The present invention relates to a flavor inhaler, and a smoking system.
In the related art, flavor inhalers for inhaling, for example, flavor without combusting a material are known. A known example of such flavor inhalers is an electric-heating aerosol generation system whose housing includes a chamber for accommodating a smoking article (PTL 1).
PTL 1: Japanese Patent No. 5963375
With an electric-heating aerosol generation system such as one disclosed in PTL 1, a pin-or blade-shaped heating device is inserted into the smokable substance, and the smokable substance is heated by the heating device. As the smokable substance is inserted into or removed from the heating device, stress acts on the smokable substance in the axial direction (the direction of insertion of the heating device). Accordingly, to ensure that the smokable substance does not spill from a consumable as the heating device is inserted or removed, the tip of the consumable may in some cases be provided with a stopper element such as a filter. A stopper element such as a filter, however, is susceptible to melting or damage when exposed to heat. It is thus desirable to reduce heat transfer to the stopper element while allowing for sufficient heating of the smokable substance. In some cases, the tip of the consumable is provided with no stopper element, and the smokable substance thus extends to the tip of the consumable. In such cases, if the upstream end of the smokable substance is heated in the same manner as other portions, this may lead to the risk that an aerosol flows backward from the upstream end toward an upstream portion of an airflow path.
An object of the invention is to reduce heat transfer to a stopper element. Another object of the invention is to reduce heat transfer to the upstream end of a smokable substance.
According to a first aspect, a flavor inhaler is provided. The flavor inhaler includes an accommodation part, a heater, and a gap. The accommodation part accommodates a smokable substance of a consumable that includes the smokable substance and a stopper element. The heater is configured to be inserted into the smokable substance accommodated in the accommodation part, and heat the smokable substance from inside the smokable substance. The gap is located between the heater and the stopper element. The gap is formed when the heater is inserted into the smokable substance.
According to the first aspect, the heater is at least partially spaced apart from the stopper element. This makes it possible to reduce heat transfer to the stopper element while allowing the smokable substance to be heated by the heater. This in turn makes it possible to reduce melting of or damage to the stopper element, and reduce heat loss resulting from heat transfer to the stopper element. The gap preferably exists over the entire circumference of the heater. This makes it possible to further reduce heat transfer to the stopper element.
According to a second aspect, in the first aspect, the heater includes a heat-producing part and a non-heat-producing part that are each located in an insertion direction of the heater, and the gap is located between the non-heat-producing part of the heater, and the stopper element.
According to the second aspect, the gap is provided between the non-heat-producing part, which contributes relatively little to heating of the smokable substance, and the stopper element. This makes it possible to further reduce heat transfer to the stopper element while allowing a sufficient amount of aerosol to be generated through heating of the smokable substance by the heat-producing part.
According to a third aspect, in the second aspect, the heat-producing part is located closer to a tip of the heater than is the non-heat-producing part.
According to the third aspect, with respect to the axial direction (the insertion direction of the heater), the non-heat-producing part can be positioned to overlap the stopper element, and the heat-producing part can be positioned to overlap the smokable substance.
According to a fourth aspect, in the second or third aspect, the heat-producing part includes a heating resistor, and a cover that covers an outer face of the heating resistor.
According to the fourth aspect, the heating resistor is not in direct contact with the smokable substance. This makes it possible to reduce, for example, contamination of the heating resistor by the smokable substance, and potential physical damage to the heating resistor.
According to a fifth aspect, in any one of the first to fourth aspects, the flavor inhaler includes a wall part disposed between the heater and the stopper element. The wall part is in contact with the stopper element, and spaced apart from the heater.
According to the fifth aspect, the gap can be formed between the stopper element and the heater due to the presence of the wall part. The size (volume or thickness) of the gap can be thus made constant. This results in the ability to reduce heat transfer to the stopper element in a stable manner.
According to a sixth aspect, in the fifth aspect as recited in the second aspect, the wall part is positioned to overlap the non-heat-producing part in the insertion direction, and spaced apart from the non-heat-producing part.
According to the sixth aspect, the gap is provided between the non-heat-producing part, which contributes relatively little to heating of the smokable substance, and the wall part. This makes it possible to further reduce heat transfer to the wall part while allowing a sufficient amount of aerosol to be generated through heating of the smokable substance by the heat-producing part. This results in the ability to reduce heat transfer to the stopper element in contact with the wall part.
According to a seventh aspect, in the fifth or sixth aspect, the wall part has a tapered face such that the wall part decreases in diameter in a direction from a rear end of the heater toward a tip of the heater.
According to the seventh aspect, as the heater is inserted into the smokable substance from the tip, the stopper element in contact with the wall part is pushed apart, and the gap is formed between the stopper element and the heater with the wall part interposed therebetween. At this time, the stopper element is smoothly pushed apart due to the tapered face of the wall part. This makes it possible to facilitate insertion of the heater into the smokable substance.
According to an eighth aspect, in any one of the fifth to seventh aspects, the flavor inhaler includes a heat insulation member disposed between the wall part and the heater.
According to the eighth aspect, heat transfer from the heater to the wall part can be further reduced. This results in the ability to further reduce heat transfer to the stopper element in contact with the wall part.
According to a ninth aspect, in any one of the first to fourth aspects, the heater includes a first portion and a second portion that are each located in an insertion direction of the heater, the second portion has a cross-sectional area less than a cross-sectional area of the first portion, the first portion is located closer to a tip of the heater than is the second portion, and the gap is located between the second portion and the stopper element.
According to the ninth aspect, as the heater is inserted into the consumable, a through-hole corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the first portion is first formed in the stopper element by the first portion, and the second portion can be then positioned to overlap the stopper element in the axial direction. As a result, the gap is formed between the inner face of the through-hole, and the second portion. This makes it possible to reduce melting of or damage to the stopper element, and reduce heat loss resulting from heat transfer to the stopper element.
According to a tenth aspect, in the ninth aspect as recited in the second aspect, the second portion includes the non-heat-producing part.
According to the tenth aspect, the gap is provided between the second part, which contributes relatively little to heating of the smokable substance, and the stopper element. This makes it possible to further reduce heat transfer to the stopper element while allowing a sufficient amount of aerosol to be generated through heating of the smokable substance by the heat-producing part.
According to an eleventh aspect, in the ninth or tenth aspect, the first portion and the second portion are coaxial with each other.
If the central axis of the second portion is located outside the cross-section of the first portion, this may result in the risk of the second portion coming into contact with the inner face of the through-hole that has been formed in the stopper element by the first portion. According to the eleventh aspect, through adjustment of the shape of the second portion, the entire second portion can be positioned inside the outer circumferential face of the first portion when viewed in the insertion direction. As a result, the gap can be provided between the stopper element and the entire circumference of the second portion. This makes it possible to further reduce heat transfer to the stopper element.
According to a twelfth aspect, in any one of the ninth to eleventh aspects, when viewed in the insertion direction, an entirety of the second portion is located inside an outer circumferential face of the first portion.
According to the twelfth aspect, the gap can be provided between the stopper element and the entire circumference of the second portion. This makes it possible to further reduce heat transfer to the stopper element. According to a thirteenth aspect, a flavor inhaler is provided. The flavor inhaler includes an accommodation part, a heater, a wall part, and a gap. The accommodation part accommodates a smokable substance of a consumable. The heater is configured to be inserted into the smokable substance accommodated in the accommodation part, and heat the smokable substance from inside the smokable substance. The wall part is disposed around the heater. The gap is located between the heater and the wall part.
According to the thirteenth aspect, the heater is at least partially spaced apart from the smokable substance. As a result, positioning the wall part at a location corresponding to the upstream end portion of the smokable substance allows the internal temperature of the smokable substance to be made somewhat lower at the upstream end of the smokable substance and in the vicinity of the upstream end. The resulting ability to reduce aerosol generation at the upstream end of the smokable substance and in the vicinity of the upstream end makes it possible to prevent the generated aerosol from condensing on the bottom portion of the accommodation part or from flowing backward through the airflow path. Further, an aerosol generated in other portions of the smokable substance may be allowed to condense at the upstream end of the smokable substance and in the vicinity of the upstream end. According to the thirteenth aspect, the gap can be formed between the smokable substance and the heater due to the presence of the wall part. The size (volume or thickness) of the gap can be thus made constant. This results in the ability to reduce heat transfer to the smokable substance in a stable manner.
According to a fourteenth aspect, a flavor inhaler is provided. The flavor inhaler includes an accommodation part, and a heater. The accommodation part accommodates a smokable substance of a consumable. The heater is configured to be inserted into the smokable substance accommodated in the accommodation part, and heat the smokable substance from inside the smokable substance. The heater includes a first portion and a second portion that are each located in an insertion direction of the heater. The second portion has a cross-sectional area less than a cross-sectional area of the first portion. The first portion is located closer to a tip of the heater than is the second portion.
According to the fourteenth aspect, as the heater is inserted into the smokable substance, a through-hole corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the first portion is first formed in the smokable substance by the first portion, and the second portion can be then positioned to overlap the smokable substance in the axial direction. As a result, the gap is formed between the inner face of the through-hole, and the second portion. This allows the internal temperature of the smokable substance to be made somewhat lower at the upstream end of the smokable substance and in the vicinity of the upstream end. The resulting ability to reduce aerosol generation at the upstream end of the smokable substance and in the vicinity of the upstream end makes it possible to prevent the generated aerosol from condensing on the bottom portion of the accommodation part or from flowing backward through the airflow path. Further, an aerosol generated in other portions of the smokable substance may be allowed to condense at the upstream end of the smokable substance and in the vicinity of the upstream end. According to the fourteenth aspect, an excessive increase in the insertion resistance encountered by the heater can be reduced.
According to a fifteenth aspect, a smoking system is provided. The smoking system includes the flavor inhaler according to any one of the first to fourteenth aspects, and the consumable mentioned above.
Embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the drawings. In the descriptions below, identical or corresponding structural elements are designated by the same reference signs to omit repetitive descriptions of such structural elements.
The flavor inhaler 100 is configured to heat the smokable substance 16, which is a solid or a liquid, and atomize the smokable substance 16. The smokable substance 16 constitutes, for example, a portion of the consumable 10, which is columnar and extends in the longitudinal direction. The consumable 10 may be, for example, a tobacco stick whose smokable substance 16 includes tobacco. The smokable substance 16 included in the consumable 10 may contain an aerosol source that generates an aerosol when heated at a predetermined temperature. The aerosol source to be used is not limited to a particular kind but can, depending on the intended use, be selected from the group consisting of extracts from various natural products, and/or constituent components thereof. Examples of the aerosol source may include glycerine, propylene glycol, triacetin, 1,3-butanediol, and mixtures thereof. As the smokable substance 16, tobacco such as lamina or midrib, or other known plants may be used. The smokable substance 16 such as tobacco may be in, for example, shredded form, sheet form, string form, powder form, granular form, pellet form, slurry form, or porous form.
The flavor inhaler 100 includes a battery 23, and a printed circuit board (PCB) 24. The battery 23 stores electric power to be used in the flavor inhaler 100. For example, the battery 23 is a lithium-ion battery. The battery 23 may be rechargeable by means of an external power supply.
The PCB 24 is implemented by, for example, a CPU and a memory. The PCB 24 controls operation of the flavor inhaler 100. For example, the PCB 24 may start heating of the smokable substance 16 in response to a user's operation on an input device such as a push button or a slide switch (not illustrated), and end heating of the smokable substance 16 upon elapse of a predetermined time. The PCB 24 may, when a puff action has been performed by the user a number of times exceeding a predetermined value, end the heating of the smokable substance 16 even before the predetermined time elapses after the start of heating of the smokable substance 16. For example, such a puff action is detected by a sensor (not illustrated).
Alternatively, the PCB 24 may start heating of the smokable substance 16 in response to the start of a puff action, and end heating of the smokable substance 16 in response to the end of the puff action. The PCB 24 may, when a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of a puff action, end heating of the smokable substance 16 even before the end of the puff action.
In the depicted example, the flavor inhaler 100 has an insertion end portion 101 through which the consumable 10 is to be inserted. The flavor inhaler 100 is thus configured to receive the consumable 10 that is in stick form. As depicted, the battery 23 and the PCB 24 may be arranged in a direction in which to insert the consumable 10 into the flavor inhaler 100. The direction of insertion of the consumable 10, or the longitudinal direction of the flavor inhaler 100 is herein sometimes referred to as axial direction. As used herein, the term circumferential direction means circumferential direction centered on an axis defining the axial direction, and the term radial direction refers to a direction perpendicular to the axial direction.
The flavor inhaler 100 includes a housing 30, an accommodation part 42, the heating part 60, and a cap part 80. The heating part 60 is configured to heat the smokable substance 16. Specifically, for example, the heating part 60 is shaped to allow its insertion into the smokable substance 16, and configured to heat the smokable substance 16 from inside the smokable substance 16. More specifically, the heating part 60 includes the heater 62, which is to be inserted into the smokable substance 16, and a flange part 64 for fixing the heater 62 to a support 50. The heater 62 extends in the axial direction. The flange part 64 extends in a direction transverse to the axial direction, more specifically, in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction. For example, the heater 62 may include, on its surface or in its interior, heating tracks or other features capable of resistive heating.
The heater 62 is preferably a pin-type heater. If the heater 62 is a blade-type heater with a very small thickness relative to its width, the small width of the heater 62 makes it difficult for a gap described later to be formed between the major face of the heater 62 and the stopper element 18 upon insertion of the heater 62 into the smokable substance 16. If the heater 62 is a pin-type heater, this makes it possible to facilitate formation of the above-mentioned gap in comparison to a case where the heater 62 is a blade-type heater. A specific example of the shape of such a pin-type heater may be cylindrical. The shape of a cross-section perpendicular to the direction of insertion of the pin-type heater may be, for example, an ellipse rather than a perfect circle. Although the cross-section perpendicular to the direction of insertion of the pin-type heater may have a rectangular shape, this is not preferable because such a cross-sectional shape results in an excessive increase in the resistance encountered by the heater 62 as the heater 62 is inserted into the consumable 10.
The heater 62 receives supply of electric power from the battery 23. Specifically, the heater 62 is provided with a lead wire 66. The heater 62 may be electrically connected to the PCB 24 and/or the battery 23 via the lead wire 66. The flavor inhaler 100 may include an induction coil to inductively heat the heater 62. In this case, the heater 62 may be heated by the induction coil as a susceptor. Specifically, as the heater 62 is inserted into the smokable substance 16 and inductively heated with an induction coil (not illustrated), the smokable substance 16 is heated. If the flavor inhaler 100 includes an induction coil, at least one of the housing 30, the accommodation part 42, and the cap part 80 preferably has magnetic permeability and electrical non-conductivity (electrical insulating property). This makes at least one of the housing 30, the accommodation part 42, and the cap part 80 less susceptible to heat production. This in turn allows the heater 62 to efficiently produce heat. Examples of materials having magnetic permeability and electrical non-conductivity (electrical insulating property) include glass, plants, wood, paper, and resins such as PEEK. The induction coil may be, for example, a flat coil or a cylindrical coil. The induction coil may be disposed such that, with the consumable 10 positioned at a desired location within the accommodation part 42, the induction coil is located opposite from the consumable 10 across a bottom wall 44 (described later) of the accommodation part 42, or the induction coil surrounds a side wall 43 (described later) of the accommodation part 42.
The accommodation part 42 is generally tubular in form, and may be configured to accommodate the smokable substance 16. Specifically, the accommodation part 42 includes the side wall 43, which is tubular in form, and the bottom wall 44. The side wall 43 surrounds the smokable substance 16 and the stopper element 18 of the consumable 10 that has been positioned at a desired location within the accommodation part 42. As illustrated in
As illustrated in
The housing 30 surrounds at least the outer circumference of the accommodation part 42. Specifically, the housing 30 surrounds the outer circumference of the heating part 60, and the outer circumference of the accommodation part 42. As illustrated in
The end portion 38 defines one end portion of the housing 30. The accommodation part 42 and the cap part 80 are inserted through the end portion 38 during assembly of the flavor inhaler 100. Specifically, the cap part 80 may be detachably attached to the housing 30. The cap part 80 may include an opening 81 through which to insert the consumable 10. The heater 62 is now described in detail.
The heater 62 preferably includes a heating resistor 68, and the cover 67 that covers the outer face of the heating resistor 68. As a result, the heating resistor 68 is not in direct contact with the smokable substance 16. This makes it possible to reduce, for example, contamination of the heating resistor 68 by the smokable substance 16, and potential physical damage to the heating resistor 68. Specifically, in the depicted example, the heater 62 may include a hollow tubular body 65. This makes it possible to reduce thermal capacity in comparison to a case where the heater 62 is solid inside. In the depicted example, the heater 62 may be formed by a process including forming the heating resistor 68 on the outer surface of the tubular body 65, placing the cover 67 over the outer face of the heating resistor 68, and then sintering the tubular body 65, the heating resistor 68, and the cover 67 into an integral body. The tubular body 65 and the cover 67 may be made of, for example, an insulator such as a ceramic material. The presence of the cover 67 disposed over the outer face of the heating resistor 68 allows for increased strength of the cover 67, and uniform heating.
According to the embodiment, as illustrated in
According to the embodiment, as illustrated in
As depicted, the heat-producing part 69A is preferably located closer to the tip of the heater 62 than is the non-heat-producing part 69B. As a result, with respect to the axial direction (the insertion direction of the heater 62), the non-heat-producing part 69B can be positioned to overlap the stopper element 18, and the heat-producing part 69A can be positioned to overlap the smokable substance 16. The tip of the heater 62 preferably includes a protrusion 69C with a diameter that decreases toward the tip. This makes it possible to facilitate insertion of the heater 62 into the consumable 10.
In the depicted example, the heating part 60 preferably includes the wall part 70 disposed between the heater 62 and the stopper element 18. The wall part 70 is in contact with the stopper element 18, and spaced apart from the heater 62. Since the gap S1 can be formed between the stopper element 18 and the heater 62 due to the presence of the wall part 70, the size (volume or thickness) of the gap S1 can be made constant. This results in the ability to reduce heat transfer to the stopper element 18 in a stable manner. According to the embodiment, the wall part 70 may be made of, for example, an easily workable metal such as stainless steel, or a material with low thermal conductivity (e.g., a resin material).
As depicted, it is preferable that the wall part 70 be positioned to overlap the non-heat-producing part 69B in the insertion direction, and spaced apart from the non-heat-producing part 69B. As a result, the gap S1 is provided between the non-heat-producing part 69B, which contributes relatively little to heating of the smokable substance 16, and the wall part 70. This makes it possible to reduce heat transfer to the wall part 70 while allowing a sufficient amount of aerosol to be generated through heating of the smokable substance 16 by the heat-producing part 69A. This results in the ability to reduce heat transfer to the stopper element 18 in contact with the wall part 70. If the consumable 10 does not include the stopper element 18, for example, the wall part 70 may be attached to the heater 62 with the wall part 70 positioned at a location corresponding to the upstream end of the smokable substance 16 that extends to the tip (upstream end) of the consumable 10. The wall part 70 is located near the root of the heater 62 in the longitudinal direction of the heater 62. The “root” of the heater 62 refers to a portion located at a position in the longitudinal direction that, when the heater 62 is inserted in the consumable 10, corresponds to the tip (upstream end) of the consumable 10.
As depicted, the wall part 70 preferably has a tapered face 71 such that the wall part 70 decreases in diameter in a direction from the rear end of the heater 62 toward the tip. As a result, as the heater 62 is inserted into the smokable substance 16 from the tip, the stopper element 18 in contact with the wall part 70 is pushed apart, and the gap S1 is formed between the stopper element 18 and the heater 62 with the wall part 70 interposed therebetween. At this time, the stopper element 18 is smoothly pushed apart due to the tapered face 71 of the wall part 70. This makes it possible to facilitate insertion of the heater 62 into the smokable substance 16.
Specifically, the wall part 70 is generally tubular in form and, due to the presence of the tapered face 71, continuously increases in diameter in a direction from the tip toward the rear end. In the depicted example, the wall part 70 is cylindrical. One end portion of the wall part 70 near the tip may be fixed to the heater 62. As for the method for fixing the wall part 70 to the heater 62, any suitable method can be selected from the group consisting of: a chemical fixation method such as fixation with an adhesive; a mechanical fixation method such as fixation by fitting engagement or by crimping or swaging; and a combination of these methods. The wall part 70 thus constitutes a component integral with the heater 62. The other end portion of the wall part 70 near the rear end may be provided with a flange 72 that is greater in diameter than the tapered face 71. As illustrated in
According to the embodiment, a heat insulation member is preferably provided between the wall part 70 and the heater 62. Heat transfer from the heater 62 to the wall part 70 can be thus further reduced. This results in the ability to further reduce heat transfer to the stopper element 18 in contact with the wall part 70. The heat insulation member may be disposed to fill the entire gap S1 between the wall part 70 and the heater 62, or may be disposed between the wall part 70 and the heater 62 in such a way that a portion of the gap S1 is allowed to remain. The heat insulation member may be, for example, a known heat insulation member such as aerogel.
Reference is now made to another embodiment of the heating part 60.
Unlike the heating part 60 illustrated in
As depicted, the second portion 73B preferably includes the non-heat-producing part 69B. As a result, the gap S1 is provided between the second portion 73B, which contributes relatively little to heating of the smokable substance 16, and the stopper element 18. This makes it possible to further reduce heat transfer to the stopper element 18 while allowing a sufficient amount of aerosol to be generated through heating of the smokable substance 16 by the heat-producing part 69A.
The first portion 73A and the second portion 73B are preferably coaxial with each other. If the central axis of the second portion 73B is located outside the cross-section of the first portion 73A, this may result in the risk that the second portion 73B comes into contact with the inner face of the through-hole h1 that has been formed in the stopper element 18 by the first portion 73A. If the first portion 73A and the second portion 73B are coaxial with each other, adjusting the shape of the second portion 73B allows the entire second portion 73B to be positioned inside the outer circumferential face of the first portion 73A. As a result, the gap S1 can be provided between the stopper element 18 and the entire circumference of the second portion 73B. This makes it possible to further reduce heat transfer to the stopper element 18.
Further, it is preferable that when viewed in the insertion direction, the entire second portion 73B be positioned inside the outer circumferential face of the first portion 73A. As a result, the gap S1 can be provided between the stopper element 18 and the entire circumference of the second portion 73B. This makes it possible to further reduce heat transfer to the stopper element 18.
The foregoing description of embodiments of the invention is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiments described herein. Various modifications can be made within the scope of the technical idea described in the claims, the specification, and the drawings. Any shapes or materials not directly described in the specification and the drawings are also considered to fall within the scope of the technical idea of the invention insofar as such shapes or materials provide the effects/advantages of the invention.
The present invention contains subject matter related to PCT Application No. PCT/JP2021/042899 filed on Nov. 24, 2021, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | PCT/JP2021/042899 | Nov 2021 | WO |
Child | 18638720 | US |