U.S. patent application number 14/927532 was filed with the patent office on 2017-05-04 for article for use with apparatus for heating smokable material.
The applicant listed for this patent is British American Tobacco (Investments) Limited. Invention is credited to Thomas P. BLANDINO, JAMES J. FRATER, Benjamin J. PAPROCKI, ANDREW P. WILKE.
Application Number | 20170119047 14/927532 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 57389381 |
Filed Date | 2017-05-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170119047 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
BLANDINO; Thomas P. ; et
al. |
May 4, 2017 |
Article for Use with Apparatus for Heating Smokable Material
Abstract
Disclosed is an article for use with apparatus for heating
smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the
smokable material. The article comprises smokable material, such as
tobacco, and a heater for heating the smokable material. The heater
comprises heating material that is heatable by penetration with a
varying magnetic field. The heating material has a Curie point
temperature that is less than the combustion temperature of the
smokable material.
Inventors: |
BLANDINO; Thomas P.;
(Cottage Grove, WI) ; WILKE; ANDREW P.; (Madison,
WI) ; FRATER; JAMES J.; (Madison, WI) ;
PAPROCKI; Benjamin J.; (Cottage Grove, WI) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
British American Tobacco (Investments) Limited |
London |
|
GB |
|
|
Family ID: |
57389381 |
Appl. No.: |
14/927532 |
Filed: |
October 30, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H05B 2206/023 20130101;
H05B 6/105 20130101; A24C 5/01 20200101; A24D 1/20 20200101; A24F
40/465 20200101; A24F 40/20 20200101; A24F 47/008 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A24F 47/00 20060101
A24F047/00; H05B 6/10 20060101 H05B006/10 |
Claims
1. A method of manufacturing a product comprising a heater for use
in heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component
of the smokable material, the method comprising: determining a
maximum temperature to which a heater is to be heated in use; and
providing a heater comprising heating material, wherein the heating
material is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field,
and wherein the heating material has a Curie point temperature
selected on the basis of the determined maximum temperature.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the Curie point temperature is
equal to or less than the maximum temperature.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the maximum temperature is less
than the combustion temperature of the smokable material to be
heated by the heater in use.
4. The method of claim 1, comprising forming an article comprising
the heater and smokable material to be heated by the heater in
use.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the smokable material comprises
tobacco and/or one or more humectants.
6. The method of claim 4, comprising providing that the heater is
in contact with the smokable material.
7. The method of claim 1, comprising forming apparatus for heating
smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the
smokable material, the apparatus comprising a heating zone for
receiving an article comprising smokable material, the heater for
heating the heating zone, and a magnetic field generator for
generating a varying magnetic field that penetrates the heating
material; wherein a maximum temperature to which the heater is
heatable by penetration with the varying magnetic field in use is
exclusively determined by the Curie point temperature of the
heating material.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the heating material comprises
one or more materials selected from the group consisting of: iron;
an alloy comprising iron; an alloy comprising iron and nickel; an
alloy comprising iron and nickel and chromium; an alloy comprising
iron and nickel and chromium and manganese; an alloy comprising
iron and nickel and chromium and manganese and silicon; and
stainless steel.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the heater consists entirely, or
substantially entirely, of the heating material.
10. An article for use with apparatus for heating smokable material
to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material, the
article comprising: smokable material; and a heater for heating the
smokable material, wherein the heater comprises heating material
that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field, and
wherein the heating material has a Curie point temperature that is
less than the combustion temperature of the smokable material.
11. The article of claim 10, wherein the heating material is in
contact with the smokable material.
12. The article of claim 10, wherein the Curie point temperature is
no more than 350 degrees Celsius.
13. The article of claim 10, wherein the heating material comprises
one or more materials selected from the group consisting of: iron;
an alloy comprising iron; an alloy comprising iron and nickel; an
alloy comprising iron and nickel and chromium; an alloy comprising
iron and nickel and chromium and manganese; an alloy comprising
iron and nickel and chromium and manganese and silicon; and
stainless steel.
14. The article of claim 10, wherein the smokable material
comprises tobacco and/or one or more humectants.
15. The article of claim 10, wherein the heater consists entirely,
or substantially entirely, of the heating material.
16. Apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least
one component of the smokable material, the apparatus comprising: a
heating zone for receiving an article comprising smokable material;
a heater for heating the heating zone, wherein the heater comprises
heating material that is heatable by penetration with a varying
magnetic field; and a magnetic field generator for generating a
varying magnetic field that penetrates the heating material;
wherein a maximum temperature to which the heater is heatable by
penetration with the varying magnetic field in use is exclusively
determined by a Curie point temperature of the heating
material.
17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the Curie point temperature
is no more than 350 degrees Celsius.
18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the heating material
comprises one or more materials selected from the group consisting
of: iron; an alloy comprising iron; an alloy comprising iron and
nickel; an alloy comprising iron and nickel and chromium; an alloy
comprising iron and nickel and chromium and manganese; an alloy
comprising iron and nickel and chromium and manganese and silicon;
and stainless steel.
19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the heater consists
entirely, or substantially entirely, of the heating material.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] Embodiments relate to apparatus for heating smokable
material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable
material, to articles for use with such apparatus, to systems
comprising such apparatus and such articles, and to methods of
manufacturing products comprising heaters for use in heating
smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the
smokable material.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Smoking articles such as cigarettes, cigars and the like
burn tobacco during use to create tobacco smoke. Attempts have been
made to provide alternatives to these articles by creating products
that release compounds without combusting. Examples of such
products are so-called "heat not burn" products or tobacco heating
devices or products, which release compounds by heating, but not
burning, material. The material may be, for example, tobacco or
other non-tobacco products, which may or may not contain
nicotine.
SUMMARY
[0003] A first aspect of embodiments provides a method of
manufacturing a product comprising a heater for use in heating
smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the
smokable material, the method comprising:
[0004] determining a maximum temperature to which a heater is to be
heated in use; and
[0005] providing a heater comprising heating material, wherein the
heating material is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic
field, and wherein the heating material has a Curie point
temperature selected on the basis of the determined maximum
temperature.
[0006] In an exemplary embodiment, the Curie point temperature is
equal to or less than the maximum temperature.
[0007] In an exemplary embodiment, the maximum temperature is less
than the combustion temperature of the smokable material to be
heated by the heater in use.
[0008] In an exemplary embodiment, the combustion temperature of
the smokable material is the autoignition temperature or kindling
point of the smokable material.
[0009] In an exemplary embodiment, the Curie point temperature is
no more than 350 degrees Celsius.
[0010] In respective exemplary embodiments, the Curie point
temperature may be less than 350 degrees Celsius, less than 325
degrees Celsius, less than 300 degrees Celsius, less than 280
degrees Celsius, less than 260 degrees Celsius, less than 240
degrees Celsius, or less than 220 degrees Celsius.
[0011] In an exemplary embodiment, the method comprises forming an
article comprising the heater and smokable material to be heated by
the heater in use.
[0012] In an exemplary embodiment, the smokable material comprises
tobacco and/or one or more humectants.
[0013] In an exemplary embodiment, the method comprises providing
that the heater is in contact with the smokable material.
[0014] In an exemplary embodiment, the method comprises forming
apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one
component of the smokable material, the apparatus comprising a
heating zone for receiving an article comprising smokable material,
the heater for heating the heating zone, and a magnetic field
generator for generating a varying magnetic field that penetrates
the heating material;
[0015] and a maximum temperature to which the heater is heatable by
penetration with the varying magnetic field in use is exclusively
determined by the Curie point temperature of the heating
material.
[0016] In an exemplary embodiment, the heating material comprises
one or more materials selected from the group consisting of: iron;
an alloy comprising iron; an alloy comprising iron and nickel; an
alloy comprising iron and nickel and chromium; an alloy comprising
iron and nickel and chromium and manganese; an alloy comprising
iron and nickel and chromium and manganese and silicon; and
stainless steel.
[0017] In an exemplary embodiment, the heater consists entirely, or
substantially entirely, of the heating material.
[0018] A second aspect of embodiments provides an article for use
with apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least
one component of the smokable material, the article comprising:
[0019] smokable material; and
[0020] a heater for heating the smokable material, wherein the
heater comprises heating material that is heatable by penetration
with a varying magnetic field, and wherein the heating material has
a Curie point temperature that is less than the combustion
temperature of the smokable material.
[0021] In an exemplary embodiment, the combustion temperature of
the smokable material is the autoignition temperature or kindling
point of the smokable material.
[0022] In an exemplary embodiment, the heating material is in
contact with the smokable material.
[0023] In an exemplary embodiment, the Curie point temperature is
no more than 350 degrees Celsius.
[0024] In respective exemplary embodiments, the Curie point
temperature may be less than 350 degrees Celsius, less than 325
degrees Celsius, less than 300 degrees Celsius, less than 280
degrees Celsius, less than 260 degrees Celsius, less than 240
degrees Celsius, or less than 220 degrees Celsius.
[0025] In an exemplary embodiment, the heating material comprises
one or more materials selected from the group consisting of: iron;
an alloy comprising iron; an alloy comprising iron and nickel; an
alloy comprising iron and nickel and chromium; an alloy comprising
iron and nickel and chromium and manganese; an alloy comprising
iron and nickel and chromium and manganese and silicon; and
stainless steel.
[0026] In an exemplary embodiment, the smokable material comprises
tobacco and/or one or more humectants.
[0027] In an exemplary embodiment, the heater consists entirely, or
substantially entirely, of the heating material.
[0028] A third aspect of embodiments provides apparatus for heating
smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the
smokable material, the apparatus comprising:
[0029] a heating zone for receiving an article comprising smokable
material;
[0030] a heater for heating the heating zone, wherein the heater
comprises heating material that is heatable by penetration with a
varying magnetic field; and
[0031] a magnetic field generator for generating a varying magnetic
field that penetrates the heating material;
[0032] wherein a maximum temperature to which the heater is
heatable by penetration with the varying magnetic field in use is
exclusively determined by a Curie point temperature of the heating
material.
[0033] In an exemplary embodiment, the Curie point temperature is
no more than 350 degrees Celsius.
[0034] In respective exemplary embodiments, the Curie point
temperature may be less than 350 degrees Celsius, less than 325
degrees Celsius, less than 300 degrees Celsius, less than 280
degrees Celsius, less than 260 degrees Celsius, less than 240
degrees Celsius, or less than 220 degrees Celsius.
[0035] In an exemplary embodiment, the heating material comprises
one or more materials selected from the group consisting of: iron;
an alloy comprising iron; an alloy comprising iron and nickel; an
alloy comprising iron and nickel and chromium; an alloy comprising
iron and nickel and chromium and manganese; an alloy comprising
iron and nickel and chromium and manganese and silicon; and
stainless steel.
[0036] In an exemplary embodiment, the heater consists entirely, or
substantially entirely, of the heating material.
[0037] A fourth aspect of embodiments provides a system,
comprising:
[0038] apparatus for heating the smokable material to volatilize at
least one component of the smokable material; and
[0039] an article for use with the apparatus, wherein the article
comprises smokable material and a heater for heating the smokable
material, wherein the heater is formed of heating material that is
heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field, and wherein
the heating material has a Curie point temperature that is less
than the combustion temperature of the smokable material;
[0040] wherein the apparatus comprises a heating zone for receiving
the article, and a magnetic field generator for generating a
varying magnetic field that penetrates the heating material when
the article is in the heating zone.
[0041] In respective exemplary embodiments, the article of the
system may have any one or more of the features discussed above as
being present in respective exemplary embodiments of the article of
the second aspect.
[0042] A fifth aspect of embodiments provides a system,
comprising:
[0043] apparatus for heating the smokable material to volatilize at
least one component of the smokable material; and
[0044] an article for use with the apparatus, wherein the article
comprises smokable material;
[0045] wherein the apparatus comprises: [0046] a heating zone for
receiving the article, [0047] a heater for heating the smokable
material when the article is in the heating zone, wherein the
heater is formed of heating material that is heatable by
penetration with a varying magnetic field, and [0048] a magnetic
field generator for generating a varying magnetic field that
penetrates the heating material;
[0049] wherein a maximum temperature to which the heater is
heatable by penetration with the varying magnetic field in use is
exclusively determined by a Curie point temperature of the heating
material.
[0050] In an exemplary embodiment, the article of the system is the
article of the second aspect of embodiments. The article of the
system may have any one or more of the features discussed above as
being present in respective exemplary embodiments of the article of
the second aspect.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0051] Embodiments will now be described, by way of example only,
with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0052] FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of an example of
an article for use with apparatus for heating smokable material to
volatilize at least one component of the smokable material.
[0053] FIG. 2 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the article
of FIG. 1.
[0054] FIG. 3 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of an example
of apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least
one component of the smokable material.
[0055] FIG. 4 is a flow diagram showing an example of a method of
manufacturing an article for use with apparatus for heating
smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the
smokable material.
[0056] FIG. 5 is a flow diagram showing an example of a method of
manufacturing apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize
at least one component of the smokable material.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0057] As used herein, the term "smokable material" includes
materials that provide volatilized components upon heating,
typically in the form of vapor or an aerosol. "Smokable material"
may be a non-tobacco-containing material or a tobacco-containing
material. "Smokable material" may, for example, include one or more
of tobacco per se, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco,
reconstituted tobacco, tobacco extract, homogenized tobacco or
tobacco substitutes. The smokable material can be in the form of
ground tobacco, cut rag tobacco, extruded tobacco, reconstituted
tobacco, reconstituted smokable material, liquid, gel, gelled
sheet, powder, or agglomerates, or the like. "Smokable material"
also may include other, non-tobacco, products, which, depending on
the product, may or may not contain nicotine. "Smokable material"
may comprise one or more humectants, such as glycerol or propylene
glycol.
[0058] As used herein, the term "heating material" or "heater
material" refers to material that is heatable by penetration with a
varying magnetic field.
[0059] Induction heating is a process in which an
electrically-conductive object is heated by penetrating the object
with a varying magnetic field. 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
electrical current, such as an alternating current, through the
electromagnet. When the electromagnet and the object to be heated
are suitably relatively positioned so that the resultant 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 electrical currents.
Therefore, when such eddy currents are generated in the object,
their flow against the electrical resistance of the object causes
the object to be heated. This process is called Joule, ohmic, or
resistive heating. An object that is capable of being inductively
heated is known as a susceptor.
[0060] It has been found that, when the susceptor is in the form of
a closed circuit, magnetic coupling between the susceptor and the
electromagnet in use is enhanced, which results in greater or
improved Joule heating.
[0061] Magnetic hysteresis heating is a process in which an object
made of a magnetic material is heated by penetrating the object
with a varying magnetic field. A magnetic material can be
considered to comprise many atomic-scale magnets, or magnetic
dipoles. When a magnetic field penetrates such material, the
magnetic dipoles align with the magnetic field. Therefore, when a
varying magnetic field, such as an alternating magnetic field, for
example as produced by an electromagnet, penetrates the magnetic
material, the orientation of the magnetic dipoles changes with the
varying applied magnetic field. Such magnetic dipole reorientation
causes heat to be generated in the magnetic material.
[0062] When an object is both electrically-conductive and magnetic,
penetrating the object with a varying magnetic field can cause both
Joule heating and magnetic hysteresis heating in the object.
Moreover, the use of magnetic material can strengthen the magnetic
field, which can intensify the Joule heating.
[0063] In each of the above processes, as heat is generated inside
the object itself, rather than by an external heat source by heat
conduction, a rapid temperature rise in the object and more uniform
heat distribution can be achieved, particularly through selection
of suitable object material and geometry, and suitable varying
magnetic field magnitude and orientation relative to the object.
Moreover, as induction heating and magnetic hysteresis heating do
not require a physical connection to be provided between the source
of the varying magnetic field and the object, design freedom and
control over the heating profile may be greater, and cost may be
lower.
[0064] The Curie point temperature, or Curie Temperature, is the
temperature at which certain magnetic materials undergo a sharp
change in their magnetic properties. It is understood that the
Curie point temperature is the temperature below which there is
spontaneous magnetization in the absence of an externally applied
magnetic field, and above which the material is paramagnetic. For
example, the Curie point temperature is the magnetic transformation
temperature of a ferromagnetic material between its ferromagnetic
and paramagnetic phase. When such a magnetic material reaches its
Curie point temperature, its magnetic permeability reduces or
ceases, and the ability of the material to be heated by penetration
with a varying magnetic field also reduces or ceases. That is, it
may not be possible to heat the material above its Curie point
temperature by magnetic hysteresis heating. If the magnetic
material is electrically-conductive, then the material may still be
heatable, to a lesser extent, by penetration with a varying
magnetic field above the Curie point temperature by Joule heating.
However, if the magnetic material is non-electrically-conductive,
then heating of the material above its Curie point temperature by
penetration with a varying magnetic field may be hindered or even
impossible.
[0065] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 there are shown a schematic
perspective view and a schematic cross-sectional view of an example
of an article according to an embodiment. Broadly speaking, the
article 1 comprises smokable material 10, a heater 20 for heating
the smokable material 10, and a cover 30 that encircles the
smokable material 10 and the heater 20. The heater 20 comprises
heating material that is heatable by penetration with a varying
magnetic field. Example such heating materials are discussed
elsewhere herein. The article 1 is for use with apparatus for
heating the smokable material 10 to volatilize at least one
component of the smokable material 10 without burning the smokable
material 10.
[0066] In this embodiment, the article 1 is elongate and
cylindrical with a substantially circular cross section in a plane
normal to a longitudinal axis of the article 1. However, in other
embodiments, the article 1 may have a cross section other than
circular and/or not be elongate and/or not be cylindrical. The
article 1 may have proportions approximating those of a
cigarette.
[0067] In this embodiment, the heater 20 is elongate and extends
along a longitudinal axis that is substantially aligned with a
longitudinal axis of the article 1. This can help to provide more
uniform heating of the smokable material 10 in use, and can also
aid manufacturing of the article 1. In this embodiment, the aligned
axes are coincident. In a variation to this embodiment, the aligned
axes may be parallel to each other. However, in other embodiments,
the axes may be oblique to each other.
[0068] In this embodiment, the heater 20 extends to opposite
longitudinal ends of the mass of smokable material 10. This can
help to provide more uniform heating of the smokable material 10 in
use, and can also aid manufacturing of the article 1. However, in
other embodiments, the heater 20 may not extend to either of the
opposite longitudinal ends of the mass of smokable material 10, or
may extend to only one of the longitudinal ends of the mass of
smokable material 10 and be spaced from the other of the
longitudinal ends of the mass of smokable material 10.
[0069] In this embodiment, the heater 20 is within the smokable
material 10. In other embodiments, the smokable material 10 may be
on only one side of the heater 20, for example.
[0070] In this embodiment, the heating material of the heater 20 is
in contact with the smokable material 10. Thus, when the heating
material is heated by penetration with a varying magnetic field,
heat may be transferred directly from the heating material to the
smokable material 10. In other embodiments, the heating material
may be kept out of contact with the smokable material 10. For
example, in some embodiments, the article 1 may comprise a
thermally-conductive barrier that is free of heating material and
that spaces the heater 20 from the smokable material 10. In some
embodiments, the thermally-conductive barrier may be a coating on
the heater 20. The provision of such a barrier may be advantageous
to help to dissipate heat to alleviate hot spots in the heating
material.
[0071] The heater 20 of this embodiment has two opposing major
surfaces joined by two minor surfaces. Therefore, the depth or
thickness of the heater 20 is relatively small as compared to the
other dimensions of the heater 20. The heating material may have a
skin depth, which is an exterior zone within which most of an
induced electrical current and/or induced reorientation of magnetic
dipoles occurs. By providing that the heating material has a
relatively small thickness, a greater proportion of the heating
material may be heatable by a given varying magnetic field, as
compared to heating material having a depth or thickness that is
relatively large as compared to the other dimensions of the heating
material. Thus, a more efficient use of material is achieved and,
in turn, costs are reduced. However, in other embodiments, the
heater 20 may have a cross-section that is a shape other than
rectangular, such as circular, elliptical, annular, polygonal,
square, triangular, star-shaped, radially-finned, or the like.
[0072] The cover 30 of the article 1 helps to maintain the relative
positions of the smokable material 10 and the heater 20. The cover
30 may be made of any suitable material, such as paper, card, a
plastics material, or the like. Overlapping portions of the cover
30 may be adhered to each other to help maintain the shape of the
cover 30 and the article 1 as a whole. In some embodiments, the
cover 30 may take a different form or be omitted.
[0073] The Curie point temperature of a material is determined or
controlled by the chemical composition of the material. Modern
technology allows adjustment of the composition of a material to
provide the material with a preset Curie point temperature. Some
example heating materials that could be used in embodiments, along
with their approximate Curie point temperatures, are as shown in
Table 1, below.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Curie point temperature Material (degrees
Celsius) 30% Ni 70% Fe 100 36% Ni 64% Fe 279 42% Ni 58% Fe 325 46%
Ni 54% Fe 460 52% Ni 48% Fe 565 80% Ni 20% Fe 460 Cobalt 1120 Iron
770 Low carbon steel 760 Iron (III) oxide 675 Iron (II, III) oxide
585 NiOFe.sub.2O.sub.3 585 CuOFe.sub.2O.sub.3 455 Strontium ferrite
450 MgOFe.sub.2O.sub.3 440 Kovar* 435 MnBi 357 Nickel 353 MnSb 314
MnOFe.sub.2O.sub.3 300 Y.sub.3Fe.sub.5O.sub.12 287 CrO.sub.2 113
MnAs 45 *A typical composition of Kovar is as follows, given in
percentages of weight: Ni 29%, Co 17%, Si 0.2%, Mn 0.3%, C
<0.01%, Fe balance.
[0074] The % values given for the above various alloys of Ni and Fe
may be % wt values.
[0075] "Low Curie temperature material for induction heating
self-temperature controlling system"; T. Todaka et al.; Journal of
Magnetism and Magnetic Materials 320 (2008) e702-e707, presents low
Curie temperature magnetic materials for induction heating. The
materials are alloys based on SUS430 (a grade of stainless steel),
could be used in embodiments, and are shown in Table 2, below,
along with their approximate Curie point temperatures.
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Material Composition Curie point temperature
(wt %) (degrees Celsius) SUS430-Al.sub.11.7Dy.sub.0.5 301
SUS430-Al.sub.11.7Gd.sub.0.3 300 SUS430-Al.sub.11.7Sm.sub.0.3 300
SUS430-Al.sub.12.8Gd.sub.0.3 194 SUS430-Al.sub.12.8Sm.sub.0.1 195
SUS430-Al.sub.12.8Y.sub.0.3 198 SUS430-Al.sub.13.5Gd.sub.0.3 106
SUS430-Al.sub.13.5Sm.sub.0.1 116 SUS430-Al.sub.13.5Y.sub.0.3
109
[0076] "Low Curie temperature in Fe--Cr--Ni--Mn alloys"; Alexandru
Iorga et al.; U.P.B. Sci. Bull., Series B, Vol. 73, Iss. 4 (2011)
195-202, provides a discussion of several Fe--Ni--Cr alloys. Some
of the materials disclosed in this document could be used in
embodiments, and are shown in Table 3, below, along with their
approximate Curie point temperatures.
TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Material Composition Curie point temperature
(wt %) (degrees Celsius)
Cr.sub.4--Ni.sub.32--Fe.sub.62--Mn.sub.1.5--Si.sub.0.5 55
Cr.sub.4--Ni.sub.33--Fe.sub.62.5--Si.sub.0.5 122
Cr.sub.10--Ni33--Fe.sub.53.5--Mn.sub.3--Si.sub.0.5 11
Cr.sub.11--Ni.sub.35--Fe.sub.53.5--Si.sub.0.5 66
[0077] A further material that could be used in some embodiments is
NeoMax MS-135, which is from NeoMax Materials Co., Ltd. This
material is described at the following URL:
http://www.neomax-materials.co.ip/eng/pr0510.htm.
[0078] In this embodiment, the chemical composition of the heating
material of the heater 20 has been carefully and intentionally set,
selected or provided so that the heating material has a Curie point
temperature that is less than the combustion temperature of the
smokable material 10. The combustion temperature may be the
autoignition temperature or kindling point of the smokable material
10. That is, the lowest temperature at which the smokable material
10 will spontaneously ignite in normal atmosphere without an
external source of ignition, such as a flame or spark.
[0079] Accordingly, when the temperature of the heater 20 in use
reaches the Curie point temperature, the ability to further heat
the heater 20 by penetration with a varying magnetic field is
reduced or removed. For example, as noted above, when the heating
material is electrically-conductive, Joule heating may still be
effected by penetrating the heating material with a varying
magnetic field. Alternatively, when the heating material is
non-electrically-conductive, depending on the chemical composition
of the heating material, such further heating by penetration with a
varying magnetic field may be impossible.
[0080] Thus, in use, this inherent mechanism of the heating
material of the heater 20 may be used to limit or prevent further
heating of the heater 20, so as to help avoid the temperature of
the adjacent smokable material 10 from reaching a magnitude at
which the smokable material 10 burns or combusts. Thus, in some
embodiments, the chemical composition of the heater 20 may help
enable the smokable material 10 to be heated sufficiently to
volatilize at least one component of the smokable material 10
without burning the smokable material 10. In some embodiments, this
may also help to prevent overheating of the apparatus with which
the article 1 is being used, and/or help to prevent part(s), such
as the cover 30 or an adhesive, of the article 1 being damaged by
excessive heat during use of the article 1.
[0081] In some embodiments, if the combustion temperature of the
smokable material 10 is greater than X degrees Celsius, then the
chemical composition of the heating material may be provided so
that the Curie point temperature is no more than X degrees Celsius.
For example, if the combustion temperature of the smokable material
10 is greater than 350 degrees Celsius, then the chemical
composition of the heating material may be provided so that the
Curie point temperature is no more than 350 degrees Celsius. The
Curie point temperature may be, for example, less than 350 degrees
Celsius, less than 325 degrees Celsius, less than 300 degrees
Celsius, less than 280 degrees Celsius, less than 260 degrees
Celsius, less than 240 degrees Celsius, or less than 220 degrees
Celsius. In some embodiments, the ability of the heating material
to be heated by penetration with a varying magnetic field by
magnetic hysteresis heating may return when the temperature of the
heating material has dropped below the Curie point temperature.
[0082] In some embodiments, the heater 20 may consist entirely, or
substantially entirely, of the heating material. The heating
material may comprise, for example, one or more materials selected
from the group consisting of: iron; an alloy comprising iron; an
alloy comprising iron and nickel; an alloy comprising iron and
nickel and chromium; an alloy comprising iron and nickel and
chromium and manganese; an alloy comprising iron and nickel and
chromium and manganese and silicon; and stainless steel.
[0083] In some embodiments, the heater of the product, such as the
article, may comprise a first portion of heating material that has
a first Curie point temperature, and a second portion of heating
material that has a second Curie point temperature that is
different to the first Curie point temperature. The second Curie
point temperature may be higher than the first Curie point
temperature. In use, the second portion of heating material may
thus be permitted to reach a higher temperature than the first
portion of heating material when both are penetrated by a varying
magnetic field. This may help progressive heating of the smokable
material 10, and thus progressive generation of vapor, to be
achieved. Both the first and second Curie point temperatures may be
less than the combustion temperature of the smokable material
10.
[0084] Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown a flow diagram showing
an example of a method of manufacturing a product for use in
heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of
the smokable material, according to an embodiment. The article 1 of
FIGS. 1 and 2 may be made according to this method.
[0085] The method 400 comprises determining 401 a maximum
temperature to which a heater is to be heated in use. This
determining 401 may comprise, for example, determining the
combustion temperature of the smokable material 10 to be heated by
the heater 20 in use, and then determining the maximum temperature
on the basis of that combustion temperature. For example, in some
embodiments, the maximum temperature may be less than the
combustion temperature of the smokable material 10, for the reasons
discussed above. In other embodiments, the determining 401 may
additionally or alternatively comprise determining a maximum
temperature to which other part(s), such as a cover or an adhesive,
of the article may be subjected in use without incurring damage,
and then determining the maximum temperature on the basis of that
temperature. For example, in some embodiments, the maximum
temperature may be less than the temperature to which the part(s)
may be safely subjected in use. In still other embodiments, the
determining 401 may additionally or alternatively comprise
determining a maximum temperature to which the smokable material 10
is to be heated on the basis of desired sensory properties, and
then determining the maximum temperature on the basis of that
temperature. For example, at different temperatures different
components of the smokable material 10 may be volatilized.
[0086] The method 400 further comprises providing 402 a heater 20
comprising heating material, wherein the heating material is
heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field, and wherein
the heating material has a Curie point temperature selected or
determined on the basis of, or in dependence on, the maximum
temperature determined at 401. The providing 402 may comprise, for
example, manufacturing the heater 20 from suitable heating
material. The method may comprise adjusting the composition of the
heating material during manufacture of the heater 20. Alternatively
or additionally, the providing 402 may comprise selecting the
heater 20 from a plurality of heaters 20, wherein the plurality of
heaters 20 are made of heating material having respective different
Curie point temperatures. The Curie point temperature of the
heating material of the heater 20 provided in 402 may, for example,
be equal to the maximum temperature determined in 401, or may be
less than the maximum temperature determined in 401. The heater 20
provided in 402 may consists entirely, or substantially entirely,
of the heating material. The heating material may comprise or
consist of any one or more of the available heating materials
discussed above, for example.
[0087] The method then comprises forming 403 an article, such as
the article 1 of FIGS. 1 and 2, comprising the heater 20 and
smokable material 10 to be heated by the heater 20 in use. The
forming 403 may comprise providing that the heater 20 is in contact
with the smokable material 10, as is the case in the article 1 of
FIGS. 1 and 2. However, in other embodiments, the smokable material
10 may be out of contact with the heater 20 and yet still be
heatable by the heater 20. In 403 the method 400 may additionally
or alternatively comprise encircling or covering the smokable
material 10 and the heater 20 with a cover, such as the cover 30 of
the article 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0088] The above-described article 1 and described variants thereof
may be used with apparatus for heating the smokable material 10 to
volatilize at least one component of the smokable material 10
without burning the smokable material 10. Any one of the article(s)
1 and such apparatus may be provided together as a system. The
system may take the form of a kit, in which the article 1 is
separate from the apparatus. Alternatively, the system may take the
form of an assembly, in which the article 1 is combined with the
apparatus. The apparatus of the system comprises a heating zone for
receiving the article 1, and a magnetic field generator for
generating a varying magnetic field that penetrates the heating
material when the article 1 is in the heating zone.
[0089] Referring to FIG. 3 there is shown a schematic
cross-sectional view of an example of apparatus for heating
smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the
smokable material according to an embodiment. Broadly speaking, the
apparatus 100 comprises a heating zone 111 for receiving an article
comprising smokable material; a heater 115 for heating the heating
zone 111, wherein the heater 115 comprises heating material that is
heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field; and a
magnetic field generator 112 for generating a varying magnetic
field that penetrates the heating material of the heater 115. A
maximum temperature to which the heater 115 is heatable by
penetration with the varying magnetic field in use is exclusively
determined by a Curie point temperature of the heating material of
the heater 115. Example such heating materials are discussed
elsewhere herein. The apparatus 100 is for use with an article that
comprises smokable material. In some embodiments, the apparatus 100
is for heating the smokable material to volatilize at least one
component of the smokable material without burning the smokable
material. The article may comprise heating material, such as the
article 1 of FIGS. 1 and 2, or may be free of heating material.
[0090] The apparatus 100 of this embodiment comprises a body 110
and a mouthpiece 120. The mouthpiece 120 may be made of any
suitable material, such as a plastics material, cardboard,
cellulose acetate, paper, metal, glass, ceramic, or rubber. The
mouthpiece 120 defines a channel 122 therethrough. The mouthpiece
120 is locatable relative to the body 110 so as to cover an opening
into the heating zone 111. When the mouthpiece 120 is so located
relative to the body 110, the channel 122 of the mouthpiece 120 is
in fluid communication with the heating zone 111. In use, the
channel 122 acts as a passageway for permitting volatilized
material to pass from an article inserted in the heating zone 111
to an exterior of the apparatus 100. In this embodiment, the
mouthpiece 120 of the apparatus 100 is releasably engageable with
the body 110 so as to connect the mouthpiece 120 to the body 110.
In other embodiments, the mouthpiece 120 and the body 110 may be
permanently connected, such as through a hinge or flexible member.
In some embodiments, such as embodiments in which the article
itself comprises a mouthpiece, the mouthpiece 120 of the apparatus
100 may be omitted.
[0091] The apparatus 100 may define an air inlet that fluidly
connects the heating zone 111 with the exterior of the apparatus
100. Such an air inlet may be defined by the body 110 of the
apparatus 100 and/or by the mouthpiece 120 of the apparatus 100. A
user may be able to inhale the volatilized component(s) of the
smokable material by drawing the volatilized component(s) through
the channel 122 of the mouthpiece 120. As the volatilized
component(s) are removed from the article, air may be drawn into
the heating zone 111 via the air inlet of the apparatus 100.
[0092] In this embodiment, the body 110 comprises the heating zone
111. In this embodiment, the heating zone 111 comprises a recess
111 for receiving at least a portion of the article. In other
embodiments, the heating zone 111 may be other than a recess, such
as a shelf, a surface, or a projection, and may require mechanical
mating with the article in order to co-operate with, or receive,
the article. In this embodiment, the heating zone 111 is elongate,
and is sized and shaped to receive the article. In this embodiment,
the heating zone 111 accommodates the whole article. In other
embodiments, the heating zone 111 may be dimensioned to receive
only a portion of the article.
[0093] In this embodiment, the magnetic field generator 112
comprises an electrical power source 113, a coil 114, a device 116
for passing a varying electrical current, such as an alternating
current, through the coil 114, a controller 117, and a user
interface 118 for user-operation of the controller 117.
[0094] In this embodiment, the electrical power source 113 is a
rechargeable battery. In other embodiments, the electrical power
source 113 may be other than a rechargeable battery, such as a
non-rechargeable battery, a capacitor, a battery-capacitor hybrid,
or a connection to a mains electricity supply.
[0095] The coil 114 may take any suitable form. In this embodiment,
the coil 114 is a helical coil of electrically-conductive material,
such as copper. In some embodiments, the magnetic field generator
112 may comprise a magnetically permeable core around which the
coil 114 is wound. Such a magnetically permeable core concentrates
the magnetic flux produced by the coil 114 in use and makes a more
powerful magnetic field. The magnetically permeable core may be
made of iron, for example. In some embodiments, the magnetically
permeable core may extend only partially along the length of the
coil 114, so as to concentrate the magnetic flux only in certain
regions.
[0096] In this embodiment, the coil 114 is in a fixed position
relative to the heater 115 and the heating zone 111. In this
embodiment, the coil 114 encircles the heater 115 and the heating
zone 111. In this embodiment, the coil 114 extends along a
longitudinal axis that is substantially aligned with a longitudinal
axis A-A of the heating zone 111. In this embodiment, the aligned
axes are coincident. In a variation to this embodiment, the aligned
axes may be parallel to each other. However, in other embodiments,
the axes may be oblique to each other. Moreover, in this
embodiment, the coil 114 extends along a longitudinal axis that is
substantially coincident with a longitudinal axis of the heater
115. This can help to provide more uniform heating of the heater
115 in use, and can also aid manufacturability of the apparatus
100. In other embodiments, the longitudinal axes of the coil 114
and the heater 115 may be aligned with each other by being parallel
to each other, or may be oblique to each other.
[0097] In this embodiment, the device 116 for passing a varying
current through the coil 114 is electrically connected between the
electrical power source 113 and the coil 114. In this embodiment,
the controller 117 also is electrically connected to the electrical
power source 113, and is communicatively connected to the device
116 to control the device 116. More specifically, in this
embodiment, the controller 117 is for controlling the device 116,
so as to control the supply of electrical power from the electrical
power source 113 to the coil 114. In this embodiment, the
controller 117 comprises an integrated circuit (IC), such as an IC
on a printed circuit board (PCB). In other embodiments, the
controller 117 may take a different form. In some embodiments, the
apparatus may have a single electrical or electronic component
comprising the device 116 and the controller 117. The controller
117 is operated in this embodiment by user-operation of the user
interface 118. In this embodiment, the user interface 118 is
located at the exterior of the body 110. The user interface 118 may
comprise a push-button, a toggle switch, a dial, a touchscreen, or
the like. In other embodiments, the user interface 118 may be
remote and connected to the rest of the apparatus wirelessly, such
as via Bluetooth.
[0098] In this embodiment, operation of the user interface 118 by a
user causes the controller 117 to cause the device 116 to cause an
alternating electrical current to pass through the coil 114, so as
to cause the coil 114 to generate an alternating magnetic field.
The coil 114 and the heater 115 of the apparatus 100 are suitably
relatively positioned so that the alternating magnetic field
produced by the coil 114 penetrates the heating material of the
heater 115. When the heating material of the heater 115 is an
electrically-conductive material, this may cause the generation of
one or more eddy currents in the heating material. The flow of eddy
currents in the heating material against the electrical resistance
of the heating material causes the heating material to be heated by
Joule heating. In this embodiment, the heating material is made of
a magnetic material, and so the orientation of magnetic dipoles in
the heating material changes with the changing applied magnetic
field, which causes heat to be generated in the heating
material.
[0099] A maximum temperature to which the heater 115 of the
apparatus 100 is heatable by penetration with the varying magnetic
field in use is exclusively determined by a Curie point temperature
of the heating material of the heater 115. That is, the apparatus
100 may be free of any other system for limiting the temperature to
which the heater 115 is heatable to below the maximum temperature.
In this embodiment, the chemical composition of the heating
material of the heater 115 of the apparatus 100 has been carefully
and intentionally set, selected or provided so that the heating
material has a Curie point temperature that is less than the
combustion temperature of the smokable material in an article to be
used with the apparatus 100. Accordingly, when the temperature of
the heater 115 in use reaches the Curie point temperature, the
ability to further heat the heater 115 by penetration with a
varying magnetic field is reduced or removed, as discussed
above.
[0100] Thus, in use, this inherent mechanism of the heating
material of the heater 115 may be used to limit or prevent further
heating of the heater 115, so as to help avoid the temperature of
the heating zone 111 and an article located therein from reaching a
magnitude at which the smokable material of the article burns or
combusts. Thus, in some embodiments, the chemical composition of
the heater 115 may help enable the smokable material to be heated
sufficiently to volatilize at least one component of the smokable
material without burning the smokable material. In some
embodiments, this may also help to prevent overheating of the
apparatus 100 or damage to components of the apparatus, such as the
magnetic field generator 112.
[0101] As noted above, in some embodiments, the ability of the
heating material to be heated by penetration with a varying
magnetic field by magnetic hysteresis heating may return when the
temperature of the heating material has dropped below the Curie
point temperature.
[0102] In some embodiments, if the combustion temperature of the
smokable material to be used with the apparatus 100 is greater than
X degrees Celsius, then the chemical composition of the heating
material may be provided so that the Curie point temperature is no
more than X degrees Celsius. For example, if the combustion
temperature of the smokable material is greater than 350 degrees
Celsius, then the chemical composition of the heating material may
be provided so that the Curie point temperature is no more than 350
degrees Celsius. The Curie point temperature may be, for example,
less than 350 degrees Celsius, less than 325 degrees Celsius, less
than 300 degrees Celsius, less than 280 degrees Celsius, less than
260 degrees Celsius, less than 240 degrees Celsius, or less than
220 degrees Celsius.
[0103] In some embodiments, the heater 115 may consist entirely, or
substantially entirely, of the heating material. The heating
material may comprise, for example, one or more materials selected
from the group consisting of: iron; an alloy comprising iron; an
alloy comprising iron and nickel; an alloy comprising iron and
nickel and chromium; an alloy comprising iron and nickel and
chromium and manganese; an alloy comprising iron and nickel and
chromium and manganese and silicon; and stainless steel.
[0104] The apparatus 100 may comprise more than one coil. The
plurality of coils of the apparatus 100 could be operable to
provide progressive heating of the smokable material 10 in an
article 1, and thereby progressive generation of vapor. For
example, one coil may be able to heat a first region of the heating
material relatively quickly to initialize volatilization of at
least one component of the smokable material 10 and formation of a
vapor in a first region of the smokable material 10. Another coil
may be able to heat a second region of the heating material
relatively slowly to initialize volatilization of at least one
component of the smokable material 10 and formation of a vapor in a
second region of the smokable material 10. Accordingly, a vapor is
able to be formed relatively rapidly for inhalation by a user, and
vapor can continue to be formed thereafter for subsequent
inhalation by the user even after the first region of the smokable
material 10 may have ceased generating vapor. The
initially-unheated second region of smokable material 10 could act
as a heat sink, to reduce the temperature of created vapor or make
the created vapor mild, during heating of the first region of
smokable material 10.
[0105] In some embodiments, the apparatus 100 may have a sensor for
detecting a Curie-related change in magnetism of the heater 20,
115. The sensor may be communicatively-connected to the controller
117. The controller 117 may be configured to control the device 116
to cause the generation of the varying magnetic field to be halted
or changed, on the basis of a signal received at the controller 117
from the sensor.
[0106] In some embodiments, the apparatus 100 may have an amplifier
for amplifying the Curie-related change in magnetism of the heater
20, 115 of the article 1 or apparatus 100. For example, the coil
114 may be configured or arranged so that a change in a property of
the coil 114 in response to the Curie-related change in magnetism
of the heater 20, 115 is large. The impedance of the coil 114 may
be matched with the impedance of the heater 20, 115, to result in a
Curie-related event being more reliably detectable.
[0107] Referring to FIG. 5, there is shown a flow diagram showing
an example of a method of manufacturing a product for use in
heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of
the smokable material, according to an embodiment. The apparatus
100 of FIG. 3 may be made according to this method.
[0108] The method 500 comprises determining 501 a maximum
temperature to which a heater is to be heated in use. The
determining 501 may comprise, for example, determining the
combustion temperature of smokable material to be heated by the
heater 115 in use, and then determining the maximum temperature on
the basis of that combustion temperature. For example, in some
embodiments, the maximum temperature may be less than the
combustion temperature of the smokable material, for the reasons
discussed above. In other embodiments, the determining 501 may
additionally or alternatively comprise determining a maximum
comfortable temperature to which the exterior of the apparatus 100
is to be permitted to reach in use while still being comfortable to
hold by a user, and then determining the maximum temperature on the
basis of that temperature. In still further embodiments, the
determining 501 may additionally or alternatively comprise
determining a maximum temperature to which components, such as
electrical components, of the apparatus 100 may be subjected in use
without incurring damage, and then determining the maximum
temperature on the basis of that temperature.
[0109] The method further comprises providing 502 a heater 115
comprising heating material, wherein the heating material is
heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field, and wherein
the heating material has a Curie point temperature selected or
determined on the basis of, or in dependence on, the maximum
temperature determined at 501. The providing 502 may comprise, for
example, manufacturing the heater 115 from suitable heating
material. The method may comprise adjusting the composition of the
heating material during manufacture of the heater 115.
Alternatively or additionally, the providing 502 may comprise
selecting the heater 115 from a plurality of heaters 115, wherein
the plurality of heaters 115 are made of heating material having
respective different Curie point temperatures.
[0110] The Curie point temperature of the heating material of the
heater 115 provided in 502 may, for example, be equal to the
maximum temperature determined in 501, or may be less than the
maximum temperature determined in 501. The heater 115 provided in
502 may consists entirely, or substantially entirely, of the
heating material. The heating material may comprise or consist of
any one or more of the available heating materials discussed above,
for example.
[0111] The method then comprises forming 503 apparatus, such as the
apparatus 100 of FIG. 3, that comprises a heating zone 111 for
receiving an article comprising smokable material, the heater 115
for heating the heating zone 111, and a magnetic field generator
112 for generating a varying magnetic field that penetrates the
heating material, wherein a maximum temperature to which the heater
115 is heatable by penetration with the varying magnetic field in
use is exclusively determined by the Curie point temperature of the
heating material.
[0112] In some embodiments, 403 of the method 400 of FIG. 4, and/or
503 of the method 500 of FIG. 5, may be omitted. For example, in
some such embodiments, the product made using the method may be a
component or system for future incorporation into apparatus for
heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of
the smokable material. In some other such embodiments, the product
made using the method may be a component or system for future
incorporation into an article for use with such apparatus.
[0113] Accordingly, in accordance with some embodiments, a product,
such as the article 1 of FIGS. 1 and 2 or the apparatus 100 of FIG.
3, may be provided with an automatic mechanism for limiting the
temperature to which a heater 20, 115 of the product is heatable by
penetration with a varying magnetic field.
[0114] In each of the embodiments discussed above, the heating
material may have a skin depth, which is an exterior zone within
which most of an induced electrical current and/or induced
reorientation of magnetic dipoles occurs. By providing that the
component comprising the heating material has a relatively small
thickness, a greater proportion of the heating material may be
heatable by a given varying magnetic field, as compared to heating
material in a component having a depth or thickness that is
relatively large as compared to the other dimensions of the
component. Thus, a more efficient use of material is achieved. In
turn, costs are reduced.
[0115] In some embodiments, a component comprising the heating
material may comprise discontinuities or holes therein. Such
discontinuities or holes may act as thermal breaks to control the
degree to which different regions of the smokable material 10 are
heated in use. Areas of the heating material with discontinuities
or holes therein may be heated to a lesser extent that areas
without discontinuities or holes. This may help progressive heating
of the smokable material 10, and thus progressive generation of
vapor, to be achieved. Such discontinuities or holes may, on the
other hand, be used to optimize the creation of complex eddy
currents in use.
[0116] In each of the above described embodiments, the smokable
material 10 comprises tobacco. However, in respective variations to
each of these embodiments, the smokable material 10 may consist of
tobacco, may consist substantially entirely of tobacco, may
comprise tobacco and smokable material other than tobacco, may
comprise smokable material other than tobacco, or may be free of
tobacco. In some embodiments, the smokable material 10 may comprise
a vapor or aerosol forming agent or a humectant, such as glycerol,
propylene glycol, triacetin, or diethylene glycol.
[0117] In each of the above described embodiments, the article 1 is
a consumable article. Once all, or substantially all, of the
volatilizable component(s) of the smokable material 10 in the
article 1 has/have been spent, the user may remove the article 1
from the apparatus and dispose of the article 1. The user may
subsequently re-use the apparatus with another of the articles 1.
However, in other respective embodiments, the article 1 may be
non-consumable, and the apparatus and the article 1 may be disposed
of together once the volatilizable component(s) of the smokable
material 10 has/have been spent.
[0118] In some embodiments, the apparatus 100 discussed above is
sold, supplied or otherwise provided separately from the articles
with which the apparatus 100 is usable. However, in some
embodiments, the apparatus 100 and one or more of the articles may
be provided together as a system. Similarly, in some embodiments,
the article 1 discussed above is sold, supplied or otherwise
provided separately from the apparatus with which the article 1 is
usable. However, in some embodiments, one or more of the articles 1
may be provided together with the apparatus as a system. Such
systems may be in the form of a kit or an assembly, possibly with
additional components, such as cleaning utensils.
[0119] Embodiments could be implemented in a system comprising any
one of the articles discussed herein, and any one of the
apparatuses discussed herein. Heat generated in the heating
material of the apparatus could be transferred to the article to
heat, or further heat, the smokable material therein when the
portion of the article is in the heating zone.
[0120] Some of the products discussed herein may be considered
smoking industry products.
[0121] In order to address various issues and advance the art, the
entirety of this disclosure shows by way of illustration and
example various embodiments in which that which is claimed may be
practiced and which provide for superior apparatus for heating
smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the
smokable material, superior articles for use with such apparatus,
superior systems comprising such apparatus and such articles, and
superior methods of manufacturing products comprising heaters. The
advantages and features of the disclosure are of a representative
sample of embodiments only, and are not exhaustive and/or
exclusive. They are presented only to assist in understanding and
teach the claimed and otherwise disclosed features. It is to be
understood that advantages, embodiments, examples, functions,
features, structures and/or other aspects of the disclosure are not
to be considered limitations on the disclosure as defined by the
claims or limitations on equivalents to the claims, and that other
embodiments may be utilized and modifications may be made without
departing from the scope and/or spirit of the disclosure. Various
embodiments may suitably comprise, consist of, or consist in
essence of, various combinations of the disclosed elements,
components, features, parts, steps, means, etc. The disclosure may
include other inventions not presently claimed, but which may be
claimed in future.
* * * * *
References