GB2502052A

GB2502052A - Smokeless cigarette

Info

Publication number: GB2502052A
Application number: GB1208347.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher Lord
Original assignee: Nicoventures Holdings Ltd
Current assignee: Nicoventures Holdings Ltd
Priority date: 2012-05-14
Filing date: 2012-05-14
Publication date: 2013-11-20
Also published as: WO2013171206A1; GB201208347D0

Abstract

A smokeless cigarette comprises a cigarette body 4 and a mouthpiece 2, where the cigarette body 4 comprises cigarette body connection means 10, the mouthpiece 2 comprises mouthpiece connection means 8 and the mouthpiece connection means 8 is attachable to the cigarette body connection means 10 by an interference fit; wherein the mouthpiece 2 has a limited range of rotation about the longitudinal axis of the cigarette relative to the cigarette body 4 when connected to the cigarette body 4. The limited range of rotational movement can be achieved by a number of different arrangements. The cigarette body 4 may comprise a projection 16 which engages in a slot 18 within the mouthpiece (as shown, with similar examples also found in figures 7-17). The slot 18 may be replaced by other means performing a similar function (figures 3-6). Alternatively, the cigarette body may comprise a protuberance (10, figures 18 and 21), preferably having a polygonal cross-section such as square or hexagonal, which engages with a corresponding opening (14, figures 19, 20, 22 and 23) in the mouthpiece. The smokeless cigarette is preferably an electronic cigarette.

Description

Smokeless Cigarette

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to smokeless cigarettes. More particularly, but not exclusively, the present invention concerns electronic cigarettes.

Background of the Invention

It is well known that smoking tobacco is bad for your health and reduces your life expectancy. Smokers have an increased chance of developing lung cancer, suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and having heart attacks.

However, smokers can find it difficult to quit smoking because they are addicted to the nicotine found in tobacco. A number of smoking cessation techniques have been developed to help people quit, including the use of Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) to introduce nicotine into the body in a form other than tobacco. NRT products include nicotine gums, nicotine patches and smokeless cigarettes.

Smokeless cigarettes are popular because they replicate the smoking habit. These devices are typically cigarette-sized and function by allowing a user to inhale a nicotine vapour from a liquid store by applying a suction force to a mouthpiece. Some smokeless cigarettes have a separate cylindrical mouthpiece which can be pushed onto a cigarette body in any orientation and rotated freely relative to the cigarette body. Smokeless cigarettes include electronic cigarettes.

Summary of the Invention

In a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a smokeless cigarette comprising a cigarette body and a mouthpiece, where the cigarette body comprises a cigarette body connection means, the mouthpiece comprises a mouthpiece connection means and the mouthpiece connection means is attachable to the cigarette body connection means by an interference fit; wherein the mouthpiece has a limited range of rotation about the longitudinal axis of the cigarerte relative to the cigarette body when connected to the cigarette body.

By limiting the range of rotation, the mouthpiece cannot be rotated freely relative to the cigarette body when attached to the cigarette body. A'hen a mouthpiece is freely rotatable, a user who rotates the mouthpiece against the friction of the interference fit can cause damage to the connection means and break the device. Therefore, preventing this free rotation reduces the chances of potential damage.

Suitably, the mouthpiece is substantially not rotatable relative to the cigarette body when connected to the cigarette body.

If the mouthpiece cannot be rotated once attached this further reduces the chances of damage.

Suitably, the interference fit is a press fit.

Suitably, the mouthpiece is releasably-attachable to the cigarette body. Suitably, the mouthpiece forms an afrtight seal with the cigarette body when attached. Suitably, the mouthpiece comprises an airflow outlet.

Having a mouthpiece that is releasably-attachable enables the mouthpiece to be replaced without replacing the entire device causing less wastage. Also, a mouthpiece with a limited range of rotation can only be applied in particular configurations.

Where the mouthpiece is positioned in a fixed position relative to the cigarette body, the smokeless cigarette can be advantageously configured. In a smokeless cigarette having a vaporiser, where the vaporiser part is connected to the mouthpiece and a liguid bottle is contained in the mouthpiece, the vaporiser part becomes in fluid communication with the liquid bottle when the mouthpiece is attached. By fixing the position of the mouthpiece relative to the vaporiser, a preferable orientation can be selected which provides optimum alignment.

Fixing the position of the mouthpiece relative to the cigarette body has the advantage of enabling the mouthpiece to be attached to the cigarette body by the user in an orientation predefined by the manufacturer. Thus alignment featjres such as surfaces and printing can be aligned properly.

Suitably, the smokeless cigarette is generally cigarette-shaped. Suitably, the smokeless cigarette is an electronic cigarette.

Suitable, the outer surface of the mouthpiece is substantially flush with the outer surface of the cigarette when connected.

Suitably, the cigarette body connection means comprises a cigarette protuberance and the mouthpiece connection means comprises a mouthpiece receiving portion configured to receive the cigarette protuberance.

Having a cigarette protuberance has the advantage that it requires the mouthpiece to have a receiving portion. Generic mouthpieces without such a receiving portion will therefore not attach correctly to the cigarette body. The mouthpieces may also not have an airtight seal. This enables the manufacturer to control which mouthpieces can be used with the device, to control the quality and therefore improve the safety of the device.

Suitably, the cigarette protuberance is a raised surface on the cigarette body connection means. Suitably, the raised surface is raised in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cigarette. Suitably, the cigarette protuberance is elongated in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cigarette body.

Suitably, the mouthpiece receiving portion is a mouthpiece wall opening. Alternatively, the mouthpiece receiving portion is a mouthpiece wall indentation. Suitably, indented in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the mouthpiece.

Alternatively, the mouthpiece receiving portion is a mouthpiece wall flexible portion. Suitably, flexible in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the mouthpiece.

Alternatively, the mouthpiece receiving portion is a mouthpiece wall raised portion. Suitably, raised in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the mouthpiece.

Suitably, the mouthpiece connection means comprises a mouthpiece edge and the cigarette body connection means comprises a cigarette edge, configured such that mouthpiece edge abuts the cigarette edge when connected.

Suitably, the cigarette edge comprises the cigarette protuberance. Suitably, the mouthpiece edge comprises the mouthpiece receiving portion. Suitably, the mouthpiece receiving portion is an indent in the mouthpiece edge.

Suitably, the mouthpiece edge abuts the cigarette edge substantially without gaps.

Suitably, the mouthpiece comprises an IL-shaped mouthpiece receiving portion.

Alternatively, the mouthpiece connection means comprises a mouthpiece protuberance and the cigarette body connection means comprises a cigarette receiving portion configured to receive the protuberance.

Suitably, the mouthpiece protuberance is a raised surface on the mouthpiece connection means. Suitably, the mouthpiece protuberance is elongated in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the mouthpiece.

Suitably, a mouthpiece edge comprises the mouthpiece protuberance and a cigarette edge comprises the cigarette receiving portion.

Suitably, the cigarette body connection means and mouthpiece connection means comprise non-circular cross sections.

Suitably, the cross sections comprise regular shapes. Suitably, the cross sections comprise regular polygons. Suitably, the cross sections are square. Suitably, the cross sections have a discrete rotational symmetry. Alternatively, the cross sections are irregular shapes. Suitably, the cross sections have no rotational symmetry.

Having non-circular cross sections has the advantage that it requires a mouthpiece with a non-circular cross section.

Generic mouthpieces with a circular cross section will therefore not attach correctly to the cigarette body. The mouthpieces will also not have an airtight seal. This enables the manufacturer to control which mouthpieces can be used with the device, to control the quality and therefore improve the safety of the device.

Suitably, the cigarette body comprises one or more connected modules. Suitably, the cigarette body comprises a vaporiser module and a battery assembly module; where the battery assembly module comprises a power cell and an airflow sensor and the vaporiser module comprises a vaporiser. Suitably, the vaporizer module is releasably-attachable to the battery assembly module. Suitably, the cigarette body connection means forms part of the vaporiser.

Suitably, the cigarette body further comprises a securing ring, the securing ring comprises a securing ring edge and the securing ring edge comprises the cigarette edge.

This has the advantage that the securing ring is a part added to the device during manufacturing and containing the protuberance. Adding the protuberance to the single securing ring part provides an easy method of manufacturing a device with a cigarette protuberance.

Suitably, the cigarette body connection means and the mouthpiece connection means comprise modified cylinders.

Suitably, the mouthpiece is configured such that it can be pushed onto the cigarette body and twisted to lock it in place.

Brief Description of the Drawings

For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how example embodiments may be carried into effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an exploded side perspective view of a smokeless cigarette having separated mouthpiece and cigarette body, with a raised cigarette protuberance; Figure 2 is a side perspective view of the cigarette of Figure 1 with connected mouthpiece and cigarette body; Figure 3 is a side perspective view of a mouthpiece having an edge indentation; Figure 4 is a side perspective view of a mouthpiece having a flexible portion; Figure 5 is a side perspective view of a mouthpiece having a wall opening; Figure 6 js a side perspective view of a mouthpiece having a raised portion; Figure 7 is an exploded side perspective view of a smokeless cigarette having separated mouthpiece and cigarette body, with a raised elongated cigarette protuberance; Figure 8 is a side perspective view of the cigarette of Figure 7 with connected mouthpiece and cigarette body; Figure 9 is an exploded side perspective view of a smokeless cigarette having separated mouthpiece and cigarette body, with an edge elongated cigarette protuberance; Figure 10 is a side perspective view of the cigarette of Figure 9 with connected mouthpiece and cigarette body; Figure 11 is an exploded side perspective view of a smokeless cigarette having separated mouthpiece and cigarette body, with a mouthpiece receiving portion larger than a cigarette protuberance; Figure 12 is a side perspective view of the cigarette of Figure 11 with connected mouthpiece and cigarette body in a first position; Figure 13 is a side perspective view of the cigarette of Figure 11 with connected mouthpiece and cigarette body in a second position; Figure 14 is an exploded side perspective view of battery assembly and vaporiser with a securing ring on the vaporiser having a cigarette edge protuberance; Figure 15 is a side perspective view of Figure 14 with connected battery assembly and vaporiser; Figure 16 is a side perspective view of a cigarette body with cigarette receiving portion; Figure 17 is a side perspective view of a mouthpiece with mouthpiece protuberance; Figure 18 is a side perspective view of a cigarette body with sguare cross section connection means; Figure 19 is a side perspective view of a mouthpiece with inner square cross section and outer circular cross section; Figure 20 is a side perspective view of a mouthpiece with inner square cross section and outer square cross section; Figure 21 is a side perspective view of a cigarette body with hexagonal cross section connection means; Figure 22 is a side perspective view of a mouthpiece with inner hexagonal cross section and outer circular cross section; and Figure 23 is a side perspective view of a mouthpiece with inner hexagonal cross section and outer hexagonal cross section.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments

Referring to Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings there is shown a smokeless cigarette having a mouthpiece 2 and a cigarette body 4. The smokeless cigarette has a shape similar to that of a conventional cigarette and the outer forms of the mouthpiece 2 and cigarette body 4 are therefore substantially cylindrical. The mouthpiece 2 has an airflow outlet 6 at one end and a mouthpiece connection means 8 at the other. The cigarette body 4 has a cigarette tip at one end and a cigarette body connection means 10 at the other. The mouthpiece 2 is shaped like a hollow cylinder open at one end, the connection end, where the closed end has an aperture being the airflow outlet 6.

The cigarette body 4 is substantially cylindrical and the cigarette body connection means 10 is substantially cylindrical having an outer diameter slightly larger than the inner diameter of the mouthpiece 2. Thus, the mouthpiece 2 can be pushed onto the cigarette body 4 and the difference in diameters causes friction between the connection means and acts as an interference fit. The friction is such that when pushed together, the two parts remain attached throughout use of the device. The friction is also such that the parts can be separated by pulling apart when required.

The outer diameter of the mouthpiece 2 is equal to the outer diameter of the cigarette body 4 such that the outer surfaces of the two parts are substantially flush with one another when the parts are connected. Thus the cigarette body connection means 10 has a diameter less than the diameter of the combined outer surface. A cigarette edge 12 is defined connecting the surface of the cigarette body connection means 10 to the outer surface of the cigarette body 4. The mouthpiece 2 has a mouthpiece edge 14 being the edge of the cylinder at the open end. When the mouthpiece 2 is connected to the cigarette body 4, the mouthpiece edge 14 abuts the cigarette edge 12, as shown in Figure 2.

The cigarette body connection means 10 has a cigarette protuberance 16 being a raised hemispherical bump on the surface. The mouthpiece 2 has a mouthpiece receiving portion 18 being a U-shaped indent in the mouthpiece wall leading from the mouthpiece edge 14. The width of the mouthpiece receiving portion 18 is substantially equal to the width of the hemispherical bump of the cigarette protuberance 16. The mouthpiece 2 can therefore only be fitted to the cigarette body 4 when the mouthpiece receiving portion 18 is aligned with the cigarette protuberance 1. So whilst the connection means are substantially cylindrical and the frictional force between the parts is such that the parts can be moved relanive to one another, the mouthpiece 2 is prevented from being rotated relative to the cigarette body 4.

Figures 4 to 6 show alternative example mouthpieces to the mouthpiece shown in Figures 1 to 3. Figure 4 shows a mouthpiece 2 with mouthpiece receiving portion 18. The mouthpiece receiving portion 18 is a flexible portion having a pair of splits in the wall of the mouthpiece 2 leading from the mouthpiece edge 14, defining a flexible portion between the splits. The mouthpiece 2 is connected to the cigarette body 4 by aligning the flexible portion with the cigarette protuberance 16 and pushing the mouthpiece 2 onto the cigarette body 4 so that the flexible portion flexes on top of the cigarette protuberance 16.

Tn Figure 5, the mouthpiece receiving portion 18 is a wall opening being a circular hole in the mouthpiece wall near to the mouthpiece edge 14. The mouthpiece 2 is connected to the cigarette body 4 by aligning the hole with the cigarette protuberance 16 and pushing the mouthpiece 2 onto the cigarette body 4 until the hole covers the raised protuberance.

Tn Figure 6, the mouthpiece receiving portion 18 is a raised wall portion where a section of the mouthpiece edge 14 has a radius larger than the radius of the remaining mouthpiece edge 14 to create the raised wall portion. The raised wall portion runs part way down the length of the mouthpiece 2 and is a raised bump on the surface. The mouthpiece 2 is connected to the cigarette body 4 by aligning the raised wall portion with the cigarette protuberance 16 and pushing the mouthpiece 2 onto the cigarette body 4 until the raised portion covers the cigarette protuberance 16.

Figures 7 and 8 show another example of a smokeless cigarette, similar to that of Figures 1 to 3. The difference is the cigarette protuberance 16, which has the form similar to a raised hemispherical bump but is elongated in a direction parallel to the lengthwise direction of the cigarette. The mouthpiece 2 is attached to the cigarette body 4 by aligning the mouthpiece receiving portion 18 with the cigarette protuberance 16.

Figures 9 and 10 show another example of a smokeless cigarette, similar to that shown in Figures 1 to 3. The difference is that the cigarette protuberance 16 extends from the cigarette edge 12 and is a flat U-shaped raised portion, which matches the profile of the U-shaped indent of the mouthpiece receiving 1TI portion 18 in the mouthpiece wall. The mouthpiece 2 i5 attached to the cigarette body 4 by aligning the cigarette U-shaped raised portion with the U-shaped indent. The edge of the U-shaped portion matches the edge of the U-shaped indent such that the outer surfaces of the mouthpiece 2 and the cigarette body 4 are flush and level without gaps when connected.

Figures 11 to 13 show another example of a smokeless cigarette, similar to that shown in Figures 9 and 10. However, the width of the U-shaped mouthpiece indent is wider than the width of the U-shaped cigarette portion. Therefore the mouthpiece 2 can be attached to the cigarette body 4 such that the mouthpiece 2 can be rotated slightly, the U-shaped portion being rnoveable between the extremes of the U-shaped indent. Figure 12 shows the mouthpiece 2 connected to the cigarette body 4 in a first position with a first side of the U-shaped portion in contact with a first inner side of the U-shaped indent. In Figure 13, a second side of the U-shaped. portion is in contact with a second inner side of the U-shaped indent.

Figures 14 and 15 show another example of a smokeless cigarette. This smokeless cigarette is an electronic cigarette and the cigarette body 4 has a vaporiser module 20 and a battery assembly module 22. The vaporiser module 20 can be attached to and separated from the battery assembly module 22.

The vaporiser module 20 comprises a heater coil 24, a mesh wick 26 and a securing ring 28. The battery assembly comprises a power cell and an airflow sensor. The vaporiser rmdule 20 is situated at the end of the cigarette body 4 where the cigarette body connection rneana 10 is located and therefore the connection means form part of the vaporiser module 20. The cigarette body connection means 10 is similar to that shown in Figures 9 and 10 where a cigarette protuberance 16 extends from a cigarette edge 12. In this example, the cigarette edge 12 is an edge of the securing ring 28. The cigarette protuberance 16 is slotted into the mouthpiece receiving portion 16, when connected, in a similar fashion to the example device described in relation to Figures 9 and 10.

Figures 16 and 17 show another example of a smokeless cigarette. Tn this example, the mouthpiece has a mouthpiece protuberance 30 being a raised surface on the inside wall of the mouthpiece 2 and running from the mouthpiece edge 14 lengthwise. The cigarette body comprises a cigarette receiving portion 32 being an indent in the cigarette body connection means 10. The mouthpiece 2 is connected to the cigarette body 4 by aligning the mouthpiece protuberance 30 with the cigarette receiving portion 32 and pushing the parts together so that the raised surface on the inside wall of the mouthpiece 2 slots into the indent on the cigarette body connection means 10.

Previous examples have shown connection means having substantially circular connection means cross sections. Figures 18 to 23 show examples of smokeless cigarettes with non-circular connection means cross sections.

Figures 18 to 20 show an example of a smokeless cigarette where the cross sectional shape of the cigarette body connection means 10 is square and the cross sectional shape of the inner wall of the mouthpiece connection means 8 is sguare. As with the other examples, the mouthpiece 2 forms an interference fit with the cigarette body 4 where the parts are held together by frictional force when connected. In this example, the mouthpiece 2 has a rotational symmetry of four and can be connected to the cigarette body 4 in four different orientations. In Figure 19 the cross sectional shape of the outer surface of the mouthpiece 2 is circular. In Figure 20 the cross sectional shape of the outer surface of the mouthpiece 2 is sguare.

Figures 21 to 23 show an example of a smokeless cigarette where the cross sectional shape of the cigarette body connection means 10 js hexagonal and the cross sectional shape of the inner wall of the mouthpiece connection means B is hexagonal.

As with the other examples, the mouthpiece 2 forms an interference fit with the cigarette body 4 where the parts are held together by frictional force when connected. In this example, the mouthpiece 2 has a rotational symmetry of six and can be connected to the cigarette body 4 in six different orientations. In Figure 22 the cross sectional shape of the outer surface of the mouthpiece 2 is circular. In Figure 23 the cross sectional shape of the outer surface of the mouthpiece 2 is hexagonal.

Although examples have been shown and described it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications might be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The U-shaped indent and portion described above could easily take another form such as a rectangle. Whilst both square and hexagonal cross sections have been described, other regular shapes and irregular shapes could be used. The electronic cigarette could have a combined vaporiser and battery assembly or the cigarette body could form the battery assembly and the vaporiser could form part of the mouthpiece.

Claims

Claims 1. A smokeless cigarette comprising a cigarette body and a mouthpiece, where the cigarette body comprises a cigarette body connection means, the mouthpiece comprises a mouthpiece connection means and the mouthpiece connection means is attachable to the cigarette body connection means by an interference fit; wherein the mouthpiece has a limited range of rotation about the longitudinal axis of the cigareute relative to the cigarette body when connected to the cigarette body.
2. The smokeless cigarette of claim 1, wherein the mouthpiece is substantially not rotatable relative to the cigarette body when connected to the cigarette body.
3. The smokeless cigarette of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the interference fit is a press fit.
4. The smokeless cigarette of any preceding claim, wherein the mouthpiece is releasably-attachable to the cigarette body.
5. The smokeless cigarette of any preceding claim, wherein the mouthpiece forms an airtight seal with the cigarette body when attached.
6. The smokeless cigarette of any preceding claim, wherein the mouthpiece comprises an airflow outlet.
7. The smokeless cigarette of any preceding claim, wherein the smokeless cigarette is generally cigarette-shaped.
8. The smokeless cigarette of any preceding claim, wherein the smokeless cigarette is an electronic cigarette.
9. The smokeless cigarette of any preceding claim, wherein the outer surface of the mouthpiece is substantially flush with the outer surface of the cigarette when connected.
10. The smokeless cigarette of any preceding claim, wherein the cigarette body connection means comprises a cigarette protuberance and the mouthpiece connection means comprises a mouthpiece receiving portion configured to receive the cigarette protuberance. :l0
II. The smokeless cigarette of claim 10, wherein the cigarette protuberance is a raised surface on the cigarette body connection means.
12. The smokeless cigarette of claim 10 or claim 11, wherein the cigarette protuberance is elongated in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cigarette body.
13. The smokeless cigarette of any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the mouthpiece receiving portion is a mouthpiece wall opening.
14. The smokeless cigarette of any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the mouthpiece receiving portion is a mouthpiece wall indentation.
15. The smokeless cigarette of any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the mouthpiece receiving portion is a mouthpiece wall flexible portion.
16. The smokeless cigarette of any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the mouthpiece receiving portion is a mouthpiece wall raised portion.
17. The smokeless cigarette of any one of claims 10 to 16, wherein the mouthpiece connection means comprises a mouthpiece edge and the cigarette body connection means comprises a cigarette edge, configured such that mouthpiece edge abuts the cigarette edge when connected.
18. The smokeless cigarette of claim 17, wherein the cigarette edge comprises the cigarette protuberance.
19. The smokeless cigarette of claim 17 or claim 18, wherein the mouthpiece edge comprises the mouthpiece receiving portion.
20. The smokeless cigarette of any one of claims 17 to 19, wherein the mouthpiece receiving portion is an indent in the mouthpiece edge.
21. The smokeless cigarette of any one of claims 17 to 20, wherein the mouthpiece edge abuts the cigarette edge substantially without gaps.
22. The smokeless cigarette of any one of claims 10 to 21, wherein the mouthpiece comprises an L-shaped mouthpiece receiving portion.
23. The smokeless cigarette of any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the mouthpiece connection means comprises a mouthpiece protuberance and the cigarette body connection means comprises a cigarette receiving portion configured to receive the protuberance.
24. The smokeless cigarette of claim 23, wherein the mouthpiece protuberance is a raised surface on the mouthpiece connection means.
25. The smokeless cigarette of claim 23 or claim 24, wherein the mouthpiece protuberance is elongated in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the mouthpiece.
26. The smokeless cigarette of any one of claims 23 to 25, wherein a mouthpiece edge comprises the mouthpiece protuberance and a cigarette edge comprises the cigarette receiving portion.
27. The smokeless cigarette of any preceding claim, wherein the cigarette body connection means and mouthpiece connection means comprise non-circular cross sections.
28. The smokeless cigarette of claim 27, wherein the cross sections comprise regular shapes.
29. The smokeless cigarette of claim 27 or claim 28, wherein the cross sections comprise regular polygons.
30. The smokeless cigarette of any one of claims 27 to 29, wherein the cross sections are square.
31. The smokeless cigarette of any one of claims 27 to 30, wherein the cross sections have a discrete rotational symmetry.
32. The smokeless cigarette of claim 27, wherein the cross sections are irregular shapes.
33. The smokeless cigarette of claim 27 or claim 32, wherein the cross sections have no rotational symmetry.
34. The smokeless cigarette of any one of claims 17 to 21, wherein the cigarette body comprises one or more connected modules.
35. The smokeless cigarette of claim 34, wherein the cigarette body comprises a vaporiser module and a battery assembly module,where the battery assembly module comprises a power cell and an airflow sensor and the vaporiser module comprises a vaporiser.
36. The smokeless cigarette of claim 35, wherein the vaporiser module is releasably-attachable to the battery assembly module.
37. The smokeless cigarette of claim 35 or claim 36, wherein the cigarette body connection means forms part of the vaporiser.
38. The smokeless cigarette of any one of claims 35 to 37, wherein the vaporiser further comprises a securing ring, the securing ring comprises a securing ring edge and the securing ring edge comprises the cigarette edge.
39. The smokeless cigarette of any preceding claim, wherein the cigarette body connection means and the mouthpiece connection means comprise modified cylinders.
40. The smokeless cigarette cf any preceding claim, wherein the mouthpiece is configured such that it can be pushed onto the cigarette body and locked in place.
41. The smokeless cigarette, substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.