A moisture-impermeable container containing an aerosol-generating material and uses thereof

Abstract

The invention relates to a moisture-impermeable container comprising an aerosol-generating material comprising a dried precursor material comprising an extract from a flavour- and/or active-containing plant material and optionally an aerosol-former material. The containers comprising the aerosol-generating material may be used to generate an aerosol. For example, the containers may be used in combustible or non-combustible aerosol-provision systems. The invention also relates to aerosol-provision systems comprising the containers, and methods of providing a container.

1 . A moisture impermeable container comprising an aerosol-generating material comprising a dried precursor material comprising an extract from a flavour- and/or active-containing plant material. 
     
     
         2 . A container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the moisture impermeable container is to be opened or removed prior to use of the aerosol-generating material to provide access to the aerosol-generating material. 
     
     
         3 . A container as claimed in  claim 1 , selected from the group consisting of a wrapper, pouch, cartridge, capsule and blister. 
     
     
         4 . A container as claimed in  claim 1 , configured to be punctured, split or ruptured to provide access to the aerosol-generating material. 
     
     
         5 . A container as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising a moisture impermeable sheet material. 
     
     
         6 . A container as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising a rupturable capsule that is configured to rupture upon being compressed or crushed. 
     
     
         7 . A container as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising a moisture-impermeable material that decomposes upon heating to provide access to the aerosol-generating material. 
     
     
         8 . A container as claimed in  claim 7 , comprising one or more moisture-impermeable material selected from the group consisting of: a polysaccharide or cellulosic material, or a derivative thereof; a gum; a protein material; a polyol matrix material; a wax; a wax ester; and a polymer 
     
     
         9 . A container as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising a single chamber containing the aerosol-generating material. 
     
     
         10 . A container as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising multiple chambers containing the aerosol-generating material. 
     
     
         11 . A container as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the or each chamber contains a portion of aerosol-generating material to provide a single puff of aerosol upon heating. 
     
     
         12 . A container as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the or each chamber contains a portion of aerosol-generating material to provide multiple puffs of aerosol upon heating, optionally wherein the aerosol-generating material provides 6 to 9 puffs of aerosol when heated. 
     
     
         13 . A container as claimed in  claim 1 , the aerosol-generating material having a water content of no more than about 5% (calculated on a wet weight basis). 
     
     
         14 . A container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein aerosol-generating material is in the form of one or more selected from the group consisting of discrete particles, agglomerates or tablets. 
     
     
         15 . A container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the aerosol-generating material comprises an aerosol-former material. 
     
     
         16 . A container as claimed in  claim 1 , the precursor material comprising from about 10 to about 95% by weight extract from a flavour- or active-containing plant material. 
     
     
         17 . A container as claimed in  claim 1 , the precursor material comprising from about 1 to about 36 wt % of an aerosol-former material. 
     
     
         18 . A container as claimed in  claim 1 , the precursor material comprising from about 0 to about 40% by weight of an excipient. 
     
     
         19 . A container as claimed in  claim 1 , the aerosol-generating material comprising from about 45 to about 99% by weight of the dried extract from the flavour- or active-containing plant material. 
     
     
         20 . A container as claimed in  claim 1 , the aerosol-generating material comprising from about 1 to about 34% by weight of an aerosol-former material. 
     
     
         21 . A container as claimed in  claim 1 , the aerosol-generating material comprising from about 0 to about 25% by weight of an excipient. 
     
     
         22 . A container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the plant material is selected from the group consisting of tobacco,  eucalyptus , star anise, cocoa and hemp. 
     
     
         23 . A container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the extract from a flavour- or active-containing plant material is an aqueous extract. 
     
     
         24 . A container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the extract from a flavour- or active-containing plant material is an aqueous tobacco extract. 
     
     
         25 . A container as claimed in  claim 1 , the aerosol-generating material comprising from about 40 to about 99% by weight tobacco solids. 
     
     
         26 . A container as claimed in  claim 1 , for use in an aerosol provision system. 
     
     
         27 . A non-combustible aerosol-provision system comprising a container as claimed in  claim 1  and a non-combustible aerosol provision device. 
     
     
         28 . A non-combustible aerosol-provision system as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein the system is configured to open the container as it is inserted into the non-combustible aerosol provision device. 
     
     
         29 . A non-combustible aerosol-provision system as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein the non-combustible aerosol provision device includes a means for opening the container by puncturing, splitting or rupturing the container. 
     
     
         30 . A non-combustible aerosol-provision system as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein the means for opening the container is actuated by the action of inserting the container into the device. 
     
     
         31 . A non-combustible aerosol-provision system as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein the means for opening the container is actuated by the user. 
     
     
         32 . A non-combustible aerosol-provision system as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein the system is configured to heat the aerosol-generating material to form a vapour and/or aerosol. 
     
     
         33 . A non-combustible aerosol-provision system as claimed in  claim 29 , further comprising a further aerosol-generating material which is to be heated to form an aerosol and/or vapour, optionally wherein the further aerosol-generating material is a liquid. 
     
     
         34 . A non-combustible aerosol-provision system as claimed in  claim 33 , wherein the dried aerosol-generating material is heated by the aerosol and/or vapour generated from the further aerosol-generating material. 
     
     
         35 . A non-combustible aerosol-provision system as claimed in  claim 33 , including a means for heating the further aerosol-generating material to form a vapour, but not including a separate means for heating the dried aerosol-generating material. 
     
     
         36 . A method for providing a moisture-impermeable container as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising:
 drying a precursor material comprising an extract from a flavour- and/or active-containing plant material;   placing the aerosol-generating material in a container; and   sealing the container.   
     
     
         37 . A method as claimed in  claim 36 , wherein the precursor material is dried by spray-drying or freeze-drying. 
     
     
         38 . A method for providing a moisture-impermeable container as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising:
 placing a precursor material comprising an extract from a flavour- and/or active-containing plant material in a container;   drying the precursor material; and   sealing the container.   
     
     
         39 . A method as claimed in  claim 36 , wherein the precursor composition and/or the aerosol-generating material comprises an aerosol-former material. 
     
     
         40 . A method as claimed in  claim 36 , further comprising coating the outer surface of the container with a moisture impermeable coating.