Inhalator and cartridge thereof

In one aspect, apparatus is provided for generating an inhalable medium. The apparatus has a container for holding a liquid and a heater for volatilizing liquid held in the container. The apparatus further has a chamber for receiving a material. The apparatus has an outlet. In use liquid volatilized by the heater passes, in the form of at least one of a vapor and an aerosol, through material received in the chamber to thereby entrain one or more constituents from the material to produce the inhalable medium which passes out of the outlet.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a National Phase entry of PCT Application No. PCT/EP2015/074395, filed Oct. 21, 2015, which claims priority from GB Patent Application No. 1418817.1, filed Oct. 21, 2014, each of which is hereby fully incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to apparatus for generating an inhalable medium and to a method of generating an inhalable medium, and a cartridge for use with an apparatus for generating an inhalable medium.

BACKGROUND

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 that burn tobacco by creating products that release compounds without burning. Examples of such products are heating devices which release compounds by heating, but not burning, the material. The material may be for example tobacco or other non-tobacco products, which may or may not contain nicotine. As another example, there are so-called e-cigarette devices. These devices typically contain a liquid which is heated to vaporize the liquid to produce an inhalable vapor or aerosol. The liquid may contain nicotine and/or flavorings and/or aerosol-generating substances, such as glycerol. The known e-cigarette devices typically do not contain or use tobacco.

SUMMARY

According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided apparatus for generating an inhalable medium, the apparatus comprising: a container for holding a liquid; a heater for volatilizing liquid held in the container; a chamber for receiving a material; and an outlet; the arrangement being such that in use liquid volatilized by the heater passes, in the form of at least one of a vapor and an aerosol, through material received in the chamber to thereby entrain one or more constituents from the material to produce the inhalable medium which passes out of the outlet.

This allows the inhalable medium to have, for example, a flavor or flavors that are derived from the material contained in the apparatus in use. In a particular application, the vapor or aerosol passing over the material is hot and so heats the material to evaporate or volatilize one or more constituents from the material, allowing the constituents to be taken up into the inhalable medium.

As a particular non-limiting example, the material may be or include tobacco. One feature of so-called e-cigarette devices is that the flavor of the inhalable medium is often nothing like or at least is different from the flavor of a conventional tobacco product. In the case that the material in an embodiment of the present invention is or includes tobacco, the vapor or aerosol that passes over the tobacco picks up tobacco flavorings from the material.

In an embodiment, the heater for volatilizing liquid contained in the container is arranged to vaporize the liquid.

In an embodiment, the apparatus comprises a cooler or cooling zone downstream of the heater and upstream of the chamber, the cooler or cooling zone being arranged to cool vaporized liquid to form an aerosol of liquid droplets which in use passes through material received in the chamber. The cooler may be arranged in effect to act as a heat exchanger, allowing for recovery of heat from the vapor. The recovered heat can be used for example to pre-heat the material and/or to assist in heating the liquid.

In another embodiment, the heater for heating liquid contained in the container is arranged to heat the liquid to form an aerosol.

In an embodiment, the apparatus comprises a second heater for heating material received in the chamber. This enables the material to be heated by the heater, which encourages release of compounds from the material, and optionally allows a lower temperature to be used for the heated liquid.

In an embodiment, the chamber is removable from the apparatus. The chamber may be, for example, in the form of a cartridge or the like which contains the material. The whole chamber containing the material may in effect be a disposable item which is replaced as a whole after use. As an alternative, the arrangement may be such that the user removes the chamber from the apparatus, replaces used material in the chamber, and then places the chamber back in the apparatus.

In another embodiment, the chamber may be non-removable from the apparatus. In such an embodiment, the user may just replace the material after use.

In an embodiment, the liquid container is removable. The liquid container may be in the form of a pot or the like (which in some embodiments may be annular for example), and/or an absorbent wadding or the like. The whole liquid container containing the liquid may in effect be a disposable item which is replaced as a whole after use. As an alternative, the arrangement may be such that the user removes the liquid container from the apparatus, replaces used liquid or tops up liquid in the container, and then places the container back in the apparatus.

In another embodiment, the liquid container may be non-removable from the apparatus. In such an embodiment, the user may just replace used liquid or top up liquid in the container after use as necessary.

In an embodiment, the liquid container and the chamber are an integral unit.

In an embodiment, the chamber contains material, the material being in solid form. The material may be or comprise tobacco for example.

In an embodiment, the container holds liquid, the liquid containing nicotine.

In an embodiment, the container holds liquid, the liquid being or comprising glycerol.

In an embodiment, the container holds liquid, the liquid being or comprising flavorant.

In an embodiment, the apparatus is battery-operated.

In an embodiment, the or each heater is an electrically resistive heater.

According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method of generating an inhalable medium using an apparatus comprising a container holding a liquid, a heater for volatilizing the liquid, a material, and an outlet, the method comprising: volatilizing the liquid held in the container; entraining one or more constituents from the material in at least one of a vapor and an aerosol formed by the volatilized liquid by passing the at least one of a vapor and an aerosol through the material to generate the inhalable medium; and passing the inhalable medium out of the outlet.

In an embodiment, the volatilizing the liquid held in the container vaporizes at least a portion of the liquid. In an embodiment, the method comprises passing the vaporized liquid through a cooler or cooling zone of the apparatus to form an aerosol of liquid droplets which passes through the material.

In an embodiment, the volatilizing the liquid contained in the container volatilizes the liquid to form an aerosol.

In an embodiment, the method comprises heating the material using a second heater of the apparatus.

In an embodiment, the material is contained in the apparatus in solid form. The material may be or may comprise tobacco.

In an embodiment, the liquid contains nicotine.

In an embodiment, the liquid is or comprises glycerol.

In an embodiment, the liquid is or comprises a flavorant.

According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a cartridge for use with an apparatus for generating an inhalable medium, the cartridge comprising: a container for holding a liquid; a receptacle for receiving a solid material; the cartridge being arranged such that vaporized liquid exiting the container can flow, in the form of at least one of a vapor and an aerosol, through solid material received by the receptacle in use.

In an embodiment, the cartridge comprises a heater associated with the container for volatizing a liquid held in the container in use.

In an embodiment, the cartridge comprises a heater associated with the receptacle for heating a solid material received by the receptacle in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring toFIG. 1, there is shown an example of an apparatus1for generating an inhalable medium. In broad outline, the apparatus1volatilizes a liquid to form a vapor or an aerosol which passes through a material so as to produce an inhalable medium that contains one or more constituents derived from the material.

In this respect, first it may be noted that, in general, a vapor is a substance in the gas phase at a temperature lower than its critical temperature, which means that for example the vapor can be condensed to a liquid by increasing its pressure without reducing the temperature. On the other hand, in general, an aerosol is a colloid of fine solid particles or liquid droplets, in air or another gas. A “colloid” is a substance in which microscopically dispersed insoluble particles are suspended throughout another substance.

Returning toFIG. 1, the apparatus1of this example has a generally hollow cylindrical outer housing2. The housing2has an open end3. In this example, a tubular mouthpiece4is provided in the open end3. The mouthpiece4in this example is removable by a user from the housing2. An O-ring or other seal5assists in sealing the mouthpiece4in the housing2. At or towards the other end6of the housing2is a battery7for powering various components of the apparatus1, as will be discussed further below. The battery7may be a rechargeable battery or a disposable battery. A controller8is also provided in the housing2for controlling the operation of various components of the apparatus1, as will be discussed further below.

The housing2has a container9for holding or containing a liquid10. Various different forms for the container9may be used. In the example ofFIG. 1, the container9is in the form of an annular chamber9provided in the housing2between the open end3and the other end6. In this particular example, the housing2is in two parts, a first part2abeing towards the open end3and a second part2btowards the other end6. The first and second parts2a,2bof the housing2may connect to each other via a screw thread, a bayonet fitting or the like. In use, a user can separate the first and second parts2a,2bof the housing2to allow the liquid10to be replenished or replaced as necessary. Alternatively, the mouthpiece4can be removed to provide access to the container9. It will be understood however that other arrangements are possible. For example, the liquid10may be provided in a discrete annular pot-like container which can be removed as a whole from the housing2. Such a discrete container may be disposable so that the user replaces the liquid10by fitting a new container with liquid10in the housing2. Alternatively, such a container may be reusable. In such a case, the user may replenish or replace liquid10in the container whilst it has been removed from the housing2and then replace the refilled container in the housing2. It will be understood that the housing2need not be in two parts and that other arrangements enabling access for the user may be provided, for example, to enable refilling in situ.

A heater11is provided generally centrally of the housing2, that is, centrally along the length and width of the housing2in this example. In this example, the heater11is powered by the battery7and is therefore electrically connected to the battery7. The heater11may be an electrically resistive heater, including for example a nichrome resistive heater, a ceramic heater, etc. The heater11may be for example a wire, which may for example be in the form of a coil, a plate (which may be a multi-layer plate of two or more different materials, one or more of which may be electrically conductive and one or more of which may be electrically non-conductive), a mesh (which may be woven or non-woven for example, and which again may be similarly multi-layer), a film heater, etc. Other heating arrangements may be used, including non-electrical heating arrangements.

This heater11is provided for volatilizing the liquid10. In the example shown, an annular wick12surrounds the heater11and is in (thermal) contact with the heater11. The outermost surface of the annular wick12is in contact with liquid10contained in the liquid container9. The wick12is generally absorbent and acts to draw in liquid10from the liquid container9by capillary action. In some embodiments, the wick12is non-woven and may be for example a cotton or wool material or the like, or a synthetic material, including for example polyester, nylon, viscose, polypropylene or the like. Whilst this will be described more fully below, it may be noted here that in use, liquid10drawn into the wick12is heated by the heater11. The liquid10may be volatilized so as to produce an aerosol of liquid droplets or sufficiently heated to produce a vapor. The aerosol or vapor so produced exits the wick12and passes towards the mouthpiece4as shown by the arrows A under the action of the user drawing on the mouthpiece4. The heater11and wick12may be provided as a single, effectively integral item such that the heating and wicking is effectively carried out by a single unit.

The housing2further contains a chamber13which holds or contains a material14in the apparatus1. In use, a user can access the chamber13to replace or replenish the material14through the open end3of the housing2by removing the mouthpiece4and/or by separating the two parts2a,2bof the housing2. Various different forms for the chamber13may be used. For example, the chamber13may be a tube which is completely open at both ends and which contains the material14. As another example, the chamber13may be a tube which has one or more end walls which have through holes through which a vapor or aerosol can pass. The chamber13may remain in situ within the housing2whilst the user removes and replaces the material14. Alternatively, the chamber13containing the material may be a discrete item which in use is inserted into and removed from the housing2as a whole. A removable chamber13of this type may be disposable so that the user replaces the material14by fitting a new chamber13containing fresh material14into the housing2. As an alternative, the chamber13may be reusable. In such a case, the user may replace the material14in the chamber13whilst the chamber13has been removed from the housing2and then replace the refilled chamber13in the housing2. In yet another example, the chamber13may comprise clips or the like provided internally of the housing2and which retain the material14in position. In some examples, the material14could simply fit snugly within the chamber13. As another alternative, the container9for containing the liquid10may itself be arranged to support or carry the material14. For example, the container9may have one or more clips or a tube or the like for receiving and holding the material14in position. Such a dual function container9/chamber or receptacle13for both containing the liquid10and receiving the material14may be in the form of a cartridge or the like and may be a disposable item or may be re-useable, with the liquid10and material14being replaced or topped up by the user as required. In some cases, it may be that the user only needs to top up or replace the material14from time to time, with sufficient liquid10being provided for several uses. Once the liquid10has been consumed, the user disposes of the dual function container9/receptacle13and uses a new one. Likewise, it may be that the user only needs to top up or replace the liquid10from time to time, with sufficient material14being provided for several uses. Once the material14has been consumed, the user disposes of the dual function container9/receptacle13and uses a new one.

The material14is located in the housing2downstream of the location where the aerosol or vapor is produced from the liquid10and upstream of the open end3of the housing2and the mouthpiece4. In this particular example, the material14is effectively provided in the same portion or chamber of the housing2as the wick12. The aerosol or vapor produced from the liquid10exits the wick12and passes as shown by the arrows A towards the material14under the action of the user drawing on the mouthpiece4. In particular embodiments, the material14is porous so that the aerosol or vapor passes through the material14and then through the open end3of the housing2and the mouthpiece4. In some embodiments, the material14and/or its chamber13are arranged so that there is no air gap between the material14/chamber13and the interior of the housing2so that the aerosol or vapor flows entirely through the material14.

In some embodiments, the liquid10is a liquid that is volatilizable at reasonable temperatures, such as in the range of 150-250° C., as that helps to keep down the power consumption of the apparatus1. Suitable materials include those conventionally used in e-cigarette devices, including for example propylene glycol and glycerol (also known as glycerine).

The material14is a material that may be used to impart a flavor to the aerosol or vapor produced from the liquid10as the aerosol or vapor passes through the material14. The material14may for example consist of or comprise tobacco. As the aerosol or vapor passes through and over the tobacco material14, the hot aerosol or vapor entrains organic and other compounds or constituents from the tobacco material14that lend tobacco its organoleptic properties, thus imparting the flavor to the aerosol or vapor as it passes to the mouthpiece4. It will be understood however that materials other than tobacco may be used to impart different flavors to the aerosol or vapor stream. For example, flavorants could be included in the material or in the liquid.

In addition, where the material14is or includes tobacco, it may be that the aerosol or vapor stream draws sufficient nicotine from the tobacco material14. Alternatively or additionally, where the material14does not contain any tobacco, the material14may be enhanced with nicotine, for example by coating the material with nicotine. Indeed, even in the case that the material14is or includes tobacco, the material14may be coated or otherwise enhanced with nicotine. As another example, whether or not the material14is or includes tobacco and/or includes nicotine, nicotine may be provided in the liquid10. Accordingly, where it is intended that the apparatus1provides nicotine for the user, the nicotine may be provided in the liquid10, may be obtained from the material14in the case that the material is or includes tobacco, may be provided as a coating or the like on non-tobacco material14, may be provided as a coating or the like on tobacco material, or any combination of these. Likewise, flavorings may be added to the material14(whether or not the material is or includes tobacco) and/or to the liquid10.

As mentioned above, heating devices are known that release compounds by heating, but not burning, tobacco. It may be noted here that tobacco is a poor heat conductor, and yet the heating of tobacco in known tobacco heating devices is by heat conduction through the tobacco from an exterior surface of the tobacco (typically by virtue of an electrical resistive heating element which is in contact with the surface of the tobacco). This means that the tobacco may be heated inefficiently and/or the power consumption of the device is high. In the case of a battery-operated device, high power consumption is a problem for the user as the battery or batteries need to be recharged or replaced frequently. In the case that the material14is tobacco, this can be avoided in embodiments of the present apparatus1as the material14can be heated by the hot aerosol or vapor passing through the body of the porous tobacco material14, providing for more effective and efficient heating throughout the body of the tobacco material14. This can help to lower the power consumption of the apparatus1.

In the example shown inFIG. 1, the only heat source for heating the material14in the apparatus1, which is required so as to generate the organic and other compounds or constituents from the material14, is the hot aerosol or vapor produced from heating the liquid10.

Referring now toFIG. 2, there is shown another example of an apparatus for generating an inhalable medium. In the following description and inFIG. 2, components and features that are the same as or similar to the corresponding components and features of the example described with reference toFIG. 1have the same reference numeral but increased by 200. For the sake of brevity, the description of those components and features will not be repeated in its entirety here. It will be understood that the arrangements and alternatives, etc., described above in relation to the example ofFIG. 1are also applicable to the example ofFIG. 2. Again, in broad outline, the apparatus201ofFIG. 2heats a liquid to form a vapor or an aerosol which passes through a material214so as to produce an inhalable medium that contains one or more constituents derived from the material214.

The apparatus201of this example has a generally hollow cylindrical outer housing202with an open end203and a tubular mouthpiece204. The mouthpiece204in this example is removable by a user from the housing202and an O-ring or other seal205assists in sealing the mouthpiece204in the housing202. A battery207for powering various components of the apparatus201and a controller208are provided at or towards the other end206of the housing202. The housing202of this example is in two parts, a first part202abeing towards the open end203and a second part202btowards the other end206.

The housing202has a container209for holding or containing a liquid210. The container209may be of any of the types described above in relation to the example ofFIG. 1. A heater211is provided generally centrally (lengthwise and widthwise) of the housing202for volatilizing the liquid210. In this example, the heater211is powered by the battery207and is therefore electrically connected to the battery207. The heater211may be an electrically resistive heater, a ceramic heater, etc. The heater211may be for example a wire, which may for example be in the form of a coil, a plate (which may be a multi-layer plate of two or more different materials, one or more of which may be electrically conductive and one or more of which may be electrically non-conductive), a mesh (which may be woven or non-woven for example, and which again may be similarly multi-layer), a film heater, etc. Other heating arrangements may be used, including non-electrical heating arrangements. An annular wick212surrounds the heater211and is in (thermal) contact with the heater211. The outermost surface of the annular wick212is in contact with liquid210contained in the liquid container209. The liquid210may be heated so as to produce an aerosol of liquid droplets or sufficiently heated to produce a vapor. The aerosol or vapor so produced exits the wick212and passes towards the mouthpiece204as shown by the arrows A under the action of the user drawing on the mouthpiece204. The heater211and wick212may be provided as a single, effectively integral item such that the heating and wicking is effectively carried out by a single unit.

The housing202further contains a chamber213which holds or contains a material214in the apparatus201. The chamber213may be of any of the types described above in relation to the example ofFIG. 1. The material214is located in the housing202downstream of the location where the aerosol or vapor is produced from the liquid210and upstream of the open end203of the housing202and the mouthpiece204. In this particular example, the material214is effectively provided in the same portion or chamber of the housing202as the wick212. The aerosol or vapor produced from the liquid210exits the wick212and passes as shown by the arrows A towards the material214under the action of the user drawing on the mouthpiece204. In particular embodiments, the material214is porous so that the aerosol or vapor passes through the material214and then through the open end203of the housing202and the mouthpiece204. In some embodiments, the material214and/or its chamber213are arranged so that there is no air gap between the material214/chamber213and the interior of the housing202so that the aerosol or vapor flows entirely through the material214. As above, the material214is a material that may be used to impart a flavor to the aerosol or vapor produced from the liquid210as the aerosol or vapor passes through the material214. The material214may for example consist of or comprise tobacco. As the aerosol or vapor passes through and over the tobacco material214, the hot aerosol or vapor entrains organic and other compounds or constituents from the tobacco material214that lend tobacco its organoleptic properties, thus imparting the flavor to the aerosol or vapor as is passes to the mouthpiece204. It will be understood however that materials other than tobacco may be used to impart different flavors to the aerosol or vapor stream. The container209for containing the liquid210may itself be arranged to support or carry the material214. For example, the container209may have one or more clips or a tube or the like for receiving and holding the material214in position. Such a dual function container209/chamber or receptacle213for both containing the liquid210and receiving the material214may be in the form of a cartridge or the like and may be a disposable item or may be re-useable, with the liquid210and material214being replaced or topped up by the user as required. In some cases, it may be that the user only needs to top up or replace the material214from time to time, with sufficient liquid210being provided for several uses. Once the liquid210has been consumed, the user disposes of the dual function container209/receptacle213and uses a new one. Likewise, it may be that the user only needs to top up or replace the liquid210from time to time, with sufficient material214being provided for several uses. Once the material214has been consumed, the user disposes of the dual function container209/receptacle213and uses a new one.

In the example apparatus201ofFIG. 2, a second heater215, such as an oven heater, is provided in thermal contact with the material214to pre-heat the material214and/or provide additional heat to the material214throughout use of the apparatus201. This encourages release of constituents from the material214as the vapor or aerosol passes through the material214in use. This also optionally allows a lower temperature to be used for the heated liquid210, which reduces the power consumption of the first heater211which heats the liquid210, and also may allow the amount of heated liquid210that has to be used to achieve sufficient heating of the material214to be reduced. The second heater215may be an electrically resistive heater, a ceramic heater, etc., powered by for example the battery207. The second heater215may be for example a wire, which may for example be in the form of a coil, a plate (which may be a multi-layer plate of two or more different materials, one or more of which may be electrically conductive and one or more of which may be electrically non-conductive), a mesh (which may be woven or non-woven for example, and which again may be similarly multi-layer), a film heater, etc. Other heating arrangements may be used for the second heater215, including non-electrical heating arrangements.

In the example apparatus201ofFIG. 2, the heater215for heating the material214is provided externally of the material214and heats the material214by heat conduction from the exterior of the material214. The heater215in this example is generally cylindrical. The heater215may in effect be an integral part of the apparatus201and be provided as part of the housing202. As an alternative, the heater215may be provided integrally with the chamber213which holds or contains the material214. In this alternative, in the case that the chamber213is disposable, the heater215will be replaced when a new chamber213with fresh material is loaded into the apparatus201by the user.

Referring now toFIG. 3, there is shown another example of an apparatus for generating an inhalable medium. In the following description and inFIG. 3, components and features that are the same as or similar to the corresponding components and features of the example described with reference toFIG. 1have the same reference numeral but increased by 300. For the sake of brevity, the description of those components and features will not be repeated in its entirety here. It will be understood that the arrangements and alternatives, etc. described above in relation to the examples ofFIG. 1andFIG. 2are also applicable to the example ofFIG. 3. Again, in broad outline, the apparatus301ofFIG. 3heats a liquid to form a vapor or an aerosol which passes through a material314so as to produce an inhalable medium that contains one or more constituents derived from the material314.

The apparatus301of this example again has a generally hollow cylindrical outer housing302with an open end303and a tubular mouthpiece304, which is removable by a user from the housing302. O-ring or other seal305assists in sealing the mouthpiece304in the housing302. A battery307for powering various components of the apparatus301and a controller308are provided at or towards the other end306of the housing302. The housing302of this example is again in two parts, a first part302abeing towards the open end303and a second part302btowards the other end306.

The housing302has a container309for holding or containing a liquid310. The container309may be of any of the types described above in relation to the examples ofFIGS. 1 and 2. A heater311is provided generally centrally of the housing302for heating the liquid310. The heater311may be any of the types described above. In this example, the heater311is powered by the battery307and is therefore electrically connected to the battery307. An annular wick312surrounds the heater311and is in (thermal) contact with the heater311. The outermost surface of the annular wick312is in contact with liquid310contained in the liquid container309. The liquid310may be heated so as to produce an aerosol of liquid droplets or sufficiently heated to produce a vapor. The aerosol or vapor so produced exits the wick312and passes towards the mouthpiece304as shown by the arrows A under the action of the user drawing on the mouthpiece304. The heater311and wick312may be provided as a single, effectively integral item such that the heating and wicking is effectively carried out by a single unit.

The housing302further contains a chamber313which holds or contains a material314in the apparatus301. The chamber313may be of any of the types described above in relation to the examples ofFIGS. 1 and 2. (In the example shown inFIG. 3, the chamber313is in the form of a tube which has end walls316which have through holes317through which a vapor or aerosol can pass, which was mentioned as an option above.) The material314is located in the housing302downstream of the location where the aerosol or vapor is produced from the liquid310and upstream of the open end303of the housing302and the mouthpiece304. In this particular example, again, the material314is effectively provided in the same portion or chamber of the housing302as the wick312. The aerosol or vapor produced from the liquid310exits the wick312and passes as shown by the arrows A towards the material314under the action of the user drawing on the mouthpiece304. In particular embodiments, the material314is porous so that the aerosol or vapor passes through the material314and then through the open end303of the housing302and the mouthpiece304. In some embodiments, the material314and/or its chamber313are arranged so that there is no air gap between the material314/chamber313and the interior of the housing302so that the aerosol or vapor flows entirely through the material314. As above, the material314is a material that may be used to impart a flavor to the aerosol or vapor produced from the liquid310as the aerosol or vapor passes through the material314. The material314may for example consist of or comprise tobacco. As the aerosol or vapor passes through and over the tobacco material314, the hot aerosol or vapor entrains organic and other compounds or constituents from the tobacco material314, thus imparting tobacco flavor to the aerosol or vapor as is passes to the mouthpiece304. It will be understood, however, that materials other than tobacco may be used to impart different flavors to the aerosol or vapor stream. The container309for containing the liquid310may itself be arranged to support or carry the material314. For example, the container309may have one or more clips or a tube or the like for receiving and holding the material314in position. Such a dual function container309/chamber or receptacle313for both containing the liquid310and receiving the material314may be in the form of a cartridge or the like and may be a disposable item or may be reusable, with the liquid310and material314being replaced or topped up by the user as required. In some cases, it may be that the user only needs to top up or replace the material314from time to time, with sufficient liquid310being provided for several uses. Once the liquid310has been consumed, the user disposes of the dual function container309/receptacle313and uses a new one. Likewise, it may be that the user only needs to top up or replace the liquid310from time to time, with sufficient material314being provided for several uses. Once the material314has been consumed, the user disposes of the dual function container309/receptacle313and uses a new one.

In the example apparatus301ofFIG. 3, a second heater318is again provided in thermal contact with the material314to heat the material314to encourage release of constituents from the material314as the vapor or aerosol passes through the material314in use. The second heater318may be an electrically resistive heater, a ceramic heater, etc., powered by for example the battery307. Other heating arrangements may be used for the second heater318, including non-electrical heating arrangements.

In the example apparatus301ofFIG. 3, the heater318for heating the material314is provided internally of the material314and heats the material314by heat conduction from the interior of the material314. The heater318in this example is generally in the form of a cylindrical rod located along the central longitudinal axis of the material314. In other arrangements, the heater318may be a wire, which may for example be in the form of a coil, a plate (which may be a multi-layer plate of two or more different materials, one or more of which may be electrically conductive and one or more of which may be electrically non-conductive), a mesh (which may be woven or non-woven for example, and which again may be similarly multi-layer), a film heater, etc. The material314in this case is generally tubular or otherwise has an internal aperture for receiving the heater318. The heater318may in effect be an integral part of the apparatus301and be provided as part of the housing302. In this case, as the material314is loaded into the apparatus301(for example, as the chamber313containing the material314is loaded into the apparatus301), the material314surrounds the second heater318. As an alternative, the heater318may be provided integrally with the chamber313which holds or contains the material314. In this alternative, in the case that the chamber313is disposable, the heater318will be replaced when a new chamber313with fresh material is loaded into the apparatus301by the user.

In another example, plural internal heaters318may be provided, so as to provide for more efficient heating of the material314. In another example, the material314may be heated by both one or more external heaters (like the second heater215of the example ofFIG. 2) and by one or more internal heaters314(like the second heater318of the example ofFIG. 3).

Referring now toFIG. 4, there is shown a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of an example of an apparatus401for generating an inhalable medium in use. Again, for the sake of brevity, a detailed description of the components and features that are the same as or similar to the corresponding components and features of the examples described will not be given here. Reference numerals for those components and features of the example described with reference toFIG. 1have the same reference numeral but increased by 400. It will be understood that the arrangements and alternatives, etc., described are also applicable to the example ofFIG. 4.

In this example, the liquid410is heated to form a vapor420. Under the action of the user drawing on the mouthpiece404/open end403of the housing402, the vapor420is drawn through the material414. The vapor420, which is hot, entrains organic and other compounds or constituents from the material414. Depending on for example the temperatures used, the vapor420may condense to form an aerosol of droplets as heat is transferred from the vapor420to the material414. The compounds or constituents evaporated from the material414may condense on the aerosol droplets. Thus, the vapor or aerosol421that passes to the mouthpiece404/open end403of the housing402picks up the flavor from the material414. In the case that the material414contains or includes nicotine, the vapor or aerosol421that passes to the mouthpiece404/open end403of the housing402also contains nicotine entrained from the material414.

Referring now toFIG. 5, there is shown a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of another example of an apparatus501for generating an inhalable medium in use. Again, for the sake of brevity, a detailed description of the components and features that are the same as or similar to the corresponding components and features of the examples described will not be given here. Reference numerals for those components and features of the example described with reference toFIG. 4have the same reference numeral but increased by 100. It will be understood that the arrangements and alternatives, etc., described are also applicable to the example ofFIG. 5.

In this example, again the liquid510is heated to form a vapor530. Under the action of the user drawing on the mouthpiece504/open end503of the housing502, the vapor530is drawn towards the material514. In this example, the vapor530passes through a cooler or heat exchanger531. This causes the vapor530to condense to form an aerosol532of droplets. The aerosol532then passes through the material514and, being hot, entrains organic and other compounds or constituents from the material514, with the compounds condensing on the aerosol droplets. Moreover, especially in the case that the material514contains water, it may be that the mixture of the water evaporated from the material514and the droplets of liquid510vaporizes (rather than being an aerosol) owing to the relatively lower boiling point of the mixture. Thus, the vapor or aerosol533that passes to the mouthpiece504/open end503of the housing502picks up the flavor from the material514. In the case that the material514contains or includes nicotine, the vapor or aerosol533that passes to the mouthpiece504/open end503of the housing502also contains nicotine entrained from the material514.

In any of the examples described above, the controller (8inFIG. 1, 208inFIG. 2, etc.) controls operation of the apparatus1as a whole. The controller for example may cause the various heating elements to be powered as and when required and switch off the various heating elements when heating is not required. Operation of the one or more heating elements may be controlled so that the liquid and/or material is heated to an optimum temperature. Particular considerations include ensuring that the material does not burn, ensuring that adequate vaporization of the liquid is achieved, ensuring that the vaporized liquid or aerosol is at an appropriate temperature to liberate compounds from the material, and ensuring that the vapor or aerosol that reaches the user is at a comfortable and safe temperature. Where there are separate heaters for the liquid and for the material, the control may be arranged so that only the liquid is heated, only the material is heated, or both the liquid and the material are heated, optionally under user control. A puff detector, a device which is known per se, may be provided to signal to the controller when the one or more heating elements need to be energized. The apparatus may also have one or more filters for filtering the vapor or aerosol before it reaches the user, cooling arrangements for cooling the vapor or aerosol before it reaches the user, insulation internally of the apparatus to protect the user from the heat generated inside the housing, etc.

In use, and particularly in the case that the material14,214, etc. is tobacco, the tobacco, or at least the surface of the tobacco, can be heated to a temperature of between around 190° C. to 210° C., such as around 200° C., so as to ensure that an adequate or appropriate amount of the compounds are released from the tobacco. As described in more detail above, the material14may be heated only by the hot vapor or aerosol that passes through the material or the material may also be pre-heated or dual-heated using for example a dedicated heater. In the case of pre-heating, the material, particularly in the case of tobacco, may be pre-heated to a temperature in the range of around 100 to 150° C. It will be appreciated however that other temperatures may be used. For example, the material, or at least the surface of the material, may be heated to a temperature above 210° C., such as up to around 230° C. or 240° C. or so and even as high as 290° C. or so. The amount of tobacco present may be for example in the range 50 to 300 mg or so. In a typical example, the amount of tobacco that is heated per operation of the apparatus1(i.e. per puff) may be in the corresponding range of around 8 to 50 mg. A most suitable value for the amount of tobacco may be for example in the range 50 to 110 mg or so.

In use, the liquid10,210, etc., may be heated to a temperature of between around 150° C. to 250° C.

Suitable materials14, etc., include materials that provide volatilized components upon heating, typically in the form of an aerosol. Suitable materials14, etc., include any tobacco-containing material and may, for example, include one or more of tobacco per se, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco, ground tobacco, tobacco extract, homogenized tobacco or tobacco substitutes. In the case of tobacco, the material14, etc. may be in the form of a rod of tobacco, a pod or plug of tobacco, loose tobacco, agglomerates, etc., and may be in relatively dry form or in relatively moist form for example. Suitable materials14, etc., may include other, non-tobacco, products, which, depending on the product, may or may not contain nicotine.

As used herein, the terms “flavor” and “flavorant” refer to materials which, where local regulations permit, may be used to create a desired taste or aroma in a product for adult consumers.

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 the claimed invention may be practiced and which provide for a superior apparatus arranged to generate an inhalable medium. 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.