GB2566629B

GB2566629B - Electronic vapour inhalers

Info

Publication number: GB2566629B
Application number: GB1820259.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gill Mark; Vanko Daniel; Brvenik Lubos
Original assignee: JT International SA
Current assignee: JT International SA
Priority date: 2014-11-11
Filing date: 2014-11-11
Publication date: 2019-07-24
Anticipated expiration: 2034-11-11
Also published as: GB2566629A; GB201820259D0

Description

ELECTRONIC VAPOUR INHALERS

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates generally to electronic vapour inhalers and more particularly to a cartridge having a flavour-release medium for use with an electronic vapour inhaler, in which the flavour-release medium can be heated to produce a vapour for inhalation by a user.

Technical Background

The use of electronic vapour inhalers (also known as electronic cigarettes, e-cigarettes and personal vaporisers), which can be used as an alternative to conventional smoking articles such as cigarettes, cigars, and pipes, is becoming increasingly popular and widespread. Electronic vapour inhalers, which are usually battery powered, heat and atomise a liquid containing nicotine, to produce a nicotine-containing vapour which can be inhaled by a user. The vapour is inhaled through a mouthpiece to deliver nicotine to the lungs, and vapour exhaled by the user generally mimics the appearance of smoke from a conventional smoking article. Although inhalation of the vapour creates a physical sensation which is similar to conventional smoking, harmful chemicals such as carbon monoxide and tar, are not produced or inhaled because there is no combustion.

Various electronic vapour inhalers are currently available but they all have drawbacks associated with them which the present disclosure seeks to overcome.

Summary of the Disclosure

According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a cartridge for an electronic vapour inhaler, the cartridge comprising: an induction heatable element; and a flavour-release medium adhered to a surface of the induction heatable element; wherein the induction heatable element comprises induction heatable particulate material.

The cartridge provides a convenient way for a user to load the flavour-release medium into the electronic vapour inhaler, thereby reducing the likelihood of spillage and waste. The integrity, safety and quality of the flavour-release medium can also be assured, because it is provided in the form of a pre-manufactured cartridge. Correct dosing of the flavour-release medium is also assured.

By adhering the flavour-release medium to a surface of the induction heatable element, the flavour-release medium is heated rapidly and efficiently in the presence of an electromagnetic field and this gives a fast heating response with a relatively low power requirement. The cartridge does not have any moving parts and the heating element is disposed along with the cartridge. The heating element does not wear out and is not subject to a build-up of residue formed by deposits from the heated flavour-release medium because it is renewed each time the cartridge is replaced and there is, therefore, no reduction in performance or degradation in flavour or aroma over time. This is to be contrasted, for example, with existing electronic vapour inhalers which have a resistance heating element in the housing of the inhaler which wears out or fails after a certain amount of use and which is subject to the build-up of residue as the flavour-release medium is heated. In the event of failure, the electronic vapour inhaler may need to be discarded entirely and replaced with a new one.

The flavour-release medium may be any material or combination of materials which can be heated to release a vapour for inhalation by a user. The flavour-release medium may be tobacco or a tobacco material and may be impregnated with a vapour-forming medium such as propylene glycol or glycerol. The flavour-release medium is not, however, limited to tobacco and any flavour-release medium could be used.

The flavour-release medium may comprise a coating adhered to an outer surface of the induction heatable particulate material. The flavour release medium may, for example, comprise a granulated material. The flavour-release medium can be attached to the induction heatable element in a simple manner.

The cartridge may further comprise a thermally-insulating layer between the induction heatable element and the flavour-release medium. The thermally-insulating layer may usefully slow down the rate at which the flavour-release medium is heated.

The cartridge may include a protective sleeve which surrounds the flavour-release medium.

The protective sleeve may comprise a thermally-insulating material which may also be electrically-insulating and which may be non-magnetic. The protective sleeve could comprise a paper overwrap.

According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an electronic vapour inhaler comprising: a housing having a proximal end and a distal end; a cartridge according to the first aspect of the present disclosure disposed in the housing; and an induction heating arrangement arranged to inductively heat the induction heatable element and thereby heat the flavour-release medium.

The electronic vapour inhaler may include a mouthpiece at the proximal end of the housing. The housing may include a chamber in which the cartridge is removably disposed. The chamber may be thermally isolated from the external environment. The chamber could be located at any suitable position between the distal end and the proximal end of the housing. In some embodiments, the chamber could be located at the proximal end. In other embodiments, the chamber could be located at the distal end. In the latter case, even if there is a slight increase in temperature at the outer surface of the housing as the cartridge is heated during operation of the induction heating arrangement, this increase in temperature would not occur at the proximal end of the housing where the mouthpiece is located.

The induction heating arrangement may comprise an induction coil. The induction coil may extend around the chamber.

The housing may include an air inlet through which air can flow into the chamber. A plurality of air inlets could be provided.

The housing may be fitted with an airflow control mechanism to vary the airflow through the or each air inlet and, hence, through the cartridge. This might allow a user to influence the amount of flavour and aroma released from the heated flavour-release medium during inhalation through the mouthpiece.

The housing may include a conduit for delivering heated flavour-release medium to the mouthpiece. The conduit may include at least one first inlet for ambient air and at least one second inlet for heated air from the chamber. The conduit may be arranged to provide a venturi effect, so that the heated air is sucked into the conduit from the chamber by the venturi effect as ambient air flows through the conduit past the at least one second inlet. With such an arrangement, relatively cool ambient air and relatively hot air from the chamber are mixed together as they flow through the conduit and this may provide a more gradual release of flavour and aroma during inhalation through the mouthpiece. The housing may be fitted with an airflow control mechanism to vary the flow through the at least one first inlet. The conduit is typically an annular conduit which surrounds the chamber. The annular conduit may include a plurality of circumferentially spaced first inlets formed in the housing and a plurality of circumferentially spaced second inlets formed in a circumferential wall of the chamber.

The electronic vapour inhaler may include one or more temperature sensors to determine the cartridge temperature. Any suitable temperature sensor could be used, for example a thermocouple, a resistance temperature detector, a thermistor or an infrared sensor. In one implementation, the temperature sensor(s) may determine the cartridge temperature by direct measurement of the cartridge temperature. In another implementation, the temperature sensor(s) may be used to determine the cartridge temperature indirectly. For example, a temperature sensor could be used to measure the temperature of the airflow into the chamber through the or each air inlet and the cartridge temperature could then be determined mathematically as a function of the measured air inlet temperature, the properties of the cartridge and the amount of energy supplied by the induction heating arrangement.

The electronic vapour inhaler may include a control arrangement which may be arranged to energise the induction heating arrangement to maintain the cartridge at a substantially constant and predetermined temperature. The control arrangement could be arranged to energise the induction heating arrangement based on the determined temperature, thus creating a closed-loop feedback control arrangement. It should, however, be understood that the temperature control could be effected without using a temperature sensor.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is diagrammatic cross-sectional view of an electronic vapour including a cartridge having an elongate rod-like induction heatable element with flavour-release medium adhered to its outer surface;

Figure la is a view similar to Figure 1, showing part of an alternative embodiment of an electronic vapour inhaler;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional side view of the cartridge shown in Figures 1 and 2; Figure 3 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional side view of a cartridge having a tubular induction heatable element with flavour-release medium adhered to inner and outer wall surfaces;

Figure 4a is a view of a cartridge similar to the cartridge shown in Figure 3 but having a perforated tubular induction heatable element and Figure 4b is a side view of the perforated tubular induction heatable element;

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional side view of a cartridge having an elongate rod-like induction heatable element with flavour-release medium surrounding it;

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional side view of a cartridge having a tubular induction heatable element with flavour-release medium surrounding it; and Figure 7 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional side view of a cartridge in which particulate induction heatable material is dispersed throughout a flavour-release medium.

Detailed Description of Embodiments

Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring initially to Figure 1, an electronic vapour inhaler 10 comprises a generally elongate housing 12 having a proximal end 14 and a distal end 16. The electronic vapour inhaler 10 includes a mouthpiece 18 at the proximal end 14 through which a user can inhale vapour generated by heating a flavour-release medium 30. The electronic vapour inhaler 10 includes a control arrangement 20, e.g. in the form of a microprocessor, and a power source 22 in the form of one or more batteries which could, for example, be inductively rechargeable.

The housing 12 includes a chamber 24 into which a cartridge 26 can be removably inserted. The chamber 24 is located at the proximal end 14 of the housing 12 adjacent to the mouthpiece 18, but this is not strictly necessary and it could be located at any suitable position between the proximal end 14 and the distal end 16. In the illustrated embodiment, the chamber 24 is formed in the housing 12 and is accessed by removing a cover 25, with which the mouthpiece 18 is integrally formed, from the proximal end 14 of the housing 12. In alternative embodiments, the chamber 24 could itself be formed as a removable component and could be accessed by removing the component from the housing 12. Either way, a cartridge 26 can be easily inserted into, or removed from, the chamber 24.

The cartridge 26, which is shown separately in Figure 2 for clarity purposes, comprises an elongate induction heatable element 28 in the form of a rod which is typically, but not exclusively, circular in cross-section. The cartridge 26 further comprises a flavour-release medium 30 which is adhered, e.g. as a coating, to the surface 32 of the induction heatable element 28. The flavour-release medium 30 is a granulated or particulate material which may be treated or processed to enable it to adhere to the induction heatable element 28. The flavour-release medium 30 typically comprises tobacco or a tobacco material which may be impregnated with a vapour-forming medium, such as propylene glycol or glycerol, so that it can be heated to produce a vapour for inhalation by a user through the mouthpiece 18 of the electronic vapour inhaler 10. When tobacco or a tobacco material is used, the electronic vapour inhaler 10 can be used as an electronic cigarette. Materials other than tobacco can, however, be used as explained earlier in this specification.

The induction heatable element 28 is in intimate contact with the flavour-release medium 30 due to the fact that the flavour-release medium 30 is adhered to it. As a result, when the induction heatable element 28 is heated in the presence of an electromagnetic field, the flavour-release medium 30 is heated rapidly and uniformly.

Referring again to Figure 1, the electronic vapour inhaler 10 includes an induction heating arrangement 34 comprising an induction coil 36 which can be energised by the power source 22. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, when the induction coil 36 is energised, an electromagnetic field is produced which generates eddy currents in the induction heatable element 28 causing it to heat up. The heat is then transferred from the induction heatable element 28 to the flavour-release medium 30, for example by conduction, radiation and convection.

The operation of the induction heating arrangement 34 is controlled by the control arrangement 20 typically in order to maintain the flavour-release medium 30 at a temperature which is optimised for the release of flavour and aroma therefrom.

Although not shown in Figure 1, the electronic vapour inhaler 10 can include a temperature sensor to measure the temperature inside the chamber 24 and in this case the control arrangement 20 can be arranged to control the operation of the induction heating arrangement 34 based on the temperature measured by the temperature sensor. Other arrangements for determining the temperature inside the chamber 24 are, however, possible as described earlier in this specification.

When a user wishes to use the electronic vapour inhaler 10 to inhale vapour, the user may initially need to gain access to the chamber 24, for example by removing the cover 25 from the proximal end 14 of the housing 12 (e.g. by unscrewing it). The user then places a pre-manufactured cartridge 26 into the chamber 24. Pre-manufactured cartridges 26 are typically supplied in a pack which can be purchased separately. Loading the cartridge 26 into the chamber 24 is, therefore, a very simple procedure for the user.

The user then closes the chamber 24, for example by re-attaching the cover 25 to the proximal end 14 of the housing 12 (e.g. by screwing it back on to the housing 12). The electronic vapour inhaler 10 can then be switched on by the user ready for use, thereby energising the induction coil 36 and heating the induction heatable element 28 and the flavour-release medium 30 as described above such that the flavour-release medium 30 is heated without being combusted.

When a user places their mouth over the mouthpiece 18 and inhales, ambient air is drawn through air inlets 38 into the chamber 24, as denoted by the arrows 40. The air is heated as it flows through the granulated or particulate flavour-release medium 30 in the chamber 24 and heated air with a suitable aroma and flavour flows out of the chamber 24. The heated air then flows through the mouthpiece 18 and, in doing so, it cools and condenses to form a vapour or aerosol which can be inhaled by a user through the mouthpiece 18, as denoted by the arrow 42. The control arrangement 20 could include a temperature selector to allow a user to select the desired vapour inhalation temperature to select the desired user experience, since the optimum inhalation temperature may be a matter of personal choice.

During inhalation, and as air flows into and through the chamber 24, it will be understood that the induction coil 36 can be energised as necessary to maintain a predetermined, e.g. substantially constant, temperature inside the chamber 24. This in turn ensures that the temperature of the vapour inhaled by the user through the mouthpiece 18 is optimised, e.g. substantially constant. However, in order to preserve the flavour-release medium 30, the control arrangement 20 can be arranged to control the induction heating arrangement 34 so that the induction coil 36 is energised in such a way that the temperature inside the chamber 24 decreases between inhalation cycles and increases immediately before, or at the start of, the next inhalation cycle.

When the flavour and aroma of the vapour supplied to the mouthpiece 18 has reached a level which is considered by a user to be unacceptable, the chamber 24 can be accessed, for example by removing the cover 25 from the proximal end 14 of the housing 12. The used cartridge 26 can then be removed and discarded, and a new cartridge 26 can be placed in the chamber 24 before the cover 25 is replaced as described above to ready the electronic vapour inhaler 10 for use.

It will be appreciated that the contents of the cartridge 26, and in particular the constituents of the flavour-release medium, may vary and that the operation of the induction heating arrangement 34 may ideally need to be varied to optimise the release of flavour and aroma from the flavour-release medium. For example, the contents of certain cartridges 26 may favour a heating profile with a relatively slow heating rate whereas the contents of other cartridges 26 may favour a heating profile with a relatively rapid heating rate. In order to accommodate this, in one embodiment the control arrangement 20 is arranged to recognise an inserted cartridge 26 by detecting a characteristic of the induction heatable element 28 and to control the operation of the induction heating arrangement 34, e.g. to provide a desired heating profile, based on the detected characteristic. In one possible implementation, as a cartridge 26 is inserted into the chamber 24, the control arrangement 20 detects a change in the electromagnetic field generated by the interaction between the induction heatable element 28 and the induction coil 36. In practice, different electromagnetic field signatures can be provided for different cartridges 26 by providing one or more induction heatable elements 28 of different length, thickness or shape.

Figure la shows an alternative embodiment of part of an electronic vapour inhaler 110. The electronic vapour inhaler 110 shares many features in common with the electronic vapour inhaler 10 shown in Figure 1 and corresponding features are, therefore, designated with corresponding reference numerals.

The electronic vapour inhaler 110 has an annular conduit 112 which surrounds the chamber 24. The annular conduit 112 is formed between a circumferential wall of the housing 12 in which the induction coil 36 is embedded and a circumferential wall 114 of the chamber 24. The annular conduit 112 includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced first inlets 116 formed in the housing 12 at the distal end of the annular conduit 112 to enable ambient air to flow into the annular conduit 112. The annular conduit 112 also includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced second inlets 118 which are formed in the circumferential wall 114 of the chamber 24 to enable heated air to flow from the chamber 24 into the annular conduit 112. The second inlets 118 are formed in the circumferential wall 114 roughly at the midpoint of the annular conduit 112, between the distal and proximal ends thereof, but other positions are of course entirely feasible and within the scope of the present disclosure. Circumferentially spaced passages 120, 122 are also provided in the housing 12 to direct a proportion of ambient air from the first inlets 116 along passage 124 and into the chamber 24.

During inhalation through the mouthpiece 18, ambient air is drawn through the circumferentially spaced first inlets 116 into the annular conduit 112, as shown by the arrows 140. The ambient air flows along the annular conduit 112, from the distal end towards the proximal end, towards the mouthpiece 18 as shown by the arrows 142. As the air flows past the circumferentially spaced second inlets 118 in the chamber wall 114, a venturi effect occurs. This causes ambient air to be drawn through the passages 120, 122, 124 into the chamber 24 and to be sucked out of the chamber 24 through the second inlets 118, as shown by the dotted arrows. As will be understood, the air entering the chamber through the passages 120, 122, 124 is heated as it flows through the granulated or particulate flavour-release medium 30 in the chamber 24 and, accordingly, heated air with a suitable aroma and flavour is sucked out of the chamber 24 through the second inlets 118. The heated air mixes with the ambient air flowing through the annular conduit 112 and this tends to reduce the temperature of the heated air to a more acceptable level. The heated air then cools further and condenses to form a vapour or aerosol which can be inhaled by a user through the mouthpiece 18, as denoted by the arrow 42.

Alternative cartridges can be used with the electronic vapour inhalers 10, 110, or indeed other suitably configured electronic vapour inhalers, as will now be described.

Referring to Figure 3, there is shown a cartridge 44 comprising a tubular (possibly cylindrical) induction heatable element 46. The tubular induction heatable element 46 has a wall 48 with inner and outer wall surfaces 50, 52 and flavour-release medium 54 is adhered to both the inner and outer wall surfaces 50, 52. In other embodiments, the flavour-release medium 54 could be adhered to just one of the inner and outer wall surfaces 50, 52.

Figures 4a and 4b show a cartridge 56 similar to the cartridge 44 of Figure 3 and in which corresponding components are identified using corresponding reference numerals. In the cartridge 56 of Figures 4a and 4b, the tubular induction heatable element 46 (which is cylindrical in the illustrated embodiment) includes perforations 58 so that air can flow through the wall 48 between the inner and outer wall surfaces 50, 52.

Referring now to Figure 5, there is shown a cartridge 60 comprising an elongate induction heatable element 62 in the form of a rod which is typically, but not exclusively, circular in cross-section. The cartridge 60 further comprises a flavour-release medium 64 which surrounds the induction heatable element 62. A thermally-insulating, electrically-insulating and non-magnetic protective sleeve 66, for example in the form of a paper overwrap having open ends, surrounds the flavour-release medium 64 and may advantageously hold it in position, in particular if the flavour-release medium 64 comprises fine pieces or particles of material. In other embodiments, the flavour-release medium 64 can comprise interwoven fibres and this may be sufficient to retain the fibrous flavour-release medium 64 in position around the induction heatable element 62 without a protective sleeve 66 being needed.

Figure 6 shows a cartridge 68 comprising a tubular (possibly cylindrical) induction heatable element 70. The tubular induction heatable element 70 comprises a wall 72 with inner and outer wall surfaces 74, 76 and flavour-release medium 78 is provided exclusively around the outer wall surface 76 to surround the induction heatable element ΊΟ. Thus, the interior 80 of the tubular induction heatable element 70 is devoid of flavour-release medium 78. A thermally-insulating, electrically-insulating and non-magnetic protective sleeve 82, for example in the form of a paper overwrap, surrounds the flavour-release medium 78 and may advantageously hold it in position, in particular if the flavour-release medium 78 comprises fine pieces or particles of material. In other embodiments, the flavour-release medium 78 can comprise interwoven fibres and this may be sufficient to retain the fibrous flavour-release medium 78 in position around the induction heatable element 70 without a protective sleeve 82 being needed.

In a modified implementation of the cartridge 68 (not illustrated), the tubular induction heatable element 70 includes perforations so that air can flow through the wall 72 between the inner and outer wall surfaces 74, 76.

Referring now to Figure 7, there is shown a cartridge 84 comprising a flavour-release medium 86 in the form of fine pieces or pellets, particles, flakes or a fibrous form. In the illustrated embodiment, a paper overwrap is provided to act as a protective sleeve 88 but, as described with respect to earlier embodiments, this may be omitted if, for example, the flavour-release medium 86 comprises interwoven fibres or the like which enable it to retain its shape in the absence of the support structure provided by the protective sleeve 88.

The cartridge 84 further comprises an induction heatable material 90 in the form of particles of material which are individually inductively heated in the presence of an electromagnetic field. The particles of the induction heatable material 90 are dispersed throughout the flavour-release medium, typically but not exclusively in a uniform manner.

Although exemplary embodiments have been described in the preceding paragraphs, it should be understood that various modifications may be made to those embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. Thus, the breadth and scope of the claims should not be limited to the above-described exemplary embodiments. Each feature disclosed in the specification, including the claims and drawings, may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purposes, unless expressly stated otherwise.

Although the cartridges 26, 44, 56, 60, 68, 84, have been described for use with the electronic vapour inhalers 10, 110, it will be understood that they can be used with electronic vapour inhalers having alternative configurations.

Although not illustrated, either of the electronic vapour inhalers 10, 110 could be provided with an airflow control mechanism to enable a user to control the airflow through the inlets 38, 116. For example, the airflow control mechanism could comprise means for varying the aperture size of the inlets 38, 116 to restrict the flow of air into the inlets 38, 116.

It may be desirable in any of the aforementioned embodiments to provide a thermally-insulating material between the induction heatable element and the flavour-release medium to reduce the rate of heat transfer to the flavour-release medium.

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words “comprise”, “comprising”, and the like, are to be construed in an inclusive as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of “including, but not limited to”.

Claims

1. A cartridge for an electronic vapour inhaler, the cartridge comprising: an induction heatable element; and a flavour-release medium adhered to a surface of the induction heatable element; wherein the induction heatable element comprises induction heatable particulate material.

2. A cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the flavour-release medium comprises a coating adhered to an outer surface of the induction heatable particulate material.

3. A cartridge according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the flavour-release medium comprises a granulated material.

4. A cartridge according to any preceding claim, further comprising a thermally-insulating layer between the induction heatable element and the flavour-release medium.

5. A cartridge according to any preceding claim, wherein the cartridge comprises a protective sleeve surrounding the flavour-release medium.

6. A cartridge according to claim 5, wherein the protective sleeve comprises a thermally-insulating material which is also electrically-insulating and non-magnetic.

7. An electronic vapour inhaler comprising: a housing having a proximal end and a distal end; a cartridge according to any preceding claim disposed in the housing; and an induction heating arrangement arranged to inductively heat the induction heatable element and thereby heat the flavour-release medium.

8. An electronic vapour inhaler according to claim 7, wherein the induction heating arrangement comprises an induction coil.

9. An electronic vapour inhaler according to claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the housing includes a chamber in which the cartridge is disposed.

10. An electronic vapour inhaler according to any of claims 7 to 9, further including a control arrangement which is adapted to energise the induction heating arrangement to maintain the cartridge substantially at a predetermined temperature.

11. An electronic vapour inhaler according to claim 10, further including a temperature sensor for determining the cartridge temperature, wherein the control arrangement is adapted to energise the induction heating arrangement based on the determined temperature.

12. An electronic vapour inhaler according to any of claims 9 to 11, further comprising a mouthpiece at the proximal end of the housing, wherein the housing includes a conduit for delivering heated air to the mouthpiece, the conduit includes at least one first inlet for ambient air and at least one second inlet for heated air from the chamber, the conduit being arranged to provide a venturi effect whereby, in use, the heated air is sucked into the conduit from the chamber by the venturi effect as ambient air flows through the conduit past the at least one second inlet.

13. An electronic vapour inhaler according to claim 12, wherein the conduit is an annular conduit which surrounds the chamber.

14. An electronic vapour inhaler according to claim 13, wherein the annular conduit includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced first inlets formed in the housing and a plurality of circumferentially spaced second inlets formed in a circumferential wall of the chamber.