Granted Patent B2

US 12,193,490 · App. 17/742,312 · Granted Jan 14, 2025

Inventors: Joe Robinson (London, GB); Joseph Sutton (London, GB)

Assignee: NICOVENTURES TRADING LIMITED

A24F40/42A61M15/06A24F40/20

Abstract

Claims (43)

1. A cartridge for use with an apparatus for heating a smokable material to volatilise at least one component of the smokable material, the cartridge comprising:

a housing defining a chamber;

a heating element located in the chamber, wherein the heating element is heated by electric current within the heating element and receives power from an electrical power source that is located within the apparatus for heating the smokable material and external of the cartridge;

the smokable material located in the chamber and being arranged on the heating element; and

a mass of thermal insulation material located between the smokable material and the housing,

wherein the cartridge is configured to releasably engage with the apparatus, and

wherein the heating element is inaccessible to a user.

2. The cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the thermal insulation material encircles the smokable material.

3. The cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the thermal insulation material is in contact with the smokable material.

4. The cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the thermal insulation material fills a space between the smokable material and the housing.

5. The cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the smokable material comprises tobacco.

6. The cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the smokable material is in a solid state.

7. The cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the smokable material is bonded to the heating element.

8. The cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the thermal insulation material is in contact with the housing.

9. The cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the thermal insulation material comprises one or more materials selected from the group consisting of: wadding, fleece, non-woven material, non-woven fleece, woven material, knitted material, nylon, foam, closed cell foam, polystyrene, closed cell polystyrene foam, polyester, polyester filament, polypropylene, and a blend of polyester and polypropylene.

10. The cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the thermal insulation material comprises wadding or fleece and has a density of from about 60 to about 140 gsm.

11. The cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the cartridge has an asymmetric exterior cross-sectional shape.

12. The cartridge according to claim 1 , further comprising two electrically-conductive terminals that are accessible from an exterior of the cartridge, wherein the heating element is electrically connected across the electrically-conductive terminals.

13. The cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the thermal insulation material is configured to prevent volatilized material generated in the chamber from condensing on an inner surface of the housing.

14. A cartridge for use with an apparatus for heating a smokable material to volatilise at least one component of the smokable material, the cartridge comprising:

a housing defining a chamber;

a heating element located in the chamber, wherein the heating element is heated by electric current within the heating element and receives power from an electrical power source that is located within the apparatus for heating the smokable material and external of the cartridge; and

a mass of thermal insulation material located between the heating element and the housing

wherein the cartridge is configured to releasably engage with the apparatus,

wherein the heating element is inaccessible to a user, and

wherein the smokable material is arranged on the heating element.

15. The cartridge according to claim 14 , wherein the thermal insulation material encircles the heating element.

16. The cartridge according to claim 14 , comprising two electrically-conductive terminals that are accessible from an exterior of the cartridge, wherein the heating element is electrically connected across the electrically-conductive terminals.

17. The cartridge according to claim 14 , wherein the smokable material is arranged on the heating element, the thermal insulation material being located between the smokable material and the housing.

18. The cartridge according to claim 17 , wherein the thermal insulation material is in contact with the smokable material.

19. The cartridge according to claim 17 , wherein the thermal insulation material fills a space between the smokable material and the housing.

20. The cartridge according to claim 14 , wherein the thermal insulation material is configured to prevent volatilized material generated in the chamber from condensing on an inner surface of the housing.

21. The cartridge according to claim 14 , wherein the thermal insulation material has a density of from about 60 to about 140 gsm.

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

an assembly having an interface; and

a cartridge comprising:

a housing defining a chamber;

a heating element located in the chamber, wherein the heating element is heated by electric current within the heating element and received power from an electrical power source, which is located within the assembly;

the smokable material located in the chamber and being arranged on the heating element; and

a mass of thermal insulation material located between the smokable material and the housing,

wherein the cartridge is for releasably co-operating with the interface of the assembly, and

wherein the heating element is inaccessible to a user.

23. The apparatus according to claim 22 , wherein the assembly comprises a controller arranged to control heating of the heating element so as to cause heating of the smokable material to volatilise the at least one component of the smokable material without combusting the smokable material when the cartridge is co-operating with the interface of the assembly.

Assignments (2)

Priority Claims (1)

Continuity (2)

References Cited (318)