Patent Description:
A heated tobacco product is a product such as IQOS launched by Philip Morris in Japan in <NUM>, or Glo launched on trial by BAT in <NUM> in Sendai. Each of the heated tobacco products has an exclusive smoking tool into which an exclusive filter-attached cigarette is inserted, and nicotine, tobacco flavor, and smoke are generated by heating tobacco leaves with a heater disposed in the tool. When tobacco leaves of a typical filter-attached cigarette, which allows a smoker to smoke by burning the tobacco leaves, are heated by a heater, nicotine and tobacco flavor are somewhat released, but smoke is hardly generated. As the tobacco leaves of the exclusive filter-attached cigarette, there are used tobacco leaves that have been subjected to a special chemical treatment in order to generate smoke by being heated by the heater. A cigarette for the IQOS is called a 'Heat Stick' and is about <NUM> in diameter and about <NUM> in length. A cigarette for the Glo is called 'Neo-Stick' and is about <NUM> in diameter and about <NUM> in length. All the filter parts of the filter-attached cigarettes have many gaps in order to transfer nicotine, tobacco flavor, or smoke, which is generated by heating the tobacco leaves, to a smoker's mouth without absorbing the nicotine, the tobacco flavor, or the smoke. In addition, there is widely used a typical filter-attached cigarette that is about <NUM> in diameter and used by being burnt.

The heated tobacco product disclosed in Patent Document <NUM> or Patent Document <NUM> is being sold under the name of IQOS. The heated tobacco product disclosed in Patent Document <NUM> or Patent Document <NUM> is being currently sold under the name of IQOS. In this product, when the filter-attached cigarette for the IQOS, which is the Heat Stick, is inserted into a holder, a heating heater disposed in the holder is inserted into almost a center of a tobacco part of the Heat Stick, and the tobacco leaves are heated by the heater, such that nicotine, tobacco flavor, and smoke are generated. In the case of the product, which is currently sold under the name of Glo, when a filter-attached cigarette for Glo, which is Neo-Stick, is inserted into a main body, the filter-attached cigarette is inserted into a cylindrical heater disposed in the main body, and the tobacco leaves are heated from an outer circumferential portion thereof by the cylindrical heater, such that nicotine, tobacco flavor, and smoke are generated.

The tobacco leaves, which are used for the filter-attached cigarettes of these products, are subjected to chemical treatment so that nicotine, tobacco flavor, and smoke are generated from the tobacco leaves when the tobacco leaves are heated at a temperature of about <NUM> to <NUM>.

When the smoker smokes using the filter-attached cigarette by setting the heating temperature to about <NUM>, the smoker may enjoy mild tobacco flavor, but the amount of generated smoke is very small. In contrast, when the heating temperature is set to about <NUM> in order to increase the amount of smoke to be generated, tobacco flavor, which tastes like burnt flavor, is generated even though the amount of smoke is increased. For this reason, the smoker cannot smoke with tobacco flavor suitable for his/her preference and the amount of smoke suitable for his/her preference. Because a predetermined heating temperature is set in the smoking tool, the smoker cannot enjoy smoking at his/her preferred temperature.

In smoking, the generated smoke is one of the important smoking elements, and when the smoke passes through the innermost side of the throat, the brain feels the smoking. In consideration of this fact, the present inventor has invented a smokeless smoking tool in which an atomizer for an electronic cigarette disclosed in Patent Document <NUM> may be mounted. However, the smokeless smoking tool has a mechanism in which nicotine and tobacco flavor generated by heating tobacco leaves are transferred to a smoker's mouth after passing through the atomizer of the electronic cigarette. However, because the smoker feels that the nicotine and tobacco flavor generated by heating the tobacco leaves pass through the liquid in the electronic cigarette and the smoker absorbs the nicotine and tobacco flavor, the reputation is not so good.

Furthermore, because these cigarettes have the almost the same price as the typical filter-attached cigarette that allows the smoker to smoke by burning the tobacco leaves, the smoker's economic burden is heavy because a separate heating tool is required.

Furthermore, because the Heat Stick or the Neo-Stick has the almost the same price as the typical filter-attached cigarette that allows the smoker to smoke by burning the tobacco leaves, the smoker's economic burden is heavy because a separate heating tool is required.

There is also a product called Ploom TECH sold by JT which is not the heated tobacco product. <FIG> illustrates a configuration of this product (a power source for supplying power is omitted). The smoke generating part <NUM> has therein a mechanism for generating electronic cigarette smoke and receives power from a connector <NUM>. The smoker inserts a capsule <NUM>, which is filled with small tobacco leaves, into the smoke generating part <NUM> and inhales air from a mouthpiece <NUM>. When the smoker inhales the air, outside air is introduced from the power source (not illustrated). In this case, because the outside air passes through a small hole, low sound is generated. When a microphone mounted in the power source receives the sound, power of an embedded rechargeable battery is supplied to the smoke generating part. The outside air passes through the small hole formed in the power source, such that passing sound is generated. When the microphone mounted in the power source receives the passing sound, power of the embedded rechargeable battery is supplied to the smoke generating part. When the smoker inhales the air, the power is supplied to an electronic cigarette smoke generating mechanism in the smoke generating part <NUM> from the power source via the connector <NUM>, such that the electronic cigarette smoke is generated. When the outside air and the smoke pass through the inside the capsule <NUM>, the tobacco flavor from the small tobacco leaves is added to the smoke, and the smoke is transferred to the smoker's mouth. Because the tobacco leaves are not in a heated state and almost no nicotine is added, the product is considered as being an electronic cigarette in the market and as being a product different from the heated tobacco product from which the smoke may inhale nicotine.

In order to solve the problem, the present inventor has developed a smoking tool including: a heating tube part having a heater for heating tobacco leaves; and an atomizer for an electronic cigarette. When a smoker inserts a filter-attached cigarette for an IQOS into the tool and inhales the air from the filter part, the smoker may enjoy the nicotine and tobacco flavor which are generated by heating the tobacco leaves and to which the electronic cigarette smoke generated by the atomizer is added. Further, the smoker may individually set and enjoy the amount of nicotine and tobacco flavor and the amount of electronic cigarette smoke.

Further, a portion made by cutting, by about <NUM>/<NUM>, the typical filter-attached cigarette, which allows the smoker to smoke by burning the tobacco leaves, is inserted into the tool or leaf tobacco for a pipe is inserted into the tobacco leaf insertion and inserted into the tool, such that the smoker may enjoy the nicotine and tobacco flavor from the tobacco leaves to which the electronic cigarette smoke is added. The above-mentioned smoking method greatly reduces the price of cigarette.

Any embodiments, aspects or examples of the present description or disclosure that do not fall within the scope of the claims are provided for illustrative purpose only and not part of the invention.

<FIG> and <FIG> are axial cross-sectional views of a smokeless smoking tool <NUM> disclosed in Patent Document <NUM>, and the smokeless smoking tool <NUM> includes a heating tube part <NUM>, a heater part <NUM>, a tobacco retaining part <NUM>, a rechargeable battery part, a drive circuit part, and the like. Referring to the axial cross-sectional view of the smokeless smoking tool <NUM> disclosed in Patent Document <NUM>, the smokeless smoking tool <NUM> includes the heating tube part <NUM>, the heater part <NUM>, the tobacco retaining part, the rechargeable battery part, the drive circuit part, and the like. Hereinafter, only the components related to the present invention will be described. The heating tube part <NUM> includes three plates, an inner tube <NUM> (an Al tube or a glass tube), and pedestals <NUM>. The plate D <NUM> and the plate C <NUM> each have a hole slightly larger than an outer diameter of the inner tube <NUM>, and the inner tube <NUM> is tightly fitted into the holes. The plate B <NUM> has a hole positioned at a center thereof, and a heater <NUM> passes through the hole. The two pedestals <NUM> each having a screw hole are vertically fixed in order to mount and fix the heater part <NUM>. In some instances, the plate C <NUM> and the plate B <NUM> may be bonded together or formed into one plate. Further, between the P plate D <NUM> and the P plate B <NUM>, two to four pins may be used to prevent the positional relationship between the P plate D <NUM> and the P plate B <NUM> from being changed.

Even though the heater part <NUM> is described in Patent Document <NUM>, the heater part <NUM> related to the present invention will be described again. The heater part <NUM> includes the heater <NUM>, the plate A <NUM>, the pin D <NUM>, and the pin C <NUM>. However, the heater <NUM> used in the present invention is made by attaching a resistive material to a surface of a ceramic rod by printing and has a structure different from that disclosed in Patent Document <NUM>, but the heater <NUM> has the same function as the heater disclosed in Patent Document <NUM>.

The smokeless smoking tool <NUM> disclosed in Patent Document <NUM> uses the cigarette for the IQOS, which is the Heat Stick, and is configured to allow a smoker to set a heating temperature or a heating time for the tobacco leaves to a preferred temperature or time by using a slide switch, but a change in heating temperature or heating time cannot be performed by the IQOS.

When the smoker smokes by using the smokeless smoking tool <NUM> disclosed in Patent Document <NUM> and inserting the Heat Stick, the smoker may change the heating temperature. Therefore, the smoker may smoke at a temperature preferred by the smoker, the amount of nicotine and tobacco flavor to be generated or the amount of smoke to be generated cannot be individually controlled. That is, when the heating temperature decreases, the amount of generated nicotine decreases, and tobacco flavor becomes mild, but the amount of generated smoke decreases. On the contrary, when the heating temperature increases, the amount of generated smoke increases, but the generated nicotine is less decomposed, such that bitter and burnt tobacco flavor is generated.

In order to solve the problem, the present inventor has developed the smoking tool <NUM> according to the present invention illustrated in <FIG> which is an axial cross-sectional view illustrating the interior of the configuration of the smoking tool <NUM>. However, the tobacco retaining part A <NUM> or the tobacco retaining part B <NUM> is omitted from <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>. That is, the smoking tool <NUM> according to the present invention uses the combination of the tobacco retaining part A <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG> and the tobacco retaining part B <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>. The charging part, the drive circuit part, the switch part, and the rear cover are omitted, but the product almost identical to the product illustrated in <FIG> is used. Further, in <FIG>, the atomizer <NUM>, the <NUM>-connector <NUM>, and the spring <NUM> are newly added. One of the two types of tobacco retaining parts including the tobacco retaining part A <NUM> and the tobacco retaining part B <NUM> is used for the Heat Stick, and another is used for the tobacco leaves.

<FIG> and <FIG> are axial cross-sectional views illustrating states in which a Heat Stick <NUM> is inserted into the smoking tool according to the present invention in which the tobacco retaining part A is mounted. Research was additionally conducted to make a configuration in which when the smoker inhales air from a filter part of the Heat Stick <NUM> in this state, the smoke generated by the atomizer <NUM> passes through the heating tube part <NUM> and the Heat Stick <NUM> and then enters the smoker's mouth.

<FIG> and <FIG> are axial cross-sectional views illustrating states in which the Heat Stick <NUM> is inserted into the smoking tool according to the present invention in which the tobacco retaining part A <NUM> is mounted. In this state, when the smoker inhales the air from the filter part of the Heat Stick <NUM> and pushes a smoke generating switch (not illustrated), the smoke is generated from the atomizer <NUM>, the smoke passes through the heating tube part <NUM> and the Heat Stick <NUM>, and the smoke and the generated nicotine and tobacco flavor enter the smoker's mouth. In addition, instead of the smoke generating switch, there may be used a configuration in which smoke may be generated when a microphone receives sound that occurs when outside air flows as the smoker sucks the cigarette. However, it is not necessary to describe this configuration. When the smoker inhales the smoke, the smoke, together with air introduced from an air inlet <NUM> of the atomizer, passes through a portion of the atomizer <NUM> where the heater <NUM> exists. The smoke passes through the heating tube part <NUM> and the Heat Stick <NUM> and then enters the smoker's mouth. If there is a gap in this route and outside air may be introduced into the gap, a pressure in a middle tube <NUM> in the atomizer is not decreased even though the smoker inhales the air. As a result, the generation of the smoke is inhibited and even the generated smoke does not reach the smoker's mouth.

<FIG> is an axial cross-sectional view of the heating tube part <NUM> used for the smoking tool according to the present invention. The heating tube part <NUM> has the plate A <NUM> disposed at an end of the inner tube <NUM> (a cylindrical tube such as an AL tube or a glass tube), and the plate E <NUM> disposed at a position close to a tip portion of the inner tube. These three components are connected with the pin D <NUM> and the pin C <NUM> and fixed by the heat-resistant bonding agent. Further, the two pins D and C also serve as connection pins for supplying power to the heater <NUM> from the outside. The heater <NUM> and the three plates (the plate B11, the plate C12, and the plate D13) are disposed in the heating tube part <NUM>, and a wire C <NUM> and a wire D <NUM> are provided to supply power to the heater <NUM> from the pin C <NUM> and the pin D <NUM>. A hole <NUM> is formed in the plate A <NUM>, and the smoke is introduced into the hole <NUM> from the atomizer <NUM>. When an insertion port <NUM> and the hole <NUM> are closed, the heating tube part <NUM> has no path through which the air is introduced. The present application discloses the heating tube part including the inner tube and the two plates. However, for example, the heating tube part may be configured by integrating the inner tube and the two plates using PTFE resin having heat resistance, but it is not necessary to describe this configuration. The present application discloses the heating tube part including the inner tube and the two plates. However, for example, the heating tube part may be configured by integrating the inner tube and the two plates using PTFE resin having heat resistance, but it is not necessary to describe this configuration.

<FIG> and <FIG> are axial cross-sectional views of the tobacco retaining part <NUM> used in the present invention. Because the tobacco retaining part <NUM> is described in Patent Document <NUM>, a detailed description thereof will be omitted, but the tobacco retaining part <NUM> has an insertion portion <NUM> disposed toward the inner tube, and connectors <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the insertion portion <NUM> disposed toward the inner tube <NUM> is configured to be tightly fitted with the inner tube <NUM> of the heating tube part <NUM>.

<FIG> and <FIG> are axial cross-sectional views of the tobacco retaining part A <NUM> used in the present invention. Because the tobacco retaining part A <NUM> is described in Patent Document <NUM>, a detailed description thereof will be omitted, but the tobacco retaining part A <NUM> has an insertion portion <NUM> disposed toward the inner tube, connectors <NUM>, and a silicone O-ring that adjoins an end surface of the inner tube <NUM>. As the O-ring is inserted, an inflow of outside air from the end surface of the inner tube <NUM> is blocked. As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the insertion portion <NUM> disposed toward the inner tube <NUM> is configured to be inserted while retaining a small gap together with the inner tube <NUM> of the heating tube part <NUM>. In addition, the connectors <NUM> are connected to the control circuit (not illustrated), the pins C and D of the heating tube part <NUM> are inserted, and the power is supplied to the heater <NUM> from the control circuit.

Next, the atomizer <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> will be described. The atomizer used in the present application is an atomizer for a general electronic cigarette. The atomizer is identical to an atomizer being used and is not special. The atomizer illustrated in <FIG> includes a convex <NUM>-connector <NUM> configured to receive power for the heater <NUM> of the atomizer, a container <NUM> configured to accommodate a liquid for an electronic cigarette, and an inner tube <NUM> configured to serve as a passageway for air and smoke, and an atomizer heater <NUM>. When the liquid for an electronic cigarette is putted into the container <NUM>, the liquid in the container <NUM> may be moved to the periphery of the heater <NUM> of the atomizer from the hole <NUM>. When the power is supplied to the heater <NUM> from the convex <NUM>-connector <NUM>, the heater <NUM> is heated, the liquid at the periphery of the heater <NUM> is heated, and the smoke is generated. In this case, when the smoker inhales air from the tip portion of the inner tube <NUM>, a negative pressure is formed in the inner tube, outside air is introduced into the inner tube from the air inlet <NUM>, and the outside air, together with the generated smoke, is transferred to the smoker's mouth. The supply of power to the atomizer is performed via the convex <NUM>-connector <NUM> from the <NUM>-connector <NUM> connected to the control circuit with a wire <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the atomizer <NUM> is tightly pressed against the heating tube part <NUM> by the spring <NUM> with a bushing <NUM> interposed therebetween, such that the atomizer <NUM> and the heating tube part <NUM> are connected so that the air in the inner tube <NUM> of the atomizer <NUM> and the internal space of the inner tube <NUM> of the heating tube part <NUM> does not leak. The bushing <NUM> is made of heat-resistant resin such as PTFE in order to prevent heat of the plate A <NUM> heated by the heat of the heater <NUM> from being transferred to the atomizer. In addition, the insertion portion <NUM> of the tobacco retaining part <NUM>, which is disposed toward the inner tube, is tightly fitted with the inner tube <NUM> of the heating tube part <NUM> and configured such that the air does not leak from the fitted portion.

Further, three silicone O-rings <NUM> are sometimes used to prevent a leakage of air from this portion. Further, although not illustrated, the tip portion of the container <NUM> of the atomizer <NUM> may be covered with thermally shrinkable tube, and the thermally shrinkable tube is an effective means that is thermally shrunk to prevent the air from leaking between the tip portion and the bushing <NUM>.

When the smoker inhales the air from the filter part of the Heat Stick <NUM> in the state illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, a negative pressure is formed in the inner tube <NUM> of the heating tube part <NUM> first, and then a negative pressure is formed in the inner tube <NUM> of the atomizer <NUM> connected to the inner tube <NUM> with the bushing <NUM>. Further, in this state, the outside air received from the air inlet <NUM> is accompanied by the electronic cigarette smoke generated in the vicinity of the atomizer heater <NUM> and enters the heating tube part <NUM> through the bushing <NUM>. As a result, nicotine and tobacco flavor from the tobacco leaves of the Heat Stick heated by the heater <NUM> are added to the electronic cigarette smoke, and the electronic cigarette smoke is transferred to the smoker through the filter part of the Heat Stick. In this case, because different types of power are added to the atomizer heater <NUM> and the heater <NUM> from the control circuit, it is possible to generate the preferred amount of electronic cigarette smoke and the nicotine and tobacco flavor preferred by the smoker.

<FIG> is an axial cross-sectional view of the tobacco leaf insertion tube <NUM> and the mouthpiece <NUM> used for the smoking tool <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG> and having the tobacco retaining part B95 illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>. A tip portion <NUM> of the tobacco leaf insertion tube <NUM> has a hole <NUM> formed at a center thereof, and the heater <NUM> passes through the hole <NUM>. The tip portion <NUM> may be made by folding and bending a tip portion of the tobacco leaf insertion tube <NUM> or manufactured by inserting a metal spacer having a thickness of about <NUM> to <NUM>. As the mouthpiece <NUM>, a mouthpiece called a <NUM>-drip tip for a general electronic cigarette is used as it is. Silicone or thermosetting resin is used as a material of the mouthpiece <NUM>. A portion made by cutting, by <NUM>/<NUM>, a tobacco part of a typical filter-attached cigarette, which allows the smoker to smoke by burning the tobacco leaves, is inserted into the tobacco leaf insertion tube <NUM>. Alternatively, the tobacco leaf insertion tube <NUM> is filled with tobacco leaves for a pipe, covered with the mouthpiece <NUM>, and then inserted into the smoking tool <NUM> having the tobacco retaining part B. The portion made by cutting, by using a cigar cutter, the tobacco part of the typical filter-attached cigarette, which allows the smoker to smoke by burning the tobacco leaves, is inserted into the tobacco leaf insertion tube <NUM>. Alternatively, the tobacco leaf insertion tube <NUM> is filled with tobacco leaves for a pipe, covered with the mouthpiece <NUM>, and then inserted into the smoking tool <NUM> having the tobacco retaining part B <NUM>. Further, an insertion portion <NUM> of an air flow restriction component <NUM> having a cylindrical shape and illustrated in <FIG> or <FIG> may be inserted into the mouthpiece <NUM> and then mounted. The hole formed at a center of the mouthpiece has a comparatively large diameter, and a large amount of air flows when the smoker inhales the air. The air flow restriction component <NUM> serves to restrict the amount of flowing air. That is, it is possible to restrict the amount of flowing air by changing a hole diameter of a hole <NUM> formed in the tip portion. Further, the quantity of tobacco leaves to be inserted into the tobacco insertion tube <NUM> may be changed by changing a length of a tube part <NUM>.

When the smoker inhales the air from the mouthpiece <NUM> in the state illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, a negative pressure is formed in the tobacco leaf insertion tube <NUM> first, a negative pressure is formed in the inner tube <NUM>, and then a negative pressure is formed in the inner tube <NUM> of the atomizer <NUM> connected to the inner tube <NUM> with the bushing <NUM>. Further, in this state, the outside air received from the air inlet <NUM> is accompanied by the electronic cigarette smoke generated in the vicinity of the atomizer heater <NUM> and enters the heating tube part <NUM> through the bushing <NUM>. As a result, nicotine and tobacco flavor from the tobacco leaves heated by the heater <NUM> are added to the electronic cigarette smoke, and the electronic cigarette smoke is transferred to the smoker through the filter part of the Heat Stick. In this case, because different types of power are added to the atomizer heater <NUM> and the heater <NUM> from the control circuit, it is possible to generate the preferred amount of electronic cigarette smoke and the nicotine and tobacco flavor preferred by the smoker. Further, because a difference between an outer diameter of the tobacco leaf insertion tube <NUM> and an inner diameter of the inner tube <NUM> is about <NUM> to <NUM> cp, the introduction of the outside air from this portion is decreased. Furthermore, because the difference between the outer diameter of the tobacco leaf insertion tube <NUM> and the inner diameter of the inner tube <NUM> is about <NUM> to <NUM>, the introduction of the outside air from this portion is decreased. Further, because an inner diameter of an O-ring <NUM> is almost equal to the outer diameter of the tobacco leaf insertion tube <NUM>, there is no introduction of the outside air from this portion.

It is necessary to supply a liquid for an electronic cigarette to the atomizer <NUM> in order to use the smoking tool <NUM> according to the present invention. In this case, because the spring <NUM> is used, the atomizer <NUM> may be pulled in the left direction based on <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>. The atomizer <NUM> may be easily separated from the <NUM>-connector <NUM> by being rotated in this state. That is, the spring <NUM> serves to tightly press the atomizer <NUM> against the heating tube part <NUM> through the bushing <NUM> and to easily separate the atomizer.

In the above description, the atomizer <NUM> and the heating tube part <NUM> are provided as the different structures. However, in a variation not covered by the claims, it is easily envisaged that the atomizer <NUM> and the heating tube part <NUM> may be inserted into a single container, such that the spring is not required and sealability is more assuredly maintained.

The smoking tool according to the present invention is identical to the product called Ploom TECH from JT in that the flavor of the tobacco leaves is added to the electronic cigarette smoke. However, the product does not have the mechanism for heating the tobacco leaves. The amount of nicotine contained in the tobacco, which the smoker is satisfied with, is not evaporated unless the nicotine is heated at a temperature of at least <NUM> or more. Therefore, in the market, the product is considered as being the same type as the electronic cigarette. Different control circuits and heating mechanisms are required to heat the tobacco leaves, and it is apparent that the smoking tool according to the present invention is technologically different from Ploom TECH.

Claim 1:
A smoking tool (<NUM>) comprising:
a heater (<NUM>) configured to heat tobacco material inserted into the tool (<NUM>); and
an atomizer (<NUM>) configured to generate electronic cigarette smoke using an atomizer heater (<NUM>), wherein the atomizer (<NUM>) generates the electronic cigarette smoke when a smoker inhales air, such that the smoker inhales the smoke to which nicotine or tobacco flavor generated by heating the tobacco material is added, wherein the tool (<NUM>) further comprises a control circuit configured to apply different powers to the heater (<NUM>) and the atomizer heater (<NUM>), and individually control a time taken to apply power to the heater (<NUM>) and a time taken to apply power to the atomizer heater (<NUM>), characterized in that, as the atomizer (<NUM>) is tightly pressed against a heating tube part (<NUM>) by a force of a spring (<NUM>), air does not leak from a connection portion between the atomizer (<NUM>) and the heating tube part (<NUM>).