SHAPED HEATER FOR AN AEROSOL GENERATING SYSTEM

• US 20110155718A1
• Filed: 12/22/2010
• Published: 06/30/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Philip Morris USA Incorporated (Altria Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Philip Morris USA Incorporated (Altria Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Higgins, Charles, Greim, Olivier, Fernando, Felix
• Granted Patent: US 8,558,147 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/507
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/20 Devices using solid inhalable precursors
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/46 Shape or structure of electric heating means
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/70 Manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 1/0018 using electric energy supply
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/017 Manufacturing methods or apparatus for heaters
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/0019 Circuit arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/46 heating conductor mounted on insulating base

Abstract

A heater for heating an aerosol-forming substrate includes a plurality of elongate heating elements arranged in an elongate array. The elongate array has a support end with a first dimension, a heating end with a second dimension and a middle portion with a third dimension. The array is arranged to heat the substrate to form an aerosol. The third dimension is greater than the first dimension and greater than the second dimension. An electrically heated aerosol generating system can include the heater.

Claims

1. A heater for heating an aerosol-forming substrate, the heater comprising a plurality of elongate heating elements arranged in an elongate array having a support end with a first dimension, a heating end with a second dimension and a middle portion with a third dimension, the array arranged to heat the substrate to form an aerosol, wherein the third dimension is greater than the first dimension and greater than the second dimension.

2. The heater of claim 1, wherein the plurality of elongate heating elements is arranged in a substantially tubular array.

3. The heater of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first dimension, the second dimension and the third dimension is a diameter of the array.

4. The heater of claim 1, wherein the plurality of heating elements are electrically connected or mechanically connected or both mechanically and electrically connected to each other at the heating end.

5. The heater of claim 1, wherein the aerosol-forming substrate includes a cavity and the dimension of the middle portion of the array is larger than an inside dimension of the cavity, such that, when the plurality of heating elements is inserted into the cavity of the aerosol-forming substrate, the heating elements are pressed towards each other so as to exert a force on the substrate.

6. The heater of claim 1, further including at least one external heating element for heating the outside of the aerosol-forming substrate.

7. The heater of claim 1, further including an electrically conductive pin located substantially in the center of the elongate array of heating elements.

8. The heater of claim 1, wherein the plurality of heating elements is connectable between a first voltage and a second voltage.

9. The heater of claim 8, wherein all the heating elements are connectable to one of the first and second voltages at the support end and all the heating elements are connectable to the other of the first and second voltages at the heating end.

10. The heater of claim 8, wherein the support end of at least one of the heating elements is connectable to one of the first and second voltages and the support end of at least one other of the heating elements is connectable to the other of the first and second voltages.

11. The heater of claim 8, wherein the heater includes a switch for each heating element, each switch allowing electrical current to flow through the respective heating element.

12. The heater of claim 8, wherein the heater includes a switch, the switch allowing electrical current to flow through all the heating elements.

13. An electrically heated aerosol generating system for receiving an aerosol-forming substrate, the system comprising:

a heater for heating the aerosol-forming substrate, the heater including a plurality of elongate heating elements arranged in an elongate array having a support end with a first dimension, a heating end with a second dimension and a middle portion with a third dimension, the array arranged to heat the substrate to form an aerosol, wherein the third dimension is greater than the first dimension and greater than the second dimension.