Cigarette substitute

• US 8,091,558 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2006
• Issued: 01/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gaiatrend Sarl
• Original Assignee: Gaiatrend Sarl
• Inventors: Martzel, Didier Gerard
• Primary Examiner(s): Crispino, Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): Felton, Michael J
• Application Number:
  US12/159,902
• Publication Number:
  US 20080276947A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,845 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 131/273
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/10 Devices using liquid inhalable precursors
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/42 Cartridges or containers for inhalable precursors
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/46 Shape or structure of electric heating means
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/50 Control or monitoring

Abstract

The invention relates to a cigarette substitute, comprising a hollow tubular element (1) provided with a generator of products to be inhaled (7, 8), with internal heating means (6) for heating the inspired air or at least part of the generator of products to be inhaled, and with a device (8) for triggering the generator of products to be inhaled. It is characterized in that the triggering device comprises an element (8) sensitive to the heat produced by heating means that are situated outside the substitute (1) and are independent of the latter, said heat-sensitive element (8) being made of a material that cannot ignite or burn under the conditions of normal use of the substitute (1). It is thus possible to activate the cigarette substitute with the aid of a flame, without thereby causing combustion of the generator of products to be inhaled.

Claims

1. Cigarette substitute comprising:

a hollow tubular element equipped with a generator of inhalable products,

internal heating means for heating the air drawn in or at least part of the generator of inhalable products,

and a triggering device for activating the generator of inhalable products, wherein the triggering device comprises a heat sensitive element that is sensitive to a heat input produced by application of external heat produced outside the substitute and independent of it, with said heat sensitive element being made of a material that cannot be ignited or burned under the normal usage conditions of the substitute.

2. Cigarette substitute according to claim 1, wherein the internal heating means is activated only when the heat sensitive element has been exposed to externally generated heat.

3. Cigarette substitute according to claim 1, wherein the triggering device is a heat detector, preferably a bimetallic element, that is electrically connected to the internal heating means.

4. Cigarette substitute according to claim 1, wherein the generator of inhalable products comprises a reservoir.

5. Cigarette substitute according to claim 4, wherein the reservoir is placed at the end of the tubular element opposite the end meant to be placed in the mouth.

6. Cigarette substitute according to claim 4, wherein the reservoir is made of a material that can be at least partially destroyed by the internal heating means or external heat without igniting or burning, and the generator of inhalable products is equipped with a material for absorbing the contents of the reservoir when the latter is at least partially destroyed.

7. Cigarette substitute according to claim 6, wherein the internal heating means comprises reservoir heating means are made of a heating resistor connected to an electrical energy source and controlled by the heat-sensitive element.

8. Cigarette substitute according to claim 6, wherein the material for absorbing the contents of the reservoir absorption means consists of a plug.

9. Cigarette substitute according to claim 1, wherein the internal heating means are made of an electrical heating element.

10. Cigarette substitute according to claim 9, which comprises starting means for turning the electrical heating element on and off, the starting means being equipped with first means for activating at least part of the electrical heating element upon inhalation and for deactivating it when inhalation ends.

11. Cigarette substitute according to claim 10, wherein the starting means are equipped with second means for activating at least part of the internal heating element after the first inhalation without deactivating it when inhalation ends.

12. Cigarette substitute according to claim 11, wherein the first and/or the second means for activating the internal heating element comprise a contact switch equipped with a light return spring and a disk through which air can pass, with the spring and the disk arranged so that the disk closes an electrical circuit during an inhalation and opens this circuit by the action of the return spring when inhalation stops.

13. Cigarette substitute according to claim 1, which comprises an autonomous electrical energy source, preferably a battery or a capacitor.

14. Cigarette substitute according to claim 1, which is equipped with an air speed regulator.

15. Cigarette substitute according to claim 1, wherein the tubular element is provided with a filter at the end meant to be placed in the mouth.

16. Cigarette substitute according to claim 1, wherein the tubular element is provided with a luminous element simulating a cigarette'"'"'s incandescence at the end opposite the end meant to be placed in the mouth, wherein the luminous element can have an opening to provide access to the inside of the tubular element.

17. Cigarette substitute according to claim 1, which is equipped with a smoke generator.

18. Cigarette substitute according to claim 4, wherein the reservoir is interchangeable.

19. Cigarette substitute according to claim 6, wherein the reservoir is made of a material that can be at least partially destroyed by the internal heating means by melting or through tearing.

20. Cigarette substitute according to claim 9, which comprises starting means for turning the electrical heating element on and off.