EP3838018A1

EP3838018A1 - Smoking substitute device and a method of communicating usage of a smoking substitute device to a user

Info

Publication number: EP3838018A1
Application number: EP19218580.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: designation of the inventor has not yet been filed The
Original assignee: Nerudia Ltd
Current assignee: Nerudia Ltd
Priority date: 2019-12-20
Filing date: 2019-12-20
Publication date: 2021-06-23

Abstract

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. Current smoking substitute devices may not be adapted to signal the extent of the use of the smoking substitute device to a user. Accordingly, there is provided 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.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

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.

BACKGROUND

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.
Combustion of organic material such as tobacco is known to produce tar and other potentially harmful byproducts. There have been proposed various smoking substitute devices in order to avoid the smoking of tobacco.
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. The inhaled aerosol typically bears nicotine and/or flavourings without, or with fewer of, the odour and health risks associated with traditional smoking.
In general, 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.
The popularity and use of smoking substitute devices has grown rapidly in the past few years. Although originally marketed as an aid to assist habitual smokers wishing to quit tobacco smoking, consumers are increasingly viewing smoking substitute devices as desirable lifestyle accessories. Some 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).
There are a number of different categories of smoking substitute devices, each utilising a different smoking substitute approach. A smoking substitute approach corresponds to the manner in which the substitute system operates for a user.
One approach for a smoking substitute device is the so-called "vaping" approach, 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. In use, 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. For example, 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.
There are also "open system" 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 myblu™ e-cigarette. The myblu™ 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.
Another example vaping smoking substitute device is the blu PRO™ e-cigarette. The blu PRO™ 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.
Another approach for a smoking substitute system is the so-called Heated Tobacco ("HT") approach in which tobacco (rather than an "e-liquid") is heated or warmed to release vapour. HT is also known as "heat not burn" ("HNB"). The tobacco may be leaf tobacco or reconstituted tobacco. The vapour may contain nicotine and/or flavourings. In the HT approach 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. In use, 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.
As 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.
In 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.
There may be a need for improved design of smoking substitute systems, in particular HT smoking substitute systems, to enhance the user experience and improve the function of the HT smoking substitute system.
An example of the HT approach is the IQOS™ smoking substitute device from Philip Morris Ltd. The IQOS™ 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"™ from British American Tobacco pic. Glo™ 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").
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.
The present inventor(s) have observed that 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. In particular, 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.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided 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.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided smoking substitute system, comprising a smoking substitute device according to the present invention, and a mobile device.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided 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.
As describes above, 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 however, 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. E.g. in the case of an e-liquid, 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. Thus, 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). Alternatively, such 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. Further, a certain non-use may make it necessary that a user cleans the smoking substitute device, e.g. because due to the non-use that power has been reduces and a consumable may have been cooled and is not unfavourably attached to a heating element. Further, 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. Thus, 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. Thus, when a user first picks up the smoking substitute device in the morning, 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. due to the requirement to extensively pre-heat the smoking substitute device or because first a dedicated boot or start-up sequence has to be initiated. Depending on the time of the day, the signal may change, e.g. a different signal may be presented to the user after a certain non-use period, e.g. after lunch, which may be longer than a usual non-use period during the day between uses, but shorter that a non-use period through the night. The glow colour may in particular be blue, yellow or green, but any other colour may be suitably chosen. The signal may further be a reminder to a user to not forget the smoking substitute device when leaving a certain place.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the signalling element may be at least one of a visual signalling element, a haptic signalling element and an acoustic signalling element.
In addition to a visual 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. E.g. 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. The same may be realised with an acoustic element and tones of different frequency and/or amplitude, or differentiable sounds. In summary, a signal type may be based on any one of a glow, colour intensity, colour, rightness, vibration, sound, or tone.
According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, 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.
According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, 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.
In other words, the sensor 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.
According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the signal may be provided to the user dependent on the defined non-use time period and a current time.
E.g. 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.
According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the provided signal may be dependent on the current time and/or the length of the non-use time period.
E.g. in case of a visual signal the brightness of the signal provided may increase with an increase in non-use time. Alternatively, 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. Likewise, an acoustic or haptic signal may change dependent on the non-use time period.
Exemplarily, 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.
According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, 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.
Thus, 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.
According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the detecting the usage may comprise detecting an accelerator, a puff, a consumable status change and a user input.
According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, providing the signal to the user may comprise providing a visual signal.
According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, providing the signal to the user may be dependent on the defined non-use time period and a current time.
According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, 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.
The skilled person will appreciate that except where mutually exclusive, a feature or parameter described in relation to any one of the above aspects may be applied to any other aspect. Furthermore, except where mutually exclusive, any feature or parameter described herein may be applied to any aspect and/or combined with any other feature or parameter described herein.

Summary of the Figures

Embodiments and experiments illustrating the principles of the invention will now be discussed with reference to the accompanying figures in which:

Figure 1 shows an example system for managing a smoking substitute device.
Figure 2(a) shows an example smoking substitute device for use as the smoking substitute device in the system of Fig. 1.
Figure 2(b) shows the main body of the smoking substitute device of Fig. 2(a) without the consumable.
Figure 2(c) shows the consumable of the smoking substitute device of Fig. 2(a) without the main body.
Figure 3(a) is a schematic view of the main body of the smoking substitute device of Fig. 2(a).
Figure 3(b) is a schematic view of the consumable of the smoking substitute device of Fig. 2(a).
Figure 4 is a flowchart diagram of a method of communicating usage of a smoking substitute device to a user.

Detailed Description of the Invention

Aspects and embodiments of the present invention will now be discussed with reference to the accompanying figures. Further aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. All documents mentioned in this text are incorporated herein by reference.
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 smoking substitute device 10 is configured to communicate wirelessly, e.g. via Bluetooth™, with an application (or "app") installed on the mobile device 2, e.g. via a suitable wireless interface (not shown) on the mobile device 2. The mobile device 2 may be a mobile phone, for example. The application on the mobile phone is configured to communicate with the application server 4, via a network 8. The application server 4 may utilise cloud storage, for example.
The network 8 may include a cellular network and/or the internet.
In other examples, 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. In some examples, the mobile device 2 may be omitted from the system.
A skilled person would readily appreciate that 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.
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.
The charging station 6 (if present) may be configured to charge (and optionally communicate with) the smoking substitute device 10, via a charging port on the smoking substitute device 10. The charging port on the smoking substitute device 10 may be a USB port, for example, which may allow the smoking substitute device to be charged by any USB-compatible device capable of delivering power to the smoking substitute device 10 via a suitable USB cable (in this case the USB-compatible device would be acting as the charging station 6). Alternatively, the charging station could be a docking station specifically configured to dock with the smoking substitute device 10 and charge the smoking substitute device 10 via the charging port on the smoking substitute device 10.
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.
In this example, the smoking substitute device 110 includes a main body 120 and a consumable 150. The consumable 150 may alternatively be referred to as a "pod".
In this example, 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.
Fig. 2(c) shows the consumable 150 of the smoking substitute device 110 without the main body 120.
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. In other examples, 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. At a bottom end 154 of the consumable 150, there is located a tank 156 that contains e-liquid. The tank 156 may be a translucent body, for example.
The tank 156 preferably includes a window 158, so that the amount of e-liquid in the tank 156 can be visually assessed. The main body 120 includes a slot 128 so that the window 158 of the consumable 150 can be seen whilst the rest of the tank 156 is obscured from view when the consumable 150 is inserted into the aperture in the top end 122 of the main body 120.
In this present embodiment, 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. In other embodiments, the e-liquid (i.e. aerosol former) may be the only part of the system that is truly "single-use". In such embodiments, the tank 156 may be refillable with e-liquid or the e-liquid may be stored in a non-consumable component of the system. For example, 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, or light 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. Further, 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.
As shown in Fig. 3(a), 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. To this end, the wireless interface 134 could include a Bluetooth™ antenna. Other wireless communication interfaces, e.g. WiFi, are also possible.
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. When the main body 120 is physically coupled to the consumable 150, 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). When the main body 120 is not physically coupled to the consumable 150, 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. However, 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.
In some examples, the reading device (if present) 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.
For example, the reading device (if present) 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. Conveniently, 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.
In some examples, the reading device (if present) may be configured to read information from the machine readable data source wirelessly, e.g. via electromagnetic waves or optically. Thus, for example, 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 (if present) 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. In this case, the reading device may be referred to as a reading/writing device.
As shown in Fig. 3(b), 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. In one example, 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. In this example, 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. As indicated above, 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.
For example, 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.
In use, 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. Upon activation, 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.
Of course, a skilled reader would readily appreciate that the 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.
By way of example, 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 IQOS™ smoking substitute device discussed above.
As another example, 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 PRO™ e-cigarette discussed above.
As another example, 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.
The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or in the following claims, or in the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for obtaining the disclosed results, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.
While the invention has been described in conjunction with the exemplary embodiments described above, many equivalent modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art when given this disclosure. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments of the invention set forth above are considered to be illustrative and not limiting. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
For the avoidance of any doubt, any theoretical explanations provided herein are provided for the purposes of improving the understanding of a reader. The inventors do not wish to be bound by any of these theoretical explanations.
Any section headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not to be construed as limiting the subject matter described.
Throughout this specification, including the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise" and "include", and variations such as "comprises", "comprising", and "including" will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.
It must be noted that, as used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Ranges may be expressed herein as from "about" one particular value, and/or to "about" another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by the use of the antecedent "about," it will be understood that the particular value forms another embodiment. The term "about" in relation to a numerical value is optional and means for example +/- 10%.

Claims

A smoking substitute device (10,110), comprising
a sensor element adapted to detect usage of the smoking substitute device by the user, and

at least one signalling element (126) 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.
The smoking substitute device according to the preceding claim,
wherein the signalling element is at least one of a visual signalling element, a haptic signalling element and an acoustic signalling element.
The smoking substitute device according to at least one of the preceding claims,
wherein the signalling element is an illumination element (126) adapted to provide a visual signal to the user.
The smoking substitute device according to at least one of the preceding claims,
wherein the sensor element is 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 smoking substitute device according to at least one of the preceding claims,
wherein the signal is provided to the user dependent on the defined non-use time period and a current time.
The smoking substitute device according to the preceding claim,
wherein the provided signal is dependent on the current time and/or the length of the non-use time period.
The smoking substitute device according to at least one of the preceding claims,
wherein a mobile device (2) is 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.
A smoking substitute system (1), comprising
a smoking substitute device (10,110) according to at least one of the preceding claims, and

a mobile device (2).
A method (400) of communicating usage of a smoking substitute device to a user, comprising
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.
The method according to the preceding claim,
wherein the detecting the usage comprises detecting an accelerator, a puff, a consumable status change and a user input.
The method according to at least one of the preceding claims,
wherein providing the signal to the user is providing a visual signal.
The method according to at least one of the preceding claims,
wherein providing the signal to the user is dependent on the defined non-use time period and a current time.
The method according to the preceding claim,
wherein providing the signal is dependent on the current time and/or the length of the non-use time period.