Cartridge for an electronic vapour inhaler

Abstract

A cartridge for an electronic vapour inhaler is provided and includes an elongate induction heatable element and a flavour-release medium adhered to a surface of the elongate induction heatable element. The induction heatable element can include a tube having a wall with inner and outer wall surfaces and the flavour-release medium can be adhered to the outer or inner wall surface.

Claims

1. A cartridge for an electronic vapour inhaler, the cartridge comprising: an elongate induction heatable element; and a flavour-release medium adhered to an outer surface of the elongate induction heatable element; wherein the cartridge further comprises a layer of thermally-insulating material between the induction heatable element and the flavour-release medium.

2. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the elongate induction heatable element comprises a rod or a wire having a solid cross-section.

3. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the elongate induction heatable element comprises a tube having a wall with inner and outer wall surfaces and the flavour-release medium is adhered to the outer wall surface.

4. The cartridge according to claim 3, wherein the flavour-release medium is further adhered to the inner wall surface.

5. The cartridge according to claim 3, wherein the elongate induction heatable element comprises one or more openings in the wall to allow air to flow therethrough.

6. An electronic vapour inhaler comprising: a housing having a proximal end and a distal end; the cartridge according to claim 1 disposed in the housing; and an induction heating arrangement arranged to inductively heat the induction heatable element and thereby heat the flavour-release medium.

7. The electronic vapour inhaler according to claim 6, wherein the induction heating arrangement comprises an induction coil.

8. The electronic vapour inhaler according to claim 6, wherein the housing includes a chamber in which the cartridge is disposed.

9. The electronic vapour inhaler according to claim 6, further including a control arrangement which is adapted to energize the induction heating arrangement to maintain the cartridge substantially at a predetermined temperature.

10. The electronic vapour inhaler according to claim 8, further comprising a mouthpiece at the proximal end of the housing, wherein the housing includes a conduit for delivering heated air to the mouthpiece, the conduit includes at least one first inlet for ambient air and at least one second inlet for heated air from the chamber, the conduit being arranged to provide a venturi effect whereby, in use, the heated air is sucked into the conduit from the chamber by the venturi effect as ambient air flows through the conduit past the at least one second inlet.

11. The electronic vapour inhaler according to claim 10, wherein the conduit is an annular conduit that surrounds the chamber.

12. The electronic vapour inhaler according to claim 11, wherein the annular conduit includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced first inlets formed in the housing and a plurality of circumferentially spaced second inlets formed in a circumferential wall of the chamber.

13. An electronic vapour inhaler comprising: a housing having a proximal end and a distal end; a cartridge disposed in the housing, wherein the housing includes a chamber in which the cartridge is disposed, the cartridge comprising an elongate induction heatable element and a flavour-release medium adhered to a surface of the elongate induction heatable element; an induction heating arrangement arranged to inductively heat the induction heatable element and thereby heat the flavour-release medium; and a mouthpiece at the proximal end of the housing, wherein the housing includes a conduit for delivering heated air to the mouthpiece, the conduit includes at least one first inlet for ambient air and at least one second inlet for heated air from the chamber, the conduit being arranged to provide a venturi effect whereby, in use, the heated air is sucked into the conduit from the chamber by the venturi effect as ambient air flows through the conduit past the at least one second inlet.

14. The electronic vapour inhaler according to claim 13, wherein the conduit is an annular conduit that surrounds the chamber.

15. The electronic vapour inhaler according to claim 14, wherein the annular conduit includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced first inlets formed in the housing and a plurality of circumferentially spaced second inlets formed in a circumferential wall of the chamber.

16. A cartridge for an electronic vapour inhaler, the cartridge comprising: an elongate induction heatable element; and a flavour-release medium adhered to an outer surface of the elongate induction heatable element; wherein the elongate induction heatable element comprises a tube having a wall with inner and outer wall surfaces and the flavour release medium is adhered to the outer wall surface, the induction heatable element comprises one or more openings in the wall to allow air to flow therethrough, and the cartridge further comprises a layer of thermally-insulating material between the induction heatable element and the flavour-release medium.

17. The cartridge according to claim 16, wherein the flavour-release medium is further adhered to the inner wall surface.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is diagrammatic cross-sectional view of an electronic vapour including a cartridge according to the present disclosure having an elongate rod-like induction heatable element with flavour-release medium adhered to its outer surface;

(2) FIG. 1a is a view similar to FIG. 1, showing part of an alternative embodiment of an electronic vapour inhaler;

(3) FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view of the cartridge shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

(4) FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional side view of a cartridge having a tubular induction heatable element with flavour-release medium adhered to inner and outer wall surfaces;

(5) FIG. 4a is a view of a cartridge similar to the cartridge shown in FIG. 3 but having a perforated tubular induction heatable element and FIG. 4b is a side view of the perforated tubular induction heatable element;

(6) FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional side view of a cartridge having an elongate rod-like induction heatable element with flavour-release medium surrounding it;

(7) FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional side view of a cartridge having a tubular induction heatable element with flavour-release medium surrounding it; and

(8) FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional side view of a cartridge in which particulate induction heatable material is dispersed throughout a flavour-release medium.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

(9) Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(10) Referring initially to FIG. 1, an electronic vapour inhaler 10 comprises a generally elongate housing 12 having a proximal end 14 and a distal end 16. The electronic vapour inhaler 10 includes a mouthpiece 18 at the proximal end 14 through which a user can inhale vapour generated by heating a flavour-release medium 30. The electronic vapour inhaler 10 includes a control arrangement 20, e.g. in the form of a microprocessor, and a power source 22 in the form of one or more batteries which could, for example, be inductively rechargeable.

(11) The housing 12 includes a chamber 24 into which a cartridge 26 can be removably inserted. The chamber 24 is located at the proximal end 16 of the housing 12 adjacent to the mouthpiece 18, but this is not strictly necessary and it could be located at any suitable position between the proximal end 14 and the distal end 16. In the illustrated embodiment, the chamber 24 is formed in the housing 12 and is accessed by removing a cover 25, with which the mouthpiece 18 is integrally formed, from the proximal end 14 of the housing 12. In alternative embodiments, the chamber 24 could itself be formed as a removable component and could be accessed by removing the component from the housing 12. Either way, a cartridge 26 can be easily inserted into, or removed from, the chamber 24.

(12) The cartridge 26, which is shown separately in FIG. 2 for clarity purposes, comprises an elongate induction heatable element 28 in the form of a rod which is typically, but not exclusively, circular in cross-section. The cartridge 26 further comprises a flavour-release medium 30 which is adhered, e.g. as a coating, to the surface 32 of the induction heatable element 28. The flavour-release medium 30 is a granulated or particulate material which may be treated or processed to enable it to adhere to the induction heatable element 28. The flavour-release medium 30 typically comprises tobacco or a tobacco material which may be impregnated with a vapour-forming medium, such as propylene glycol or glycerol, so that it can be heated to produce a vapour for inhalation by a user through the mouthpiece 18 of the electronic vapour inhaler 10. When tobacco or a tobacco material is used, the electronic vapour inhaler 10 can be used as an electronic cigarette. Materials other than tobacco can, however, be used as explained earlier in this specification.

(13) The induction heatable element 28 is in intimate contact with the flavour-release medium 30 due to the fact that the flavour-release medium 30 is adhered to it. As a result, when the induction heatable element 28 is heated in the presence of an electromagnetic field, the flavour-release medium 30 is heated rapidly and uniformly.

(14) Referring again to FIG. 1, the electronic vapour inhaler 10 includes an induction heating arrangement 34 comprising an induction coil 36 which can be energised by the power source 22. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, when the induction coil 36 is energised, an electromagnetic field is produced which generates eddy currents in the induction heatable element 28 causing it to heat up. The heat is then transferred from the induction heatable element 28 to the flavour-release medium 30, for example by conduction, radiation and convection.

(15) The operation of the induction heating arrangement 34 is controlled by the control arrangement 20 typically in order to maintain the flavour-release medium 30 at a temperature which is optimised for the release of flavour and aroma therefrom.

(16) Although not shown in FIG. 1, the electronic vapour inhaler 10 can include a temperature sensor to measure the temperature inside the chamber 24 and in this case the control arrangement 20 can be arranged to control the operation of the induction heating arrangement 34 based on the temperature measured by the temperature sensor. Other arrangements for determining the temperature inside the chamber 24 are, however, possible as described earlier in this specification.

(17) When a user wishes to use the electronic vapour inhaler 10 to inhale vapour, the user may initially need to gain access to the chamber 24, for example by removing the cover 25 from the proximal end 14 of the housing 12 (e.g. by unscrewing it). The user then places a pre-manufactured cartridge 26 into the chamber 24. Pre-manufactured cartridges 26 are typically supplied in a pack which can be purchased separately. Loading the cartridge 26 into the chamber 24 is, therefore, a very simple procedure for the user.

(18) The user then closes the chamber 24, for example by re-attaching the cover 25 to the proximal end 14 of the housing 12 (e.g. by screwing it back on to the housing 12).

(19) The electronic vapour inhaler 10 can then be switched on by the user ready for use, thereby energising the induction coil 36 and heating the induction heatable element 28 and the flavour-release medium 30 as described above such that the flavour-release medium 30 is heated without being combusted.

(20) When a user places their mouth over the mouthpiece 18 and inhales, ambient air is drawn through air inlets 38 into the chamber 24, as denoted by the arrows 40. The air is heated as it flows through the granulated or particulate flavour-release medium 30 in the chamber 24 and heated air with a suitable aroma and flavour flows out of the chamber 24. The heated air then flows through the mouthpiece 18 and, in doing so, it cools and condenses to form a vapour or aerosol which can be inhaled by a user through the mouthpiece 18, as denoted by the arrow 42. The control arrangement 20 could include a temperature selector to allow a user to select the desired vapour inhalation temperature to select the desired user experience, since the optimum inhalation temperature may be a matter of personal choice.

(21) During inhalation, and as air flows into and through the chamber 24, it will be understood that the induction coil 36 can be energised as necessary to maintain a predetermined, e.g. substantially constant, temperature inside the chamber 24. This in turn ensures that the temperature of the vapour inhaled by the user through the mouthpiece 18 is optimised, e.g. substantially constant. However, in order to preserve the flavour-release medium 30, the control arrangement 20 can be arranged to control the induction heating arrangement 34 so that the induction coil 36 is energised in such a way that the temperature inside the chamber 24 decreases between inhalation cycles and increases immediately before, or at the start of, the next inhalation cycle.

(22) When the flavour and aroma of the vapour supplied to the mouthpiece 18 has reached a level which is considered by a user to be unacceptable, the chamber 24 can be accessed, for example by removing the cover 25 from the proximal end 14 of the housing 12. The used cartridge 26 can then be removed and discarded, and a new cartridge 26 can be placed in the chamber 24 before the cover 25 is replaced as described above to ready the electronic vapour inhaler 10 for use.

(23) It will be appreciated that the contents of the cartridge 26, and in particular the constituents of the flavour-release medium, may vary and that the operation of the induction heating arrangement 34 may ideally need to be varied to optimise the release of flavour and aroma from the flavour-release medium. For example, the contents of certain cartridges 26 may favour a heating profile with a relatively slow heating rate whereas the contents of other cartridges 26 may favour a heating profile with a relatively rapid heating rate. In order to accommodate this, in one embodiment the control arrangement 20 is arranged to recognise an inserted cartridge 26 by detecting a characteristic of the induction heatable element 28 and to control the operation of the induction heating arrangement 34, e.g. to provide a desired heating profile, based on the detected characteristic. In one possible implementation, as a cartridge 26 is inserted into the chamber 24, the control arrangement 20 detects a change in the electromagnetic field generated by the interaction between the induction heatable element 28 and the induction coil 36. In practice, different electromagnetic field signatures can be provided for different cartridges 26 by providing one or more induction heatable elements 28 of different length, thickness or shape.

(24) FIG. 1a shows an alternative embodiment of part of an electronic vapour inhaler 110. The electronic vapour inhaler 110 shares many features in common with the electronic vapour inhaler 10 shown in FIG. 1 and corresponding features are, therefore, designated with corresponding reference numerals.

(25) The electronic vapour inhaler 110 has an annular conduit 112 which surrounds the chamber 24. The annular conduit 112 is formed between a circumferential wall of the housing 12 in which the induction coil 36 is embedded and a circumferential wall 114 of the chamber 24. The annular conduit 112 includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced first inlets 116 formed in the housing 12 at the distal end of the annular conduit 112 to enable ambient air to flow into the annular conduit 112. The annular conduit 112 also includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced second inlets 118 which are formed in the circumferential wall 114 of the chamber 24 to enable heated air to flow from the chamber 24 into the annular conduit 112. The second inlets 118 are formed in the circumferential wall 114 roughly at the midpoint of the annular conduit 112, between the distal and proximal ends thereof, but other positions are of course entirely feasible and within the scope of the present disclosure. Circumferentially spaced passages 120, 122 are also provided in the housing 12 to direct a proportion of ambient air from the first inlets 116 along passage 124 and into the chamber 24.

(26) During inhalation through the mouthpiece 18, ambient air is drawn through the circumferentially spaced first inlets 116 into the annular conduit 112, as shown by the arrows 140. The ambient air flows along the annular conduit 112, from the distal end towards the proximal end, towards the mouthpiece 18 as shown by the arrows 142. As the air flows past the circumferentially spaced second inlets 118 in the chamber wall 114, a venturi effect occurs. This causes ambient air to be drawn through the passages 120, 122, 124 into the chamber 24 and to be sucked out of the chamber 24 through the second inlets 118, as shown by the dotted arrows. As will be understood, the air entering the chamber through the passages 120, 122, 124 is heated as it flows through the granulated or particulate flavour-release medium 30 in the chamber 24 and, accordingly, heated air with a suitable aroma and flavour is sucked out of the chamber 24 through the second inlets 118. The heated air mixes with the ambient air flowing through the annular conduit 112 and this tends to reduce the temperature of the heated air to a more acceptable level. The heated air then cools further and condenses to form a vapour or aerosol which can be inhaled by a user through the mouthpiece 18, as denoted by the arrow 42.

(27) Alternative cartridges can be used with the electronic vapour inhalers 10, 110, or indeed other suitably configured electronic vapour inhalers, as will now be described.

(28) Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown a cartridge 44 comprising a tubular (possibly cylindrical) induction heatable element 46. The tubular induction heatable element 46 has a wall 48 with inner and outer wall surfaces 50, 52 and flavour-release medium 54 is adhered to both the inner and outer wall surfaces 50, 52. In other embodiments, the flavour-release medium 54 could be adhered to just one of the inner and outer wall surfaces 50, 52.

(29) FIGS. 4a and 4b show a cartridge 56 similar to the cartridge 44 of FIG. 3 and in which corresponding components are identified using corresponding reference numerals. In the cartridge 56 of FIGS. 4a and 4b, the tubular induction heatable element 46 (which is cylindrical in the illustrated embodiment) includes perforations 58 so that air can flow through the wall 48 between the inner and outer wall surfaces 50, 52.

(30) Referring now to FIG. 5, there is shown a cartridge 60 comprising an elongate induction heatable element 62 in the form of a rod which is typically, but not exclusively, circular in cross-section. The cartridge 60 further comprises a flavour-release medium 64 which surrounds the induction heatable element 62, and a layer of thermally-insulating material 67 between the induction heatable element 62 and the flavour-release medium 64. A thermally-insulating, electrically-insulating and non-magnetic protective sleeve 66, for example in the form of a paper overwrap having open ends, surrounds the flavour-release medium 64 and may advantageously hold it in position, in particular if the flavour-release medium 64 comprises fine pieces or particles of material. In other embodiments, the flavour-release medium 64 can comprise interwoven fibres and this may be sufficient to retain the fibrous flavour-release medium 64 in position around the induction heatable element 62 without a protective sleeve 66 being needed.

(31) FIG. 6 shows a cartridge 68 comprising a tubular (possibly cylindrical) induction heatable element 70. The tubular induction heatable element 70 comprises a wall 72 with inner and outer wall surfaces 74, 76 and flavour-release medium 78 is provided exclusively around the outer wall surface 76 to surround the induction heatable element 70. Thus, the interior 80 of the tubular induction heatable element 70 is devoid of flavour-release medium 78.

(32) A thermally-insulating, electrically-insulating and non-magnetic protective sleeve 82, for example in the form of a paper overwrap, surrounds the flavour-release medium 78 and may advantageously hold it in position, in particular if the flavour-release medium 78 comprises fine pieces or particles of material. In other embodiments, the flavour-release medium 78 can comprise interwoven fibres and this may be sufficient to retain the fibrous flavour-release medium 78 in position around the induction heatable element 70 without a protective sleeve 82 being needed.

(33) In a modified implementation of the cartridge 68 (not illustrated), the tubular induction heatable element 70 includes perforations so that air can flow through the wall 72 between the inner and outer wall surfaces 74, 76.

(34) Referring now to FIG. 7, there is shown a cartridge 84 comprising a flavour-release medium 86 in the form of fine pieces or pellets, particles, flakes or a fibrous form. In the illustrated embodiment, a paper overwrap is provided to act as a protective sleeve 88 but, as described with respect to earlier embodiments, this may be omitted if, for example, the flavour-release medium 86 comprises interwoven fibres or the like which enable it to retain its shape in the absence of the support structure provided by the protective sleeve 88.

(35) The cartridge 84 further comprises an induction heatable material 90 in the form of particles of material which are individually inductively heated in the presence of an electromagnetic field. The particles of the induction heatable material 90 are dispersed throughout the flavour-release medium, typically but not exclusively in a uniform manner.

(36) Although exemplary embodiments have been described in the preceding paragraphs, it should be understood that various modifications may be made to those embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. Thus, the breadth and scope of the claims should not be limited to the above-described exemplary embodiments. Each feature disclosed in the specification, including the claims and drawings, may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purposes, unless expressly stated otherwise.

(37) Although the cartridges 26, 44, 56, 60, 68, 84, have been described for use with the electronic vapour inhalers 10, 110, it will be understood that they can be used with electronic vapour inhalers having alternative configurations.

(38) Although not illustrated, either of the electronic vapour inhalers 10, 110 could be provided with an airflow control mechanism to enable a user to control the airflow through the inlets 38, 116. For example, the airflow control mechanism could comprise means for varying the aperture size of the inlets 38, 116 to restrict the flow of air into the inlets 38, 116.

(39) It may be desirable in any of the aforementioned embodiments to provide a thermally-insulating material between the induction heatable element and the flavour-release medium to reduce the rate of heat transfer to the flavour-release medium.

(40) Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words comprise, comprising, and the like, are to be construed in an inclusive as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of including, but not limited to.

(41) Any combination of the above-described features in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the present invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.