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EP-3855959-B1 - SMOKING SUBSTITUTE DEVICE AND SYSTEM

EP3855959B1EP 3855959 B1EP3855959 B1EP 3855959B1EP-3855959-B1

Inventors

  • FERRIE, Kate
  • SHENTON, Edward Ross
  • MARCHBANK, Jonathan Stephen
  • SUDLOW, Tom Stephen
  • LOMAS, PETER

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20190923

Claims (17)

  1. A smoking substitute device (10), comprising: a main body (16) having a length (I) and a transverse cross-section (c); wherein the cross-section (c) comprises two substantially parallel, substantially linear sides (S1, S2); wherein the cross-section (c) further comprises two curved sides (S3,S4) having a curved shape; and wherein the curved sides (S3,S4) connect with the substantially linear sides (S1, S2) for forming the cross-section, wherein the two curved sides (S3, S4) each provide a continuous transition from one substantially linear side (S1, S2) to the other substantially linear side (S1, S2) without sharp bends or edges, characterised in that : the two substantially parallel, substantially linear sides (S1, S2) are of different width (w1, w2).
  2. A smoking substitute device (10) according to the preceding claim, wherein the curved sides (S3,S4) are non-circular.
  3. A smoking substitute device (10) according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein one of the substantially linear sides (S1, S2) is a front side (S2) of the smoking substitute device (10); and wherein the other one of the substantially linear sides (S1, S2) is a back side (S1) of the smoking substitute device (10).
  4. A smoking substitute device (10) according to the preceding claim, the front side (S2) comprising at least one of a display element (28) for indicating a mode of operation, and a control element (26) for controlling operation of the smoking substitute device (10).
  5. A smoking substitute device (10) according to the preceding claim, further comprising a front face element (F); wherein at least one of the display element (28) and the control element (26) are arranged on the front face element (F); and wherein the front face element (F) protrudes from the front side (S1).
  6. A smoking substitute device (10) according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the curved sides (S3,S4) each comprise a plurality of subsections (S3a, S3b, S3c,S4a, S3b, S3c); wherein each curved side (S3,S4) comprises two curved subsections (S3a, S3c,S4a, S3c).
  7. A smoking substitute device (10) according to at least one of the preceding claims, further comprising a first end section (54a) and a second end section (54b), wherein the end sections (54a,b) are non-linear in shape, in particular comprise a curvature.
  8. A smoking substitute device (10) according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the length (l) is in the range of 5cm to 20cm, or in the range of 7cm to 15cm, or in the range of 10cm to 15cm, or in the range of 12cm to 13cm, or 12.7cm.
  9. A smoking substitute device (10) according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the first width (w1) is in the range of 1 cm to 3 cm, or in the range of 1.2 cm to 2.5 cm, or in the range of 1.3 cm to 2 cm, or in the range of 1.4 cm to 1.6 cm, or 1.5 cm.
  10. A smoking substitute device (10) according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the second width (w2) is in the range of 0.5 cm to 1.5 cm, or in the range of 0.6 cm to 1.2 cm, or in the range of 0.65 cm to 1 cm, or in the range of 0.7 cm to 0.85 cm, or 0.73 cm.
  11. A smoking substitute device (10) according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein a width (w) of the smoking substitute device (10) is in the range of 1 cm to 5 cm, or in the range of 1.5 cm to 4 cm, or in the range of 2 cm to 3 cm, or in the range of 2.2 cm to 2.6 cm, or 2.4 cm.
  12. A smoking substitute device (10) according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein a depth (d) of smoking substitute device (10) is in the range of 0.5 cm to 3 cm, or in the range of 0.8 cm to 2.5 cm, or in the range of 1 cm to 2.2 cm, or in the range of 1.3 cm to 2 cm, or 1.6 cm.
  13. A smoking substitute device (10) according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the two substantially linear sides (S1, S2) have a radius of curvature in the range of 10 cm to 1000 cm, or in the range of 100 cm to 1000 cm, or in the range of 500 cm to 1000 cm.
  14. A smoking substitute device (10) according to the preceding claim, wherein one of the two substantially linear sides (S1, S2) is concavely shaped and the other one of the two substantially linear sides (S1, S2) is convexly shaped; in particular wherein the two substantially linear sides (S1, S2) comprise a curvature with a substantially identical circle centre.
  15. A smoking substitute system, comprising a smoking substitute device (10) according to at least one of the preceding claims and a smoking substitute consumable (20).
  16. A method of using the smoking substitute system according to the preceding claim, the method comprising: inserting the smoking substitute consumable (20) into the smoking substitute device (10); and heating the smoking substitute consumable (20) using the heating element (12).
  17. A method according to the preceding claim, the method further comprising: inserting the smoking substitute consumable (20) into the cavity (14) within the main body (16) of the smoking substitute device (10); and penetrating the smoking substitute consumable (20) with the heating element (12) upon insertion of the smoking substitute consumable (20).

Description

Field of the Disclosure The present disclosure relates to the field of smoking tobacco. In particular, the present disclosure relates to smoking substitute systems and particularly, although not exclusively, to a heat-not-burn (HNB) smoking substitute system. Further in particular, the present disclosure relates to a smoking substitute device with an improved housing design. Background The smoking of tobacco is generally considered to expose a smoker to potentially harmful substances. It is generally thought that a significant amount of the potentially harmful substances are generated through the heat caused by the burning and/or combustion of the tobacco and the constituents of the burnt tobacco in the tobacco smoke itself. Conventional combustible smoking articles, such as cigarettes, typically comprise a cylindrical rod of tobacco comprising shreds of tobacco which is surrounded by a wrapper, and usually also a cylindrical filter axially aligned in an abutting relationship with the wrapped tobacco rod. The filter typically comprises a filtration material which is circumscribed by a plug wrap. The wrapped tobacco rod and the filter are joined together by a wrapped band of tipping paper that circumscribes the entire length of the filter and an adjacent portion of the wrapped tobacco rod. A conventional cigarette of this type is used by lighting the end opposite to the filter, and burning the tobacco rod. The smoker receives mainstream smoke into their mouth by drawing on the mouth end or filter end of the cigarette. Combustion of organic material such as tobacco is known to produce tar and other potentially harmful byproducts. There have been proposed various smoking substitute systems (or "substitute smoking systems") in order to avoid the smoking of tobacco. Such smoking substitute systems can form part of nicotine replacement therapies aimed at people who wish to stop smoking and overcome a dependence on nicotine. Smoking substitute systems include electronic systems that permit a user to simulate the act of smoking by producing an aerosol (also referred to as a "vapour") that is drawn into the lungs through the mouth (inhaled) and then exhaled. The inhaled aerosol typically bears nicotine and/or flavourings without, or with fewer of, the odour and health risks associated with traditional smoking. In general, smoking substitute systems are intended to provide a substitute for the rituals of smoking, whilst providing the user with a similar experience and satisfaction to those experienced with traditional smoking and with combustible tobacco products. Some smoking substitute systems use smoking substitute articles that are designed to resemble a traditional cigarette and are cylindrical in form with a mouthpiece at one end. The popularity and use of smoking substitute systems has grown rapidly in the past few years. Although originally marketed as an aid to assist habitual smokers wishing to quit tobacco smoking, consumers are increasingly viewing smoking substitute systems as desirable lifestyle accessories. There are a number of different categories of smoking substitute systems, each utilising a different smoking substitute approach. One approach for a smoking substitute system is the so-called "heat not burn" ("HNB") approach in which tobacco (rather than an "e-liquid") is heated or warmed to release vapour. The tobacco may be leaf tobacco or reconstituted tobacco. The vapour may contain nicotine and/or flavourings. In the HNB approach the intention is that the tobacco is heated but not burned, i.e. the tobacco does not undergo combustion. A typical HNB smoking substitute system may include a device and a consumable. The consumable may include the tobacco material. The device and consumable may be configured to be physically coupled together. In use, heat may be imparted to the tobacco material by a heating element of the device, wherein airflow through the tobacco material causes moisture in the tobacco material to be released as vapour. A vapour may also be formed from a carrier in the tobacco material (this carrier may for example include propylene glycol and/or vegetable glycerine) and additionally volatile compounds released from the tobacco. The released vapour may be entrained in the airflow drawn through the tobacco. As the vapour passes through the consumable (entrained in the airflow) from an inlet to a mouthpiece (outlet), the vapour cools and condenses to form an aerosol for inhalation by the user. The aerosol will normally contain the volatile compounds. In HNB smoking substitute systems, heating as opposed to burning the tobacco material is believed to cause fewer, or smaller quantities, of the more harmful compounds ordinarily produced during smoking. Consequently, the HNB approach may reduce the odour and/or health risks that can arise through the burning, combustion and pyrolytic degradation of tobacco. There may be a need for improved design of smoking substitute systems, in particu