SMOKING DEVICE, CHARGING MEANS AND METHOD OF USING IT

• US 20100307518A1
• Filed: 05/10/2008
• Published: 12/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Smokefree Innotec Corporation
• Original Assignee: Smokefree Innotec Corporation
• Inventors: Wang, Xi Yi
• Application Number:
  US12/599,794
• Publication Number:
  US 20100307518A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 131/329
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/20 Devices using solid inhalable precursors
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/485 Valves; Apertures
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/51 Arrangement of sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/53 Monitoring, e.g. fault detection
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/95 structurally associated with cases

Abstract

Smoking device (10) comprising a first device (20) and a second device (30). The first device (20) comprises an accumulator for storing electric energy and releasing it to a heating device (22) as a response to a sensor device (24) detecting a suck/draw of the smoking device (10) by a consumer. It further comprises a first air inlet (25) through which an airflow enters said first device (20), passes said heating device (22) and streams out through a first air outlet (26). The second device (30) comprises an agent (33), a second air inlet (35) through which air enters said second device (30), passes through said second device (30), releases said agent (33) by means of dispensing means (37) and streams out through said second air outlet (36) into the mouth of a consumer. Charging means (40) for use with a smoking device (10) and method for using said smoking device (10).

Claims

1-21. -21. (canceled)

22. A smoking device having an elongated shape similar to a regular cigarette and comprising a first device having a housing part covering the exterior of the first device and a second device,

wherein said first device comprises:

an accumulator for storing and releasing electric energy,

a heating device to which electric energy from said accumulator is applied,

a first air inlet positioned along the housing part and a first air outlet arranged at the end of the housing part so that an airflow entering said first device at said first air inlet passes through an air channel around said heating device and streams out through said first air outlet,

control electronics for controlling the temperature of the heating device and for monitoring the energy reserves of the accumulator, and

a sensor device for detecting an airflow created by sucking/drawing at the smoking device and emitting a signal to the control electronics for releasing the full electric energy of the accumulator during a short heating period,

and wherein said second device comprises;

an agent,

a second air inlet and a second air outlet arranged so that the airflow entering said second device through said second air inlet passes through said second device and streams out through said second air outlet, and

dispensing means for controlling the releasing of said agent to the airflow, further comprising an interface for connecting said first device and said second device so that said first air outlet is connected in an airtight manner to said second air inlet.

23. The smoking device of claim 22, wherein said housing part comprises a first housing part situated at the end of the first device and a second housing part covering the accumulator, the sensor device, the control electronics and the heating device.

24. The smoking device of claim 23, wherein said first housing part is made of heat resistant and isolating material.

25. The smoking device of claim 22, wherein said interface is provided by a tubular extension and a corresponding tubular cut.

26. The smoking device of claim 22, wherein said sensor device is a microphone and said control electronics comprise active and/or passive filters to filter signals received from the sensor device.

27. The smoking device of claim 26, wherein said control electronics comprise a processor programmed to electronically filter signals received from the sensor device.

28. The smoking device of claim 22, wherein said accumulator comprises a charging interface by means of which it is connectable to charging means.

29. The smoking device of claim 22, wherein said heating device comprises a resistive coil of material which stands temperatures of at least 500°

C., in order to heat the airflow up to 200°

C. during the short heating period.

30. The smoking device of claim 22, further comprising an indicating element that provides a consumer of said smoking device with status information.

31. The smoking device of claim 22, wherein said control electronics further comprises:

a temperature control unit;

a pulse width modern;

an analog/digital converter;

a programmable gate array; and

a central processing unit.

32. The smoking device of claim 22, wherein said second device is designed for one-time use and has the shape of the filter portion of a regular cigarette.

33. The smoking device of claim 22, wherein said first device is reusable and has the shape of the tobacco portion of a regular cigarette.

34. A charging means for use with a smoking device of claim 23, said charging means comprising a bay for receiving at least part of said smoking device, an accumulator and charger contacts which are arranged in or at said bay so as to establish an electric contact between said accumulator and corresponding contacts of said smoking device.

35. The charging means of claim 34, wherein said bay has a cylindrical, hollow shape so that said smoking device can be slide in until the electric contact is established.

36. The charging means of claim 34, further comprising an electronic circuit for controlling the charging of said smoking device by said accumulator.

37. The charging means of claim 36, further comprising an interface providing for a contact between said electronic circuit and an external computing device.

38. The charging means of claim 34, wherein the charging means is a portable charging case that serves as storage and charging means for charging a smoking device prior to use.

39. The charging means of claim 34, wherein the charging means is installed into a vehicle to enable the charging of a smoking device prior to use.

40. A method of using a smoking device of claim 22, comprising the following steps:

charging the accumulator of said first device,

connecting the first device and second device,

putting an end portion of said second device between one'"'"'s lips,

sucking/drawing air through said second device as if one would be using a regular cigarette,

said processor, as part of the control electronics, detecting the sucking/drawing of air, by means of said sensor device,

in response to the detection of the sucking/drawing of air, releasing electric energy from said accumulator for heating said heating device and for heating an airflow streaming through said smoking device, and

releasing part of said agent, by means of said dispensing means, while the airflow, after having been heated by said heating device, passes said second device.

41. The method of claim 40, further comprising the step of:

connecting said first device with separate charging means, so as to establish an electric contact between said charging means and corresponding contacts of said smoking device prior to charging the accumulator of said first device.

42. Method of claim 41, further comprising the steps of:

storing said first device in a portable case,

while being stored in said portable case, providing an electric contact between an accumulator contained in said portable case and corresponding contacts of said smoking device in order to charge the accumulator of said first device.