Holder

Abstract

Holder ( 160 ) for supporting a vaporiser ( 132 ) in an aerosol delivery system ( 100 ), the holder comprising at least one holder inlet ( 134 a, 14 b ); a holder outlet ( 164 ) for fluid communication with the vaporiser; and at least one air flow channel ( 162 a, 162 b ) extending within the holder from the holder inlet to the holder outlet, wherein the at least one air flow channel comprises an undulating portion ( 169 a, 169 b ) having an undulating lower surface ( 166 a, 166 b ) comprising at least one trough ( 172 a, 172 b ) for retaining leaked aerosol precursor from the vaporiser.

1 . A holder for supporting a vaporiser in an aerosol delivery system, the holder comprising:
 at least one holder inlet;   a holder outlet for fluid communication with the vaporiser; and   at least one air flow channel extending within the holder from the holder inlet to the holder outlet,   wherein the at least one air flow channel comprises an undulating portion having an undulating lower surface comprising at least one trough for retaining leaked aerosol precursor from the vaporiser.   
     
     
         2 . The holder according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one trough of the undulating lower surface comprises a pitted trough surface having at least one lower pit extending in a depth direction of the at least one air flow channel. 
     
     
         3 . The holder according to  claim 2 , wherein the pitted trough surface further comprises at least one lower rib that at least partially defines the at least one lower pit. 
     
     
         4 . The holder according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least one lower pit extends the entire depth of the at least one air flow channel. 
     
     
         5 . The holder according to  claim 1 , wherein the undulating portion further comprises an undulating upper surface opposing the undulating lower surface, the undulating upper surface comprising at least one concave portion for retaining leaked aerosol precursor from the vaporiser. 
     
     
         6 . The holder according to  claim 5 , wherein the at least one concave portion of the undulating upper surface comprises a pitted concave surface having at least one upper pit extending in a depth direction of the at least one air flow channel. 
     
     
         7 . The holder according to  claim 6 , wherein the pitted concave surface further comprises at least one upper rib that at least partially defines the at least one upper pit. 
     
     
         8 . The holder according to  claim 6 , wherein the at least one upper pit extends the entire depth of the at least one air flow channel. 
     
     
         9 . The holder according to  claim 5 , wherein the undulating upper surface further comprises at least one convex portion, and wherein the undulating upper surface is laterally offset from the undulating lower surface such that the at least one convex portion of the undulating upper surface opposes the at least one trough of the undulating lower surface. 
     
     
         10 . The holder according to  claim 1 , further comprising a central axis extending between an upper face and a lower face, wherein the undulating portion extends in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the central axis. 
     
     
         11 . The holder according to  claim 1 , wherein the holder is formed by a main body and a plug, the plug providing the undulating lower surface of the undulating portion of the at least one air flow channel. 
     
     
         12 . The holder according to  claim 11 , wherein the plug is reversibly separable from the main body to allow for removal of aerosol precursor retained in the at least one trough. 
     
     
         13 . The holder according to  claim 1 , wherein the holder comprises a plurality of air flow channels and a plurality of holder inlets, and wherein each of the plurality of air flow channels extends from a respective holder inlet to the holder outlet. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The holder according to  claim 3 , wherein the at least one lower pit extends the entire depth of the at least one air flow channel. 
     
     
         17 . The holder according to  claim 2 , wherein the undulating portion further comprises an undulating upper surface opposing the undulating lower surface, the undulating upper surface comprising at least one concave portion for retaining leaked aerosol precursor from the vaporiser. 
     
     
         18 . The holder according to  claim 3 , wherein the undulating portion further comprises an undulating upper surface opposing the undulating lower surface, the undulating upper surface comprising at least one concave portion for retaining leaked aerosol precursor from the vaporiser. 
     
     
         19 . The holder according to  claim 4 , wherein the undulating portion further comprises an undulating upper surface opposing the undulating lower surface, the undulating upper surface comprising at least one concave portion for retaining leaked aerosol precursor from the vaporiser. 
     
     
         20 . The holder according to  claim 2 , further comprising a central axis extending between an upper face and a lower face, wherein the undulating portion extends in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the central axis. 
     
     
         21 . The holder according to  claim 2 , wherein the holder is formed by a main body and a plug, the plug providing the undulating lower surface of the undulating portion of the at least one air flow channel. 
     
     
         22 . The holder according to  claim 2 , wherein the holder comprises a plurality of air flow channels and a plurality of holder inlets, and wherein each of the plurality of air flow channels extends from a respective holder inlet to the holder outlet.