Patent Publication Number: US-11659863-B2

Title: Article for use with apparatus for heating smokable material

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
     The present application is a National Phase entry of PCT Application No. PCT/EP2016/070188, filed on 26 Aug. 2016, which claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/840,854, filed on 31 Aug. 2015, which are hereby fully incorporated herein by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to articles for use with apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material, and to systems comprising such an article and such apparatus. 
     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 by creating products that release compounds without combusting. Examples of such products are so-called “heat not burn” products or tobacco heating devices or products, which release compounds by heating, but not burning, material. The material may be, for example, tobacco or other non-tobacco products, which may or may not contain nicotine. 
     SUMMARY 
     A first aspect of the present disclosure provides an article for use with apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material, the article comprising: a cavity configured to receive smokable material; and a coil of heater or heating material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field to thereby heat the cavity. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the article comprises a closed circuit of heating material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field, wherein the closed circuit comprises the coil. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the coil is located in the cavity. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the cavity is elongate, and the coil extends along a longitudinal axis that is substantially aligned with a longitudinal axis of the cavity. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the heating material comprises one or more materials selected from the group consisting of: an electrically-conductive material, a magnetic material, and a non-magnetic material. 
     In respective exemplary embodiments, the heating material comprises a metal or a metal alloy. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the heating material comprises one or more materials selected from the group consisting of: aluminum, gold, iron, nickel, cobalt, conductive carbon, graphite, plain-carbon steel, stainless steel, ferritic stainless steel, copper, and bronze. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the heating material is susceptible to eddy currents being induced in the heating material when penetrated by a varying magnetic field. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, a first portion of the coil is more susceptible to eddy currents being induced therein by penetration with a varying magnetic field than a second portion of the coil. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the article comprises a container defining the cavity. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the container is free of material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, at least a portion of the container is transparent or translucent. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the container is made of glass or a plastics material. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the coil is in a fixed position relative to the cavity. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the coil is removable from the article. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the article comprises the smokable material in the cavity. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the heating material is in contact with the smokable material. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the smokable material comprises tobacco and/or one or more humectants. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the article comprises a mouthpiece defining a passageway that is in fluid communication with the cavity. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the article comprises a passageway for fluidly connecting the cavity with an exterior of the article, and an actuator operable to vary a cross sectional area of the passageway. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the cavity is sealed from an exterior of the article. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the article comprises an air-permeable membrane for admitting air into the cavity from an exterior of the article. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the article comprises a seal between the air-permeable membrane and the exterior of the article, wherein the seal seals the air-permeable membrane from the exterior of the article, and wherein the seal is breakable or removable from the article to place the air-permeable membrane in fluid communication with the exterior of the article during use. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the article comprises a vapor permeable membrane for permitting vapor generated in the cavity to pass to an exterior of the article during use. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the article comprises a seal between the vapor permeable membrane and the exterior of the article, wherein the seal seals the vapor permeable membrane from the exterior of the article, and wherein the seal is breakable or removable from the article to place the vapor permeable membrane in fluid communication with the exterior of the article during use. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the article comprises a mass of thermal insulation around the cavity. The thermal insulation may comprise one or more materials selected from the group consisting of: aerogel, vacuum insulation, wadding, fleece, non-woven material, non-woven fleece, woven material, knitted material, nylon, foam, polystyrene, polyester, polyester filament, polypropylene, a blend of polyester and polypropylene, cellulose acetate, paper or card, and corrugated material such as corrugated paper or card. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the article comprises a coating on the coil that is smoother or harder than a surface of the coil. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the article comprises a catalytic material on at least a portion of the coil. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the article comprises a temperature detector for detecting a temperature of the cartridge. In some embodiments, the article comprises one or more terminals connected to the temperature detector for making connection with a temperature monitor of the apparatus in use. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the coil of the article is a first coil, and the article comprises a second coil of heating material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field to heat the cavity. 
     A second aspect of the present disclosure provides a system, comprising: an article according to the first aspect of the present disclosure; and apparatus having an interface for cooperating with the article, and a magnetic field generator comprising a coil for generating a varying magnetic field for penetrating the coil of the article when the interface is cooperating with the article; wherein an impedance of the coil of the magnetic field generator is equal, or substantially equal, to an impedance of the coil of the article. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the interface comprises a recess for receiving at least a portion of the article. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the recess is elongate, and the coil of the magnetic field generator extends along a longitudinal axis that is substantially aligned with a longitudinal axis of the recess. 
    
    
     
       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 schematic perspective view of an example of an article for use with apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material. 
         FIG.  2    shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the article of  FIG.  1    with smokable material in the cavity and an end closure attached. 
         FIG.  3    shows a schematic partial cross-sectional view of an example of another article for use with apparatus for heating smokable material to volatalize at least one component of the smokable material. 
         FIG.  4    shows a schematic partial cross-sectional view of an example of another article for use with apparatus for heating smokable material to volatalize at least one component of the smokable material. 
         FIG.  5    shows a schematic cross-sectional view of an example of a system comprising the article of  FIG.  2    and an apparatus for heating smokable material to volatalize at least one component of the smokable material. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As used herein, the term “smokable material” includes materials that provide volatilized components upon heating, typically in the form of vapor or an aerosol. “Smokable material” may be a non-tobacco-containing material or a tobacco-containing material. “Smokable material” may, for example, include one or more of tobacco per se, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco, tobacco extract, homogenized tobacco or tobacco substitutes. The smokable material can be in the form of ground tobacco, cut rag tobacco, extruded tobacco, liquid, gel, gelled sheet, powder, or agglomerates. “Smokable material” also may include other, non-tobacco, products, which, depending on the product, may or may not contain nicotine. “Smokable material” may comprise one or more humectants, such as glycerol or propylene glycol. 
     As used herein, the terms “heater material” and “heating material” refers to material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field. 
     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. They may include extracts (e.g., licorice, hydrangea, Japanese white bark magnolia leaf, chamomile, fenugreek, clove, menthol, Japanese mint, aniseed, cinnamon, herb, wintergreen, cherry, berry, peach, apple, Drambuie, bourbon, scotch, whiskey, spearmint, peppermint, lavender, cardamom, celery, cascarilla, nutmeg, sandalwood, bergamot, geranium, honey essence, rose oil, vanilla, lemon oil, orange oil, cassia, caraway, cognac, jasmine, ylang-ylang, sage, fennel, piment, ginger, anise, coriander, coffee, or a mint oil from any species of the genus  Mentha ), flavor enhancers, bitterness receptor site blockers, sensorial receptor site activators or stimulators, sugars and/or sugar substitutes (e.g., sucralose, acesulfame potassium, aspartame, saccharine, cyclamates, lactose, sucrose, glucose, fructose, sorbitol, or mannitol), and other additives such as charcoal, chlorophyll, minerals, botanicals, or breath freshening agents. They may be imitation, synthetic or natural ingredients or blends thereof. They may be in any suitable form, for example, oil, liquid, gel, powder, or the like. 
     Induction heating is a process in which an electrically-conductive object is heated by penetrating the object with a varying magnetic field. The process is described by Faraday&#39;s law of induction and Ohm&#39;s law. An induction heater may comprise an electromagnet and a device for passing a varying electrical current, such as an alternating current, through the electromagnet. When the electromagnet and the object to be heated are suitably relatively positioned so that the resultant varying magnetic field produced by the electromagnet penetrates the object, one or more eddy currents are generated inside the object. The object has a resistance to the flow of electrical currents. Therefore, when such eddy currents are generated in the object, their flow against the electrical resistance of the object causes the object to be heated. This process is called Joule, ohmic, or resistive heating. An object that is capable of being inductively heated is known as a susceptor. 
     It has been found that, when the susceptor is in the form of a closed circuit, magnetic coupling between the susceptor and the electromagnet in use is enhanced, which results in greater or improved Joule heating. 
     Magnetic hysteresis heating is a process in which an object made of magnetic material is heated by penetrating the object with a varying magnetic field. A magnetic material can be considered to comprise many atomic-scale magnets, or magnetic dipoles. When a magnetic field penetrates such material, the magnetic dipoles align with the magnetic field. Therefore, when a varying magnetic field, such as an alternating magnetic field, for example as produced by an electromagnet, penetrates the magnetic material, the orientation of the magnetic dipoles changes with the varying applied magnetic field. Such magnetic dipole reorientation causes heat to be generated in the magnetic material. 
     When an object is both electrically-conductive and magnetic, penetrating the object with a varying magnetic field can cause both Joule heating and magnetic hysteresis heating in the object. Moreover, the use of magnetic material can strengthen the magnetic field, which can intensify the Joule heating. 
     In each of the above processes, as heat is generated inside the object itself, rather than by an external heat source by heat conduction, a rapid temperature rise in the object and more uniform heat distribution can be achieved, particularly through selection of suitable object material and geometry, and suitable varying magnetic field magnitude and orientation relative to the object. Moreover, as induction heating and magnetic hysteresis heating do not require a physical connection to be provided between the source of the varying magnetic field and the object, material deposits on the object such as smokable material residue may be less of an issue, design freedom and control over the heating profile may be greater, and cost may be lower. 
     Referring to  FIG.  1    there is shown a schematic perspective view of an example of an article according to an embodiment of the disclosure. The article  1  comprises a container  10  defining a cavity  18  for receiving smokable material  30 , and a coil  22  of heating material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field to heat the cavity  18 . That is, the heating material is heatable by penetrating the heating material with a varying magnetic field, and the coil  22  is arranged relative to the cavity  18  so that, when the heating material is penetrated with the varying magnetic field, the heating material heats up and transfers heat energy to the cavity  18  to heat the cavity  18 . The article  1  is for use with apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material. An example of such apparatus is described below. 
     In this embodiment, the container  10  comprises a body  12  and an end member  14 . In this embodiment, the body  12  is tubular and encircles the cavity  18 . In this embodiment, the body  12  is elongate and cylindrical with a substantially circular cross section. However, in other embodiments, the body  12  may have a cross section other than circular and/or not be elongate and/or not be cylindrical. The end member  14  closes a first open end or opening of the tubular body  12 . In this embodiment, the end member  14  comprises a plug that is held to the first open end of the tubular body  12 , such as by friction or an adhesive. However, in other embodiments the end member  14  may take a different form or be integral with the body  12 . 
     In this embodiment, the article  1  comprises a closed circuit  20  of heating material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field. Moreover, in this embodiment, the closed circuit  20  comprises the coil  22  and a member  24  of heating material that connects opposite ends of the coil  22  to each other. In other embodiments, the member  24  may be omitted, so that the opposite ends of the coil  22  are connected to each other by only the coil  22  itself. In some embodiments, this can result in magnetic coupling between the coil  22  and the electromagnet in use being enhanced, which results in greater or improved Joule heating. 
     In this embodiment, the coil  22  is a circular helix. That is, the coil  22  has a substantially constant radius along its length. In other embodiments, the radius of the coil  22  may vary along its length. For example, in some embodiments, the coil  22  may comprise a conic helix or an elliptical helix. In this embodiment, the coil  22  has a substantially constant pitch along its length. That is, a width measured parallel to the longitudinal axis of the coil  22  of a gap between any two adjacent turns of the coil  22  is substantially the same as a width of a gap between any other two adjacent turns of the coil  22 . In other embodiments, this may not be true. 
     In this embodiment, the coil  22  is in a fixed position relative to the cavity  18 . In this embodiment, this is effected by the closed circuit  20  being affixed to the end member  14 . In some embodiments, the coil  22  may be removable from the article  1 , such as for cleaning. Such removability may be provided by way of the coil  22  being detachable from the end member  14 , or by way of the combination of the end member  14  and the coil  22  being detachable from the body  12  of the container  10 , for example. 
     In this embodiment, the coil  22  is located in the cavity  18 . Therefore, in use, when smokable material  30  is located in the cavity  18 , turns of the coil  22  may be surrounded, or substantially surrounded, by the smokable material  30  for effective transfer of heat from the coil  22  to the smokable material  30 . That is, the coil  22  may be embedded within the smokable material  30  in use. The coil  22  creates a tortuous flow path through the cavity  18 , which may create turbulence in air passing through the cavity  18  so as to help the air to pick up volatilized material created when the smokable material  30  is heated. The coil  22  also has a large surface area per unit longitudinal length, which can result in greater or improved Joule heating of the heating material, and thus greater or improved heating of the smokable material  30 . In other embodiments, the coil  22  may be located other than in the cavity  18 . For example, the coil  22  may be located within the material of the container  10  itself, in which case the coil  22  would encircle the cavity  18 . 
     In this embodiment, the cavity  18  is elongate, and the coil  22  extends along a longitudinal axis that is substantially aligned with a longitudinal axis A-A of the cavity  18 . This can help to provide more uniform heating of the smokable material  30  in use, and can also aid manufacturing of the article  1 . In this embodiment, the aligned axes are coincident. In a variation to this embodiment, the aligned axes may be parallel to each other. However, in other embodiments, the axes may be oblique to each other. In some embodiments, the coil  22  may extend to one or both opposite longitudinal ends of the cavity  18 . This can help to provide more widespread or yet more uniform heating of the smokable material  30  in use. 
     The heating material may comprise one or more materials selected from the group consisting of: an electrically-conductive material, a magnetic material, and a non-magnetic material. The heating material may comprise a metal or a metal alloy. The heating material may comprise one or more materials selected from the group consisting of: aluminum, gold, iron, nickel, cobalt, conductive carbon, graphite, plain-carbon steel, stainless steel, ferritic stainless steel, copper, and bronze. Other material(s) may be used in other embodiments. In this embodiment, the heating material of the coil  22  comprises electrically-conductive material. Thus, the heating material is susceptible to eddy currents being induced in the heating material when penetrated by a varying magnetic field. Therefore, the coil  22  is able to act as a susceptor when subjected to the varying magnetic field. It has been found that, when magnetic electrically-conductive material is used as the heating material, magnetic coupling between the coil  22  and coil of the apparatus in use may be enhanced. In addition to potentially enabling magnetic hysteresis heating, this can result in greater or improved Joule heating of the coil  22 , and thus greater or improved heating of the smokable material  30 . 
     In some embodiments, the container  10  may be free of material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field. The container  10  may be made from non-magnetic and non-electrically-conductive material. Such an arrangement can avoid energy of the varying magnetic field being absorbed by the container  10 , so that more energy of the varying magnetic field is available to heat the coil  22 . In this embodiment, the container  10  is made of glass. In other embodiments, the container  10  may be made of a different material, such as a plastics material. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the container  10  may be transparent or translucent, so as to enable a user to see the contents of the cavity  18 . In this embodiment, the body  12  of the container  10  is transparent while the end member  14  is opaque. In other embodiments, the body  12  may be translucent or opaque, for example. 
     In this embodiment, a first portion  22   a  of the coil  22  is more susceptible to eddy currents being induced therein by penetration with a varying magnetic field than a second portion  22   b  of the coil  22 . The first portion  22   a  of the coil  22  may be more susceptible as a result of the first portion  22   a  of the coil  22  being made of a first material, the second portion  22   b  of the coil  22  being made of a different second material, and the first material being of a higher susceptibility to eddy currents being induced therein than the second material. For example, one of the first and second portions  22   a ,  22   b  may be made of iron, and the other of the first and second portions  22   a ,  22   b  may be made of graphite. Alternatively or additionally, the first portion  22   a  of the coil  22  may be more susceptible as a result of the turns of the first portion  22  of the coil  22  having a different thickness and/or material density to the turns of the second portion  22   b  of the coil  22 . 
     The higher susceptibility portion  22   a  may be located closer to an intended mouth end of the article  1 , or the lower susceptibility portion  22   b  may be located closer to the intended mouth end of the article  1 . In the latter scenario, the lower susceptibility portion  22   b  may heat the smokable material  30  to a lesser degree than the higher susceptibility portion  22   a , and thus the lesser heated smokable material could act as a filter, to reduce the temperature of created vapor or make the vapor created in the article mild during heating of the smokable material  30 . 
     While in  FIG.  1    the first and second portions  22   a ,  22   b  are located adjacent each other in the longitudinal direction of the article  1  or of the coil  22 , in other embodiments this need not be the case. For example, in some embodiments the first and second portions  22   a ,  22   b  may be disposed adjacent each other in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the article  1  or of the coil  22 . 
     Such varying susceptibility of the coil  22  to eddy currents being induced therein can help achieve progressive heating of the smokable material  30 , and thereby progressive generation of vapor. For example, the higher susceptibility portion  22   a  may be able to heat a first region of the smokable material  30  relatively quickly to initialize volatilization of at least one component of the smokable material  30  and formation of a vapor in the first region of the smokable material  30 . The lower susceptibility portion  22   b  may be able to heat a second region of the smokable material  30  relatively slowly to initialize volatilization of at least one component of the smokable material  30  and formation of a vapor in the second region of the smokable material  30 . Accordingly, a vapor is able to be formed relatively rapidly for inhalation by a user, and vapor can continue to be formed thereafter for subsequent inhalation by the user even after the first region of the smokable material  30  may have ceased generating vapor. The first region of the smokable material  30  may cease generating the vapor when it becomes exhausted of volatilizable components of the smokable material  30 . 
     In other embodiments, all of the coil  22  may be equally, or substantially equally, susceptible to eddy currents being induced therein by penetration with a varying magnetic field. In some embodiments, the coil  22  may not be susceptible to such eddy currents. In such embodiments, the heating material may be a magnetic material that is non-electrically-conductive, and thus may be heatable by the magnetic hysteresis process discussed above. 
     In some embodiments, the article may comprise a plurality of separate coils  22 , wherein each of the coils  22  comprises heating material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field. At least one of the plurality of coils  22  may be more susceptible to eddy currents being induced therein by penetration with a varying magnetic field than at least one of the other of the plurality of coils  22 . This may be effected by the coils  22  being made of different heating materials and/or the turns of the coils  22  having different thicknesses and/or material densities, for example, as discussed above. Again, such varying susceptibility of the coils  22  can help achieve progressive heating of the smokable material  30 , and thereby progressive generation of vapor, in a manner corresponding to that described above. 
     In some embodiments, the article  1  may comprise a catalytic material on at least a portion of the coil  22 . The catalytic material may be provided on all of the coil  22 , or on only some portion(s) of the coil  22 . The catalytic material may take the form of a coating on the coil  22 . The provision of such a catalytic material on the coil  22  means that, in use, the article  1  may have a heated, chemically active surface. In use, the catalytic material may act to convert, or increase the rate of conversion of, a potential irritant to something that is less of an irritant. In use, the catalytic material may act to convert, or increase the rate of conversion of, formic acid to methanol, for example. In other embodiments, the catalytic material may act to convert, or increase the rate of conversion of, other chemicals, such as acetylene to ethane by hydrogenation, or ammonia to nitrogen and hydrogen. The catalytic material may additionally or alternatively act to react, or increase the rate of reaction of, carbon monoxide and water vapor to form carbon dioxide and hydrogen (the water-gas shift reaction, or WGSR). 
     In some embodiments, the article  1  may comprise a coating on the coil  22  that is smoother or harder than a surface of the coil  22  itself. Such a smoother or harder coating may facilitate cleaning of the coil  22  after use of the article  1 . The coating could be made of glass or a ceramic material, for example. In other embodiments, the coil  22  may have a rough or non-uniform surface, which can increase the surface area with which the coil  22  contacts the smokable material  30 . 
     In some embodiments, the article  1  may comprise a mass of thermal insulation around the cavity  18 . Such a mass may be inside the container  10 , outside the container  10 , or form the container  10 . The thermal insulation may comprise one or more materials selected from the group consisting of: aerogel, vacuum insulation, wadding, fleece, non-woven material, non-woven fleece, woven material, knitted material, nylon, foam, polystyrene, polyester, polyester filament, polypropylene, a blend of polyester and polypropylene, cellulose acetate, paper or card, and corrugated material such as corrugated paper or card. The thermal insulation may additionally or alternatively comprise an air gap. Such thermal insulation can help prevent heat loss to components of the apparatus, and provide more efficient heating of the cavity  18 . In some embodiments, the insulation may have a thickness of up to one millimeter, such as up to 0.5 millimeters. 
     The heating material may have a skin depth, which is an exterior zone within which most of an induced electrical current and/or induced reorientation of magnetic dipoles occurs. By providing that the heating material has a relatively small thickness, a greater proportion of the heating material may be heatable by a given varying magnetic field, as compared to heating material having a depth or thickness that is relatively large as compared to the other dimensions of the heating material. Thus, a more efficient use of material is achieved. In turn, costs are reduced. 
     Referring to  FIG.  2   , there is shown a schematic cross-sectional view of the article  1  of  FIG.  1    with smokable material  30  in the cavity  18  and an end closure  16  attached to a second open end or opening of the body  10 . 
     In this embodiment, the heating material of the coil  22  is in contact with the smokable material  30 . Thus, when the heating material is heated by being penetrated by a varying magnetic field, heat may be transferred directly from the heating material to the smokable material  30 . In other embodiments, the heating material may be kept out of contact with the smokable material  30 . For example, in some embodiments, the article  1  may comprise a thermally-conductive barrier which spaces the heating material from the smokable material  30 . In some embodiments, the thermally-conductive barrier may be a thermally-conductive coating on the coil  22 , such as a catalytic coating or a smooth coating as discussed above. The provision of such a thermally-conductive barrier may be advantageous to help to retain heat in the article  1  after heating of the heating material has ceased. 
     The smokable material  30  could comprise any of the types of smokable materials mentioned herein. The smokable material  30  could be of the form of any of the smokable materials mentioned herein. In some embodiments, the smokable material  30  may comprise a mixture of liquid and powder. The powder could be a suspension in the liquid. The liquid may aid heat retention. The powder may be tobacco powder. 
     In some embodiments, the end member  14  and the end closure  16  act as respective seals that together seal the cavity  18  from an exterior of the article  1 , so as to maintain the freshness of the smokable material  30 . In some embodiments, one or both of the end member  14  and the end closure  16  may be openable, puncturable or removable from the article  1  before use, so as to enable air flow through the cavity  18  and thus through the smokable material  30 . However, in some embodiments, one or both of the end member  14  and the end closure  16  may comprise an air-permeable membrane or cover for admitting air to pass between the cavity  18  and an exterior of the article  1 . 
     In some embodiments, the article  1  comprises an air-permeable membrane for admitting air into the cavity  18  from an exterior of the article  1 , and a seal (such as the end closure  16 ) between the air-permeable membrane and the exterior of the article  1 . The seal seals the air-permeable membrane from the exterior of the article  1  and may be breakable or removable from the article  1  to place the air-permeable membrane, and thus the cavity  18 , in fluid communication with the exterior of the article  1 . In some embodiments, the article  1  comprises a vapor permeable membrane for permitting vapor generated in the cavity  18  to pass to an exterior of the article  1 , and a seal (such as the end member  14 ) between the vapor permeable membrane and the exterior of the article  1 . This seal seals the vapor permeable membrane from the exterior of the article  1  and may be breakable or removable from the article  1  to place the vapor permeable membrane, and thus the cavity  18 , in fluid communication with the exterior of the article  1 . 
     In some embodiments, such as some embodiments in which the smokable material comprises a liquid, one or both of the end member  14  and the end closure  16  may comprise a hydrophobic membrane or cover for helping prevent the liquid from escaping from the cavity  18 . Indeed, any of the air or vapor permeable membranes discussed herein may comprise a hydrophobic membrane or cover for helping prevent liquid from escaping from the cavity  18 . 
     In some embodiments, the article may comprise a mouthpiece defining a passageway that is in fluid communication with the cavity  18 . Referring to  FIG.  3   , there is shown a schematic partial cross-sectional view of an example of an article  2  according to an embodiment of the disclosure. The section of the article  2  numbered 50 could comprise either of the constructions shown in  FIGS.  1  and  2    or any of the variants thereof discussed above. The mouthpiece  60  and passageway  62  thereof are shown connected to the construction with the passageway  62  aligned so as to be in fluid communication with the cavity  18  of the construction. The mouthpiece  60  may be made of any suitable material, such as a plastics material, cardboard, or rubber. 
     In use, when the smokable material  30  is heated by the heated heating material, volatilized components of the smokable material  30  can be readily inhaled by a user. In embodiments in which the article is a consumable article, once all or substantially all of the volatilizable component(s) of the smokable material  30  in the article has/have been spent, the user may dispose of the mouthpiece together with the rest of the article. This can be more hygienic than using the same mouthpiece with multiple articles, can help ensure that the mouthpiece is correctly aligned with the smokable material, and presents a user with a clean, fresh mouthpiece each time they wish to use another article. 
     The mouthpiece  60 , when provided, may comprise or be impregnated with a flavorant. The flavorant may be arranged so as to be picked up by heated vapor as the vapor passes through the passageway  62  of the mouthpiece  60  in use. 
     In some embodiments, the article may comprise a passageway for fluidly connecting the cavity  18  with an exterior of the article  1 ,  2 , and an actuator operable to vary a cross sectional area of the passageway. Referring to  FIG.  4   , there is shown a schematic partial cross-sectional view of an example of an article  3  according to an embodiment of the disclosure. The section of the article  3  numbered 50 could comprise any of the constructions shown in  FIGS.  1 ,  2  and  3    or any of the variants thereof discussed above. 
     In this embodiment, the article  3  comprises an element  70  defining the passageway  72  that fluidly connects the cavity  18  with an exterior of the article  3 . The element  70  comprises an actuator  74  that is operable by a user and that is operably connected to a variable constrictor  76 . The actuator  74  may comprise, for example, a push-button, a toggle switch, a dial, a touchscreen, or the like. Operation of the actuator  74  by a user causes the variable constrictor  76  to vary a cross sectional area of the passageway  72 , so as to change the degree of air flow through the article  3 . This can alter the effort required by a user to draw volatilized component(s) of the smokable material  30  from the cavity  18  in use, and can also help a user to retain volatilized component(s) of the smokable material  30  in the cavity  18  between draws. 
     In some embodiments, the element  70  may be provided at a mouth end, or downstream end, of the cavity  18 . In other embodiments, the element  70  may be provided at the end of the cavity  18  opposite to a mouth end of the cavity  18 . In some embodiments, the element  70  may be provided at the end of the cavity  18  opposite to an end of the cavity  18  to which a mouthpiece of the article is connected, such as the mouthpiece  60  shown in  FIG.  3   . In some embodiments, the element  70  may be provided between the cavity  18  and a mouthpiece of the article, such as the mouthpiece  60  shown in  FIG.  3   . In some embodiments, the element  70  may be combined with a mouthpiece of the article, such as the mouthpiece  60  shown in  FIG.  3   , so that the passageway of which the cross sectional area is variable is the passageway of the mouthpiece. 
     Each of the above-described articles  1 ,  2 ,  3  and described variants thereof may be used with an apparatus for heating the smokable material  30  to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material  30 . The apparatus may be to heat the smokable material  30  to volatilize the at least one component of the smokable material  30  without burning the smokable material  30 . Any one of the article(s)  1 ,  2 ,  3  and such apparatus may be provided together as a system. The system may take the form of a kit, in which the article  1 ,  2 ,  3  is separate from the apparatus. Alternatively, the system may take the form of an assembly, in which the article  1 ,  2 ,  3  is combined with the apparatus. An example of such a system will now be described. 
     Referring to  FIG.  5    there is shown a schematic cross-sectional view of an example of a system according to an embodiment of the disclosure. The system  1000  of this embodiment comprises the article  1  of  FIG.  2    and apparatus  100  for heating the smokable material  30  in the article  2  to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material  30 . Broadly speaking, the apparatus  100  comprises an interface  111  for cooperating with the article  2 , and a magnetic field generator  112  comprising a coil  114  for generating a varying magnetic field for penetrating the coil  22  of the article  2  when the interface  111  is cooperating with the article  2 . 
     The apparatus  100  of this embodiment comprises a body  110  and a mouthpiece  120 . The mouthpiece  120  defines a channel  122  therethrough. The mouthpiece  120  is locatable relative to the body  110  so as to cover an opening into the recess  111 . When the mouthpiece  120  is so located relative to the body  110 , the channel  122  of the mouthpiece  120  is in fluid communication with the recess  111 . In use, the channel  122  acts as a passageway for permitting volatilized material to pass from the cavity  18  of the article  2  inserted in the recess  111  to an exterior of the apparatus  100 . In this embodiment, the mouthpiece  120  of the apparatus  100  is releasably engageable with the body  110  so as to connect the mouthpiece  120  to the body  110 . 
     In other embodiments, the mouthpiece  120  and the body  110  may be permanently connected, such as through a hinge or flexible member. The mouthpiece  120  of the apparatus  100  may comprise or be impregnated with a flavorant. The flavorant may be arranged so as to be picked up by heated vapor as the vapor passes through the channel  122  of the mouthpiece  120  in use. In some embodiments, such as some embodiments in which the article  2  itself comprises a mouthpiece, the mouthpiece  120  of the apparatus  100  may be omitted. 
     In this embodiment, the body  110  comprises the interface  111 . In this embodiment, the interface  111  comprises a recess  111  for receiving at least a portion of the article  2 . In other embodiments, the interface  111  may be other than a recess, such as a shelf, a surface, or a projection, and may require mechanical mating with the article  1 ,  2 ,  3  in order to co-operate with the article  1 ,  2 ,  3 . In this embodiment, the recess  111  is elongate, and is sized and shaped to receive the article  2 . In this embodiment, the recess  111  accommodates the whole article  2 . In other embodiments, the recess  111  may receive only a portion of the article  2 . 
     In this embodiment, the magnetic field generator  112  comprises an electrical power source  113 , the coil  114 , a device  116  for passing a varying electrical current, such as an alternating current, through the coil  114 , a controller  117 , and a user interface  118  for user-operation of the controller  117 . 
     In this embodiment, the electrical power source  113  is a rechargeable battery. In other embodiments, the electrical power source  113  may be other than a rechargeable battery, such as a non-rechargeable battery, a capacitor or a connection to a mains electricity supply. 
     The coil  114  may take any suitable form. In this embodiment, the coil  114  is a helical coil of electrically-conductive material, such as copper. In some embodiments, the magnetic field generator  112  may comprise a magnetically permeable core around which the coil  114  is wound. Such a magnetically permeable core concentrates the magnetic flux produced by the coil  114  in use and makes a more powerful magnetic field. The magnetically permeable core may be made of iron, for example. In some embodiments, the magnetically permeable core may extend only partially along the length of the coil  114 , so as to concentrate the magnetic flux only in certain regions. 
     In this embodiment, the coil  114  of the magnetic field generator  112  extends along a longitudinal axis that is substantially coincident with a longitudinal axis of the recess  111 . In other embodiments, these axes may be aligned with each other by being parallel to each other, or may be oblique to each other. In this embodiment, when the article  2  is received in the recess  111 , as shown in  FIG.  5   , the longitudinal axis of the recess  111  is substantially coincident with the longitudinal axis of the cavity  18  of the article  2 . 
     In this embodiment, an impedance of the coil  114  of the magnetic field generator  112  is equal, or substantially equal, to an impedance of the coil  22  of the article  2 . If the impedance of the coil  22  of the article  2  were instead lower than the impedance of the coil  114  of the magnetic field generator  112 , then the voltage generated across the coil  22  of the article  2  in use may be lower than the voltage that may be generated across the coil  22  of the article  2  when the impedances are matched. Alternatively, if the impedance of the coil  22  of the article  2  were instead higher than the impedance of the coil  114  of the magnetic field generator  112 , then the electrical current generated in the coil  22  of the article  2  in use may be lower than the current that may be generated in the coil  22  of the article  2  when the impedances are matched. Matching the impedances may help to balance the voltage and current to maximize the heating power generated at the coil  22  of the article  2  when heated in use. 
     While the system  1000  of this embodiment comprises the article  2  of  FIG.  2   , in other embodiments the system may comprise any other one of the articles discussed above. In such other embodiments, the impedance of the coil  114  of the magnetic field generator  112  may be equal, or substantially equal, to an impedance of the coil of the article. 
     In this embodiment, the device  116  for passing a varying current through the coil  114  is electrically connected between the electrical power source  113  and the coil  114 . In this embodiment, the controller  117  also is electrically connected to the electrical power source  113 , and is communicatively connected to the device  116  to control the device  116 . More specifically, in this embodiment, the controller  117  is for controlling the device  116 , so as to control the supply of electrical power from the electrical power source  113  to the coil  114 . In this embodiment, the controller  117  comprises an integrated circuit (IC), such as an IC on a printed circuit board (PCB). In other embodiments, the controller  117  may take a different form. In some embodiments, the apparatus may have a single electrical or electronic component comprising the device  116  and the controller  117 . The controller  117  is operated in this embodiment by user-operation of the user interface  118 . The user interface  118  is located at the exterior of the body  110 . The user interface  118  may comprise a push-button, a toggle switch, a dial, a touchscreen, or the like. 
     In this embodiment, operation of the user interface  118  by a user causes the controller  117  to cause the device  116  to cause an alternating electrical current to pass through the coil  114 , so as to cause the coil  114  to generate an alternating magnetic field. When the article  2  is located in the recess  111 , the coil  114  of the apparatus  100  and the coil  22  of the article  2  are suitably relatively positioned so that the alternating magnetic field produced by the coil  114  penetrates the heating material of the coil  22  of the article  2 . When the heating material of the coil  22  is an electrically-conductive material, this may cause the generation of one or more eddy currents in the heating material. The flow of eddy currents in the heating material against the electrical resistance of the heating material causes the heating material to be heated by Joule heating. As mentioned above, when the heating material is made of a magnetic material, the orientation of magnetic dipoles in the heating material changes with the changing applied magnetic field, which causes heat to be generated in the heating material. 
     The apparatus  100  of this embodiment comprises a temperature sensor  119  for sensing a temperature of the recess  111 . The temperature sensor  119  is communicatively connected to the controller  117 , so that the controller  117  is able to monitor the temperature of the recess  111 . In some embodiments, the temperature sensor  119  may be arranged to take an optical temperature measurement of the recess, interface or article  1 ,  2 ,  3 . In some embodiments, the article  1 ,  2 ,  3  may comprise a temperature detector, such as a resistance temperature detector (RTD), for detecting a temperature of the article  1 ,  2 ,  3 . For example, the temperature detector may be located in or on the container  10  of the article  1 ,  2 ,  3 . The article  1 ,  2 ,  3  may further comprise one or more terminals connected, such as electrically-connected, to the temperature detector. The terminal(s) may be for making connection, such as electrical connection, with a temperature monitor of the apparatus  100  when the article  1 ,  2 ,  3  is in the recess  111  or cooperating with the interface. The controller  117  may comprise the temperature monitor. The temperature monitor of the apparatus  100  may thus be able to determine a temperature of the article  1 ,  2 ,  3  during use of the article  1 ,  2 ,  3  with the apparatus  100 . 
     In some embodiments, by providing that the heating material of the coil  22  of the article  2  has a suitable resistance, the response of the heating material to a change in temperature could be sufficient to give information regarding temperature inside the article  2 . The temperature sensor  119  of the apparatus  100  may then comprise a probe for analyzing the heating material. 
     On the basis of one or more signals received from the temperature sensor  119  or temperature detector, the controller  117  may cause the device  116  to adjust a characteristic of the varying or alternating electrical current passed through the coil  114  as necessary, in order to ensure that the temperature of the recess  111  remains within a predetermined temperature range. The characteristic may be, for example, amplitude or frequency. Within the predetermined temperature range, in use the smokable material  30  within an article  1 ,  2 ,  3  located in the recess  111  is heated sufficiently to volatalize at least one component of the smokable material  30  without combusting the smokable material  30 . Accordingly, the controller  117 , and the apparatus  100  as a whole, is arranged to heat the smokable material  30  to volatalize the at least one component of the smokable material  30  without combusting the smokable material  30 . In some embodiments, the temperature range is about 50° C. to about 250° C., such as between about 50° C. and about 150° C., between about 50° C. and about 120° C., between about 50° C. and about 100° C., between about 50° C. and about 80° C., or between about 60° C. and about 70° C. In some embodiments, the temperature range is between about 170° C. and about 220° C. In other embodiments, the temperature range may be other than this range. 
     The apparatus  100  may define an air inlet that fluidly connects the recess  111  with the exterior of the apparatus  100 . Such an air inlet may be defined by the body  110  of the apparatus  100  and/or by the mouthpiece  120  of the apparatus  100 . A user may be able to inhale the volatalized component(s) of the smokable material  30  by drawing the volatalized component(s) through the channel  122  of the mouthpiece  120 . As the volatalized component(s) are removed from the cavity  18  of the container  10  of the article  2 , air may be drawn into the recess  111  via the air inlet of the apparatus  100 . Furthermore, in embodiments in which the end member  14  and/or end closure  16  of the container  10  of the article  2  is/are puncturable, the air may be drawn into the cavity  18  of the container  10  via one or both of the punctured end member  14  and end closure  16 . Alternatively, in embodiments in which the article  2  comprises an air-permeable membrane for admitting air into the cavity  18  from the exterior of the article  2 , a vapor permeable membrane for permitting vapor generated in the cavity  18  to pass to the exterior of the article  2 , and first and second seals between the exterior of the article  2  and the air-permeable membrane and the vapor permeable membrane, respectively, a user may break or remove the first and second seals prior to use of the apparatus  100  and article  2  to enable air to be drawn into the cavity  18  via the air-permeable membrane, and vapor generated in the cavity  18  to pass to the channel  122  of the mouthpiece  120  via the vapor permeable membrane. 
     The apparatus may provide haptic feedback to a user. The feedback could indicate that heating is taking place, or be triggered by a timer to indicate that greater than a predetermined proportion of the original quantity of volatilizable component(s) of the smokable material  30  in the article  1 ,  2 ,  3  has/have been spent, or the like. The haptic feedback could be created by interaction of the coils (i.e. magnetic response), by interaction of an electrically-conductive element with the coil  114  of the apparatus  100 , by rotating an unbalanced motor, by repeatedly applying and removing a current across a piezoelectric element, or the like. 
     The apparatus  100  may comprise more than one coil. The plurality of coils of the apparatus  100  could be operable to provide progressive heating of the smokable material  30  in an article  1 ,  2 ,  3 , and thereby progressive generation of vapor. For example, one coil may be able to heat a first region of the heating material relatively quickly to initialize volatilization of at least one component of the smokable material  30  and formation of a vapor in a first region of the smokable material  30 . Another coil may be able to heat a second region of the heating material relatively slowly to initialize volatilization of at least one component of the smokable material  30  and formation of a vapor in a second region of the smokable material  30 . Accordingly, a vapor is able to be formed relatively rapidly for inhalation by a user, and vapor can continue to be formed thereafter for subsequent inhalation by the user even after the first region of the smokable material  30  may have ceased generating vapor. The initially-unheated second region of smokable material  30  could act as a filter, to reduce the temperature of created vapor or make the created vapor mild, during heating of the first region of smokable material  30 . 
     In some embodiments, the coil of the article is a first coil, and the article may comprise a second coil of heating material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field to heat the cavity  18  of the article. The first and second coils of the article may be substantially separately heatable by varying magnetic fields produced by a respective plurality of coils of the apparatus  100 . One of the first and second coils may be more susceptible to eddy currents being induced therein by penetration with a varying magnetic field than the other of the first and second coils. Such a structure could be operable to provide progressive heating of the smokable material  30  in the article, and thereby progressive generation of vapor, in a similar way to that described above. 
     In some embodiments, the heating material of the coil  22  may comprise discontinuities or holes therein. Such discontinuities or holes may act as thermal breaks to control the degree to which different regions of the smokable material are heated in use. Areas of the heating material with discontinuities or holes therein may be heated to a lesser extent that areas without discontinuities or holes. This may help progressive heating of the smokable material, and thus progressive generation of vapor, to be achieved. 
     In each of the above described embodiments, the smokable material  30  comprises tobacco. However, in respective variations to each of these embodiments, the smokable material  30  may consist of tobacco, may consist substantially entirely of tobacco, may comprise tobacco and smokable material other than tobacco, may comprise smokable material other than tobacco, or may be free of tobacco. In some embodiments, the smokable material  30  may comprise a vapor or aerosol forming agent or a humectant, such as glycerol, propylene glycol, triactein, or diethylene glycol. 
     An article embodying the present disclosure may be a cartridge or a capsule, for example. 
     Each of the above described articles  1 ,  2 ,  3  may be used as a consumable article. Once all, or substantially all, of the volatilizable component(s) of the smokable material  30  in the article  1 ,  2 ,  3  has/have been spent, the user may remove the article  1 ,  2 ,  3  from the apparatus  100  and dispose of the article  1 ,  2 ,  3 . The user may subsequently re-use the apparatus  100  with another of the articles  1 ,  2 ,  3 . However, in other embodiments, the articles  1 ,  2 ,  3  may be refillable with smokable material  30  and re-usable with the apparatus  100 . Such re-filling may be effected by detaching the end closure  16  from the body  12  of the container  10  to access the cavity  18 , removing the remains of smokable material used in a previous session, placing a new charge of smokable material in the cavity  18 , and then placing an end closure  16  (either the original end closure  16  or a new end closure  16 ) over the second open end of the body  12  of the container  10 . During such re-filling, the coil  22  may be removable, for example for cleaning or for replacement with a fresh coil  22 . 
     Each of the above described articles  1 ,  2 ,  3  may be supplied with or without the smokable material  30  in the cavity  18 . 
     In some embodiments, the articles  1 ,  2 ,  3  discussed above are sold, supplied or otherwise provided separately from the apparatus  100  with which they are usable. However, in some embodiments, the apparatus and one or more of the articles  1 ,  2 ,  3  may be provided together as a system, such as a kit or an assembly, possibly with additional components, such as cleaning utensils. 
     Embodiments of the disclosure could be implemented in a system comprising any one of the articles discussed herein, and any one of the apparatuses discussed herein, wherein the apparatus itself further has heating material, such as in a susceptor, for heating by penetration with the varying magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generator. Heat generated in the heating material of the apparatus itself could be transferred to the article to further heat the smokable material therein. 
     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 superior articles for use with apparatus for heating smokable material to volatalize at least one component of the smokable material, and superior systems comprising the same. 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.