Abstract
A kit is disclosed for supplying a cartridge of an inhaler article with liquid tobacco extract, the kit comprising an apparatus having means for extracting a liquid tobacco extract from a tobacco derived solid. The apparatus is adapted to deliver liquid tobacco extract to a cartridge and a cartridge adapted to receive liquid tobacco extract from the apparatus. An apparatus for supplying a liquid tobacco extract to a cartridge of an inhaler article is further disclosed. The apparatus has a housing, means for extracting a liquid tobacco extract from a tobacco derived solid and said housing is adapted to deliver liquid tobacco extract to a cartridge of an inhaler article. A related method of supplying a cartridge of an inhaler article with a liquid tobacco extract is further disclosed.
Claims
1. A kit for supplying a cartridge of an inhaler article with liquid tobacco extract, the kit comprising an apparatus having disposed therein a means for extracting a liquid tobacco extract from a tobacco derived solid, said apparatus adapted to deliver liquid tobacco extract to a cartridge of the inhaler article, the kit further comprising the cartridge of the inhaler article adapted to receive liquid tobacco extract from the apparatus; wherein said apparatus includes a housing having disposed therein a tobacco derived solid and at least one solvent selected from the group consisting of water, propylene glycol, glycerol or mixtures thereof; wherein said housing comprises a metered dose spray bottle having a propellant solvent and a mixture of the tobacco derived solid and the at least one solvent stored therein, wherein said propellant solvent and the mixture of the tobacco derived solid and the at least one solvent are separated by the means for extracting the liquid tobacco extract.
2. The kit of claim 1, wherein said means for extracting liquid tobacco extract from the tobacco derived solid is a mesh filter or selectively-permeable membrane.
3. The kit of claim 1, wherein said means for extracting the liquid tobacco extract includes a plunger which is slideably engageable with the external walls of the housing.
4. The kit of claim 1, wherein said inhaler article is an electronic cigarette.
5. A method of supplying a cartridge of an inhaler article with a liquid tobacco extract comprising: a. providing a kit of claim 1; b. extracting a tobacco extract from the tobacco derived solid to form a liquid tobacco extract and solvent mixture; and c. delivering the tobacco extract to the cartridge of the inhaler article.
Description
(1) Examples of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
(2) FIG. 1 shows an electronic cigarette and a disposable cartridge.
(3) FIG. 2 shows a metered spray bottle for delivering liquid tobacco extract to a disposable cartridge.
(4) FIG. 3 shows a dropper bottle for delivering liquid tobacco extract to a disposable cartridge.
(5) FIG. 4 shows an apparatus of the invention having a plunger mechanism for extract liquid tobacco extract from cut tobacco.
(6) FIG. 5 shows an apparatus of the invention having a detachable cartridge into which liquid tobacco extract may be dispensed from the apparatus.
(7) With reference to FIG. 1 an electronic cigarette has three component parts; a rechargeable battery and circuitry (1), a heater (2) and wick (3) and refillable flavour and aroma containing cartridge (4). The cartridge (4) comprises a housing in which is positioned an absorbent mesh or fibre matrix soaked in a solution of flavour and aroma, propylene glycol, water and aroma compounds. The heater (2) comprising a metal wire wrapped around an insulator is position at the non-smoking end of the cartridge (4) the other end of the cartridge (4) provided with a hole (5) which allows passage of air through the cartridge to the outside during the smoking process. The wick (3) comprises a porous and heart resistant material which is in close proximity to the heat source which is able to transfer volatilised propylene glycol having flavour and aroma compounds therein.
(8) In use, the propylene glycol flows from the matrix towards the heater (2) due to lower pressure during puffing, capillary action and gravity depending on how the electronic cigarette is held. As the propylene glycol is heated and volatilised by the heater (2), general air flow through the cartridge condenses the vapour into small droplets (aerosol), which then pass through the hole (5) and into the user's mouth.
(9) The cartridge (4) may be refilled with liquid tobacco extract using the apparatus shown in FIG. 2. In this embodiment, the apparatus is in the form of a metered dose spray bottle (6) which delivers a predetermined amount of liquid tobacco extract to the cartridge (4) per spray. The bottle (6) is divided into an upper (7) and lower (8) compartment by a selectively permeable membrane (9), such as a Franz cell silicone membrane, or a polydimethylsiloxane membrane positioned across the interior lumen of the bottle (6). The lower compartment (8) comprises a mixture of cut tobacco and propylene glycol and the upper compartment (7) comprises propylene glycol only. The free end of a spray tube (10) is position within the propylene glycol of the upper compartment (7) such that actuation of the spray nozzle (11) causes propylene glycol to pass up through the spray tube (10) which causes tobacco solution to diffuse through the membrane and out of the nozzle (11) as a spray into a cartridge. The membrane (9) acts to stop cut tobacco particles from passing from the lower compartment (8). Thus the membrane is adapted to act as a physical barrier to let the liquid pass from the lower to the upper compartment while retaining the tobacco particles, and also a chemical filtration means, whereby the choice and thickness of membrane material can select which tobacco components may pass through, based on for example, polarity or molecular size.
(10) An alternative embodiment is shown in FIG. 3. A dropper bottle (12) is provided made from a deformable plastic material such as PVC. A steel mesh filter (13) is provided at the neck of the bottle (12). A mixture of cut tobacco and propylene glycol is provided within the bottle such that tobacco extract is able to dissolve in the propylene glycol. During use, the user squeezes the deformable bottle (12) which causes an increase in pressure inside the bottle. Liquid tobacco extract is forced through the steel mesh filter (13) and emerges from the bottle as drops of tobacco extract which are absorbed onto the cartridge. The mesh filter (13) retains the cut tobacco particles such that the particles do not pass into the cartridge.
(11) Further alternative embodiments are shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 4 shows an apparatus having a generally cylindrical housing (14) into which is provided a mixture of cut tobacco and propylene glycol. A plunger (15) having a steel mesh filter is slideably engaged within the internal lumen of the housing (14). In use, the user forces the plunger (15) along the internal lumen of the housing (14) such that liquid tobacco extract passes through the steel mesh filter and cut tobacco particles are pushed towards the bottom of the housing (14). The liquid tobacco extract is then poured from an open end of the housing (14) into a cartridge.
(12) The apparatus shown in the embodiment depicted in FIG. 5 also employs a plunger type mechanism to separate liquid tobacco extract from cut tobacco particles. The apparatus generally resembles a pen (16) having an open end (17) which is releasably engaged with a cartridge (4). A plunger (18) is engaged in a screw fit with the internal walls of the housing of the pen shaft the plunger having a handle (19) operable by the user. A dry tobacco mix (20) and propylene glycol (21) are provided separately in the internal lumen of the pen shaft between the plunger and opening of the pen. A coarse filter (22) is provided inside the pen shaft immediately before the opening.
(13) In use, the user turns the plunger at the handle (19) which causes the plunger to pass within the lumen of the pen towards the open end (17). As a result, the propylene glycol (21) is forced through the dry cut tobacco (20) and tobacco extract is dissolved into the propylene glycol. Continued turning of the plunger forces the liquid tobacco extract to pass through the coarse filter (22) and out through the opening (17) and into the matrix of the cartridge (4) with which the opening is releasably engaged. Cut tobacco particles (20) are retained by the filter and do not pass through the opening (17).
(14) The apparatus shown in FIGS. 2 to 5 allows the user to make his own liquid tobacco extract from cut tobacco and deliver the extract to a refillable cartridge. Cut tobacco particles are not delivered to the cartridge thereby solving the problems caused by prior art cartridges which use cut tobacco and its effect on cartridge performance.
