EP3838018A1 - Rauchersatzvorrichtung und verfahren zur kommunikation der verwendung einer rauchersatzvorrichtung an einen benutzer - Google Patents

Rauchersatzvorrichtung und verfahren zur kommunikation der verwendung einer rauchersatzvorrichtung an einen benutzer Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3838018A1
EP3838018A1 EP19218580.9A EP19218580A EP3838018A1 EP 3838018 A1 EP3838018 A1 EP 3838018A1 EP 19218580 A EP19218580 A EP 19218580A EP 3838018 A1 EP3838018 A1 EP 3838018A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
smoking substitute
user
substitute device
signal
consumable
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
EP19218580.9A
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English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
designation of the inventor has not yet been filed The
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Nerudia Ltd
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Nerudia Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Nerudia Ltd filed Critical Nerudia Ltd
Priority to EP19218580.9A priority Critical patent/EP3838018A1/de
Priority to EP20800212.1A priority patent/EP4054363A1/de
Priority to PCT/EP2020/081355 priority patent/WO2021089823A1/en
Publication of EP3838018A1 publication Critical patent/EP3838018A1/de
Priority to US17/733,582 priority patent/US20220256930A1/en
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
    • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
    • A24F40/50—Control or monitoring
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
    • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
    • A24F40/65—Devices with integrated communication means, e.g. Wi-Fi

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a smoking substitute device and particularly, although not exclusively, to a smoking substitute device and a method of communicating usage of a smoking substitute device to a user.
  • the smoking of tobacco is generally considered to expose a smoker to potentially harmful substances. It is generally thought that a significant amount of the potentially harmful substances are generated through the heat caused by the burning and/or combustion of the tobacco and the constituents of the burnt tobacco in the tobacco smoke itself.
  • Conventional combustible smoking articles such as cigarettes, typically comprise a cylindrical rod of tobacco comprising shreds of tobacco which is surrounded by a wrapper, and usually also a cylindrical filter axially aligned in an abutting relationship with the wrapped tobacco rod.
  • the filter typically comprises a filtration material which is circumscribed by a plug wrap.
  • the wrapped tobacco rod and the filter are joined together by a wrapped band of tipping paper that circumscribes the entire length of the filter and an adjacent portion of the wrapped tobacco rod.
  • a conventional cigarette of this type is used by lighting the end opposite to the filter, and burning the tobacco rod. The smoker receives mainstream smoke into their mouth by drawing on the mouth end or filter end of the cigarette.
  • Such smoking substitute devices can form part of nicotine replacement therapies aimed at people who wish to stop smoking and overcome a dependence on nicotine.
  • Smoking substitute devices may comprise electronic systems that permit a user to simulate the act of smoking by producing an aerosol (also referred to as a "vapour") that is drawn into the lungs through the mouth (inhaled) and then exhaled.
  • aerosol also referred to as a "vapour”
  • the inhaled aerosol typically bears nicotine and/or flavourings without, or with fewer of, the odour and health risks associated with traditional smoking.
  • smoking substitute devices are intended to provide a substitute for the rituals of smoking, whilst providing the user with a similar experience and satisfaction to those experienced with traditional smoking and tobacco products.
  • Some smoking substitute systems use smoking substitute articles (also referred to as a "consumables”) that are designed to resemble a traditional cigarette and are cylindrical in form with a mouthpiece at one end.
  • smoking substitute devices are designed to resemble a traditional cigarette and are cylindrical in form with a mouthpiece at one end. Other smoking substitute devices do not generally resemble a cigarette (for example, the smoking substitute device may have a generally box-like form).
  • a smoking substitute approach corresponds to the manner in which the substitute system operates for a user.
  • vaping in which a vapourisable liquid, typically referred to (and referred to herein) as “e-liquid”, is heated by a heating device to produce an aerosol vapour which is inhaled by a user.
  • An e-liquid typically includes a base liquid as well as nicotine and/or flavourings.
  • the resulting vapour therefore typically contains nicotine and/or flavourings.
  • the base liquid may include propylene glycol and/or vegetable glycerin.
  • a typical vaping smoking substitute device includes a mouthpiece, a power source (typically a battery), a tank for containing e-liquid, as well as a heating device.
  • a power source typically a battery
  • a tank for containing e-liquid as well as a heating device.
  • electrical energy is supplied from the power source to the heating device, which heats the e-liquid to produce an aerosol (or "vapour") which is inhaled by a user through the mouthpiece.
  • Vaping smoking substitute devices can be configured in a variety of ways.
  • there are "closed system" vaping smoking substitute devices which typically have a sealed tank and heating element which is pre-filled with e-liquid and is not intended to be refilled by an end user.
  • One subset of closed system vaping smoking substitute devices include a main body which includes the power source, wherein the main body is configured to be physically and electrically coupled to a consumable including the tank and the heating element. In this way, when the tank of a consumable has been emptied, the main body can be reused by connecting it to a new consumable.
  • Another subset of closed system vaping smoking substitute devices are completely disposable, and intended for one-use only.
  • vaping smoking substitute devices which typically have a tank that is configured to be refilled by a user, so the device can be used multiple times.
  • An example vaping smoking substitute device is the mybluTM e-cigarette.
  • the mybluTM e-cigarette is a closed system device which includes a main body and a consumable.
  • the main body and consumable are physically and electrically coupled together by pushing the consumable into the main body.
  • the main body includes a rechargeable battery.
  • the consumable includes a mouthpiece, a sealed tank which contains e-liquid, as well as a heating device, which for this device is a heating filament coiled around a portion of a wick which is partially immersed in the e-liquid.
  • the device is activated when a microprocessor on board the main body detects a user inhaling through the mouthpiece. When the device is activated, electrical energy is supplied from the power source to the heating device, which heats e-liquid from the tank to produce a vapour which is inhaled by a user through the mouthpiece.
  • the blu PROTM e-cigarette is an open system device which includes a main body, a (refillable) tank, and a mouthpiece.
  • the main body and tank are physically and electrically coupled together by screwing one to the other.
  • the mouthpiece and refillable tank are physically coupled together by screwing one of the other, and detaching the mouthpiece from the refillable tank allows the tank to be refilled with e-liquid.
  • the device is activated by a button on the main body. When the device is activated, electrical energy is supplied from the power source to a heating device, which heats e-liquid from the tank to produce a vapour which is inhaled by a user through the mouthpiece.
  • HT Heated Tobacco
  • HNB Heat not burn
  • the tobacco may be leaf tobacco or reconstituted tobacco.
  • the vapour may contain nicotine and/or flavourings.
  • the intention is that the tobacco is heated but not burned, i.e. the tobacco does not undergo combustion.
  • a typical HT smoking substitute system may include a device and a consumable.
  • the consumable may include the tobacco material.
  • the device and consumable may be configured to be physically coupled together.
  • heat may be imparted to the tobacco material by a heating element of the device, wherein airflow through the tobacco material causes components in the tobacco material to be released as vapour.
  • a vapour may also be formed from a carrier in the tobacco material (this carrier may for example include propylene glycol and/or vegetable glycerine) and additionally volatile compounds released from the tobacco.
  • the released vapour may be entrained in the airflow drawn through the tobacco.
  • the vapour passes through the consumable (entrained in the airflow) from the location of vaporisation to an outlet of the consumable (e.g. a mouthpiece), the vapour cools and condenses to form an aerosol for inhalation by the user.
  • the aerosol will normally contain the volatile compounds.
  • HT smoking substitute systems heating as opposed to burning the tobacco material is believed to cause fewer, or smaller quantities, of the more harmful compounds ordinarily produced during smoking. Consequently, the HT approach may reduce the odour and/or health risks that can arise through the burning, combustion and pyrolytic degradation of tobacco.
  • the IQOSTM smoking substitute device uses a consumable, including reconstituted tobacco located in a wrapper.
  • the consumable includes a holder incorporating a mouthpiece.
  • the consumable may be inserted into a main body that includes a heating device.
  • the heating device has a thermally conductive heating knife which penetrates the reconstituted tobacco of the consumable, when the consumable is inserted into the heating device. Activation of the heating device heats the heating element (in this case a heating knife), which, in turn, heats the tobacco in the consumable.
  • the heating of the tobacco causes it to release nicotine vapour and flavourings which may be drawn through the mouthpiece by the user through inhalation.
  • a second example of the HT approach is the device known as "Glo"TM from British American Tobacco pic.
  • GloTM comprises a relatively thin consumable.
  • the consumable includes leaf tobacco which is heated by a heating device located in a main body. When the consumable is placed in the main body, the tobacco is surrounded by a heating element of the heating device. Activation of the heating device heats the heating element, which, in turn, heats the tobacco in the consumable.
  • the heating of the tobacco causes it to release nicotine vapour and flavourings which may be drawn through the consumable by the user through inhalation.
  • the tobacco when heated by the heating device, is configured to produce vapour when heated rather than when burned (as in a smoking apparatus, e.g. a cigarette).
  • the tobacco may contain high levels of aerosol formers (carrier), such as vegetable glycerine ("VG”) or propylene glycol ("PG").
  • VG vegetable glycerine
  • PG propylene glycol
  • the present inventor(s) have observed that most smoking substitute devices currently on the market are configured to operate in isolation of other devices, which limits the functions the smoking substitute devices can perform.
  • smoking substitute devices currently on the market are not adapted to signal the extent of the use of the smoking substitute device to a user.
  • current smoking substitute devices may not signal the time of non-use to a user.
  • the present invention has been devised in light of the above considerations.
  • a smoking substitute device comprising a sensor element adapted to detect usage of the smoking substitute device by the user, and at least one signalling element adapted to provide a signal to a user, wherein the signalling element is adapted to provide the signal to the user after a defined non-use time period of the smoking substitute device.
  • smoking substitute system comprising a smoking substitute device according to the present invention, and a mobile device.
  • a method of communicating usage of a smoking substitute device to a user comprising detecting usage of the smoking substitute device by the user, and providing a signal after a defined non-use time period of the smoking substitute device to the user.
  • smoking substitute devices are intended to provide a substitute for the rituals of smoking, whilst providing the user with a similar experience and satisfaction to those experienced with traditional smoking and tobacco products.
  • Traditional smoking of cigarettes provides a rather simple and direct feedback regarding the amount of cigarettes, i.e. nicotine consumed.
  • a user may simply count cigarettes smoked, and knows how many cigarettes are in a pack. Thus, consumption is easily traceable by "counting stubs".
  • Some smoking substitute devices however, provide a substance reservoir for nicotine delivery, that may be used a plurality of times before the need to replace it occurs.
  • the aerosol generating substance forms a depot that is comparable to e.g. the amount of nicotine delivered by multiple cigarettes, e.g. even a full pack of cigarettes, before the consumable has to be replaced.
  • a user may lose track about his consumption, without precise feedback.
  • the present invention is devised to provide a signal to the user, in particular after a defined non-use time period of the smoking substitute device.
  • Such an indication may further be seen as a signal to the user to switch off the smoking substitute device, e.g. to save battery power by switching the device in a low- or non-power consumption mode (i.e. switching off the device).
  • a signal may provide an indication that the smoking substitute device now requires a certain heat-up time due to the non-use, and thus may result in the user triggering said heat-up.
  • a certain non-use may make it necessary that a user cleans the smoking substitute device, e.g.
  • the signal may be an indication or reminder that a user shall use or shall not forget the device, e.g. when leaving home. In particular the latter may assures that the user does not forget their device, e.g. at home when leaving home. This assures that the user carries along with them the smoking substitute device for their immediate and continued personal use.
  • the signal keeps the user from smoking real cigarettes/consuming a conventional tobacco product, since they have their smoking substitute device readily available.
  • a possible scenario may be a signal to a user after a prolonged period of non-use, e.g. in the morning, after not using the smoking substitute device throughout the night.
  • the signal may be a defined glow, e.g. of a defined colour.
  • the colour or the glow may indicate a certain non-use period of time.
  • the glow or colour may be initiated after a certain non-use period of time in combination with a certain current time of the day. E.g. in the morning, is may be assumed that a comparably long non-use period has preceded the "first use of the day", so the device may require a longer than usual period of time until operational, e.g.
  • the signalling element may be at least one of a visual signalling element, a haptic signalling element and an acoustic signalling element.
  • a haptic signal may be presented to the user when picking up the smoking substitute device, e.g. a defined vibration, which may be dependent on the current time of the day and/or the length of the non-use time period as well.
  • a number count may indicate the time elapsed since a last use, e.g. a certain number of strong vibration for hours lapsed, followed by a number of lighter vibrations indicting increments of e.g. 15 minutes.
  • the lack of a vibration may indicate a time elapsed that is less than a certain amount of time, e.g. less than 15 minutes.
  • a signal type may be based on any one of a glow, colour intensity, colour, rightness, vibration, sound, or tone.
  • the signalling element may be an illumination element adapted to provide a visual signal to the user.
  • Providing a visual signal may be seen as providing a prominent signal type to a user, in particular without further interfering with bystanders.
  • the sensor element may be an element out of the group consisting of an accelerator sensor element, a puff sensor element, a consumable detection sensor element, and an input sensor element, in particular a user input sensor element.
  • the senor may be a dedicated sensor element, or may be another element of the smoking substitute device that can detect a use or non-use merely by its operation.
  • the signal may be provided to the user dependent on the defined non-use time period and a current time.
  • a different signal may be presented to the user in the morning than midday after lunch or evenings after dinner.
  • Different signals may comprise different colours, different glowing patters, different frequencies of tones, different sounds, and different vibrations.
  • the provided signal may be dependent on the current time and/or the length of the non-use time period.
  • the brightness of the signal provided may increase with an increase in non-use time.
  • a colour may change with an increase in non-use time. This may reward the user dependent on the time of non-use, e.g. the longer the non-use the more pleasant the visual signal presented to the user.
  • an acoustic or haptic signal may change dependent on the non-use time period.
  • a signal may be provided to a user when it is determined that a non-use time period of at least 1 hour has been achieved and a time of day is a time after 6am, or in particular the time of day in a certain time window, e.g. the time window is between 6am and 9 am, or between 11:30 am and 2pm, possibly with a shorter non-use time period of 30in or 45min.
  • the time window may be dependent on the day of the week, e.g. may be between 6am and 9 am on Mondays to Fridays, but 8am to 10am on Saturdays and between 9:30am and 11:30 am on Sundays.
  • the time window may be dependent on national holidays, which may compare to a time window of a Saturday or Sunday.
  • a mobile device may be communicatively connectable to the smoking substitute device to detect usage of the smoking substitute device and/or to control the smoking substitute device to provide the signal to the user, and/or to provide a signal to the user.
  • the use/non-use of the smoking substitute device may be determined by a mobile device associated with the smoking substitute device, in particular communicatively connected to the smoking substitute device. This may allow a simpler construction of the smoking substitute device, since the smoking substitute device e.g. may not need to be capable to determine a period of non-use or a current time of the day by itself. Such information may be provided by the mobile device, which in turn may trigger and/or control the signal presented to the user.
  • the detecting the usage may comprise detecting an accelerator, a puff, a consumable status change and a user input.
  • providing the signal to the user may comprise providing a visual signal.
  • providing the signal to the user may be dependent on the defined non-use time period and a current time.
  • providing the signal may be dependent on the current time and/or the length of the non-use time period.
  • the invention includes the combination of the aspects and preferred features described except where such a combination is clearly impermissible or expressly avoided.
  • Fig. 1 shows an example system 1 for managing a smoking substitute device 10.
  • the system 1 as shown in Fig. 1 includes a mobile device 2, an application server 4, an optional charging station 6, as well as the smoking substitute device 10.
  • the network 8 may include a cellular network and/or the internet.
  • the smoking substitute device 10 may be configured to communicate with the application server 4 via a connection that does not involve the mobile device 2, e.g. via a narrowband internet of things ("NB-loT") connection.
  • NB-loT narrowband internet of things
  • the mobile device 2 may be omitted from the system.
  • the mobile device 2 may be configured to communicate via the network 8 according to various communication channels, preferably a wireless communication channel such as via a cellular network (e.g. according to a standard protocol, such as 3G or 4G) or via a WiFi network.
  • a wireless communication channel such as via a cellular network (e.g. according to a standard protocol, such as 3G or 4G) or via a WiFi network.
  • the app installed on the mobile device and the application server 4 may be configured to assist a user with their smoking substitute device 10, based on information communicated between the smoking substitute device 10 and the app and/or information communicated between the app and the application server 4.
  • Fig. 2(a) shows an example smoking substitute device 110 for use as the smoking substitute device 10 in the system 1 of Fig. 1 .
  • the smoking substitute device 110 is a closed system vaping device, wherein the consumable 150 includes a sealed tank 156 and is intended for one-use only.
  • Fig. 2(a) shows the smoking substitute device 110 with the main body 120 physically coupled to the consumable 150.
  • Fig. 2(b) shows the main body 120 of the smoking substitute device 110 without the consumable 150.
  • the main body 120 and the consumable 150 are configured to be physically coupled together, in this example by pushing the consumable 150 into an aperture in a top end 122 of the main body 120, e.g. with the consumable 150 being retained in the aperture via an interference fit.
  • the main body 120 and the consumable could be physically coupled together by screwing one onto the other, through a bayonet fitting, or through a snap engagement mechanism, for example.
  • An optional light 126 e.g. an LED located behind a small translucent cover, is located a bottom end 124 of the main body 120. The light 126 may be configured to illuminate when the smoking substitute device 110 is activated.
  • the consumable 150 includes a mouthpiece (not shown) at a top end 152 of the consumable 150, as well as one or more air inlets (not shown in Fig. 2 ) so that air can be drawn into the smoking substitute device 110 when a user inhales through the mouthpiece.
  • a tank 156 that contains e-liquid.
  • the tank 156 may be a translucent body, for example.
  • the consumable 302 is a "single-use" consumable. That is, upon exhausting the e-liquid in the tank 156, the intention is that the user disposes of the whole consumable 150.
  • the e-liquid i.e. aerosol former
  • the tank 156 may be refillable with e-liquid or the e-liquid may be stored in a non-consumable component of the system.
  • the e-liquid may be stored in a tank located in the device or stored in another component that is itself not single-use (e.g. a refillable tank).
  • the tank 156 may be referred to as a "clearomizer” if it includes a window 158, or a “cartomizer” if it does not.
  • the illumination element 126 is an example of a signalling element, in particular a visual signalling element that may provide a visual signal to a user.
  • the illumination element 126 may generally glow to signal a non-use time period to a user, or glow in a certain pattern, intensity, brightness or colour, dependent on an elapsed non-use time period of the smoking substitute device.
  • the non-use time period may be determined by the smoking substitute device 10,110 itself, or may be determined by a mobile device 2 associated with the smoking substitute device 10,110.
  • Different signalling elements are conceivable, like an acoustic signalling element or a haptic signalling element, both of which are not depicted in Figs. 2a-c .
  • the mobile device 2 may, alternatively or additionally, provide the signal to the user.
  • Fig. 3(a) is a schematic view of the main body 120 of the smoking substitute device 110.
  • Fig. 3(b) is a schematic view of the consumable 150 of the smoking substitute device 110.
  • the main body 120 includes a power source 128, a control unit 130, a memory 132, a wireless interface 134, an electrical interface 136, and, optionally, one or more additional components 138.
  • the power source 128 is preferably a battery, more preferably a rechargeable battery.
  • the control unit 130 may include a microprocessor, for example.
  • the memory 132 is preferably includes non-volatile memory.
  • the wireless interface 134 is preferably configured to communicate wirelessly with the mobile device 2, e.g. via Bluetooth.
  • the wireless interface 134 could include a BluetoothTM antenna.
  • the electrical interface 136 of the main body 120 may include one or more electrical supply contacts.
  • the electrical interface 136 may be located in, and preferably at the bottom of, the aperture in the top end 122 of the main body 120.
  • the electrical interface 136 may be configured to pass electrical power from the power source 128 to (e.g. a heating device of) the consumable 150 when the smoking substitute device 110 is activated, e.g. via the electrical interface 160 of the consumable 150 (discussed below).
  • the electrical interface may be configured to receive power from the charging station 6.
  • the additional components 138 of the main body 120 may include the optional light 126 discussed above.
  • the additional components 138 of the main body 120 may, if the power source 128 is a rechargeable battery, include a charging port configured to receive power from the charging station 6. This may be located at the bottom end 124 of the main body 120. Alternatively, the electrical interface 136 discussed above is configured to act as a charging port configured to receive power from the charging station 6 such that a separate charging port is not required.
  • the additional components 138 of the main body 120 may, if the power source 128 is a rechargeable battery, include a battery charging control circuit, for controlling the charging of the rechargeable battery.
  • a battery charging control circuit could equally be located in the charging station 6 (if present).
  • the additional components 138 of the main body 120 may include an airflow sensor for detecting airflow in the smoking substitute device 110, e.g. caused by a user inhaling through a mouthpiece 166 (discussed below) of the smoking substitute device 110.
  • the smoking substitute device 110 may be configured to be activated when airflow is detected by the airflow sensor.
  • This optional sensor could alternatively be included in the consumable 150 (though this is less preferred where the consumable 150 is intended to be disposed of after use, as in this example).
  • the additional components 138 of the main body 120 may include an actuator, e.g. a button.
  • the smoking substitute device 110 may be configured to be activated when the actuator is actuated. This provides an alternative to the airflow sensor noted, as a mechanism for activating the smoking substitute device 110.
  • the additional components 138 of the main body 120 may include a reading device configured to read information associated with the consumable from a machine readable data source included in (e.g. contained in the body of, or attached to) the consumable 150.
  • the reading device may be configured to read information from the machine readable data source non-wirelessly, e.g. using an electrical connection between the main body 120 and consumable 150.
  • the reading device may include a set of one or more electrical communication contacts configured to read information from the machine readable data source via an electrical connection established between the set of one or more electrical communication contacts and the machine readable data source.
  • the set of one or more electrical communication contacts of the reading device may be configured to provide the electrical connection by engaging with a set of one or more electrical communication contacts of the consumable 150, when the main body 120 and the consumable 150 are physically coupled together.
  • the reading device may be configured to read information from the machine readable data source wirelessly, e.g. via electromagnetic waves or optically.
  • the machine readable data source included in the consumable 150 could be an RFID tag (in which case the reading device included in the main body 120 may be an RFID reader) or a visual data source such as a barcode (in which case the reading device included in the main body may be an optical reader, e.g. a barcode scanner).
  • Various wireless technologies and protocols may be employed to allow the reading device to wirelessly read information from a machine readable data source included in or attached to the consumable 150, e.g. NFC, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, as would be appreciated by a skilled person.
  • the reading device may be configured to write information associated with the consumable to the machine readable data source (e.g. wirelessly or non-wirelessly, via one of the mechanisms discussed above) in addition to being configured to read information associated with the consumable from the machine readable data source.
  • the reading device may be referred to as a reading/writing device.
  • the consumable 150 includes the tank 156, an electrical interface 160, a heating device 162, one or more air inlets 164, a mouthpiece 166, and, optionally, one or more additional components 168.
  • the electrical interface 160 of the consumable 150 may include one or more electrical supply contacts.
  • the electrical interface 136 of the main body 120 and an electrical interface 160 of the consumable 150 are preferably configured to contact each other and therefore electrically couple the main body 120 to the consumable 150 when the main body 120 is physically coupled to the consumable 150. In this way, electrical energy (e.g. in the form of an electrical current) is able to be supplied from the power source 128 in the main body 120 to the heating device 162 in the consumable 150.
  • the heating device 162 is preferably configured to heat e-liquid contained in the tank 156, e.g. using electrical energy supplied from the power source 128.
  • the heating device 162 may include a heating filament and a wick, wherein a first portion of the wick extends into the tank 156 in order to draw e-liquid out from the tank 156, and wherein the heating filament coils around a second portion of the wick located outside the tank 156.
  • the heating filament is configured to heat up e-liquid drawn out of the tank 156 by the wick to produce an aerosol vapour.
  • the one or more air inlets 164 are preferably configured to allow air to be drawn into the smoking substitute device 110, when a user inhales through the mouthpiece 166.
  • the additional components 168 of the consumable 150 may include a machine readable data source, which may e.g. be contained in the body of, or attached to the consumable 150.
  • the machine readable data source may store information associated with the consumable.
  • the information associated with the consumable may include information concerning the content of the consumable (e.g. e-liquid type, batch number) and/or a unique identifier, for example.
  • the machine readable data source may be rewritable, e.g. a rewritable RFID chip, or read only, e.g. a visual data source such as a barcode.
  • the additional components 138 of the main body 120 may include a reading device configured to read information associated with the consumable from the machine readable data source.
  • the electrical interface 160 of the consumable 150 may include a set of one or more electrical communication contacts, which may allow a reading device of the main body to read information from a machine readable data source of the consumable, e.g. as discussed previously.
  • a user activates the smoking substitute device 110, e.g. through actuating an actuator included in the main body 120 or by inhaling through the mouthpiece 166 as described above.
  • the control unit 130 may supply electrical energy from the power source 128 to the heating device 162 (via electrical interfaces 136, 166), which may cause the heating device 162 to heat e-liquid drawn from the tank 156 to produce a vapour which is inhaled by a user through the mouthpiece 166.
  • smoking substitute device 110 shown in Figs. 2 and 3 shows just one example implementation of a smoking substitute device, and that other forms of smoking substitute device could be used as the smoking substitute device 10 of Fig. 1 .
  • a HNB smoking substitute device including a main body and a consumable could be used as the smoking substitute device 10 of Fig. 1 , instead of the smoking substitute device 110.
  • One such HNB smoking substitute device is the IQOSTM smoking substitute device discussed above.
  • an open system vaping device which includes a main body, a refillable tank, and a mouthpiece could be used as the smoking substitute device 10 of Fig. 1 , instead of the smoking substitute device 110.
  • One such open system vaping device is the blu PROTM e-cigarette discussed above.
  • an entirely disposable (one use) smoking substitute device could be used as the smoking substitute device 10 of Fig. 1 , instead of the smoking substitute device 110.
  • Fig. 4 is a flowchart diagram of a method of communicating usage of a smoking substitute device to a user.
  • the method (400) of communicating usage of a smoking substitute device to a user comprises detecting (402) usage of the smoking substitute device by the user, and providing (404) a signal after a defined non-use time period of the smoking substitute device to the user.
EP19218580.9A 2019-11-08 2019-12-20 Rauchersatzvorrichtung und verfahren zur kommunikation der verwendung einer rauchersatzvorrichtung an einen benutzer Ceased EP3838018A1 (de)

Priority Applications (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP19218580.9A EP3838018A1 (de) 2019-12-20 2019-12-20 Rauchersatzvorrichtung und verfahren zur kommunikation der verwendung einer rauchersatzvorrichtung an einen benutzer
EP20800212.1A EP4054363A1 (de) 2019-11-08 2020-11-06 Rauchersatzvorrichtungen und zugehörige verfahren, systeme und vorrichtungen
PCT/EP2020/081355 WO2021089823A1 (en) 2019-11-08 2020-11-06 Smoking substitute devices and associated methods, systems and apparatuses
US17/733,582 US20220256930A1 (en) 2019-11-08 2022-04-29 Smoking substitute devices and associated methods, systems and apparatuses

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP19218580.9A EP3838018A1 (de) 2019-12-20 2019-12-20 Rauchersatzvorrichtung und verfahren zur kommunikation der verwendung einer rauchersatzvorrichtung an einen benutzer

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EP3838018A1 true EP3838018A1 (de) 2021-06-23

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Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20160158782A1 (en) * 2014-12-09 2016-06-09 R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company Gesture recognition user interface for an aerosol delivery device
WO2017011419A1 (en) * 2015-07-10 2017-01-19 Pax Labs, Inc. Wickless vaporizing devices and methods
WO2017205838A1 (en) * 2016-05-26 2017-11-30 Pax Labs, Inc. Devices for vaporization of a substance
US20190247606A1 (en) * 2018-04-24 2019-08-15 Samuel Alexander Williams Variable Temperature Electronic Vaporization Device with Filter Addition and Methods

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20160158782A1 (en) * 2014-12-09 2016-06-09 R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company Gesture recognition user interface for an aerosol delivery device
WO2017011419A1 (en) * 2015-07-10 2017-01-19 Pax Labs, Inc. Wickless vaporizing devices and methods
WO2017205838A1 (en) * 2016-05-26 2017-11-30 Pax Labs, Inc. Devices for vaporization of a substance
US20190247606A1 (en) * 2018-04-24 2019-08-15 Samuel Alexander Williams Variable Temperature Electronic Vaporization Device with Filter Addition and Methods

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