Patent Description:
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.

<CIT> discloses an induction heating source that is provided for use with an electrical smoking article. The induction heating source provides an alternating electromagnetic field which inductively heats a susceptor in thermal proximity with tobacco flavor medium to generate aerosols. The tobacco flavor medium can form an intimate structure with the susceptor and can take the form of a cylindrical cigarette or a web. <CIT> discloses a cartridge comprising a shell for containing a viscous vaporizable material, and a lid sealed upon the shell. <CIT> discloses an aerosol-generating system comprising a fluid-permeable electric heater assembly. A cartridge has a housing containing capillary material soaked in a liquid aerosol-forming substrate, and the heater assembly includes filaments of an iron aluminium alloy. <CIT> doscloses an atomization device that is usable with solid tobacco materials. A porous metal container is located in a casing of the device and has a cavity storing the solid tobacco materials. An induction coil surrounds the container. The solid tobacco materials are heatable by induction heating of the container. <CIT>, which is prior art under Article <NUM>(<NUM>) EPC, discloses a sachet of aerosol-forming substrate for use in an electrically heated aerosol-generating device. The sachet includes an electrical heater element.

A first aspect of the present invention provides an article for use with apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilise at least one component of the smokable material, the article being as defined in claim <NUM>.

In an exemplary embodiment, the container defines an exterior of the article.

In an exemplary embodiment, at least a portion of the container is porous for permitting volatilised material generated by heating the smokable material within the cavity to leave the cavity.

In an exemplary embodiment, the article comprises a material that comprises a mixture of the smokable material and the heating material.

In an exemplary embodiment, the mixture comprises a mixture of the smokable material and elements, wherein each of the elements comprises heating material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field.

In an exemplary embodiment, each of the elements comprises a closed circuit of heating material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field.

In an exemplary embodiment, each of the elements consists entirely, or substantially entirely, of the heating material.

In an exemplary embodiment, the article comprises a closed circuit of heating material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field.

In an exemplary embodiment, the container comprises a closed circuit of heating material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field.

In an exemplary embodiment, the container comprises a mesh that comprises the heating material.

In an exemplary embodiment, the heating material is in contact with the smokable material.

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 magnetic electrically-conductive material.

In an exemplary embodiment, 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: aluminium, gold, iron, nickel, cobalt, conductive carbon, graphite, plain-carbon steel, stainless steel, ferritic stainless steel, copper, and bronze.

In an exemplary embodiment, the smokable material comprises tobacco and/or one or more humectants.

In an exemplary embodiment, a first portion of the heating material is more susceptible to eddy currents being induced therein by penetration with a varying magnetic field than a second portion of the heating material.

In an exemplary embodiment, the article comprises a catalytic material on at least a portion of the heating material.

A second aspect of the present invention provides a system, the system being as defined in claim <NUM>.

In an exemplary embodiment, the apparatus comprises heating material that is heatable by penetration with the varying magnetic field to heat the smokable material when the portion of the article is in the heating zone.

The article of the system is the article of the first aspect of the present invention. The article of the system may have any one or more of the features discussed above as being present in respective exemplary embodiments of the article of the first aspect of the present invention.

As used herein, the term "smokable material" includes materials that provide volatilised components upon heating, typically in the form of vapour 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, homogenised tobacco or tobacco substitutes. The smokable material can be in the form of ground tobacco, cut rag tobacco, extruded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco, reconstituted smokable material, liquid, gel, gelled sheet, powder, or agglomerates, or the like. "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 term "heating material" or "heater material" refers to material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field.

As used herein, the terms "flavour" and "flavourant" 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., liquorice, 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), flavour 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's law of induction and Ohm'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 a 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, design freedom and control over the heating profile may be greater, and cost may be lower.

Referring to <FIG> there is shown a schematic cross-sectional view of an example of an article according to an embodiment of the invention. The article <NUM> comprises a malleable container <NUM> defining a cavity <NUM>, a mass of smokable material <NUM> located in the cavity <NUM>, and heating material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field to heat the smokable material <NUM>. Examples of such heating material are described below. The article <NUM> is for use with apparatus for heating the smokable material <NUM> to volatilise at least one component of the smokable material <NUM> without burning the smokable material <NUM>, such as the apparatus <NUM> shown in <FIG> and described below.

In this embodiment, the container <NUM> comprises a sachet <NUM>. In this embodiment, the sachet <NUM> comprises a first wall <NUM> and a second wall <NUM>, and together the first and second walls <NUM>, <NUM> define the cavity <NUM>. In other embodiments, the sachet <NUM> may comprise one wall that defines the cavity <NUM> or more than two walls that together define the cavity <NUM>. In this embodiment, the first and second walls <NUM>, <NUM> are separate components that have been attached to each other to define the sachet <NUM> and the cavity <NUM>. More particularly, respective flanges 11a, 12a of the first and second walls <NUM>, <NUM> are attached to each other. In other embodiments, the first and second walls <NUM>, <NUM> may not have flanges as such. Such attachment may be by press-sealing, heat-sealing, welding, sonic welding, use of an adhesive, or the like. In other embodiments, the first and second walls <NUM>, <NUM> may be respective portions of a single component, which may for example have been folded. Parts of the two portions may be attached to each other to define the sachet <NUM> and the cavity <NUM>, such as by any of the attachment methods discussed above.

In this embodiment, the container <NUM> is porous for permitting volatilised material generated by heating the smokable material <NUM> within the cavity <NUM> to leave the cavity <NUM>. In this embodiment, the container <NUM> is made of a material that is impermeable to the volatilised material but has a plurality of apertures extending therethrough for permitting the passage of the volatilised material from the cavity <NUM> to the exterior of the article <NUM>. The container <NUM> may be, or may comprise, a mesh. In a variation to this embodiment, the container <NUM> may be substantially impermeable to the volatilised material and have only one such aperture extending therethrough. In a further variation to this embodiment, the container <NUM> may be made of porous material. Such a porous container <NUM> may or may not have one or more apertures extending therethrough. The container <NUM> may be, for example, made from one or more porous materials selected from the group consisting of: fleece, viscose, non-woven material, non-woven fleece, woven material, knitted material, nylon, and polyester. In some embodiments, the container <NUM> is configured so as to prevent spilling of the smokable material <NUM> from the cavity <NUM>.

In this embodiment, each of the first and second walls <NUM>, <NUM> is porous for permitting volatilised material generated by heating the smokable material <NUM> within the cavity <NUM> to leave the cavity <NUM>. In other embodiments, only a portion, such as one of the first and second walls <NUM>, <NUM>, of the container <NUM> is porous. One or each of the walls <NUM>, <NUM> may be, for example, made from one or more porous materials selected from the group discussed above. In still other embodiments, the container <NUM> may be non-porous, so as to prevent or substantially prevent volatilised material generated by heating the smokable material <NUM> within the cavity <NUM> to leave the cavity <NUM> until the container <NUM> is punctured by a user or a device to place the cavity <NUM> in fluid communication with the exterior of the container <NUM>.

It is preferred that the container <NUM> be made from a material that is resistant to heat at least over the expected range of operating temperatures of the apparatus that will arise in operation, such as for example <NUM> to <NUM> degrees Celsius.

In this embodiment, the container <NUM> itself is free of heating material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field. In this embodiment, the heating material of the article <NUM> is located in the cavity <NUM>. In this embodiment, the heating material is within the mass of smokable material <NUM>. More specifically, in this embodiment, the heating material is entirely enveloped or surrounded by the mass of smokable material <NUM>. Therefore, as the heating material is heated by a varying magnetic field in use, heat dissipated from the heating material heats the mass of smokable material <NUM>.

In this embodiment, the article comprises a body <NUM>, which comprises the heating material. In some embodiments, the body <NUM> may consist entirely, or substantially entirely, of the heating material. In this embodiment, the body <NUM> is in the form of a square or rectangular slab. However, in other embodiments, the body <NUM> may, for example, be cylindrical, spherical, ovoid, toroidal, polygonal, star-shaped, radially-finned, or the like.

In this embodiment, a cross section of the body <NUM> is constant along a length of the body <NUM>. Moreover, in this embodiment, the body <NUM> is planar, or substantially planar. However, in other embodiments, this may not be the case. For example, in some embodiments, the body <NUM> may follow a wavelike or wavy path. The path may be a sinusoidal path. In some embodiments, the body <NUM> may be twisted or corrugated. In still further embodiments, the body <NUM> may be helical, a spiral shape, comprise a plate or strip or ribbon having protrusions thereon and/or indentations therein, comprise a mesh, comprise expanded metal, or have a non-uniform non-planar shape.

Such non-planar shapes of the body <NUM> may help air passing through the cavity <NUM> in use to pick up the volatilised material created when the smokable material <NUM> is heated. Non-planar shapes can provide a tortuous path for air to follow, creating turbulence in the air and causing better heat transfer from the heating material to the smokable material <NUM>. The non-planar shapes can also increase the surface area of the body <NUM> per unit length of the body <NUM>. This can result in greater or improved Joule heating of the heating material, and thus greater or improved heating of the smokable material <NUM>.

In other embodiments, the body <NUM> of the article <NUM> may take the form of a liner between the mass of smokable material <NUM> and the container <NUM>. In some embodiments, the mass of smokable material <NUM> may be entirely enveloped or surrounded by the liner. Such a liner may be porous for permitting volatilised material generated by heating the smokable material <NUM> within the cavity <NUM> to leave the cavity <NUM>, or may be non-porous to such volatilised material until punctured.

Referring to <FIG> there is shown a schematic cross-sectional view of an example of another article according to an embodiment of the invention. The article <NUM> of <FIG> is identical to the article <NUM> described above with reference to <FIG>, other than the manner in which heating material is provided in the article <NUM>. Any of the herein-described possible variations to the article <NUM> of <FIG> may be made to the article <NUM> of <FIG> to form separate respective embodiments.

The malleable container <NUM> of the article <NUM> of <FIG> is the same as that discussed above of the article <NUM> of <FIG>, and so in the interests of conciseness will not be described again in detail.

In this embodiment, the heating material again is in the cavity <NUM> of the container <NUM>. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the heating material again is within the mass of smokable material <NUM>. However, in this embodiment, the article <NUM> comprises a material <NUM> that comprises a mixture of the smokable material <NUM> and the heating material. More specifically, the mixture comprises a mixture of the smokable material <NUM> and elements <NUM>, wherein each of the elements comprises heating material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field. The elements <NUM> are heatable in use to heat the smokable material <NUM>. In this embodiment, the elements <NUM> are dispersed throughout the material <NUM>.

In this embodiment, each of the elements <NUM> comprises a closed circuit of heating material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field. In some embodiments, this can result in magnetic coupling between the elements and an electromagnet of the apparatus in use being enhanced, which results in greater or improved Joule heating.

In this embodiment, each of the elements <NUM> is loop-shaped. More specifically, in this embodiment, each of the elements <NUM> is ring-shaped. A loop-shaped element may be of any shape that defines a path that starts and ends at the same point so as to create a closed circuit, whereas a ring-shaped element necessarily is circular or substantially circular. A ring shaped element can have a large surface area to weight ratio, which can help to avoid the elements tending to cluster by settling due to gravity. A ring shaped element can have a small cross-sectional area to diameter ratio. Therefore, the circulating current in the ring when subjected to a varying magnetic field may penetrate most or all of the ring, rather than be confined to just a "skin" thereof as can be the case when a susceptor has too greater a thickness. Thus, a more efficient use of material is achieved and, in turn, costs are reduced.

In variations to the illustrated embodiment, one or more or all of the elements <NUM> comprising a closed circuit of heating material may be other than ring-shaped. For example, one or more or all of the elements <NUM> may be spherical, be formed from a plurality of discrete strands of the heating material, or comprise a carrier that is free of heating material and that carries the closed circuit of heating material.

In this embodiment, each of the elements <NUM> consists entirely, or substantially entirely, of the heating material. However, in other embodiments, one or more of the elements <NUM> may comprise a carrier that is free of heating material and that carries the heating material. For example, one or more of the elements may comprise a ring-shaped carrier free of heating material with a closed-circuit of the heating material coated thereon.

In some other embodiments, one or more or all of the elements <NUM> may comprise heating material arranged other than as a closed circuit. For example, one or more or all of the elements <NUM> may comprise an open circuit of heating material, or one or a plurality of discrete portions of heating material.

Referring to <FIG> there is shown a schematic cross-sectional view of an example of another article not according to the invention. The article <NUM> of <FIG> is of similar overall shape to the article <NUM> described above with reference to <FIG>, but differs both in the composition of the container <NUM> and the contents of the cavity <NUM>. Any of the herein-described possible variations to the articles <NUM>, <NUM> of <FIG> may be made to the article <NUM> of <FIG> to form separate respective embodiments.

In this embodiment, the malleable container <NUM> itself of the article <NUM> comprises heating material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field to heat the smokable material <NUM>. The container <NUM> may consist entirely, or substantially entirely, of the heating material. Alternatively, the container <NUM> may comprise a body that is free of heating material and that carries the heating material.

In some embodiments, the container <NUM> may comprise a closed circuit of heating material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field to heat the smokable material <NUM>. In some embodiments, this can result in magnetic coupling between the container <NUM> and an electromagnet of the apparatus in use being enhanced, which results in greater or improved Joule heating. In some embodiments, the container <NUM> may additionally or alternatively comprise one or a plurality of discrete portions of heating material.

In this embodiment, the container <NUM> comprises a mesh that comprises the heating material. The mesh itself may define one or a plurality of closed circuits of the heating material.

In this embodiment, the cavity <NUM> of the container <NUM> contains a mass of smokable material <NUM>. The cavity is itself free, or substantially free, of heating material. However, in some embodiments, the container <NUM> may comprise heating material, and the cavity <NUM> may also contain heating material. For example, the cavity <NUM> may comprise any of the above-described arrangements of heating material in the cavity <NUM>.

The container <NUM> of each of the articles <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> discussed above is malleable. By "malleable" it is meant that the container <NUM> is able to be pressed, squeezed or compressed by a user or apparatus so as to take on different overall shapes without breaking or cracking. Accordingly, in use the container <NUM> may be re-shaped to fit more closely with the apparatus with which the article <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> is to be used, which may help to effect alignment of the heating material with a varying magnetic field generated by the apparatus. In other embodiments not according to the invention, the container <NUM> may be non-malleable or substantially non-malleable.

In some embodiments, the article <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> or container <NUM> has a circular exterior cross section. In some embodiments, the exterior of the article <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> or container <NUM> may be rotationally symmetrical and other than circular, such as elliptical, triangular or square. This can help a user to position the article <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> appropriately relative to the apparatus with which the article <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> is to be used, so that the article <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> may be readily located in the heating zone of the apparatus for effective alignment of the heating material with a varying magnetic field generated by the apparatus. In other embodiments, the article <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> or container <NUM> may be rotationally asymmetrical.

In each of the embodiments discussed above, the container <NUM> defines the exterior of the article <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. In other embodiments that may not be the case. For example, in some embodiments the article may comprise a further element that defines some or all of the exterior of the article. Such a further element may, for example, comprise a housing within which at least a portion of the container <NUM> is located.

In each of the embodiments discussed above, the heating material is aluminium. However, in other embodiments, the heating material may comprise one or more materials selected from the group consisting of: an electrically-conductive material, a magnetic material, and a magnetic electrically-conductive material. In some embodiments, the heating material may comprise a metal or a metal alloy. In some embodiments, the heating material may comprise one or more materials selected from the group consisting of: aluminium, gold, iron, nickel, cobalt, conductive carbon, graphite, plain-carbon steel, stainless steel, ferritic stainless steel, copper, and bronze. Other heating material(s) may be used in other embodiments. In some embodiments, the heating material may be magnetic. It has also been found that, when magnetic electrically-conductive material is used as the heating material, magnetic coupling between the magnetic electrically-conductive material and an electromagnet 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 heating material, and thus greater or improved heating of the smokable material <NUM>.

In each of the articles <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> shown in <FIG>, the heating material is in contact with the smokable material <NUM>. Thus, when the heating material is heated by penetration with a varying magnetic field, heat may be transferred directly from the heating material to the smokable material <NUM>. In other embodiments, the heating material may be kept out of contact with the smokable material <NUM>. For example, in some embodiments, the article <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> may comprise a thermally-conductive barrier that is free of heating material and that spaces the heating material from the smokable material <NUM>. In some embodiments, the thermally-conductive barrier may be a coating on the heating material. The provision of such a barrier may be advantageous to help to dissipate heat to alleviate hot spots in the heating material.

In some embodiments, which may be respective variations to the embodiments discussed above, a first portion of the heating material of the article <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> may be more susceptible to eddy currents being induced therein by penetration with a varying magnetic field than a second portion of the heating material of the article <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. The first portion of the heating material may be more susceptible as a result of the first portion of the heating material being made of a first material, the second portion of the heating material 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 may be made of iron, and the other of the first and second portions may be made of graphite. Alternatively or additionally, the first portion of the heating material may be more susceptible as a result of a first portion of a component comprising the first portion of the heating material having a different thickness to the second portion of the component that comprises the second portion of the heating material.

Such varying susceptibility of the heating material to eddy currents being induced therein can help achieve progressive heating of the smokable material <NUM>, and thereby progressive generation of vapour. For example, the higher susceptibility portion may be able to heat a first region of the smokable material <NUM> relatively quickly to initialise volatilisation of at least one component of the smokable material <NUM> and formation of vapour in the first region of the smokable material <NUM>. The lower susceptibility portion may be able to heat a second region of the smokable material <NUM> relatively slowly to initialise volatilisation of at least one component of the smokable material <NUM> and formation of vapour in the second region of the smokable material <NUM>. Accordingly, vapour is able to be formed relatively rapidly for inhalation by a user, and vapour can continue to be formed thereafter for subsequent inhalation by the user even after the first region of the smokable material <NUM> may have ceased generating vapour. The first region of the smokable material <NUM> may cease generating the vapour when it becomes exhausted of volatilisable components of the smokable material <NUM>.

In other embodiments, all of the heating material of the article <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> may be equally, or substantially equally, susceptible to eddy currents being induced therein by penetration with a varying magnetic field. In some embodiments, the heating material 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, which may be respective variations to the embodiments discussed above, the article <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> may comprise a plurality of bodies, wherein each of the bodies comprises heating material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field. At least one of the plurality of bodies 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 bodies. This may be effected by the bodies being made of different heating materials and/or having different thicknesses, for example, as discussed above. Again, such varying susceptibility of the bodies can help achieve progressive heating of the smokable material <NUM>, and thereby progressive generation of vapour, in a manner corresponding to that described above.

In some embodiments, the article <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> may comprise a catalytic material on at least a portion of the heating material. The catalytic material may take the form of a coating on the heating material. The catalytic material may be provided on all surface(s) of the heating material, or on only some of the surface(s) of the heating material. The provision of such a catalytic material on the heating material means that, in use, the article <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> 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 each of the embodiments discussed above, an exterior of the article <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> has a length L, a width W perpendicular to the length L, and a depth D perpendicular to each of the length L and the width W. In each of the embodiments discussed above, the length L is equal or substantially equal to the width W, and the width W is greater than the depth D. However, in other embodiments, the length L may be greater than the width W. The smaller the depth D relative to the width W, the greater the surface area of the exterior of the article <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> for a given volume of the article <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. This can result in greater or improved heating of the smokable material <NUM> in use, and/or greater, easier or improved release from the article <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> of volatilised material created when the smokable material <NUM> is heated.

In some embodiments, which may be respective variations to the embodiments discussed above, the article <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> may comprise a mouthpiece defining a passageway that is in fluid communication with the mass of smokable material <NUM>. The mouthpiece may be made of any suitable material, such as a plastics material, cardboard, cellulose acetate, paper, metal, glass, ceramic, or rubber. In use, when the smokable material <NUM> is heated, volatilised components of the smokable material <NUM> can be readily inhaled by a user. In embodiments in which the article is a consumable article, once all or substantially all of the volatilisable component(s) of the smokable material <NUM> 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, when provided, may comprise or be impregnated with a flavourant. The flavourant may be arranged so as to be picked up by heated vapour as the vapour passes through the passageway of the mouthpiece in use.

In some embodiments, any one of the articles <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> discussed above may comprise thermal insulation. The thermal insulation may, for example, be on an inner face or side of the container <NUM> facing the smokable material <NUM>. Alternatively or additionally, the thermal insulation may form part or all of the container <NUM>. 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 with which the article <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> is used, and provide more efficient heating of the smokable material <NUM> within the article <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>.

Each of the above-described articles <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and described variants thereof may be used with an apparatus for heating the smokable material <NUM> to volatilise at least one component of the smokable material <NUM>. The apparatus may be to heat the smokable material <NUM> to volatilise the at least one component of the smokable material <NUM> without burning the smokable material <NUM>. Any one of the article(s) <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and such apparatus may be provided together as a system. The system may take the form of a kit, in which the article <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> is separate from the apparatus. Alternatively, the system may take the form of an assembly, in which the article <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> is combined with the apparatus. An example such system will now be described with reference to <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG> there is shown a schematic cross-sectional view of an example of a system according to an embodiment of the invention. The system <NUM> of this embodiment comprises an article <NUM> comprising a malleable container <NUM> defining a cavity <NUM>, and a mass of smokable material <NUM> in the cavity <NUM>, and apparatus <NUM> for heating the smokable material <NUM> of the article <NUM> to volatilise at least one component of the smokable material <NUM>. In this embodiment, the article <NUM> of the system <NUM> is the article <NUM> of <FIG>. However, in other embodiments, the article of the system <NUM> may be an article other than the article <NUM> of <FIG>, such as one of the articles <NUM>, <NUM> of <FIG>. Broadly speaking, the apparatus <NUM> comprises a heating zone <NUM> for receiving at least a portion of the article <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and a magnetic field generator <NUM> for generating a varying magnetic field to be used in heating the smokable material <NUM> when the portion of the article <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> is in the heating zone <NUM>.

The apparatus <NUM> of this embodiment comprises a body <NUM> and a mouthpiece <NUM>. The mouthpiece <NUM> defines a channel <NUM> therethrough. The mouthpiece <NUM> is locatable relative to the body <NUM> so as to cover an opening into the heating zone <NUM>. When the mouthpiece <NUM> is so located relative to the body <NUM>, the channel <NUM> of the mouthpiece <NUM> is in fluid communication with the heating zone <NUM>. In use, the channel <NUM> acts as a passageway for permitting volatilised material to pass from the cavity <NUM> of the article <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> inserted in the heating zone <NUM> to an exterior of the apparatus <NUM>. In this embodiment, the mouthpiece <NUM> of the apparatus <NUM> is releasably engageable with the body <NUM> so as to connect the mouthpiece <NUM> to the body <NUM>. In other embodiments, the mouthpiece <NUM> and the body <NUM> may be permanently connected, such as through a hinge or flexible member. The mouthpiece <NUM> of the apparatus <NUM> may comprise or be impregnated with a flavourant. The flavourant may be arranged so as to be picked up by heated vapour as the vapour passes through the channel <NUM> of the mouthpiece <NUM> in use. In some embodiments, such as embodiments in which the article <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> itself comprises a mouthpiece, the mouthpiece <NUM> of the apparatus <NUM> may be omitted.

In this embodiment, the body <NUM> comprises the heating zone <NUM>. In this embodiment, the heating zone <NUM> comprises a recess <NUM> for receiving at least a portion of the article <NUM>. In other embodiments, the heating zone <NUM> may be other than a recess, such as a shelf, a surface, or a projection, and may require mechanical mating with the article <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> in order to co-operate with, or receive, the article <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. In this embodiment, the heating zone <NUM> is elongate, and is sized and shaped to receive the article <NUM>. In this embodiment, the heating zone <NUM> accommodates the whole article <NUM>. In other embodiments, the heating zone <NUM> may be dimensioned to receive only a portion of the article <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the apparatus <NUM> may comprise a mechanism for compressing an article <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> when the article <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> is located in the heating zone <NUM>. Such compression of the article <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> may compress the smokable material <NUM>, so as to increase the thermal conductivity of the smokable material <NUM>. In other words, compression of the smokable material <NUM> can provide for higher heat transfer through the article <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. Such compression should not be so great as to burst or break the container <NUM> or to prevent a user to be able to draw volatilised material from the article <NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>.

In this embodiment, the magnetic field generator <NUM> comprises an electrical power source <NUM>, a coil <NUM>, a device <NUM> for passing a varying electrical current, such as an alternating current, through the coil <NUM>, a controller <NUM>, and a user interface <NUM> for user-operation of the controller <NUM>.

In this embodiment, the electrical power source <NUM> is a rechargeable battery. In other embodiments, the electrical power source <NUM> may be other than a rechargeable battery, such as a non-rechargeable battery, a capacitor, a battery-capacitor hybrid, or a connection to a mains electricity supply.

The coil <NUM> may take any suitable form. In this embodiment, the coil <NUM> is a helical coil of electrically-conductive material, such as copper. In some embodiments, the magnetic field generator <NUM> may comprise a magnetically permeable core around which the coil <NUM> is wound. Such a magnetically permeable core concentrates the magnetic flux produced by the coil <NUM> 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 <NUM>, so as to concentrate the magnetic flux only in certain regions.

In this embodiment, the coil <NUM> of the magnetic field generator <NUM> extends along a longitudinal axis that is substantially coincident with a longitudinal axis of the heating zone <NUM>. 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, an impedance of the coil <NUM> of the magnetic field generator <NUM> is equal, or substantially equal, to an impedance of the body <NUM> comprising heating material in the article <NUM>. If the impedance of the body <NUM> of the article <NUM> were instead lower than the impedance of the coil <NUM>, then the voltage generated across the body <NUM> of the article <NUM> in use may be lower than the voltage that may be generated across the body <NUM> of the article <NUM> when the impedances are matched. Alternatively, if the impedance of the body <NUM> of the article <NUM> were instead higher than the impedance of the coil <NUM>, then the electrical current generated in the body <NUM> of the article <NUM> in use may be lower than the current that may be generated in the body <NUM> of the article <NUM> when the impedances are matched. In embodiments of the system <NUM> comprising one of the articles <NUM>, <NUM> of <FIG>, similarly the impedance of the coil <NUM> may be equal, or substantially equal, to an impedance of the part of the article <NUM>, <NUM> comprising heating material. Matching the impedances may help to balance the voltage and current to maximise the heating power generated at the heating material of the article <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> when heated in use.

In this embodiment, the device <NUM> for passing a varying current through the coil <NUM> is electrically connected between the electrical power source <NUM> and the coil <NUM>. In this embodiment, the controller <NUM> also is electrically connected to the electrical power source <NUM>, and is communicatively connected to the device <NUM> to control the device <NUM>. More specifically, in this embodiment, the controller <NUM> is for controlling the device <NUM>, so as to control the supply of electrical power from the electrical power source <NUM> to the coil <NUM>. In this embodiment, the controller <NUM> comprises an integrated circuit (IC), such as an IC on a printed circuit board (PCB). In other embodiments, the controller <NUM> may take a different form. In some embodiments, the apparatus may have a single electrical or electronic component comprising the device <NUM> and the controller <NUM>. The controller <NUM> is operated in this embodiment by user-operation of the user interface <NUM>. In this embodiment, the user interface <NUM> is located at the exterior of the body <NUM>. The user interface <NUM> may comprise a push-button, a toggle switch, a dial, a touchscreen, or the like. In other embodiments, the user interface <NUM> may be remote and connected to the rest of the apparatus wirelessly, such as via Bluetooth.

In this embodiment, operation of the user interface <NUM> by a user causes the controller <NUM> to cause the device <NUM> to cause an alternating electrical current to pass through the coil <NUM>, so as to cause the coil <NUM> to generate an alternating magnetic field. When the article <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> is located in the heating zone <NUM>, the coil <NUM> of the apparatus <NUM> and the heating material of the article <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> are suitably relatively positioned so that the alternating magnetic field produced by the coil <NUM> penetrates the heating material of the article <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. When the heating material of the article <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> 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 <NUM> of this embodiment comprises a temperature sensor <NUM> for sensing a temperature of the heating zone <NUM>. The temperature sensor <NUM> is communicatively connected to the controller <NUM>, so that the controller <NUM> is able to monitor the temperature of the heating zone <NUM>. In some embodiments, the temperature sensor <NUM> may be arranged to take an optical temperature measurement of the recess, heating zone or article <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. In some embodiments, the article <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> may comprise a temperature detector, such as a resistance temperature detector (RTD), for detecting a temperature of the article <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. For example, the temperature detector may be located in or on the container <NUM> of the article <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. The article <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> 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 <NUM> when the article <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> is in the heating zone <NUM>. The controller <NUM> may comprise the temperature monitor. The temperature monitor of the apparatus <NUM> may thus be able to determine a temperature of the article <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> during use of the article <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> with the apparatus <NUM>.

In some embodiments, by providing that the heating material of the article <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> 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 <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. The temperature sensor <NUM> of the apparatus <NUM> may then comprise a probe for analysing the heating material.

On the basis of one or more signals received from the temperature sensor <NUM> or temperature detector, the controller <NUM> may cause the device <NUM> to adjust a characteristic of the varying or alternating electrical current passed through the coil <NUM> as necessary, in order to ensure that the temperature of the heating zone <NUM> 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 <NUM> within an article <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> located in the heating zone <NUM> is heated sufficiently to volatilise at least one component of the smokable material <NUM> without combusting the smokable material <NUM>. Accordingly, the controller <NUM>, and the apparatus <NUM> as a whole, is arranged to heat the smokable material <NUM> to volatilise the at least one component of the smokable material <NUM> without combusting the smokable material <NUM>. In some embodiments, the temperature range is about <NUM> to about <NUM>, such as between about <NUM> and about <NUM>, between about <NUM> and about <NUM>, between about <NUM> and about <NUM>, between about <NUM> and about <NUM>, between about <NUM> and about <NUM>, or between about <NUM> and about <NUM>. In some embodiments, the temperature range is between about <NUM> and about <NUM>. In other embodiments, the temperature range may be other than this range. In some embodiments, the temperature sensor <NUM> may be omitted.

The apparatus <NUM> may define an air inlet that fluidly connects the heating zone <NUM> with the exterior of the apparatus <NUM>. Such an air inlet may be defined by the body <NUM> of the apparatus <NUM> and/or by the mouthpiece <NUM> of the apparatus <NUM>. A user may be able to inhale the volatilised component(s) of the smokable material <NUM> by drawing the volatilised component(s) through the channel <NUM> of the mouthpiece <NUM>. As the volatilised component(s) are removed from the cavity <NUM> of the container <NUM> of the article <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, such as through a porous portion of the container <NUM> or through a hole in the container <NUM> after the container has been punctured by a user, air may be drawn into the heating zone <NUM> via the air inlet of the apparatus <NUM>.

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 volatilisable component(s) of the smokable material <NUM> in the article <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> has/have been spent, or the like. The haptic feedback could be created by interaction of the coil <NUM> with the heating material of the article <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> (e.g. magnetic response), by interaction of an electrically-conductive element with the coil <NUM>, by rotating an unbalanced motor, by repeatedly applying and removing a current across a piezoelectric element, or the like.

The apparatus <NUM> may comprise more than one coil. The plurality of coils of the apparatus <NUM> could be operable to provide progressive heating of the smokable material <NUM> in an article <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and thereby progressive generation of vapour. For example, one coil may be able to heat a first region of the heating material relatively quickly to initialise volatilisation of at least one component of the smokable material <NUM> and formation of a vapour in a first region of the smokable material <NUM>. Another coil may be able to heat a second region of the heating material relatively slowly to initialise volatilisation of at least one component of the smokable material <NUM> and formation of a vapour in a second region of the smokable material <NUM>. Accordingly, a vapour is able to be formed relatively rapidly for inhalation by a user, and vapour can continue to be formed thereafter for subsequent inhalation by the user even after the first region of the smokable material <NUM> may have ceased generating vapour. The initially-unheated second region of smokable material <NUM> could act as a heat sink, to reduce the temperature of created vapour or make the created vapour mild, during heating of the first region of smokable material <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the article <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> may comprise a plurality of discrete portions of heating material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field to heat the smokable material <NUM> of the article <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. The plurality of discrete portions of heating material may be substantially separately heatable by varying magnetic fields produced by a respective plurality of coils <NUM> of the apparatus <NUM>. One of the plurality of discrete portions of heating material may be more susceptible to eddy currents being induced therein by penetration with a varying magnetic field than other(s) of the plurality of discrete portions of heating material. Such a structure could be operable to provide progressive heating of the smokable material <NUM> in the article <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and thereby progressive generation of vapour, in a similar way to that described above.

In each of the embodiments discussed above, 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 component comprising 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 in a component having a depth or thickness that is relatively large as compared to the other dimensions of the component. Thus, a more efficient use of material is achieved. In turn, costs are reduced.

In some embodiments, a component comprising the heating material 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 <NUM> 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 <NUM>, and thus progressive generation of vapour, to be achieved. Such discontinuities or holes may, on the other hand, be used to optimise the creation of complex eddy currents in use.

In each of the above described embodiments, the smokable material <NUM> comprises tobacco. However, in respective variations to each of these embodiments, the smokable material <NUM> 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 <NUM> may comprise a vapour or aerosol forming agent or a humectant, such as glycerol, propylene glycol, triacetin, or diethylene glycol.

An article embodying the present invention may be a cartridge, for example.

In each of the above described embodiments, the article <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> is a consumable article. Once all, or substantially all, of the volatilisable component(s) of the smokable material <NUM> in the article <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> has/have been spent, the user may remove the article <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> from the apparatus and dispose of the article <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. The user may subsequently re-use the apparatus with another of the articles <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. However, in other respective embodiments, the article <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> may be non-consumable, and the apparatus and the article <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> may be disposed of together once the volatilisable component(s) of the smokable material <NUM> has/have been spent.

In some embodiments, the apparatus discussed above is sold, supplied or otherwise provided separately from the articles <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> with which the apparatus is usable. However, in some embodiments, the apparatus and one or more of the articles <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> may be provided together as a system, such as a kit or an assembly, possibly with additional components, such as cleaning utensils.

The invention 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 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 could be transferred to the article to heat, or further heat, the smokable material <NUM> therein when the portion of the article is in the heating zone <NUM>. In some such embodiments not according to the invention, the article may be free of heating material, so that the smokable material <NUM> of the article is heated only by the heat transferred to the article from the heating material of the apparatus.

Claim 1:
An article (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) for use with apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilise at least one component of the smokable material, the article comprising:
a malleable container (<NUM>) defining a cavity (<NUM>);
a mass of smokable material (<NUM>) in the cavity; and
heating material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field to heat the smokable material;
wherein the container comprises a sachet (<NUM>); and
wherein an exterior of the article has a length, a width perpendicular to the length, and a depth perpendicular to each of the length and the width, wherein the length is greater than or equal to the width, and wherein the width is greater than the depth, wherein the heating material is in the cavity and within the mass of smokable material.