SMOKE-FREE CIGARETTE

Abstract

The present invention relates to a smoke-free cigarette comprising a heat source disposed in a container, a reservoir containing nicotine and/or one or mote flavouring agents, and a trigger mechanism for the heat source. According to the claimed invention, the cigarette has an outer shell defining a space in which the heat source and the reservoir are disposed, the outer shell and/or the wall of the container being made of aluminium and/or stainless steel or comprising one or more of these materials.

Claims

1. A smoke-free cigarette comprising a heat source arranged in a container, a reservoir containing nicotine and/or one or more flavoring agents, as well as a trigger mechanism for the heat source, wherein the cigarette has an outer sheath that bounds a space in which the heat source and the reservoir are arranged, and the outer sheath and/or the wall of the container comprises a material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, stainless steel, and mixtures thereof.

2. A cigarette in accordance with claim 1, wherein the heat source comprises a material capable of crystallization; and the trigger mechanism is configured to effect the crystallization.

3. A cigarette in accordance with claim 1, wherein the reservoir is likewise received in a container that has one or more openings and its wall comprises a material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, stainless steel, and mixtures thereof.

4. A cigarette in accordance with claim 1, wherein the container containing the heat source is arranged within the reservoir.

5. A cigarette in accordance with claim 1, wherein the wall of the container is designed with air conducting means, in particular with grooves and/or fins, on its outer side to improve the drawing behavior.

6. A cigarette in accordance with claim 1, wherein the heat carrier source comprises or consists of a phase change material that is present as an undercooled melt.

7. A cigarette in accordance with claim 6, wherein the phase change material is configured to generate a temperature in the phase change material during crystallization in the range from 60° C. to 90° C.

8. A cigarette in accordance with claim 1, wherein temperature sensitive color materials that have a color depending on the temperature are applied to the outer sheath.

9. A cigarette in accordance with claim 1, wherein the outer sheath has two open ends.

10. A cigarette in accordance with claim 9, wherein a tobacco reservoir is located in one or both open ends.

11. A cigarette in accordance with claim 1, wherein the cigarette has a mouthpiece.

12. A cigarette in accordance with claim 1, wherein the reservoir and the heat source are present as modular components that can be nondestructively released from one another.

13. A cigarette in accordance with claim 2, wherein the reservoir is likewise received in a container that has one or more openings and its wall comprises a material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, stainless steel, and mixtures thereof.

14. A cigarette in accordance with claim 13, wherein the container containing the heat source is arranged within the reservoir.

15. A cigarette in accordance with claim 3, wherein the container containing the heat source is arranged within the reservoir.

16. A cigarette in accordance with claim 2, wherein the container containing the heat source is arranged within the reservoir.

17. A cigarette in accordance with claim 16, wherein the wall of the container is designed with air conducting means, in particular with grooves and/or fins, on its outer side to improve the drawing behavior.

18. A cigarette in accordance with claim 15, wherein the wall of the container is designed with air conducting means, in particular with grooves and/or fins, on its outer side to improve the drawing behavior.

19. A cigarette in accordance with claim 14, wherein the wall of the container is designed with air conducting means, in particular with grooves and/or fins, on its outer side to improve the drawing behavior.

20. A cigarette in accordance with claim 13, wherein the wall of the container is designed with air conducting means, in particular with grooves and/or fins, on its outer side to improve the drawing behavior.

Description

[0027] The only Figure shows the basic design of the smoke-free cigarette in accordance with the invention.

[0028] Reference numeral 1 is the outer sheath that represents the outer wall of the cigarette. The outer sheath forms the outer side of the cigarette. It can be provided with temperature sensitive colors that indicate the temperature present in the interior of the cigarette.

[0029] The outer sheath is preferably designed as a hollow cylinder open at one or both sides and surrounds a space in which a container 2 is located in which the nicotine and flavor matrix is received.

[0030] The container 3 contains the PCM in the form of an undercooled melt. The phase change material can be sodium acetate or another material that carries out a phase change, preferably solid-liquid, in the temperature range in question here.

[0031] As can be seen from the Figure, the heat source or the container 3 is located within the nicotine and/or flavoring matrix or within the container 2 receiving it.

[0032] The walls of the containers 2, 3 and the outer sheath 1 consist of thin-walled aluminum or stainless steel.

[0033] The outer sheath 1 is closed by a plug of tobacco 5 at both sides at its ends. The containers 2, 3 are located in the region between the plugs of tobacco 5.

[0034] If the trigger mechanism 4 that in the embodiment shown here projects outwardly over the outer sheath is actuated by the user, the crystallization procedure is triggered, whereby heat is produced. The heat carrier thus preferably consists of a suitable PCM. It should have a crystallization heat of 50 to 90° C., be non-toxic, and be licensed or cable of licensing in accordance with the respectively applicable food guidelines. The PCM must be in the so-called undercooled melt.

[0035] The mouthpiece 6 of the smoke-free cigarette adjoins the plug of tobacco facing the user.