Heat-not-burn device and method
Inventors
Chong, Alexander ChinHak • Bartkowski, William • Crosby, David • Wayne, David
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10750787-B2
Publication Date
2020-08-25
Expiration Date
Abstract
A device for converting a consumable into an aerosol with high heat without burning the consumable by packaging the consumable containing an internal susceptor inside an encasement having a plurality of holes with an induction heating element wrapped around the consumable-containing package to heat the susceptor using a magnetic field generated by the induction heating element. Combustion of the consumable-containing package is minimized by limiting air inside the consumable-containing package by coating the encasement material that melts at high temperatures. The coating may also include a flavoring.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a device for smoking that uses a susceptor embedded in a consumable-containing unit and an encasement that encases the consumable-containing unit and the susceptor. The encasement includes a plurality of openings, or at least one opening, that are plugged by a coating, so that heating melts the coating and releases aerosol from the consumable-containing unit while the device limits unwanted combustion effects.
The consumable is described as tobacco powder pellets, including a first tobacco powder pellet and a second tobacco powder pellet forming a consumable-containing unit, with a susceptor sandwiched between the pellets. The encasement is described as an aluminum encasement that is cylindrical with first and second ends and folds of aluminum that space the encasement apart from an adjacent encasement, and the coating is described as propylene glycol alginate enhanced with a flavoring applied on the encasement to plug the plurality of openings.
The device further includes a filter and a housing that deploy the consumable for use. In one configuration, multiple encased consumable units are stacked end-to-end in a filter tube that is surrounded by a paper housing with a mouthpiece at a first end and an endcap at a second end, and an inductive heating element selectively heats each encasement a predetermined number of times at a predetermined temperature selected by a user to melt the coating and release aerosol.
Claims Coverage
The document provides three independent claims covering a complete smoking device architecture, a consumable-containing unit with embedded susceptor and coating-plugged opening with gap-eliminating filtration, and a manufacturing process for assembling the smoking device by embedding the susceptor, placing into an encasement with an opening, applying a coating, and integrating into filter and housing. Across these claims, there are five main inventive areas.
Selective inductive heating for coating-melting aerosol release
An inductive heating element configured and programmed to selectively heat each encasement a predetermined number of times at a predetermined temperature selected by a user, the predetermined temperature being sufficient to melt the coating and release aerosol from the consumable-containing unit.
Coating-plugged openings in an aluminum encasement
An aluminum encasement encasing the consumable-containing unit and the susceptor, wherein the encasement comprises a plurality of openings and a coating of propylene glycol alginate enhanced with a flavoring is applied on the encasement to plug the plurality of openings.
Stacked filter tube and paper housing deployment with mouthpiece and endcap
A filter tube holding a plurality of encasements stacked end-to-end, a paper housing wrapped around the filter tube, a mouthpiece positioned at a first end of the paper housing, and an endcap positioned at a second end of the paper housing opposite the first end.
Resonant frequency establishment using current and peak voltage monitors
A controller comprising processor based control of frequency, a current monitor to determine power delivery, and a peak voltage monitor across the induction heating element to establish resonance.
Consuming unit with embedded susceptor and opening plugged by coating
A consumable-containing unit with a susceptor embedded within the consumable-containing unit, an encasement encasing the consumable-containing unit and the susceptor wherein the encasement comprises an opening, and a coating to plug the opening.
Gap-eliminating filter surrounding the encasement
A filter configured to surround the encasement in a manner that eliminates a gap between the filter and the encasement.
Manufacturing sequence embedding susceptor, coating opening, inserting into filter and housing
Embedding a susceptor into a consumable-containing unit; placing the consumable-containing unit and the susceptor into an encasement having an opening; applying a coating onto the opening; placing the encasement into a filter; and placing the filter containing the encasement into a housing.
Claim coverage centers on an encasemented consumable unit whose openings are plugged by a propylene glycol alginate enhanced coating that is melted by selective inductive heating to release aerosol, combined with packaging that surrounds stacked encasements with gap-eliminating filtration and a mouthpiece/endcap housing. The complete device includes inductive heating control using processor-based frequency control, current monitoring, and peak voltage monitoring to establish resonance.
Stated Advantages
Melt the coating to release aerosol from the consumable-containing unit of the respective encasement being heated.
Minimize combustion/toxic byproducts by melting or clearing a coating that limits air exposure to the openings while allowing aerosol release.
Documented Applications
A device for smoking that can be stowed and deployed with a mouthpiece projecting out from an aerosol producing device.
A manufacturing method of assembling a device for smoking by embedding a susceptor into a consumable-containing unit, placing into an encasement, applying a coating, inserting into a filter, and placing the filter into a housing.
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