EA043385B1 - ELECTRONIC STEAM INHALER - Google Patents

Description

Field of technology to which the invention relates

The invention relates generally to electronic steam inhalers and, in particular, to a capsule containing a flavor release medium for use in combination with an electronic steam inhaler in which the flavor release medium can be heated to generate steam for inhalation by the user .

Technical background for creating the invention

The use of electronic vapor inhalers (also known as e-cigarettes, e-cigarettes and personal vaporizers), which can be used as an alternative to established tobacco products such as cigarettes, cigars and pipes, is becoming increasingly popular and widespread. Electronic vapor inhalers, which typically run on a battery as a power source, heat and vaporize a liquid containing nicotine to generate nicotine-rich vapor that can be inhaled by the user. The vapor is inhaled through a mouthpiece that delivers nicotine to the lungs, and the vapor exhaled by the user generally simulates the smoke of conventional tobacco products. Although inhaling vapor creates a physical sensation similar to that of smoking conventional tobacco products, it does not produce or inhale harmful chemicals such as carbon dioxide and tar because there is no combustion.

Currently, there are various types of electronic steam inhalers, but they all have disadvantages, which are intended to be eliminated with the help of the present invention.

Summary of the invention

The present invention provides an electronic steam inhaler for inhalation by a user of steam generated by heating a flavoring agent, comprising an elongated body, a power source, a chamber that is formed in said body and into which a capsule filled with said flavoring agent can be removably inserted, a control device and an induction heating device, the operation of which is controlled by said control device and which includes an induction coil configured to be powered by a power source to heat said flavoring agent, wherein the control device includes a temperature selector allowing the user to select a desired steam inhalation temperature.

In accordance with the invention, the elongated body of the electronic steam inhaler includes a proximal end and a distal end on which a mouthpiece can be located through which a user can inhale the generated steam. The induction coil may be placed around the chamber, which may be thermally insulated. The control device is configured to maintain a substantially constant temperature during the inhalation process, and the induction heating device is configured to inductively heat the induction heated element, wherein the induction coil can be energized by a power source to generate a magnetic field causing heating of the induction heated element. The control device may comprise a microprocessor, and the power source may comprise one or more batteries, which may be inductively rechargeable.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a capsule for an electronic vapor inhaler, the capsule including a shell containing a flavor release medium;

an induction heated element located inside the shell and designed to heat the flavor release medium;

at least a portion of the shell including a breathable material.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic vapor inhaler, including a housing having a proximal end and a distal end;

a mouthpiece located at the near end of the body;

a capsule in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention, located in the housing; and an induction heating device for inductively heating the induction heating element and thereby heating the flavor release medium.

The capsule provides a convenient method for the user to load the flavor release medium into an electronic vapor inhaler and avoid the need to directly handle the flavor release medium, thereby reducing the likelihood of spillage and wastage. The integrity, safety and quality of the flavor release medium can also be ensured because the medium is loaded into the shell during the manufacturing process to form a pre-fabricated capsule. This also ensures an accurate dosage of the flavor release medium.

- 1 043385

By placing the induction heated element within the shell in close proximity to the flavor release medium and in contact with at least part of the environment, the flavor release medium is quickly and efficiently heated when an induction field occurs, and this in turn ensures rapid thermal impact and relatively low energy consumption. The capsule does not contain any moving parts and the heating element is a disposable item housed within the shell. The heating element does not wear out, because Each time the capsule is replaced, a new element is installed, and thus its effectiveness does not decrease over time. This is an advantage compared to, for example, existing electronic steam inhalers, which have a resistive heating element in the housing, which wears out or fails after a certain cycle of use. If the resistor heating element fails, the electronic steam inhaler cannot be further used, in which case it must be replaced with a new one.

The breathable material allows outside air to enter and pass through the shell when the user inhales through the mouthpiece, and also ensures that air flow through the shell is evenly distributed. This results in maximum release of flavor and aroma from the heated flavor release environment, thereby generating vapor to meet increased user requirements.

The flavor release medium may be any material that can be heated to release vapor for inhalation by the user. The flavor release medium may be tobacco or tobacco material which may be impregnated with a vaporizing medium such as propylene glycol. However, a flavor release medium that is not limited to tobacco and other flavor release medium can be used. The flavor release medium may be in any suitable form, including fine particles or granules or fibers.

The capsule is generally a disposable and disposable product. Thus, it can be easily removed without damage from the electronic vapor inhaler in the event that sufficient flavor compounds are no longer released from the flavor release medium. Instead, a new capsule with a preloaded flavor release medium can be easily installed in the inhaler.

The shell may include a base and a side wall. The base can be made of breathable material. The side wall can be made of breathable material. The base and side wall can be made as one piece. The breathable base and side wall allow air to enter the casing in a uniform flow, thereby ensuring a uniform flow of air through the heated flavor release environment.

The shell may include a cover, which may be made of a breathable material. The lid can fit snugly against the top edge of the side wall and close the shell. In this way, heated air or steam can escape the shell through the breathable lid. When heated air exits the shell through the breathable cap, the heated air typically cools and condenses to form steam as it passes through the electronic steam inhaler. In either case, steam with a suitable amount of flavor and aroma compounds is supplied to the mouthpiece for inhalation by the user.

The breathable material is typically a material that has both electrically insulating and non-magnetic properties. The main characteristics of the material include high breathability, allowing air to pass through the material, resistance to high temperatures and low cost. Examples of acceptable materials include cellulose fibers, paper, cotton and silk. This list of materials is not exhaustive, and it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many other breathable materials may be used. The breathable material can also act as a filter.

The lid may be permeable, for example, it may be provided with an air outlet to allow heated air and steam to escape from the casing.

The capsule may include several induction heated elements. The number of induction heated elements can be selected in such a way as to ensure optimal heating of the flavor release medium. Induction heated elements can be spaced apart between the base and the lid. Induction heated elements can be spaced apart at regular intervals. The spacing between the induction heated elements generally defines a number of adjacent areas for placing the flavor release medium thereon such that the induction heated elements and the flavor release medium are alternately located between the base and the lid.

Each of the induction heated elements can be configured so that its cross-sectional shape generally matches the cross-sectional shape of the shell. The shell may have, for example, a generally circular cross-section, each induction heated element may include a generally circular disk positioned coaxially within the shell.

Each of the induction heated elements may include one or more openings. The holes allow air to pass through each induction heated element and thereby create greater air flow through the shell and thus through the heated flavor release environment.

The body of the electronic steam inhaler may include a chamber in which the capsule is removably located. The chamber can be thermally isolated from the external environment. The camera could be placed in any suitable position between the distal end and the proximal end of the housing. In some embodiments of the present invention, the camera could be located at the proximal end. In other embodiments of the present invention, the camera could be located at the far end. In the latter case, even with a slight increase in temperature on the outer surface of the housing due to heating of the contents of the shell during operation of the induction heating device, such a temperature increase will not occur at the proximal end of the housing on which the mouthpiece is located.

The induction heating device may include an induction coil. An induction coil can be placed around the camera.

The housing may include an air inlet through which air can enter the chamber and the enclosure through the breathable material. Several air inlet openings may be provided. The housing may be provided with an air flow control device to vary the rate of air flow through each of the air inlet openings and therefore into the shell through the breathable material. The device allows the user to control the amount of flavor and aroma compounds released from the heated flavor release medium during inhalation through the mouthpiece.

The electronic steam inhaler may include a temperature sensor configured to measure the temperature within the enclosure. The temperature sensor can be passed through an enclosure, such as a lid, although this is not required. Any suitable temperature sensor may be used, such as a thermocouple, RTD, or thermistor.

The temperature sensor may include a hollow channel that may act as an air outlet through which heated air and steam flow from the sheath to the mouthpiece.

The electronic steam inhaler may include a control device that may be configured to provide electrical power to the induction heating device to maintain a substantially constant and predetermined temperature within the enclosure. The control device may be configured to supply power to the induction heating device based on a temperature measured by a temperature sensor, thereby forming a closed loop control system. However, it should be understood that the temperature can be adjusted without using a temperature sensor to measure the temperature inside the enclosure.

Brief description of drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an electronic vapor inhaler including a capsule in accordance with the present invention;

fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the distal end of the electronic vapor inhaler and capsule shown in FIG. 1;

fig. 3 is a schematic side sectional view of the capsule shown in FIG. 1 and 2;

fig. 4 is a sectional view along line AA in FIG. 2;

fig. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 2 alternative embodiments of the present invention.

Detailed description of embodiments of the invention

The following is a description of embodiments of the present invention for illustrative purposes only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The electronic steam inhaler 10 includes a generally elongated body 12 having a proximal end 14 and a distal end 16. The electronic steam inhaler 10 includes a mouthpiece 18 at the proximal end 14 through which a user can inhale vapor generated by heating the flavor release medium 40. The inhaler 10 includes a control device 20 in the form of a microprocessor (not shown) and a power source 22 in the form of one or more batteries, which could be, for example, inductively rechargeable.

Housing 12 includes a chamber 24 in which capsule 26 can be mounted and removed. In fig. chamber 24 is located at the distal end 16 of housing 12, however, this design

- 3 043385 is not strictly required and may be located at any suitable location between the proximal end 14 and the distal end 16. In the illustrated embodiment of the present invention, the chamber 24 is configured as a removable component and is accessible by removing it from the distal end. end 16 of the housing 12. In alternative embodiments of the present invention, the chamber 24 may be made in the housing 12 non-removable, and access to the chamber 24 could be provided by opening a service hatch or cover. In any case, capsule 26 can be easily installed and removed from chamber 24.

Capsule 26, illustrated in greater detail in FIG. 3 and 4 includes a shell 28, which in the illustrated embodiment of the present invention has a generally circular cross-section. The shell 28 includes a base 30, a side wall 32, which may be integrally formed with the base. The side wall 32 has a top edge 33 defining an opening 36 in the top 34 of the shell 28. In the illustrated embodiment of the present invention, the diameter of the shell 28 gradually increases from the base 30 to the top 34 so that the shell 28 has an overall frusto-conical shape. However, the diameter can be substantially constant, resulting in the shell 28 having a generally cylindrical shape.

Capsule 26 includes a lid 38 that fits tightly against the top portion 34 of the shell 28 along the top edge 33 of the side wall 32, for example, through the use of a suitable adhesive or any other suitable method. In the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 1-4, the base 30 and side wall 32 are made of breathable material, thereby allowing the flow of outside air into the shell 28. The cover 38 is also made of breathable material, thereby allowing the passage of heated air or steam from the shell 28 through the channel 15 to the mouthpiece 18 The breathable material may typically include cellulose fiber, although other materials may of course be used as discussed above in this specification.

The shell 28 is filled with the flavor release medium 40 until the lid 38 is sealed against the top 34 of the shell 28 along the upper edge 33 of the side wall 32. The flavor release medium may be tobacco or a tobacco material that may be impregnated with a vapor-generating medium. , such as propylene glycol, such that it is heated to generate vapor for inhalation by the user through the mouthpiece 18 of the electronic steam inhaler 10. When filling the device with tobacco or tobacco material, the electronic steam inhaler 10 can be used as an electronic cigarette. However, materials other than tobacco may be used, as discussed above in the description of the present invention.

Capsule 26 includes a plurality of induction heated elements 42 spaced approximately equally spaced within shell 28, between base 30 and cap 38. Induction heated elements 42 are made of any suitable material that is heated by creating an induction field.

In the illustrated embodiment of the present invention, the induction heated elements 42 are generally in the form of circular disks (see FIG. 4), the cross-section of which generally corresponds to the generally circular cross-section of the shell 28. However, the induction heated elements 42 can have any acceptable form. As can be seen from Fig. 4, the diameter of the circular induction heating elements 42 is smaller than the diameter of the circular shell 28, as a result of which air can flow between the peripheral portions of the circular induction heating elements 42 and the side wall 32 inside the shell 28.

The induction heated elements 42 are in contact with at least a portion of the flavor release medium 40. As a result, when the induction heated elements 42 are heated under the influence of an induction field, the flavor release medium 40 is rapidly and uniformly heated throughout the entire volume of the shell 28. As a result, the temperature throughout the entire volume of the heated shell 28 is generally uniform.

The electronic steam inhaler 10 includes an induction heating device 50 including an induction coil 52 that can be powered by a power source 22. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that when voltage is applied to the induction coil 52, a magnetic field is generated that generates eddy currents in the induction coil. heated elements 42, thereby causing them to heat up. The generated heat is then transferred from the induction heating elements 42 to the flavor release medium 40, for example, by conduction, radiation and convection.

The operation of the induction heating device 50 is controlled by the control device 20 to maintain the temperature of the flavor release medium 40 within the shell 28 at a substantially constant level, resulting in an optimized temperature that releases the flavor compounds from said medium.

In the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 1 and 2, the electronic vapor inhaler 10 includes a temperature sensor 44 extending through the cap 38 and located in the shell 28 when the capsule 26 is placed in the chamber 24. The temperature sensor 44 measures the temperature inside the shell 28, and the control device 20 regulates operation of the induction heating device 50 taking into account the temperature measured by the temperature sensor

44.

When a user needs to use the electronic steam inhaler 10 to inhale steam, the user should first gain access to the chamber 24, for example, by detaching the chamber 24 from the distal end 16 of the housing 12 (for example, by unscrewing it). The user then places the pre-formed capsule 26 in the chamber 24. The pre-formed capsules 26 are typically supplied in a kit that can be purchased separately, with each capsule 26 already containing a flavor release medium 40 and induction heated elements 42 that are placed in the capsule during the manufacturing process of the capsules 26. Thus, installing the capsule 26 inside the chamber 24 is an extremely simple procedure for the user.

The user then closes the chamber 24, for example, by attaching the chamber 24 to the distal end 16 of the housing 12 (for example, by screwing the chamber onto the housing 12). When the chamber 24 is connected to the housing 12, the temperature sensor 44 penetrates inside through the cover 38. The electronic steam inhaler 10 can then be turned on by the user and ready for operation, while the induction coil 52 is energized and the induction heated elements 42 and the flavor release medium are heated substance 40, as described above, resulting in heating of the flavor release medium 40 without burning it.

When the user takes the mouthpiece 18 into the mouth and inhales, outside air is drawn into the chamber 24 through the air inlet 54. Outside air enters the shell 28 through the base 30 and side wall 32, which, as noted above, are made of breathable material. This air flow is shown schematically by lines 56. The air is heated as it passes through the shell 28, and heated air containing acceptable flavor flows out of the shell 28 through the air-permeable cover 38, as shown by lines 58. As the heated air passes through the channel 15, it cools and condenses to form steam, which the user can inhale through the mouthpiece 18. The control device 20 may include a temperature selector allowing the user to select a desired vapor inhalation temperature because The optimum temperature of the steam leaving the mouthpiece 18 may be a matter of personal choice.

It should be understood that during the inhalation process and as outside air enters and passes through the shell 28, the induction coil 52 may be energized as needed to maintain a substantially constant temperature within the shell 28. This, in turn, allows maintaining a generally constant temperature of the vapor inhaled by the user through the mouthpiece 18.

Once the taste and aroma of the vapor supplied to the mouthpiece 18 has reached a level at which the user considers them unacceptable, the chamber 24 can be removed and inspected, for example, by removing it from the distal end 16 of the housing 12. Next, the used capsule 26 can be removed and discarded, and a new capsule 26 may be placed in the chamber 24 before the chamber 24 is attached to the distal end 16, as described above, to prepare the electronic vapor inhaler 10 for use.

In fig. 5 shows an alternative embodiment of an electronic steam inhaler 60. The electronic steam inhaler 60 has many elements in common with the electronic steam inhaler 10 shown in FIG. 1, 2 and 4, and therefore the corresponding parts are marked with the corresponding positions.

The electronic vapor inhaler 60 utilizes a modified temperature sensor 62 having a hollow passage 46 through which heated air or steam can exit the sheath 28 and pass through a passage 15 connected to the mouthpiece 18. Thus, this alternative embodiment of the present invention is not necessary in a cover 38 made of breathable material. To accommodate the temperature sensor 62, each of the induction heated elements 42 includes a central opening 64. These openings 64 also generally allow for increased air flow through the shell 28.

Although illustrative embodiments of the present invention have been described in the paragraphs above, it should be understood that numerous changes may be made to said embodiments of the present invention without departing from the scope of the appended claims. Thus, the scope of the claims is not limited to the above-described illustrative examples of implementation of the present invention. Each feature disclosed in the specification of the present invention, including the claims and drawings, may be replaced by alternative features serving the same equivalent or similar purposes, unless specifically stated otherwise.

For example, it is not necessary to make both the base 30 and the side wall 32 of the shell 28 from a breathable material, and it would be sufficient if only one of these elements were made from a breathable material. In this case it may be preferable to

- 5 043385 the base 30 was made of an air-permeable material that would allow air to pass through the shell 28 between the base 30 and the top 34 and act upon substantially the entire amount of the flavor release medium 40.

Although in practice it would be desirable to use multiple induction heated elements 42 as described above, a single induction heated element 42 could be used to achieve the desired heating temperature of the flavor release medium 40.

Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, throughout the specification and claims, the words include, including and similar are to be construed broadly, as opposed to exclusive or exclusive; that is, in the sense of including but not limited to.

Any combination of the above-described features, in all possible variations thereof, is encompassed by the present invention unless otherwise indicated in this application or otherwise completely contradicted by context.

Claims (10)

1. An electronic steam inhaler (10) for the user to inhale steam generated by heating a flavoring substance (40) representing tobacco or tobacco material, wherein the inhaler (10) contains an elongated body (12), a power source (22), a chamber (24 ), which is formed in the specified housing and into which a capsule (26) filled with the specified flavoring substance (40), a control device (20) and an induction heating device (50), the operation of which is controlled by the specified device (20), can be removably inserted. control and which contains an induction coil (52) configured to be powered by a power source (22) to heat said flavoring agent (40), wherein the control device (20) contains a temperature selector allowing the user to select the desired inhalation temperature of the steam generated by heating the flavoring agent (40). 2. An electronic steam inhaler (10) according to claim 1, wherein the elongated body (12) includes a proximal end (14) and a distal end (16) on which a mouthpiece (18) can be located through which the user can inhale the generated steam . 3. Electronic steam inhaler (10) according to claim 1 or 2, in which an induction coil (52) is placed around the chamber (24). 4. Electronic steam inhaler (10) according to any one of claims 1-3, in which the chamber (24) is thermally insulated. 5. Electronic steam inhaler (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, in which the control device (20) maintains a substantially constant temperature during the inhalation process. 6. An electronic steam inhaler (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the induction heating device (50) is configured to inductively heat the induction heating element (42). 7. An electronic steam inhaler (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the induction coil (52) is energized from a power source (22) to generate a magnetic field causing heating of the induction heating element (42). 8. Electronic steam inhaler (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, in which the control device (20) contains a microprocessor. 9. Electronic steam inhaler (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, in which the power source (22) contains one or more batteries. 10. The electronic steam inhaler (10) according to claim 9, wherein said one or more batteries are inductively rechargeable.