Electrically-powered linear heating element
First Claim
1. An electrically-powered linear heating element enclosed within a device adapted to be supported by the lips of an individual, comprising:
- a linear base member;
an electrically-resistive linear heating member switchably connectable to an electrical power source, said heating member having a resistivity which, when said heating member is connected to said power source, causes the heating member to attain a temperature sufficient to heat, without burning, a flavor-generating medium which is in thermal contact with said heating member; and
a linear insulating member secured between the base member and the heating member, said insulating member having an electrical resistance sufficiently high to electrically isolate the heating member from the base member, said insulating member also having a thermal conductivity sufficiently low to thermally isolate the heating member from the base member.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A heating element for use within a smoking device which is intended to be held in the lips of a consumer, and which without burning, heats a flavor-generating medium within the device to produce an aerosol, vapor, or flavor, which the consumer may inhale. More particularly, an electrically-powered heating element having a plurality of discrete resistive heating segments, only one of which is active at any given time. In a preferred embodiment, the heating element is contained within the device so that the individual heating segments of the element are adjacent to a flavor-generating medium. As each segment of the heating element is provided with power, the flavor-generating medium adjacent to that segment is heated, but is not burned. This heating causes the flavor-generating medium to produce a flavor, aerosol, or vapor, which the consumer of the device may inhale.
544 Citations
29 Claims
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1. An electrically-powered linear heating element enclosed within a device adapted to be supported by the lips of an individual, comprising:
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a linear base member; an electrically-resistive linear heating member switchably connectable to an electrical power source, said heating member having a resistivity which, when said heating member is connected to said power source, causes the heating member to attain a temperature sufficient to heat, without burning, a flavor-generating medium which is in thermal contact with said heating member; and a linear insulating member secured between the base member and the heating member, said insulating member having an electrical resistance sufficiently high to electrically isolate the heating member from the base member, said insulating member also having a thermal conductivity sufficiently low to thermally isolate the heating member from the base member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 13, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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7. An electrically-powered linear heating element enclosed within a smoking device adapted to be supported by the lips of an individual, comprising:
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a linear base member; a pair of electrically-resistive linear heating members switchably connectable to an electrical power source, each of said heating members having a resistivity which, when each member is connected to said power source, causes each of the heating members to attain a temperature sufficient to heat a flavor-generating medium PG,22 which is in thermal contact with said heating members without burning; and a pair of linear insulating members, each disposed along a respective side of the base member and secured to a respective one of the resistive heating members, said insulating members having an electrical resistance sufficiently high to electrically isolate the heating members from the base member, said insulating member also having a thermal conductivity sufficiently low to thermally isolate the heating member from the base member. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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14. An electrically-powered linear heating element enclosed within a smoking device adapted to be supported by the lips of an individual, comprising:
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an electrically-resistive linear heating member switchably connectable to an electrical power source, said heating member having a resistivity which, when said heating member is connected to said power source, causes the heating member to attain a temperature sufficient to heat a flavor-generating medium which is in thermal contact with said heating member; and a linear base member secured to said heating member, said base member comprising an electrically-insulating material capable of maintaining its structural integrity and chemical inertness throughout the range of operating temperatures of the heating member. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An electrically-powered linear heating element enclosed within a smoking device adapted to be supported by the lips of an individual, comprising:
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a pair of electrically-resistive linear heating members switchably connectable to an electrical power source, each of said heating members having a resistivity which, when each member is connected to said power source, causes each of the heating members to attain a temperature sufficient to heat a flavor-generating medium in thermal contact with said heating members; and a linear base member, secured and interposed between each of said heating members, comprising an electrically-insulating material capable of maintaining its structural integrity and chemical inertness throughout the range operating temperatures of the heating members. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification