Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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1
Smoke-free cigarettes
The invention relates to a smoke-free cigarette, in accordance with the
generic
term of Claim 1.
In DE 103 21 379 Al, which forms the basis of the generic term of Claim 1, a
smoke-free cigarette is described, designed with a reusable cigarette body
with
a thermoplastic sheathing with a vapour deposited coating which retro-reflects
heat and is designed with a heat source, which is incorporated into the
sheathing in such a way that air channels arise. A non-reusable mouthpiece
contains a nicotine aroma reserve and a filter.
Heat released from the heat source warms the air sucked through the air duct
by a consumer, which warms the nicotine aroma reserve, in this way releasing
the nicotine and aromatic substances located in the reserve, which are taken
up
by the consumer or smoker after passing through the filter. On account of the
smoke-free nicotine feed, intense enjoyment of nicotine is possible without
residues of combustion products and without affecting the surrounding area.
DE 297 13 866 Ul describes an electrical hot air adapter for cigarettes which
permits smoke-free enjoyment of a cigarette, since the cigarette is inserted
into
a sleeve-shaped adapter containing a warming chamber and a heating element.
A draught taken by a smoker is heated in the warming chamber and by the
heating element, reaching the cigarette, so that the aromatic compounds are
released from the pleasure-giving stimulant without it burning.
DE 199 35 706 Al describes a smoke-free cigarette for which the cigarette
body contains a battery-heated filament, which heats the air drawn in by a
smoker. The drawn in air passes through a replaceable nicotine filter, in
which
the nicotine is released by the warmed air so that it can be inhaled by the
consumer.
DE 40 06 887 Al describes a smoke-free cigarette, the body of which contains
a capsule as heat source, in which a heat-generating reaction may be
initiated.
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An aerosol may be released by the heat, which is inhalable through a filter
mouthpiece.
A cigarette functioning without combustion is known from DD 298 347 A5,
which contains a pleasure-giving stimulant and a heat source to heat the
pleasure-giving stimulant which is not based on combustion and which is
physically separated from the pleasure-giving stimulant.
The invention forms the basis of creating an affordable and user-friendly
possibility which provides smokers with the intense enjoyment of nicotine or
the pleasure-giving stimulant with an aroma similar to conventional cigarettes
without affecting the surrounding environment through smoking.
This problem was solved with the cigarette body pursuant to Claim 1.
The reusable cigarette body corresponding to the invention which does not
contain its own heating source, is affordable, and by warming the warming
tube, permits swift heating of the pleasure-giving stimulant for an adequate
period.
Subclaims 2 to 5 are directed towards the beneficial extension of the
cigarette
body corresponding to the invention.
Claim 6 characterises the cigarette corresponding to the invention as a whole,
which is extended with the characteristics of Claim 7 in a beneficial way.
Claims 8 to 10 concern a mouthpiece for the cigarette.
Claims 11 to 13 characterise an adapter, through which a cigarette
corresponding to the invention may be attached to a heat source.
In designing the adapter in accordance with Claim 12, a cigarette
corresponding to the invention may be handled in a similar way to a
conventional cigarette.
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In particular, the "lighting up" of the cigarette with a lighter is a
psychological
component, which compares with the usual handling of a conventional
cigarette, actually transformed into a smouldering fire.
Claims 14 and 15 characterise a cigarette box in which the mouthpieces
provided for a single use may be stored together with the reusable cigarette
body.
With the invention, a possibility has been created of maintaining the
subjective
pleasure of conventional cigarette smoking, and in particular, of avoiding the
disturbances to the environment associated with conventional smoking. The
cigarette corresponding to the invention may be "lit up" or initiated like a
conventional cigarette, in that it is initiated by a lighter. The heat created
through the lighter causes the evaporation or release of the pleasure-giving
stimulant deposited
in the reserve, e.g. nicotine with aromatic substances, which is rapidly ready
for enjoyment and which may be enjoyed intensely. The harmful substances of
conventional smoking, such as tar and combustion products, are absent from
this enjoyment. Since no smoke is emitted in the surroundings, there is no
passive smoking by individuals located in the surrounding area. If the smoke-
free cigarette corresponding to the invention cools down with longer use,
without the pleasure-giving stimulant being consumed, it may easily be put to
use again through renewed "lighting up" with the lighter, so that the pleasure-
giving stimulant may be consumed.
The invention shall be illustrated below on the basis of schematic plans, by
way of example, and with the mention of further detail.
The figures represent:
Fig. 1 in an exploded illustration of a cross section through a mouthpiece, a
cigarette body and an adapter,
Fig. 2 a side view of a cigarette lighter,
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Fig. 3 A view from above of an opened box.
Fig. 1 shows cross sections through a mouthpiece (10), a cigarette body (12)
and an adapter (14) arranged next to each other.
The overall cylindrical mouthpiece (10) consists of known filter material,
such
as that used for the filter mouthpieces of conventional cigarettes. One end of
the mouthpiece (10) is designed as a suction outlet (18). The end of the
mouthpiece (10), which is turned away from the suction outlet (18), is
designed with a hollow cylindrical recess. The surface (22) of the mouthpiece
(10) and the left end pursuant to Fig. 1 is designed with closed cells.
The cigarette body (12) features a cylindrical jacket or body (24) of
thermally
insulating material, or a ceramic material, which contains a warming tube (26)
made of highly thermally conductive material, e.g. copper. The left end of the
warming tube (26) pursuant to Fig. 1 protrudes from the body (24), with the
outer shape of the protruding region (28) approximately corresponding to the
outline of the recess (20). The end of the protruding region (28) is open and
preferably designed with passage outlets (30). It is also possible that the
end is
closed and then designed with at least one further passage outlet.
At its right end, the body (24) is designed with a recess (32) in which the
right
end of the warming tube (26) is exposed.
The right end of the body (24), together with the outlet of the warming tube
(26), forms an air inlet, connected to an air inlet in the left end of the
warming
tube (26) via a passage outlet through the interior of the warming tube (26).
The cigarette body (12) and the mouthpiece (10) form, for example, a dummy
with an appearance corresponding to that of a conventional filter cigarette.
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The adapter (14), which, for example, is designed overall as a sheet metal
element, presents a left side in the form of a sleeve (34), pursuant to Fig.
1,
which forms an insertion inlet (36) for the insertion of the right end of the
cigarette body (12) pursuant to Fig. 1. At a distance from the sleeve (34) the
adapter (14) is designed with an insertion component (38), which e.g. presents
5 two upward bending arms (40) (in Fig. 1, only one is visible), which are not
joined to a complete sleeve, but are elastic and may be prised apart.
Between the sleeve (34) and the insertion component (38), a bimetallic sheet
(42) is included, which at normal room temperature takes on the
approximately axial position so represented and bends upwards on heating, so
that it closes the sleeve (34).
A familiar cigarette lighter, suitable for a smoke-free cigarette
corresponding
to the invention, is sketched in Fig. 2 and indicated as (44). The cigarette
lighter (44) presents a body (46) in which the fuel, e.g. LPG, is taken up. In
an
attachment (48) to the body (46), a burner nozzle is arranged, to which air is
conducted via the air passage (50), so that after lighting the lighter by
means
of a handle (52) the peak of a flame in the form of the flame (54) shoots
forward from the attachment (48). The function of the described components
is as follows:
The mouthpiece (10) is coated on the internal side of the recess (20) with a
volatile pleasure-giving stimulant (58), e.g. nicotine mixed with scents
and/or
flavourings.
In its condition on delivery, the mouthpiece (10) is e.g. surrounded by
plastic
foil, so that the pleasure-giving stimulant (58) cannot evaporate. After
removing the plastic foil, the mouthpiece (10) is attached to the protruding
area (28) of the cigarette
body (12), so that a subassembly arises which has the appearance of a
conventional cigarette (mouthpiece with cigarette body).
In order to "light up", the right end of the cigarette body (12) pursuant to
Fig.
1 is inserted into the insertion inlet (36) of the adapter (14). The adapter
(14),
with its insertion component (38) is then slid back onto the attachment (48)
of
the cigarette lighter (44). It is evident that that the adapter (14) can then
be slid
back onto the cigarette lighter (44) and the cigarette can then be inserted
into
the insertion inlet (36).
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The reciprocal insertion movements of the cigarette body (12) into the sleeve
(34), as well as of the attachment (48) of the cigarette lighter to the
insertion
component (38) are advantageously limited through the rebates designed in the
adapter (14), so that the geometrical relationship of the cigarette lighter to
the cigarette body (12) and hence of the flame (54) to the warming tube (26)
is
well-defmed, if the flame (54) has a predefined form. In this way, the
deformation of the bimetallic sheet (42) is coordinated with the warming of
the warming tube (26) and thus with the warming of the pleasure-giving
stimulant (58) and the external side of the cigarette body (12), which is held
in
the hand, so that with the corresponding coordination of the heat conductivity
of the cigarette body,
its outer surface is only slightly heated, even though the pleasure-giving
stimulant (58) has certainly reached its release or evaporation temperature,
e.g.
between 50-60 C.
With the handle (52), the lighter is then activated so that the flame (54)
reaches the interior of the recess (32) and the left end region of the warming
tube (26) is heated, so that the pleasure-giving stimulant (58) is evaporated
or
released. When the warming tube (26) is adequately heated, i.e. with adequate
duration of the flame (54), the bimetallic sheet (42) is heated and unbends,
so
that a smoker who encloses the mouthpiece (10) with his/her lips can turn off
the cigarette lighter (44) and remove it.
After withdrawing the adapter (14), the cigarette which consists of the
mouthpiece (10) and the cigarette body (12) is available for enjoyment like a
normal cigarette, since the pleasure-giving stimulant (58) is held at an
adequate temperature for evaporation for a sufficiently long period by the
warming tube (26) as a consequence of this high warming capacity. On
drawing in air through the suction opening (18), this air flows through the
warming tube (26) and its passage opening (30) along the surface region of the
recess (20) which is coated or soaked with a pleasure-giving stimulant (58),
so
that the air takes up the evaporated and other volatile components of the
pleasure-giving stimulant (58), which can be enjoyed in the mouth or by
inhalation.
The sizing of the adapter (14) and the length of insertion of the cigarette
lighter into the adapter, on the one hand, and of the cigarette in the adapter
on
the other, are such that the tip of the flame (54) is located concentrically
to the
warming tube (26),
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at a short distance from its right-hand end, in accordance with Fig. 1. In
order
that the supply of air to the flame through the adapter is not disturbed, the
insertion component (38) is designed in such a way that the air passage (50)
essentially remains exposed. The flame (54) is essentially located in the area
between the sleeve (34) and the insertion component (38).
The discovery may be modified in many ways. For example, the mouthpiece
(10) need not contain filter material. The recess (20) may be designed as part
of the cigarette body (12), so that the mouthpiece is designed with a
corresponding protrusion. The body (24) and the warming tube (26) may be
designed together in a single component, while the jacket is designed e.g. as
a
layered body consisting on the inside of a material with a high degree of
thermal conductivity with the highest possible heating capacity, and on the
outside, of a material with low thermal conductivity. Alternatively, the body
(24) may be designed in the form of a thermal container with multiple layers
and a vacuum between these layers.
The warming tube (26) may be designed in wholesale fashion as a heat
conductor and heat reservoir with high heat capacity, from a material with
good heat conducting properties, with the right end pursuant to Fig. 1 having
the largest possible surface, e.g. through fluting. In this case, an air duct
may
at least be constructed via a groove in the "warming rod" and/or jacket, and
conducts along the ribs in the recess (20) and/or the area of the warming rod
which protrudes into the mouthpiece.
The adapter may also be constructed in a different way, e.g. adapted for the
attachment of the cigarette body (12) to the cigarette lighter of a lorry. The
adapter will then contain a heated component, which comes into direct contact
with the warming tube (26) and through the insertion of the adapter into a
cigarette lighter, is heated until the warming tube (26) or the recess (20)
are
heated sufficiently, e.g. to around 50-60 C.
In the place of the depicted cigarette lighter, any other lighter may be used,
where lighters with long flames are preferred.
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As an accessory, a lighter specially adapted to the cigarette corresponding to
the invention may be offered, which produces a predefmed flame and is
extinguished after a predefined interval.
Liquids or powder may be used as a pleasure-giving stimulant, with these
introduced into the
recess (20) or part of the mouthpiece coated with or soaked in these.
According to the taste of consumers, different pleasure-giving stimulants may
be used, e.g. nicotine enriched with flavours and scents, etc. Alternatively,
the
pleasure-giving stimulant may be contained in a pleasure-giving stimulant
body, which is inserted into the recess as a tablet,
but which lines the entire recess. It is evident that the pleasure-giving
stimulant holder, available as a separate component, will be porous or
designed with passage vents and located between the actual mouthpiece and
the air outlets of the warming tube. In particular, on using such a pleasure-
giving stimulant holder, the mouthpiece itself is reusable, in that it
consists of
a hygienic and easily cleanable material.
Fig. 3 presents a view from above of a box (60) in which the cigarette
corresponding to the invention may be stored in the manner of conventional
cigarette packaging. The reusable cigarette bodies (12) designed with
different
values may be stored in a case (62). A case (64) is provided for the inclusion
of an adapter. Cases (66) are provided for the inclusion of mouthpieces (10)
intended for single use, preferably in initially sealed form. In the
represented
example, 14 mouthpieces (10) can be accommodated. The mouthpieces (10)
are bought in shops or vending machines and stored in the boxes (60). The
represented box (60) thus corresponds to a conventional box with 14
conventional cigarettes.
The refilling of the box (60), which can be designed as a high-value box with
a
lid which is not depicted, is comparatively affordable, since only the
mouthpieces (10) must be renewed.
In an amended form of execution, reusable mouthpieces (10) may be designed.
The recess (20) will then be repeatedly coated with pleasure-giving stimulant,
which is constituted in such a way that it may be consumed in a form which is
entirely residue-free.
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Reference sign list
Mouthpiece
12 Cigarette body
5 14 Adapter
16 Filter material
18 Suction outlet
Recess
22 Surface
10 24 Body
26 Warming tube
28 Region
Passage outlet
32 Recess
15 34 Sleeve
36 Insertion inlet
38 Insertion component
Arm
42 Bimetallic sheet
44 Cigarette lighter
46 Body
48 Attachment
Air passage
52 Handle
25 54 Flame
58 Pleasure-giving stimulant
Box
62 Case
64 Case
30 66 Case
