Aerosol-generating article having a plurality of strands of aerosol-generating material

Abstract

An aerosol-generating article is provided, including: an aerosol-generating section including an aerosol-generating substrate, the substrate including a plurality of strands of aerosol-generating material, the substrate having a mass of between about 120 milligrams and about 350 milligrams, and the aerosol-generating material being a star anise material; a downstream section located downstream of the aerosol-generating section, the downstream section including a support element having an upstream end abutting the aerosol-generating section, the support element including an opening at an end of the support element, a ratio of a width of the opening to an average width of the plurality of strands of aerosol-generating material being less than or equal to about 20; and an upstream section located upstream of the aerosol-generating section, the upstream section including an upstream element having a downstream end abutting the aerosol-generating section.

1 . An aerosol-generating article, comprising:
 an aerosol-generating section comprising an aerosol-generating substrate, wherein the aerosol-generating substrate comprises a plurality of strands of aerosol-generating material, wherein the aerosol-generating substrate has a mass of between about 120 milligrams and about 350 milligrams, and wherein the aerosol-generating material is a star anise material;   a downstream section located downstream of the aerosol-generating section, wherein the downstream section comprises a support element having an upstream end abutting the aerosol-generating section, the support element comprising an opening at an end of the support element, wherein a ratio of a width of the opening to an average width of the plurality of strands of aerosol-generating material is less than or equal to about 20; and   an upstream section located upstream of the aerosol-generating section, wherein the upstream section comprises an upstream element having a downstream end abutting the aerosol-generating section.   
     
     
         2 . The aerosol-generating article according to  claim 1 , wherein the upstream element comprises a plug element 
     
     
         3 . The aerosol-generating article according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the upstream element comprises an opening at an end of the upstream element, and   wherein a ratio of a width of the opening of the upstream element to an average width of the plurality of strands of aerosol-generating material is less than or equal to about 20.   
     
     
         4 . The aerosol-generating article according to  claim 3 , wherein the opening of the upstream element is located at a downstream end of the upstream element 
     
     
         5 . The aerosol-generating article according to  claim 1 , wherein the support element further comprises a hollow tubular downstream element having a flanged end defining an end wall, the opening of the support element being defined through the end wall. 
     
     
         6 . The aerosol-generating article according to  claim 1 , wherein the opening of the support element is located at the upstream end of the support element. 
     
     
         7 . The aerosol-generating article according to  claim 1 , wherein the support element further comprises a hollow tubular downstream element defining a cavity extending longitudinally along the hollow tubular downstream element 
     
     
         8 . The aerosol-generating article according to  claim 1 , wherein the upstream element comprises a hollow tubular upstream element defining a cavity extending longitudinally along the hollow tubular upstream element 
     
     
         9 . The aerosol-generating article according to  claim 1 , wherein a ratio of a width of the opening of the support element to an average width of the plurality of strands of aerosol-generating material is less than or equal to about 10. 
     
     
         10 . The aerosol-generating article according to  claim 1 , wherein a ratio of a width of the opening of the support element to an average width of the plurality of strands of aerosol-generating material is less than or equal to about 7.5. 
     
     
         11 . The aerosol-generating article according to  claim 1 , wherein a ratio of a width of the opening of the support element to an average width of the plurality of strands of aerosol-generating material is less than or equal to about 5. 
     
     
         12 . The aerosol-generating article according to  claim 1 , wherein a ratio of a width of the opening of the upstream element to an average width of the plurality of strands of aerosol-generating material is less than or equal to about 10. 
     
     
         13 . The aerosol-generating article according to  claim 1 , wherein a ratio of a width of the opening of the upstream element to an average width of the plurality of strands of aerosol-generating material is less than or equal to about 7.5. 
     
     
         14 . The aerosol-generating article according to  claim 3 , wherein a ratio of a width of the opening of the upstream element to an average width of the plurality of strands of aerosol-generating material is less than or equal to about 5. 
     
     
         15 . The aerosol-generating article according to  claim 1 , wherein a ratio of a width of the opening of the support element to an average width of the plurality of strands of aerosol-generating material is at least 3. 
     
     
         16 . The aerosol-generating article according to  claim 1 , wherein the aerosol-generating substrate has a bulk density of between about 100 milligrams per cubic centimetre and about 500 milligrams per cubic centimetre.