Interdigitated cylindrical heater for use in an electrical smoking article
First Claim
1. A heater for use in a smoking article having a source of electrical energy for heating a cigarette, said heater comprising:
- a plurality of heater elements electrically connected to the source of electrical energy to be heated thereby; and
a plurality of barrier blades;
wherein said plurality of heater elements and said plurality of barrier blades are located adjacent one another in a thermally isolated alternating and interdigitated arrangement and define a cylindrical receptacle to receive the cigarette upon insertion for heating by said plurality of heater elements, said plurality of barrier blades reducing escape from the defined cylindrical receptacle of vapors generated by said plurality of heater elements heating selected portions of the cigarette.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A heater having a generally cylindrical or tubular configuration comprised of a selected plurality of thermally conductive heater blades and adjacent heat sink and aerosol barrier blades interposed between the heater blades to form an interdigitated structure. A respective gap is defined between a heater blade and an adjacent heat sink blade to prevent heat loss during an electrical pulse which heats the heater blade. During the subsequent cooling period and puff interval, the adjacent heat sink blades prevent heat from propagating to other parts of the aerosol generating tube, i.e., the cigarette. In addition to the thermal function, the barrier blades also block the escape of moisture generated by the aerosol generating medium, thereby limiting the propagation of condensation. The respective gaps between the interdigitated blades are defined to be wide enough to prevent heat losses during pulsing from a heater blade to adjacent blades yet small enough to prevent escape of significant amounts of vapor.
439 Citations
49 Claims
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1. A heater for use in a smoking article having a source of electrical energy for heating a cigarette, said heater comprising:
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a plurality of heater elements electrically connected to the source of electrical energy to be heated thereby; and a plurality of barrier blades; wherein said plurality of heater elements and said plurality of barrier blades are located adjacent one another in a thermally isolated alternating and interdigitated arrangement and define a cylindrical receptacle to receive the cigarette upon insertion for heating by said plurality of heater elements, said plurality of barrier blades reducing escape from the defined cylindrical receptacle of vapors generated by said plurality of heater elements heating selected portions of the cigarette. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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Specification