HEATING SMOKEABLE MATERIAL

• US 20150223520A1
• Filed: 09/18/2013
• Published: 08/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: British American Tobacco Limited (British American Tobacco PLC)
• Original Assignee: British American Tobacco Limited (British American Tobacco PLC)
• Inventors: Woodman, Thomas, Farenden, Paul, Phillips, Jeremy, Bitar, Ahmed, Brereton, Simon, Hatrick, David, McGinley, Ryan, Twelftree, Tom, Vasishta, Viju, West, Grant
• Application Number:
  US14/428,344
• Publication Number:
  US 20150223520A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A24D 3/17 Filters specially adapted for simulated smoking devices
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 42/10 Devices with chemical heating means
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 42/60 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/042 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/047 by exothermic chemical reaction
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/06 Inhaling appliances shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes

Abstract

An apparatus is provided to heat smokeable material (3) to volatilise at least one component of the smokeable material, wherein the apparatus comprises a chemical heat source (2); and an actuating mechanism (6), and wherein the actuating mechanism, upon actuation, activates the heat source which heats the smokeable material. A method of heating a smokeable material to volatilise components of the smokeable material for inhalation is also provided, and use of a chemical heat source to volatilise components of the smokeable material for inhalation.

Claims

1. An apparatus to heat smokeable material to volatilize at least one component of a smokeable material, the apparatus comprising:

a chemical heat source; and

an actuator configured to, upon actuation, activate the chemical heat source to heat smokeable material.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the chemical heat source is configured to generate heat by one or more of:

(i) a water-based exothermic chemical reaction;

(ii) an air-based exothermic chemical reaction; and

(iii) an exothermic phase change.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a smokeable material wherein, in use, the smokeable material is heated so that at least one component thereof is volatilized.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, the apparatus configured such that the chemical heat source and/or the smokeable material attain a target temperature of 80-125°

C.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, the apparatus configured such that the chemical heat source and/or the smokeable material to a target temperature of 40-80°

C.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5, the apparatus configured to reach the target temperature within no more than 5 minutes from actuation of the actuator.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5, the apparatus configured such that the target temperature is maintained for a period of at least 3 minutes.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the chemical heat source is disposed in a heat source chamber and the smokeable material is disposed in a heating chamber, the apparatus further comprising a housing and a mouthpiece in fluid communication with the heating chamber.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9, further comprising a filter.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the chemical heat source comprises:

(i) two or more reagents that are separately held within the heat source chamber;

or

(ii) two or more reagents, at least one of the reagents held within the heat source chamber and at least one other of the reagents held in a separate reagent storage chamber that is not within the heat source chamber.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the actuator is configured upon actuation to cause the reagents to mix, thereby activating an exothermic reaction.

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11,

wherein the two or more reagents comprise:

one or more reactants selected from the group consisting of;

calcium oxide (CaO), sodium hydroxide (NaOH), calcium chloride (CaCl₂) and magnesium sulphate (MgSO₄); and

an activating reagent including water.

14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the one or more reactants is/are provided in solid form.

15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the beat source chamber comprises a phase change material configured to be activated by the actuator to generate heat.

16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the phase change material is selected from the group consisting of sodium acetate trihydrate, sodium hydroxide monohydrate, barium hydroxide octahydrate, magnesium nitrate hexahydrate and magnesium chloride hexahydrate.

17. The apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein at least some of the phase change material is visible from the outside of the apparatus.

18. The apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein at least a portion of the housing is substantially clear or translucent.

19. The apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein at least a portion of a wall of the heat source chamber is substantially clear or translucent.

20. The apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the heat source chamber at least partially surrounds the heating chamber.

26. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the one or more reactants is/are provided in the form of one or more of:

a powder, granules, pellets and chunks.

2. An apparatus to heat smokeable material to volatilize at least one component of a smokeable material, the apparatus comprising a chemical heat source configured, upon activation, to trigger an exothermic chemical reaction.

21. A method of heating smokeable material to volatilize components of a smokeable material for inhalation, the method comprising:

generating thermal energy via a chemical heat source;

transferring thermal energy from the chemical heat source to the smokeable material to heat the smokeable material to a temperature sufficient to volatize components of the smokeable material.

22-25. -25. (canceled)