Heating smokable material

Abstract

To provide a smoking material volatilizing device which is heated to a temperature sufficient to volatilize components such as nicotine and aromatic compounds in a heating chamber without burning a smoking material.SOLUTION: The smoking article comprises a smokable material heating chamber 3 and heating material 5 configured to be heated in the presence of a varying magnetic field, the heating material being arranged to transfer thermal energy to smokable material 2 in the heating chamber to volatilise components of the smokable material such that a user can inhale the volatilised components through a mouthpiece 4.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to heating smoking material to volatilize components of the smoking material. [Background technology]

[0002] Smoking articles, such as cigarettes and cigars, burn tobacco and produce tobacco smoke during use. Attempts have been made to provide alternatives to these smoking articles by using products that release compounds without producing tobacco smoke. Examples of such products include so-called heat-but-no-burn products, which release compounds by heating without burning tobacco. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] According to the present invention there is provided a device adapted to volatilise components of smoking material for inhalation, the device comprising: Smoking material heating chamber and and a heating material configured to be heated by the presence of a varying magnetic field, the heating material arranged to transfer thermal energy to the smokable material within the heating chamber to volatilize the constituents.

[0004] The heating material may be contained in a heating element.

[0005] The heating element may include a substrate in thermal contact with the heating material, the substrate being configured to retain thermal energy received from the heating material and transfer that thermal energy to the smokable material within the heating chamber to volatilize the constituents.

[0006] The substrate may be configured to transfer thermal energy to the heating material over an extended period of time, raising and maintaining the temperature of the smokable material at its vaporization temperature over that extended period of time, without simultaneously heating the heating material with a fluctuating magnetic field.

[0007] The heating material may include multiple pieces of heating material dispersed in a heating element that includes a substrate.

[0008] The heating element may be an elongate element positioned adjacent to the smokable material heating chamber.

[0009] The heating chamber may be positioned coaxially around the heating element.

[0010] The heating material may be located inside a smokable material heating chamber containing the smokable material.

[0011] The heating material may be a plurality of pieces of heating material dispersed within the smokable material.

[0012] The heating material may include an electrically conductive material.

[0013] The heating material may be susceptible to eddy currents induced by the varying magnetic field in the material, which cause the heating material to heat resistively.

[0014] The device of the present invention includes a housing in which a heating chamber and a heating material are accommodated, and a heating material is disposed. and a varying magnetic field generator arranged to contain the housing during heating.

[0015] The magnetic field generator is removably mated with the housing, thereby maintaining the housing in a stable position relative to the generator during heating.

[0016] The device of the present invention may include a mouthpiece in fluid communication with the heating chamber such that volatilized components of the smoking material are drawn in by the user through the mouthpiece.

[0017] The heating material may be configured to heat the smoking material to a vaporization temperature of about 50°C to 250°C to vaporize the above components.

[0018] The present invention provides a method of heating a smoking material to volatilize components of the smoking material, the method comprising: generating a varying magnetic field; using the varying magnetic field to induce an electric current in the heating material, thereby heating the heating material; This involves transferring thermal energy from the heating material to the smoking material to heat the smoking material to a vaporization temperature, thereby vaporizing components of the smoking material.

[0019] The present invention provides a method of heating a smoking material to volatilize components of the smoking material, the method comprising: inserting a housing containing the heating material and the smokable material into a device configured to generate a varying magnetic field; heating the heating material by generating a varying magnetic field within the device, thereby inducing a current in the heating material; This involves transferring thermal energy from the heating material to the smoking material to heat the smoking material to a vaporization temperature, thereby vaporizing components of the smoking material.

[0020] An apparatus for carrying out the method of the present invention is provided, the apparatus comprising: a housing containing smokable material and heating material; and a device configured to generate a varying magnetic field.

[0021] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0022] [Figure 1] 1 shows, in partial cutaway, an apparatus for providing heated volatile components of smokable material for inhalation by a user, with an electrically conductive heating material positioned adjacent to a smokable material heating chamber. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a device for providing volatile components of heated smokable material for inhalation by a user, the device housing incorporating an electromagnetic field generator for inducing eddy currents in the heated material. [Figure 3] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a device for providing heated volatile components of smokable material for inhalation by a user, in which an electrically conductive heating material is positioned within a heating chamber together with the smokable material. [Figure 4]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a device for providing volatile components of heated smokable material for inhalation by a user, the device housing incorporating an electromagnetic field generator for inducing eddy currents in the heated material. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] As used herein, the term "smoking material" includes any material that provides volatile components when heated and may include, for example, one or more of tobacco, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco, or tobacco substitutes.

[0024] The device 1 for providing volatile components of smokable material 2 for inhalation comprises a smokable material heating chamber 3 and a mouthpiece 4 in fluid communication with the heating chamber 3. The mouthpiece 4 The device 1 may include a filter material such as cellulose acetate tow provided in the form of a wrapped plug. Once the smoking material 2 is heated inside the heating chamber 3 to a temperature sufficient to vaporize the constituents of the smoking material, the user of the device 1 can inhale the vaporized constituents through the mouthpiece 4.

[0025] As will be explained in more detail below, the smokable material 2 is heated by heat transfer from the heating material 5 located adjacent to the smokable material 2. The heating material 5 itself is resistively heated during the electromagnetic induction heating process.

[0026] More specifically, the heating material 5 comprises a conductive material of limited electrical resistance such that, when the heating material 5 is placed in a varying magnetic field, induced eddy currents resistively heat the heating material 5. One example of a suitable heating material 5 is iron, although other conductive materials, such as other conductive metals or alloys, may alternatively be used. The heating material 5 is heated within the heating chamber 3 by the effect of electromagnetic induction to a temperature sufficient to volatilize components of the smokable material 2, such as nicotine and aromatic compounds, without burning the smokable material 2.

[0027] The heating material 5 may be located inside or in close proximity to the heating chamber 3. As mentioned above, in one example, the heating material 5 is located directly adjacent to the smokable material 2 or within a heating element 6 located directly adjacent to the smokable material 2. The heating material 5 is located such that effective heat transfer occurs between the heating material 5 heated inside the heating chamber 3 and the smokable material 2, whereby the smokable material 2 is heated to a temperature sufficient to volatilize components of the smokable material 2 for inhalation through the mouthpiece 4.

[0028] As briefly mentioned above, the heating material 5 may be contained within a heating element 6 configured to transfer thermal energy from the heating material to the smokable material 2 within the heating chamber 3. In addition to the heating material 5, the heating element 6 may include a substrate 7 that is heat-retentive and acts to release the thermal energy received from the heating material 5 over a relatively long period of time, thereby maintaining the smokable material 2 at a vaporization temperature for that long period of time, for example, about 3 to 10 minutes, as described below. Unlike the heating material 5, the substrate 7 may be an electrical insulator that is not susceptible to eddy currents when placed in a varying magnetic field.

[0029] The substrate 7 is in thermal contact with the heating material 5, and when the heating material 5 is heated by electromagnetic induction, thermal energy from the heating material 5 is transferred to the substrate 7, causing the substrate 7 to warm up to the temperature of the heating material 5. The heat stored in the substrate 7 is then dissipated into the heating chamber 3 over a long period of time, continuously heating the smokable material 2 therein, and the components of the smokable material 2 are continuously volatilized for inhalation through the mouthpiece 4.

[0030] An example of a suitable substrate 7 is a material with a higher specific heat capacity than the heating material 5. By way of example, the specific heat capacity is in the range of approximately 1000 to 3500 J / kg.K, although other values ​​may also be suitable. The substrate 7 is a polymer, although other substrates 7 may also be used. Examples of suitable substrates 7 include HDPE or polycarbonate. As briefly described above, the substrate 7 is configured to store thermal energy received from the heating material 5 and gradually dissipate the thermal energy from the heating material 5 over the long period of time described above, thereby heating the smoking material 2 to within a desired volatilization temperature range and maintaining the temperature of the smoking material 2 within the desired volatilization temperature range until that time has elapsed. Examples of temperature ranges at which components of smoking material, such as tobacco, volatilize include ranges of approximately 50°C to approximately 250°C, such as approximately 50°C to 150°C, approximately 50°C to 120°C, approximately 50°C to 100°C, approximately 50°C to 80°C, or approximately 60°C to 70°C. Other ranges may also be suitable. The long period of time may be approximately the same length of time as it takes to smoke a conventional cigarette, for example, between about 4 and 8 minutes, such as about 7 minutes.

[0031] The heating material 5 and substrate 7 (if used) may optionally be placed in a varying magnetic field between puffs to reheat the heating material 5 before each puff.

[0032] The heating element 6 may extend along the longitudinal axis of the device 1. The heating chamber 3 may also extend along the longitudinal axis of the device 1 and be located adjacent to the heating element 6. For example, in Figure 1, the heating element 6 extends substantially along the central longitudinal axis of the device 1, with the heating chamber 3 located around its longitudinal surface. If the heating element 6 is substantially cylindrical, as shown in Figure 1, the longitudinal surface around which the heating chamber 3 extends is the circumferential surface of the heating element 6. In this type of configuration, the heating chamber 3 may include a coaxial layer around the heating element 6, thereby providing an annular space around the heating element 6 into which smokable material 2 can be inserted for heating, as described below.

[0033] Alternatively, the positions of the heating chamber 3 and heating element 6 may be reversed, with the heating chamber 3 located along the central longitudinal axis of the device 1 and the heating element 6 disposed annularly around it in a coaxial layer.

[0034] 1, the heating material 5 may comprise a plurality of individual pieces of heating material 5 distributed throughout the substrate 7 in the heating element 6. By distributing the heating material 5 substantially evenly across the substrate 7, heating of the heating material 5 results in uniform heating of the substrate 7 and therefore uniform heating of the smokable material 2 within the heating chamber 3. However, it will be appreciated that the use of a plurality of individual pieces of heating material 5 is not a requirement of the present invention, and other configurations may equally be used to uniformly heat the substrate 7 and / or smokable material 2.

[0035] Yet another configuration is shown in Figure 3, where the heating material 5 is in the smokable material 2 itself, rather than within a heating element 6 as described above. As can be seen from Figure 3, multiple pieces of heating material 5 are substantially uniformly distributed throughout the smokable material 2, and when the heating material 5 is heated by an induced current, it heats the smokable material 2 uniformly throughout the chamber 3. These individual pieces of heating material 5 are surrounded by a substrate 7, The heating chamber 3 may include multiple heating elements 6, each including a heating material 5 and a substrate 7, distributed throughout the chamber 3. For example, the heating elements 6 may be generally spherical within an inner core of heating material 5 and an outer layer of substrate 7.

[0036] The depth or lateral dimension of the heating chamber 3 is in the range of about 2mm to 10mm, and may be about 5mm, which may or may not include the substrate 7, when arranged as a coaxially extending wick within the heating chamber as described above. The length of the heating chamber 3 may be approximately equal to the length of a rod of smoking material in a conventional cigarette. An example of a suitable length is about 55mm to 60mm, although other lengths may also be used.

[0037] The housing 8 may house components of the device 1, such as the heating chamber 3, the mouthpiece 4, the heating material 5, and the substrate 7. In Figures 1 and 2, the housing 8 is illustrated as elongated, with the mouthpiece 4 located at a first end thereof and the heating element 6 and heating chamber 3 extending along the longitudinal axis of the housing 8 from an opposing second end of the housing through an interior region of the housing 8. The housing 8 is substantially tubular in shape, such as a pipe having dimensions similar to a cigarette, cigar, or cigarillo. The housing 8 may be formed from a plastic, such as a suitable polymeric material, that is comfortable for a user of the device 1 to draw on and hold during normal use.

[0038] The varying magnetic field that induces a current in the heating material 5 may be generated by a magnetic field generator 9, examples of which are shown in Figures 2 and 4. The magnetic field generator 9 is preferably a The magnetic field generator 9 may include a power source 10, such as a suitable cell or battery. Alternatively, the magnetic field generator 9 may be configured to receive power from an external power source, such as a mains power supply, a personal computer, or other external power source.

[0039] The magnetic field generator 9 may include an electric coil through which a varying current, such as an AC current, is passed to generate a varying electromagnetic field, such as a varying RF field, in the vicinity of the generator 9. The varying magnetic flux generated by the magnetic field generator 9 induces eddy currents in the heating material 5 when the heating material 5 is positioned in the vicinity of the generator 9. As discussed above, these eddy currents in turn cause resistive heating in the heating material 5, thus increasing the temperature of the heating material 5.

[0040] The magnetic field generator 9 may be separate from the housing 8 within which the heating member 6, heating chamber 3, and smokable material 2 are located. In this case, the magnetic field generator 9 may be configured to structurally engage the heating material housing 8 during heating of the heating material 5, such that the housing 8 and the device components therein are held in a stable configuration relative to the magnetic field source 9. For example, with reference to Figures 2 and 4, the magnetic field generator 9 may include a recess 11 into which the housing 8 can be inserted. The internal shape of the recess 11 substantially matches the external shape of an end region of the housing 8, such that the end region of the housing 8 mates with and is physically secured therein to the magnetic field generator 9.

[0041] The combined action within the magnetic field generator 9 of the housing 8 induces the generator 9 to generate a fluctuating magnetic field, thus heating the heating material 5 to obtain volatilized smokable material components.

[0042] The magnetic field generator 9 may be located within a distance of about 5 mm to 100 mm from the heating material 5 when the generator 9 is in use, for example when the housing 8 is combined with the generator 9. This range is an example and other suitable distances outside this range may also be used.

[0043] As described above, heat from the heating material 5 dissipates into the smokable material 2 in the heating chamber 3, vaporizing components of the smokable material 2 when the smokable material 2 reaches a vaporization temperature. Optionally, the device 1 determines when the heating material 5, substrate 7 and / or smokable material 2 in the heating chamber 3 reaches a predetermined vaporization temperature. The temperature sensor 12 may include a temperature sensor 12, such as a thermocouple, configured to detect the vaporization temperature of the smokable material 2. The temperature sensor 12 may include, or be in communication with, an alarm, indicator light or some other suitable warning unit configured to alert the user that the vaporization temperature has been reached and therefore the vaporized components of the smokable material 2 are now available for inhalation.

[0044] Additionally or alternatively, device 1 may include a timer 13 configured to measure the time that heating material 5 is exposed to the varying magnetic field and to alert the user when a predetermined heating time has elapsed that is known to correspond to a volatilization temperature being reached within heating chamber 3. Timer 13 may be started automatically by device 1 upon detecting or receiving information that housing 8 has docked with magnetic field generator 9.

[0045] Once the heating material 5 has been heated to the predetermined volatilization temperature, the housing 8 can be removed from the magnetic field generator 9 and the heating material 5 is no longer subject to substantial resistive heating effects. At this stage, the magnetic field generator 9 can be turned off. Optionally, the magnetic field generator 9 may be configured to automatically stop generating the magnetic field when the predetermined volatilization temperature is reached and / or a predetermined heating time has elapsed.

[0046] Components of the smokable material 2 that have been or subsequently volatilized by the heat emitted from the heated heating material 5 can be drawn into the mouthpiece 4 even when the magnetic field generator 9 is not in the vicinity of the heating material 5. This allows a user of the device 1 to inhale the volatilized components from the mouthpiece 4 in a manner similar to the way a user draws components of a smoking material from a smoking article such as a cigarette. The magnetic field generator 9 may be placed in the user's pocket, for example, for the extended period mentioned above, while the user regularly inhales freshly vaporized smokable material components from the mouthpiece 4 as the smokable material 2 continues to heat up.

[0047] In all configurations of the device 1, the smokable material 2 may be provided in the form of a disposable smokable material cartridge or other smokable material consumable that can be inserted into or removed from the heating chamber 3 through a suitable opening in the housing 8. Thus, a user of the device 1 has the option of changing the smokable material 2 to experience a different or improved draw, while reusing the housing 8, the internal components of the device, and the magnetic field generator 9. For example, the cartridge or other consumable may include a hollow tube of smokable material that is slidably retractable onto the elongated heating element 6, as shown in FIG. 1, or may include a substantially solid, elongated wick of smokable material 2 that is slidably retractable within the hollow center of the elongated heating element 6. The cartridge may include a sleeve, formed, for example, of plastic, that contains the smokable material 2, from which volatilized constituents of the smokable material flow into the mouthpiece 4.

[0048] Alternatively, the housing 8 and its internal components, such as the smokable material 2, may be in a disposable form, intended to be discarded by the user after use.

[0049] 1 and 3, the housing 8 and / or smokable material cartridge 2 may be provided with thermal insulation 14 to reduce heat loss from the smokable material 2 and internal components of the housing 8 to the ambient air surrounding the housing 8. The insulation 14 may be vacuum insulation, for example, configured to provide a vacuum region between the heating chamber 3 and the exterior surface of the housing 8, thereby insulating the device 1 by substantially preventing heat loss by conduction and convection. Additionally or alternatively, the housing 8 and / or smokable material cartridge 2 may be provided with an infrared reflective layer positioned between the smokable material 2 and the exterior surface of the housing 8 to prevent loss by thermal radiation. The reflective layer may optionally be provided on or within the thermal insulation layer 14.

[0050] Additionally or alternatively, the housing 8 may be positioned between the heating material 5 and the exterior of the housing 8. The heating element 2 may be insulated by the smoking material 2 .

[0051] This insulating effect ensures that the exterior surface of the housing 8 is not substantially heated by the heating material 5, and therefore the exterior surface of the housing 8 is maintained at a temperature that allows the user to comfortably grip the housing 8 while inhaling volatilized components through the mouthpiece 4.

[0052] Optionally, the heating chamber 3 may be hermetically sealed to prevent volatilized constituents of the smokable material from escaping through the mouthpiece 4. Inlet and outlet valves may be configured to seal the heating chamber 3 from the mouthpiece 4, allowing volatilized constituents to exit the heating chamber 3 when a user draws on the mouthpiece 4. The device 1 may include a puff sensor that initiates the opening and closing of the valve at the appropriate time. Alternatively, the valve may open automatically due to the inhalation force generated by the user when the user draws on the mouthpiece 4. A mechanical hinge may be used for the valve.

[0053] The device 1 of the present invention may be manufactured by dispersing the heating material 5 in a suitable matrix 7 and molding the resultant into the heating element 6. The housing 8 of the device 1 may be formed by plastic molding techniques to provide a substantially hollow interior region into which the components of the device 1 can be inserted. One or more insulating layers 14 may be provided on the interior or exterior walls of the housing 8 to reduce heat loss from the heating material 5 during use of the device 1. As noted above, the heating element 6 may be secured along a longitudinal axis of the housing 8, such as the central axis, with the smokable material heating chamber 3 remaining adjacent thereto. A temperature sensor 12 and timer 13, along with an indicator light or other suitable warning unit, may be secured in suitable locations on the housing 8. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, As shown, the housing 8 is disposed between the heating chamber 3 and the mouthpiece 4. The mouthpiece 4 is disposed at one end of the housing 8, and a fluid passageway may be provided between the heating chamber 3 and the mouthpiece 4 to allow volatilized constituents of the smokable material 2 to flow to the mouthpiece 4 for inhalation.

[0054] To address various problems and advance technology, the entire disclosure provides various illustrative embodiments in which the claimed inventions may be practiced to provide superior apparatus and methods. The advantages and features of the present disclosure are merely representative examples of embodiments and are not intended to be comprehensive or exclusive. They are provided merely to aid in understanding and teaching the claimed features. Naturally, the advantages, embodiments, examples, functions, features, structures, and / or other aspects of the present disclosure should not be construed as limiting the disclosure to the exact scope of the claims or to equivalents thereto, and it should be understood that other embodiments may be utilized or modified without departing from the scope and / or spirit of the present disclosure. Various embodiments may suitably comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of the disclosed elements, components, features, parts, steps, means, or other combinations. The present disclosure also encompasses other inventions not currently claimed but which may be claimed in the future.

Claims

1. 1. A device configured to volatilize components of smoking material for inhalation, comprising: a smoking material heating chamber; and a heating material configured to be heated by the presence of a fluctuating magnetic field, the heating material arranged to transfer thermal energy to the smokable material within the heating chamber to volatilize said constituents.

2. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the heating material is contained in a heating element.

3. 3. The device of claim 2, wherein the heating element includes a substrate in thermal contact with the heating material, the substrate being configured to retain thermal energy received from the heating material and transfer that thermal energy to the smoking material within the heating chamber to volatilize the components.

4. 4. The device of claim 3, wherein the substrate is configured to transfer thermal energy to the smokable material over an extended period of time to raise and maintain the temperature of the smokable material at a vaporization temperature over that extended period of time without simultaneously heating the heating material with a fluctuating magnetic field.

5. 5. The apparatus of claim 3 or 4, wherein the heating material comprises a plurality of strips of heating material dispersed in a heating element comprising a substrate.

6. 6. A device according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the heating element is an elongated element positioned adjacent to a smokable heating chamber.

7. 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the heating chamber is positioned coaxially around the heating element.

8. 10. The device of claim 1, wherein the heating material is located inside a smokable material heating chamber containing smokable material.

9. 9. The device of claim 8, wherein the heating material is a plurality of pieces of heating material dispersed within the smokable material.

10. 10. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the heating material comprises an electrically conductive material.

11. 11. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the heating material is susceptible to eddy currents induced in the material by a fluctuating magnetic field, the eddy currents causing the heating material to be resistively heated.

12. 12. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a housing in which the heating chamber and the heating material are contained, and a varying magnetic field generator arranged to accommodate the housing while heating the heating material.

13. 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the magnetic field generator is removably coupled to the housing, thereby maintaining the housing in a stable position relative to the generator during heating.

14. 14. A device according to any preceding claim, comprising a mouthpiece in fluid communication with the heating chamber, whereby volatilised constituents of the smoking material are drawn in by the user through the mouthpiece.

15. 15. The device of any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the heating material is configured to heat the smoking material to a vaporization temperature of about 50°C to 250°C to vaporize the components.

16. 1. A method of heating smoking material to volatilize components of the smoking material for inhalation, comprising: generating a varying magnetic field; using the varying magnetic field to induce an electric current in the heating material, thereby heating the heating material; The method comprises transferring thermal energy from a heating material to a smoking material to heat the smoking material to a vaporization temperature, thereby vaporizing components of the smoking material.

17. 1. A method of heating smoking material to volatilize components of the smoking material for inhalation, comprising: inserting a housing containing the heating material and the smokable material into a device configured to generate a varying magnetic field; heating the heating material by generating a varying magnetic field within the device, thereby inducing a current in the heating material; The method comprises transferring thermal energy from a heating material to a smoking material to heat the smoking material to a vaporization temperature, thereby vaporizing components of the smoking material.

18. a housing containing smokable material and heating material; and a device configured to generate a varying magnetic field.

19. 10. Apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.

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