# US 2026/0076409 A1 · Aerosol-generating article comprising a hollow tubular support element > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2026/0076409 A1 - Document ID: US20260076409A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 19/395,670 - Filed: 2025-11-20 - Published: 2026-03-19 - Earliest claimed: 2019-04-04 - Assignees: Philip Morris Products S.A. - Applicants: Philip Morris Products S.A. - Inventors: Stefanos PAPAKYRILLOU - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20260076409A1 ## CPC - A24F 40/42: Cartridges or containers for inhalable precursors - A24D 1/20: Cigarettes specially adapted for simulated smoking devices - A24D 3/0279: {with tubes} - A24D 3/17: Filters specially adapted for simulated smoking devices - A24F 40/70: Manufacture - A24F: SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES (inhaling appliances for medical purposes, shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes A61M15/06) - A24D: CIGARS; CIGARETTES; TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS; MOUTHPIECES OF CIGARS OR CIGARETTES; MANUFACTURE OF TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS OR MOUTHPIECES ## Abstract An aerosol-generating article is provided, including: an upstream end and a downstream end, the aerosol-generating article defining a longitudinal direction between the upstream end and the downstream end; an aerosol-forming substrate; and a hollow tubular support element disposed downstream of the aerosol-forming substrate and extending along the longitudinal direction, the hollow tubular support element defining an opening extending in the longitudinal direction and configured for aerosol flow towards the downstream end; a hardness of the aerosol-generating article at the hollow tubular support element being at least about 60%, and the aerosol-forming substrate having an external diameter of between about 6 millimetres and about 8 millimetres. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An aerosol-generating article, comprising: an upstream end and a downstream end, the aerosol-generating article defining a longitudinal direction between the upstream end and the downstream end; an aerosol-forming substrate; and a hollow tubular support element disposed downstream of the aerosol-forming substrate and extending along the longitudinal direction, wherein the hollow tubular support element defines an opening extending in the longitudinal direction and configured for aerosol flow towards the downstream end; wherein a hardness of the aerosol-generating article at the hollow tubular support element is at least about 60%, and wherein the aerosol-forming substrate has an external diameter of between about 6 millimetres and about 8 millimetres. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The aerosol-generating article according to claim 1, wherein the hardness of the aerosol-generating article at the hollow tubular support element is at least about 80. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The aerosol-generating article according to claim 1, wherein the hardness of the aerosol-generating article at the hollow tubular support element is equal to or lower than about 90%. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The aerosol-generating article according to claim 1, wherein the hollow tubular support element is disposed immediately downstream of the aerosol-forming substrate. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The aerosol-generating article according to claim 1, further comprising a filter disposed downstream of the hollow tubular support element in the longitudinal direction. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The aerosol-generating article according to claim 5, wherein the filter is disposed immediately downstream of the hollow tubular support element in the longitudinal direction. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The aerosol-generating article according to claim 1, wherein the aerosol-forming substrate is a tobacco-containing substrate. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The aerosol-generating article according to claim 1, wherein the aerosol-forming substrate has a length of less than about 35 millimetres. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The aerosol-generating article according to claim 1, wherein the aerosol-forming substrate has a hollow tubular shape. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The aerosol-generating article according to claim 1, wherein the hollow tubular support element comprises: a hollow tubular peripheral portion defining an inner volume, a longitudinal structure extending in the longitudinal direction within the inner volume, and a radial structure extending radially within the inner volume from the hollow tubular peripheral portion to the longitudinal structure, such that at least two passages are defined by the hollow tubular peripheral portion and the radial structure, the at least two passages extending in the longitudinal direction, wherein the opening comprises the at least two passages. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The aerosol-generating article according to claim 10, wherein the hollow tubular peripheral portion is substantially annular shaped. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The aerosol-generating article according to claim 10, wherein the radial structure comprises at least a first and a second flat radial walls extending radially from the longitudinal structure to the hollow tubular peripheral portion. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The aerosol-generating article according to claim 1, wherein the hollow tubular support element is substantially symmetrical in a cross section thereof. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The aerosol-generating article according to claim 1, wherein the hollow tubular support element comprises a recess configured to house a heating element. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The aerosol-generating article according to claim 1, wherein the hollow tubular support element comprises a polymer. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The aerosol-generating article according to claim 1, wherein the hollow tubular support element comprises polylactic acid (PLA), cellulose acetate (CA), starch, polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), or a combination thereof. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The aerosol-generating article according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the hollow tubular support element is manufactured by additive manufacturing or injection moulding. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) An aerosol-generating system, comprising the aerosol-generating article according to claim 1, and an aerosol-generating device comprising a heating element configured to be inserted into the aerosol-forming substrate of the aerosol-generating article.