Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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APPARATUS FOR VOLATILISING SMOKABLE MATERIAL
AND A SMOKING ARTICLE
Technical Field
The present invention relates to apparatus arranged to volatilise or extract
at
least one component of smokable material and to a smoking article.
Background
Apparatus is known that heats smokable material to volatilise at least one
component of the smokable material, typically to form an aerosol which can be
inhaled,
without burning or combusting the smokable material. Such apparatus is
sometimes
described as a "heat-not-burn" apparatus or a "tobacco heating product" (THP)
or
"tobacco heating device" or similar. Various different arrangements for
volatilising at
least one component of the smokable material are known.
Summary
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided the
apparatus of claim 1.
In an exemplary embodiment, the tube has a sharp end for piercing smokable
material received within the housing in use
In an exemplary embodiment, the apparatus is arranged such that the smokable
material enters the tube and wherein an inner wall of the tube comprises the
exit
.. aperture.
In an exemplary embodiment, the tube has plural exit apertures through which
in use fluid passes into said smokable material received in the housing in
use.
In an exemplary embodiment, the apparatus comprises a wick for wicking fluid
contained in use in the fluid container into the tube.
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In an exemplary embodiment, the apparatus comprises a heater for heating fluid
contained within the fluid container in use to vaporise the fluid.
In an exemplary embodiment, the apparatus comprises a heater for heating
smokable material received in the housing in use. In an exemplary embodiment,
the
heater for heating smokable material received in the housing is an
electrically resistive
heater provided as part of or within the housing.
In an exemplary embodiment, the apparatus comprises circuitry constructed and
arranged to enable control of the powering of the or each heater.
In an exemplary embodiment, the apparatus comprises a power supply for
powering the or each heater. Where plural heaters are provided, the
independent control
of each heater may be provided, at for example the user's choice.
In an exemplary embodiment, the tube is connected to a power supply for
selectively heating the tube. In this example, the tube may in effect be an
electrically
resistive heater.
In an exemplary embodiment, the fluid container and the housing are separably
connected to each other.
In an exemplary embodiment, the housing comprises a front open end through
which smokable material passes into a cavity of the housing when said smokable
material is received within the housing. In an exemplary embodiment, one end
of the
tube projects beyond the front open end of the housing. In another exemplary
embodiment, the tube is located within the cavity and away from the front open
end of
the housing.
In an exemplary embodiment, the apparatus comprises an insert having a
through hole through which smokable material can pass, the insert being
removably
insertable into the front open end of the housing to reduce the width of at
least a portion
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of the cavity. In an exemplary embodiment, the insert comprises a cylindrical
body
portion which can be received in the housing and a radially outwardly
extending skirt.
In an exemplary embodiment, the apparatus comprises a retainer arranged
adjacent an inwardly-facing surface of the housing for reducing the width of
the cavity
at the location where the retainer is arranged. In an exemplary embodiment,
the retainer
is an annular wall comprising a through hole through which smokable material
can pass.
In an exemplary embodiment, the retainer is resilient so as to be able to
resiliently
deform as smokable material is passed through the retainer.
In an exemplary embodiment, the apparatus comprises a sleeve which is
removably received within the housing to reduce the width of the cavity. In an
exemplary embodiment, the sleeve is made from a thermally conductive material.
In an exemplary embodiment, the apparatus comprises at least a second tube in
fluid communication with a second fluid container and projecting into the
housing, the
second tube having at least one exit aperture, the apparatus being arranged
such that the
second tube enters smokable material when said smokable material is received
within
the housing and such that in use fluid enters the second tube from the second
fluid
container and passes through the exit aperture of the tube into said smokable
material
received in the housing in use to volatilise or extract at least one component
of said
smokable material.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
smoking article according to claim 26 or claim 30.
Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the
following description of preferred embodiments of the invention, given by way
of
example only, which is made with reference to the accompanying drawings.
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Brief Description of the Drawings
Figure 1 shows a schematic longitudinal side view of an example of an
apparatus arranged to volatilise or extract at least one component of smokable
material;
Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the apparatus of Figure 1;
Figure 3 shows a schematic longitudinal side view of an example of a
conventional smoking article;
Figure 4 shows a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of another
example of an apparatus arranged to volatilise or extract at least one
component of
smokable material;
Figure 5 shows a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of another
.. example of an apparatus arranged to volatilise or extract at least one
component of
smokable material;
Figure 6 shows a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of another
example of an apparatus arranged to volatilise or extract at least one
component of
.. smokable material;
Figure 7 shows a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of an example of
a smoking article for use with the apparatus described herein;
Figures 8 to 12 respectively show schematic longitudinal cross-sectional views
of yet further examples of apparatus arranged to volatilise or extract at
least one
component of smokable material;
Figure 13 shows a schematic longitudinal view of a second example of a
smoking article for use with the apparatus described herein.
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Detailed Description
As used herein, the term "smokable material" includes materials that provide
volatilised components upon heating, typically in the form of an aerosol.
"Smokable
material" includes any tobacco-containing material and may, for example,
include one
5 or more of tobacco, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted
tobacco or
tobacco substitutes. "Smokable material" also may include other, non-tobacco,
products, which, depending on the product, may or may not contain nicotine.
"Smokable material" may for example be in the form of a solid, a liquid, a gel
or a wax
or the like. "Smokable material" may for example also be a combination or a
blend of
materials.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, an apparatus 1 arranged to volatilise or extract
at
least one component of smokable material has a housing 20. The housing 20 is
for
removably receiving smokable material, which can be inserted into the housing
20 and
.. removed after use. Smokable material can be inserted through and removed
from the
front open end 24 of the housing 20. The apparatus 1 has a container 40 which
is
arranged to hold a fluid 45. The apparatus 1 further has a hollow tube 60,
shown in
phantom with dashed lines in Figure 1. The tube 60 is in fluid communication
with the
fluid container 40 and projects into the interior of the housing 20. The tube
60 has at
.. least one exit aperture 62 in the part of the tube 60 that projects into
the interior of the
housing 20. The apparatus 1 is arranged such that the tube 60 enters smokable
material
when the smokable material is received within the housing 20. In use, fluid
enters the
tube 60 from the fluid container 40 and passes through the exit aperture 62 of
the tube
60 and into the smokable material received in the housing 20.
The apparatus 1 in the example shown in Figures 1 and 2 is generally elongate,
with the housing 20 provided at one end of the apparatus 1. The housing 20 in
this
example is in the form of a hollow cylinder of circular cross-section, though
other cross-
sectional shapes may be used. The fluid container 40 in the example shown is
also
generally elongate and has a circular cross-section, though again other cross-
sectional
shapes may be used. In this example, the tube 60 is arranged to project from
the fluid
container 40 into the centre of the housing 20. The tube 60 in the example
shown is
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generally elongate with a circular cross-section. The apparatus 1 as a whole,
or at least
those parts, such as the housing 20, that may become hot in use, may be formed
of a
heat-insulating material or include a thermal insulator to protect the hands
of a user
from hot parts within the apparatus 1 in use.
The tube 60 in use enters smokable material when smokable material is inserted
into or received within the housing 20. In an example the tube 60 has a sharp,
pointed
end 64 at the end remote from the fluid container 40. The sharp end 64
facilitates the
tube 60 in piercing the smokable material when smokable material is received
within
the housing 20. Alternatively or additionally, as discussed further below, the
smokable
material may have a bore for receiving the tube 60 to facilitate entry of the
tube 60 into
the smokable material. When the tube 60 is positioned in the smokable
material, fluid
from the fluid container 40 can enter the tube 60 and exit through the one or
more exit
apertures 62 into the smokable material.
The fluid 45 in the fluid container 40 is typically in liquid form. Suitable
fluids
45 include those conventionally used in e-cigarette devices, including for
example
propylene glycol and glycerol (also known as glycerine).
In a specific example the tube 60 has a plurality of exit apertures 62. The
plural
exit apertures 62 may be distributed evenly along the length of the tube 60
and/or over
the surface of the tube 60. Alternatively, the exit apertures 62 may be
distributed
unevenly over the surface of the tube 60. Alternatively or additionally, the
plural exit
apertures 62 may be have different sizes (cross-sectional areas) and/or shapes
at
different locations along the tube 60. These alternative arrangements for the
plural exit
apertures 62 can be used to control the distribution of the fluid into the
smokable
material, for example to favour volatilising or extracting flavour from the
smokable
material towards one end of the smokable material, or at certain intermediate
portions
or regions of the smokable material. The distribution of the fluid into the
smokable
material may affect or control the flavour experience of the user, for example
if the
smokable material is made of sections of smokable material having different
flavours.
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The tube 60 may have a straight needle-like shape as in the examples shown in
the drawings. As alternatives, the tube may have a crimped shape, or be in the
form of
a coil, or some other non-linear shape.
In some examples, the apparatus 1 has a heater for heating fluid or liquid 45
contained in the fluid container 40. In one example, the heater vaporises the
fluid in
use. The vaporised fluid passes into the tube 60 and exits through the exit
aperture(s)
62 into the smokable material to extract and/or volatilise at least one
component of the
smokable material. In an example the heater for heating fluid operates
optimally at
temperatures between around 70 C to around 100 C or to around 120 C or
around
150 C or even to around 200 C or around 250 C or so. In an example the
heater for
heating fluid is an electrically resistive heater. The heater may be for
example a wire,
which may for example be in the form of a coil, a plate (which may be a multi-
layer
plate of two or more different materials, one or more of which may be
electrically
conductive and one or more of which may be electrically non-conductive), a
mesh, a
film heater, etc. Other heating arrangements may be used, including induction,
convection and non-electrical heating arrangements. In another example, the
heater for
heating the liquid may be provided by the tube 60, instead of or in addition
to some
other dedicated heater for the fluid.
In some examples, the apparatus 1 has a heater for directly heating smokable
material received in the housing 20 in use. In a specific example, the heater
for heating
smokable material operates optimally at temperatures between around 50 C to
around
250 C or 300 C or so. The heater heats the smokable material to release or
at least
assist in releasing at least one component of the smokable material, but does
not cause
the smokable material to burn. The heater may be an electrically resistive
heater. In an
example, the heater for heating smokable material received in the housing 20
in use is
an electrically resistive heater provided as part of or a component within the
housing
20. The heater for heating smokable material may for example be in the form of
a
ceramic or metal cylinder or lining on the inwardly-facing surface of the
housing 20.
As alternatives, the heater may be for example a wire, which may for example
be in the
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form of a coil, a mesh, a film heater, etc. Other heating arrangements may be
used,
including induction, convection and non-electrical heating arrangements.
In some examples, the apparatus 1 has both a heater for heating smokable
material received in the housing 20 in use and a heater for heating fluid 45
contained in
the fluid container 40.
In an example, the apparatus has a power supply 82 for powering the or each
heater. The power supply 82 may be received in a power supply receptacle 80 of
the
apparatus 1 which is adjacent the fluid container 40 at the end of the
apparatus 1
opposite the housing 20. In other examples, the power supply 82 is contained
in a
sealed arrangement within the fluid container 40. The power supply 82 may be
for
example a rechargeable battery, a disposable battery, etc. Control circuitry
(not visible
in Figure 1) may be provided to enable inter alia control of the powering of
the or each
heater.
Referring to Figure 3, there is shown an example of a smoking article 90 for
use
with an apparatus 1 for volatilising and/or extracting at least one component
of the
smokable material as described herein. The smoking article 90 in this example
may be
for example a conventional cigarette, or at least generally in the form of a
conventional
cigarette, which can be inserted into the housing 20. A key advantage of this
for the
user is that the user may use the apparatus 1 with a conventional cigarette in
situations
or locations where traditional smoking (which involves burning the tobacco) is
not
permitted. The smoking article 90 has a filter portion 92 and a smokable
material-
containing portion 94 which contains smokable material. The length of the
housing 20
is such that at least a portion of the filter portion 92 projects out of the
housing 20 when
the smoking article 90 is introduced into the apparatus 1 by a user. The
filter portion
92 may be a cellulose acetate filter. The filter portion 92 filters the
volatilised smokable
material before it reaches the user. The filter portion 92 may also act to
cool the
volatilised smokable material before it reaches the user. The filter portion
92 may also
insulate the user from the heat generated inside the housing 20 of the
apparatus 1.
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In use, when the smoking article 90 is inserted into the housing 20 the tube
60
enters the smokable material in the smokable material-containing portion 94
substantially in the middle or at the periphery of the circular cross-section
of the
smoking article 90. This entry of the tube 60 into the smokable material may
assist in
securing the smoking article 90 in the apparatus 1. The apparatus 1 may then
be
operated by the user to cause one or more components of the smokable material
to be
extracted and/or volatilised by causing fluid to pass from the container 40
through the
tube 60 and into the smokable material.
Referring to Figure 4, there is shown a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional
view of another example of an apparatus 401 arranged to volatilise at least
one
component of smokable material. In the following description and in Figure 4,
components and features that are the same as or similar to the corresponding
components and features of the example described above have the same reference
numeral but increased by 400. For the sake of brevity, the description of
those
components and features will not be repeated in its entirety here.
In this example, the apparatus 401 has a heater 442 for heating liquid 445
contained in the fluid container 440. The power supply 482 is connected to the
heater
442 by wires 483. In the example shown the heater 442 is an electrically
resistive coil
heater. The heater 442 in this example is arranged around a wick 444 which is
in fluid
communication with the liquid 445 within the fluid container 440. The heater
442 and
wick 444 may be provided as a single, effectively integral item such that the
heating
and wicking is effectively carried out by a single unit. The wick 444 is
generally
absorbent and acts to draw in liquid 445 contained in the fluid container 440.
The wick
444 is preferably non-woven and may be for example a cotton or wool material
or the
like, or synthetic material, including for example polyester, nylon, viscose,
polypropylene or the like. In this example, the tube 460 is not in direct
contact with the
liquid 445 in the fluid container 440. Instead, the open end of the tube 460
remote from
the smokable material container 420 is close to and opposes the heater 442. In
use, the
heater 442 vaporises liquid 445 wicked from the fluid container 440 to the
heater 442
by the wick 444. The vaporised liquid then passes into and through the tube
460 and
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out of the one or more exit apertures 462 to pass into the smokable material
contained
in use in the housing 420. The hot vaporised liquid extracts and/or
volatilises one or
more components of the smokable material which can be inhaled by a user.
5
Referring to Figure 5, there is shown a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional
view of another example of an apparatus 501 arranged to volatilise at least
one
component of smokable material. In the following description and in Figure 5,
components and features that are the same as or similar to the corresponding
components and features of the examples described above have the same
reference
10 numeral
but increased to 500 onwards. For the sake of brevity, the description of
those
components and features will not be repeated in its entirety here.
In this example, the tube 560 projects into the liquid 545 in the fluid
container
540. Furthermore, the tube 560 is connected by wires 583 to the power supply
582 for
selectively heating the tube 560. The tube 560 may be made of an electrically
resistive
material, such as metal, and so act as a heater for heating and vaporising the
liquid 545
in addition to transporting the vaporised liquid from the liquid container 540
to the
smokable material contained in use in the housing 520. The hot vaporised
liquid
extracts and/or volatilises one or more components of the smokable material
which can
be inhaled by a user.
Referring to Figure 6, there is shown a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional
view of another example of an apparatus 601 arranged to volatilise at least
one
component of smokable material. In the following description and in Figure 6,
components and features that are the same as or similar to the corresponding
components and features of the examples described above have the same
reference
numeral but increased to 600 onwards. For the sake of brevity, the description
of those
components and features will not be repeated in its entirety here.
The example apparatus 601 of Figure 6 has a heater for heating the liquid and
a
heater 622 for heating the smokable material contained in the housing 620 in
use.
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The heater 622 for heating the smokable material is in the form of a cylinder
or
lining 622 on the inwardly-facing surface of the housing 620. The heater
lining 622
may be an electrically resistive heater connected by wires (not shown) to the
power
source 682 and may be formed of a ceramic or a metal for example.
In this example, similarly to the example of Figure 5, the heater for heating
the
liquid is provided by the tube 660, which is connected by wires 683 to the
power source
682. As an alternative, the heater for heating the liquid may be provided by a
coil and
wick arrangement, similarly to the example of Figure 4, or by some other
arrangement.
Indeed, it may not be necessary to provide a separate heater for heating the
liquid and
it may be sufficient to directly heat only the smokable material using only
the heater
622 for heating the smokable material. Heating of the smokable material in
such a case
may be sufficient to cause fluid to be drawn into the tube 660 from the fluid
container
640 and pass out the exit aperture(s) 662 to volatilise at least one component
of the
smokable material.
Where separate heaters for heating the liquid and for heating the smokable
material are provided, the apparatus may have control circuitry constructed
and
arranged to enable independent control of the powering of each heater. The
user can
for example independently and selectively control the powering of the heater
for heating
the liquid and the heater for heating the smokable material, such that only
one or both
of the liquid and the smokable material are heated by their respective heaters
at the
user's choice. It may be for example that if only the heater for the smokable
material
is operated, no fluid is drawn into the tube, and the apparatus can operate
similarly to a
HNB or THP-type device. Alternatively, the user may decide to only power the
heater
to heat fluid contained in the fluid container, thereby using the apparatus
similarly to
an e-cigarette device. The user may select to power both heaters to use the
device as a
"hybrid" device.
In any of the examples described herein, the fluid container 40 and the
housing
20 for the smokable material, and the power supply receptacle 80 if provided,
may be
separably connected to each other. The housing 20 and the fluid container 40,
and the
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power supply receptacle 80 if provided, may be separably connected using a
screw or
bayonet-type connection, by one or more clips, by being slidably arranged
together, etc.
Furthermore, the connections between the fluid container 40 and the housing 20
for the
smokable material and the power supply receptacle 80 if provided may be such
that for
example the housing 20 for the smokable material and the power supply
receptacle 80
may be connected directly to each other. In this example, the apparatus 1 can
operate
without one of the fluid container 40 or the housing 20. This modular
arrangement
enables a user to alter the functionality of the hybrid device to acting as a
THP-type
device if for example the fluid container 40 is absent and a heater for
heating the
smokable material is provided).
In any of the examples described above, the fluid container 40 may be in the
form of a replaceable unit or cartridge which is replaceable by a user as a
whole. The
replaceable cartridge may be provided with liquid 45 contained within it. When
empty
after use, the replaceable cartridge may be removed from the apparatus 1 and
disposed
of by the user and replaced with a new full cartridge.
In any of the examples described herein, there may be a valve between the
fluid
container 40 and the tube 60. The valve may be for example manually operable
by the
user, or operable under control of the control circuitry, or automatically
operable once
a sufficient pressure has been developed for example. The valve may act for
example
as a safety measure to ensure liquid from the fluid container 40 does not
enter the tube
60 until or unless it is required. Liquid entering the tube 60 in an
uncontrolled manner
may lead to the apparatus 1 leaking when not in use, for example during
transit. Liquid
entering the tube 60 when not desired or in an uncontrolled manner may also
lead to a
poor experience for a user during use. For example during inhalation liquid
may enter
the tube, be drawn through the smokable material and inhaled by the user. It
is desirable
therefore that liquid from the fluid container 40, as shown in the example in
Figure 4,
is vaporised before entering the tube 60 or, as shown in the examples in
Figures 5 and
6, the liquid enters the tube 60 under controlled conditions. Controlled
conditions
include when the tube 60 is heated prior to liquid entering the tube 60.
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In other examples, the fluid container 40 is in the form of a refillable
container
which can be refilled by the user as necessary. The refillable container may
be
removable from the apparatus 1 by for example unscrewing the fluid container
40 from
the housing 20 or may be refilled in situ, by opening some refill opening for
example.
The refillable container may then be filled with a suitable fluid 45 by a
user.
Referring to Figure 7, there is a shown a schematic longitudinal cross-
sectional
view of an example of a smoking article 700 according to another aspect and
which is
particularly suitable for use with apparatus as described above. The smoking
article
700 has smokable material 702 and a rigid hollow cylinder 704 having a bore
706 for
receiving the tube of an apparatus as described above. The bore 706 is in
fluid
communication with the smokable material 702, in this example by being
adjacent the
smokable material 702.
The example of the smoking article 700 shown in Figure 7 has a generally
cylindrical housing 708 which is formed of a rigid material, such as a rigid
plastics or
metal. In this example, the rigid hollow cylinder 704 having the bore 706 is a
separate
component which is located and retained in one end of the cylindrical housing
708. In
other examples, the rigid hollow cylinder 704 having the bore 706 can
effectively be
provided as an integral part of the cylindrical housing 708. The smoking
article 700 of
this example is generally elongate with a circular cross-section.
A filter 710 is provided at the other end of the smoking article 700 opposite
the
cylinder 704 having the bore 706. The smokable material 702 is located
generally
centrally of the smoking article 700 between the cylinder 704 having the bore
706 and
the filter 710. The filter 710 may be for example a cellulose acetate filter
or may be
formed of other materials. The filter 710 in this example has a central bore
712 in fluid
communication with the smokable material 702, in this example by being
adjacent the
smokable material 702. The filter 710 filters the volatilised smokable
material before
it reaches the user. The filter 710 may also act to cool the volatilised
smokable material
before it reaches the user. The filter 710 may also insulate the user from the
heat
generated inside the housing 20 of the apparatus 1 in use.
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The bore 706 is sized so as to be able to receive the tube 60, etc. of the
apparatus
1, etc. described above when the smoking article 700 is received in the
housing 20, etc.
of the apparatus 1. The tube 60 may be a sliding fit in the bore 706, which
helps to
retain the smoking article 700 in the apparatus 1 in use. In use, the tube 60
of the
apparatus 1 is received in the bore 706 and enters the smokable material 702.
The
lengths of the tube 60 and various parts of the smoking article 700 determine
how far
into the smokable material 702 the tube 60 reaches.
In other examples, the smokable material 702 itself may have a bore (not
shown)
along part or the whole its length for receiving the tube 60 of the apparatus
1 into the
smokable material 702. Similarly to the bore 706 of the cylinder 704, such a
bore in
the smokable material 702 may have a similar size and shape as the tube 60.
This
enables easy entry of the tube 60 into the smokable material 702.
The apparatus 1 may have a recognition arrangement to be able to identify or
recognise the particular smoking article 700 that has been introduced into the
apparatus
1 by a user. For example, in practice, the apparatus 1 as a whole, including
in particular
the heating arrangement and the heating control provided by the electrical
control
circuitry, will often be optimised for a particular arrangement of the smoking
article
700 (e.g. one or more of size, shape, particular smokable material, etc.) and
it would be
undesirable for the apparatus 1 to be used with smokable material or a smoking
article
having (significantly) different characteristics. In addition, if the
apparatus 1 can
identify or recognise the particular smoking article 700, or at least the
general type of
smoking article 700, that has been introduced into the apparatus 1, this can
help
eliminate or at least reduce counterfeit or other non-genuine smoking article
700 being
used with the apparatus 1. The apparatus 1 may be arranged so that it will
only heat a
smoking article 700 that it recognises, and will not operate in conjunction
with a
smoking article 700 that it does not recognise. The apparatus 1 may be
arranged so that
it provides some indication to the user that the smoking article 700 has not
been
recognised. This indication may be visual (for example a warning light, which
may for
example flash or be illuminated continuously for a period of time) and/or
audible (for
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example a warning "beep" or the like). The recognition arrangement may be
provided
by for example a capacitive or inductive arrangement, by reading of a bar code
on the
smoking article 700, etc.
5
Referring to Figure 8, there is shown a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional
view of another example of an apparatus 801 arranged to volatilise at least
one
component of smokable material. In the following description and in Figure 8,
components and features that are the same as or similar to the corresponding
components and features of the examples described above have the same
reference
10 numeral
but increased to 800 onwards. For the sake of brevity, the description of
those
components and features will not be repeated in its entirety here. The general
arrangement and relative sizing of various parts shown by way of example in
Figure 8
may apply to any of the examples described herein.
15 In the
specific example shown, the tube 860 projects a length L beyond the front
open end 824 of the housing 820. Prior to use, smokable material is inserted
into the
apparatus 800. However at least a portion of the smokable material, which in
use is
towards the end of the smokable material that is engaged by the mouth of the
user, will
be not be covered or surrounded by the housing 820. In use the smokable
material is
heated and/or heated fluid is passed through the smokable material. The heat
will be
lost more rapidly to the environment from the uncovered or exposed portion of
the
smokable material than from the portion of the smokable material contained
within the
housing 820. This may assist in improving the user experience.
Referring to Figure 9, there is shown a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional
view of another example of an apparatus 901 arranged to volatilise at least
one
component of smokable material. In the following description and in Figure 9,
components and features that are the same as or similar to the corresponding
components and features of the examples described above have the same
reference
numeral but increased to 900 onwards. For the sake of brevity, the description
of those
components and features will not be repeated in its entirety here. The general
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16
arrangement and relative sizing of various parts shown by way of example in
Figure 9
may apply to any of the examples described herein.
In the specific example shown, the sharp end 964 of the tube 960 is located
within the housing 920 and away from the front open end 924. This arrangement
enables vapour or aerosol to travel a longer distance through the smokable
material thus
allowing to better volatise or extract a compound from the smokable material
Referring to Figure 10, there is shown an example of an insert 1030 in use
with
an example of an apparatus 1001 arranged to volatilise at least one component
of
smokable material. In use the insert 1030 is inserted into the front open end
1024 of
the apparatus 1001 and reduces the width of the cavity 1026 near the front
open end
1024. Using the insert 1030 therefore allows the user to use the apparatus
1001 with
smokable material of various widths, with smokable material of different
widths being
properly supported within the apparatus 1001. For example, the apparatus 1001
may
be used in conjunction with a "king size" consumable without use of the insert
1030,
and separately may be used in conjunction with a "slim" or "super slim"
consumable
with the insert 1030 located within the front open end 1024 of the apparatus
1001.
The insert 1030 shown in Figure 10 has a cylindrical body portion 1030a, a
radially outwardly extending skirt 1030b and a through hole 1030c. The user
can hold
the skirt 1030b to insert the cylindrical body portion 1030a into and remove
the
cylindrical body portion 1030a from the front open end 1024 of the apparatus
1001.
Preferably there is a snug fit between the insert 1030 and the apparatus 1001
so that the
insert 1030 is retained in the front open end 1024 of the housing 1020. It is
also
important there is a good fit between the smokable material and the insert
1030 such
that the smokable material is securely retained in the cavity 1026. In an
example, the
insert 1030 is made of a resilient material so that in use it deforms within
the cavity and
around the smokable material. This will provide a snug fit between the insert
1030 and
the housing 1020 and between the insert 1030 and the smokable material.
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In an example the insert 1030 is made of thermally insulating material. This
helps to prevent the insert 1030 from getting hot during use of the apparatus
1001.
Furthermore, the user is less likely to burn themselves when removing the
insert 1030
after use from the apparatus 1001. The insert 1030 is suitable for use with
many of the
examples described herein.
Referring to Figures 1 la and 1 lb there is shown another example of an
apparatus 1101 arranged to volatilise at least one component of smokable
material. The
apparatus shown has a retainer 1132 which assists in retaining smokable
material within
.. the apparatus 1101. In an example, the retainer 1132 is in the form of an
annular wall
1132a with a through hole 1132b. The annular wall 1132a is positioned adjacent
to the
inwardly-facing surface of the housing 1120. At the location in the cavity
1126 where
the retainer 1132 is positioned, the width of the cavity 1126 is reduced. In
use smokable
material is inserted into the housing 1120 and through the through hole 1132b
of the
retainer 1132. The retainer 1132 may be made of resilient material so that it
deforms
as smokable material 1190 is inserted, as shown in Figure 11b. The retainer
1132 is
suitable for use with many of the examples described herein.
In an example not shown, the width of the cavity is reduced by use of a sleeve
positioned in the cavity and substantially or entirely running the length of
the cavity.
Prior to use, the sleeve can be inserted into the cavity. As an alternative,
prior to use,
smokable material can be inserted into the sleeve and the sleeve and smokable
material
can be inserted together into the cavity. The sleeve can be made of a
thermally
conductive material. The sleeve is suitable for use with many of the examples
described
herein.
Referring to Figure 12, there is shown a schematic longitudinal cross-
sectional
view of another example of an apparatus 1201 arranged to volatilise at least
one
component of smokable material. The apparatus 1201 in the example shown has an
annular tube 1295 arranged on the inwardly-facing surface of the housing 1220
and, in
this example, substantially or entirely running the length of the cavity 1226.
The
annular tube 1295 comprises an outer wall 1295a and an inner wall 1295b that
define
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an annular space 1295c that contains liquid. In a specific example the liquid
is a so-
called e-liquid, e.g. of the type conventionally used in e-cigarette devices,
including for
example propylene glycol and glycerol (also known as glycerine), and/or or a
liquid
containing a flavour, such as for example menthol. The inner wall 1295a of the
annular
tube 1295 is arranged to provide an exit aperture to allow vapour or aerosol
to pass from
the annular tube 1295 into the interior of the apparatus 1201. For example,
the
innermost wall of the annular tube 1295 may be porous and/or have one or more
through
holes. During inhalation, the liquid contained in the annular tube 1295 is
pulled from
outside the smokable material inwardly towards the centre of the smokable
material in
the form of an aerosol or vapour. Alternatively the liquid in the form of an
aerosol or
vapour can be released from the annular tube 1295 by at least one valve which
is
manually operable by a user or, alternatively or additionally, operable under
control of
the control circuitry. As the aerosol or vapour passes through the smokable
material, it
extracts flavour from the smokable material.
In an example the annular tube 1295 heats the liquid that is contained within
the
jacket 1295. In a specific example, the annular tube 1295 in combination with
the tube
heater 622 of Figure 6 heats the smokable material. In an example the annular
tube
1295 has an electrically resistive heater on the inwardly-facing surface of
the jacket
1295 or the inwardly-facing surface of the annular tube 1295 itself is an
electrically
resistive heater. The heater can heat the liquid in the annular tube 1295, the
liquid after
it has entered the smokable material, and the smokable material itself. The
annular tube
1295 is suitable for use with many of the examples described herein.
In some examples, the apparatus 1201 may also include a further tube 1260 that
extends into the smokable material and which supplies e-liquid from a further
liquid
container (not shown in Figure 12) to the interior of the smokable material in
a similar
manner as in the examples discussed above.
In any of the examples described herein the apparatus can have more than one
tube projecting into the housing. In an example wherein the apparatus has
plural tubes,
each tube may be in fluid communication with a separate, respective fluid
containers.
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The separate fluid containers may contain the same liquid or may contain
different
liquids and/or nicotine and/or different flavours. In a specific example, a
first tube is
in fluid communication with a first fluid container containing a so-called e-
liquid, e.g.
of the type conventionally used in e-cigarette devices, including for example
propylene
glycol and glycerol (also known as glycerine), and including nicotine but no
added
flavouring; and a second tube is in fluid communication with a fluid container
containing an e-liquid that includes a flavour, such as for example menthol,
and
optionally also including nicotine. The release of fluid from the tubes can be
operated
separately so that the user can select whether to release and when to release
fluid from
each tube. In a different arrangement, the plural tubes are in fluid
communication with
the same fluid container. With more than one tube in fluid communication with
one
fluid container the user can vary the amount of fluid released. The tubes may
be
arranged centrally within the cavity or closer to the housing or,
alternatively, in a
combination of these positions. The tubes can be substantially the same or may
be of
different sizes, with the same or different numbers and/or sizes of exit
apertures.
Referring to Figure 13, there is a schematic view of an example smoking
article
1300 which is particularly suitable for use in the apparatus 1201 of Fig 12.
The smoking
article 1300 is in the form, for example, of a hollow cylinder 1303 containing
smokable
material (not visible in the Figure). The cylinder 1303 is shaped to fit
within the cavity
1226 of the apparatus 1201 and be surrounded by the annular jacket 1295. The
wall of
the cylinder 1203 is provided with one or more apertures 1305 or is otherwise
porous
to enable the aerosol or vapour that passes from the annular tube 1295 into
the interior
of the cylinder 1303 to pass through the smokable material in the cylinder
1303. The
ends of the cylinder may or may not be closed. If closed either end includes
one or
more aperture or is otherwise porous to permit aerosol and vapour and airflow
there
through. The wall of the smoking article 1300 may be made of any suitable
material,
for example, paper, plastic or metal. The smoking article 1300 may be provided
with a
filter (not illustrated).
The various embodiments described herein are presented only to assist in
understanding and teaching the claimed features. These embodiments are
provided as
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a representative sample of embodiments only, and are not exhaustive and/or
exclusive.
It is to be understood that advantages, embodiments, examples, functions,
features,
structures, and/or other aspects described herein are not to be considered
limitations on
the scope of the invention as defined by the claims or limitations on
equivalents to the
5 claims, and that other embodiments may be utilised and modifications may
be made
without departing from the scope of the claimed invention. Various embodiments
of
the invention may suitably comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of,
appropriate
combinations of the disclosed elements, components, features, parts, steps,
means, etc.,
other than those specifically described herein. In addition, this disclosure
may include
10 other inventions not presently claimed, but which may be claimed in
future.
