Article for use with apparatus for heating smokable material

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 11924930
  • Patent Number
    11,924,930
  • Date Filed
    Friday, August 26, 2016
    8 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, March 5, 2024
    9 months ago
Abstract
Disclosed is an article for use with apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material. The article includes smokable material and a cover around the smokable material. The cover defines an outer surface of the article that may contact the apparatus in use, and includes heating material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field. A method of manufacturing such an article also is disclosed.
Description
PRIORITY CLAIM

The present application is a National Phase entry of PCT Application No. PCT/EP2016/070178, filed Aug. 26, 2016, which claims priority from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/840,703, filed Aug. 31, 2015, each of which is hereby fully incorporated herein by reference.


TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to articles for use with apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material, to methods of manufacturing such articles, and to systems comprising such articles and apparatuses.


BACKGROUND

Smoking articles such as cigarettes, cigars and the like burn tobacco during use to create tobacco smoke. Attempts have been made to provide alternatives to these articles by creating products that release compounds without combusting. Examples of such products are so-called “heat not burn” products or tobacco heating devices or products, which release compounds by heating, but not burning, material. The material may be, for example, tobacco or other non-tobacco products, which may or may not contain nicotine.


SUMMARY

A first aspect of the present disclosure provides an article for use with apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material, the article comprising: smokable material; and a cover around the smokable material; wherein the cover defines an outer surface of the article and comprises heater or heating material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field.


In an exemplary embodiment, the heating material is in contact with the smokable material.


In an exemplary embodiment, the cover comprises a closed circuit of the heating material.


In an exemplary embodiment, the closed circuit encircles the smokable material.


In an exemplary embodiment, the cover comprises a wrapper comprising heating material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field, and an adhesive adhering free ends of the wrapper to each other, and the adhesive comprises heating material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field.


In an exemplary embodiment, the cover comprises a first wrapper that encircles the smokable material and comprises heating material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field, a second wrapper that encircles the first wrapper, and an adhesive adhering free ends of the second wrapper to each other. In an exemplary embodiment, the first wrapper consists entirely, or substantially entirely, of the heating material. In an exemplary embodiment, the first wrapper comprises a closed circuit of the heating material that encircles the smokable material. In an exemplary embodiment, the second wrapper may be of a non-electrically-conductive material. In an exemplary embodiment, the second wrapper may be free of heating material.


In an exemplary embodiment, the cover comprises a sheet of material and the heating material on the sheet of material. In an exemplary embodiment, a major surface of the sheet of material is only partially covered by the heating material.


In an exemplary embodiment, the cover comprises a sheet of material and a plurality of discrete portions of the heating material in or on the sheet of material. In an exemplary embodiment, the discrete portions are parallel strips. The strips may be linear or non-linear.


In an exemplary embodiment, the cover comprises a wrapper comprising heating material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field, and at least one connector comprising heating material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field, wherein the connector is connected to the wrapper, wherein the closed circuit comprises the heating material of the wrapper and the heating material of the at least one connector. In an exemplary embodiment, the article is elongate and cylindrical, the wrapper forms a circumferential outer surface of the article, and the, or each, connector is located at a longitudinal end of the article.


In an exemplary embodiment, the heating material comprises electrically-conductive wire.


In an exemplary embodiment, the cover comprises a plurality of closed circuits of heating material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field. In an exemplary embodiment, the article is elongate and the closed circuits are spaced-apart in a longitudinal direction of the article.


In an exemplary embodiment, the heating material comprises a plurality of relatively closely-spaced portions of the heating material, and a plurality of less-closely-spaced portions of the heating material.


In an exemplary embodiment, a first part of the closed circuit comprises a plurality of relatively closely-spaced portions of the closed circuit, and a second part of the closed circuit comprises a plurality of less-closely-spaced portions of the closed circuit.


In an exemplary embodiment, the heating material comprises one or more materials selected from the group consisting of: an electrically-conductive material, a magnetic material, and a non-magnetic material.


In an exemplary embodiment, the heating material comprises a metal or a metal alloy.


In an exemplary embodiment, the heating material comprises one or more materials selected from the group consisting of: aluminum, gold, iron, nickel, cobalt, conductive carbon, graphite, plain-carbon steel, stainless steel, ferritic stainless steel, copper, and bronze.


In an exemplary embodiment, the smokable material comprises tobacco and/or one or more humectants.


In an exemplary embodiment, the cover comprises a wrapper or a sheet of paper.


In an exemplary embodiment, the article comprises a mouthpiece defining a passageway that is in fluid communication with the smokable material.


In an exemplary embodiment, the article is elongate and cylindrical.


In an exemplary embodiment, the article comprises an annular mass of the smokable material, and the article comprises a liner comprising a closed circuit of electrically-conductive material, wherein the annular mass of the smokable material is located around the liner so that the liner defines an inner surface of the article.


In respective exemplary embodiments, the liner may have any of the above-described features of the cover. In respective exemplary embodiments, the heating material of the liner may have any of the above-described features of the heating material of the cover.


In an exemplary embodiment, the article comprises a temperature detector for detecting a temperature of the article. In some embodiments, the article comprises one or more terminals connected to the temperature detector for making connection with a temperature monitor of the apparatus in use.


A second aspect of the present disclosure provides a method of manufacturing an article for use with apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material, the method comprising: providing smokable material; and providing a cover around the smokable material so that the cover defines an outer surface of the article for contacting the apparatus, wherein the cover comprises heating material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field.


In an exemplary embodiment, the cover comprises a sheet of material, and the method comprises printing the heating material on at least one major surface of the sheet of material.


In an exemplary embodiment, the providing the cover comprises providing a wrapper comprising heating material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field around the smokable material, and adhering free ends of the wrapper together using an conductive adhesive that comprises heating material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field.


In an exemplary embodiment, the providing the cover comprises: providing a wrapper comprising heating material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field around the smokable material so that the wrapper defines the outer surface of the article; and connecting at least one connector comprising heating material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field to the wrapper so as to create a closed circuit of heating material, the closed circuit comprising the heating material of the wrapper and the heating material of the at least one connector.


A third aspect of the present disclosure provides a system, comprising: apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material; and an article for use with the apparatus, wherein the article comprises smokable material and a cover around the smokable material, wherein the cover defines an outer surface of the article and comprises heating material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field.


In an exemplary embodiment, the cover comprises a closed circuit of the heating material.


In an exemplary embodiment, the apparatus comprises an interface for cooperating with the article, and a magnetic field generator for generating a varying magnetic field for penetrating the heating material when the article is cooperating with the interface.


In respective exemplary embodiments, the article of the system may have any of the features of the above-described exemplary embodiments of the article of the first aspect of the present disclosure.





BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:



FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of an example of an article for use with apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material.



FIG. 2 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the article of FIG. 1.



FIG. 3 shows a schematic perspective view of an example of another article for use with apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material.



FIG. 4 shows a schematic perspective view of an example of another article for use with apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material.



FIG. 5 shows a schematic perspective view of an example of another article for use with apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material.



FIG. 6 shows a schematic perspective view of an example of another article for use with apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material



FIG. 7 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the article of FIG. 6.



FIG. 8 shows a schematic partial cross-sectional view of an example of another article for use with apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material.



FIG. 9 is a flow diagram showing an example of a method of manufacturing an article for use with apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material.





DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As used herein, the term “smokable material” includes materials that provide volatilized components upon heating, typically in the form of vapor or an aerosol. “Smokable material” may be a non-tobacco-containing material or a tobacco-containing material. “Smokable material” may, for example, include one or more of tobacco per se, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco, tobacco extract, homogenized tobacco or tobacco substitutes. The smokable material can be in the form of ground tobacco, cut rag tobacco, extruded tobacco, liquid, gel, gelled sheet, powder, or agglomerates. “Smokable material” also may include other, non-tobacco, products, which, depending on the product, may or may not contain nicotine. “Smokable material” may comprise one or more humectants, such as glycerol or propylene glycol.


As used herein, the term “heating material” refers to material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field.


As used herein, the terms “flavor” and “flavorant” refer to materials which, where local regulations permit, may be used to create a desired taste or aroma in a product for adult consumers. They may include extracts (e.g., licorice, hydrangea, Japanese white bark magnolia leaf, chamomile, fenugreek, clove, menthol, Japanese mint, aniseed, cinnamon, herb, wintergreen, cherry, berry, peach, apple, Drambuie, bourbon, scotch, whiskey, spearmint, peppermint, lavender, cardamom, celery, cascarilla, nutmeg, sandalwood, bergamot, geranium, honey essence, rose oil, vanilla, lemon oil, orange oil, cassia, caraway, cognac, jasmine, ylang-ylang, sage, fennel, piment, ginger, anise, coriander, coffee, or a mint oil from any species of the genus Mentha), flavor enhancers, bitterness receptor site blockers, sensorial receptor site activators or stimulators, sugars and/or sugar substitutes (e.g., sucralose, acesulfame potassium, aspartame, saccharine, cyclamates, lactose, sucrose, glucose, fructose, sorbitol, or mannitol), and other additives such as charcoal, chlorophyll, minerals, botanicals, or breath freshening agents. They may be imitation, synthetic or natural ingredients or blends thereof. They may be in any suitable form, for example, oil, liquid, gel, powder, or the like.


Induction heating is a process in which an electrically-conductive object is heated by penetrating the object with a varying magnetic field. The process is described by Faraday's law of induction and Ohm's law. An induction heater may comprise an electromagnet and a device for passing a varying electrical current, such as an alternating current, through the electromagnet. When the electromagnet and the object to be heated are suitably relatively positioned so that the resultant varying magnetic field produced by the electromagnet penetrates the object, one or more eddy currents are generated inside the object. The object has a resistance to the flow of electrical currents. Therefore, when such eddy currents are generated in the object, their flow against the electrical resistance of the object causes the object to be heated. This process is called Joule, ohmic, or resistive heating. An object that is capable of being inductively heated is known as a susceptor.


It has been found that, when the susceptor is in the form of a closed circuit, magnetic coupling between the susceptor and the electromagnet in use is enhanced, which results in greater or improved Joule heating.


Magnetic hysteresis heating is a process in which an object made of a magnetic material is heated by penetrating the object with a varying magnetic field. A magnetic material can be considered to comprise many atomic-scale magnets, or magnetic dipoles. When a magnetic field penetrates such material, the magnetic dipoles align with the magnetic field. Therefore, when a varying magnetic field, such as an alternating magnetic field, for example as produced by an electromagnet, penetrates the magnetic material, the orientation of the magnetic dipoles changes with the varying applied magnetic field. Such magnetic dipole reorientation causes heat to be generated in the magnetic material.


When an object is both electrically-conductive and magnetic, penetrating the object with a varying magnetic field can cause both Joule heating and magnetic hysteresis heating in the object. Moreover, the use of magnetic material can strengthen the magnetic field, which can intensify the Joule heating.


In each of the above processes, as heat is generated inside the object itself, rather than by an external heat source by heat conduction, a rapid temperature rise in the object and more uniform heat distribution can be achieved, particularly through selection of suitable object material and geometry, and suitable varying magnetic field magnitude and orientation relative to the object. Moreover, as induction heating and magnetic hysteresis heating do not require a physical connection to be provided between the source of the varying magnetic field and the object, material deposits on the object such as smokable material residue may be less of an issue, design freedom and control over the heating profile may be greater, and cost may be lower.


Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 there are shown a schematic perspective view and a schematic cross-sectional view of an example of an article according to an embodiment of the invention. The article 1 comprises smokable material 20 and a cover 10 around the smokable material 20. The article 1 is for use with apparatus for heating the smokable material 20 to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material 20 without burning the smokable material 20. An example such apparatus is described below. The cover 10 defines an outer surface of the article 1, which may contact the apparatus in use. Moreover, the cover 10 comprises heating material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field, as will be described in more detail below. The heating material may be heatable in use to heat the smokable material 20. In this embodiment, the cover 10 comprises a closed circuit of the heating material.


In this embodiment, the article 1 is elongate and cylindrical with a substantially circular cross section. However, in other embodiments, the article may have a cross section other than circular and/or not be elongate and/or not be cylindrical. In this embodiment, the article 1 has proportions approximating those of a cigarette.


In this embodiment, the cover 10 comprises a wrapper 12 comprising the heating material. The wrapper 12 may consist entirely, or substantially entirely, of the heating material. In this embodiment, the wrapper 12 consists of a sheet of foil of the heating material. In this embodiment, the wrapper 12 is wrapped around the smokable material 20 so that free ends of the wrapper 12 overlap each other. The wrapper 12 thus forms all of, or a majority of, a circumferential outer surface of the article 1. The free ends of the wrapper 12 may contact each other, so that the wrapper 12 itself forms the closed circuit of heating material that encircles the smokable material 20.


The cover 10 of this embodiment also comprises an adhesive 14 that adheres the overlapped free ends of the wrapper 12 to each other. The adhesive of this embodiment comprises heating material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field. The adhesive may comprise one or more of, for example, gum Arabic, natural or synthetic resins, starches, and varnish. The adhesive may comprise one or more powders or fibers of, for example, copper, silver and graphite. The adhesive helps prevent the overlapped free ends of the wrapper 12 from separating, and creates a more robust and reliable closed circuit of heating material that encircles the smokable material 20. In this embodiment, the closed circuit comprises the heating material of the sheet of foil 12 and the heating material of the adhesive 14. In other embodiments, the adhesive 14 may be omitted, or the closed circuit may not comprise the adhesive 14. In such other embodiments, the closed circuit may be formed only by the wrapper 12 itself. The combination of the wrapper 12 and the adhesive 14 may define an outer surface of the article 1, which may contact the apparatus in use. It is to be noted that the size of the adhesive 14 relative to the wrapper 12 is accentuated in FIGS. 1 and 2 for clarity.


The sheet of foil 12 of this embodiment comprises aluminum. When exposed to air, an aluminum surface oxidizes over time. As a result, were either or both of the contacting surfaces of the overlapped free ends of the wrapper 12 to comprise a layer of aluminum oxide, then the closed circuit of heating material around the smokable material 20 could become incomplete or open. In this embodiment, before much, if any, aluminum oxide formed on the surfaces of the overlapped free ends of the sheet of foil 12, the free ends of the sheet of foil 12 were adhered to each other by the electrically-conductive adhesive 14. As noted above, this creates a more robust and reliable closed circuit of heating material.


In other embodiments, the heating material of the wrapper 12 may comprise one or more materials selected from the group consisting of: an electrically-conductive material, a magnetic material, and a non-magnetic material. In some embodiments, the heating material may comprise a metal or a metal alloy. In some embodiments, the heating material may comprise one or more materials selected from the group consisting of: aluminum, gold, iron, nickel, cobalt, conductive carbon, graphite, plain-carbon steel, stainless steel, ferritic stainless steel, copper, and bronze. Other heating material(s) may be used in other embodiments. It has also been found that, when magnetic electrically-conductive material is used as the heating material, magnetic coupling between the magnetic electrically-conductive material and an electromagnet of the apparatus in use may be enhanced. In addition to potentially enabling magnetic hysteresis heating, this can result in greater or improved Joule heating of the heating material, and thus greater or improved heating of the smokable material 20.


In this embodiment, the heating material is in contact with the smokable material 20. Thus, when the heating material of the closed circuit is heated by penetration with a varying magnetic field, heat may be transferred directly from the heating material of the closed circuit to the smokable material 20. In some embodiments, the wrapper 12 may comprise a sheet of material, such as paper, and a layer of heating material on a major surface of the sheet of material. In some such embodiments, the layer of heating material may be in contact with the smokable material 20, so that again heat may be transferred directly from the heating material of the closed circuit to the smokable material 20.


In some embodiments, the cover 10 may comprise a mass of thermal insulation radially outwards of the wrapper 12. The thermal insulation may comprise one or more materials selected from the group consisting of: aerogel, vacuum insulation, wadding, fleece, non-woven material, non-woven fleece, woven material, knitted material, nylon, foam, polystyrene, polyester, polyester filament, polypropylene, a blend of polyester and polypropylene, cellulose acetate, paper or card, and corrugated material such as corrugated paper or card. The thermal insulation may additionally or alternatively comprise an air gap. Such thermal insulation can help prevent heat loss to components of the apparatus, and provide more efficient heating of the smokable material within the cover 10. In some embodiments, the insulation may have a thickness of up to one millimeter, such as up to 0.5 millimeter.


The heating material may have a skin depth, which is an exterior zone within which most of an induced electrical current and/or induced reorientation of magnetic dipoles occurs. By providing that the heating material has a relatively small thickness, a greater proportion of the heating material may be heatable by a given varying magnetic field, as compared to heating material having a depth or thickness that is relatively large as compared to the other dimensions of the heating material. Thus, a more efficient use of material is achieved. In turn, costs are reduced.


In some embodiments, which are respective variations to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, the cover 10 may comprise first and second wrappers. The first wrapper encircles the smokable material and comprises heating material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field. The second wrapper encircles the first wrapper. The cover may further comprise an adhesive that adheres free ends of the second wrapper to each other. Such adhering may have the effect of holding both the wrappers in position relative to the smokable material. A benefit of some such embodiments is that the adhesive that adheres the free ends of the second wrapper to each other need not comprise heating material. The adhesive may comprise one or more of, for example, gum Arabic, natural or synthetic resins, starches, and varnish.


The first wrapper may, for example, be the same as the wrapper 12 of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, or any of the above-described variations to the wrapper 12 of that embodiment. In some embodiments, the first wrapper consists entirely, or substantially entirely, of the heating material. In some embodiments, the first wrapper may comprise a closed circuit of the heating material that encircles the smokable material. The first wrapper may comprise electrically-conductive material, such as a layer of electrically-conductive material that encircles the smokable material. The heating material of the first wrapper may comprise any one or more of the materials discussed above for the heating material of the wrapper 12.


The second wrapper may be of a non-electrically-conductive material. The second wrapper may be free of heating material. The second wrapper may, for example, be made of paper.


Referring to FIG. 3 there is shown a schematic perspective view of an example of another article according to an embodiment of the disclosure. The article 2 of this embodiment is identical to the article 1 of FIGS. 1 and 2 except for the form of the cover 10. Any of the above-described possible variations to the article 1 of FIGS. 1 and 2 may be made to the article 2 of FIG. 3 to form separate respective embodiments.


In this embodiment, the cover 10 comprises a wrapper 12 comprising heating material. More specifically, the wrapper 12 comprises a sheet of material 13 and wires or tracks 11 of heating material on a major surface of the sheet of material 13. Therefore, the major surface of the sheet of material 13 is only partially covered by the heating material. In this embodiment, the wires or tracks 11 are between the sheet of material 13 and the smokable material 20. In this embodiment, the sheet of material 13 comprises a sheet of paper, but in other embodiments the sheet of material 13 may be made of an electrically-insulating material other than paper. In this embodiment, the wrapper 12 is wrapped around the smokable material 20 so that free ends of the wrapper 12 overlap each other. The wrapper 12 thus forms all of, or a majority of, a circumferential outer surface of the article 2.


The cover 10 of this embodiment also comprises an adhesive 14 that adheres the overlapped free ends of the wrapper 12 to each other. The adhesive of this embodiment comprises heating material. The adhesive may be the same as any one of the adhesives discussed above. The adhesive helps prevent the overlapped free ends of the wrapper 12 from separating. The adhesive 14 also connects respective free ends of each of the wires or tracks 11, so as to create a plurality of closed circuits of heatable material that each encircle the smokable material 20. To achieve this, the adhesive may extend around at least one of the free ends of the wrapper 12, or may extend through one or more through holes, or vias, in the wrapper 12. The closed circuits of heating material may be heatable in use to heat the smokable material 20. The combination of the wrapper 12 and the adhesive 14 may define an outer surface of the article 1, which may contact the apparatus in use. It is to be noted that the size of the adhesive 14 relative to the wrapper 12 is accentuated in FIG. 3 for clarity.


In this embodiment, the closed circuits are spaced-apart in a longitudinal direction of the article 2. In this embodiment, each of the closed circuits comprises the heating material of one of the wires or tracks 11 and the heating material of the adhesive 14. In other embodiments, the adhesive 14 may be omitted, or the closed circuits may not comprise the electrically-conductive adhesive 14. In such other embodiments, the closed circuits may be formed only by the wires or tracks 11.


The wires or tracks 11 of this embodiment comprise aluminum. In other embodiments, the electrically-conductive material of the wires or tracks 11 may comprise any one or more of the materials discussed above for the heating material of earlier embodiments.


In this embodiment, the wires or tracks 11 are in contact with the smokable material 20. Thus, when the electrically-conductive material of the closed circuits is heated by induction heating, heat may be transferred directly from the electrically-conductive material of the closed circuits to the smokable material 20. However, in other embodiments, the wires or tracks 11 may be kept out of contact with the smokable material 20. For example, the sheet of material 13 may be located between the wires or tracks 11 and the smokable material 20. In some embodiments, the wires or tracks 11 may be embedded within the sheet of material 13.


In this embodiment, the wires or tracks 11 are of substantially equal axial width. In other embodiments, the tracks 11 may be of different respective widths. Regions of the smokable material 20 adjacent the wider tracks may then be heated to a greater degree by the application of a given varying magnetic field than regions of the smokable material 20 adjacent the narrower tracks.


Referring to FIG. 4 there is shown a schematic perspective view of an example of another article according to an embodiment of the disclosure. The article 3 of this embodiment is identical to the article 1 of FIGS. 1 and 2 except for the form of the cover 10. Any of the above-described possible variations to the article 1 of FIGS. 1 and 2 may be made to the article 3 of FIG. 4 to form separate respective embodiments.


In this embodiment, the cover 10 comprises a wrapper 12 comprising heating material. More specifically, the wrapper 12 comprises a sheet of material 13 and wires or tracks 11 of heating material on a major surface of the sheet of material 13. Therefore, the major surface of the sheet of material 13 is only partially covered by the heating material. In this embodiment, the wires or tracks 11 are between the sheet of material 13 and the smokable material 20. In this embodiment, the sheet of material 13 comprises a sheet of paper, but in other embodiments the sheet of material 13 may be made of an electrically-insulating material other than paper. In this embodiment, the wrapper 12 is wrapped around the smokable material 20 so that free ends of the wrapper 12 overlap each other. The wrapper 12 thus forms all of, or a majority of, a circumferential outer surface of the article 3.


The cover 10 of this embodiment may also comprise an adhesive (not shown) that adheres the overlapped free ends of the wrapper 12 to each other to help prevent them from separating. In other embodiments, the adhesive may be omitted. When such adhesive is present, the combination of the wrapper 12 and the adhesive may define an outer surface of the article 1, which may contact the apparatus in use.


In this embodiment, the wires or tracks 11 define a plurality of closed circuits of the heating material. That is, the wrapper 12 comprises a plurality of closed circuits of the heating material, each of which closed circuits is formed by one of the wires or tracks 11. The closed circuits of heating material may be heatable in use to heat the smokable material 20. In this embodiment, the closed circuits are elongate in a direction parallel to the longitudinal dimension of the article 3, and are spaced-apart in a circumferential direction of the article 3. In other embodiments, the wires or tracks 11, and thus the closed circuits, may be arranged differently relative to each other or to the sheet of material 13.


The wires or tracks 11 of this embodiment comprise aluminum. In other embodiments, the heating material of the wires or tracks 11 may comprise any one or more of the materials discussed above for the heating material of earlier embodiments.


In this embodiment, the wires or tracks 11 are in contact with the smokable material 20. Thus, when the heating material of the closed circuits is heated by penetration with a varying magnetic field, heat may be transferred directly from the heating material of the closed circuits to the smokable material 20. However, in other embodiments, the wires or tracks 11 may be kept out of contact with the smokable material 20, as discussed above.


Referring to FIG. 5 there is shown a schematic perspective view of an example of another article according to an embodiment of the invention. The article 4 of this embodiment is identical to the article 3 of FIG. 4 except for the form of the cover 10. Any of the above-described possible variations to the article 3 of FIG. 4 may be made to the article 4 of FIG. 5 to form separate respective embodiments.


In this embodiment, the cover 10 comprises a wrapper 12 comprising a sheet of material 13 and a wire or track 11 of heating material on a major surface of the sheet of material 13. Therefore, the major surface of the sheet of material 13 is only partially covered by the heating material. In this embodiment, the wire or track 11 is between the sheet of material 13 and the smokable material 20. In this embodiment, the wrapper comprises only a single wire or track 11 of heating material on the sheet of material 13. However, in other embodiments, the wrapper 12 may comprise a plurality of wires or tracks 11 of heating material on the sheet of material 13.


In this embodiment, the wire or track 11 defines a closed circuit of the heating material. The closed circuit of heating material may be heatable in use to heat the smokable material 20. In this embodiment, overall, the closed circuit is elongate in a direction parallel to the longitudinal dimension of the article 3. However, the wire or track 11 follows a tortuous path on the sheet of material 13. More particularly, in this embodiment, a first part 11a of the closed circuit comprises a plurality of relatively closely-spaced portions of the closed circuit, and a second part 11b of the closed circuit comprises a plurality of less-closely-spaced portions of the circuit. Thus, the heating material comprises a plurality of relatively closely-spaced portions, and a plurality of less-closely-spaced portions. Accordingly, when heated by penetration with a varying magnetic field, the wire or track 11 emits more heat per unit area at the first part 11a of the closed circuit than at the second part 11b of the closed circuit. Thus, progressive heating of the smokable material 20, and thereby progressive generation of vapor, is achievable.


More specifically, the first part 11a of the closed circuit is able to heat a first region of the smokable material 20 relatively quickly to initialize volatilization of at least one component of the smokable material 20 and formation of vapor in the first region of the smokable material 20. The second part 11b of the closed circuit is able to heat a second region of the smokable material 20 relatively slowly to initialize volatilization of at least one component of the smokable material 20 and formation of vapor in the second region of the smokable material 20. Accordingly, vapor is able to be formed relatively rapidly for inhalation by a user, and vapor can continue to be formed thereafter for subsequent inhalation by the user even after the first region of the smokable material 20 may have ceased generating vapor. The first region of the smokable material 20 may cease generating the vapor when it becomes exhausted of volatilizable components of the smokable material 20.


The wire or track 11 of this embodiment comprises aluminum. In other embodiments, the electrically-conductive material of the wire or track 11 may comprise any one or more of the materials discussed above for the heating material of earlier embodiments.


In this embodiment, the wire or track 11 are in contact with the smokable material 20. Thus, when the heating material of the closed circuit is heated by penetration with a varying magnetic field, heat may be transferred directly from the heating material of the closed circuit to the smokable material 20. However, in other embodiments, the wire or track 11 may be kept out of contact with the smokable material 20, as discussed above.


Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7 there are shown a schematic perspective view and a schematic cross-sectional view of an example of another article according to an embodiment of the invention. The article 5 comprises smokable material 20 and a cover 10 around the smokable material 20. The article 5 is for use with apparatus for heating the smokable material 20 to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material 20 without burning the smokable material 20. The cover 10 defines an outer surface of the article 5, which may contact the apparatus in use. Moreover, the cover 10 comprises a plurality of closed circuits of heating material, as will be described in more detail below.


In this embodiment, the article 5 is elongate and cylindrical with a substantially circular cross section. However, in other embodiments, the article may have a cross section other than circular and/or not be elongate and/or not be cylindrical. In this embodiment, the article 5 has proportions approximating those of a cigarette.


In this embodiment, the cover 10 comprises a wrapper 12 comprising heating material. More specifically, the wrapper 12 comprises a sheet of material 13 and discrete wires or tracks 11 of heating material on a major surface of the sheet of material 13. Therefore, the major surface of the sheet of material 13 is only partially covered by the heating material. In this embodiment, the sheet of material 13 is between the wires or tracks 11 and the smokable material 20. In this embodiment, each of the wires or tracks 11 is linear and parallel to the longitudinal dimension of the article 5, and the wires or tracks 11 are spaced-apart in a circumferential direction of the article 5. However, in other embodiments, the wires or tracks 11 may be non-linear and/or non-parallel to the longitudinal dimension of the article 5.


In this embodiment, the sheet of material 13 comprises a sheet of paper, but in other embodiments the sheet of material 13 may be made of an electrically-insulating material other than paper. In this embodiment, the wrapper 12 is wrapped around the smokable material 20 so that free ends of the wrapper 12 overlap each other. The wrapper 12 thus forms part of a circumferential outer surface of the article 5.


The cover 10 of this embodiment may also comprise an adhesive (not shown) that adheres the overlapped free ends of the wrapper 12 to each other to help prevent them from separating. In other embodiments, the adhesive may be omitted.


In this embodiment, the cover 10 also comprises two connectors 16, each of which is located at a longitudinal end of the article 5. However, in other embodiments, one or each of the connectors 16 may be located elsewhere along the length of the article 5. In this embodiment, each of the connectors 16 comprises a strip of material 17 and one or more bodies 18 of heating material on the strip of material 17. In this embodiment, the strip of material 17 is a strip of paper, but in other embodiments the strip of material 17 may be made of an electrically-insulating material other than paper. In this embodiment, the connectors 16 are adhered to the wrapper 12 by an adhesive 19, which may be an adhesive comprising heating material. In this embodiment, the combination of the wrapper 12 and the connectors 16 defines an outer surface of the article 5, which may contact the apparatus in use. It is to be noted that the size of the adhesive 19, connectors 16 and components thereof relative to the wrapper 12 is accentuated in FIG. 7 for clarity.


In this embodiment, the connectors 16 are arranged so that at least two of the wires or tracks 11 on the sheet of material 13 are connected by the bodies 18 of heating material of both the connectors 16, so as to form a plurality of closed circuits of heating material. In a variation to this embodiment, only two wires or tracks 11 may be provided on the sheet of material 13, and those two wires or tracks 11 may be connected by the bodies 18 of heating material of both the connectors 16, so as to form just one closed circuit of heating material. The, or each, closed circuit of heating material may be heatable in use to heat the smokable material 20.


The wires or tracks 11 of this embodiment comprise aluminum. In other embodiments, the electrically-conductive material of the wires or tracks 11 may comprise any one or more of the materials discussed above for the heating material of earlier embodiments.


In this embodiment, the wires or tracks 11 are in contact with the smokable material 20. Thus, when the heating material of the closed circuits is heated by penetration with a varying magnetic field, heat may be transferred directly from the heating material of the closed circuits to the smokable material 20. However, in other embodiments, the wires or tracks 11 may be kept out of contact with the smokable material 20. For example, the sheet of material 13 may be located between the wires or tracks 11 and the smokable material 20. In some embodiments, the wires or tracks 11 may be embedded within the sheet of material 13.


In a variation to the illustrated embodiment, the wires or tracks 11 may each be U-shaped, with the free ends of the arms of the U located at one longitudinal end of the article 5. In such a variation, only one of the connectors 16 need be provided at that one longitudinal end of the article 5 to create one or more closed circuits comprising the heating material of the wires or tracks 11 and the body 18 of the connector 16.


In a variation to the illustrated embodiment, the connector(s) 16 may take a different form to that shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. For example, in some embodiments, the, or each, connector may abut a longitudinal end of the combination of the smokable material 20 and wrapper 12, so as to form a longitudinal end of the article 5. In such a variation, the, or each, connector 16 may comprise heating material that abuts the associated longitudinal end of the combination of the smokable material 20 and wrapper 12 and connects at least two of the wires or tracks 11 on the sheet 13.


In some embodiments, the connector(s) may be movable or rotatable relative to the wires or tracks 11 on the sheet 13. Such rotation may enable the number of connections between the wires or tracks 11 made by the connector(s) to be changed, thereby to vary the amount of heating material present in a circuit or circuits, which may vary the intensity of heating provided to the smokable material 20. In some embodiments, the tracks 11 may be of different thicknesses and/or widths, so that different heating profiles may be created by rotating the connector(s) to different rotational positions relative to the tracks 11.


In respective variations to this embodiment, the connector(s) may be omitted. In such embodiments, the article may comprise the smokable material 20 and the cover 10 around the smokable material 20, wherein the cover 10 defines an outer surface of the article. The cover may comprise a sheet of material and a plurality of discrete portions of heating material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field. The discrete portions may be in or on the sheet of material. The discrete portions may be between the sheet and the smokable material, or the sheet may be between the discrete portions and the smokable material.


The discrete portions may be parallel strips or other than parallel strips, such as discrete patches of the heating material. Such parallel strips may be linear or non-linear. The discrete nature of the discrete portions provides thermal breaks between the discrete portions, to control the degree to which different regions of the smokable material 20 are heated in use. This may help progressive heating of the smokable material 20, and thus progressive generation of vapor, to be achieved. The heating material may comprise a plurality of relatively closely-spaced discrete portions, and a plurality of less-closely-spaced discrete portions. Accordingly, when heated by penetration with a varying magnetic field, the closely-spaced discrete portions emit more heat per unit area than the less-closely-spaced discrete portions. Thus, progressive heating of the smokable material 20, and thereby progressive generation of vapor, is achievable.


In some embodiments, the article comprises an annular mass of the smokable material 20, and the article comprises a liner comprising a closed circuit of heating material, wherein the annular mass of the smokable material 20 is located around the liner so that the liner defines an inner surface of the article. The liner may have any of the above-described features of the cover. The heating material of the liner may have any of the above-described features of the heating material of the cover. The closed circuit of heating material of the liner may be heatable in use, to further or more effectively heat the smokable material 20 of the article.


In some embodiments, the heating material may not be susceptible to eddy currents being induced therein by penetration with a varying magnetic field. In such embodiments, the heating material may be a magnetic material that is non-electrically-conductive, and thus may be heatable by the magnetic hysteresis process discussed above.


In some embodiments, the article comprises a mouthpiece defining a passageway that is in fluid communication with the smokable material 10. Referring to FIG. 8, there is shown a schematic partial cross-sectional view of an example of an article 7 according to an embodiment of the disclosure. The section of the article 7 numbered 71 could comprise any of the constructions shown in FIGS. 1 to 7 or any of the variants thereof discussed above. The mouthpiece 70 and passageway 72 thereof are shown connected to the construction with the passageway 72 aligned so as to be in fluid communication with the smokable material 10 of the construction. The mouthpiece 70 may be made of any suitable material, such as a plastics material, cardboard, or rubber.


In use, when the smokable material 10 is heated by the heated heating material of the article, volatilized components of the smokable material 10 can be readily inhaled by a user. In embodiments in which the article is a consumable article, once all or substantially all of the volatilizable component(s) of the smokable material 10 in the article has/have been spent, the user may dispose of the mouthpiece together with the rest of the article. This can be more hygienic than using the same mouthpiece with multiple articles, can help ensure that the mouthpiece is correctly aligned with the smokable material, and presents a user with a clean, fresh mouthpiece each time they wish to use another article.


The mouthpiece 70, when provided, may comprise or be impregnated with a flavorant. The flavorant may be arranged so as to be picked up by heated vapor as the vapor passes through the passageway 72 of the mouthpiece 70 in use.


Referring to FIG. 9 there is shown a flow diagram of an example of a method according to an embodiment of the invention of manufacturing an article for use with apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material. The method may be used to manufacture one of the above-described articles 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.


The method 900 comprises providing 902 the smokable material 20, and providing 904 the cover 10 around the smokable material 20 so that the cover 10 defines the outer surface of the article 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.


In some embodiments in which the cover 10 comprises a sheet of material 13, the method may comprise printing heating material on at least one major surface of the sheet of material 13. Such printing may be used to provide the wires or tracks 11 on the sheet of material 13 of the articles 2, 3, 4, 5 shown in FIGS. 3 to 7, for example.


In some embodiments, the providing 904 the cover 10 around the smokable material 20 may comprise providing a wrapper 12 comprising heating material around the smokable material 20, and may comprise adhering free ends of the wrapper 12 together using an adhesive 14 comprising heating material. Such a process may be used in the manufacture of the articles 1, 2 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, for example. The process may be based on a known process for rolling cigarettes.


In some embodiments, the providing 904 the cover 10 may comprise providing a wrapper 12 comprising heating material around the smokable material 20 so that the wrapper 12 defines an outer surface of the article 5. The providing 904 the cover 10 may further comprise connecting at least one connector 16 comprising heating material 18 to the wrapper 12 so as to create a closed circuit of heating material, the closed circuit comprising the heating material of the wrapper 12 and the heating material of the at least one connector 16. Such a process may be used in the manufacture of the article 5 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, for example.


Each of the above-described articles 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and described variants thereof may be used with an apparatus for heating the smokable material 20 to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material 20. The apparatus may be to heat the smokable material 20 to volatilize the at least one component of the smokable material 20 without burning the smokable material 20. Any one of the article(s) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and such apparatus may be provided together as a system. The system may take the form of a kit, in which the article 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 is separate from the apparatus. Alternatively, the system may take the form of an assembly, in which the article 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 is combined with the apparatus.


The apparatus may comprise a magnetic field generator for generating a varying magnetic field for heating the heating material of the article 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, such as the foil 12 of the article 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, or the wire(s) or track(s) of the articles 2, 3, 4, 5 shown in FIGS. 3 to 7. Such a magnetic field generator may comprise an electrical power source, an electromagnet, a device for passing a varying electrical current, such as an alternating current, through the coil, a controller, and a user interface for user-operation of the controller. The electrical power source may be a rechargeable battery, a non-rechargeable battery, a connection to a mains electricity supply, or the like.


The coil may take any suitable form, such as a helical coil of electrically-conductive material, such as copper. The magnetic field generator may comprise a magnetically permeable core around which the coil is wound, to concentrate the magnetic flux produced by the coil and make a more powerful magnetic field. The magnetically permeable core may be made of iron, for example. In some embodiments, the magnetically permeable core may extend only partially along the length of the coil, so as to concentrate the magnetic flux only in certain regions.


The device for passing a varying electrical current through the coil may be electrically connected between the electrical power source and the coil. The controller may be electrically connected to the electrical power source, and be communicatively connected to the device to control the device, so as to control the supply of electrical power from the electrical power source to the coil. In some embodiments, the controller may comprise an integrated circuit (IC), such as an IC on a printed circuit board (PCB). In other embodiments, the controller may take a different form. In some embodiments, the apparatus may have a single electrical or electronic component comprising the device and the controller. The controller may be operated by user-operation of the user interface, which may comprise a push-button, a toggle switch, a dial, a touchscreen, or the like. Operation of the user interface by a user may cause the controller to cause the device to apply an alternating electric current across the coil, so as to cause the coil to generate an alternating magnetic field.


The apparatus may have a recess or other interface for receiving the article 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and the coil may be positioned relative to the recess or interface so that the varying or alternating magnetic field produced by the coil in use penetrates the recess or interface at a location corresponding to the heating material of the article 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 when the article 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 is in the recess or cooperating with the interface. When the heating material of the article 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 is an electrically-conductive material, this may cause the generation of one or more eddy currents in the heating material of the article 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. The flow of eddy currents against the electrical resistance of the heating material of the article 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 causes the heating material of the article 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 to be heated by Joule heating. When the heating material of the article 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 is a magnetic material, the orientation of magnetic dipoles in the heating material changes with the changing applied magnetic field, which causes heat to be generated in the heating material of the article 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 by magnetic hysteresis heating.


The apparatus may have a mechanism for compressing the article 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 when the article 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 is inserted in the recess or cooperating with the interface. Such compression of the article 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 can compress the smokable material 20, so as to increase the thermal conductivity of the smokable material 20. In other words, compression of the smokable material 20 can provide for higher heat transfer through the article 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.


The apparatus may have a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of the recess, interface, or article 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 in use. The temperature sensor may be communicatively connected to the controller, so that the controller is able to monitor the temperature. In some embodiments, the temperature sensor may be arranged to take an optical temperature measurement of the recess, interface or article. In some embodiments, the article 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 may comprise a temperature detector, such as a resistance temperature detector (RTD), for detecting a temperature of the article 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. The article 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 may further comprise one or more terminals connected, such as electrically-connected, to the temperature detector. The terminal(s) may be for making connection, such as electrical connection, with a temperature monitor of the apparatus when the article 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 is in the recess or cooperating with the interface. The controller may comprise the temperature monitor. The temperature monitor of the apparatus may thus be able to determine a temperature of the article 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 during use of the article 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 with the apparatus.


In some embodiments, by providing that the heating material of the article 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 has a suitable resistance, the response of the heating material to a change in temperature could be sufficient to give information regarding temperature inside the article 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. The temperature sensor of the apparatus may then comprise a probe for analyzing the heating material.


On the basis of one or more signals received from the temperature sensor or temperature detector, the controller may cause the device to adjust a characteristic of the varying or alternating current passed through the coil as necessary, in order to ensure that the temperature remains within a predetermined temperature range. The characteristic may be, for example, amplitude or frequency. Within the predetermined temperature range, in use the smokable material 20 within an article 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 inserted in the recess or cooperating with the interface may be heated sufficiently to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material 20 without combusting the smokable material 20. In some embodiments, the temperature range is about 50° C. to about 250° C., such as between about 50° C. and about 150° C., between about 50° C. and about 120° C., between about 50° C. and about 100° C., between about 50° C. and about 80° C., or between about 60° C. and about 70° C. In some embodiments, the temperature range is between about 170° C. and about 220° C. In other embodiments, the temperature range may be other than this range. The apparatus may have a delivery device for delivering the volatilized component(s) of the smokable material 20 to a user.


The apparatus may define an air inlet that fluidly connects the recess or interface with an exterior of the apparatus. A user may be able to inhale the volatilize component(s) of the smokable material by drawing the volatilize component(s) through a channel, such as a channel of a mouthpiece of the apparatus. As the volatilized component(s) are removed from the article 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, air may be drawn into the recess or interface via the air inlet of the apparatus.


The apparatus may provide haptic feedback to a user. The feedback could indicate that heating of the susceptor is taking place, or be triggered by a timer to indicate that greater than a predetermined proportion of the original quantity of volatilizable component(s) of the smokable material 20 in the article 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 has/have been spent, or the like. The haptic feedback could be created by interaction of the susceptor with the coil (i.e. magnetic response), by interaction of an electrically-conductive element with the coil, by rotating an unbalanced motor, by repeatedly applying and removing a current across a piezoelectric element, or the like.


The apparatus may comprise more than one coil. The plurality of coils could be operated to provide progressive heating of the smokable material 20 in an article 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and thereby progressive generation of vapor. For example, one coil may be able to heat a first region of the heating material relatively quickly to initialize volatilization of at least one component of the smokable material 20 and formation of vapor in a first region of the smokable material 20. Another coil may be able to heat a second region of the heating material relatively slowly to initialize volatilization of at least one component of the smokable material 20 and formation of vapor in a second region of the smokable material 20. Accordingly, vapor is able to be formed relatively rapidly for inhalation by a user, and vapor can continue to be formed thereafter for subsequent inhalation by the user even after the first region of the smokable material 20 may have ceased generating vapor. The initially-unheated second region of smokable material 20 could act as a filter, to reduce the temperature of created vapor or make the created vapor mild, during heating of the first region of smokable material 20.


In some embodiments, the heating material of the cover may comprise discontinuities or holes therein. Such discontinuities or holes may act as thermal breaks to control the degree to which different regions of the smokable material are heated in use. Areas of the heating material with discontinuities or holes therein may be heated to a lesser extent that areas without discontinuities or holes. This may help progressive heating of the smokable material, and thus progressive generation of vapor, to be achieved.


In each of the above described embodiments, the smokable material 20 comprises tobacco. However, in respective variations to each of these embodiments, the smokable material 20 may consist of tobacco, may consist substantially entirely of tobacco, may comprise tobacco and smokable material other than tobacco, may comprise smokable material other than tobacco, or may be free of tobacco. In some embodiments, the smokable material 20 may comprise a vapor or aerosol forming agent or a humectant, such as glycerol, propylene glycol, triactein, or diethylene glycol.


An article embodying the present disclosure may be a cartridge or a capsule, for example.


In each of the above described embodiments, the article 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 is a consumable article. Once all, or substantially all, of the volatilizable component(s) of the smokable material 20 in the article 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 has/have been spent, the user may remove the article 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 from the apparatus and dispose of the article 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. The user may subsequently re-use the apparatus with another of the articles 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. However, in other respective embodiments, the article 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 may be non-consumable, and the apparatus and the article 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 may be disposed of together once the volatilizable component(s) of the smokable material 20 has/have been spent.


In some embodiments, the apparatus discussed above is sold, supplied or otherwise provided separately from the articles 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 with which the apparatus is usable. However, in some embodiments, the apparatus and one or more of the articles 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 may be provided together as a system, such as a kit or an assembly, possibly with additional components, such as cleaning utensils.


Embodiments of the disclosure could be implemented in a system comprising any one of the articles discussed herein, and any one of the apparatuses discussed herein, wherein the apparatus itself further has heating material, such as in a susceptor, for heating by penetration with the varying magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generator. Heat generated in the heating material of the apparatus itself could be transferred to the article to further heat the smokable material therein.


In order to address various issues and advance the art, the entirety of this disclosure shows by way of illustration and example various embodiments in which the claimed invention may be practiced and which provide for superior articles for use with apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material, superior methods of manufacturing such articles, and superior systems comprising such articles and such apparatus. The advantages and features of the disclosure are of a representative sample of embodiments only, and are not exhaustive and/or exclusive. They are presented only to assist in understanding and teach the claimed and otherwise disclosed features. It is to be understood that advantages, embodiments, examples, functions, features, structures and/or other aspects of the disclosure are not to be considered limitations on the disclosure as defined by the claims or limitations on equivalents to the claims, and that other embodiments may be utilized and modifications may be made without departing from the scope and/or spirit of the disclosure. Various embodiments may suitably comprise, consist of, or consist in essence of, various combinations of the disclosed elements, components, features, parts, steps, means, etc. The disclosure may include other inventions not presently claimed, but which may be claimed in future.

Claims
  • 1. An article for use with an apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material, the article comprising: smokable material; anda cover around the smokable material, wherein the cover defines an outer surface of the article and includes a closed circuit of heater material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field generator of the apparatus, and wherein the cover comprises: a first wrapper that encircles the smokable material, the first wrapper comprising a sheet of material and a plurality of discrete portions of the heater material in or on the sheet of material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field,a second wrapper that encircles the first wrapper, wherein the first and second wrappers being configured such that when the article is used with the apparatus to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material, the second wrapper is between the magnetic field generator of the apparatus and the first wrapper, andan adhesive adhering free ends of the first wrapper to each other, and wherein the adhesive comprises heating material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field.
  • 2. The article of claim 1, wherein the heater material is in contact with the smokable material.
  • 3. The article of claim 1, wherein the first wrapper comprises a sheet of material, wherein the heater material is disposed on the sheet of material.
  • 4. The article of claim 1, wherein the cover comprises a plurality of closed circuits of heater material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field.
  • 5. The article of claim 1, wherein the heater material comprises a plurality of relatively closely-spaced portions of the heater material, and a plurality of less-closely-spaced portions of the heater material.
  • 6. The article of claim 1, wherein the heater material comprises an electrically-conductive material or a magnetic material.
  • 7. The article of claim 1, wherein the heater material comprises a metal or a metal alloy.
  • 8. The article of claim 1, wherein the heater material comprises one or more materials selected from the group consisting of: aluminum, gold, iron, nickel, cobalt, conductive carbon, graphite, plain-carbon steel, stainless steel, ferritic stainless steel, copper, and bronze.
  • 9. The article of claim 1, further comprising an annular mass of the smokable material, and a liner having a closed circuit of heater material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field, wherein the annular mass of the smokable material is disposed around the liner such that the liner defines an inner surface of the article.
  • 10. The article of claim 1, wherein the heater material is a non-magnetic material.
  • 11. The article of claim 1, wherein the closed circuit is disposed such that the closed circuit encircles the smokable material.
  • 12. A method of manufacturing an article for use with an apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material, the method comprising: providing smokable material; andproviding a cover around the smokable material such that the cover defines an outer surface of the article, wherein the cover comprises a closed circuit of heater material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field of the apparatus, wherein providing the cover comprises: providing a first wrapper comprising a sheet of material and plurality of discrete portions of the heater material in or on the sheet of material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field around the smokable material,providing a second wrapper around the first wrapper, wherein the first and second wrappers being configured such that when the article is used with the apparatus to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material, the second wrapper is between the magnetic field generator of the apparatus and the first wrapper, andadhering free ends of the first wrapper together using adhesive, wherein the adhesive comprises heating material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field.
  • 13. A system, comprising: an apparatus comprising a magnetic field generator, the apparatus configured to heat smokable material and volatilize at least one component of the smokable material; andan article for use with the apparatus, wherein the article comprises smokable material and a cover around the smokable material, wherein the cover defines an outer surface of the article and comprises a closed circuit of heater material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field, and wherein the cover comprises: a first wrapper that encircles the smokable material, the first wrapper comprising a sheet of material and a plurality of discrete portions of the heater material in or on the sheet of material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field,a second wrapper that encircles the first wrapper, wherein the first and second wrappers being configured such that when the article is used with the apparatus to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material, the second wrapper is between the magnetic field generator of the apparatus and the first wrapper, andan adhesive adhering free ends of the first wrapper to each other, wherein the adhesive comprises heating material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field.
  • 14. The system of claim 13, wherein the apparatus comprises an interface configured to cooperate with the article, and wherein the magnetic field generator is configured to generate a varying magnetic field that penetrates the heater material when the article cooperates with the interface.
PCT Information
Filing Document Filing Date Country Kind
PCT/EP2016/070178 8/26/2016 WO
Publishing Document Publishing Date Country Kind
WO2017/036951 3/9/2017 WO A
US Referenced Citations (710)
Number Name Date Kind
219628 Edison Sep 1879 A
219634 Gifford Sep 1879 A
219635 Giles Sep 1879 A
219643 Mattoni Sep 1879 A
844272 Fate Feb 1907 A
912986 Aschenbrenner Feb 1909 A
1071817 Stanley Sep 1913 A
1771366 Wyss et al. Jul 1930 A
1886391 Henri et al. Nov 1932 A
2057353 Whittemore Oct 1936 A
2104266 McCormick Jan 1938 A
2462563 Seyforth et al. Feb 1949 A
2473325 Aufiero Jun 1949 A
2689150 Croce et al. Sep 1954 A
2809634 Hirotada et al. Oct 1957 A
2888208 Rene et al. May 1959 A
3040991 Rene et al. Jun 1962 A
3043524 Sonia et al. Jul 1962 A
3111396 Ball Nov 1963 A
3144174 Abplanalp Aug 1964 A
3225954 Herrick et al. Dec 1965 A
3258015 Drummond et al. Jun 1966 A
3265236 Norman et al. Aug 1966 A
3289949 Willy et al. Dec 1966 A
3347231 Chien-Hshuing et al. Oct 1967 A
3402724 Blount et al. Sep 1968 A
3431393 Katsuda et al. Mar 1969 A
3433632 Elbert et al. Mar 1969 A
3521643 Toth et al. Jul 1970 A
3522806 Szekely et al. Aug 1970 A
3604428 Moukaddem Sep 1971 A
3647143 Gauthier et al. Mar 1972 A
3658059 Steil et al. Apr 1972 A
3733010 Riccio et al. May 1973 A
3804100 Fariello Apr 1974 A
3805806 Grihalva Apr 1974 A
3856185 Riccio et al. Dec 1974 A
3864326 Babington et al. Feb 1975 A
3889690 Guarnieri Jun 1975 A
3913843 Cambio, Jr. et al. Oct 1975 A
3943942 Anderson et al. Mar 1976 A
3964902 Fletcher Jun 1976 A
4009713 Simmons et al. Mar 1977 A
4017701 Mittelmann Apr 1977 A
4031906 Knapp Jun 1977 A
4094119 Sullivan Jun 1978 A
4145001 Weyenberg et al. Mar 1979 A
4149548 Bradshaw et al. Apr 1979 A
4161283 Hyman Jul 1979 A
4171000 Uhle Oct 1979 A
4193513 Bull, Jr. Mar 1980 A
4284089 Ray et al. Aug 1981 A
4299274 Campbell et al. Nov 1981 A
4299355 Haekkinen et al. Nov 1981 A
4303083 Burruss, Jr. Dec 1981 A
4303541 Wasel-Nielen et al. Dec 1981 A
4393884 Jacobs Jul 1983 A
4412930 Koike et al. Nov 1983 A
4427123 Komeda et al. Jan 1984 A
4429835 Brugger et al. Feb 1984 A
4474191 Steiner Oct 1984 A
4503851 Braunroth Mar 1985 A
4588976 Jaselli May 1986 A
4628187 Sekiguchi et al. Dec 1986 A
4638820 Roberts et al. Jan 1987 A
4675508 Miyaji et al. Jun 1987 A
4676237 Wood et al. Jun 1987 A
4677992 Bliznak Jul 1987 A
4694841 Esparza Sep 1987 A
4734097 Tanabe et al. Mar 1988 A
4735217 Gerth et al. Apr 1988 A
4746067 Svoboda May 1988 A
4756318 Clearman et al. Jul 1988 A
4765347 Sensabaugh, Jr. Aug 1988 A
4765348 Honeycutt Aug 1988 A
4771795 White et al. Sep 1988 A
4776353 Lilja et al. Oct 1988 A
4819665 Roberts et al. Apr 1989 A
4827950 Banerjee et al. May 1989 A
4830028 Lawson et al. May 1989 A
4848374 Chard et al. Jul 1989 A
4885129 Leonard et al. Dec 1989 A
4892109 Strubel Jan 1990 A
4907606 Lilja et al. Mar 1990 A
4913168 Potter et al. Apr 1990 A
4917119 Potter et al. Apr 1990 A
4917120 Hill Apr 1990 A
4917301 Munteanu Apr 1990 A
4922901 Brooks et al. May 1990 A
4924883 Perfetti et al. May 1990 A
4938236 Banerjee et al. Jul 1990 A
4941483 Ridings et al. Jul 1990 A
4945929 Egilmex Aug 1990 A
4945931 Gori Aug 1990 A
4947874 Brooks et al. Aug 1990 A
4947875 Brooks et al. Aug 1990 A
4955399 Potter et al. Sep 1990 A
4978814 Honour Dec 1990 A
4979521 Davis Dec 1990 A
4987291 McGaffigan et al. Jan 1991 A
4991606 Serrano et al. Feb 1991 A
5019122 Clearman et al. May 1991 A
5020509 Suzuki et al. Jun 1991 A
5027837 Clearman et al. Jul 1991 A
5040551 Schlatter et al. Aug 1991 A
5040552 Schleich et al. Aug 1991 A
5042509 Banerjee et al. Aug 1991 A
5046514 Bolt Sep 1991 A
5060667 Strubel Oct 1991 A
5060671 Counts et al. Oct 1991 A
5076292 Sensabaugh, Jr. et al. Dec 1991 A
5080115 Templeton Jan 1992 A
5093894 Deevi et al. Mar 1992 A
5095647 Zobele et al. Mar 1992 A
5095921 Losee et al. Mar 1992 A
5096921 Bollinger et al. Mar 1992 A
5097850 Braunshteyn et al. Mar 1992 A
5099861 Clearman et al. Mar 1992 A
5105831 Banerjee et al. Apr 1992 A
5119834 Shannon et al. Jun 1992 A
5121881 Lembeck Jun 1992 A
5129409 White et al. Jul 1992 A
5133368 Neumann et al. Jul 1992 A
5143048 Cheney, III Sep 1992 A
5144962 Counts et al. Sep 1992 A
5146934 Deevi et al. Sep 1992 A
5159940 Hayward et al. Nov 1992 A
5167242 Turner et al. Dec 1992 A
5179966 Losee et al. Jan 1993 A
5188130 Hajaligol et al. Feb 1993 A
5190060 Gerding et al. Mar 1993 A
5203355 Clearman et al. Apr 1993 A
5224498 Deevi et al. Jul 1993 A
5230715 Iizuna et al. Jul 1993 A
5235992 Sensabaugh, Jr. Aug 1993 A
5247947 Clearman et al. Sep 1993 A
5249586 Morgan Oct 1993 A
5251688 Schatz Oct 1993 A
5261424 Sprinkel, Jr. Nov 1993 A
5269327 Counts et al. Dec 1993 A
5271980 Bell Dec 1993 A
5272216 Clark, Jr. et al. Dec 1993 A
5285798 Banerjee et al. Feb 1994 A
5293883 Edwards Mar 1994 A
5303720 Banerjee et al. Apr 1994 A
5305733 Walters Apr 1994 A
5312046 Knoch et al. May 1994 A
5322075 Deevi et al. Jun 1994 A
5327915 Porenski et al. Jul 1994 A
5331979 Henley Jul 1994 A
5345951 Serrano et al. Sep 1994 A
5353813 Deevi et al. Oct 1994 A
5357984 Farrier et al. Oct 1994 A
5369723 Counts et al. Nov 1994 A
5372148 McCafferty et al. Dec 1994 A
5388574 Ingebrethsen Feb 1995 A
5388594 Counts et al. Feb 1995 A
5390864 Alexander Feb 1995 A
5396911 Casey, III et al. Mar 1995 A
5400808 Turner et al. Mar 1995 A
5402803 Takagi Apr 1995 A
5408574 Deevi et al. Apr 1995 A
5412183 Buffenior May 1995 A
5415186 Casey, III et al. May 1995 A
5434388 Kralik et al. Jul 1995 A
5443560 Deevi et al. Aug 1995 A
5454363 Sata Oct 1995 A
5461695 Knoch Oct 1995 A
5468936 Deevi et al. Nov 1995 A
5474059 Cooper Dec 1995 A
5479948 Counts et al. Jan 1996 A
5483953 Cooper Jan 1996 A
5497792 Prasad et al. Mar 1996 A
5499636 Baggett, Jr. Mar 1996 A
5500511 Hansen Mar 1996 A
5501236 Hill et al. Mar 1996 A
5502743 Conochie Mar 1996 A
5505214 Collins et al. Apr 1996 A
5511538 Haber et al. Apr 1996 A
5517981 Taub et al. May 1996 A
5530225 Hajaligol Jun 1996 A
5534020 Cheney, III et al. Jul 1996 A
5538020 Farrier et al. Jul 1996 A
5540241 Kim Jul 1996 A
5549906 Santus Aug 1996 A
5553791 Alexander Sep 1996 A
5564442 MacDonald et al. Oct 1996 A
5573140 Satomi et al. Nov 1996 A
5573692 Das et al. Nov 1996 A
5591368 Fleischhauer Jan 1997 A
5593792 Farrier et al. Jan 1997 A
5613504 Collins et al. Mar 1997 A
5613505 Campbell Mar 1997 A
5636787 Gowhari Jun 1997 A
5645749 Wang Jul 1997 A
5649554 Sprinkel Jul 1997 A
5659656 Das Aug 1997 A
5665262 Hajaligol et al. Sep 1997 A
5666977 Higgins et al. Sep 1997 A
5687912 Denyer Nov 1997 A
5692291 Deevi et al. Dec 1997 A
5699786 Oshima et al. Dec 1997 A
5711292 Hammarlund Jan 1998 A
5726421 Fleischhauer Mar 1998 A
5736110 Angelillo et al. Apr 1998 A
5742251 Gerber Apr 1998 A
5743251 Howell et al. Apr 1998 A
5771845 Pistien et al. Jun 1998 A
5778899 Saito et al. Jul 1998 A
5798154 Bryan Aug 1998 A
5808281 Matsen et al. Sep 1998 A
5837088 Palmgren Nov 1998 A
5845649 Saito et al. Dec 1998 A
5865185 Collins et al. Feb 1999 A
5865186 Volsey, II Feb 1999 A
5878752 Adams et al. Mar 1999 A
5902501 Nunnally et al. May 1999 A
5921233 Gold et al. Jul 1999 A
5935486 Bell et al. Aug 1999 A
5938125 Ritsche et al. Aug 1999 A
5958273 Koch et al. Sep 1999 A
5984953 Sabin et al. Nov 1999 A
6000394 Blaha-Schnabel et al. Dec 1999 A
6026820 Baggett, Jr. et al. Feb 2000 A
6037568 Hatanaka et al. Mar 2000 A
6040560 Fleischhauer et al. Mar 2000 A
6041790 Smith et al. Mar 2000 A
6053176 Adams et al. Apr 2000 A
6058711 Maciaszek et al. May 2000 A
6079405 Justo Jun 2000 A
6085741 Becker Jul 2000 A
6089857 Matsuura et al. Jul 2000 A
6095505 Miller Aug 2000 A
6113078 Rock Sep 2000 A
6116231 Sabin et al. Sep 2000 A
6125853 Susa et al. Oct 2000 A
6129080 Pitcher et al. Oct 2000 A
6155268 Takeuchi Dec 2000 A
6158676 Hughes Dec 2000 A
6164287 White Dec 2000 A
6178963 Baik Jan 2001 B1
6209457 Kenworthy et al. Apr 2001 B1
6223745 Hammarlund et al. May 2001 B1
6224179 Wenning et al. May 2001 B1
6230703 Bono May 2001 B1
6234459 Rock May 2001 B1
6244573 Rock Jun 2001 B1
6248257 Bell et al. Jun 2001 B1
6267110 Tenenboum et al. Jul 2001 B1
6275650 Lambert Aug 2001 B1
6283116 Yang Sep 2001 B1
6289889 Bell et al. Sep 2001 B1
6297483 Sadahira Oct 2001 B2
6315366 Post et al. Nov 2001 B1
6347789 Rock Feb 2002 B1
6376816 Cooper et al. Apr 2002 B2
6427878 Greiner-Perth et al. Aug 2002 B1
6595209 Rose et al. Jul 2003 B1
6598607 Adiga et al. Jul 2003 B2
6644383 Joseph et al. Nov 2003 B2
6648306 Rock Nov 2003 B2
6652804 Neumann et al. Nov 2003 B1
6669176 Rock Dec 2003 B2
6681998 Sharpe et al. Jan 2004 B2
6701921 Sprinkel, Jr. et al. Mar 2004 B2
6708846 Fuchs et al. Mar 2004 B1
6723115 Daly Apr 2004 B1
6761164 Amirpour et al. Jul 2004 B2
6769436 Horian Aug 2004 B2
6790496 Levander et al. Sep 2004 B1
6799572 Nichols et al. Oct 2004 B2
6803545 Blake et al. Oct 2004 B2
6803550 Sharpe Oct 2004 B2
6827080 Fish et al. Dec 2004 B2
6868230 Gerhardinger Mar 2005 B2
6886556 Fuchs May 2005 B2
6953474 Lu Oct 2005 B2
6968888 Kolowich Nov 2005 B2
6994096 Rostami Feb 2006 B2
7012227 Tathgur Mar 2006 B2
7041123 Stapf et al. May 2006 B2
7077130 Nichols et al. Jul 2006 B2
7081211 Li et al. Jul 2006 B2
7088914 Whittle et al. Aug 2006 B2
7100618 Dominguez Sep 2006 B2
7112712 Ancell Sep 2006 B1
7163014 Nichols et al. Jan 2007 B2
7185659 Sharpe Mar 2007 B2
7234459 Del Jun 2007 B2
7235187 Li et al. Jun 2007 B2
7263282 Meyer Aug 2007 B2
7290549 Banerjee et al. Nov 2007 B2
7303328 Faraldi et al. Dec 2007 B2
7335186 O'Neil Feb 2008 B2
7373938 Nichols et al. May 2008 B2
7374063 Reid May 2008 B2
7400940 McRae et al. Jul 2008 B2
7434584 Steinberg Oct 2008 B2
7458374 Hale et al. Dec 2008 B2
7540286 Cross et al. Jun 2009 B2
7581540 Hale et al. Sep 2009 B2
7581718 Chang Sep 2009 B1
7585493 Hale et al. Sep 2009 B2
7624739 Snaidr et al. Dec 2009 B2
7645442 Hale et al. Jan 2010 B2
7665461 Zierenberg et al. Feb 2010 B2
7726320 Robinson et al. Jun 2010 B2
7767698 Warchol et al. Aug 2010 B2
7832397 Lipowicz Nov 2010 B2
7832410 Hon Nov 2010 B2
7834295 Sharma et al. Nov 2010 B2
7913688 Cross et al. Mar 2011 B2
7987846 Hale et al. Aug 2011 B2
7992554 Radomski et al. Aug 2011 B2
8061361 Maeder et al. Nov 2011 B2
8079371 Robinson et al. Dec 2011 B2
8081474 Zohni et al. Dec 2011 B1
8118021 Cho et al. Feb 2012 B2
8156944 Han Apr 2012 B2
8342184 Inagaki et al. Jan 2013 B2
8365742 Hon Feb 2013 B2
8375957 Hon Feb 2013 B2
8393331 Hon Mar 2013 B2
8402976 Fernando Mar 2013 B2
8430106 Potter et al. Apr 2013 B2
8439046 Peters et al. May 2013 B2
8459271 Inagaki Jun 2013 B2
8490628 Hon Jul 2013 B2
8511318 Hon Aug 2013 B2
8678013 Crooks et al. Mar 2014 B2
8689804 Fernando Apr 2014 B2
8689805 Hon Apr 2014 B2
8701682 Sherwood Apr 2014 B2
8707967 Li Apr 2014 B2
8752545 Buchberger Jun 2014 B2
8757404 Fleckenstein Jun 2014 B1
8807140 Scatterday Aug 2014 B1
8833364 Buchberger Sep 2014 B2
8899238 Robinson et al. Dec 2014 B2
8948578 Buchberger Feb 2015 B2
9060388 Liu Jun 2015 B2
9084440 Zuber Jul 2015 B2
9125437 Kaljura Sep 2015 B2
9302522 Sherwood Apr 2016 B2
9357803 Egoyants et al. Jun 2016 B2
9414619 Sizer et al. Aug 2016 B2
9414629 Egoyants et al. Aug 2016 B2
9439454 Fernando Sep 2016 B2
9554598 Egoyants et al. Jan 2017 B2
9609894 Abramov et al. Apr 2017 B2
9623205 Buchberger Apr 2017 B2
9668516 Sherwood Jun 2017 B2
9693587 Plojoux et al. Jul 2017 B2
9955726 Brinkley May 2018 B2
9980523 Abramov et al. May 2018 B2
9999256 Abramov et al. Jun 2018 B2
10010695 Buchberger Jul 2018 B2
10045562 Buchberger Aug 2018 B2
10130121 Plojoux et al. Nov 2018 B2
10130780 Talon Nov 2018 B2
10524516 Alelov Jan 2020 B2
10588337 Prestia Mar 2020 B2
10881138 Saleem et al. Jan 2021 B2
10881141 Fraser et al. Jan 2021 B2
20010042546 Umeda et al. Nov 2001 A1
20010042927 Rock Nov 2001 A1
20010045424 Cooper Nov 2001 A1
20010054421 Jaser et al. Dec 2001 A1
20020005207 Wrenn et al. Jan 2002 A1
20020016370 Shytle et al. Feb 2002 A1
20020043260 Layer et al. Apr 2002 A1
20020078951 Nichols et al. Jun 2002 A1
20020078955 Nichols et al. Jun 2002 A1
20020078956 Sharpe Jun 2002 A1
20020079309 Cox et al. Jun 2002 A1
20020079377 Nichols Jun 2002 A1
20020089072 Rock Jul 2002 A1
20020121624 Usui Sep 2002 A1
20020170666 Tathgur Nov 2002 A1
20030005620 Ananth et al. Jan 2003 A1
20030007887 Roumpos Jan 2003 A1
20030049025 Neumann et al. Mar 2003 A1
20030052196 Fuchs Mar 2003 A1
20030079309 Vandenbelt et al. May 2003 A1
20030097164 Stapf et al. May 2003 A1
20030101984 Li et al. Jun 2003 A1
20030105192 Li et al. Jun 2003 A1
20030106551 Sprinkel et al. Jun 2003 A1
20030106552 Sprinkel, Jr. et al. Jun 2003 A1
20030108342 Sherwood et al. Jun 2003 A1
20030111637 Li et al. Jun 2003 A1
20030146224 Fujii et al. Aug 2003 A1
20030159702 Lindell et al. Aug 2003 A1
20030200964 Blakley et al. Oct 2003 A1
20030202169 Liu Oct 2003 A1
20030209240 Hale et al. Nov 2003 A1
20030217750 Amirpour et al. Nov 2003 A1
20030226837 Blake et al. Dec 2003 A1
20030230567 Centanni Dec 2003 A1
20040003820 Iannuzzi Jan 2004 A1
20040031485 Rustad et al. Feb 2004 A1
20040031495 Steinberg Feb 2004 A1
20040065314 Layer et al. Apr 2004 A1
20040068222 Brian Apr 2004 A1
20040083755 Kolowich May 2004 A1
20040096204 Gerhardinger May 2004 A1
20040129793 Nguyen et al. Jul 2004 A1
20040149296 Rostami et al. Aug 2004 A1
20040149297 Sharpe Aug 2004 A1
20040149737 Sharpe et al. Aug 2004 A1
20040177849 Del Sep 2004 A1
20040210151 Tsukashima et al. Oct 2004 A1
20040226568 Takeuchi et al. Nov 2004 A1
20040234699 Hale et al. Nov 2004 A1
20040234914 Hale et al. Nov 2004 A1
20040234916 Hale et al. Nov 2004 A1
20040255941 Nichols et al. Dec 2004 A1
20040261782 Furumichi et al. Dec 2004 A1
20050007870 Faraldi et al. Jan 2005 A1
20050016549 Banerjee et al. Jan 2005 A1
20050025213 Parks Feb 2005 A1
20050031798 Tathgur Feb 2005 A1
20050045193 Yang Mar 2005 A1
20050063686 Whittle et al. Mar 2005 A1
20050066735 Beavis et al. Mar 2005 A1
20050079166 Damani et al. Apr 2005 A1
20050098187 Grierson May 2005 A1
20050133029 Nichols et al. Jun 2005 A1
20050145260 Inagaki et al. Jul 2005 A1
20050194013 Wright Sep 2005 A1
20050196345 Diederichs et al. Sep 2005 A1
20050204799 Koch Sep 2005 A1
20050211711 Reid Sep 2005 A1
20050236006 Cowan Oct 2005 A1
20050268911 Cross et al. Dec 2005 A1
20060027233 Zierenberg et al. Feb 2006 A1
20060032501 Hale et al. Feb 2006 A1
20060043067 Kadkhodayan et al. Mar 2006 A1
20060078477 Althouse et al. Apr 2006 A1
20060102175 Nelson May 2006 A1
20060118128 Hoffmann et al. Jun 2006 A1
20060137681 Von et al. Jun 2006 A1
20060191546 Takano et al. Aug 2006 A1
20060196518 Hon Sep 2006 A1
20060196885 Leach et al. Sep 2006 A1
20060255029 Bone Nov 2006 A1
20070014549 Demarest et al. Jan 2007 A1
20070023043 Von et al. Feb 2007 A1
20070028916 Hale et al. Feb 2007 A1
20070031340 Hale et al. Feb 2007 A1
20070045288 Nelson Mar 2007 A1
20070062548 Horstmann et al. Mar 2007 A1
20070074734 Braunshteyn et al. Apr 2007 A1
20070102013 Adams et al. May 2007 A1
20070102533 Rosell et al. May 2007 A1
20070107879 Radomski et al. May 2007 A1
20070125362 Ford et al. Jun 2007 A1
20070131219 Ford et al. Jun 2007 A1
20070138207 Bonney et al. Jun 2007 A1
20070155255 Galauner et al. Jul 2007 A1
20070175476 Lipowicz Aug 2007 A1
20070204858 Abelbeck Sep 2007 A1
20070204864 Grychowski et al. Sep 2007 A1
20070204868 Bollinger et al. Sep 2007 A1
20070222112 Christ et al. Sep 2007 A1
20070235046 Gedevanishvili Oct 2007 A1
20070267407 Loveless Nov 2007 A1
20070279377 Hillis et al. Dec 2007 A1
20070283972 Monsees et al. Dec 2007 A1
20070289720 Sunol et al. Dec 2007 A1
20080027694 Gitman Jan 2008 A1
20080031267 Imao Feb 2008 A1
20080038363 Zaffaroni et al. Feb 2008 A1
20080085139 Roof Apr 2008 A1
20080092912 Robinson et al. Apr 2008 A1
20080149118 Oglesby et al. Jun 2008 A1
20080149622 Weiss et al. Jun 2008 A1
20080156326 Belcastro et al. Jul 2008 A1
20080216828 Wensley et al. Sep 2008 A1
20080233318 Coyle Sep 2008 A1
20080241255 Rose et al. Oct 2008 A1
20080257367 Paterno et al. Oct 2008 A1
20080276947 Martzel Nov 2008 A1
20080302374 Wengert et al. Dec 2008 A1
20080312674 Chen et al. Dec 2008 A1
20090015717 Arnao et al. Jan 2009 A1
20090032034 Steinberg Feb 2009 A1
20090056728 Baker Mar 2009 A1
20090065011 Maeder et al. Mar 2009 A1
20090071477 Hale et al. Mar 2009 A1
20090078711 Farone et al. Mar 2009 A1
20090090349 Donovan Apr 2009 A1
20090090351 Sunol et al. Apr 2009 A1
20090090472 Radomski Apr 2009 A1
20090095287 Emarlou Apr 2009 A1
20090095311 Han Apr 2009 A1
20090107492 Ooida Apr 2009 A1
20090114215 Boeck et al. May 2009 A1
20090126745 Hon May 2009 A1
20090127253 Stark et al. May 2009 A1
20090151717 Bowen et al. Jun 2009 A1
20090162294 Werner Jun 2009 A1
20090180968 Hale et al. Jul 2009 A1
20090188490 Han Jul 2009 A1
20090199843 Farone et al. Aug 2009 A1
20090217923 Boehm et al. Sep 2009 A1
20090230117 Fernando et al. Sep 2009 A1
20090241947 Bedini et al. Oct 2009 A1
20090255923 Buehrer Oct 2009 A1
20090260641 Monsees et al. Oct 2009 A1
20090260642 Monsees et al. Oct 2009 A1
20090272379 Thorens et al. Nov 2009 A1
20090280043 Ferguson Nov 2009 A1
20090293892 Williams et al. Dec 2009 A1
20090301363 Damani et al. Dec 2009 A1
20090301471 Stirzel Dec 2009 A1
20090302019 Selenski et al. Dec 2009 A1
20090304372 Gubler et al. Dec 2009 A1
20100006092 Hale et al. Jan 2010 A1
20100025023 Schmidt et al. Feb 2010 A1
20100031968 Sheikh et al. Feb 2010 A1
20100043809 Magnon Feb 2010 A1
20100059070 Potter et al. Mar 2010 A1
20100065052 Sharma et al. Mar 2010 A1
20100065653 Wingo et al. Mar 2010 A1
20100068154 Sharma et al. Mar 2010 A1
20100083959 Siller Apr 2010 A1
20100089381 Bolmer et al. Apr 2010 A1
20100108059 Axelsson et al. May 2010 A1
20100126516 Yomtov et al. May 2010 A1
20100147299 Row et al. Jun 2010 A1
20100181387 Zaffaroni et al. Jul 2010 A1
20100200006 Robinson et al. Aug 2010 A1
20100236546 Yamada et al. Sep 2010 A1
20100242974 Pan Sep 2010 A1
20100242975 Hearn Sep 2010 A1
20100258585 Jamison Oct 2010 A1
20100268212 Manwaring Oct 2010 A1
20100300467 Kuistila et al. Dec 2010 A1
20100307518 Wang Dec 2010 A1
20100313901 Fernando et al. Dec 2010 A1
20110005535 Xiu Jan 2011 A1
20110011396 Fang Jan 2011 A1
20110030671 Ferguson et al. Feb 2011 A1
20110036363 Urtsev et al. Feb 2011 A1
20110090266 King et al. Apr 2011 A1
20110094523 Thorens et al. Apr 2011 A1
20110120989 Schilling et al. May 2011 A1
20110126848 Zuber Jun 2011 A1
20110155153 Thorens et al. Jun 2011 A1
20110155718 Greim et al. Jun 2011 A1
20110192408 Inagaki et al. Aug 2011 A1
20110192914 Ishigami Aug 2011 A1
20110226236 Buchberger Sep 2011 A1
20110240022 Hodges Oct 2011 A1
20110264084 Reid Oct 2011 A1
20110277757 Terry et al. Nov 2011 A1
20110283458 Gillette et al. Nov 2011 A1
20110290266 Koeller Dec 2011 A1
20110290267 Yamada et al. Dec 2011 A1
20110297166 Takeuchi et al. Dec 2011 A1
20110303230 Thiry Dec 2011 A1
20110303231 Li et al. Dec 2011 A1
20120006342 Rose et al. Jan 2012 A1
20120006343 Renaud et al. Jan 2012 A1
20120132196 Vladyslavovych May 2012 A1
20120145169 Wu Jun 2012 A1
20120145189 Knopow et al. Jun 2012 A1
20120234315 Li Sep 2012 A1
20120234821 Shimizu Sep 2012 A1
20120255546 Goetz et al. Oct 2012 A1
20120260927 Liu Oct 2012 A1
20120285476 Hon Nov 2012 A1
20130042865 Monsees et al. Feb 2013 A1
20130061861 Hearn Mar 2013 A1
20130074857 Buchberger Mar 2013 A1
20130081623 Buchberger Apr 2013 A1
20130087160 Gherghe Apr 2013 A1
20130133675 Shinozaki May 2013 A1
20130142782 Rahmel et al. Jun 2013 A1
20130152922 Benassayag Jun 2013 A1
20130192615 Tucker et al. Aug 2013 A1
20130213419 Tucker et al. Aug 2013 A1
20130284192 Peleg et al. Oct 2013 A1
20130306084 Flick Nov 2013 A1
20130333700 Buchberger Dec 2013 A1
20130340779 Liu Dec 2013 A1
20140000638 Sebastian et al. Jan 2014 A1
20140060528 Liu Mar 2014 A1
20140060554 Collett et al. Mar 2014 A1
20140060555 Chang et al. Mar 2014 A1
20140096781 Sears et al. Apr 2014 A1
20140182608 Egoyants et al. Jul 2014 A1
20140182843 Vinegar Jul 2014 A1
20140196716 Liu Jul 2014 A1
20140202454 Buchberger Jul 2014 A1
20140202476 Egoyants et al. Jul 2014 A1
20140209105 Sears et al. Jul 2014 A1
20140216482 Dotan Aug 2014 A1
20140216485 Egoyants et al. Aug 2014 A1
20140238396 Buchberger Aug 2014 A1
20140238423 Tucker et al. Aug 2014 A1
20140238424 Macko et al. Aug 2014 A1
20140238737 Backman Aug 2014 A1
20140261490 Kane Sep 2014 A1
20140270726 Egoyants et al. Sep 2014 A1
20140270730 DePiano et al. Sep 2014 A1
20140283825 Buchberger Sep 2014 A1
20140286630 Buchberger Sep 2014 A1
20140299125 Buchberger Oct 2014 A1
20140305449 Plojoux et al. Oct 2014 A1
20140326257 Jalloul et al. Nov 2014 A1
20140334802 Dubief Nov 2014 A1
20140338680 Abramov et al. Nov 2014 A1
20140360515 Vasiliev et al. Dec 2014 A1
20150020825 Galloway et al. Jan 2015 A1
20150040925 Saleem et al. Feb 2015 A1
20150114406 Newton Apr 2015 A1
20150114411 Buchberger Apr 2015 A1
20150142088 Riva Godoy May 2015 A1
20150157055 Lord Jun 2015 A1
20150157756 Duffield et al. Jun 2015 A1
20150196058 Lord Jul 2015 A1
20150208728 Lord Jul 2015 A1
20150223292 Duffield et al. Aug 2015 A1
20150223520 Phillips et al. Aug 2015 A1
20150245669 Cadieux et al. Sep 2015 A1
20150272219 Hatrick et al. Oct 2015 A1
20150282256 Iguro Oct 2015 A1
20150302971 Wagman et al. Oct 2015 A1
20150320116 Bleloch et al. Nov 2015 A1
20160003403 Smith Jan 2016 A1
20160036222 Templeton Feb 2016 A1
20160044963 Saleem Feb 2016 A1
20160073693 Reevell Mar 2016 A1
20160088685 Henke et al. Mar 2016 A1
20160106154 Lord Apr 2016 A1
20160106155 Reevell Apr 2016 A1
20160146506 Brereton et al. May 2016 A1
20160150825 Mironov Jun 2016 A1
20160150828 Goldstein et al. Jun 2016 A1
20160168438 Harding et al. Jun 2016 A1
20160248280 Ben-Shalom et al. Aug 2016 A1
20160255879 Paprocki et al. Sep 2016 A1
20160295921 Mironov et al. Oct 2016 A1
20170006916 Liu Jan 2017 A1
20170042245 Buchberger et al. Feb 2017 A1
20170055574 Kaufman et al. Mar 2017 A1
20170055575 Wilke Mar 2017 A1
20170055580 Blandino Mar 2017 A1
20170055581 Wilke Mar 2017 A1
20170055582 Blandino Mar 2017 A1
20170055583 Blandino Mar 2017 A1
20170055584 Blandino et al. Mar 2017 A1
20170071250 Mironov Mar 2017 A1
20170079325 Mironov Mar 2017 A1
20170086508 Mironov Mar 2017 A1
20170095006 Egoyants et al. Apr 2017 A1
20170119046 Kaufman May 2017 A1
20170119047 Blandino May 2017 A1
20170119048 Kaufman May 2017 A1
20170119049 Blandino May 2017 A1
20170119050 Blandino May 2017 A1
20170119051 Blandino et al. May 2017 A1
20170119054 Zinovik et al. May 2017 A1
20170156403 Gill et al. Jun 2017 A1
20170156406 Abramov et al. Jun 2017 A1
20170156407 Abramov et al. Jun 2017 A1
20170197043 Buchberger Jul 2017 A1
20170197044 Buchberger Jul 2017 A1
20170197046 Buchberger Jul 2017 A1
20170197048 Khosrowshahi et al. Jul 2017 A1
20170197049 Doll Jul 2017 A1
20170197050 Reinburg et al. Jul 2017 A1
20170231281 Hatton et al. Aug 2017 A1
20170303585 Florack et al. Oct 2017 A1
20170332700 Plews et al. Nov 2017 A1
20170340008 Sebastian et al. Nov 2017 A1
20180184713 Mironov Jul 2018 A1
20180192700 Fraser Jul 2018 A1
20180214645 Reevell Aug 2018 A1
20180235279 Wilke Aug 2018 A1
20180242633 Wilke Aug 2018 A1
20180242636 Blandino Aug 2018 A1
20180249760 Kaufman Sep 2018 A1
20180271171 Abramov et al. Sep 2018 A1
20180279677 Blandino Oct 2018 A1
20180317552 Kaufman Nov 2018 A1
20180317553 Blandino Nov 2018 A1
20180317554 Kaufman Nov 2018 A1
20180317555 Blandino Nov 2018 A1
20180325173 Blandino Nov 2018 A1
20190000142 Lavanchy et al. Jan 2019 A1
20190014820 Malgat Jan 2019 A1
20190082738 Blandino Mar 2019 A1
20190191780 Wilke Jun 2019 A1
20190230988 Aoun Aug 2019 A1
20190239555 Nicholson Aug 2019 A1
20190313695 Kaufman Oct 2019 A1
20190364973 Kaufman Dec 2019 A1
20200054068 Blandino Feb 2020 A1
20200054069 Blandino Feb 2020 A1
20200229497 Aoun Jul 2020 A1
20200268053 Thorsen Aug 2020 A1
20200288774 Blandino Sep 2020 A1
20200352237 Kaufman Nov 2020 A1
20210093008 White et al. Apr 2021 A1
20210093012 White et al. Apr 2021 A1
20210137167 Aoun May 2021 A1
20210186109 Milligan et al. Jun 2021 A1
Foreign Referenced Citations (791)
Number Date Country
262137 May 1968 AT
306224 Mar 1973 AT
321190 Mar 1975 AT
321191 Mar 1975 AT
507187 Mar 2010 AT
508244 Dec 2010 AT
510405 Apr 2012 AT
510504 Apr 2012 AT
6393173 Jun 1975 AU
2002364521 Jun 2003 AU
2018241908 Sep 2020 AU
2020281092 Jan 2021 AU
2160990 Oct 1994 CA
2146954 Oct 1996 CA
2309376 Nov 2000 CA
2414161 Jan 2002 CA
2414191 Jan 2002 CA
2520759 Oct 2004 CA
2492255 Jul 2006 CA
2668465 Dec 2009 CA
2712412 Dec 2009 CA
2641869 May 2010 CA
2862048 Jul 2013 CA
2923377 Jun 2015 CA
2989375 Jan 2017 CA
513656 Oct 1971 CH
698603 Sep 2009 CH
199400288 Aug 1995 CL
2007002226 Feb 2008 CL
2013003637 Jul 2014 CL
2014002840 Dec 2014 CL
2017003408 Jun 2018 CL
86102917 Nov 1987 CN
1038085 Dec 1989 CN
1040914 Apr 1990 CN
1043076 Jun 1990 CN
1045691 Oct 1990 CN
2092880 Jan 1992 CN
1059649 Mar 1992 CN
2144261 Oct 1993 CN
1106812 Aug 1995 CN
2220168 Feb 1996 CN
1121385 Apr 1996 CN
1122213 May 1996 CN
1123000 May 1996 CN
1123001 May 1996 CN
1126426 Jul 1996 CN
2246744 Feb 1997 CN
1158757 Sep 1997 CN
1161635 Oct 1997 CN
1195270 Oct 1998 CN
1196660 Oct 1998 CN
1196661 Oct 1998 CN
1205849 Jan 1999 CN
1209731 Mar 1999 CN
1287890 Mar 2001 CN
1293591 May 2001 CN
1293596 May 2001 CN
1312730 Sep 2001 CN
1106812 Apr 2003 CN
1130109 Dec 2003 CN
1130137 Dec 2003 CN
2598364 Jan 2004 CN
1495417 May 2004 CN
1151739 Jun 2004 CN
1545823 Nov 2004 CN
1575135 Feb 2005 CN
1578895 Feb 2005 CN
1641976 Jul 2005 CN
2719043 Aug 2005 CN
1679419 Oct 2005 CN
1694765 Nov 2005 CN
1703279 Nov 2005 CN
200966824 Oct 2007 CN
101084034 Dec 2007 CN
201076006 Jun 2008 CN
101238047 Aug 2008 CN
101267749 Sep 2008 CN
101277622 Oct 2008 CN
101282660 Oct 2008 CN
201185656 Jan 2009 CN
101390659 Mar 2009 CN
201199922 Mar 2009 CN
201238609 May 2009 CN
101500443 Aug 2009 CN
101516425 Aug 2009 CN
101557728 Oct 2009 CN
201375023 Jan 2010 CN
101648041 Feb 2010 CN
201445686 May 2010 CN
101878958 Nov 2010 CN
101912654 Dec 2010 CN
101925309 Dec 2010 CN
102014677 Apr 2011 CN
201869778 Jun 2011 CN
102131411 Jul 2011 CN
102186271 Sep 2011 CN
102212340 Oct 2011 CN
202172846 Mar 2012 CN
102483237 May 2012 CN
102499466 Jun 2012 CN
102539005 Jul 2012 CN
102575954 Jul 2012 CN
102604599 Jul 2012 CN
202351223 Jul 2012 CN
102655773 Sep 2012 CN
202722498 Feb 2013 CN
202750708 Feb 2013 CN
103052380 Apr 2013 CN
103054196 Apr 2013 CN
103202540 Jul 2013 CN
103359550 Oct 2013 CN
203369386 Jan 2014 CN
103608619 Feb 2014 CN
103689812 Apr 2014 CN
103689815 Apr 2014 CN
103763954 Apr 2014 CN
103974640 Aug 2014 CN
103997922 Aug 2014 CN
104010531 Aug 2014 CN
203748673 Aug 2014 CN
203761188 Aug 2014 CN
203762288 Aug 2014 CN
104039183 Sep 2014 CN
104095291 Oct 2014 CN
104095293 Oct 2014 CN
104095295 Oct 2014 CN
203952405 Nov 2014 CN
104203016 Dec 2014 CN
104223359 Dec 2014 CN
203986095 Dec 2014 CN
104256899 Jan 2015 CN
204091003 Jan 2015 CN
104540406 Apr 2015 CN
104619202 May 2015 CN
104664608 Jun 2015 CN
104677116 Jun 2015 CN
104703308 Jun 2015 CN
104720121 Jun 2015 CN
204440191 Jul 2015 CN
204519365 Aug 2015 CN
204539505 Aug 2015 CN
204599333 Sep 2015 CN
204949521 Jan 2016 CN
105307524 Feb 2016 CN
105307525 Feb 2016 CN
106102863 Nov 2016 CN
106455712 Feb 2017 CN
106617325 May 2017 CN
109330030 Feb 2019 CN
360431 Oct 1922 DE
1100884 Mar 1961 DE
1425872 Nov 1968 DE
1290499 Mar 1969 DE
1813993 Jun 1970 DE
1425871 Oct 1970 DE
1950439 Apr 1971 DE
2315789 Oct 1973 DE
3148335 Jul 1983 DE
3218760 Dec 1983 DE
3936687 May 1990 DE
4105370 Aug 1992 DE
4307144 Jan 1995 DE
4343578 Jun 1995 DE
29509286 Aug 1995 DE
4420366 Dec 1995 DE
29700307 Apr 1997 DE
29713866 Oct 1997 DE
29719509 Jan 1998 DE
19630619 Feb 1998 DE
19654945 Mar 1998 DE
19854007 May 2000 DE
19854009 May 2000 DE
10058642 Jun 2001 DE
10007521 Aug 2001 DE
10064288 Aug 2001 DE
10164587 Jul 2003 DE
10330681 Jun 2004 DE
102005024803 Jun 2006 DE
202006013439 Oct 2006 DE
102005023278 Nov 2006 DE
102005056885 May 2007 DE
102006041544 Aug 2007 DE
102006041042 Mar 2008 DE
102006047146 Apr 2008 DE
102007011120 Sep 2008 DE
102008034509 Apr 2009 DE
102008013303 Sep 2009 DE
202009010400 Nov 2009 DE
102008038121 Feb 2010 DE
202010011436 Nov 2010 DE
102009047185 Jun 2011 DE
102010046482 Mar 2012 DE
202013100606 Feb 2013 DE
102013002555 Jun 2014 DE
114399 Jun 1969 DK
488488 Mar 1989 DK
0540774 Jul 1995 DK
0540775 Aug 1997 DK
0033668 Aug 1981 EP
0076897 Apr 1983 EP
0033668 Jun 1983 EP
0149997 Jul 1985 EP
0194257 Sep 1986 EP
0280262 Aug 1988 EP
0295122 Dec 1988 EP
0309227 Mar 1989 EP
0358002 Mar 1990 EP
0358114 Mar 1990 EP
0371285 Jun 1990 EP
0418464 Mar 1991 EP
0430559 Jun 1991 EP
0430566 Jun 1991 EP
0438862 Jul 1991 EP
0444553 Sep 1991 EP
0488488 Jun 1992 EP
0491952 Jul 1992 EP
0503767 Sep 1992 EP
0503794 Sep 1992 EP
0520231 Dec 1992 EP
0603613 Jun 1994 EP
0430559 Mar 1995 EP
0703735 Apr 1996 EP
0354661 Apr 1997 EP
0540775 Jul 1997 EP
0823492 Feb 1998 EP
0824927 Feb 1998 EP
0845220 Jun 1998 EP
0857431 Aug 1998 EP
0653218 Sep 1998 EP
0884928 Dec 1998 EP
0893071 Jan 1999 EP
1064083 Jan 2001 EP
1064101 Jan 2001 EP
1076014 Feb 2001 EP
1111191 Jun 2001 EP
0703735 Jul 2001 EP
1128741 Sep 2001 EP
1128742 Sep 2001 EP
1128743 Sep 2001 EP
1148905 Oct 2001 EP
1166814 Jan 2002 EP
1166847 Jan 2002 EP
1203189 May 2002 EP
1217320 Jun 2002 EP
1298993 Apr 2003 EP
1299499 Apr 2003 EP
1299500 Apr 2003 EP
1301152 Apr 2003 EP
0845220 Sep 2003 EP
1349601 Oct 2003 EP
1357025 Oct 2003 EP
1390112 Feb 2004 EP
1409051 Apr 2004 EP
1439876 Jul 2004 EP
1454840 Sep 2004 EP
1490452 Dec 2004 EP
1506792 Feb 2005 EP
1609376 Dec 2005 EP
1618803 Jan 2006 EP
1625334 Feb 2006 EP
1625335 Feb 2006 EP
1625336 Feb 2006 EP
1454840 Sep 2006 EP
1536703 Sep 2006 EP
1702639 Sep 2006 EP
1736065 Dec 2006 EP
1749548 Feb 2007 EP
1757921 Feb 2007 EP
1867357 Dec 2007 EP
1891867 Feb 2008 EP
1940254 Jul 2008 EP
1996880 Dec 2008 EP
2011033 Jan 2009 EP
2018886 Jan 2009 EP
2022349 Feb 2009 EP
2044967 Apr 2009 EP
1357025 Jul 2009 EP
2083642 Aug 2009 EP
2110033 Oct 2009 EP
2110034 Oct 2009 EP
2113178 Nov 2009 EP
2138058 Dec 2009 EP
2138059 Dec 2009 EP
1947965 Feb 2010 EP
2179229 Apr 2010 EP
2191735 Jun 2010 EP
2227973 Sep 2010 EP
2234508 Oct 2010 EP
2241203 Oct 2010 EP
2138057 Nov 2010 EP
2246086 Nov 2010 EP
2249669 Nov 2010 EP
2253541 Nov 2010 EP
2257195 Dec 2010 EP
2277398 Jan 2011 EP
2303043 Apr 2011 EP
2316286 May 2011 EP
2327318 Jun 2011 EP
2330866 Jun 2011 EP
2340729 Jul 2011 EP
2340730 Jul 2011 EP
2368449 Sep 2011 EP
2003997 Oct 2011 EP
2394520 Dec 2011 EP
2408494 Jan 2012 EP
2444112 Apr 2012 EP
2253541 May 2012 EP
2472185 Jul 2012 EP
2512205 Oct 2012 EP
2520186 Nov 2012 EP
2523752 Nov 2012 EP
2542131 Jan 2013 EP
2645814 Oct 2013 EP
2696652 Feb 2014 EP
2698070 Feb 2014 EP
2760303 Aug 2014 EP
2762019 Aug 2014 EP
2785208 Oct 2014 EP
2835062 Feb 2015 EP
2907397 Aug 2015 EP
2967156 Jan 2016 EP
2975958 Jan 2016 EP
2996504 Mar 2016 EP
2967156 Nov 2016 EP
2996504 Nov 2016 EP
3337342 Jun 2018 EP
3367828 Sep 2018 EP
262308 Jun 1982 ES
718708 Jan 1932 FR
960469 Apr 1950 FR
1418189 Nov 1965 FR
2573985 Jun 1986 FR
2604093 Mar 1988 FR
2700697 Jul 1994 FR
2730166 Aug 1996 FR
2818152 Jun 2002 FR
2842791 Apr 2005 FR
2873584 Nov 2006 FR
25575 Mar 1912 GB
191126138 Mar 1912 GB
347650 Apr 1931 GB
353745 Jul 1931 GB
426247 Mar 1935 GB
910166 Nov 1962 GB
922310 Mar 1963 GB
958867 May 1964 GB
1104214 Feb 1968 GB
1227333 Apr 1971 GB
1313525 Apr 1973 GB
1379688 Jan 1975 GB
1431334 Apr 1976 GB
2294401 May 1996 GB
2323033 Sep 1998 GB
2342874 Apr 2000 GB
2388040 Nov 2003 GB
2412326 Sep 2005 GB
2412876 Oct 2005 GB
2448478 Oct 2008 GB
2487851 Aug 2012 GB
2495923 May 2013 GB
2504732 Feb 2014 GB
1196511 Dec 2014 HK
1226611 Oct 2017 HK
63083 Mar 1995 IE
1289590 Oct 1998 IT
RM20120193 Aug 2012 IT
S4961986 Jun 1974 JP
S5096908 Aug 1975 JP
S5314173 Feb 1978 JP
S5594260 Jul 1980 JP
S5752456 Mar 1982 JP
S57110260 Jul 1982 JP
S57177769 Nov 1982 JP
S59106340 Jun 1984 JP
S6196763 May 1986 JP
S6196765 May 1986 JP
S62501050 Apr 1987 JP
S62205184 Sep 1987 JP
S6360322 Mar 1988 JP
S63153666 Jun 1988 JP
H01191674 Aug 1989 JP
H01166953 Nov 1989 JP
H0292986 Apr 1990 JP
H0292988 Apr 1990 JP
H02124081 May 1990 JP
H02127493 May 1990 JP
H02190171 Jul 1990 JP
H034479 Jan 1991 JP
H0341185 Feb 1991 JP
H03112478 May 1991 JP
H03192677 Aug 1991 JP
H03232481 Oct 1991 JP
H05103836 Apr 1993 JP
H05115272 May 1993 JP
H05193668 Aug 1993 JP
H05212100 Aug 1993 JP
H05309136 Nov 1993 JP
H062164 Jan 1994 JP
H06189861 Jul 1994 JP
H06295782 Oct 1994 JP
H06315366 Nov 1994 JP
H07147965 Jun 1995 JP
H0851175 Feb 1996 JP
H08942 Jun 1996 JP
2519658 Jul 1996 JP
H08228751 Sep 1996 JP
H 8-511175 Nov 1996 JP
H08299862 Nov 1996 JP
H08511176 Nov 1996 JP
H09107943 Apr 1997 JP
H09257256 Sep 1997 JP
3044574 Dec 1997 JP
3053426 Oct 1998 JP
H 11-503912 Apr 1999 JP
H1189551 Apr 1999 JP
H11125390 May 1999 JP
H11169157 Jun 1999 JP
H11507234 Jun 1999 JP
H11178562 Jul 1999 JP
H11514081 Nov 1999 JP
2000051556 Feb 2000 JP
3016586 Mar 2000 JP
20000082576 Mar 2000 JP
2000093155 Apr 2000 JP
2000119643 Apr 2000 JP
3078033 Aug 2000 JP
2000515576 Nov 2000 JP
3118462 Dec 2000 JP
3118463 Dec 2000 JP
2001063776 Mar 2001 JP
2002-170657 Jun 2002 JP
2002527153 Aug 2002 JP
2002253593 Sep 2002 JP
2002529111 Sep 2002 JP
2002336290 Nov 2002 JP
2003034785 Feb 2003 JP
3392138 Mar 2003 JP
3413208 Jun 2003 JP
2004055547 Feb 2004 JP
2004504580 Feb 2004 JP
3588469 Nov 2004 JP
2004332069 Nov 2004 JP
2005036897 Feb 2005 JP
2005050624 Feb 2005 JP
2005106350 Apr 2005 JP
2005516647 Jun 2005 JP
2005524067 Aug 2005 JP
2005300005 Oct 2005 JP
2005537918 Dec 2005 JP
2005537919 Dec 2005 JP
2005538149 Dec 2005 JP
2005538159 Dec 2005 JP
2006501871 Jan 2006 JP
2006504431 Feb 2006 JP
2006219557 Aug 2006 JP
2006-524494 Nov 2006 JP
2007057532 Mar 2007 JP
2007512880 May 2007 JP
2007516015 Jun 2007 JP
2007522900 Aug 2007 JP
2008035742 Feb 2008 JP
2008509907 Apr 2008 JP
2008511175 Apr 2008 JP
2008518614 Jun 2008 JP
2008249003 Oct 2008 JP
2008311058 Dec 2008 JP
2009501537 Jan 2009 JP
2009509523 Mar 2009 JP
2009087703 Apr 2009 JP
2009537119 Oct 2009 JP
2009537120 Oct 2009 JP
2010041354 Feb 2010 JP
2010506594 Mar 2010 JP
2010178730 Aug 2010 JP
2010526553 Aug 2010 JP
2010213579 Sep 2010 JP
2010535530 Nov 2010 JP
2011058538 Mar 2011 JP
2011509667 Mar 2011 JP
2011515080 May 2011 JP
2011515093 May 2011 JP
2011113977 Jun 2011 JP
2011518567 Jun 2011 JP
2011135901 Jul 2011 JP
2011525366 Sep 2011 JP
2012506263 Mar 2012 JP
2012529936 Nov 2012 JP
2012249854 Dec 2012 JP
2013054873 Mar 2013 JP
2013073939 Apr 2013 JP
5193668 May 2013 JP
5217980 Jun 2013 JP
2013150593 Aug 2013 JP
2014519586 Aug 2014 JP
2014525251 Sep 2014 JP
2014-526275 Oct 2014 JP
2014527606 Oct 2014 JP
2014229498 Dec 2014 JP
2014533513 Dec 2014 JP
2015503336 Feb 2015 JP
2015503337 Feb 2015 JP
2015504667 Feb 2015 JP
2015060837 Mar 2015 JP
2015506170 Mar 2015 JP
2015508287 Mar 2015 JP
2015-509706 Apr 2015 JP
2015098645 May 2015 JP
2015513922 May 2015 JP
2015513970 May 2015 JP
2015531601 Nov 2015 JP
2016036222 Mar 2016 JP
2016524777 Aug 2016 JP
2016525341 Aug 2016 JP
2016189525 Nov 2016 JP
2017515490 Jun 2017 JP
2017520234 Jul 2017 JP
2017526381 Sep 2017 JP
6217980 Oct 2017 JP
2017533732 Nov 2017 JP
2018520664 Aug 2018 JP
2019065344 Apr 2019 JP
2020182327 Nov 2020 JP
2021508438 Mar 2021 JP
2021078359 May 2021 JP
950700692 Feb 1995 KR
960702734 May 1996 KR
0178388 Feb 1999 KR
19990081973 Nov 1999 KR
100286488 Apr 2001 KR
100385395 Aug 2003 KR
100393327 Oct 2003 KR
200350504 May 2004 KR
20040068292 Jul 2004 KR
200370872 Dec 2004 KR
100636287 Oct 2006 KR
20070038350 Apr 2007 KR
100757450 Sep 2007 KR
20070096027 Oct 2007 KR
20080060218 Jul 2008 KR
100971178 Jul 2010 KR
20100135865 Dec 2010 KR
20120003484 May 2012 KR
20120104533 Sep 2012 KR
20130029697 Mar 2013 KR
20130006714 Nov 2013 KR
20140068808 Jun 2014 KR
20140123487 Oct 2014 KR
20150143877 Dec 2015 KR
20150143891 Dec 2015 KR
2009001096 Mar 2009 MX
2014011283 Oct 2014 MX
2066337 Sep 1996 RU
2098446 Dec 1997 RU
2135054 Aug 1999 RU
2285028 Oct 2006 RU
2311859 Dec 2007 RU
2336001 Oct 2008 RU
2349234 Mar 2009 RU
89927 Dec 2009 RU
94815 Jun 2010 RU
103281 Apr 2011 RU
115629 May 2012 RU
122000 Nov 2012 RU
122254 Nov 2012 RU
124120 Jan 2013 RU
132318 Sep 2013 RU
2509516 Mar 2014 RU
2015105675 Aug 2015 RU
2013155697 Oct 2015 RU
2614615 Mar 2017 RU
2016150117 Jun 2018 RU
2687811 May 2019 RU
7415242 Jun 1975 SE
502503 Oct 2006 SE
274507 Apr 1996 TW
201325481 Jul 2013 TW
WO-8404698 Dec 1984 WO
WO-8601730 Mar 1986 WO
8602528 May 1986 WO
WO-9013326 Nov 1990 WO
9406314 Mar 1994 WO
WO-9409842 May 1994 WO
9418860 Sep 1994 WO
WO-9527411 Oct 1995 WO
9632854 Oct 1996 WO
WO-9639880 Dec 1996 WO
9748293 Dec 1997 WO
WO-9805906 Feb 1998 WO
9817131 Apr 1998 WO
WO-9823171 Jun 1998 WO
WO-9835552 Aug 1998 WO
WO-9914402 Mar 1999 WO
WO-9947273 Sep 1999 WO
WO-9947806 Sep 1999 WO
0009188 Feb 2000 WO
0021598 Apr 2000 WO
0028842 May 2000 WO
WO-0028843 May 2000 WO
0045878 Aug 2000 WO
0050111 Aug 2000 WO
WO-0104548 Jan 2001 WO
WO-0140717 Jun 2001 WO
WO-0163183 Aug 2001 WO
0167819 Sep 2001 WO
WO-0205620 Jan 2002 WO
WO-0205640 Jan 2002 WO
WO-0206421 Jan 2002 WO
WO-0207656 Jan 2002 WO
WO-0224262 Mar 2002 WO
02051468 Jul 2002 WO
WO-02051466 Jul 2002 WO
02058747 Aug 2002 WO
WO-02096532 Dec 2002 WO
WO-02098389 Dec 2002 WO
03012565 Feb 2003 WO
03028409 Apr 2003 WO
WO-03037412 May 2003 WO
03050405 Jun 2003 WO
WO-03049792 Jun 2003 WO
03056948 Jul 2003 WO
03059413 Jul 2003 WO
03070031 Aug 2003 WO
03083283 Oct 2003 WO
WO-03083007 Oct 2003 WO
03101454 Dec 2003 WO
03103387 Dec 2003 WO
2004022128 Mar 2004 WO
2004022242 Mar 2004 WO
2004022243 Mar 2004 WO
2004089126 Oct 2004 WO
WO-2004098324 Nov 2004 WO
WO-2004104491 Dec 2004 WO
WO-2004104492 Dec 2004 WO
WO-2004104493 Dec 2004 WO
2005106350 Nov 2005 WO
WO-2006022714 Mar 2006 WO
2006082571 Aug 2006 WO
2007012007 Jan 2007 WO
2007017482 Feb 2007 WO
2007040941 Apr 2007 WO
WO-2007042941 Apr 2007 WO
WO-2007051163 May 2007 WO
WO-2007054167 May 2007 WO
WO-2007078273 Jul 2007 WO
WO-2007090594 Aug 2007 WO
WO-2007098337 Aug 2007 WO
2007109811 Sep 2007 WO
2007113617 Oct 2007 WO
WO-2007116915 Oct 2007 WO
2007131449 Nov 2007 WO
2007131450 Nov 2007 WO
2007141668 Dec 2007 WO
WO-2008015441 Feb 2008 WO
WO-2008029381 Mar 2008 WO
2008038144 Apr 2008 WO
WO-2008051909 May 2008 WO
WO-2008069883 Jun 2008 WO
2008108889 Sep 2008 WO
2008121610 Oct 2008 WO
2009001082 Dec 2008 WO
WO-2008151777 Dec 2008 WO
WO-2009006521 Jan 2009 WO
2009015410 Feb 2009 WO
2009022232 Feb 2009 WO
WO-2009042955 Apr 2009 WO
WO-2009079641 Jun 2009 WO
WO-2009092862 Jul 2009 WO
WO-2009118085 Oct 2009 WO
2009132793 Nov 2009 WO
WO-2009152651 Dec 2009 WO
WO-2009155957 Dec 2009 WO
WO-2009156181 Dec 2009 WO
WO-2010017586 Feb 2010 WO
2010045670 Apr 2010 WO
2010045671 Apr 2010 WO
WO-2010041354 Apr 2010 WO
WO-2010047389 Apr 2010 WO
WO-2010053467 May 2010 WO
WO-2010060537 Jun 2010 WO
2010073018 Jul 2010 WO
2010102832 Sep 2010 WO
WO-2010107613 Sep 2010 WO
2010118644 Oct 2010 WO
2010133342 Nov 2010 WO
2011045609 Apr 2011 WO
2011050943 May 2011 WO
2011050964 May 2011 WO
2011063970 Jun 2011 WO
2011068020 Jun 2011 WO
2011070785 Jun 2011 WO
2011079932 Jul 2011 WO
WO-2011088132 Jul 2011 WO
WO-2011101164 Aug 2011 WO
2011109849 Sep 2011 WO
WO-2011109304 Sep 2011 WO
WO-2011117580 Sep 2011 WO
2012014490 Feb 2012 WO
2012025496 Mar 2012 WO
WO-2012054973 May 2012 WO
WO 2012072770 Jun 2012 WO
WO-2012072790 Jun 2012 WO
WO-2012078865 Jun 2012 WO
WO-2012100430 Aug 2012 WO
2013022936 Feb 2013 WO
2013034453 Mar 2013 WO
2013034454 Mar 2013 WO
2013034459 Mar 2013 WO
2013034460 Mar 2013 WO
WO-2013034455 Mar 2013 WO
WO-2013034458 Mar 2013 WO
2013057185 Apr 2013 WO
WO-2013076098 May 2013 WO
2013082173 Jun 2013 WO
WO-2013098395 Jul 2013 WO
WO-2013098405 Jul 2013 WO
WO-2013098409 Jul 2013 WO
WO-2013098410 Jul 2013 WO
WO-2013102609 Jul 2013 WO
2013113612 Aug 2013 WO
2013116558 Aug 2013 WO
2013116572 Aug 2013 WO
2013131764 Sep 2013 WO
2013152873 Oct 2013 WO
2013160112 Oct 2013 WO
2013178767 Dec 2013 WO
2014012906 Jan 2014 WO
2014037794 Mar 2014 WO
2014045025 Mar 2014 WO
2014061477 Apr 2014 WO
WO-2014048475 Apr 2014 WO
WO-2014048745 Apr 2014 WO
WO 2015068936 May 2014 WO
2014130695 Aug 2014 WO
2014140320 Sep 2014 WO
2014150131 Sep 2014 WO
WO-2014147114 Sep 2014 WO
2014201432 Dec 2014 WO
2015022321 Feb 2015 WO
2015052192 Apr 2015 WO
WO 2015051646 Apr 2015 WO
2015082649 Jun 2015 WO
WO-2015082648 Jun 2015 WO
WO-2015082651 Jun 2015 WO
WO-2015082652 Jun 2015 WO
2015114328 Aug 2015 WO
2015140312 Sep 2015 WO
WO-2015131058 Sep 2015 WO
2015165812 Nov 2015 WO
2015175568 Nov 2015 WO
2015177043 Nov 2015 WO
2015177252 Nov 2015 WO
2015177254 Nov 2015 WO
2015177256 Nov 2015 WO
2015177257 Nov 2015 WO
WO 2015177265 Nov 2015 WO
WO-2015177044 Nov 2015 WO
WO-2015177045 Nov 2015 WO
WO-2015177255 Nov 2015 WO
WO-2015177263 Nov 2015 WO
WO-2015177264 Nov 2015 WO
WO-2015177294 Nov 2015 WO
WO-2015198015 Dec 2015 WO
WO-2016014652 Jan 2016 WO
WO-2016075436 May 2016 WO
WO-2016156500 Oct 2016 WO
WO-2016184928 Nov 2016 WO
WO-2016184929 Nov 2016 WO
WO-2016184930 Nov 2016 WO
WO-2016200815 Dec 2016 WO
WO2017001819 Jan 2017 WO
WO-2017005705 Jan 2017 WO
WO-2017029268 Feb 2017 WO
WO-2017029269 Feb 2017 WO
WO-2017029270 Feb 2017 WO
WO-2017036950 Mar 2017 WO
WO-2017036955 Mar 2017 WO
WO-2017036959 Mar 2017 WO
WO-2017068094 Apr 2017 WO
WO-2017068098 Apr 2017 WO
WO-2017068099 Apr 2017 WO
2017072145 May 2017 WO
2017085242 May 2017 WO
2017149093 Sep 2017 WO
2017194769 Nov 2017 WO
2017205692 Nov 2017 WO
WO-2017207581 Dec 2017 WO
WO-2018002083 Jan 2018 WO
2018073376 Apr 2018 WO
WO-2018178095 Oct 2018 WO
2020047417 Mar 2020 WO
Non-Patent Literature Citations (387)
Entry
Application and File History for U.S. Appl. No. 14/840,652, filed Aug. 31, 2015, inventors Blandino et al.
Application and File History for U.S. Appl. No. 14/840,703, filed Aug. 31, 2015, inventors Wilke et al.
Application and File History for U.S. Appl. No. 14/840,731, filed Aug. 31, 2015, inventors Blandino et al.
Application and File History for U.S. Appl. No. 14/840,751, filed Aug. 31, 2015, inventors Blandino et al.
Application and File History for U.S. Appl. No. 14/840,854, filed Aug. 31, 2015, inventors Blandino et al.
Application and File History for U.S. Appl. No. 14/840,972, filed Aug. 31, 2015, inventors Wilke et al.
Application and File History for U.S. Appl. No. 14/927,529, filed Oct. 30, 2015, inventors Kaufman et al.
Application and File History for U.S. Appl. No. 14/927,532, filed Oct. 30, 2015, inventors Blandino et al.
Application and File History for U.S. Appl. No. 14/927,537, filed Oct. 30, 2015, inventors Kaufman et al.
Application and File History for U.S. Appl. No. 14/927,539, filed Oct. 30, 2015, inventors Blandino et al.
Application and File History for U.S. Appl. No. 14/927,551, filed Oct. 30, 2015, inventors Blandino et al.
Application and File History for U.S. Appl. No. 14/927,556, filed Oct. 30, 2015, inventors Blandino et al.
Chaplin M., “Hydrocolloids and Gums,” retrieved from http://www1.lsbu.ac.uk/water/hydrocolloids_gums.html, Established in 2001, 7 pages.
CN203762288U, “Atomization Device Applicable to Solid Tobacco Materials and Electronic Cigarette,” retrieved from Google Patents https://patents.google.com/patent/CN203762288U/en on Jan. 12, 2018, 10 pages.
English translation of CN101390659 dated Aug. 3, 2017, 8 pages.
First Office Action dated Dec. 3, 2015 for Chinese Application No. 201380021387.2, 20 pages.
First Office Action dated May 5, 2016 for Chinese Application No. 201380048636.7, 25 pages.
Ineos., “Typical Engineering Properties of High Density Polyethylene,” Olefins and Polymers, USA, retrieved from https://www.ineos.com/globalassets/ineos-group/businesses/ineos-olefins-and-polymers-usa/products/technical-information--patents/ineos-typical-engineering-properties-of-hdpe.pdf, Accessed Dec. 4, 2018, 2 pages.
International Preliminary Report on Patentability for Application No. PCT/EP2013/068797, dated Mar. 31, 2015, 5 pages.
International Preliminary Report on Patentability for Application No. PCT/EP2016/070176, dated Mar. 15, 2018, 12 pages.
International Preliminary Report on Patentability for Application No. PCT/EP2016/070178, dated Mar. 15, 2018, 8 pages.
International Preliminary Report on Patentability for Application No. PCT/EP2016/070185, dated Mar. 15, 2018, 11 pages.
International Preliminary Report on Patentability for Application No. PCT/EP2016/070188, dated Mar. 15, 2018, 8 pages.
International Preliminary Report on Patentability for Application No. PCT/EP2016/070191, dated Mar. 15, 2018, 8 pages.
International Preliminary Report on Patentability for Application No. PCT/EP2016/075734, dated May 11, 2018, 7 pages.
International Preliminary Report on Patentability for Application No. PCT/EP2016/075739, dated Jan. 16, 2018, 7 pages.
International Preliminary Report on Patentability for Application No. PCT/GB2013/052433, dated Mar. 24, 2015, 9 pages.
International Search Report and Written Opinion for Application No. PCT/EP2013/068797, dated Dec. 9, 2013, 8 pages.
International Search Report and Written Opinion for Application No. PCT/EP2016/070176, dated Apr. 19, 2017, 21 pages.
International Search Report and Written Opinion for Application No. PCT/EP2016/070178, dated Dec. 14, 2016, 10 pages.
International Search Report and Written Opinion for Application No. PCT/EP2016/070185, dated Apr. 4, 2017, 16 pages.
International Search Report and Written Opinion for Application No. PCT/EP2016/070188, dated Dec. 13, 2016, 10 pages.
International Search Report and Written Opinion for Application No. PCT/EP2016/070191, dated Dec. 13, 2016, 10 pages.
International Search Report and Written Opinion for Application No. PCT/EP2016/075734, dated Apr. 6, 2017, 12 pages.
International Search Report and Written Opinion for Application No. PCT/EP2016/075739, dated Feb. 24, 2017, 10 pages.
International Search Report and Written Opinion for Application No. PCT/GB2013/052433, dated Jun. 30, 2014, 16 pages.
Iorga A., et al., “Low Curie Temperature in Fe—Cr—Ni—Mn Alloys,” U.P.B. Sci.Bull., Series B, vol. 73 (4), 2011, pp. 195-202.
jrank.org, “Heat Capacity—Heat Capacity and Calorimetry, Heat Capacity and the Law of Conservation of Energy-Significance of the High Heat Capacity of Water,” retrieved from https://science.jrank.org/pages/3265/Heat-Capacity.html, Accessed Jun. 15, 2017, 2 pages.
NeoMax Materials Co., Ltd., “NeoMax MS-135,” retrieved from http://www.neomax-materials.co.jp/eng/pr0510.htm, as accessed on Oct. 30, 2015, 2 pages.
Notification of Reasons for Refusal dated Feb. 1, 2016 for Japanese Application No. 2015531544, 5 pages.
Office Action dated Feb. 19, 2019 for Canadian Application No. 2995315, 4 pages.
Office Action dated Jan. 8, 2019 for Japanese Application No. 2017-075527, 15 pages.
Office Action dated Jan. 31, 2019 for Korean Application No. 10-2018-7006009, 17 pages.
Office Action dated Mar. 13, 2018 for Japanese Application No. 2017-075527, 10 pages.
Office Action dated Mar. 26, 2019 for Japanese Application No. 2018-506381, 11 pages.
Office Action dated Sep. 13, 2017 for Russian Application No. 2015106592/12, 6 pages.
Rasidek N.A.M., et al., “Effect of Temperature on Rheology Behaviour of Banana Peel Pectin Extracted Using Hot Compressed Water,” Jurnal Teknologi (Sciences & Engineering), vol. 80 (3), Apr. 1, 2018, pp. 97-103.
Second Office Action dated Jan. 16, 2017 for Chinese Application No. 201380048636.7, 24 pages.
The Engineering Toolbox., “Specific Heats for Metals,” retrieved from https://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/specific-heat-metals-d_152.html, 2003, 6 pages.
Todaka T., et al., “Low Curie Temperature Material for Induction Heating Self-Temperature Controlling System,” Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials, vol. 320 (20), Oct. 2008, pp. e702-e707.
UKIPO Search Report for UK Application No. GB1216621.1, dated Jan. 17, 2013 , 6 pages.
University of Illinois, “Scientific Principles,” retrieved from http://matse1.matse.illinois.edu/ceramics/prin.html, Accessed Jun. 15, 2017, 13 pages.
European Extended Search Report, Application No. 19216472.1, dated Apr. 22, 2020, 13 pages.
Japanese Office Action, Application No. 2018-506381, dated Dec. 3, 2019, 7 pages.
Japanese Office Action, Application No. 2018-506381, dated Mar. 26, 2019, 11 pages.
Korean Office Action, Application No. 10-2018-7006009, dated Aug. 29, 2019, 9 pages.
Japanese Office Action, Application No. 2018-506575, dated Mar. 19, 2019 , 10 pages.
Korean Office Action, Application No. 10-2018-7006070, dated Feb. 7, 2019, 9 pages.
English Translation of Japanese Office Action, Application No. 2018-506565, dated Mar. 19, 2019, 4 pages.
English Translation of Japanese Office Action, Application No. 2018-521547, dated Jun. 25, 2019, 4 pages.
Canada Office Action, Application No. 3,003,514, dated Mar. 28, 2019, 6 pages.
English Translation of Japanese Office Action, Application No. 2018-519865, dated Jun. 25, 2019, 3 pages.
Japanese Office Action, Application No. 2018-506563, dated May 7, 2019, 4 pages.
Taiwan Office Action, Application No. 105127627, dated Dec. 19, 2019, 9 pages.
Chinese Office Action, Application No. 2016800498156, dated Oct. 21, 2019.
Japanese Office Action, Application No. 2018-506553, dated Mar. 19, 2019, 4 pages.
Japanese Office Action, Application No. 2018-506553, dated Nov. 5, 2018, 8 pages.
Application and File History for U.S. Appl. No. 14/428,626, filed Mar. 16, 2015, Inventors Hatrick et al..
Application and File History for U.S. Appl. No. 15/754,801, filed Feb. 23, 2018, inventors Blandino et al.
Application and File History for U.S. Appl. No. 15/754,812, filed Feb. 23, 2018, Inventors Blandino et al.
Application and File History for U.S. Appl. No. 15/754,818, filed Feb. 23, 2018, Inventors Blandino et al.
Application and File History for U.S. Appl. No. 15/754,823, filed Feb. 23, 2018, Inventors Blandino et al.
Application and File History for U.S. Appl. No. 15/754,837, filed Feb. 23, 2018, Inventors Wilke et al.
Application and File History for U.S. Appl. No. 15/772,382, filed Apr. 30, 2018, Inventors Kaufman Wilke et al.
Application and File History for U.S. Appl. No. 15/772,386, filed Apr. 30, 2018, Inventors Blandino et al.
CN203762288, Machine Translation, retrieved Online from Espacenet on Aug. 13, 2020, (http://worldwide.espacenet.com), 5 pages.
European Notice of Opposition for Application No. 13759537 dated Jan. 23, 2020, 83 pages.
Extended European Search Report for Application No. 19164405.3 dated Aug. 28, 2019, 6 pages.
Extended European Search Report for Application No. 19165045.6 dated Sep. 6, 2019, 7 Pages.
Extended European Search Report for Application No. 20179569.7 dated Oct. 2, 2020, 10 pages.
First Office Action dated Nov. 1, 2019 for Chinese Application No. 2016800498584, 6 pages.
Gaohe Q., “Chinese Scientific Information,” vol. 10, May 15, 2010, pp. 132-133.
International Preliminary Report on Patentability for Application No. PCT/EP2016/070182, dated Mar. 15, 2018, 8 pages.
International Search Report and Written Opinion for Application No. PCT/EP2016/070182, dated Dec. 12, 2016, 11 pages.
Office Action and Search Report dated May 6, 2020 for Chinese Application No. 2016800498156 filed Aug. 26, 2016, 7 pages.
Office Action and Search Report dated Feb. 25, 2020 for Taiwan Application No. 105127626 filed Aug. 29, 2016, 14 pages.
Office Action dated Oct. 18, 2019 for Chinese Application No. 201680049874.3, 18 pages.
Office Action dated Aug. 5, 2020 for Chinese Application No. 201680049874.3, 6 pages.
Office Action for Chinese Application No. 20168049858 dated Jul. 3, 2020, 35 pages.
Office Action dated Sep. 1, 2020 for Japanese Application No. 2018-506381, 25 pages.
Office Action dated Nov. 12, 2019 for Japanese Application No. 2018-506575, 8 pages.
Office Action dated Sep. 12, 2019 for Chilean Application No. 201800521, 8 pages.
Office Action dated Feb. 13, 2019 for Japanese Application No. 2018-507624, 32 pages.
Office Action dated Feb. 14, 2019 for Canadian Application No. 2996835, 3 pages.
Office Action dated Sep. 15, 2020 for Japanese Application No. 2019-118784, 14 pages.
Office Action dated Sep. 17, 2020 for Canadian Application No. 2996342, 4 pages.
Office Action dated Jun. 19, 2020 for Canadian Application No. 2995315, 4 pages.
Office Action dated Apr. 27, 2020 for the Brazilian Application No. 112017028539.8, 5 pages.
Office Action dated Oct. 29, 2019 for Japanese Application No. 2018-507624, 29 pages.
Office Action dated Sep. 29, 2020 for Japanese Application No. 2018-506563, 5 pages.
Office Action dated Dec. 3, 2019 for Japanese Application No. 2018-521547, 4 pages.
Office Action dated Nov. 4, 2019 for Chinese Application No. 201680049679.0, 12 pages.
Office Action dated Nov. 5, 2019 for Japanese Application No. 2018-506565, 12 pages.
Office Action dated Feb. 8, 2019 for Korean Application No. 10-2018-7006077, 15 pages.
Office Action dated Jun. 9, 2020 for Chinese Application No. 201680061969.7, 15 pages.
“Polyetheretherketone—Online Catalog Source,” Retrieved from http://www.goodfellow.com/A/Polyethertherketone.html, Jan. 17, 2020. 4 pages.
Shuisheng X., et al., “Semisolid processing technology,” Jinshu Bangutai Jiagong Jishu, 2012, ISBN 978-7-5024-5935-2, 10 pages.
Extended European Search Report for Application No. 20205043.1, dated May 4, 2021, 10 pages.
Extended European Search Report for Application No. 20205544.8 dated Jun. 14, 2021, 9 pages.
Extended European Search Report for Application No. EP20205075.3, dated Jan. 27, 2021, 11 pages.
International Search Report and Written Opinion for Application No. PCT/EP2016/085686, dated May 9, 2019, 16 pages.
Notification of Reasons for Refusal dated May 18, 2021 for Japanese Application No. 2020126181, 8 pages.
Office Action dated Feb. 15, 2021 for Ukraine Application No. 201801751, 4 pages.
Office Action dated Feb. 16, 2021 for Ukraine Application No. 201801846, 3 pages.
Office Action dated Jan. 28, 2021 for Chinese Application No. 201680049874.3, 6 pages.
Office Action for Chinese Application No. 201680049479.5, dated Feb. 4, 2021, 8 pages.
Office Action for Japanese Application No. 2018-506381, dated Apr. 13, 2021, 5 pages.
Office Action for Malaysian Application No. PI2018700428, dated Mar. 1, 2021, 3 pages.
Office Action for Russian Application No. 2020135756, dated Jun. 30, 2021, 9 pages.
Office Action dated Sep. 17, 2020 for Canadian Application No. 2995315, 4 pages.
Office action dated Sep. 8, 2020 for Japanese Application No. 2018-507624, 7 pages.
Partial European Search Report for Application No. 20205057.1, dated Apr. 29, 2021, 16 pages.
CN-203952405-U, “Tobacco Suction System Based on Electromagnetic Heating—Google Patents,” (Machine Translation) [online], Retrieved on Nov. 29, 2021, Retrieved from Google Patents (https://patents.google.com/), 2014, 4 pages.
Extended European Search Report for Application No. 20205057.1, dated Oct. 19, 2021, 20 pages.
Jinshu Bangutai Jiagong Jishu, Metallurgical Industry Press, 10 pages, dated Jun. 30, 2012.
Notice of Reasons for Rejection for Japanese Application No. 2020-182759, dated Oct. 12, 2021, 5 pages.
Office Action for Chinese Application No. 201680049858.4, dated Jul. 1, 2021, 13 pages.
Office Action for Japanese Application No. 2020-067569, dated Nov. 9, 2021, 6 pages.
Office Action for Japanese Application No. 2020-126181, dated Nov. 30, 2021, 4 pages.
Office Action for Japanese Application No. 2020-183056, dated Nov. 9, 2021, 14 pages.
Office Action for Russian Application No. 2020121132, dated Aug. 6, 2021, 11 pages.
Office Action dated Jun. 8, 2021 for Japanese Application No. 2020-526233, 22 pages.
Fourth Office Action and Search Report for Chinese Application No. 2016800498584 dated Jan. 6, 2022, 21 pages.
Notice of Reasons for Rejection for Japanese Application No. 2020-182762, dated Dec. 7, 2021, 9 pages.
Communication pursuant to Article 94(3) EPC for Application No. 16766233.7 dated Mar. 7, 2022, 16 pages.
Communication Pursuant to Article 94(3) EPC for Application No. 16766234.5 dated Mar. 7, 2022, 4 pages.
Decision of Rejection dated Apr. 15, 2022 for Chinese Application No. 20168009479.5, 7 pages.
Decision to Grant a Patent dated Apr. 5, 2022 for Japanese Application No. 2020-182759, 5 pages.
Extended European Search Report for Application No. 21170804.5, dated Feb. 21, 2022, 13 pages.
Extended European Search Report for Application No. 21192233.1, dated Dec. 9, 2021, 11 pages.
Fourth Office Action and Search Report for Chinese Application No. 201680049479.5 dated Nov. 18, 2021, 20 pages.
Notice of Reasons for Refusal dated Nov. 2, 2021 for Japanese Application No. 2020-182712, 6 pages.
Notice of Reasons for Refusal dated Jan. 25, 2022 for Japanese Application No. 2020-183045, 9 pages.
Notice of Reasons for Rejection for Japanese Application No. 2020-181533, dated Apr. 26, 2022, 3 pages.
Notice of Reasons for Rejection dated Jan. 19, 2022 for Japanese Application No. 2020-183046, 6 pages.
Notice of Reasons for Rejection dated Apr. 26, 2022 for Japanese Application No. 2022-013252, 4 pages.
Office Action for Brazilian Application No. 112018004103-3, dated Feb. 1, 2022, 4 pages.
Office Action for Brazilian Application No. 112018004110-6, dated Jan. 31, 2022, 4 pages.
Office Action for Chinese Application No. 201680049858.4, dated Apr. 1, 2022, 15 pages.
Office Action for Russian Application No. 2018115288, dated Oct. 17, 2018, 7 pages.
Office Action dated Feb. 16, 2022 for Japanese Application No. 2019-118784, 28 pages.
Partial European Search Report for Application No. 21170791.4, dated Nov. 22, 2021, 16 pages.
Physics., “Analysis Series of Typical Examples of College Entrance Examination,” Editorial Board, Heilongjiang Science and Technology Press, Dec. 31, 1995, 47 pages.
Search Report for Japanese Application No. 2020-521547, dated Jun. 14, 2019, 22 pages.
Written Opinion of the International Preliminary Examining Authority for Application No. PCT/EP2016/075739, dated Sep. 28, 2017, 6 pages.
Search Report dated Sep. 19, 2013 for Japanese Application No. 2011-532464, 116 pages.
Search Report dated Apr. 24, 2017 for Russian Application No. 2015146843, 3 pages.
Search Report dated Mar. 24, 2015 for Chinese Application No. 201280029767.6 filed Aug. 24, 2012, 6 pages.
Search Report dated Apr. 25, 2018 for Chinese Application No. 201610086101.4, 1 page.
Search Report dated Aug. 25, 2015 for Japanese Application No. 2014-179732, 10 pages.
Search Report dated Oct. 25, 2017 for Japanese Application No. 2016-864977, 19 pages.
Search Report dated Apr. 29, 2019 for Russian Application No. 2018137501, 12 pages.
Second Office Action dated Aug. 20, 2013 for Chinese Application No. 200980152395.4, 16 pages.
Summons to Attend Oral Proceedings pursuant to Rule 115(1) EPC mailed May 24, 2022 for European Application No. 18157257.9, 16 pages.
The opposition to petition not to grant of a patent for the Vietnam Application No. 1-2014-03877, mailed on Apr. 27, 2018, 35 pages.
Translation of Office Action dated Mar. 25, 2019 for Chinese Application No. 201610804046.8, 17 pages.
Vietnam Opposition for Application No. PCT/EP2013/057539, dated Jun. 29, 2018, 6 pages.
Virginia R., “A Summary of Findings and Recommendations for the Flexible Heater,” Sep. 19, 1990, 8 pages.
Warrier M., et al., “Effect of the Porous Structure of Graphite on Atomic Hydrogen Diffusion and Inventory,” Nucl. Fusion, vol. 47, 2007, pp. 1656-1663.
Written Opinion for Application No. PCT/EP2012/066485, dated Oct. 15, 2013, 6 pages.
Written Opinion for Application No. PCT/EP2015/064595, dated Jan. 5, 2016, 11 pages.
Written Opinion for Application No. PCT/GB2015/051213, dated Jul. 16, 2015, 9 pages.
Written Opinion of the International Preliminary Examining Authority for Application No. PCT/EP2015/064595, dated Jun. 13, 2016, 8 pages.
Application and File History for U.S. Appl. No. 15/991,512, filed May 29, 2018, inventors Abramov et al.
Application and File History for U.S. Appl. No. 15/470,078, filed Mar. 27, 2017, inventor Buchberger.
Application and File History for U.S. Appl. No. 15/470,089, filed Mar. 27, 2017, inventor Buchberger.
Application and File History for U.S. Appl. No. 15/470,095, filed Mar. 27, 2017, inventor Buchberger.
Application and File History for U.S. Appl. No. 14/899,629, filed Dec. 18, 2015, inventors Brereton et al.
Application and File History for U.S. Appl. No. 14/902,663, filed Jan. 4, 2016, inventors Harding et al.
Application and File History for U.S. Appl. No. 14/962,817, filed Dec. 8, 2015, inventors Egoyants et al.
Application and File History for U.S. Appl. No. 15/437,522, filed Feb. 21, 2017, inventors Abramov et al.
Application and File History for U.S. Appl. No. 13/583,381, filed Dec. 17, 2012, inventor Buchberger.
Application and File History for U.S. Appl. No. 14/127,133, filed Jul. 15, 2014, inventors Vasiliev et al.
Application and File History for U.S. Appl. No. 14/127,138, filed Feb. 10, 2014, inventors Egoyants et al.
Application and File History for U.S. Appl. No. 14/127,144, filed Mar. 31, 2014, inventors Egoyants et al.
Application and File History for U.S. Appl. No. 14/127,148, filed Mar. 12, 2014, inventors Egoyants et al.
Application and File History for U.S. Appl. No. 14/127,879, filed May 9, 2014, inventors Egoyants et al.
Application and File History for U.S. Appl. No. 14/343,368, filed Jun. 24, 2014, inventors Abramov et al.
Application and File History for U.S. Appl. No. 14/382,198, filed Aug. 29, 2014, inventors Saleem et al.
Application and File History for U.S. Appl. No. 15/379,946, filed Dec. 15, 2016, inventors Egoyants et al.
Application and File History for U.S. Appl. No. 15/437,517, filed Feb. 21, 2017, inventors Abramov et al.
Brief Communication for European Application No. 12750765.5, dated Aug. 31, 2021, 16 pages.
Chemical Engineering, “A Vacuum Insulation that is Ultrathin”, Aug. 1, 2011, 5 pages.
Collier J.G. et al., “10.3 Mechanism of Evaporation and Condensation,” Convective Boiling and Condensation, Third Edition, Clarendon Press, 1994, 6 pages.
Communication of a Notice of Opposition, dated Nov. 25, 2020, for European Patent Application No. 13716763.1, 26 pages.
Communication pursuant to Article 94(3) EPC for Application No. 20202673.8, dated Aug. 12, 2022, 05 pages.
Communication pursuant to Article 94(3) EPC for Application No. 22155465.2, dated Aug. 5, 2022, 7 pages.
Company Filtrona Richmond Inc., www.filtronaporoustechnologies.com, Nov. 19, 2018, 1 page.
Concept Group, “New Super Insulator form Concept Group Stops Heat Conduction in Tight Spaces,” https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20110610006023/en/New-Super- Insulator-Concept-Group-Stops-Heat, 2011, 5 pages.
Concept Group “Concept Group's New Thermal Insulator Thinner Than Human Hair”, Jun. 29, 2011, 2 pages.
Concept Group, “Insulon® Thermal Barrier from Concept Group Blocks Heat with Hyper-Deep Vacuum™,” Dec. 15, 2011, 1 page.
Davies, et al., “Metallic Foams: Their Production, Properties and Applications,” Journal of Materials Science, 1983, vol. 18(7), pp. 1899-1911.
Decision to Grant a Patent dated Nov. 15, 2016 for Japanese Application No. 2015-506185 filed Apr. 11, 2013, 5 pages.
Decision to Grant a Patent dated May 22, 2018 for Japanese Application No. 2016-134648, 5 pages.
Decision to Grant dated Apr. 1, 2014 for Russian Application No. 2011120430, 16 pages.
Decision to Grant dated Aug. 5, 2014 for Japanese Application No. 2011-532464, 6 pages.
Diener Electronic, “Plasma Polymerization,” The company Diener electronic GmbH+Co. KG, Retrieved on Oct. 17, 2017, 19 pages.
Dunn P.D., et al., “Heat Pipes,” Fourth Edition, Pergamon, ISBN0080419038, 1994, 14 pages.
English Translation for Vietnam Opposition for Application No. PCT/EP2013/057539, dated Jun. 29, 2018, 29 pages.
European Extended Search Report for European Application No. 201576220, dated May 28, 2020, 12 pages.
European Search Report for European Application No. 22155465.2, dated Jul. 25, 2022, 4 pages.
Examination Report for Canadian Application No. 2,845,754, dated Aug. 19, 2021, 6 pages.
Examination Report for Canadian Application No. 2,845,754, dated Nov. 4, 2020, 5 pages.
Examination Report for Indian Application No. 201947043640, dated Aug. 11, 2020, 7 pages.
Examination Report for Indonesian Application No. P00201908524, dated Dec. 24, 2021, 5 pages.
Examination Report for Indonesian Application No. P00201908525, dated Dec. 24, 2021, 5 pages.
Examination Report for New Zealand Application No. 718007 dated Aug. 1, 2016, 4 pages.
Examination Report dated Jan. 9, 2019 for Philippines Application No. 1/2016/500805, 6 pages.
Examination Report dated Feb. 21, 2018 for Australian Application No. 2016204192, 7 pages.
Examination Report No. 1 for Australian Application No. 2020294182, dated Mar. 5, 2022, 3 pages.
Examination Report No. 1 for Australian Patent Application No. 2020235037, dated May 26, 2022, 3 pages.
Extended European Search Report for Application No. 15178588, dated Apr. 14, 2016, 2 pages.
Extended European Search Report for Application No. 15200661.5, dated May 18, 2016, 6 pages.
Office Action for Korean Application No. 10-2020-7017746, dated Feb. 10, 2022, 25 pages.
Office Action for Korean Application No. 10-2020-7031372, dated Dec. 9, 2020, 13 pages.
Office Action for Korean Application No. 10-2021-7013743, dated Nov. 22, 2021, 17 pages.
Office Action for Russian Application No. 2021112978, dated Oct. 28, 2021, 8 pages.
Office Action for Russian Application No. 2020 135 861, dated Apr. 13, 2021, 2 pages.
Office Action dated Jul. 4, 2018 for Russian Application No. 2018101312, 11 pages.
Office Action dated Apr. 5, 2019 for Korean Application No. 10-2018-7019884, 8 pages.
Office Action dated Sep. 5, 2022 for Russian Application No. 2019113858, 06 pages.
Office Action dated Sep. 6, 2017 for Korean Application No. 10-2017-7017425, 9 pages.
Office Action dated Sep. 6, 2017 for Korean Application No. 10-2017-7017430, 9 pages.
Office Action dated May 10, 2020 for Brazilian Application No. BR112014004818-5, 6 pages.
Office Action dated Jan. 11, 2019 for European Application No. 12750771.3, 44 pages.
Office Action dated May 11, 2018 for Korean Application No. 10-2017-7008071, 17 pages.
Office Action dated Sep. 11, 2017 for Chinese Application No. 201480024988.3, 10 pages.
Office Action dated May 12, 2017 for Russian Application No. 2016103729, filed Jul. 4, 2014, 15 pages.
Office Action dated Nov. 13, 2017 for Chinese Application No. 2013800472843, 13 pages.
Office Action dated Apr. 14, 2021 for Korean Application No. 10-2020-7036811, 10 pages.
Office Action dated Nov. 14, 2017 for Japanese Application No. 2016-522550, 6 pages.
Office Action dated Aug. 17, 2016 for Korean Application No. 10-2014-7032958, 13 pages.
Office Action dated Jan. 18, 2017 for Chinese Application No. 201480024978.X, 8 pages.
Office Action dated Jul. 18, 2018 for Chinese Application No. 201580022356.8, 15 pages.
Office Action dated Mar. 20, 2019 for Korean Application No. 10-2017-7008071, 2 pages.
Office Action dated Mar. 20, 2019 for Korean Application No. 10-2017-7008071, 3 pages.
Office Action dated May 20, 2022 for Russian Application No. 2021126540, 8 pages.
Office Action dated Sep. 22, 2017 for Russian Application No. 2014120213, 11 pages.
Office Action dated Apr. 24, 2019 for Chinese Application No. 201710413187.1, 16 pages.
Office Action dated Apr. 24, 2019 for Chinese Application No. 201710412726.X, 21 pages.
Office Action dated Jan. 24, 2019 for European Application No. 12750771.3, 40 pages.
Office Action dated Jan. 25, 2019 for European Application No. 12750771.3, 2 pages.
Office Action dated Jan. 25, 2019 for European Application No. 17189951.1, 4 pages.
Office Action dated Dec. 26, 2017 for Chinese Application No. 201480059966.0, 29 pages.
Office Action dated Oct. 26, 2016 for Russian Application No. 2014120213, 7 pages.
Office Action dated Jul. 27, 2018 for Korean Application No. 10-2013-7033866, 22 pages.
Office Action dated Jun. 27, 2017 for Japanese Application No. 2016-527295, 8 pages.
Office Action dated May 27, 2020 for Russian Application No. 2019134684, 8 pages.
Office Action dated Aug. 28, 2019 for Indian Application No. 201647014549, 6 pages.
Office Action dated Jul. 28, 2017 for Korean Application No. 10-2016-7010831, 11 pages.
Office Action dated Aug. 3, 2018 for Chinese Application No. 201580034981.4, 17 pages.
Office Action dated Dec. 30, 2016 for Chinese Application No. 201480024988.3, 26 pages.
Office Action dated Sep. 30, 2018 for Chinese Application No. 201610371843.1, 8 pages.
Office Action dated Jan. 31, 2017 for Japanese Application No. 2016-522550, 7 pages.
Office Action dated Dec. 4, 2018 for Japanese Application No. 2016-575543, 19 pages.
Office Action dated Jul. 4, 2017 for Japanese Application No. 2016-522550, 7 pages.
Office Action dated May 4, 2018 for Chinese Application No. 201610086101.4, 7 pages.
Office Action dated Dec. 5, 2017 for Japanese Application No. 2016-564977, 6 pages.
Office Action dated May 9, 2017 for Chinese Application No. 201480037049.2, 28 pages.
Office Action mailed for Japanese Application No. 2017-017842, dated Dec. 12, 2017, 6 pages.
Patio Kits Direct, “Insulated Roof Panels,” DIY Alumawood Patio Cover Kits, dated Sep. 20, 2018, as available at https://www.patiokitsdirect.com/about-insulation, 2 pages.
Rudolph G., “The Influence of CO2 on the Sensory Characteristics of the Favor-System,” 1987, Accessed at http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid/sld5f100, 24 pages.
Search Report dated Apr. 14, 2017 for Japanese Application No. 2016-134648, 31 pages.
Extended European Search Report for U.S. Appl. No. 16/166,656, dated Oct. 11, 2016, 9 pages.
Extended European Search Report for Application No. 17189951.1, dated Jan. 4, 2018, 11 pages.
Extended European Search Report for Application No. 18157257.9, dated Jun. 28, 2018, 7 pages.
Extended European Search Report for Application No. 18205608.5, dated Jul. 12, 2019, 7 pages.
Extended European search report for Application No. 20157622.0, dated May 28, 2020, 12 pages.
Extended European Search Report for Application No. 20205071.2, dated Jul. 16, 2021, 8 pages.
Extended European Search Report for Application No. 21170791.4, dated Jun. 28, 2022, 15 pages.
Extended European Search Report for Application No. 21171022.3, dated Dec. 3, 2021, 8 pages.
Extended European Search Report for European Application No. 20206770.8, dated Mar. 3, 2021, 10 pages.
First Office Action dated Jun. 15, 2015 and Search Report dated Jun. 2, 2015 for Chinese Application No. 201280029784.X, filed Aug. 24, 2012, 27 pages.
First Office Action dated Dec. 3, 2012 for Chinese Application No. 200980152395.4, 16 pages.
Hegbom T., “Integrating Electrical Heating Elements in Appliance Design,” cited in EPO Opposition for EP2871983, resulting in interlocutory decision.
International Preliminary Report on Patentability for Application No. PCT/AT2012/000017, dated Aug. 13, 2013, 5 pages.
International Preliminary Report on Patentability for Application No. PCT/EP2012/066484, dated Mar. 20, 2014, 7 pages.
International Preliminary Report on Patentability for Application No. PCT/EP2012/066485, dated Dec. 20, 2013, 12 pages.
International Preliminary Report on Patentability for Application No. PCT/EP2012/070647, dated Apr. 22, 2014, 8 pages.
International Preliminary Report on Patentability for Application No. PCT/EP2014/063785, dated Jun. 1, 2015, 12 pages.
International Preliminary Report on Patentability for Application No. PCT/EP2014/072828, dated May 12, 2016, 7 pages.
International Preliminary Report on Patentability for Application No. PCT/EP2015/064595, dated Oct. 25, 2016, 20 pages.
International Preliminary Report on Patentability for Application No. PCT/GB2014/051332, dated Nov. 12, 2015, 7 pages.
International Preliminary Report on Patentability for Application No. PCT/GB2014/051333, dated Aug. 5, 2015, 12 pages.
International Preliminary Report on Patentability for Application No. PCT/GB2014/051334, dated Nov. 12, 2015, 7 pages.
International Preliminary Report on Patentability for Application No. PCT/GB2015/051213, dated Jul. 14, 2016, 20 pages.
International Preliminary Report on Patentability for Application No. PCT/GB2017/051139, dated Aug. 6, 2018, 7 pages.
International Preliminary Report on Patentability for Application No. PCT/US2012/066523, dated Jun. 4, 2015, 6 pages.
International Preliminary Report on Patentability for Application No. PCT/EP2018/057835 dated Oct. 10, 2019, 15 pages.
International Preliminary Report on Patentability for Application No. PCT/EP2012/066486, dated Oct. 22, 2013, 10 pages.
International Preliminary Report on Patentability for Application No. PCT/EP2012/066523, dated Nov. 4, 2013, 9 pages.
International Preliminary Report on Patentability for Application No. PCT/EP2012/066524, dated Oct. 17, 2013, 11 pages.
International Preliminary Report on Patentability for Application No. PCT/EP2018/057834, dated Oct. 10, 2019, 13 pages.
International Search Report and Written Opinion for Application No. PCT/AT2012/000017, dated Jul. 3, 2012, 6 pages.
International Search Report and Written Opinion for Application No. PCT/EP2012/003103, dated Nov. 26, 2012, 6 pages.
International Search Report and Written Opinion for Application No. PCT/EP2012/070647, dated Feb. 6, 2013, 9 pages.
International Search Report and Written Opinion for Application No. PCT/EP2013/057539, dated Feb. 11, 2014, 16 pages.
International Search Report and Written Opinion for Application No. PCT/EP2014/063785, dated Oct. 30, 2014, 10 pages.
International Search Report and Written Opinion for Application No. PCT/EP2014/064365, dated Oct. 7, 2014, 11 pages.
International Search Report and Written Opinion for Application No. PCT/EP2014/072828, dated Jun. 16, 2015, 10 pages.
International Search Report and Written Opinion for Application No. PCT/EP2018/057835, dated Nov. 6, 2018, 26 pages.
International Search Report and Written Opinion for Application No. PCT/GB2014/051332, dated Jul. 21, 2014, 8 pages.
International Search Report and Written Opinion for Application No. PCT/GB2014/051333, dated Jul. 17, 2014, 10 pages.
International Search Report and Written Opinion for Application No. PCT/GB2014/051334, dated Jul. 21, 2014, 8 pages.
International Search Report and Written Opinion for Application No. PCT/GB2017/051139, dated Aug. 9, 2017, 14 pages.
International Search Report and Written Opinion for Application No. PCT/US2012/066523, dated May 29, 2013, 7 pages.
International Search Report and Written Opinion for Application No. PCT/EP2018/057834, dated Nov. 6, 2018, 20 pages.
International Search Report and Written Opinion for International Application No. PCT/EP2020/056231 dated Jul. 15, 2020, 11 pages.
International Search Report and Written Opinion for Application No. PCT/EP2012/066484, dated Jan. 9, 2013, 9 pages.
International Search Report and Written Opinion for Application No. PCT/EP2012/066486, dated Jan. 14, 2013, 3 pages.
International Search Report and Written Opinion for Application No. PCT/EP2012/066523, dated Jan. 9, 2013, 9 pages.
International Search Report and Written Opinion for Application No. PCT/EP2012/066524, dated Jan. 9, 2013, 8 pages.
International Search Report and Written Opinion for Application No. PCT/EP2012/066525, dated Jan. 9, 2013, 10 pages.
“Extended European Search Report received for European Patent Application No. 22189790.3, dated Jan. 24, 2023”, 11 pages.
“International Preliminary Report on Patentability for Application No. PCT/EP2013/057539, dated Nov. 6, 2014”, 10 pages.
“Office Action dated May 15, 2020 for the Brazilian Application No. 112018004103.3”, 2 pages (English Translation Only).
“Office Action received for Chinese Patent Application No. 201680049874.3, dated Mar. 20, 2023”, 14 pages (Official Copy Only).
“Office Action received for Chinese Patent Application No. 201811073829.9, dated Jan. 25, 2022”, 9 pages (2 pages of English Translation and 7 pages of Official Copy).
“Office Action received for Chinese Patent Application No. 201811073829.9, dated May 8, 2021”, 25 pages (10 pages of English Translation and 15 pages of Official Copy).
“Office Action received for Chinese Patent Application No. 201811073829.9, dated Sep. 15, 2021”, 11 pages (5 pages of English Translation and 6 pages of Official copy).
“Office action received for Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-182327, dated Nov. 1, 2022”, 4 pages (2 pages of English Translation and 2 pages of Official Copy).
“Office Action received for Malaysian Patent Application No. PI2018001351, dated Sep. 30, 2021”, 4 pages (English Translation Only).
“Reasons for Refusal received for Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-181532, dated Jan. 17, 2023”, 8 pages (4 pages of English Translation and 4 pages of Official Copy).
“Reasons for Rejection received for Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-078359, dated Jun. 28, 2022”, 6 pages (3 pages of English Translation and 3 pages of Official Copy).
“Reasons for Rejection received for Korean Patent Application No. 10-2021-7020688, dated Sep. 14, 2023”, 9 pages (4 pages of English Translation and 5 pages of Official Copy).
Chalapud, Mayra C. , “Pectin Films with Recovered Sunflower Waves Produced by Electrospraying”, Membranes, vol. 12, 560, May 28, 2022, 17 pages.
Excellup , “Solid State”, Available at <https://www.excellup.com/class_12/chemistry_12/SolidState4.aspx#:-:text=(a)%20Conductor%3A %20Solids%20having,considered%20as%20very%20good%20conductor>, 2023, 6 pages.
International Search Report and Written Opinion for Application No. PCT/EP2012/066485, dated Dec. 10, 2012, 10 pages.
International Search Report and Written Opinion for Application No. PCT/AT2011/000123, dated Jul. 18, 2011, 8 pages.
International Search Report for Application No. PCT/AT2009/000413, dated Jan. 25, 2010, 3 pages.
International Search Report for Application No. PCT/AT2009/000414, dated Jan. 26, 2010, 2 pages.
International Search Report for Application No. PCT/EP2015/064595, dated Jan. 5, 2016, 6 pages.
International Search Report for Application No. PCT/GB2015/051213, dated Jul. 16, 2015, 5 pages.
International Search Report for Application No. PCT/US2019/049076, dated Dec. 18, 2019, 4 pages.
Invitation to Pay Additional Fees for Application No. PCT/EP2018/057835, dated Jul. 17, 2018, 20 pages.
Invitation to Pay Additional Fees with Partial International Search for Application No. PCT/EP2018/057834 dated Jul. 13, 2018, 18 pages.
Korean Office Action, Application No. 1020197037986, dated Feb. 6, 2020, 11 pages.
Kynol, “Standard Specifications of Kynol™ Activated Carbon Fiber Products,” Sep. 19, 2013, 2 pages.
Merriam-Webster, “Definition of Film”, Retrieved from the Internet: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Film on Sep. 17, 2019, 13 pages.
Minco Products Inc., “Thermofoil™ Heaters,” Bulletin HS-202(D), Jul. 22, 2004, 60 pages.
National Plastic Heater, Sensor and Control Inc., “Kapton (Polyimide) Flexible Heaters,” 2011, retrieved from https://www.kapton-silicone-flexible-heaters.com/products/kapton_polyimide_flexible_heaters.html on Feb. 23, 2018, 2 pages.
International Preliminary Report on Patentability for Application No. PCT/EP2012/066525, dated Mar. 20, 2014, 8 pages.
Notice of Opposition dated Mar. 7, 2017 for European Application No. 12750770.5, 22 pages.
Notice of Opposition Letter from EPO Opposition against the European Application No. 2358418, mailed Mar. 1, 2017, 60 pages.
Notice of Opposition mailed Sep. 20, 2021 for European Application No. 18157257.9 (EP3354144), 31 pages.
Notice of Reasons for Refusal for Japanese Application No. 2020-175447, dated Aug. 2, 2022, 23 pages.
Notice of Reasons for Rejection for Japanese Application No. 2020-181532, dated Jun. 21, 2022, 6 pages.
Notice of Reasons for Rejection dated May 23, 2017 for Japanese Application No. 2016134648, 18 pages.
Notice of Reasons for Rejection dated May 31, 2016 for Japanese Application No. 2015-137361, 6 pages.
Notice of Reasons for Rejection dated Oct. 7, 2013 for Japanese Application No. 2011532464, 6 pages.
Notice of Reasons for Rejection dated Sep. 8, 2015 for Japanese Application No. 2014179732, 5 pages.
Notification to Grant Patent Right for Invention dated Oct. 25, 2018 for Chinese Application No. 201610086101.4, 2 pages.
Office Action dated Jan. 23, 2019 for Korean Application No. 20187017575, 9 pages.
Office Action dated Jul. 8, 2016 for Chinese Application No. 201380021387.2, filed Apr. 11, 2011, 12 pages.
Office Action dated Sep. 25, 2018 for European Application No. 12750765.5 filed Aug. 24, 2012, 22 pages.
Office Action dated Sep. 26, 2018 for European Application No. 12750765.5 filed Aug. 24, 2012, 67 pages.
Office Action dated Sep. 29, 2015 for Japanese Application No. 2015-506185 filed Apr. 11, 2013, 5 pages.
Office Action dated Mar. 31, 2015 for Japanese Application No. 2014-519585 filed Aug. 24, 2012, 8 pages.
Office Action dated Apr. 7, 2015 for Japanese Application No. 2014-519586 filed Aug. 24, 2012, 10 pages.
Office Action and Search Report dated Apr. 27, 2015 for Chinese Application No. 201280030681.5, filed Aug. 24, 2012, 25 pages.
Office Action and Search Report dated Feb. 28, 2019 for Japanese Application No. 2018-088088, 25 pages.
Office Action dated Jun. 16, 2020 for Japanese Application No. 2019-065344, 10 pages.
Office Action for Canadian Application No. 3,057,903, dated Dec. 15, 2020, 6 pages.
Office Action for Canadian Application No. 3,057,903, dated Aug. 30, 2021, 4 pages.
Office Action for Canadian Application No. 3,057,905, dated Jan. 20, 2021, 6 pages.
Office Action for Chinese Application No. 2018800231958, dated Apr. 21, 2021, 17 pages.
Office Action for Chinese Application No. 2018800231958, dated Dec. 17, 2021, 10 pages.
Office Action for Chinese Application No. 201880023195.8, dated Jun. 21, 2022, 4 pages.
Office Action for Japanese Application No. 2019-551462 dated Dec. 15, 2020, 4 pages.
Office Action for Japanese application No. 2019-551471, dated Apr. 20, 2021, 2 pages.
Office Action for Japanese Application No. 2019-551471 dated Dec. 15, 2020, 8 pages.
Office Action for Japanese Application No. 2020-121066, dated Jun. 22, 2021, 6 pages.
Office action for Japanese Application No. 2021-074263, dated Jun. 14, 2022, 14 pages.
Office action for Japanese Application No. 2021-074266, dated Jul. 26, 2022, 8 pages.
Office Action for Korean Application No. 10-2019-7032076, dated May 25, 2021, 4 pages.
Office action for Korean Application No. 10-2019-7038229, dated Jul. 19, 2022, 15 pages.
Office Action for Korean Application No. 10-2020-7017740, dated Feb. 8, 2022, 14 pages.
Related Publications (1)
Number Date Country
20180235279 A1 Aug 2018 US
Continuations (1)
Number Date Country
Parent 14840703 Aug 2015 US
Child 15754809 US