Apparatus and system

Abstract

To provide a tubular heating element for use in an apparatus for heating an aerosolisable material to volatilise at least one component of the aerosolisable material.SOLUTION: A tubular heating element (2) further comprises a heating material layer (2b) that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field on a tubular support (2a). The tubular heating element (2) has a wall thickness (T) of no more than one millimetre. Further, the tubular heating element (2) can comprise a protective layer (2c). The heating layer comprises a ferromagnetic material based on cobalt or nickel.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a tubular heating element for use in an apparatus for heating an aerosolizable material to volatilize at least one component of the aerosolizable material, an apparatus for heating an aerosolizable material to volatilize at least one component of the aerosolizable material, and a system including such an apparatus and an article containing an aerosolizable material. [Background technology]

[0002] Smoking articles, such as cigarettes, cigars, etc., burn tobacco during use to produce tobacco smoke. Attempts have been made to provide alternatives to these items by creating products that release compounds without combustion. Examples of such products are the so-called "heat-not-burn" products or tobacco heating devices or products, which release compounds by heating a material without burning it. The material may be, for example, tobacco or other non-tobacco products, which may or may not contain nicotine. Summary of the Invention

[0003] A first aspect of the present invention provides a tubular heating element for use in an apparatus for heating an aerosolizable material to volatilize at least one component of the aerosolizable material, the tubular heating element comprising a heating material heatable by the penetration of a fluctuating magnetic field and having a wall thickness of 1 millimeter or less.

[0004] In one exemplary embodiment, the wall thickness is 0.5 millimeters or less. In one exemplary embodiment, the wall thickness is 0.3 millimeters or less. In one exemplary embodiment, the wall thickness is at least 0.05 millimeters.

[0005] In one exemplary embodiment, the outer diameter or outer dimension of the tubular heating element is 5 millimeters or less. In one exemplary embodiment, the outer diameter or outer dimension is 2.4 millimeters or less. In one exemplary embodiment, the outer diameter or outer dimension is at least 0.3 millimeters.

[0006] In one exemplary embodiment, the inner diameter or inner dimension of the tubular heating element is at least 0.1 millimeters. In one exemplary embodiment, the inner diameter or inner dimension is at least 0.19 millimeters. In one exemplary embodiment, the inner diameter or inner dimension is no greater than 2.1 millimeters.

[0007] In one exemplary embodiment, the tubular heating element comprises a heat resistant support and a coating on the support, the coating comprising a heating material, hi one exemplary embodiment, the coating is positioned radially outward of the support.

[0008] A second aspect of the present invention provides a tubular heating element for use in an apparatus for heating an aerosolizable material to volatilize at least one component of the aerosolizable material, the tubular heating element comprising a heat resistant support and a coating on the support, the coating comprising a heating material heatable by the penetration of a fluctuating magnetic field, the coating being positioned radially outward of the support.

[0009] In one exemplary embodiment of the tubular heating element of the first or second aspect, the coating is no greater than 50 microns in thickness. In one exemplary embodiment, the coating is no greater than 20 microns in thickness.

[0010] In one exemplary embodiment of the tubular heating element of the first or second aspect, the coating is annular.

[0011] In one exemplary embodiment of the tubular heating element of the first or second aspect, the heating material of the coating is a ferromagnetic material, hi one exemplary embodiment, the ferromagnetic material comprises nickel or cobalt.

[0012] In one exemplary embodiment of the tubular heating element of the first or second aspect, the tubular heating element is free of a coating comprising a heating material radially inward of the heat-resistant support.

[0013] In one exemplary embodiment of the tubular heating element of the first or second aspect, the support comprises one or more materials selected from the group consisting of metals, alloys, ceramic materials, and plastic materials.

[0014] In one exemplary embodiment of the tubular heating element of the first or second aspect, the tubular heating element comprises a heat-resistant protective coating, and the coating comprising the heating material is positioned between the support and the heat-resistant protective coating.

[0015] In one exemplary embodiment, the coating including the heating material is encapsulated. In one exemplary embodiment, the heat resistant protective coating and the support integrally encapsulate the coating including the heating material. In one exemplary embodiment, the heat resistant protective coating encapsulates the support and the coating including the heating material.

[0016] In one exemplary embodiment of the tubular heating element of the first or second aspect, the heat resistant protective coating comprises one or more materials selected from the group consisting of ceramic materials, metal nitrides, titanium nitride, and diamond.

[0017] In one exemplary embodiment of the tubular heating element of the first or second aspect, the heat-resistant protective coating is 50 microns or less in thickness. In one exemplary embodiment, the heat-resistant protective coating is 20 microns or less in thickness.

[0018] In one exemplary embodiment of the tubular heating element of the first or second aspect, the tubular heating element comprises a needle.

[0019] A third aspect of the present invention provides an apparatus for heating an aerosolizable material to volatilize at least one component of the aerosolizable material, the apparatus comprising: a heating zone for receiving one or more articles including the aerosolizable material; a heating element including a heating material capable of heating the heating zone by heating due to the penetration of a varying magnetic field, the heating element being surrounded by the heating zone; and a magnetic field generator for generating a varying magnetic field which, during use, penetrates each longitudinal portion of the heating element, the magnetic field generator comprising a plurality of flat helical coils of conductive material arranged in each plane sequentially along the longitudinal axis of the heating zone.

[0020] In one exemplary embodiment, the heating elements extend parallel or coaxially with the longitudinal axis of the heating zone.

[0021] In one exemplary embodiment, the heating element is tubular.

[0022] In one exemplary embodiment, the heating element comprises a needle.

[0023] In one exemplary embodiment, the heating element comprises a heat resistant support and a coating on the support, the coating comprising a heating material. In one exemplary embodiment, the heating material of the coating is a ferromagnetic material. In one exemplary embodiment, the ferromagnetic material comprises nickel or cobalt. In one exemplary embodiment, the coating is positioned radially outward of the support.

[0024] In one exemplary embodiment, the heating element of the apparatus comprises a tubular heating element according to the first aspect of the invention or a tubular heating element according to the second aspect of the invention.

[0025] In one exemplary embodiment, the apparatus comprises a body that holds a heating element in position relative to a heating zone and defines at least one air inlet through which air may enter the heating zone during use.

[0026] In one exemplary embodiment, the heating element is removable from the device.In one exemplary embodiment, the heating element and body combination is removable from the device.

[0027] In an exemplary embodiment, the planes are substantially parallel to one another.

[0028] In one exemplary embodiment, the heating zone extends through an aperture in each of a plurality of flat spiral coils.

[0029] In one exemplary embodiment, the apparatus includes an elongated support for supporting an article including an aerosolizable material in an aperture of a flat helical coil. In one exemplary embodiment, the elongated support is tubular and surrounds the heating zone. In one exemplary embodiment, the elongated support is non-magnetically permeable and / or non-conductive.

[0030] In one exemplary embodiment, the apparatus includes a controller that controls operation of at least one of the flat spiral coils independently of at least one other flat spiral coil.

[0031] In one exemplary embodiment, the device is a tobacco heating product.

[0032] In an exemplary embodiment of the tubular heating element of the first or second aspect or the device of the third aspect, the heating material comprises one or more materials selected from the group consisting of an electrically conductive material, a magnetic material, and a magnetically conductive material. In an exemplary embodiment, the heating material comprises a metal or alloy. In an exemplary embodiment, the heating material comprises one or more materials selected from the group consisting of aluminum, gold, iron, nickel, cobalt, conductive carbon, graphite, steel, plain carbon steel, mild steel, stainless steel, ferritic stainless steel, copper, and bronze.

[0033] A fourth aspect of the present invention provides a system for heating an aerosolizable material to volatilize at least one component of the aerosolizable material, the system comprising an apparatus of the third aspect of the present invention and an article comprising the aerosolizable material and present in a heating zone of the apparatus.

[0034] In one exemplary embodiment, the aerosolizable material includes tobacco and / or one or more humectants.

[0035] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [Brief description of the drawings]

[0036] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional side view of an example of a tubular heating element for use in an apparatus for heating an aerosolizable material to volatilize at least one component of the aerosolizable material. [Diagram 2] 2 is a schematic cross-sectional side view of another example tubular heating element for use in an apparatus for heating an aerosolizable material to volatilize at least one component of the aerosolizable material. FIG. [Diagram 3] 2 is a schematic cross-sectional side view of another example tubular heating element for use in an apparatus for heating an aerosolizable material to volatilize at least one component of the aerosolizable material. FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional side view of an example of a system including an apparatus for heating an aerosolizable material to volatilize at least one component of the aerosolizable material, and an article containing the aerosolizable material and present in a heating zone of the apparatus. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of an induction coil configuration of the device shown in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0037] As used herein, the term "aerosolizable material" includes materials that provide volatilization upon heating, usually in the form of a vapor or aerosol. "Aerosolizable material" may be a non-tobacco-containing material or a tobacco-containing material. "Aerosolizable material" may include, for example, one or more of tobacco itself, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco, tobacco extracts, homogenized tobacco, and tobacco substitutes. Aerosolizable material may be in the form of ground tobacco, cut rag tobacco, extruded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco, reconstituted aerosolizable material, liquid, gel, gelled sheet, powder, or mass, etc. "Aerosolizable material" may also include other non-tobacco products, which may or may not contain nicotine, depending on the product. "Aerosolizable material" may include one or more humectants, such as glycerol or propylene glycol.

[0038] In this specification, the term "heating material" or "heater material" refers to a material that can be heated by the penetration of a varying magnetic field.

[0039] Induction heating is a process in which a conductive object is heated by the penetration of a varying magnetic field into the object. The process is described by Faraday's law of induction and Ohm's law. An induction heater may comprise an electromagnet and a device for passing a varying current, such as an alternating current, through the electromagnet. When the electromagnet and the object to be heated are suitably positioned relative to one another such that the resulting varying magnetic field produced by the electromagnet penetrates the object, one or more eddy currents are generated inside the object. The object has a resistance to the flow of electric current. Thus, when such eddy currents are generated in the object, they flow against the electrical resistance of the object, causing the object to heat up. This process is called Joule heating, Ohmic heating, or resistive heating. An object that can be inductively heated is known as a susceptor.

[0040] It has been found that when the susceptor is in the form of a closed circuit, the magnetic coupling between the susceptor and the electromagnet during use is enhanced, resulting in increased or enhanced Joule heating.

[0041] Magnetic hysteresis heating is the process by which an object composed of a magnetic material is heated by the penetration of a fluctuating magnetic field into the object. A magnetic material can be thought of as containing many atomic-scale magnets or magnetic dipoles. When a magnetic field penetrates such a material, the magnetic dipoles become aligned with the magnetic field. Thus, when a fluctuating magnetic field, such as an alternating magnetic field produced by an electromagnet, penetrates a magnetic material, the orientation of the magnetic dipoles changes with the application of the fluctuating magnetic field. This reorientation of the magnetic dipoles generates heat in the magnetic material.

[0042] If an object is both conductive and magnetic, the penetration of a varying magnetic field into the object can cause both Joule heating and magnetic hysteresis heating in the object. Furthermore, the use of magnetic materials can result in stronger magnetic fields, which can increase Joule heating and magnetic hysteresis heating.

[0043] In each of the above processes, because heat is generated within the object itself, rather than by conduction from an external heat source, rapid heating and more even heat distribution within the object may be achieved, particularly by selection of suitable object materials and shapes and suitable varying magnetic field magnitudes and orientations relative to the object. Furthermore, induction heating and magnetic hysteresis heating do not require a physical connection between the varying magnetic field source and the object, allowing greater freedom and control in the design of the heating profile and potentially lower costs.

[0044] Reference is now made to Figure 1, which is a schematic cross-sectional side view of an example tubular heating element, according to one embodiment of the present invention. The tubular heating element 1 is for use in an apparatus for heating an aerosolizable material to volatilize at least one component of the aerosolizable material, such as apparatus 100 shown in Figure 4 and described below.

[0045] The tubular heating element 1 includes a heating material 1b that is heatable by the penetration of a fluctuating magnetic field. In some embodiments, such as this embodiment, the tubular heating element 1 is made of a heating material 1b. The heating material 1b may be any of the materials described herein, such as stainless steel.

[0046] In this embodiment, heating element 1b is substantially cylindrical with a substantially circular cross-section, although in other embodiments heating element 1b may have an oval or elliptical cross-section, In some embodiments heating element 1b may have a polygonal, quadrangular, rectangular, square, triangular, star-shaped, or irregular cross-section, for example.

[0047] In this embodiment, heating element 1b is elongated and has a longitudinal axis AA. In other embodiments, heating element 1b may not be elongated. In some such other embodiments, heating element 1b still has an axial direction AA perpendicular to the cross section of heating element 1b.

[0048] The heating element 1b has a hollow interior region 1i and a wall thickness T measured between the inner diameter ID and the outer diameter OD of the heating element 1b (or between the dimensions perpendicular to the axial direction AA). The tubular heating element 1 of this embodiment has a wall thickness T of approximately 0.13 millimeters. In other embodiments, the wall thickness T may be other than this. In some embodiments, the wall thickness T is 1 millimeter or less, preferably 0.5 millimeter or less, and more preferably 0.3 millimeter or less. In some embodiments, the wall thickness T is at least 0.05 millimeters. Most preferably, the wall thickness T is between 0.05 millimeters and 0.3 millimeters.

[0049] The tubular heating element 1 in this embodiment has an outer diameter or outer dimension OD of approximately 1.65 millimeters. In other embodiments, the outer diameter or outer dimension OD may be other than this. In some embodiments, the outer diameter or outer dimension OD is 5 millimeters or less, preferably 2.4 millimeters or less. In some embodiments, the outer diameter or outer dimension OD is at least 0.3 millimeters. Most preferably, the outer diameter or outer dimension OD is between 0.3 millimeters and 5 millimeters.

[0050] The tubular heating element 1 of this embodiment has an inner diameter or inner dimension ID of approximately 1.39 millimeters. In other embodiments, the inner diameter or inner dimension ID may be other than this. In some embodiments, the inner diameter or inner dimension ID is at least 0.1 millimeters, preferably at least 0.19 millimeters. In some embodiments, the inner diameter or inner dimension ID is 2.1 millimeters or less. Most preferably, the inner diameter or inner dimension ID is between 0.1 millimeters and 2.1 millimeters.

[0051] Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional side view of another exemplary tubular heating element, according to an embodiment of the present invention, again for use in an apparatus for heating an aerosolizable material to volatilize at least one component of the aerosolizable material, such as apparatus 100 shown in Figure 4 and described below.

[0052] The heating element 2 of Fig. 2 comprises a heat-resistant support 2a, a coating 2b containing a heating material located on the support 2a, and a heat-resistant protective coating 2c arranged so that the coating 2b containing the heating material is located between the support 2a. In this case too, the heating material can be heated by the penetration of a fluctuating magnetic field.

[0053] In this embodiment, the heating element 2 is substantially cylindrical with a substantially circular cross-section, but in other embodiments may have an oval or elliptical cross-section. In some embodiments, the heating element 2 may have a polygonal, quadrangular, rectangular, square, triangular, star-shaped, or irregular cross-section, for example.

[0054] In this embodiment, the heating element 2 is elongated and has a longitudinal axis AA. In other embodiments, the heating element 2 may not be elongated. In some such other embodiments, the heating element 2 still has an axial direction AA perpendicular to the cross section of the heating element 2.

[0055] The heating element 2 has a hollow interior region 2i and a wall thickness T measured between an inner diameter ID and an outer diameter OD of the heating element 2 (or between the dimensions perpendicular to the axial direction AA). In some embodiments, the wall thickness T is 1 millimeter or less, such as 0.5 millimeters or less or 0.3 millimeters or less. In some embodiments, the outer diameter or outer dimension OD is between 0.3 millimeters and 5 millimeters. In some embodiments, the inner diameter or inner dimension ID is between 0.1 millimeters and 2.1 millimeters.

[0056] The heat-resistant support 2a in this embodiment is tubular. The heat-resistant support 2a in this embodiment comprises steel, more specifically stainless steel. However, in other embodiments, the heat-resistant support 2a may comprise one or more materials selected from the group consisting of, for example, metals, alloys, ceramic materials, and plastic materials. For example, in some embodiments, the heat-resistant support 2a may comprise steel, mild steel, aluminum, copper, or a high-temperature polymer such as polyetheretherketone (PEEK) or Kapton.

[0057] The coating 2b comprising the heating material is a layer or coating 2b on the support 2a. In this embodiment, the coating 2b comprises cobalt. However, in other embodiments, the coating 2b can comprise a heating material other than cobalt, such as nickel. However, the heating material of the coating 2b is preferably a ferromagnetic material.

[0058] In this embodiment, the coating 2b is located radially outward of the support 2a. That is, the coating 2b is on the outside of the heat-resistant support 2a. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the radially inward facing surface of the heat-resistant support 2a is devoid of a coating containing a heating material. In other embodiments, a coating containing a heating material (such as a ferromagnetic material (e.g., cobalt or nickel)) may be provided radially inward of the heat-resistant support 2a in addition to or instead of the radially outward. However, if such a coating is provided radially inward in addition to the radially outward, the thermal mass of the heating element 2 may be increased, which may reduce the rate at which the heating element 2 can be heated by a given fluctuating magnetic field during use.

[0059] In this embodiment, the coating 2b is annular and surrounds the support portion 2a, in other embodiments the coating 2b may be non-annular or only partially annular, thereby not surrounding the entire support portion 2a.

[0060] In this embodiment, coating 2b is approximately 10 microns thick. However, in other embodiments, coating 2b may have a different thickness, such as up to 50 microns thick or up to 20 microns thick. For example, if the ferromagnetic material of the coating is nickel, coating 2b may be approximately 15 microns thick. Coating 2b may be a film or a plating.

[0061] The heat-resistant protective coating 2c is provided on the coating 2b containing the heating material. More specifically, the coating 2b is positioned between the support 2a and the heat-resistant protective coating 2c. In this embodiment, the heat-resistant protective coating 2c contains titanium nitride. However, in other embodiments, the heat-resistant protective coating 2c may contain one or more materials selected from the group consisting of, for example, ceramic materials, metal nitrides, titanium nitride, and diamond. In this embodiment, the heat-resistant protective coating 2c has a thickness of approximately 10 microns. However, in other embodiments, the heat-resistant protective coating 2c may have a different thickness, such as a thickness of 50 microns or less, or 20 microns or less.

[0062] In this embodiment, the heat-resistant protective coating 2c is positioned radially outward of the heat-resistant supporting part 2a and the coating 2b containing the heating material. That is, the heat-resistant protective coating 2c is on the outside of the coating 2b. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the heat-resistant protective coating 2c is not present on the radially inward facing surface of the heat-resistant supporting part 2a. However, in other embodiments, the heat-resistant protective coating 2c may be provided radially inward of the heat-resistant supporting part 2a in addition to or instead of the radially outward of the heat-resistant supporting part 2a. However, even in this case, if the heat-resistant protective coating 2c is provided radially inward as an addition to the radially outward, the thermal mass of the heating element 2 may be increased.

[0063] In this embodiment, the heat-resistant protective coating 2c is annular and surrounds the support 2a and the coating 2b containing the heating material. In other embodiments, the heat-resistant protective coating 2c may be non-annular or only partially annular, thereby not surrounding the entire support 2a and the coating 2b containing the heating material.

[0064] At higher temperatures, the coating 2b including the heating material coating may become more susceptible to oxidation. This may increase the relative emissivity (εr) with respect to the unoxidized surface, which may increase the rate at which energy is lost by radiation, thereby increasing heat loss by radiation. Such radiation may reduce the energy efficiency of the system if the radiated energy is ultimately lost to the environment. Oxidation may also reduce the resistance of the coating 2b to chemical corrosion, which may shorten the useful life of the heating element 2. Thus, in some embodiments, such as the embodiment of FIG. 2, the coating 2b including the heating material is coated with a heat-resistant protective coating 2c (such as one of those described above). Titanium nitride can be applied, for example, using physical vapor deposition. Other exemplary heat-resistant protective coatings are ceramic materials, metal nitrides, and diamond. In some embodiments, the heat-resistant protective coating 2c can be applied in different ways, such as by chemically treating the coating 2c including the heating material to promote the growth of a protective film on the coating 2b including the heating material, or by forming a protective oxide layer using a process such as anodization. In addition to protecting the underlying coating 2b from oxidation, the heat-resistant protective coating 2c may also serve to physically protect the coating 2b containing the heating material from mechanical abrasion.

[0065] In some embodiments that are variations of the illustrated embodiment, the coating 2b containing the heating material is encapsulated. In some embodiments, the heat-resistant protective coating 2c and the support 2a integrally encapsulate the coating 2b containing the heating material. In other embodiments, the heat-resistant protective coating 2c encapsulates the support 2a and the coating 2b containing the heating material.

[0066] In some embodiments, the heat-resistant protective coating 2c may be low conductive or non-conductive so as not to induce (or not to induce significantly) electrical currents in the heat-resistant protective coating 2c but in the coating 2b that contains the heating material.

[0067] In some embodiments, the heat-resistant protective coating 2c is omitted. For example, Figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional side view of another example tubular heating element, according to one embodiment of the present invention. Again, the tubular heating element 3 of Figure 3 is for use in an apparatus for heating an aerosolizable material to volatilize at least one component of the aerosolizable material, such as the apparatus 100 shown in Figure 4 and described below.

[0068] The tubular heating element 3 of FIG. 3 is identical to that of FIG. 2 except that the heat-resistant protective coating 2c is omitted (so like features have the same reference numbers). Any of the variations described herein for the tubular heating element 2 of FIG. 2 may be made to the tubular heating element 3 of FIG. 3 to form alternative embodiments. In some embodiments, the wall thickness T of the tubular heating element 3 is 1 millimeter or less, such as 0.5 millimeters or less or 0.3 millimeters or less. In some embodiments, the outer diameter or outer dimension OD of the tubular heating element 3 is between 0.3 millimeters and 5 millimeters. In some embodiments, the inner diameter or inner dimension ID of the tubular heating element 3 is between 0.1 millimeters and 2.1 millimeters.

[0069] In some embodiments, the tubular heating elements 1, 2, 3 are needles. The dimensions of the tubular heating elements of some exemplary embodiments of the present invention are shown in the table below.

[0070] [Table 1]

[0071] In some embodiments, the OD may vary by ±0.13 mm from the relevant numerical value shown in the table above. In some embodiments, the wall thickness T may vary by ±15% from the relevant numerical value shown in the table above. In some embodiments, a tubular heating element having dimensions shown in one of the rows of the table above may include or consist of stainless steel.

[0072] During induction heating, energy from the varying magnetic field is transferred to the heating material in the tubular heating elements 1, 2, 3, increasing the temperature of the heating material. To heat the heating material as efficiently as possible, the transfer of energy to the heating material is as lossy as possible so that the transferred energy is rapidly converted to heat. Reducing the thermal mass of the tubular heating elements 1, 2, 3 increases the temperature change for a given energy input. The thermal mass of the tubular heating elements 1, 2, 3 can be kept small by making the wall thickness of the tubular heating elements 1, 2, 3 1 millimeter or less.

[0073] For electrically conductive (and magnetizable) media, there is a characteristic depth ("skin depth") through which the electromagnetic field can penetrate. The inventors have found that if the surfaces of the tubular heating elements 2, 3, such as the surfaces facing the magnetic field generator in use, are covered with a thin (such as a few microns) coating 2b containing a heating material (such as nickel, cobalt, or another ferromagnetic material), the coating 2b only needs to be very thin to achieve the same absorption as a thicker mild steel plate. The coating 2b can be applied, for example, by chemical plating, electrochemical plating, or by vacuum deposition. If nickel is used, the thickness of the coating 2b or layer may be as little as 15 microns. Moreover, if cobalt is used, the thickness of the coating 2b or layer can be reduced to about 10 microns. The thickness of the skin depth or depths should help guide most of the available energy into the heating elements 2, 3. In some embodiments, a thickness of around two skin depths may be optional.

[0074] In some embodiments, the heating material coating 2b includes cobalt. Cobalt has a Curie point temperature (around 1,120-1,127°C) well above the normal operating temperature of the heating element of the present embodiment. The Curie point temperature, or Curie temperature, is the temperature at which the magnetic properties of a particular magnetic material change abruptly. It is understood that the Curie point temperature is the temperature below which spontaneous magnetization exists without the application of an external magnetic field and above which the material becomes paramagnetic. For example, the Curie point temperature is the magnetic transformation temperature between the ferromagnetic and paramagnetic phases of a ferromagnetic material. When such a magnetic material reaches its Curie point temperature, its magnetic permeability decreases or becomes zero, and the ability of the material to be heated by the penetration of a fluctuating magnetic field also decreases or becomes zero. That is, it is believed that it is not possible to heat a material above its Curie point temperature by magnetic hysteresis heating. Cobalt has a Curie point temperature well above the normal operating temperatures of the heating elements of embodiments of the present invention, such that during normal operation the effect of the Curie point temperature is much less noticeable (or in some embodiments is undetectable) than if, for example, nickel were used instead.

[0075] The support 2a provided with the coating 2b or layer containing the heating material does not need to interact with an applied fluctuating magnetic field to generate heat in the support 2a. That is, the support 2a does not need to be heatable by itself due to the penetration of a fluctuating magnetic field. The support 2a only needs to be able to support the heating material coating 2b while withstanding the heat generated therein. Thus, the support 2a can be made of any suitable heat-resistant material, such as those described herein.

[0076] It can therefore be appreciated that the heating elements of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention allow for efficient transfer of energy from a varying magnetic field to the heating element while retaining the benefits of relatively low cost, ready availability of materials, and ease of construction during manufacture.

[0077] 4, which is a schematic cross-sectional view of an example of a system according to one embodiment of the present invention. The system 1000 comprises an article 10 including an aerosolizable material 12 and an apparatus 100 for heating the aerosolizable material 12 to volatilize at least one component of the aerosolizable material 12. In this embodiment, the aerosolizable material 12 includes tobacco and the apparatus 100 is a tobacco heating product (also known in the art as a tobacco heating device or a non-combustion heating device).

[0078] In this embodiment, the aerosolizable material 12 is in the form of a hollow tube, and the article 10 includes a cover 14 about the aerosolizable material 12. The article 10 is generally a hollow tube having a hollow interior 10i. In this embodiment, the hollow interior 10i is defined by the aerosolizable material 12, although in other embodiments, the article 10 may include another component, such as an inner wrapper, that defines the hollow interior 10i. In some embodiments, the article 10 may be a solid rod.

[0079] The cover 14 surrounds the aerosolizable material 12 and helps protect the aerosolizable material 12 from damage during transportation and use of the article 10. The cover 14 may also help direct air flow through the aerosolizable material 12 during use, and may also help direct aerosol flow through the aerosolizable material 12 for release. In this embodiment, the cover 14 includes a wrapper wrapped around the aerosolizable material 12 such that the free ends overlap each other, such that the wrapper constitutes all or a majority of the circumferential outer surface of the article 10. The wrapper may be formed of paper, reconstituted tobacco, aluminum, or the like. The cover 14 also includes an adhesive (not shown) that bonds the overlapped free ends of the wrapper together. The adhesive may include one or more of gum arabic, natural or synthetic resins, starches, and varnishes. The adhesive helps prevent separation of the overlapped free ends of the wrapper. In other embodiments, the adhesive and / or the cover 14 may be omitted. In still other embodiments, the article may be in a form different from any of those described above. For example, in some embodiments, article 10 may include a filter that filters aerosols generated within article 10 during use.

[0080] In general, the device 100 comprises a heating zone 110, a heating element 2 comprising a heating material capable of heating the heating zone 110 by heating due to the penetration of a fluctuating magnetic field, and a magnetic field generator 130 which generates a fluctuating magnetic field which, during use, penetrates each longitudinal portion 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 of the heating element 2. In this embodiment, the heating element 2 is as described herein with reference to Figure 2. However, in other embodiments, the heating element of the device 100 can have a different form, such as as described herein with reference to Figure 1 or Figure 3, or any of the variants of heating elements 1, 2, 3 described herein. However, the heating element is preferably tubular.

[0081] The heating zone 110 surrounds the heating element 2. In this embodiment, the heating element 2 extends coaxially with the longitudinal axis HH of the heating zone 110. In other embodiments, the heating element 2 extends parallel to the longitudinal axis HH of the heating zone 110, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis HH of the heating zone 110, or obliquely to the longitudinal axis HH of the heating zone 110.

[0082] The heating zone 110 receives one or more articles including an aerosolizable material, such as the article 10 described above. That is, the article 10 resides in the heating zone 110. In this embodiment, the heating zone 110 includes a recess that receives the article 10. More specifically, the hollow article 10 is movable relative to the heating zone 110 and the heating element 2 such that upon insertion of the article 10, the heating element 2 is positioned in the hollow interior 10i of the article 10. The hollow interior 10i of the article 10 is sized to receive the heating element 2 of the device 100. In an embodiment in which the article 10 is a solid rod, the heating element 2 may be pressed into the article 10 (such as the aerosolizable material 12 of the article 10) upon insertion of the article 10 such that a space for the heating element 2 is formed in the article 10.

[0083] The item 10 may be insertable into the heating zone 110 by a user in any suitable manner, such as through a slot in a wall of the device 100 or by first moving a portion of the device 100, such as a nozzle, to access the heating zone 110. In other embodiments, the heating zone 110 may be other than a recess, such as a shelf, surface, or protrusion, and may require mechanical engagement with the item 10 to cooperate with or receive the item 10. In this embodiment, the heating zone 110 is sized and shaped to accommodate the entire item 10. In other embodiments, the heating zone 110 may be sized to receive only a portion of the item 10 during use.

[0084] The device 100 has a number of air inlets 101 fluidly connecting the heating zone 110 with the exterior of the device 100, and an outlet 102 that allows passage of volatilized material from the heating zone 110 to the exterior of the device 100 during use. A user may be able to inhale the volatile component(s) of the aerosolizable material 12 by drawing in the volatile component(s) through the outlet 102. Once the volatile component(s) have been removed from the heating zone 110, air may be drawn into the heating zone 110 via the air inlet 101 of the device 100. A first end 111 of the heating zone 110 is closest to the outlet 102, and a second end 112 of the heating zone 110 is closest to the air inlet 101. In other embodiments, only one air inlet 101 may be provided.

[0085] The magnetic field generator 130 comprises a number of flat helical coils 31, 32 of electrically conductive material arranged in respective planes, successively along the longitudinal axis HH of the heating zone 110. More specifically, the magnetic field generator 130 of the device 100 comprises a holder 131 and a number of induction coil arrangements connected or attached to the holder 131. The holder 131 may hold the induction coil arrangements in a fixed position relative to each other, relative to the holder 131, and relative to the heating zone 110 and the heating element 2. A schematic perspective view of one of the induction coil arrangements is shown in FIG.

[0086] The induction coil arrangement 132 comprises a board, panel or plate 33 and a pair of flat spiral coils 31, 32 of a conductive material such as copper. In use, a varying (e.g. AC) current is passed through each of the coils 31, 32, generating a varying (e.g. alternating) magnetic field that can be used to penetrate and heat the heating element 2.

[0087] The plate 33 has a first surface 331 and an opposite second surface 332. The first and second surfaces 331, 332 of the plate 33 do not face each other. In this embodiment, the plate 33 is substantially planar, with the first and second surfaces 331, 332 being the major surfaces of the plate 33. The plate 33 is constructed of a non-conductive material, such as a plastic material, to insulate the coils 31, 32 from each other. In this embodiment, the plate 33 is constructed of FR-4, a composite material made of woven glass fiber with a flame retardant epoxy resin binder, although other materials may be used in other embodiments. A first flat spiral coil 31 of conductive material is mounted on the first surface 331 of the plate 33, and a second flat spiral coil 32 of conductive material is mounted on the second surface 332 of the plate 33. Thus, the plate 33 is positioned between the coils 31, 32.

[0088] The coils 31, 32 may be fixed to the plate 33 in any suitable manner. In this embodiment, since the induction coil arrangement 132 is formed from a printed circuit board (PCB), the first and second flat spiral coils 31, 32 are formed during the manufacture of the PCB by printing a conductive material onto first and second sides 331, 332 of the board or plate 33 and then selectively removing (such as by etching) portions of the conductive material such that a pattern of the conductive material in the form of the first and second flat spiral coils 31, 32 remains on the plate 33. Thus, the first and second flat spiral coils 31, 32 are thin films or coatings of conductive material on the plate 33.

[0089] Thus, the induction coil configuration 132 of this embodiment comprises a thin plate having a first layer (including the first flat spiral coil 31), a second layer (including the second flat spiral coil 32), and a third layer (plate 33) intermediate the first and second layers. The plate 33 thus separates the first and second layers. Since the plate 33 is constructed of a non-conductive material, the coils 31, 32 are insulated from each other (other than in the case of a conductive connector, described below). That is, the coils 31, 32 are not in contact with each other. In other embodiments, the coils 31, 32 may be insulated from each other in a different manner, such as by an air gap between the coils 32, 32. In some embodiments, the coils 31, 32 may be provided on the plate 33 in any other suitable manner, such as by being preformed and then attached to the plate 33. In some embodiments, the plate 33 may be other than a layer of a PCB. For example, it may be a layer or sheet of material, such as a resin or adhesive, which may be dried, cured, or solidified.

[0090] The use of coils made of thinly printed conductive material as described above reduces the need for Litz wire. Litz wire consists of many strands of braided ultra-fine wire, overcoming the effects of degrading skin depth at high excitation frequencies. Because the tracks on the PCB are thin (typically around 38 μm thick for 1 oz Cu and 76 μm thick for 2 oz Cu), their performance at high frequencies can be comparable to Litz wire of comparable cross-sectional area. Furthermore, there are no issues with brittleness, shaping of the Litz wire, or connection to other components.

[0091] The first and second flat spiral coils 31, 32 are exposed on the plate 33, which helps to allow for the dissipation of heat generated in the coils 31, 32 during use. However, in other embodiments the first and second flat spiral coils 31, 32 may alternatively be embedded in a material, such as the material that comprises the plate 33, which helps to protect the coils 31, 32 from damage during transport, storage and use.

[0092] In this embodiment, the induction coil arrangement 132 includes a conductive connector (not shown) that electrically connects the first flat spiral coil 31 to the second flat spiral coil 32. More specifically, the conductive connector extends from the radially inner end 31a of the first flat spiral coil 31 to the radially inner end of the second flat spiral coil 32, connecting the coils 31, 32 in series. In this embodiment, the conductive connector is formed as a "via" through the plate 33 of the PCB, as will be understood by those skilled in the art. In other embodiments, the conductive connector may be in a different form, such as a conductive lead or wire inside or outside the plate 33.

[0093] In this embodiment, the flat spiral coils 31, 32 are arranged in substantially parallel planes, i.e., each of the flat spiral coils 31, 32 has a (varying) radius perpendicular to the plane in which the coils 31, 32 lie. Furthermore, the flat spiral coils 31, 32 are axially aligned with each other, i.e., the imaginary point from which one path of the coils 31, 32 extends is on the same axis as the imaginary point from which the other path of the coils 31, 32 extends, which axis is perpendicular to the plane in which the coils 31, 32 lie. Furthermore, in this embodiment, when viewed from one side of the induction coil arrangement 132, the first flat spiral coil 31 follows a clockwise path from its radially inner end 31a, and the second flat spiral coil 32 follows a counterclockwise path from its radially inner end. In this configuration, during use the magnetic fields generated by the coils 31, 32 reinforce each other, effectively doubling the inductance of the coils 31, 32 and doubling the magnetic field along the coil axis.

[0094] 5, an opening 333 extends through the plate 33 from a first side 331 of the plate 33 to a second side 332 of the plate 33. Additionally, each of the flat spiral coils 31, 32 is wound around a hole that is substantially aligned with the opening 333 through the plate 33. That is, there is a hole in the center of each of the flat spiral coils 31, 32. The opening 333 and the hole are each a through hole. As will be explained in more detail below, the heating zone 110 and the heating element 2 extend through the opening 333 and both holes, such that during use, the changing magnetic field generated by the coils 31, 32 penetrates the heating element 2.

[0095] The thickness of each of the first and second flat spiral coils 31, 32, as measured from the first and second faces 331, 332 of the plate 33, may be greater than 50 micrometers and less than 200 micrometers, such as, for example, about 70 micrometers, about 100 micrometers, or about 140 micrometers. In other embodiments, the thickness of one or both of the coils 31, 32 may be less than 50 micrometers or greater than 200 micrometers. The thickness selected helps determine the resistance of the coils 31, 32 and the extent to which the coils 31, 32 self-heat during use. The thickness of the plate 33, as measured between the first and second faces 331, 332 of the plate 33, may be less than 2 millimeters, such as, for example, less than 1 millimeter.

[0096] In principle, it is possible to provide more than two flat spiral coils on each layer of the PCB, but due to heat transfer, the outer layers of the PCB have two to three times the current carrying capacity of any inner layer of the PCB. Thus, the dual coil structure as described above provides a balance between performance and complexity. Furthermore, in this embodiment, each of the coils 31, 32 is a round or circular flat spiral coil. In other embodiments, one or both of the coils 31, 32 can alternatively be rectangular (e.g., square) flat spiral coils. While rectangular profile coils have a slightly higher inductance for a given profile, circular coils allow easier interleaving and / or packing of components between the coils, improving overall PCB area utilization. Also, a rectangular profile requires a larger track length for a given magnetic field strength along the coil axis, resulting in increased resistance and reduced Q compared to a circular coil of similar width.

[0097] The magnetic field generator 130 of this embodiment includes first through sixth induction coil components 132, each of which is identical to the induction coil component 132 shown in FIG. 5 and is attached or connected to a retainer 131. In this embodiment, the retainer 131 is 3D printed SLS (selective laser sintering) nylon. In other embodiments, the retainer 131 may be formed in any other suitable manner, such as a PCB or any other suitable material. In some embodiments, the retainer 131 includes a base 131 and the induction coil components 132 extend away from the base 131 in a direction perpendicular or perpendicular to a surface of the base 131.

[0098] In this embodiment, the induction coil components 132 are separate components from the holder 131 and are assembled together with the holder 131. Each induction coil component 132 includes an electrical connector that electrically connects the coils 31, 32 to the circuit and secures the induction coil component 132 to the holder 131. In other embodiments, each component 132 may include an electrical connector that connects the coils 31, 32 to the circuit and one or more additional structural connectors that secure the induction coil component 132 to the holder 131. In yet another variation of this embodiment, the holder 131 may be integrally formed with the plate 33 of the induction coil component 132 (and possibly with the coils 31, 32).

[0099] As shown in FIG. 4, the holder 131 holds the induction coil arrangement 132 together such that the flat spiral coils 31, 32 of the induction coil arrangement 132 are arranged in successive planes along the longitudinal axis HH of the heating zone 110. In this embodiment, the flat spiral coils 31, 32 of the induction coil arrangement 132 lie in substantially parallel planes, each perpendicular to the axis HH. Furthermore, the flat spiral coils 31, 32 are perfectly axially aligned with each other, since the imaginary points from which the paths of the coils 31, 32 extend all lie on a common axis (in this case the longitudinal axis HH of the heating zone 110). The holes 333 through each plate 33 are also perfectly axially aligned with each other, and all lie on the same axis HH as the imaginary points from which the paths of the coils 31, 32 extend.

[0100] In this embodiment, the magnetic field generator 130 includes a controller 133 that controls the operation of the flat spiral coils 31, 32. The controller 133 is housed in the holder 131 and includes an integrated circuit (IC), although in other embodiments the controller may take a different form. In some embodiments, the controller controls the operation of at least one of the flat spiral coils 31, 32 independently of at least one other flat spiral coil 31, 32. For example, the controller 133 may provide power to the coils 31, 32 of each induction coil arrangement 132 independently of the coils 31, 32 of the other induction coil arrangements 132. In some embodiments, the controller 133 may provide power sequentially to the coils 31, 32 of each induction coil arrangement 132. Alternatively, in at least one mode of operation, the controller may control the operation of all induction coil arrangements 132 simultaneously.

[0101] The holder 131 further comprises two arms 134, 135 extending away from the base 131 in a direction perpendicular or perpendicular to the surface of the base 131 and substantially parallel to the induction coil arrangement 132. In this embodiment, the arms 134, 135 are 3D printed SLS (selective laser sintering) nylon and are integral with the base 131. In other embodiments, the arms 134, 135 may be of different configurations or may be separate components from the base 131 and assembled therewith. Each of the arms 134, 135 has an opening 134a, 135a therethrough, which is perfectly aligned axially with the same axis HH as the imaginary points from which the paths of the coils 31, 32 extend. In other embodiments, one or both of the arms 134, 135 may be omitted or more than two such arms may be provided.

[0102] The device 100 of this embodiment comprises a body 150 that holds the heating element 2 in place relative to the heating zone 110. A portion of the heating element 2 is embedded in the body 150 outside the heating zone 110. In this embodiment, the body 150 is a plug that fits into an opening 135a in one of the arms 135, but other forms are possible in other embodiments. The body 150 is made of a heat-resistant material. For example, the body 150 may be made of glass, ceramics, or a plastic material (such as PEEK). However, because the portion of the heating element 2 embedded in the body 150 is outside the heating zone 110, that portion of the heating element 2, and therefore the body 150, cannot be substantially heated during use. The body 150 of this embodiment defines the aforementioned air inlet 101 through which air may enter the heating zone 110 during use. In other embodiments, the body 150 may define only one air inlet 101 or no air inlets. In this embodiment, the heating element 2 is removable from the device 100, such as for cleaning or replacement. More specifically, in this embodiment, the combination of the heating element 2 and the body 150 is removed from the device 100, such as by extracting the body 150 from the opening 135a of the arm 135. In other embodiments, the heating element 2 may not be removable from the device 100, or may be removable from the device 100 in a different manner, such as without the body 150.

[0103] The apparatus 100 further comprises an elongated support 140 that supports the article 10 comprising an aerosolizable material in the bores of the flat spiral coils 31, 32. In this embodiment, the support 140 is tubular, surrounds the heating zone 110, and has a longitudinal axis that is coaxial with the axis HH. In some embodiments, the longitudinal axis of the support 140 may be parallel to, but not coaxial with, the longitudinal axis HH of the heating zone 110. In some embodiments, the support 140 may be non-tubular, such as rod-like or pin-like, or may have a longitudinally extending circumferential gap therein such that it is partially or substantially tubular.

[0104] The support 140 is held in place by the arms 134, 135 and extends through the openings 134a, 135a in the arms 134, 135, the holes in the plurality of flat spiral coils 31, 32, and the opening 333 in the plate 33. In this embodiment, the elongated support 140 is non-magnetically permeable and non-conductive so as not to interfere with the varying magnetic field generated by the coils 31, 32 during use. The elongated support 140 may be composed of, for example, glass, ceramics, or a plastic material (such as PEEK). However, in some embodiments, the elongated support 140 may be magnetically permeable and / or conductive and may be heated during use by the penetration of the varying magnetic field to assist in heating the heating zone 110 and the article 10 therein during use. In yet other embodiments, the elongated support 140 may be omitted.

[0105] The magnetic field generator 130 also includes a power source (not shown) and a user interface (not shown) for user operation of the control device 133. In this embodiment, the power source is a rechargeable battery. In other embodiments, the power source may be other than a rechargeable battery, such as a non-rechargeable battery, a capacitor, or a connection to a mains power source.

[0106] The controller 133 is electrically connected between a power source and the coils 31, 32 of the induction coil arrangement 132, and is communicatively connected to a user interface that may be located external to the device 100. In this embodiment, the controller 133 is operated by user manipulation of the user interface, which may include push buttons, toggle switches, dials, a touch screen, etc.

[0107] In this embodiment, a user's manipulation of the user interface causes the controller 133 to pass an alternating current through one or more of the coils 31, 32 of the induction coil arrangement 132, causing one or both coils 31, 32 to generate an alternating magnetic field. The coils 31, 32 and the heating element 2 are positioned relative to one another such that the alternating magnetic field(s) generated by the coil(s) 31, 32 penetrate into the heating material of the heating element 2. This may generate one or more eddy currents in the heating material, if the heating material of the heating element 2 is an electrically conductive material. The flow of eddy currents in the heating material relative to the electrical resistance of the heating material causes the heating material to heat by Joule heating. Furthermore, if the heating material of the heating element 2 is a magnetic material, the orientation of the magnetic dipoles in the heating material changes with the applied varying magnetic field, generating heat in the heating material.

[0108] In this embodiment, the article 10 is elongated having a longitudinal axis CC. In use, when the article 10 is positioned in the heating zone 110, this axis CC is coaxial or parallel to the longitudinal axis HH of the heating zone 110. Thus, when the article 10 is positioned in the heating zone 110, heating of one or more portions 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 of the heating element 2 heats one or more corresponding portions of the heating zone 110 as well as one or more corresponding portions 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d, 12e, 12f of the aerosolizable material 12 of the article 10.

[0109] In some embodiments, the controller 133 is operable to heat the first portion of the aerosolizable material 12 before heating the second portion of the aerosolizable material 12. That is, the controller 133 may be operable to pass a fluctuating current through one or both of the coils 31, 32 of the first induction coil arrangement 132 to initiate volatilization and aerosol formation within at least one component of the first portion 12a of the aerosolizable material 12 adjacent the first induction coil arrangement before passing a fluctuating current through one or both of the coils 31, 32 of the second induction coil arrangement 132 to initiate volatilization and aerosol formation within at least one component of the second portion 12b of the aerosolizable material 12 adjacent the second induction coil arrangement 132. Thus, the aerosolizable material 12 of the article 10 may be heated sequentially over time.

[0110] In some embodiments, the first induction coil configuration 132 and associated first portion 12a of the aerosolizable material 12 may be closest to the first end 111 of the heating zone 110, and the second induction coil configuration 132 and associated second portion 12b of the aerosolizable material 12 may be closer to the second end 112 of the heating zone 110. This helps ensure that the aerosol is formed in the first portion 12a of the aerosolizable material 12 that is relatively closer to the outlet 102 and released relatively quickly from the article 10 so that it can be inhaled by a user. Moreover, a time-dependent release of the aerosol is provided such that aerosol continues to be formed and released even after the first portion 12a of the aerosolizable material 12 has ceased to generate aerosol. Such an interruption in the generation of aerosol may occur as a result of the first portion 12a of the aerosolizable material 12 being depleted of volatilizable components.

[0111] The device 100 may include a temperature sensor (not shown) to sense the temperature of the heating zone 110, the article 10, or the heating element 2. The temperature sensor may be communicatively connected to the controller 133 so that the controller 133 can monitor the temperature. Based on one or more signals received from the temperature sensor, the controller 133 may adjust the characteristics of the fluctuating or alternating current passing through the coils 31, 32 as necessary to maintain the temperature of the aerosolizable material 12 within a predetermined temperature range. The characteristics may be, for example, amplitude, frequency, or duty cycle. When used within the predetermined temperature range, sufficient heating of the aerosolizable material 12 causes at least one component of the aerosolizable material 12 to volatilize without combustion of the aerosolizable material 12. Thus, the controller 133 (and the device 100 as a whole) is configured to heat the aerosolizable material 12 to volatilize at least one component of the aerosolizable material 12 without combustion of the aerosolizable material 12.

[0112] In some embodiments, the temperature range is from about 150° C. to about 300° C. The temperature range may be, for example, greater than 150° C., greater than 200° C., or greater than 250° C. The temperature range may be, for example, less than 300° C., less than 290° C., or less than 250° C. In some embodiments, the upper limit of the temperature range may be greater than 300° C. In some embodiments, the temperature sensor may be omitted.

[0113] In variations of this embodiment, the heating element 2 may not be entirely penetrated by the varying magnetic field during use. In some such variations, the non-penetrated portion(s) of the heating element 2 may be heated during use by heat transfer from the penetrated portion(s) of the heating element 2.

[0114] In some embodiments, the article 10 may include at least one heating element including a heating material that may heat the aerosolizable material 12 of the article 10 during use by heating due to the intrusion of one or more of the fluctuating magnetic fields. The heating element(s) of the article 10 may be in thermal contact (in some embodiments, surface contact) with the aerosolizable material 12 of the article 10. For example, the heating element of such an article 10 may be elongated and extend from a first end of the article 10 to an opposite second end of the article 10. The heating element of the article 10 may be, for example, tubular or rod-shaped. In some such embodiments, the aerosolizable material may be radially inward or radially outward of the tubular heating element of the article 10. In some embodiments, the article 10 may include a heating material dispersed within the aerosolizable material 12 of the article 10. For example, the article 10 may include a material including a mixture of the aerosolizable material 12 and elements, each element including a heating material that is heatable due to the intrusion of a fluctuating magnetic field. Each element may contain a closed circuit of heating material, some or all of which may be, for example, ring-shaped, spherical, or formed of multiple discrete strands of heating material.

[0115] In some embodiments, device 100 is sold, supplied, or provided separately from articles 10 that can be used with device 100. However, in some embodiments, device 100 and one or more articles 10 may be provided together as a system, such as a kit or assembly, possibly with additional components, such as cleaning implements.

[0116] In each of the above embodiments, the article 10 is a consumable item. When all or substantially all of the volatilizable component(s) of the aerosolizable material 12 in the article 10 are depleted, a user may remove the article 10 from the heating zone 110 of the device 100 and discard it. The user may then reuse the device 100 with another article 10. However, in other embodiments, the article may be non-consumable, and the device and article may be discarded together when the volatilizable component(s) of the aerosolizable material are depleted.

[0117] In each of the above embodiments, the heating material is stainless steel. However, in other embodiments, the heating material may include one or more materials selected from the group consisting of conductive materials, magnetic materials, and magnetic conductive materials. In some embodiments, the heating material may include a metal or alloy. In some embodiments, the heating material may include one or more materials selected from the group consisting of aluminum, gold, iron, nickel, cobalt, conductive carbon, graphite, steel, plain carbon steel, mild steel, stainless steel, ferritic stainless steel, copper, and bronze. In other embodiments, other heating material(s) may be used.

[0118] In each of the above embodiments, the aerosolizable material includes tobacco. However, in each variation of each of these embodiments, the aerosolizable material may consist of tobacco, consist substantially entirely of tobacco, include tobacco and aerosolizable materials other than tobacco, include aerosolizable materials other than tobacco, or be tobacco-free. In some embodiments, the aerosolizable material may include a vapor or aerosol-forming agent or a humectant, such as glycerol, propylene glycol, triacetin, or diethylene glycol.

[0119] To address various problems and advance the art, the present disclosure generally illustrates, by way of illustrative examples, various embodiments that may enable the claimed invention to be practiced and provide a novel tubular heating element, an apparatus for heating an aerosolizable material to volatilize at least one component of the aerosolizable material, and a system including such an apparatus and an article containing the aerosolizable material. The advantages and features of the present disclosure are merely a representative sample of embodiments and are not exhaustive and / or exclusive. They are presented solely for the purpose of aiding in the understanding and teaching of the features of the claims or disclosure. The advantages, embodiments, examples, features, features, structures, and / or other aspects of the present disclosure should not be considered as limitations on the present disclosure as defined by the claims or limitations on the equivalents of the claims, and it is understood that other embodiments may be utilized and improved upon without departing from the scope and / or spirit of the present disclosure. Various embodiments may suitably include, consist of, or consist essentially of various combinations of the disclosed elements, components, features, parts, steps, means, etc. The present disclosure may include other inventions not currently claimed but which may be claimed in the future.

Claims

1. A tubular heating element for use in a device for heating an aerosolizable material to volatilize at least one component of the aerosolizable material, the tubular heating element comprising a heating material that can be heated by the penetration of a fluctuating magnetic field and having a wall thickness of 1 millimeter or less.

2. The tubular heating element of claim 1 , wherein the wall thickness is 0.3 millimeters or less.

3. 3. A tubular heating element according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the wall thickness is at least 0.05 millimeters.

4. A tubular heating element according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the outer diameter or outer dimension is between 0.3 millimetres and 5 millimetres.

5. A tubular heating element according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the inner diameter or inner dimension is between 0.1 millimetres and 2.1 millimetres.

6. A tubular heating element according to any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising a heat resistant support and a coating on said support, said coating comprising said heating material.

7. The tubular heating element of claim 6 , wherein the coating is positioned radially outward of the support.

8. A tubular heating element for use in an apparatus for heating an aerosolizable material to volatilize at least one component of the aerosolizable material, the tubular heating element comprising a heat-resistant support and a coating on the support, the coating comprising a heating material that can be heated by the penetration of a fluctuating magnetic field, the coating being positioned radially outward of the support.

9. A tubular heating element according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the heating material of the coating is a ferromagnetic material.

10. The tubular heating element of claim 9 , wherein the ferromagnetic material comprises nickel or cobalt.

11. A tubular heating element according to any one of claims 6 to 10, comprising a heat-resistant protective coating, the coating containing the heating material being positioned between the support and the heat-resistant protective coating.

12. 1. An apparatus for heating an aerosolizable material to volatilize at least one component of the aerosolizable material, comprising: a heating zone that receives one or more articles that include an aerosolizable material; a heating element including a heating material capable of heating the heating zone by heating due to the penetration of a fluctuating magnetic field, the heating element being surrounded by the heating zone; a magnetic field generator for generating a varying magnetic field which, in use, penetrates each longitudinal section of the heating element, the magnetic field generator comprising a plurality of flat spiral coils of electrically conductive material arranged in respective planes sequentially along the longitudinal axis of the heating zone; An apparatus comprising:

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the heating element extends parallel or coaxially with the longitudinal axis of the heating zone.

14. 14. The device of claim 12 or 13, wherein the heating element is tubular.

15. An apparatus according to any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein the heating element comprises a heat resistant support and a coating on the support, the coating comprising the heating material.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the heating material of the coating is a ferromagnetic material.

17. 17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the ferromagnetic material comprises nickel or cobalt.

18. An apparatus according to any one of claims 12 to 17, wherein the heating element comprises a tubular heating element according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

19. 19. Apparatus according to any one of claims 12 to 18, comprising a body for holding the heating element in position relative to the heating zone and defining at least one air inlet through which air may enter the heating zone in use.

20. The device of any one of claims 12 to 19, wherein the heating element is removable.

21. 21. The device of claim 20 when dependent on claim 19, wherein the heating element and body combination is removable.

22. Apparatus according to any one of claims 12 to 21, wherein the planes are substantially parallel to each other.

23. An apparatus according to any one of claims 12 to 22, wherein the heating zone extends through a hole in each of the plurality of flat spiral coils.

24. 24. The device of claim 23, comprising an elongated support for supporting an article comprising an aerosolizable material in the aperture of the flat spiral coil.

25. 25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the elongated support is tubular and surrounds the heating zone.

26. 26. The device of claim 24 or 25, wherein the elongate support is non-magnetically and / or electrically non-conductive.

27. 27. The device of any one of claims 12 to 26, which is a tobacco heating product.

28. A tubular heating element according to any one of claims 1 to 11 or an apparatus according to any one of claims 12 to 27, wherein the heating material comprises one or more materials selected from the group consisting of an electrically conductive material, a magnetic material, and a magnetically conductive material.

29. A tubular heating element according to any one of claims 1 to 11 and 28 or an apparatus according to any one of claims 12 to 28, wherein the heating material comprises a metal or alloy.

30. 30. A tubular heating element as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11, 28 and 29 or an apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 29, wherein the heating material comprises one or more materials selected from the group consisting of aluminium, gold, iron, nickel, cobalt, conductive carbon, graphite, steel, plain carbon steel, mild steel, stainless steel, ferritic stainless steel, copper and bronze.

31. 1. A system for heating an aerosolizable material to volatilize at least one component of the aerosolizable material, comprising: An apparatus according to any one of claims 12 to 30; an article present in the heating zone of the device, the article comprising an aerosolizable material; A system equipped with

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