APPARATUS FOR HEATING SMOKABLE MATERIAL

1 . A heating element for use with an apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material, wherein the heating element comprises:

heating material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field,

wherein the heating element has a first dimension and a second dimension perpendicular to the first dimension, wherein the first dimension extends from a first portion of the heating element to a second portion of the heating element, and wherein the second dimension at an intermediary section of the heating element that is spaced from the first and second portions is less than the second dimension at each of a first section and a second section that are located between the intermediary section and the respective first portion and second portion.

2 . The heating element of claim 1 , wherein the entire heating element is made of a homogeneous heating material.

3 . The heating element of claim 1 , wherein the heating element is a single-piece heating element.

4 . The heating element of claim 1 , wherein the second dimension at the intermediary section is less than half of the second dimension at one or each of the first section and the second section.

5 . (canceled)

6 . (canceled)

7 . The heating element of claim 1 , comprising at least one tapered region in which the second dimension increases with distance from the intermediary section towards one of the first section or second section.

8 . (canceled)

9 . The heating element of claim 1 , wherein the heating element is planar.

10 . The heating element of claim 1 , wherein the first dimension is a length of the heating element, the second dimension is a thickness of the heating element, the first portion is a first longitudinal end of the heating element, and the second portion is an opposite second longitudinal end of the heating element.

11 . (canceled)

12 . The heating element of claim 1 , wherein the heating element is a tubular heating element.

13 - 15 . (Canceled)

16 . An article for use with an apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material, the article comprising a heating element according to claim 1 , and smokable material in thermal contact with the heating element.

17 . The article of claim 16 , wherein the smokable material is in surface contact with the heating element.

18 . (canceled)

19 . (canceled)

20 . A system for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material, the system comprising:

the article of claim 16 ; and

an apparatus for heating the smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material, the apparatus comprising a heating zone for receiving the article, and a device for heating the heating element of the article when the article is located in the heating zone.

21 . The system of claim 20 , wherein the device comprises a magnetic field generator for generating the varying magnetic field for penetrating the heating element of the article when the article is located in the heating zone.

22 . An apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material, the apparatus comprising:

a heating zone for receiving an article comprising smokable material;

a heating element according to claim 1 for heating the heating zone; and

a device for heating the heating element.

23 . The apparatus of claim 22 , wherein the device comprises a magnetic field generator for generating the varying magnetic field for penetrating the heating element in use.

24 . An apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material, the apparatus comprising:

a heating zone for receiving an article comprising smokable material;

a heating element made of heating material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field to heat the heating zone; and

a magnetic field generator for generating one or more varying magnetic fields that penetrate the heating element in use in such a way that a strength of the magnetic field, or a strength of a sum of the magnetic fields, differs at respective different locations in the heating element.

25 . The apparatus of claim 22 , wherein the heating element projects into the heating zone.

26 . The apparatus of claim 22 , wherein the heating element extends at least partially around the heating zone.

27 . An apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material, the apparatus comprising:

a heating zone for receiving an article, the article comprising smokable material and heating material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field to heat the smokable material; and

a magnetic field generator for generating one or more varying magnetic fields that penetrate the heating zone in use in such a way that a strength of the magnetic field, or a strength of a sum of the magnetic fields, differs at respective different locations in the heating zone.

28 . The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the magnetic field generator comprises a first coil for generating a first of the one or more varying magnetic fields, and a second coil for generating a second of the one or more varying magnetic fields, and wherein the second varying magnetic field overlaps the first varying magnetic field.

29 . The apparatus of claim 28 , wherein the first coil is a first helical coil, and wherein the second coil is a second helical coil.

30 - 32 . (canceled)

33 . A system for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material, the system comprising:

the apparatus of claim 22 ; and

the article for locating in the heating zone of the apparatus.