engaged against a portion of the plenum chamber.   
     
     
         32 . A method according to  claim 31 , wherein the method further comprises:
 delivering the flow of air from the at least one air inlet into a receptacle of the body, wherein the receptacle is configured for releasably receiving the cartridge, and wherein the receptacle comprises the plenum chamber; and   delivering the flow of air from the receptacle into the plenum chamber of the body.   
     
     
         33 . A method according to  claim 32 , wherein the method further comprises:
 delivering the flow of air from the at least one air inlet into an outer chamber of the receptacle; and   delivering the flow of air from the outer chamber into the plenum chamber.   
     
     
         34 . A method according to  claim 31 , wherein the at least one air inlet comprises a first air inlet and a second air inlet, wherein delivering the flow of air from the at least one air inlet into a plenum chamber of the body comprises:
 delivering a first portion of the flow of air from the first inlet into the plenum chamber; and   delivering a second portion of the flow of air from the second inlet into the plenum chamber.   
     
     
         35 . A method according to  claim 34 , wherein:
 delivering a first portion of the flow of air from the first inlet into the plenum chamber comprises:
 delivering a first part of the first portion of the flow of air from the first inlet into a first inlet orifice from the plenum chamber; and 
 delivering a second part of the first portion of the flow of air from the first inlet into a second inlet orifice from the plenum chamber; 
   delivering a second portion of the flow of air from the second inlet into the plenum chamber comprises:
 delivering a first part of the second portion of the flow of air from the second inlet into the first inlet orifice from the plenum chamber; and 
 delivering a second part of the second portion of the flow of air from the second inlet into the second inlet orifice from the plenum chamber. 
   
     
     
         36 . A method according to  claim 31 , wherein there is no direct line-of-sight between each air inlet and the interior of the plenum chamber. 
     
     
         37 . A method according to  claim 31 , wherein a surface of the plenum chamber which is located underneath the air inlet of the cartridge when the cartridge is engaged against the portion of the plenum chamber is featureless. 
     
     
         38 . A method according to  claim 31 , wherein a surface of the plenum chamber which is located underneath the air inlet of the cartridge when the cartridge is engaged against the portion of the plenum chamber is flat. 
     
     
         39 . A method according to  claim 31 , wherein a surface of the plenum chamber which is located underneath the air inlet of the cartridge when the cartridge is engaged against the portion of the plenum chamber is smooth. 
     
     
         40 . A method according to  claim 31 , wherein the plenum chamber comprises a line of symmetry. 
     
     
         41 . A method according to  claim 35 , wherein the plenum chamber comprises a line of symmetry, wherein the line of symmetry passes through each inlet orifice. 
     
     
         42 . A method according to  claim 31 , further comprising a minimum separation of 3 mm between the plenum chamber and each air inlet. 
     
     
         43 . A method according to  claim 31 , wherein delivering the flow of air from the plenum chamber into the air inlet of a cartridge further comprises:
 re-directing the flow of air through a 90 degree angle from the plenum chamber into the air inlet of the cartridge.   
     
     
         44 . A method according to  claim 31 , wherein delivering the flow of air from the at least one air inlet into the plenum chamber of the body further comprises:
 delivering the flow of air from the at least one air inlet, past at least one electrode which is configured, in use, for supplying electrical power to the cartridge, and then delivering this flow of air into the plenum chamber of the body.   
     
     
         45 . A method according to  claim 31 , wherein delivering the flow of air from the at least one air inlet into the plenum chamber of the body further comprises:
 re-directing a portion of the flow of air, from the at least one air inlet, which impinges a receptacle wall, off from the receptacle wall, towards the plenum chamber;   wherein the receptacle wall defines a receptacle which is releasably receiving the cartridge, wherein the receptacle comprises the plenum chamber.