HEATING SMOKEABLE MATERIAL

• US 20150040925A1
• Filed: 04/11/2013
• Published: 02/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nicoventures Trading Ltd. (British American Tobacco PLC)
• Original Assignee: British American Tobacco (Investments) Limited (British American Tobacco PLC)
• Inventors: Saleem, Fozia, Woodman, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 10,881,138 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 131/328
• 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 40/50 Control or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/146 Conductive polymers, e.g. polyethylene, thermoplastics
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/42 non-flexible

Abstract

An apparatus comprising a film heater 3 configured to heat smokeable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokeable material for inhalation.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a film heater, the film heater configured to heat smokeable material and volatilize at least one component of the smokeable material for inhalation.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the film heater is a polyimide film heater.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the film heater has a thickness of less than 1 mm.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the film heater has a thickness of less than 0.5 mm.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the film heater has a thickness of between approximately 0.2 mm and 0.0002 mm.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising thermal insulation integrated with the film heater.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising thermal insulation lined with the film heater.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising thermal insulation separated from the film heater by a barrier.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the barrier comprises a layer of stainless steel.

10. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the thermal insulation comprises a core region which is evacuated to a lower pressure than an exterior of the insulation.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein wall sections of the insulation either side of the core region converge to a sealed gas outlet.

12. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein a thickness of the insulation is less than approximately 1 mm.

13. The apparatus according claim 10, wherein a thickness of the insulation is less than approximately 0.1 mm.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a mouthpiece configured for user inhalation of volatized components of the smokeable material.

15. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to heat the smokeable material without combusting the smokeable material.

16. A method, comprising:

manufacturing an apparatus including a film heater, the film heater configured to heat smokeable material and volatilize at least one component of the smokeable material for inhalation.

17. (canceled)

18. An apparatus, comprising:

an elongate housing;

a heat chamber configured to receive smokeable material;

a film heater disposed within the elongate housing and configured to heat the heat chamber such that, in use, smokeable material received in the heat chamber is heated to volatilize at least one compound from the smokeable material without combustion of the smokeable material;

a power source disposed within the elongate housing and configured to provide power to the film heater; and

an inhalation mouthpiece disposed at an end of the elongate housing configured such that, in use, at least one compound volatized from smokeable material received in the heat chamber can be inhaled by a user of the apparatus.