Electrical smoking system for delivering flavors and method for making same

• US 5,388,594 A
• Filed: 09/10/1993
• Issued: 02/14/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Philip Morris USA Incorporated (Altria Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Philip Morris USA Incorporated (Altria Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hayes, Patrick H., Lipowicz, Peter J., Miser, Donald E., Wrenn, Susan E., Deevi, Seetharama C., Higgins, Charles T., Stevens, William H., Houck, Willie G. Jr., Fleischhauer, Grier S., Watkins, Michael L., Nichols, Constance H., Keen, Billy J. Jr., Laroy, Bernard C., Hajalogol, Mohammad R., Subbiah, Mantharam, Counts, Mary E.
• Primary Examiner(s): BAHR, JENNIFER DOYLE
• Application Number:
  US08/118,665
• Time in Patent Office: 522 Days
• Field of Search: 131/194, 131/270, 131/271, 131/273, 131/329, 128/202.21, 128/203.27
• US Class Current: 131/329
• CPC Class Codes: A24D 1/20 Cigarettes specially adapted for simulated smoking devices
• CPC Class Codes: A24D 3/17 Filters specially adapted for simulated smoking devices
• 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 40/485 Valves; Apertures
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/24 heating conductor being self-supporting
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/42 non-flexible

Abstract

A smoking system is provided in which a replaceable cigarette containing tobacco flavor material is electrically heated by a set of electrical heater elements contained within a lighter to evolve tobacco flavors or other components in vapor or aerosol form for delivery to a smoker. The cigarette and lighter are adapted to provide air flow patterns through the smoking system such that air flows transversely into the cigarette. Such patterns improve aerosol and flavor delivery to the smoker and reduce the condensation of residual heater-region vapor/aerosol in the smoking system.

Claims

1. A smoking system for delivering a flavored tobacco response to a smoker, the system comprising:

a removable cigarette, the cigarette including

a carrier having first and second ends spaced apart in a longitudinal direction and having first and second surfaces, the first surface defining a cavity between the first and second ends, and

tobacco flavor material for generating a flavored tobacco response in the cavity, the tobacco flavor material being disposed on the first surface of the carrier;

a lighter, the lighter including

a heater fixture for receiving, through a first end, the removable cigarette, and

a plurality of electrical heater elements disposed in the heater fixture, each of the heater elements having a surface for being disposed adjacent the second surface of the cigarette, the heater elements heating the tobacco flavor material to generate a flavored tobacco response in the cavity; and

means for individually activating the plurality of heater elements such that a predetermined quantity of flavored tobacco response is generated in the cavity,

wherein the carrier and the tobacco flavor material allow a transverse flow of air into the cavity.

2. The smoking system of claim 1, wherein the carrier is in the form of a substantially hollow cylinder, the first surface forming an inside surface and the second surface forming an outside surface.

3. The smoking system of claim 1, wherein the cigarette further includes a free-flow filter adjacent the second end of the carrier, the free-flow filter providing structural support to the cigarette and allowing longitudinal air flow from the cavity, and a back-flow filter adjacent the first end of the carrier, the back-flow filter providing structural support to the cigarette and limiting longitudinal air flow through the cigarette.

4. The smoking system of claim 3, wherein the free-flow filter and back-flow filter are substantially cylindrical and each has a surface defining a part of the cavity.

5. The smoking system of claim 3, wherein the cigarette includes a mouthpiece filter.

6. The smoking system of claim 5, wherein the cigarette includes tipping paper wrapped around the mouthpiece filter and at least a portion of the carrier to secure the mouthpiece filter to the carrier.

7. The smoking system of claim 3, wherein the cigarette includes a second free-flow filter adjacent the first free-flow filter, and wherein the first free-flow filter and the second free-flow filter are each formed with longitudinal passageways, the longitudinal passageway of the second free-flow filter having a greater inside diameter than the longitudinal passageway of the first free-flow filter.

8. The smoking system of claim 1, wherein the cigarette includes overwrap paper wrapped around the carrier.

9. The smoking system of claim 1, wherein the carrier is composed of a non-woven carbon fiber mat.

10. The smoking system of claim 1, wherein the tobacco flavor material comprises tobacco material.

11. The smoking system of claim 1, wherein the tobacco flavor material comprises a continuous sheet of tobacco material.

12. The smoking system of claim 1, wherein the tobacco flavor material comprises a dried slurry of tobacco material.

13. The smoking system of claim 1, wherein a plurality of perforations are formed in the carrier and tobacco flavor material and permit a desired transverse air flow during smoking.

14. The smoking system of claim 1, wherein the permeability of the carrier and the tobacco flavor material are predetermined and permit a desired transverse air flow during smoking.

15. The smoking system of claim 1, wherein the heater fixture includes a cap at the first end, the cap having an open end for receiving the cigarette.

16. The smoking system of claim 15, wherein the cap provides an interference fit with the cigarette.

17. The smoking system of claim 15, wherein one or more air passageways for providing a flow of air to at least a portion of the cigarette are formed in the cap.

18. The smoking system of claim 17, wherein the one or more air passageways are holes formed through the cap.

19. The smoking system of claim 17, wherein the one or more air passageways are grooves formed on an inner wall of the cap, and wherein the grooves are bounded by the cigarette upon insertion of the cigarette into the lighter.

20. The smoking system of claim 15, wherein the heater fixture includes a substantially cylindrical wall defining, with the cap, a space in which at least a portion of the cigarette is received.

21. The smoking system of claim 20, wherein one or more air passageways for providing a flow of air to the cigarette are formed in the cap and permit air flow to the space.

22. The smoking system of claim 1, wherein the heater fixture includes a substantially cylindrical wall defining a space in which at least a portion of the cigarette is received.

23. The smoking system of claim 22, wherein, upon insertion of a cigarette in the lighter, air is permitted to flow between the cylindrical wall and the cigarette.

24. The smoking system of claim 22, wherein one or more air passageways for providing a flow of air to at least a portion of the cigarette are formed through the substantially cylindrical wall.

25. The smoking system of claim 24, wherein the one or more air passageways are formed adjacent the first end of the heater fixture.

26. The smoking system of claim 24, wherein the one or more air passageways are formed near a second end of the heater fixture.

27. The smoking system of claim 24, wherein a plurality of air passageways are distributed across the cylindrical wall.