Patent Publication Number: US-11039646-B2

Title: Apparatus for heating smokable material

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
     The present application is a National Phase entry of PCT Application No. PCT/EP2017/061520, filed May 12, 1017, which claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/336,205, filed May 13, 2016, each of which is hereby fully incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to an apparatus arranged to heat smokable material. 
     BACKGROUND 
     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, which burn tobacco, by creating products that release compounds without burning. 
     Examples of such products are so-called heat-not-burn products, also known as tobacco heating products or tobacco heating devices, which release compounds by heating, but not burning, the material. The material may be for example tobacco or other non-tobacco products or a combination, such as a blended mix, which may or may not contain nicotine. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an apparatus arranged to heat smokable material to volatilize at least one component of said smokable material, the apparatus comprising: a housing, the housing having an insertion point at one end through which a consumable article comprising smokable material can be removably inserted into the apparatus in use, at least one heater arranged within the housing for heating said smokable material within the consumable article, wherein the housing comprises ventilation around the outside of said consumable article at the insertion point to enable at least one heated volatilized component from said smokable material to exit the apparatus and/or air to enter the apparatus. 
     In an exemplary embodiment the insertion point is formed in a collar, wherein the collar comprises a plurality of ridges arranged circumferentially around the insertion point that project into the insertion point. 
     Providing ventilation to the apparatus enables air to enter the apparatus to cool heated volatilized material from the smokable material and also enables some of the heated volatilized material to escape the apparatus without being inhaled by a user. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments of the disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of an example of an apparatus for heating a smokable material. 
         FIG. 2  shows a lateral cross-sectional view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1  with a consumable article inserted. 
         FIG. 3  shows a lateral cross-sectional view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1  without a consumable article inserted. 
         FIG. 4  shows a perspective side view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1  with some external panels absent to show interior components of the apparatus. 
         FIG. 5 a    shows a side view of an internal component of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5 b    shows a first perspective view of the internal component of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5 c    shows a second perspective view of the internal component of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5 d    shows an end view of the internal component of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  shows an end view of an alternative internal component of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  shows a plan view of a top panel of the apparatus for heating a smokable material. 
         FIG. 8  shows a side view of a top panel of the apparatus of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9  shows a perspective view of a top panel of the apparatus of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 10  shows a plan view of a top panel of the apparatus of  FIG. 7  with a consumable article inserted. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As used herein, the term “smokable material” includes materials that provide volatilized components upon heating, typically in the form of an aerosol. “Smokable material” includes any tobacco-containing material and may, for example, include one or more of tobacco, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco or tobacco substitutes. “Smokable material” also may include other, non-tobacco, products, which, depending on the product, may or may not contain nicotine. “Smokable material” may for example be in the form of a solid, a liquid, a gel or a wax or the like. “Smokable material” may for example also be a combination or a blend of materials. 
     Apparatus is known that heats smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material, typically to form an aerosol which can be inhaled, without burning or combusting the smokable material. Such an apparatus is sometimes described as a “heat-not-burn” apparatus or a “tobacco heating product” or “tobacco heating device” or similar. Similarly, there are also so-called e-cigarette devices, which typically vaporize a smokable material in the form of a liquid, which may or may not contain nicotine. The smokable material may be in the form of or provided as part of a rod, cartridge or cassette or the like which can be inserted into the apparatus. A heater for heating and volatilizing the smokable material may be provided as a “permanent” part of the apparatus or may be provided as part of the smoking article or consumable which is discarded and replaced after use. A “smoking article” in this context is a device or article or other component that includes or contains in use the smokable material, which in use is heated to volatilize the smokable material, and optionally other components. 
     Referring initially to  FIGS. 1 to 4 , there is shown an example of an apparatus  1  arranged to heat smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material, typically to form an aerosol which can be inhaled. The apparatus  1  is a heating apparatus  1  which releases compounds by heating, but not burning, the smokable material. 
     A first end  3  is sometimes referred to herein as the mouth or proximal end  3  of the device  1  and a second end  5  is sometimes referred to herein as the distal end  5  of the device  1 . The apparatus  1  has an on/off button  7  to allow the apparatus  1  as a whole to be switched on and off as desired by a user. 
     The apparatus  1  comprises a housing  9  for locating and protecting various internal components of the apparatus  1 . In the example shown, the housing  9  comprises a uni-body sleeve  11  that encompasses the perimeter of the apparatus  1 , capped with a top panel  17  which defines generally the ‘top’ of the apparatus  1  and a bottom panel  19  which defines generally the ‘bottom’ of the apparatus  1 . In another example the housing comprises a front panel, a rear panel and a pair of opposite side panels in addition to the top panel  17  and the bottom panel  19 . 
     The top panel  17  and/or the bottom panel  19  may be removably fixed to the uni-body sleeve  11 , to permit easy access to the interior of the apparatus  1 , or may be “permanently” fixed to the uni-body sleeve  11 , for example to deter a user from accessing the interior of the apparatus  1 . In an example, the panels  17  and  19  are made of a plastics material, including for example glass-filled nylon formed by injection molding, and the uni-body sleeve  11  is made of aluminum, though other materials and other manufacturing processes may be used. 
     The top panel  17  of the apparatus  1  has an opening  20  at the mouth end  3  of the apparatus  1  through which, in use, a consumable article  21  containing smokable material may be inserted into the apparatus  1  and removed from the apparatus  1  by a user. 
     The housing  9  has located or fixed therein a heater arrangement  23 , control circuitry  25  and a power source  27 . In this example, the heater arrangement  23 , the control circuitry  25  and the power source  27  are laterally adjacent (that is, adjacent when viewed from an end), with the control circuitry  25  being located generally between the heater arrangement  23  and the power source  27 , though other locations are possible. 
     The control circuitry  25  may include a controller, such as a microprocessor arrangement, configured and arranged to control the heating of the smokable material in the consumable article  21  as discussed further below. 
     The power source  27  may be for example a battery, which may be a rechargeable battery or a non-rechargeable battery. Examples of suitable batteries include for example a lithium-ion battery, a nickel battery (such as a nickel-cadmium battery), an alkaline battery and/or the like. The battery  27  is electrically coupled to the heater arrangement  23  to supply electrical power when required and under control of the control circuitry  25  to heat the smokable material in the consumable (as discussed, to volatilize the smokable material without causing the smokable material to burn). 
     An advantage of locating the power source  27  laterally adjacent to the heater arrangement  23  is that a physically large power source  25  may be used without causing the apparatus  1  as a whole to be unduly lengthy. As will be understood, in general a physically large power source  25  has a higher capacity (that is, the total electrical energy that can be supplied, often measured in Amp-hours or the like) and thus the battery life for the apparatus  1  can be longer. 
     In one example, the heater arrangement  23  is generally in the form of a hollow cylindrical tube, having a hollow interior heating chamber  29  into which the consumable article  21  comprising the smokable material is inserted for heating in use. Different arrangements for the heater arrangement  23  are possible. For example, the heater arrangement  23  may comprise a single heating element or may be formed of plural heating elements aligned along the longitudinal axis of the heater arrangement  23 . The or each heating element may be annular or tubular, or at least part-annular or part-tubular around its circumference. In an example, the or each heating element may be a thin film heater. In another example, the or each heating element may be made of a ceramics material. Examples of suitable ceramics materials include alumina and aluminum nitride and silicon nitride ceramics, which may be laminated and sintered. Other heating arrangements are possible, including for example inductive heating, infrared heater elements, which heat by emitting infrared radiation, or resistive heating elements formed by for example a resistive electrical winding. 
     In one particular example, the heater arrangement  23  is supported by a stainless steel support tube and comprises a polyimide heating element. The heater arrangement  23  is dimensioned so that substantially the whole of the smokable material when the consumable article  21  is inserted in the apparatus  1  so that substantially the whole of the smokable material is heated in use. 
     The or each heating element may be arranged so that selected zones of the smokable material can be independently heated, for example in turn (over time) or together (simultaneously) as desired. 
     The heater arrangement  23  in this example is surrounded along at least part of its length by a thermal insulator  31 . The insulator  31  helps to reduce heat passing from the heater arrangement  23  to the exterior of the apparatus  1 . This helps to keep down the power requirements for the heater arrangement  23  as it reduces heat losses generally. The insulator  31  also helps to keep the exterior of the apparatus  1  cool during operation of the heater arrangement  23 . In one example, the insulator  31  may be a double-walled sleeve which provides a low pressure region between the two walls of the sleeve. That is, the insulator  31  may be for example a “vacuum” tube, i.e. a tube that has been at least partially evacuated so as to minimize heat transfer by conduction and/or convection. Other arrangements for the insulator  31  are possible, including using heat insulating materials, including for example a suitable foam-type material, in addition to or instead of a double-walled sleeve. 
     The housing  9  may further comprises various internal support structures  37  (best seen in  FIG. 4 ) for supporting all internal components, as well as the heating arrangement  23 . 
     The apparatus  1  further comprises a collar  33  which extends around and projects from the opening  20  into the interior of the housing  9  and a generally tubular chamber  35  which is located between the collar  33  and one end of the vacuum sleeve  31 . 
     One end of the chamber  35  connects to and is supported by the collar  33  and the other end of the chamber  35  connects to the one end of the vacuum sleeve  31  and hence supports the vacuum sleeve  31 . Accordingly, as best seen in  FIG. 3 , the collar  33 , the chamber  35  and the vacuum tube  31 /heater arrangement  23  are arranged co-axially, so that, as best seen in  FIG. 2 , when the consumable  21  is inserted in the apparatus  1 , it extends through the collar  33  and the chamber  35  into the heater chamber  29 . 
     As mentioned above, in this example, the heater arrangement  23  is generally in the form of a hollow cylindrical tube and this tube is in fluid communication with the opening at the mouth end  3  of the device  1  via the chamber  35  and the collar  33 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 5 a  to 5 d   , in this example, the chamber  35  comprises a tubular body  35   a  that has a first open end  35   b  and a second open end  35   c . The tubular body  35   a  comprises a first section  35   d  that extends from the first open end  35   b  to approximately half away along the tubular body  35   a  and a second section  35   e  that extends from approximately half away along the tubular body  35   a  to the second open end  35   c . The first section  35   d  has a substantially constant internal diameter and the second section  35   e  has an internal diameter that tapers towards the second open end  35   c.    
     The chamber  35  further comprises a cooling structure  35   f , which in this example, comprises a plurality of cooling fins  35   f  spaced apart along the body  35   a , each of which is arranged circumferentially around the body  35   a.    
     The chamber  35  also comprises a flange portion  35   g  around the second open end  35   c  and a plurality of projections or clips  35   h  also arranged around the second open end  35   c . Each clip  35   h  is generally ‘L’ shaped and comprises a first portion  35   h   1  that is joined to the flange portion  35   g  and a second portion  35   h   2  that is generally perpendicular to first portion  35   h   1  and which extends in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tubular body  35   a . Each second portion  35   h   2  comprises a stepped surface  35   i  that faces towards an axis that extends along the longitudinal axis of the tubular body  35   a  and which stepped surface  35   i  is slightly curved. 
     As best seen in  FIG. 3 , in this example, the chamber  35  is located in the housing  9  between the collar  33  and the vacuum tube  31 /heater  23 . More specifically, at the second end  35   c , the flange  35   g  butts an end portion of a polyimide tube of the heater arrangement  23  with the clips  35   h  resiliently engaging with the polyimide tube via their stepped surfaces  35   i  and the outer surfaces of the clips mating with an inside of the vacuum sleeve  31  ( ii ) at the first open end  35   b , the chamber  35  connects to the collar  33  by means of ridges  60 , which form part of the collar  33  and project into the chamber  35 . The ridges  60  are angled from a first end  62  of the collar  33  to a second end  63  of the collar towards an axis that extends along the longitudinal axis of the collar  33  and chamber  35 . The ridges lie flush with the internal surface of the chamber  35  to form a snug fit. 
     As is best appreciated from  FIG. 2 , the inner diameter of the first section  35   d  of the hollow chamber  35  is larger than the external diameter of the consumable article  2 . There is therefore an air gap  36  between the hollow chamber  35  and the consumable article  2  when it is inserted in the apparatus over at least part of the length of the hollow chamber  35 . The air gap  36  is around all of the circumference of the consumable article  21  in that region. 
     As best seen in  FIG. 5 c    and  FIG. 5 d   , at the second open end  35   c , the chamber  35  comprises a plurality (in this example 3) of small lobes or ridges  35   j  arranged circumferentially around an inner surface of the chamber  35  at the periphery of second open end  35   c . Each of the lobes  35   j  extends a small distance in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the chamber  35  and also extends a small amount radially at the second open end  35   c . Together, the lobes  35   j  provide a gripping section that grips the consumable article  21  in order to correctly position and retain the portion of the consumable article  21  that is within the chamber  35  when the consumable article  21  is within the apparatus  1 . Between them, the lobes  35   j  gently compress or pinch the consumable article  21  in the region or regions of the consumable article that are contacted by the lobes  35   j . The lobes  35   j  may be comprised of a resilient material (or be resilient is some other way) so that they deform slightly (for example compress) to better grip the consumable article  21  when it is inserted in the apparatus  1  but then regain their original shape when the consumable article  21  is removed from the apparatus  1 . The lobes  35   j  may be formed integrally with the chamber  35  or may be separate components that are attached within the chamber  35 . The inner diameter around the lobes, may be, for example, 5.377 mm. 
     In an alternative example shown in  FIG. 6 , a resilient gripping section  35   k  within the hollow chamber  35  defines a substantially oval aperture  35   l  which, may extend along the longitudinal axis of the hollow chamber  35 , and which when the consumable article  21  is inserted in the apparatus  1 , gently compresses or pinches the section of the consumable article  21  that is in the oval apertures  35   l  so that this section of the consumable article  21  is deformed from being circular to being oval in cross section. In one example, the gripping section  35   k  is located towards the first open end  35   b . In one example, the width of the oval section could be increased or decreased to increase or decrease the insertion/retention force. In a further example, small grooves (not shown) could be added in the surface of the oval aperture  35   l  that would interfere with the consumable article  21  rather than the entire surface area of the oval aperture  35   l . This would minimize insertion/removal sensitivity to the transitions of the various consumable article components (tobacco, tipping paper, paper tube) passing through the gripping section  35   k.    
     In a further example a combination of the lobes  35   j  and the oval gripping section  35   k  could be used to retain the consumable article  21  in the hollow chamber  35 . For example, an oval gripping section  35   k  and the arrangement of lobes  35   j  could be spaced apart longitudinally in the hollow chamber  35  and act separately to retain an inserted consumable article  21  in place, or, the lobes  35   j  could be arranged around the surface of the oval gripping section  35   k.    
     The chamber  35  may be formed of for example a plastics material, including for example polyether ether ketone (PEEK). 
     Referring again to  FIGS. 2 to 4 , in an example, the heating chamber  29  has a region  38  of reduced internal diameter towards the distal end  5 . This region  37  provides an end stop for the consumable article  21  passed through the opening at the mouth end  3 . This region  38  of reduced internal diameter, may for example, be provided by a hollow tube of the type described in detail in our U.S. Provisional Patent App. No. 62/185,227, filed on Jun. 26, 2015, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     The apparatus  1  may further comprise a door  39  at the distal end  5  that opens and closes an opening in the rear panel to provide access to the heating chamber  29  so that the heating chamber can be cleaned. Examples of suitable doors are also discussed in more detail in the aforementioned U.S. Provisional Patent App. No. 62/185,227. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 7 to 10  in particular, there is shown an example of the top panel  17  of the apparatus  1 . The top panel  17  generally forms the front end  3  of the housing  9  of the apparatus. The top panel  17  supports the collar  33  which defines an insertion point in the form of the opening  20  through which the consumable article  21  is removably inserted into the apparatus  1  in use. 
     The collar  33  extends around and projects from the opening  20  into the interior of the housing  9 . In one example, the collar  33  is integral with the top panel  17  of the housing so the collar  33  and the top panel  17  form a single piece. In an alternative example, the collar  33  is a distinct element from the top panel  17 , but can be attached to the top panel  17  through an attachment, such as a locking mechanism, adhesive, screws. Other attachments that are suitable for attaching the collar  33  to the top panel  17  may be used. 
     In this example, the collar  33  comprises a plurality of ridges  60  arranged circumferentially around the periphery of the opening  20  and which project into the opening  20 . The ridges  60  take up space within the opening  20  such that the open span of the opening  20  at the locations of the ridges  60  is less than the open span of the opening  20  at the locations without the ridges  60 . The ridges  60  are configured to engage with a consumable article  21  inserted into the apparatus to assist in securing it within the apparatus  1 . 
     In one example, the ridges  60  are circumferentially equally spaced around the periphery of the opening  20 . In one example, there are four ridges  60 , in other examples there may be more or fewer than four ridges  60 . 
       FIG. 9  shows a plan view of the top panel  17  of the apparatus with a consumable article  21  inserted into the opening  20 . The ridges  60  project into the opening  20  to engage with the consumable article  21 . The open spaces  61  defined by adjacent pairs of ridges  60  and the consumable article  21  form ventilation paths  61  around the exterior of the consumable article  21 . These ventilation paths  61 , as will be explained in more detail below, allow hot vapors that have escaped from the consumable article  21  to exit the apparatus  1  and allow cooling air to flow into the apparatus  1  around the consumable  21 . The example in  FIG. 10  shows four ventilation paths  61  located around the periphery of the consumable article  21 , which provide ventilation for the apparatus  1  although there may be more or less such ventilation paths  61 . 
     As mentioned above, the ridges  60  project radially into the opening  20  but, as best appreciated from  FIG. 8 , they also extend from the top panel  17  into the housing  9 . The projection of the ridges  60  are angled towards each other, such that as the ridges  60  extend into the housing, the distance between the ridges  60  decreases. As best seen in  FIG. 3 , the projection of the ridges  60  into the housing enables the collar  35  to connect to the chamber  35  by means of the ridges  60  extending through the first open end  35   b  of the chamber  35  and engaging an inner wall of the chamber  35 . 
     Referring again particularly to  FIG. 2 , in one example, the consumable article  21  is in the form of a cylindrical rod which has or contains smokable material  21   a  at a rear end in a section of the consumable article  21  that is within the heating arrangement  23  when the consumable article  21  is inserted in the apparatus  1 . A front end of the consumable article  21  extends from the apparatus  1  and acts as a mouthpiece assembly  21   b  which includes one or more of a filter for filtering aerosol and/or a cooling element  21   c  for cooling aerosol. The filter/cooling element  21   c  is spaced from the smokable material  21   a  by a space  21   d  and is also spaced from the tip of mouthpiece assembly  21   b  by a further space  21   e . The consumable article  21  is circumferentially wrapped in an outer layer (not shown). In one example, the outer layer of the consumable article  21  is permeable to allow some heated volatilized components from the smokable material to escape the consumable article  21 . 
     In operation, the heater arrangement  23  will heat the consumable article  21  to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material  21   a.    
     The primary flow path for the heated volatilized components from the smokable material  21   a  is axially through the consumable article  21 , through the space  21   d , the filter/cooling element  21   c  and the further space  21   e  before entering a user&#39;s mouth through the open end of the mouthpiece assembly  21   b . However, some of the volatilized components may escape from the consumable article  21  through its permeable outer wrapper and into the space  36  surrounding the consumable article  21  in the chamber  35 . It would be undesirable for the volatilized components that flow from the consumable article  21  into the chamber  35  to be inhaled by the user, because these components would not pass through the filter/cooling element  21   c  and thus be unfiltered and not cooled. 
     Advantageously, the volume of air surrounding the consumable article  21  in the chamber  35  and the fin-cooled interior wall of the chamber  35  causes at least some of the volatilized components that escape the consumable article  21  through its outer layer to cool and condense on the interior wall of the chamber  35  preventing those volatilized components from being possibly inhaled by a user. 
     This cooling effect may be assisted by cool air that is able to enter from outside the apparatus  1  into the space  36  surrounding the consumable article  21  in the chamber  35  via the ventilation paths  61 , which allows fluid to flow into and out of the apparatus. A ventilation path  61  will be defined between a pair of the plurality of neighboring ridges  60  to provide ventilation around the outside of the consumable article  21  at the insertion point. 
     In one example, a second ventilation path  61  is provided between a second pair of neighboring ridges for at least one heated volatilized components to flow from the consumable article  21  at a second location. Therefore ventilation is provided around the outside of the consumable article  21  at the insertion point by the first and second ventilation paths  61 . 
     Furthermore, heated volatilized components that escape the consumable article  21  through its outer wrapper do not condense on the internal wall of the chamber  35  and are able to flow safely out of the apparatus  1  via the ventilation paths  61  without being inhaled by a user. 
     The chamber  35  and the ventilation both aid in reducing the temperature and the content of water vapor composition released in heated volatilized components from the smokable material. 
     The various embodiments described herein are presented only to assist in understanding and teaching the claimed features. These embodiments are provided as a representative sample of embodiments only, and are not exhaustive and/or exclusive. It is to be understood that advantages, embodiments, examples, functions, features, structures, and/or other aspects described herein are not to be considered limitations on the scope of the invention 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 of the claimed invention. Various embodiments of the invention may suitably comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of, appropriate combinations of the disclosed elements, components, features, parts, steps, means, etc., other than those specifically described herein. In addition, this disclosure may include other inventions not presently claimed, but which may be claimed in future.