Classifications

• • 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
  • A24F40/40—Constructional details, e.g. connection of cartridges and battery parts
• • 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
  • A24F40/20—Devices using solid inhalable precursors

Definitions

• the present disclosure relates to the field of smoking tobacco.
• the present disclosure relates to smoking substitute systems and particularly, although not exclusively, to a heat-not-burn (HNB) smoking substitute system.
• HNB heat-not-burn
• the present disclosure relates to a smoking substitute device with an improved housing design.
• 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 systems can form part of nicotine replacement therapies aimed at people who wish to stop smoking and overcome a dependence on nicotine.
• Smoking substitute systems include 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.
• smoking substitute systems 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 with combustible tobacco products.
• Some smoking substitute systems use smoking substitute articles that are designed to resemble a traditional cigarette and are cylindrical in form with a mouthpiece at one end.
• HNB heat not burn
• a typical HNB 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 moisture 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 an inlet to a mouthpiece (outlet), the vapour cools and condenses to form an aerosol for inhalation by the user.
• the aerosol will normally contain the volatile compounds.
• HNB 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 HNB approach may reduce the odour and/or health risks that can arise through the burning, combustion and pyrolytic degradation of tobacco.
• the present disclosure relates to an aerosol-forming delivery system, e.g. a smoking substitute system such as an HNB system.
• a smoking substitute system such as an HNB system.
• the present disclosure relates to a smoking substitute device with an improved housing design.
• a smoking substitute device comprising a main body having a length and a transverse cross-section, wherein the cross-section comprises at least two partially parallel, substantially linear sides of different width, wherein the cross-section further comprises two sides having a curved shape and wherein the curved sides connect with the linear sides for forming the cross-section.
• a smoking substitute system comprising a smoking substitute device and a smoking substitute consumable.
• a method for using a smoking substitute system comprising inserting a smoking substitute consumable into a smoking substitute device and heating the smoking substitute consumable using a heating element.
• a smoking substitute system may comprise a smoking substitute device or an aerosol-forming device, which may be a heat-not-burn (HNB) smoking substitute device.
• An HNB device is a device that is adapted for heating but not combusting the aerosol-forming substrate. This substrate may be made of tobacco material and may comprise additives assisting in the forming of the aerosol by the smoking substitute device.
• the smoking substitute device may comprise a main body for housing a heating element.
• the heating element may comprise an elongated, e.g. rod-shaped, tube-shaped or blade-shaped heating element.
• the heating element may project into or surround a cavity within the main body of the smoking substitute device, which cavity is for receiving a smoking substitute consumable.
• the smoking substitute device may comprise an electrical power supply, e.g. a (rechargeable) battery for powering the heating element. It may further comprise a control unit to control the supply of power to the heating element.
• the heating element may penetrate the smoking substitute consumable in an area of the consumable where the aerosol-forming substrate, e.g. tobacco material, is arranged.
• the heating element is thus arranged inside of the smoking substitute consumable and in particular inside of the tobacco material.
• the heating element is heated to a target temperature, preferably in the range above the vaporization temperature of nicotine contained in the tobacco material, but below the temperature where the tobacco material would start to burn or combust.
• the heating element may be heated to a temperature of above 170°C, the vaporization temperature of nicotine, but below 400° C to avoid burning of the tobacco material in the consumable.
• the target temperature may not exceed approx. 350°C.
• the smoking substitute device comprises a main body having a length and a transverse cross-section.
• the cross-section comprises a plurality of sides of different shapes forming the cross-section.
• the cross-section comprises two at least partially parallel, substantially linear sides of different width, which are joined by two further sides having a curved shape and connecting the ends of the two substantially linear sides.
• substantially linear in the context of this disclosure may be understood as linear or flat. However, also a slight curvature having a comparably large radius of curvature falls within the meaning of “substantially linear”. In other words, substantially linear may be understood as having a radius of curvature which results is an almost linear or flat element, given the particular dimensions of the width of the substantially linear sides. An according radius of curvature may e.g. be in the range of 500 cm to 1000 cm and therefore may be almost unnoticeable to a user of a smoking substitute device.
• substantially linear will be used in light of this definition, while the examples assume the substantially linear sides to be linear or flat sides.
• the two substantially linear sides may be arranged to be parallel to one another, by comprising the substantially identical radius of curvature. They may be partially parallel in that they may be parallel in an area where the two widths of the substantially linear sides overlap in the cross-section. Since the two substantially linear sides are of a different width, the remaining at least two sides connecting the substantially linear sides are preferably embodied as sides having a curved shape. In particular, the shape of the two sides is such that they provide a continuous transition from one substantially linear side to the other substantially linear side without bends or edges. This provides a user holding the smoking substitute device with an improved holding experience by providing a smooth and rounded continuous surface.
• the two substantially linear sides provide a preferred means to allow placement of the smoking substitute device on a substantially flat surface like e.g. a table top.
• the substantially linear sides provide a surface for placing the smoking substitute device, which effectively prevents rolling or sliding off.
• the smoking substitute device is put on one of the two curved sides, it turns substantially without external force until a position is reached where it is again in contact with the substantially linear sides and the object where it is placed upon.
• the substantially linear sides comprise a radius of curvature
• one side of the substantially linear sides may be concave while the other side may be convex thereby providing a preferred surface for holding the smoking substitute device by conforming to the surface of fingers of a hand.
• a thumb may preferably be situated on the concave surface while at least one of the remaining fingers of the same hand is located on the convex surface.
• the aforementioned rolling resistance is still provided in case the substantially linear sides comprise a radius of curvature in accordance with the present disclosure, in particular if it is a substantially large radius of curvature.
• flat substantially linear sides or also sides with a radius of curvature may provide an improved experience to a user in case the smoking substitute device is inserted into a pocket, e.g. a jacket pocket, a shirt breast pocket or a trouser pocket, by conforming of one of the substantially linear sides with the surface of the body underneath the clothing.
• the curved sides may be non-circular sides.
• Non-circular curved sides may provide a preferred means of providing a transition from one of the substantially linear sides to the other of the substantially linear sides due to the different width of the substantially linear sides.
• a non-circular shape of the curved sides may provide an improved user experience when holding or handling the device.
• one of the substantially linear sides may be a front side of the smoking substitute device and the other one of the substantially linear sides may be a back side of the smoking substitute device.
• Providing the substantially linear sides as front and back sides provides an improved positioning, e.g. of the hand of a user when operating the device.
• a user of the smoking substitute device may operate the device without actually looking at the device.
• the proposed shape allows a user to feel the orientation of the device in one’s hand thereby providing an increased user experience and ease of use.
• the front side of the smoking substitute device may comprise at least one of a display element for indicating a mode of operation and a control element for controlling operation of the smoking substitute device.
• the shape of the cross-section allows easy determination of a correct positioning or placement of the smoking substitute device, thereby providing an automatic correct alignment of the front side of the smoking substitute device with a regular holding position so that the control element, the display element or both are arranged in the direction pointing to the user for ease of operation.
• the smoking substitute device may further comprise a front face element, wherein at least one of the display element and the control element may be arranged on the front face element and wherein the front face element may in particular protrude from the front side.
• a protruding front face element provides haptic feedback to a user for correctly positioning the device during use.
• a dedicated front face element which may be separate from the main body of the smoking substitute device, allows the use of the identical main body design with different front face elements, thereby providing an improved way of manufacturing a variety of smoking substitute devices.
• the curved sides each may comprise a plurality of curved subsections, wherein each curved side may comprise two curved subsections or wherein each curved side may comprise two curved subsections and a substantially linear subsection arranged between the curved subsections.
• the smoking substitute device may comprise a first end section and a second end section, where the end sections may be non-linear in shape, in particular may comprise a curvature.
• the end sections may be non-flat or non-linear to the extent that the smoking substitute device may not be positioned upright on either end section. This effectively prevents the positioning of the smoking substitute device in a position with reduced stability, thereby preventing tumbling of the smoking substitute device, which could result in damage to the smoking substitute device.
• the length of the smoking substitute device may be in the range of 5 cm to 20 cm, in particular in the range of 7 cm to 15 cm, further in particular in the range of 10 cm to 16 cm, further in particular in a range of 12 cm to 13 cm, further in particular substantially 12.7 cm.
• the first width may be in the range of 1 to 3 cm, in particular in the range of 1.2 cm to 2.5 cm, further in particular in the range of 1.3 cm to 2 cm, further in particular in the range of 1.4 cm to 1.6 cm, further in particular substantially 1.5 cm.
• the second width may be in the range of 0.5 cm to 1.5 cm, in particular in the range of 1.6 cm to 1 .2 cm, further in particular in the range of 0.65 cm to 1 cm, further in particular in the range of 0.7 cm to 0.85 cm, further in particular substantially 0.73 cm.
• the width of the smoking substitute device may be in the range of 1 cm to 5 cm, in particular in the range of 1.5 cm to 4 cm, further in particular in the range of 2 cm to 3 cm, further in particular in the range of 2.2 cm to 2.6 cm, further in particular substantially 2.4 cm.
• a depth of the smoking substitute device may be in the range of 0.5 cm to 3 cm, in particular in the range of 0.8 cm to 2.5 cm, further in particular in the range of 1 cm to 2.2 cm, further in particular in the range of 1.3 cm to 2 cm, further in particular substantially 1.6cm.
• the smoking substitute device provides a device, which is easy to hold and operate and additionally is of such a size that may conveniently be carried in clothing, e.g. pocketed appropriately, without unduly burdening a user or carrier and in particular without visual impact on the appearance of a carrier when pocketed.
• the two substantially linear sides may comprise a radius of curvature in the range of 10 cm to 1000 cm, in particular in the range of 100 cm and 1000 cm, further in particular in the range of 500 cm and 1000 cm.
• An according radius of curvature provides only a minor curvature in the substantially linear sides, in particular without impacting the actual visual appearance of a curved side. Further, a holding experience may be improved by providing a slight curvature, thus a comparably large radius of curvature, in the two substantially linear sides.
• one of the two substantially linear sides may be concavely shaped and the other one of the two substantially linear sides may be convexly shaped, in particular wherein the two substantially linear sides may comprise a curvature with a substantially identical circle centre.
• Substantially linear sides which are accordingly shaped may provide an improved holding experience to a user and may further improve pocketing of the smoking substitute device due to an improved resting against a body surface within the pocket.
• Figure 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a smoking substitute device in accordance with the present invention
• FIGS. 2A, B show a cross-section of a smoking substitute device in accordance with the present invention.
• FIG. 3 shows a schematics of an exemplary embodiment of a smoking substitute device in accordance with the present disclosure. Detailed Description of the Figures
• Fig. 1 shows a view of an exemplary embodiment of a smoking substitute device 10, here exemplarily an HNB device 10.
• the HNB device 10 comprises a rod-shaped heating element 12, which projects into a cavity 14 within the main body 16 of the device 10.
• a smoking substitute consumable 20 may be inserted into the cavity 14 of the main body 12 of the device 10 such that the heating rod 12 penetrates an aerosol-forming substrate, e.g. tobacco material in one outer part, e.g. the lower part of the smoking substitute consumable 20, distal from an outward facing opening 42 of cavity 14.
• Heating of e.g. reconstituted tobacco in the aerosol-forming substrate is effected by powering the heating element 12, with a power source 18, e.g. a rechargeable battery 18 incorporated in the smoking substitute device 10.
• moisture and volatile compounds e.g. nicotine
• a humectant are released as a vapour and entrained within an airflow generated by inhalation by the user.
• Heating of the tobacco by the heating element 12 may be activated by the user pressing an actuator 26, here exemplarily activation switch 26, on a side surface of the main body 16 of the smoking substitute device 10.
• Display element 28, here exemplarily a number of LEDs, is arranged in the vicinity of the activation switch 26 on the side surface of main body 16.
• the charging connector 30 may be embodied as a standard USB connector, e.g. mini-USB or micro-USC.
• the charging connector 30 is embedded as a symmetrical connector, like a USB-C connector.
• the charging connector 30 may be embodied as a lightning connector.
• the charging connector 30 may provide a connection for either energy or data or both.
• the smoking substitute device 10 comprises a length I, and further has a first end section 54a and a second end section 54b.
• FIG. 2A a cross-sectional view of the transverse cross-section of the smoking substitute device 10 is depicted.
• the main body 16 comprises two at least partially parallel, substantially linear sides S1 , S2 which are arranged on opposite sides of the cross-section.
• Side S1 comprises width w1 of the cross-section width w of the smoking substitute device 10/ the main body 16.
• Side S2 comprises width w2 of the cross-section width w.
• width w1 may be twice the width w2 while the width w may be three times the width w2.
• the smoking substitute device further comprises a depth d and a length I, as depicted in Fig. 1.
• the view in Figure 2A indeed is the view on the cross-section c from the second end 54b, since electrical interface 30 is visible, e.g. a symmetrical connector like a USB-C or lightning connector.
• the curved sides are depicted as non-circular. Indeed, the curved sides S3, S4 in Fig. 2A each comprise exemplarily three subsections S3A, S3B, S3C and S4A, S4B, S4C. As can be taken from Fig.
• subsections S3A, S3C, S4A and S4C are curved subsections, while subsections S3B and S4B are substantially linear subsections in accordance with the definition of substantially linear as used in this disclosure. It is likewise conceivable to extend subsections S3A, S3C, and S4A, S4C, thereby not requiring subsections S3B and S4B. Each of the subsections S3A, S3C, S4A, S4C are not required to correspond to a defined or uniform radius of curvature. However, as may be taken from Fig.
• the individual subsections of sides S3 and S4 as well as the two substantially linear sides S1 and S2 are shaped/curved in a way to provide a substantially continuous transition of the overall surface of the smoking substitute device 10, without any bends or edges, thereby improving a holding experience of a user.
• One of the substantially linear sides S1 , S2 in embodied as a front side S2, while the other side is embodied as a back side S1 of the smoking substitute device 10.
• FIG. 2A An additional front face element F is provided in Fig. 2A, which may substantially be attached to the outer surface, or rather may be incorporated into the outer surface of the smoking substitute device, thereby providing means for variation of a front face element without the necessity to vary the main body of the smoking substitute device 10 itself.
• the front face element F may comprise a display element, a control element or both. It may further comprise additional elements like a second display element or further control elements.
• FIG. 2B an exemplary holding position of the smoking substitute device 10 is depicted.
• a user of the smoking substitute device may conveniently hold the smoking substitute device 10 between the fingers with the thumb resting on one of the substantially linear sides, in Fig. 2B exemplary the substantially linear side S1 , e.g. the front side, while some or all of the remaining fingers rest against the other one of the substantially linear sides, in Fig. 2B exemplary linear side S2, e.g. the back side.
• the front face element F is not depicted in Fig. 2B.
• the User may e.g. hold the smoking substitute device 10 in a region below the front face element F.
• a preferred mode of holding the smoking substitute device with the complete hand of a user with, e.g. one substantially linear side resting against the palm of the user while some or all of the other fingers, possibly except the thumb, are used for holding the smoking substitute devicel 0 on the opposite of the two substantially linear sides.
• Smoking substitute device 10 comprises a main body 16 or housing and a power source 18, e.g. a rechargeable battery. Further provided is a control unit 32, which may include a microprocessor. Memory 34 is provided for storing e.g. control instructions for control unit 32 or the microprocessor. Memory 34 is preferably provided as non-volatile memory.
• Smoking substitute device 10 may further comprise a display element 28, which may be embodied as a single or a plurality of LEDs or organic LEDs.
• the LEDs are possibly adapted for displaying different colours in accordance with instructions from the control unit 32 and memory 34, depicting different modes of operation with different colours of smoking substitute device 10 or generally different information directed to the user operating the smoking substitute device 10.
• a control element 26 is provided, e.g. an actuator or activation switch, with which the smoking substitute device may be switched on and off, an operation may be initiated and/or a mode of operation may be set.
• an electrical interface 30 or charging connector 30 is provided, which may be incorporated in the main body 16 and which may include one or more electrical contacts.
• the electrical interface 30 may be located in, and preferably at the bottom of, an aperture in an end section of the main body 16. Electrical interface 30 may be adapted to be coupled with an external charging station to receive power for charging the power source 18.
• electrical interface 30 may be embodied as a charging connector 30, which may be a USB or lightning connection.
• the charging connector 30 is embodied as a USB- C connector, which is an example of a symmetrical connector.
• 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%.

Landscapes

• Cigarettes, Filters, And Manufacturing Of Filters (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=64024342

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Citations (2)

Family Cites Families (2)

• 2018
  • 2018-09-24 GB GBGB1815525.9A patent/GB201815525D0/en not_active Ceased
• 2019
  • 2019-09-23 WO PCT/EP2019/075480 patent/WO2020064604A1/en unknown
  • 2019-09-23 EP EP19773809.9A patent/EP3855959A1/de active Pending

Patent Citations (2)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events