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EP-4364598-B1 - APPARATUS FOR HEATING SMOKABLE MATERIAL

EP4364598B1EP 4364598 B1EP4364598 B1EP 4364598B1EP-4364598-B1

Inventors

  • PAPROCKI, Benjamin John
  • WILKE, ANDREW PAUL
  • ROBEY, RAYMOND JOHN
  • ROBINSON, Jesse Eugene
  • TIAN, FENG

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20141024

Claims (7)

  1. An apparatus (1) arranged to heat smokable material (5) to volatilise at least one component of said smokable material, the apparatus comprising: a housing (2); and a plurality of heater segments (20) longitudinally arranged within the housing for heating smokable material contained within the apparatus; wherein at least one heater segment (20') defines a smaller volume than at least one other heater segment; wherein said at least one heater segment (20') has a smaller internal radius than said at least one other heater segment (20); and wherein at least one heater segment is arranged so as to heat smokable material contained within said at least one heater segment more quickly than at least one other heater segment heats smokable material contained within said at least one other heater segment.
  2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said at least one heater segment (20') has thinner walls than said at least one other heater segment (20).
  3. An apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said at least one heater segment (20') is shorter than said at least one other heater segment (20) in the longitudinal direction of the housing (2).
  4. An apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the heater segments (20, 20') are generally hollow cylinders for containing smokable material (5) to be heated therein.
  5. An apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, comprising power circuitry (7) constructed and arranged so that the heater segments (20, 20') can be selectively powered independently of each other.
  6. An apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the plurality of heater segments (20, 20') each comprise a resistive heating element.
  7. An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein at least one resistive heating element comprises a resistive electrical winding and wherein the at least one resistive electrical winding is disposed around the respective heater segment.

Description

Cross Reference to Related Application This application claims the benefit of US provisional patent application no. 61/897,193, filed on October 29, 2013. Technical Field The present invention relates to apparatus arranged to heat smokable material. Background Smoking articles such as cigarettes, cigars and the like burn tobacco during use to create tobacco smoke. Attempts have been made to provide alternatives to these articles that burn tobacco by creating products that release compounds without burning. Examples of such products are heating devices which release compounds by heating, but not burning, the material. The material may be for example tobacco or other non-tobacco products, which may or may not contain nicotine. WO 2013/034454 A1 discloses an apparatus comprising a heater configured to heat smokable material to volatilise at least one component of the smokable material, wherein the heater comprises a plurality of heating projections arranged along a longitudinal axis of the heater; and the projections are configured to heat smokable material located between the projections. An elongate smokable material cartridge comprising a plurality of smokable material sections is also disclosed. Summary According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus arranged to heat smokable material to volatilise at least one component of said smokable material, the apparatus comprising: a housing; anda plurality of heater segments longitudinally arranged within the housing for heating smokable material contained within the apparatus;wherein at least one heater segment defines a smaller volume than said at least one other heater segment; andwherein said at least one heater segment has a smaller internal radius than said at least one other heater segment. By arranging the at least one heater segment in this way, the smokable material in that heater segment will volatilise more quickly in use, which enables the user to inhale more quickly once the apparatus is first put to use. In an exemplary embodiment, said at least one heater segment is shorter than said at least one other heater segment in the longitudinal direction of the housing. In an exemplary embodiment, said at least one heater segment has a lower heat capacity than said at least one other heater segment. In an exemplary embodiment, the heater segments are generally hollow cylinders for containing smokable material to be heated therein. In an exemplary embodiment, the apparatus comprises power circuitry constructed and arranged so that the heater segments can be selectively powered independently of each other. Brief Description of the Drawings Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an example of an apparatus for heating a smokable material;Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional perspective view of the apparatus of Figure 1;Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional perspective view of an example of a heater support sleeve and heating chamber suitable for use in the apparatus of Figure 1;Figure 4 shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a portion of an example of a heater support sleeve and heating chamber suitable for use in the apparatus of Figure 1;Figure 5 shows a perspective view of an example of a mechanical isolator suitable for use in the apparatus of Figure 1;Figure 6 shows a detailed perspective view of an example of a mechanical isolator between two heater segments suitable for use in the apparatus of Figure 1;Figure 7 shows a detailed perspective view of wire connections to a heater segment suitable for use in the apparatus of Figure 1;Figure 8 shows a schematic perspective view of wires passing to and from electrical control circuitry and/or a power source to heater segments suitable for use in the apparatus of Figure 1;Figure 9 shows a perspective view of an example of a heater support sleeve and supports suitable for use in the apparatus of Figure 1;Figure 10 shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view of an example of the frontmost portion of an apparatus for heating a smokable material;Figure 11 shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view of another example of a heater support sleeve suitable for use in the apparatus of Figure 1; andFigure 12 shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view of an example of the rearmost portion of an apparatus for heating a smokable material. Detailed Description As used herein, the term "smokable material" includes materials that provide volatilised components upon heating, typically in the form of an aerosol. "Smokable material" includes any tobacco-containing material and may, for example, include one or more of tobacco, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco or tobacco substitutes. "Smokable material" also may include other, non-tobacco, products, which, depending on the product, may or may not contain nicotine. Referring to Figure 1, there is sho