Apparatus for heating or cooling a material contained therein

• US 10,542,777 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2015
• Issued: 01/28/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: British American Tobacco Limited (British American Tobacco PLC)
• Original Assignee: British American Tobacco Limited (British American Tobacco PLC)
• Inventors: Brereton, Simon, Plews, Graham, Forster, Mark, Pike, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Rojohn, III, Claire E
• Application Number:
  US15/321,497
• Publication Number:
  US 20170196262A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,677 Days
• Field of Search: 62 4
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/30 Devices using two or more structurally separated inhalable precursors, e.g. using two liquid precursors in two cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 42/10 Devices with chemical heating means
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 42/60 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0276 with separate compartments connectable by rupturing a wall or membrane
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0292 using latent heat produced or absorbed during phase change of materials, e.g. of super-cooled solutions
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0293 Triggers, activators or catalysts therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/0241 Apparatus for the preparation of hot packs, hot compresses, cooling pads, e.g. heaters or refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/03 thermophore, i.e. self-heating, e.g. using a chemical reaction
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/106 self-cooling, e.g. using a chemical reaction
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 5/02 portable, i.e. adapted to be carried personally

Abstract

There is described an apparatus for heating or cooling a material to be heated or to be cooled. The apparatus includes: a first compartment for containing the material to be heated or to be cooled; and a second compartment containing a phase change material, wherein the phase change material is either for generating heat to heat the first compartment or absorbing heat to cool the first compartment when undergoing a phase change. There are further described various different activating arrangements for activating a change of phase of the phase change material.

Claims

1. An apparatus for heating or cooling a material to be heated or to be cooled, the apparatus comprising:

a first compartment for containing the material to be heated or to be cooled;

a second compartment containing a phase change material, wherein the phase change material is either for generating heat to heat the first compartment or absorbing heat to cool the first compartment when undergoing a phase change; and

an activating arrangement comprising a phase change activating agent and a barrier that separates the phase change activating agent from the phase change material, wherein the activating arrangement is configured to cause the barrier to rupture when operated so that the phase change activating agent contacts the phase change material in order to activate a change of phase of the phase change material, and wherein the barrier is configured to re-seal after being ruptured.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the barrier comprises a resilient material that is able to resiliently re-seal after being ruptured.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the activating arrangement comprises one or more pointed protrusions for piercing the barrier when the activating arrangement is operated.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the activating arrangement comprises a flexible hollow body attached to the second compartment and which contains the one or more pointed protrusions and the activating agent, and wherein the activating arrangement is configured to be operated by pressing the flexible hollow body to cause the one or more pointed protrusions to rupture the barrier.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the one or more pointed protrusions are the activating agent and/or carry the activating agent.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the barrier comprises an adhesive layer for adhering the activating arrangement to the second compartment.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the activating arrangement comprises an opening that is aligned with an opening of the second compartment and wherein the barrier seals both openings.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, the apparatus further comprising a first tube and a second tube, wherein the second tube is arranged co-axially within the first tube, wherein the first tube defines the first compartment and wherein the first tube and the second tube between them define the second compartment.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the phase change material is for generating heat to heat the first compartment, and wherein the first compartment contains material for generating aerosol when heated, the apparatus further comprising a mouthpiece that is in fluid communication with the first compartment and through which aerosol generated by the material when the material is heated can be inhaled.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the material for generating aerosol when heated comprises tobacco or a tobacco based product.