Aerosol-generating article having a grooved air channelling element

Abstract

There is provided an aerosol-generating article for producing an inhalable aerosol upon heating. The aerosol-generating article comprises a rod of aerosol-generating substrate. The aerosol-generating article comprises an air channelling element abutting the rod of aerosol-generating substrate. The air channelling element comprises a groove defined on an external surface. The groove defines an external air passageway extending from an upstream end of the air channelling element to a downstream end of the air channelling element. There is also provided an aerosol-generating system comprising the aerosol-generating article and an aerosol-generating device comprising an external heater, configured to receive and externally heat the aerosol-generating article.

1 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . An aerosol-generating system comprising an aerosol-generating article for producing an inhalable aerosol upon heating and an aerosol-generating device comprising a heating chamber, the aerosol-generating article being configured to be received within the heating chamber and comprising:
 a rod of aerosol-generating substrate; and   an air channelling element abutting the rod of aerosol-generating substrate, wherein the air channelling element comprises a groove defined on an external surface, the groove defining an external air passageway extending from an upstream end of the air channelling element to a downstream end of the air channelling element;   wherein the aerosol-generating device comprises a heater configured to externally heat the rod of aerosol-generating substrate.   
     
     
         18 . An aerosol-generating system according to  claim 17 , wherein the aerosol-generating article further comprises a downstream section located downstream of the rod of aerosol-generating substrate, the downstream section comprising the air channelling element abutting a downstream end of the rod of aerosol-generating substrate. 
     
     
         19 . An aerosol-generating system according to  claim 17 , wherein the aerosol-generating article further comprises a ventilation zone at a location along the air channelling element. 
     
     
         20 . An aerosol-generating system according to  claim 17 , wherein the aerosol-generating article further comprises an upstream section located upstream of the rod of aerosol-generating substrate, the upstream section comprising the air channelling element abutting an upstream end of the rod of aerosol-generating substrate. 
     
     
         21 . An aerosol-generating system according to  claim 17 , wherein the aerosol-generating article further comprises an upstream section located upstream of the rod of aerosol-generating substrate and a downstream section located downstream of the rod of aerosol-generating substrate, the upstream section comprising the air channelling element abutting an upstream end of the rod of aerosol-generating substrate and the downstream section comprising a downstream air channelling element abutting a downstream end of the rod of aerosol-generating substrate. 
     
     
         22 . An aerosol-generating system according to  claim 17 , wherein the aerosol-generating article further comprises a mouthpiece element provided downstream of the rod of aerosol-generating substrate, wherein the air channelling element is located upstream of the rod of aerosol-generating substrate or between the rod of aerosol-generating substrate and the mouthpiece element. 
     
     
         23 . An aerosol-generating system according to  claim 17 , wherein the aerosol-generating article further comprises a hollow tubular element provided downstream of the rod of aerosol-generating substrate, wherein the air channelling element is located upstream of the rod of aerosol-generating substrate or between the rod of aerosol-generating substrate and the hollow tubular element. 
     
     
         24 . An aerosol-generating system according to  claim 17 , wherein a body of the air channelling element comprises a core portion and a peripheral portion where the groove is defined, wherein the core portion is substantially solid. 
     
     
         25 . An aerosol-generating system according to  claim 17 , wherein the air channelling element does not define an internal cavity. 
     
     
         26 . An aerosol-generating system according to  claim 17 , wherein the air channelling element is formed by thermoforming. 
     
     
         27 . An aerosol-generating system according to  claim 17 , wherein a depth of the groove is at least 0.5 mm. 
     
     
         28 . An aerosol-generating system according to  claim 17 , wherein a depth of the groove is no greater than 2 mm. 
     
     
         29 . An aerosol-generating system according to  claim 17 , wherein the air channelling element comprises at least four grooves. 
     
     
         30 . An aerosol-generating system according to  claim 17 , wherein the groove traces a helical path or a waveform path on the air channelling element. 
     
     
         31 . An aerosol-generating system according to  claim 17 , wherein the aerosol-generating article further comprises a wrapper circumscribing the air channelling element, wherein the wrapper overlies the external air passageway defined by the groove such that the wrapper defines a boundary of the external air passageway.