U.S. patent application number 17/649945 was filed with the patent office on 2022-05-19 for heating smokeable material.
The applicant listed for this patent is NICOVENTURES TRADING LIMITED. Invention is credited to Simon Brereton, David Hatrick.
Application Number | 20220151299 17/649945 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000006122118 |
Filed Date | 2022-05-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20220151299 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hatrick; David ; et
al. |
May 19, 2022 |
HEATING SMOKEABLE MATERIAL
Abstract
An apparatus configured to volatilize components of smokable
material for inhalation, including a smokable material heating
chamber and a heating material which is configured to be heated by
the presence of a varying magnetic field, wherein the heating
material is arranged to transfer heat energy to smokable material
in the heating chamber to volatilize the components.
Inventors: |
Hatrick; David; (London,
GB) ; Brereton; Simon; (London, GB) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
NICOVENTURES TRADING LIMITED |
London |
|
GB |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000006122118 |
Appl. No.: |
17/649945 |
Filed: |
February 4, 2022 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
14428626 |
Mar 16, 2015 |
11241042 |
|
|
PCT/EP2013/068797 |
Sep 11, 2013 |
|
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17649945 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 ;
131/329 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61M 11/044 20140204;
A24F 40/20 20200101; A24F 40/465 20200101; A61M 15/06 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A24F 40/465 20060101
A24F040/465 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 25, 2012 |
GB |
1217067.6 |
Claims
1. An apparatus configured to volatilize components of smokable
material for inhalation, comprising: a smokable material heating
chamber; and a heating material which is configured to be heated by
a presence of a varying magnetic field, wherein the heating
material is arranged to transfer heat energy to smokable material
in the smokable material heating chamber to volatilize the
components; wherein the heating material is comprised in a heating
member, the heating member comprises an elongate member, and the
smokable material heating chamber is located co-axially around the
heating member.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heating material
is susceptible to eddy currents induced by the varying magnetic
field in the heating material, the eddy currents causing the
heating material to be resistively heated, and wherein the heating
member comprises a base material, wherein the base material is not
susceptible to the induction of eddy currents when in the presence
of the varying magnetic field.
3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the base material is
in thermal contact with the heating material, the base material
being configured to retain heat energy received from the heating
material and to transfer the heat energy to the smokable material
in the smokable material heating chamber to volatilize the
components.
4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the base material is
configured to transfer the heat energy to the smokable material
over an extended period so as to raise and maintain a temperature
of the smokable material at a volatilizing temperature for the
extended period without simultaneous heating of a housing material
by the varying magnetic field.
5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heating material
comprises a plurality of separate pieces of heating material.
6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the smokable
material is provided in the form of a smokable material consumable
which can be inserted into, and removed from, the smokable material
heating chamber.
7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the smokable material
consumable can be slid onto and off the heating member.
8. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a
magnetic field generator that generates the varying magnetic
field.
9. An apparatus configured to volatilize components of smokable
material for inhalation, comprising: a housing comprising: a
smokable material heating chamber containing smokable material; and
a heating member comprising a heating material which is configured
to be heated by a presence of a varying magnetic field, wherein the
heating material is arranged to transfer heat energy to smokable
material in the smokable material heating chamber to volatilize the
components; wherein the heating member comprises an elongate
member, and wherein the smokable material heating chamber is
located co-axially around the heating member; wherein the housing
and internal components of the housing together form a disposable
item; and wherein the apparatus further comprises a varying
magnetic field generator arranged to receive the housing during
heating of the heating material.
10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the heating
material is susceptible to eddy currents induced by the varying
magnetic field in the smokable material, the eddy currents causing
the heating material to be resistively heated, and wherein the
heating member comprises a base material, wherein the base material
is not susceptible to induction of eddy currents when in a presence
of the varying magnetic field.
11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the base material
is in thermal contact with the heating material, the base material
being configured to retain heat energy received from the heating
material and to transfer the heat energy to the smokable material
in the heating chamber to volatilize the components.
12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the base material
is configured to transfer the heat energy to the smokable material
over an extended period so as to raise and maintain a temperature
of the smokable material at a volatilizing temperature for the
extended period without simultaneous heating of a material of the
housing by the varying magnetic field.
13. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the heating
material comprises a plurality of separate pieces of heating
material.
14. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the magnetic field
generator is configured to automatically cease to generate the
magnetic field when a predetermined volatilizing temperature has
been reached or a predetermined heating period has elapsed.
15. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the smokable
material includes tobacco.
16. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the heating material
is heated by effects of magnetic induction to a temperature which
is sufficient to volatilize the components of the smokable material
in the heating chamber without burning the smokable material.
17. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the heating member
is located adjacent the smokable material heating chamber.
18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the components are at least
one of nicotine or aromatic compounds.
19. A method of heating smokable material to volatilize components
of the smokable material for inhalation using the apparatus of
claim 9, comprising: generating a varying magnetic field; using the
varying magnetic field to induce an electrical current in the
heating material and thereby heating the heating material; and
transferring thermal energy from the heating material to the
smokable material to heat the smokable material to a volatilizing
temperature and thereby volatilize components of the smokable
material.
Description
PRIORITY CLAIM
[0001] This application a continuation application of U.S.
application Ser. No. 14/428,626, filed Mar. 16, 2015, which is the
National Stage of International Application No. PCT/EP2013/068797,
filed Sep. 11, 2013, which in turn claims priority to and benefit
of United Kingdom Patent Application No. GB1217067.6, filed Sep.
25, 2012, each of which is hereby fully incorporated herein by
reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The disclosure relates to heating smokable material in order
to volatilize components of the smokable material.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Smoking articles such as cigarettes and cigars burn tobacco
during use to create tobacco smoke. Attempts have been made to
provide alternatives to these smoking articles by creating products
which release compounds without creating tobacco smoke. Examples of
such products are so-called heat-not-bum products which release
compounds by heating, but not burning, tobacco.
SUMMARY
[0004] According to the disclosure, there is provided an apparatus
configured to volatilize components of smokable material for
inhalation, comprising: a smokable material heating chamber; and a
heating material which is configured to be heated by the presence
of a varying magnetic field, wherein the heating material is
arranged to transfer heat energy to smokable material in the
heating chamber to volatilize said components.
[0005] The heating material may be comprised in a heating
member.
[0006] The heating member may comprise a base material in thermal
contact with the heating material, the base material being
configured to retain heat energy received from the heating material
and to transfer the heat energy to smokable material in the heating
chamber to volatilize said components.
[0007] The base material may be configured to transfer said heat
energy to said smokable material over an extended period so as to
raise and maintain a temperature of said smokable material at a
volatilizing temperature for said extended period without
simultaneous heating of the heating material by the varying
magnetic field.
[0008] The heating material may comprise a plurality of pieces of
heating material dispersed in the heating member with the base
material.
[0009] The heating member may comprise an elongate member located
adjacent the smokable material heating chamber.
[0010] The heating chamber may be located co-axially around the
heating member.
[0011] The heating material may be located inside the smokable
material heating chamber with the smokable material.
[0012] The heating material may comprise a plurality of pieces of
heating material dispersed within the smokable material.
[0013] The heating material may comprise an electrically conductive
material.
[0014] The heating material may be susceptible to eddy currents
induced by the varying magnetic field in the material, the eddy
currents causing the heating material to be resistively heated.
[0015] The apparatus may comprise a housing in which the heating
chamber and heating material are contained and a varying magnetic
field generator arranged to receive the housing during heating of
the heating material.
[0016] The field generator may be arranged to releasably dock with
the housing, thereby maintaining a stable position of the housing
relative to the generator during heating.
[0017] The apparatus may comprise a mouthpiece in fluid
communication with the heating chamber in order to allow
volatilized components of the smokable material to be drawn through
the mouthpiece by a user.
[0018] The heating material may be configured to heat the smokable
material to a volatilizing temperature of between approximately
50.degree. C. and 250.degree. C. to volatilize said components.
[0019] According to the disclosure, there is provided a method of
heating smokable material to volatilize components of the smokable
material for inhalation, comprising: generating a varying magnetic
field; using the varying magnetic field to induce an electrical
current in a heating material and thereby heating the heating
material; transferring thermal energy from the heating material to
the smokable material to heat the smokable material to a
volatilizing temperature and thereby volatilize components of the
smokable material.
[0020] According to the disclosure, there is provided a method of
heating smokable material to volatilize components of the smokable
material for inhalation, comprising: inserting a housing containing
heating material and smokable material into a device configured to
generate a varying magnetic field; generating the varying magnetic
field in the device and thereby heating the heating material by
causing an electrical current to be induced in the heating
material; transferring thermal energy from the heating material to
the smokable material to heat the smokable material to a
volatilizing temperature and thereby volatilize components of the
smokable material.
[0021] There may also be provided an apparatus for performing the
method, comprising: a housing containing smokable material and a
heating material; and a device configured to generate a varying
magnetic field.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] For the purposes of example only, embodiments of the
disclosure are described below with reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which:
[0023] FIG. 1 is a partially cut away illustration of an apparatus
for providing volatilized components of heated smokable material
for inhalation by a user, in which a heating member comprising an
electrically conductive heating material is located adjacent a
smokable material heating chamber.
[0024] FIG. 2 is a perspective illustration of an apparatus for
providing volatilized components of heated smokable material for
inhalation by a user, in which a housing of the apparatus is docked
in a magnetic field generator for inducing eddy currents in a
heating material.
[0025] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional illustration of an apparatus for
providing volatilized components of heated smokable material for
inhalation by a user, in which an electrically conductive heating
material is located with smokable material in a heating
chamber.
[0026] FIG. 4 is a perspective illustration of an apparatus for
providing volatilized components of heated smokable material for
inhalation by a user, in which a housing of the apparatus is docked
in a magnetic field generator for inducing eddy currents in a
heating material.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0027] As used herein, the term `smokable material` includes any
material that provides volatilized components upon heating and
includes any tobacco-containing material and may, for example,
include one or more of tobacco, tobacco derivatives, expanded
tobacco, reconstituted tobacco or tobacco substitutes.
[0028] An apparatus 1 for providing volatilized components of
smokable material 2 for inhalation comprises a smokable material
heating chamber 3 and a mouthpiece 4 which is fluidly connected
with the heating chamber 3. The mouthpiece 4 may comprise a filter
material such as cellulose acetate tow, which may be provided in
the form of a wrapped plug. A user of the apparatus 1 can inhale
the volatilized components from the mouthpiece 4 when the smokable
material 2 is heated inside the heating chamber 3 to a temperature
which is sufficient to volatilize the smokable material
components.
[0029] As described more fully below, the smokable material 2 is
heated by thermal transfer from a heating material 5 located in the
proximity of the smokable material 2. The heating material 5 itself
is resistively heated in an electromagnetic induction heating
process.
[0030] More particularly, the heating material 5 comprises
electrically conductive material of finite electrical resistance in
which induced eddy currents cause resistive heating of the material
5 when the heating material 5 is placed in a varying magnetic
field. An example of a suitable heating material 5 is Iron,
although other electrically conductive materials could
alternatively be used such as another electrically conductive metal
or alloy. The heating material 5 is heated by the effects of
electromagnetic induction to a temperature which is sufficient to
volatilize components of the smokable material 2 in the heating
chamber 3, such as nicotine and aromatic compounds, without burning
the smokable material 2.
[0031] The heating material 5 may be located either inside the
heating chamber 3 or in its close proximity. As explained below, an
example is for the heating material 5 to be located either directly
adjacent the smokable material 2 or in a heating member 6 which is
located directly adjacent the smokable material 2. The location of
the heating material 5 is such that effective thermal transfer
takes place between the heated heating material 5 and the smokable
material 2 inside the heating chamber 3, thereby causing the
smokable material 2 to be heated to a temperature which is
sufficient to volatilize components of the smokable material 2 for
inhalation through the mouthpiece 4. As briefly referred to above,
the heating material 5 may be comprised in a heating member 6 which
is configured to transfer thermal energy from the heating material
to smokable material 2 in the heating chamber 3. In addition to the
heating material 5, the heating member 6 may comprise a base
material 7 which is heat retentive and acts to release heat energy
received from the heating material 5 over a relatively long period
and thereby maintain the smokable material 2 at a volatilizing
temperature for the duration of that period. An example is between
approximately three and ten minutes, as discussed further below.
The base material 7 may be an electrical insulator which, unlike
the heating material 5, is not itself susceptible to induction of
electrical eddy currents when placed in a varying magnetic
field.
[0032] The base material 7 is in thermal contact with the heating
material 5 so that, when the heating material 5 is heated by
electromagnetic induction, thermal energy from the heating material
5 conducts into the base material 7 and causes it to heat up to the
temperature of the heating material 5. The heat stored in the base
material 7 then dissipates into the heating chamber 3 over an
extended period so as to continuously heat the smokable material 2
therein and cause components of the smokable material 2 to be
continuously volatilized for inhalation through the mouthpiece
4.
[0033] An example of a suitable base material 7 is a material with
a high specific heat capacity, which may be higher than that of the
heating material 5. An example is a specific heat capacity in the
range of between approximately 1000 and 3500 J/kg.K, although other
values may also be suitable. The material 7 may be a polymer,
although other materials 7 could alternatively be used. An example
of a suitable material 7 is HDPE or a Polycarbonate. As explained
briefly above, the base material 7 is configured to store the heat
energy received from the heating material 5 and to gradually
dissipate the thermal energy from the heating material 5 over the
extended period referred to above so as to heat the smokable
material 2 to within a desired volatilizing temperature range and
to maintain the temperature of the smokable material 2 in the
desired volatilizing temperature range until the extended period
has elapsed. An example of a temperature range in which components
of smokable material such as tobacco are volatilized is between
approximately 50.degree. C. and approximately 250.degree. C., such
as between approximately 50.degree. C. and 150.degree. C., between
approximately 50.degree. C. and 120.degree. c, between
approximately 50.degree. C. and 100.degree. C., between
approximately 50.degree. C. and 80.degree. C. or between
approximately 60.degree. C. and 70.degree. C. Other ranges may also
be suitable. The extended period may be approximately the same
length as the period taken to smoke a conventional cigarette. An
example period is between approximately four and eight minutes,
such as approximately seven minutes.
[0034] The heating material 5 and base material 7 (if used) may
optionally be placed in the varying magnetic field in between puffs
in order to re-heat the heating material 5 before each puff.
[0035] The heating member 6 may extend along a longitudinal axis of
the apparatus 1. The heating chamber 3 may also extend along a
longitudinal axis of the apparatus 1 and may be located adjacent to
the heating member 6. For example, the heating member 6 shown in
FIG. 1 extends substantially along the central longitudinal axis of
the apparatus 1 and the heating chamber 3 is located around its
longitudinal surface. If the heating member 6 is substantially
cylindrical, as shown in FIG. 1, then the longitudinal surface
around which the heating chamber 3 extends is a circumferential
surface of the heating member 6. In this type of configuration, the
heating chamber 3 may comprise a co-axial layer around the heating
member 6. This provides an annular space around the heating member
6 into which the smokable material 2 can be inserted for heating,
as described below.
[0036] An alternative arrangement is for the positions of the
heating chamber 3 and heating member 6 to be reversed, so that the
heating chamber 3 is located along the central longitudinal axis of
the apparatus 1 and the heating member 6 is located annularly
around it as a co-axial layer.
[0037] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the heating material 5 may
comprise a plurality of separate pieces of heating material 5 which
are distributed throughout the base material 7 in the heating
member 6. The substantially even distribution of the heating
material 5 through the base material 7 provides even heating of the
base material 7 when the heating material 5 is heated and therefore
also provides even heating of the smokable material 2 in the
heating chamber 3. However, it will be appreciated that the use of
a plurality of separate pieces of heating material 5 is not a
requirement of the invention and that alternative configurations
are equally possible for providing even heating of the base
material 7 and/or smokable material 2.
[0038] Another alternative arrangement is illustrated in FIG. 3, in
which the heating material 5 resides within the smokable material 2
itself rather than within the heating member 6 described
previously. As can be seen from FIG. 3, a plurality of pieces of
the heating material 5 may be substantially evenly distributed
throughout the smokable material 2 so as to provide even heating of
the smokable material 2 across the chamber 3 when the heating
material 5 is heated up by induced electrical currents. These
individual pieces of heating material 5 may be surrounded by base
material 7 so that the heating chamber 3 contains a plurality of
heating members 6, each comprising heating material 5 and base
material 7, distributed throughout the chamber 3. For example, the
heating members 6 may be approximately spherical within an inner
core of heating material 5 and an outer layer of base material
7.
[0039] The depth or otherwise transverse dimension of the heating
chamber 3 may be between approximately 2 mm and 10 mm, such as
approximately 5 mm. This may or may not include the base material 5
if it is arranged as a co-axial core in the heating chamber, as
discussed above. The length of the heating chamber 3 may be
approximately equal to the length of a smokable material rod in a
conventional cigarette. An example of a suitable length is between
approximately 55 mm and 60 mm although other lengths could
alternatively be used. A housing 8 may contain components of the
apparatus 1 such as the heating chamber 3, mouthpiece 4, heating
material 5 and base material 7. In FIGS. 1 and 2, the housing 8 is
illustrated as being elongate with the mouthpiece 4 located at a
first of its ends and the heating member 6 and heating chamber 3
extending along a longitudinal axis of the housing 8 through the
interior region of the housing 8 from the housing's opposite second
end. The housing 8 may, for example, be substantially tubular in
shape, such as a pipe, with dimensions similar to those of a
cigarette, cigar or cigarillo. The housing 8 may be formed of
plastics, such as a suitable polymer material which is comfortable
for a user of the apparatus 1 to hold during inhalation and general
use.
[0040] The varying magnetic field which causes currents to be
induced in the heating material 5 may be generated by a magnetic
field generator 9, examples of which are illustrated in FIGS. 2 and
4. The magnetic field generator 9 may comprise a power source 10,
such as a suitable cell or battery, which provides electrical power
for generating the varying magnetic field. The field generator 9
may alternatively be configured to receive electrical power from an
external power supply, such as a mains power supply, personal
computer or other external power source.
[0041] The field generator 9 may comprise an electrical coil in
which a varying electrical current, such as an alternating current,
is caused to flow to create a varying electromagnetic field such as
a varying RF field in the vicinity of the generator 9. The varying
magnetic flux created by the field generator 9 causes eddy currents
to be induced in the heating material 5 when the heating material 5
is located in the vicinity of the generator 9. As described
previously, these eddy currents in turn cause resistive heating to
occur in the heating material 5 and can thus cause an increase in
the temperature of the heating material 5.
[0042] The magnetic field generator 9 may be separate from the
housing 8 in which the heating member 6, heating chamber 3 and
smokable material 2 are located. In this case, the field generator
9 may be configured to structurally engage with the heating chamber
housing 8 during heating of the heating material 5 so that the
housing 8 and the apparatus components therein are held in a stable
arrangement relative to the magnetic field source 9. For example,
referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, the magnetic field generator 9 may
comprise a recess 11 into which the housing 8 can be inserted. An
interior shape of the recess 11 may substantially match an exterior
shape of an end region of the housing 8 so that the end region of
the housing 8 can be docked and therefore physically secured inside
the field generator 9.
[0043] The action of docking the housing 8 in the field generator 9
may trigger the generator 9 to generate the varying magnetic field
and therefore begin the process of heating the heating material 5
to obtain volatilized smokable material components.
[0044] The field generator 9 may be located within a distance of
approximately 5 mm to 100 mm of the heating material 5 when the
generator 9 is in use, for example when the housing 8 is docked in
the generator 9. This range is an example and other suitable
distances outside of the range could alternatively be used.
[0045] As previously described, heat from the heating material 5
dissipates into the smokable material 2 in the heating chamber 3
and causes components of the smokable material 2 to be volatilized
when the smokable material 2 reaches a volatilizing temperature.
Optionally, the apparatus 1 may comprise a temperature sensor 12,
for example comprising a thermocouple, which is configured to
detect when the heating material 5, base material 7 and/or smokable
material 2 in the heating chamber 3 has reached a predetermined
volatilizing temperature. The temperature sensor 12 may comprise or
communicate with an alarm, indicator light or some other suitable
alerting unit, which is configured to alert a user that the
volatilizing temperature has been reached and thus volatilized
components of the smokable material 2 are available for
inhalation.
[0046] Additionally or alternatively, the apparatus 1 may comprise
a timer 13 which is configured to measure the length of time that
the heating material 5 has been exposed to the varying magnetic
field and to cause the user to be alerted when a predetermined
heating time, which is known to correspond to the volatilizing
temperature being reached in the heating chamber 3, has elapsed.
The timer 13 may be activated automatically by the apparatus 1 upon
detecting or otherwise receiving information that the housing 8 has
been docked in the magnetic field generator 9.
[0047] Once the heating material 5 has been heated to the
predetermined volatilizing temperature, the housing 8 can be
removed from the field generator 9 so that the heating material 5
no longer experiences any substantial resistive heating effect. The
magnetic field generator 9 can be powered down at this stage.
Optionally, the field generator 9 may be configured to
automatically cease to generate the magnetic field when the
predetermined volatilizing temperature has been reached and/or the
predetermined heating period has elapsed.
[0048] Components of the smokable material 2 which have been
volatized, or are subsequently volatized, by the heat released from
the heated heating material 5 can be inhaled from the mouthpiece 4
without the field generator 9 being in the vicinity of the heating
material 5. This allows a user of the apparatus 1 to inhale
volatilized components from the mouthpiece 4 in a manner which is
similar to how a user would inhale smokable material components
from a smoking article such as a cigarette. The field generator 9
may, for example, be placed in a user's pocket for the extended
period referred to above whilst the user regularly inhales newly
volatilized smokable material components from the mouthpiece 4 as
the smokable material 2 continues to be heated.
[0049] In all configurations of the apparatus 1, the smokable
material 2 may be provided in the form of a disposable smokable
material cartridge or other smokable material consumable which can
be inserted into, and removed from, the heating chamber 3 via a
suitable opening in the housing 8. Therefore, a user of the
apparatus 1 has the option to replace the smokable material 2 in
order to obtain a different or improved inhalation experience,
whilst re-using the housing 8, its internal apparatus components
and the field generator 9. For example, the cartridge or other
consumable may comprise a hollow smokable material tube which can
be slid onto and off of an elongate heating member 6, such as the
one shown in FIG. 1, or may comprise a substantially solid elongate
core of smokable material 2 which can be slid into and out of a
hollow centre of an elongate heating member 6. The cartridge may
comprise a sleeve, for example formed of plastics, which contains
the smokable material 2 and from which volatilized components of
the smokable material can flow into the mouthpiece 4.
Alternatively, the housing 8 and its internal components, including
the smokable material 2, may together form a disposable item which
is intended to be discarded by a user after use.
[0050] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the housing 8 and/or the smokable
material cartridge 2 may be provided with thermal insulation 14 to
reduce heat losses from the smokable material 2 and the internal
components of the housing 8 to the external atmosphere around the
housing 8. The thermal insulation 14 may, for example, comprise
vacuum insulation which is configured to insulate the apparatus 1
by providing an evacuated region between the heating chamber 3 and
the external surface of the housing 8 to thereby substantially
prevent heat losses by conduction and convection. The housing 8
and/or smokable material cartridge 2 may additionally or
alternatively be provided with an infra-red reflective layer
located between the smokable material 2 and the external surface of
the housing 8 so as to prevent losses by thermal radiation. The
reflective layer may optionally be provided on or in the thermal
insulation layer 14.
[0051] The housing 8 may additionally or alternatively be thermally
insulated by smokable material 2 located between the heating
material 5 and the exterior of the housing 8.
[0052] The thermal insulation effect ensures that the external
surface of the housing 8 is substantially not heated by the heating
material 5 and therefore that the external surface of the housing 8
remains at a temperature which is comfortable for a user to grip
the housing 8 during inhalation of volatilized components from the
mouthpiece 4.
[0053] Optionally, the heating chamber 3 may be hermetically
sealable so that volatilized components of the smokable material do
not escape through the mouthpiece 4 undesirably. Inlet and outlet
valves may be configured to seal the heating chamber 3 from the
mouthpiece 4 and to only allow components which have been
volatilized to leave the heating chamber 3 when a user draws on the
mouthpiece 4. The apparatus 1 may include a puff sensor to trigger
opening and closing of the valves at appropriate times.
Alternatively, the valves may be caused to open automatically by
the suction force generated by a user when he/she draws on the
mouthpiece 4. A mechanical hinge may be used in the valves.
[0054] The apparatus 1 may be manufactured by dispersing the
heating material 5 within a suitable base material 7 and shaping
the resulting product into a heating member 6. A housing 8 of the
apparatus 1 may be formed by a plastics molding technique to
provide a substantially hollow interior region into which
components of the apparatus 1 can be inserted. One or more layers
of thermal insulation 14 may be provided on the interior or
exterior of the wall of the housing 8 in order to reduce heat
losses from the heating material 5 during use of the apparatus 1.
As described previously, the heating member 6 may be secured along
a longitudinal axis of the housing 8, such as the central axis, so
as to leave a smokable material heating chamber 3 adjacent to it.
The temperature sensor 12 and timer 13, along with the indicator
light or other suitable alerting unit, are also secured in the
housing 8 in an appropriate position. An example is between the
heating chamber 3 and the mouthpiece 4, as shown in FIG. 1. The
mouthpiece 4 is provided at one end of the housing 8 and a fluid
channel is provided between the heating chamber 3 and the
mouthpiece 4 to allow volatilized components of smokable material 2
to flow to the mouthpiece 4 for inhalation.
[0055] In order to address various issues and advance the art, the
entirety of this disclosure shows by way of illustration various
embodiments in which the claimed invention(s) may be practiced and
provide for a superior apparatus and method. 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
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 essentially of, various
combinations of the disclosed elements, components, features,
parts, steps, means, etc. In addition, the disclosure includes
other inventions not presently claimed, but which may be claimed in
future.
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