Shisha device with air preheat without combustion

Abstract

A shisha device article includes a vessel and an aerosol-generating element. The vessel defines an interior configured to contain a volume of liquid. The vessel also includes a head space outlet. The aerosol-generating element is in fluid connection with the vessel. The aerosol-generating element includes (i) a cartridge receptacle for receiving a cartridge containing an aerosol-generating substrate; (ii) a heating element defining at least two surfaces of the cartridge receptacle; and (iii) an aerosol outlet in fluid connection with the cartridge receptacle and a fresh air inlet channel in fluid connection with the cartridge receptacle. The fresh air inlet channel is arranged to preheat air prior to the air entering the cartridge receptacle.

Claims

1. A shisha device comprising: a vessel defining an interior configured to contain a volume of liquid, the vessel comprising a head space outlet; and an aerosol-generating element in fluid connection with the vessel, the aerosol-generating element comprising: a cartridge receptacle for receiving a cartridge containing an aerosol-generating substrate; a heating element defining at least two surfaces of the cartridge receptacle; and an aerosol outlet in fluid connection with the cartridge receptacle; and a fresh air inlet channel in fluid connection with the cartridge receptacle, wherein the fresh air inlet channel is arranged to preheat air prior to the air entering the cartridge receptacle.

2. The shisha device according to claim 1, wherein the heating element defines a top wall portion and a cylindrical sidewall portion of the cartridge receptacle.

3. The shisha device according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge receptacle defines a cylinder, the cylinder having a height value and a diameter value and the diameter value is 1.5 to 5 times the height value, or the height value is 1.5 to 5 times the diameter value.

4. The shisha device according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge receptacle defines a frusto-conical shape, the frusto-conical shape having a height value and a base diameter value and the base diameter value is 1.5 to 5 times the height value, or the height value is 1.5 to 5 times the base diameter value.

5. The shisha device according to claim 1, wherein the heating element defines at least one surface of the fresh air inlet channel.

6. The shisha device according to claim 1, wherein the heating element defines a top wall and a cylindrical sidewall portion of the cartridge receptacle and the fresh air inlet channel is at least partially defined by the heating element forming the top wall and the heating element forming the cylindrical sidewall portion of the cartridge receptacle.

7. The shisha device according to claim 1, wherein the fresh air inlet channel is at least partially defined by a receptacle surface of the heating element and a cartridge received within the cartridge receptacle.

8. The shisha device according to claim 1, wherein the fresh air inlet channel is at least partially defined by an inner surface of the heating element and an inner surface of the aerosol-generating element containing the heating element.

9. The shisha device according to claim 1, wherein one or more apertures through the heating element define a portion of the fresh air inlet channel.

10. The shisha device according to claim 2, wherein two or more apertures through the heating element top wall define a portion of the fresh air inlet channel.

11. The shisha device according to claim 1, wherein the heating element comprises a resistive heating element.

12. The shisha device according to claim 1, wherein the heating element comprises an inductive heating element.

13. A shisha assembly comprising: a shisha device according to claim 1; and a cartridge containing an aerosol-generating substrate, the cartridge containing an aerosol-generating substrate received within the cartridge receptacle of the aerosol-generating element.

14. The shisha assembly according to claim 13, wherein the heating element is configured to heat but not burn the aerosol-generating substrate contained within the cartridge during operation.

15. An aerosol-generating element for a shisha device, comprising: a cartridge receptacle for receiving a cartridge containing an aerosol-generating substrate; a heating element defining at least two surfaces of the cartridge receptacle; and an aerosol outlet in fluid connection with the cartridge receptacle and a fresh air inlet channel in fluid connection with the cartridge receptacle, wherein the fresh air inlet channel is arranged to preheat air prior to the air entering the cartridge receptacle.

16. The shisha device according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge receptacle defines a cylinder, the cylinder having a height value and a diameter value and the diameter value is 1.5 to 4 times the height value, or the height value 1.5 to 4 times the diameter value.

17. The shisha device according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge receptacle defines a cylinder, the cylinder having a height value and a diameter value and the diameter value is 1.5 to 3 times the height value, or the height value is 1.5 to 3 times the diameter value.

18. The shisha device according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge receptacle defines a frusto-conical shape, the frusto-conical shape having a height value and a base diameter value and the base diameter value is 1.5 to 4 times the height value, or the height value is 1.5 to 4 times the base diameter value.

19. The shisha device according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge receptacle defines a frusto-conical shape, the frusto-conical shape having a height value and a base diameter value and the base diameter value is 1.5 to 3 times the height value, or the height value is 1.5 to 3 times the base diameter value.

Description

(1) Reference will now be made to the drawings, which depict one or more aspects described in this disclosure. However, it will be understood that other aspects not depicted in the drawings fall within the scope and spirit of this disclosure. Like numbers used in the figures refer to like components, steps and the like. However, it will be understood that the use of a number to refer to a component in a given figure is not intended to limit the component in another figure labeled with the same number. In addition, the use of different numbers to refer to components in different figures is not intended to indicate that the different numbered components cannot be the same or similar to other numbered components. The figures are presented for purposes of illustration and not limitation. Schematic drawings presented in the figures are not necessarily to scale.

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of an example of a shisha device;

(3) FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of an example of an aerosol-generating element;

(4) FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of an example of an aerosol-generating element;

(5) FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view of an aerosol-generating element including a thermocouple; and

(6) FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of an example of a cartridge that may be used with a shisha device.

(7) Referring now to FIG. 1, a schematic sectional drawing of an example of a shisha device 100 is shown. The device 100 includes a vessel 17 defining an interior volume configured to contain liquid 19 and defining a headspace outlet 15 above a fill level for the liquid 19. The liquid 19 preferably comprises water, which may optionally be infused with one or more colorants, one or more flavorants, or one or more colorants and one or more flavorants. For example, the water may be infused with one or both of botanical infusions or herbal infusions.

(8) The device 100 also includes an aerosol-generating element 130. The aerosol-generating element 130 includes a cartridge receptacle 140 configured to receive a cartridge 150 containing an aerosol-generating substrate. The aerosol-generating element 130 also includes a heating element 160 that forms at least two surfaces of the receptacle 140. In the depicted embodiment, the heating element 160 defines the top and side surfaces of the receptacle 140. The aerosol-generating element 130 also includes a fresh air inlet channel 170 that draws fresh air into the device 100. A portion of the fresh air inlet channel 170 is formed by the heating element 160 to heat the air before the air enters the receptacle 140. The pre-heated air then enters the cartridge 150, which is also heated by heating element 160, to carry aerosol generated by aerosol generating substrate in the cartridge 150. The air exits the aerosol outlet 180 of the aerosol-generating element 130.

(9) A conduit 190 carries the air and aerosol from the aerosol outlet 180 into the vessel 17 below the level of the liquid 19. The air and aerosol may bubble through the liquid 19 and exit the headspace outlet 15. A hose 20 may be attached to the headspace outlet 15 to carry the aerosol to the mouth of a user. A mouthpiece 25 may be attached or form a part of the hose 20.

(10) The air flow path of the device, in use, is depicted by thick arrows in FIG. 1.

(11) The mouthpiece 25 may include an activation element 27. The activation element 27 may be a switch, button or the like, or may be a puff sensor or the like. The activation element 27 may be placed at any other suitable location of the device 100. The activation element 27 may be in wireless communication with the control electronics 30 to place the device 100 in condition for use or to cause control electronics to activate the heating element 160; for example, by causing power supply 35 to energize the heating element 140.

(12) The control electronics 30 and power supply 35 may be located in any suitable position of the aerosol generating element 130 other than the bottom portion of the element 130 as depicted in FIG. 1.

(13) FIG. 2 shows a schematic sectional view of an example of an aerosol-generating element 130. Not all components are shown for purposes of brevity and clarity. In the illustrated embodiment, air (arrows) enters in air inlets 171 in an upper part 131 of the aerosol-generating element 130, then passes through a heat shield 165, then follows the outside surface of the heating element 160 and arrives to the top of the heating element 160. The heated air then goes through a top surface of a housing of the cartridge 150, through the aerosol-generating substrate 155, and through a void in a bottom part 133, down to the aerosol outlet 180. In the depicted embodiment, the air travels along the outer surface of the heating element 160 and then through the heating element 160.

(14) In the example depicted in FIG. 2, the upper part 131 may be removed from the lower part 133 to allow the cartridge 150 to be inserted or removed from the receptacle formed by the heating element 160 and the top surface of the bottom part 131.

(15) FIG. 3 shows a schematic sectional view of an example of an aerosol-generating element 130. Not all components are shown for purposes of brevity and clarity. In the illustrated embodiment, air (arrows) enters in air inlets 171 in an upper part 131 of the aerosol-generating element 130, then passes through a heat shield 165 and heating element 160. The air then follows the inside surface of the heating element 160 and an outer surface of the housing of the cartridge 150, and arrives to the top of the housing of the cartridge 150. The heated air then goes through a top surface of a housing of the cartridge 150, through the aerosol-generating substrate 155, and through a void in a bottom part 133, down to the aerosol outlet 180. In the depicted embodiment, the air travels through the heating element 160 and along the inner surface of the heating element 160.

(16) In the example depicted in FIG. 3, the upper part 131 may be removed from the lower part 133 to allow the cartridge 150 to be inserted or removed from the receptacle formed by the heating element 160 and the top surface of the bottom part 131.

(17) In the examples depicted in FIGS. 2-3, the bodies of the upper part 131 may be formed from thermally insulating material.

(18) In the embodiment, depicted in the schematic sectional view of FIG. 4 the aerosol-generating element 130 includes a thermocouple 199 operably coupled to control electronics (not shown in FIG. 4). In the depicted example, the thermocouple 199 penetrates into the cartridge 150 and aerosol generating substrate 155. The thermocouple 199 may penetrate into the cartridge 150 when the cartridge 150 is positioned on the bottom part 133 and the upper part 131 is placed over the bottom part 131. The thermocouple 199 may be in contact with the heating element 160, in proximity to the outlet 180, or in any other suitable location to provide feedback of a relevant temperature when the shisha device is in use.

(19) Referring now to FIG. 5, a schematic perspective view of an example of a cartridge 150 that may be used with a shisha device described herein is shown. The cartridge 150 includes a housing 151 and a plurality of apertures 153 formed in the top surface of the housing to allow air flow through the cartridge 150 and aerosol generating substrate contained in the housing. The bottom of the cartridge 150 may also contain one or more apertures to allow air flow through the cartridge 150.

(20) In some examples, such as in FIG. 2, where air flows through the top of the receptacle, the top of the receptacle may have a similar distribution of apertures as the cartridge shown in FIG. 5.

(21) The features described above in relation to one aspect of the invention may also be applicable to another aspect of the invention.

(22) All scientific and technical terms used herein have meanings commonly used in the art unless otherwise specified. The definitions provided herein are to facilitate understanding of certain terms used frequently herein.

(23) As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” encompass embodiments having plural referents, unless the content clearly dictates otherwise.

(24) As used in this specification and the appended claims, the term “or” is generally employed in its sense including “and/or” unless the content clearly dictates otherwise.

(25) As used herein, “have”, “having”, “include”, “including”, “comprise”, “comprising” or the like are used in their open-ended sense, and generally mean “including, but not limited to”. It will be understood that “consisting essentially of”, “consisting of”, and the like are subsumed in “comprising,” and the like.

(26) The words “preferred” and “preferably” refer to embodiments of the invention that may afford certain benefits under certain circumstances. However, other embodiments may also be preferred under the same or other circumstances. Furthermore, the recitation of one or more preferred embodiments does not imply that other embodiments are not useful, and is not intended to exclude other embodiments from the scope of the disclosure, including the claims.

(27) Any direction referred to herein, such as “top,” “bottom,” “left,” “right,” “upper,” “lower,” and other directions or orientations are described herein for clarity and brevity are not intended to be limiting of an actual device or system. Devices and systems described herein may be used in a number of directions and orientations.

(28) The embodiments exemplified above are not limiting. Other embodiments consistent with the embodiments described above will be apparent to those skilled in the art.