Smoking device

• US 4,848,374 A
• Filed: 06/10/1988
• Issued: 07/18/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Beresford R. Gill, Brian C. Chard, Christopher R. Bale, David Herron, Stephen J. Garrett
• Original Assignee: Beresford R. Gill, Brian C. Chard, Christopher R. Bale, David Herron, Stephen J. Garrett
• Inventors: Herron, David, Garrett, Stephen J., Chard, Brian C., Gill, Beresford R., Bale, Christopher R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Millin, V.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CROSBY, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US07/204,863
• Time in Patent Office: 403 Days
• Field of Search: 131/273, 131/271, 131/198.1, 131/198.2, 131/194, 131/195, 131/335, 131/347, 131/359, 131/330, 131/187
• US Class Current: 131/330
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/10 Devices using liquid inhalable precursors
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/485 Valves; Apertures
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 42/10 Devices with chemical heating means
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 42/60 Constructional details

Abstract

A smoking device for releasing an aerosol into the mouth of a smoker comprises in combination, a chamber into which a mixture of air and a liquid aerosol precursor is introduced, a heat source surrounding the chamber, a first duct providing communication between the chamber and a smoker'"'"'s mouth, whereby the contents of the chamber may be drawn into the smoker'"'"'s mouth, a container for the aerosol precursor, a second duct means leading from the aerosol precursor container into the chamber whereby aerosol precursor may pass from said container into the chamber, and a third duct means providing communication between ambient air and the chamber whereby ambient air may be drawn into the chamber by the smoker, the arrangement being such that in operation liquid aerosol precursor entering the chamber is converted into a condensation aerosol.

Claims

1. A smoking device for releasing an aerosol into the mouth of a smoker, the device comprising in combination,

(a) a chamber into which a mixture of air and an aerosol precursor is introduced,

(b) a heating means external of the chamber for heating internal surfaces of the chamber,

(c) a first duct providing communication between the chamber and a smoker'"'"'s mouth, whereby the contents of the chamber may be drawn into the smoker'"'"'s mouth,

(d) a container for an aerosol precursor,

(e) a second duct means leading from the aerosol precursor container into the chamber whereby aerosol precursor may pass from said container into the chamber, and

(f) a third duct means providing communication between ambient air and the chamber whereby ambient air may be drawn into the chamber by the smoker, the arrangement being such that in operation aerosol precursor entering the chamber is converted into a condensation aerosol.

2. A smoking device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the aerosol precursor is a liquid.

3. A smoking device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the container for the aerosol precursor is a flexible container.

4. A smoking device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second and third duct means are provided by second and third ducts respectively, having separate entrances into the chamber.

5. A smoking device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second and third duct means are provided by coaxial second and third ducts respectively having a common entrance into the chamber.

6. A smoking device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the third duct is provided with a constricted region thereby to provide a pressure drop in air passing therethrough.

7. A smoking device as claimed in claim 1 wherein a fourth duct means is provided between the container and the ambient air whereby pressure within the container may be equalised with that of the ambient air.

8. A smoking device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means for heating the mixture of aerosol precursor and air is provided by a heat source surrounding the chamber containing said mixture.

9. A smoking device as claimed in claim 8 wherein the heat source is provided by an exothermic material.

10. A smoking device as claimed in claim 9 wherein the exothermic material is an exothermic mixture of inorganic solids.

11. A smoking device as claimed in claim 10 wherein the exothermic mixture is a mixture of iron oxide and calcium silicide.

12. A smoking device as claimed in claim 10 wherein the exothermic mixture is a mixture of iron and sulphur.

13. A smoking device as claimed in claim 8 wherein the heat source is provided by a substance that relies on oxidation by air for continued generation of heat after ignition.

14. A smoking device as claimed in claim 13 wherein the substance is a carbonaceous material.

15. A smoking device as claimed in claim 14 wherein the carbonaceous material is a mixture including carbon and an inorganic oxidizing agent.

16. A smoking device as claimed in claim 15 wherein the oxidizing agent is potassium nitrate.

17. A smoking device as claimed in claim 16 wherein the composition of the mixture is 2% potassium nitrate, 88% carbon, and 10% binder.

18. A smoking device as claimed in claim 13 wherein the substance is selected from the group comprising hydrogen and gaseous or volatile hydrocarbons.

19. A smoking device as claimed in claim 8 wherein the heat source is provided by a battery powered electric heater.

20. A smoking device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the aerosol precursor comprises a liquid base having a boiling point in the range 100°

-300°

C.

21. A smoking device as claimed in claim 20 wherein the liquid base is selected from the group consisting of glycerol, propylene glycol, and sebacate esters.

22. A smoking device as claimed in claim 21 wherein the sebacate ester is di-2-ethylhexyl sebacate.

23. A smoking device as claimed in claim 21 wherein the liquid base further contains nicotine or a salt thereof.