Smoking substitute system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025386864-A1
Application number	US-202519189076-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 24, 2025
Priority date	Mar 22, 2019
Publication date	Dec 25, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

A heat not burn device is disclosed. The heat-not-burn (HNB) device comprises a body (209) defining a cavity (222) and an opening (221) to the cavity for receipt of a heat-not-burn consumable therein. The device further includes a closure (250) moveable between a first position and a second position respectively. In the first position the closure covers the opening and in the second position the closure is retracted so as to be substantially concealed within the body. By providing the heat not burn device including the closure which covers the opening of the cavity may prevent entry of dust/dirt particles into the cavity. Further, the presence of the closure may prevent particles of aerosol-forming-substrate (e.g. tobacco) which have accumulated within the device from falling out of the cavity of the device.

First claim

1 .- 207 . (canceled)

208 . A heat-not-burn device comprising:
a body defining a cavity and an opening to the cavity for receipt of a heat-not-burn consumable therein; a closure moveable between: a first position in which it covers the opening; and a second position in which the closure does not cover the opening; wherein, in the second position, the closure is substantially concealed within the body.

209 . The heat not burn device according to claim 208 , wherein the device comprises means to hold the closure in one or more of the first position and the second position.

210 . The heat not burn device according to claim 209 , wherein the means to hold the closure is a detent comprising a raised feature on a surface of the device body.

211 . The heat-not-burn device according to claim 208 , wherein the closure is provided with a handle external to the body of the device for allowing a user to move the closure between the first position and the second position.

212 . The heat-not-burn device according to claim 208 , wherein the closure is a made of flexible material.

213 . A heat-not-burn device comprising:
a body defining a cavity and an opening to the cavity for receipt of a heat-not-burn consumable therein; a closure for covering the opening; a sensor for detecting a position of the closure; a heater for heating the consumable when received in the cavity; and a controller configured to receive a signal from the sensor, indicative of a position of the closure, and to control the heater in response to the received signal.

214 . The heat not burn device according to claim 213 , wherein the closure moves between:
a first position, wherein the closure covers the opening of the cavity; and a second position, wherein the closure does not cover the opening, and wherein the closure is substantially concealed within the body.

215 . The heat not burn device as claimed in claim 214 , wherein the sensor is configured to generate a signal upon detecting that the closure is in the first position, and wherein the controller deactivates the heater based on the received signal.

216 . The heat-not-burn device according to claim 214 , wherein the closure is provided with a handle external to the body of the device allowing a user to move the closure between the first position and the second position.

217 . The heat-not-burn device according to claim 214 , wherein the closure comprises biasing means which urge the closure into one or both of the first position and the second position.

218 . The heat not burn device according to claim 217 , wherein the biasing means comprises a magnet or spring.

219 . The heat-not-burn device according to claim 208 , wherein the closure is interposed between the opening to the cavity and a rod heater, wherein the rod heater is disposed within the cavity along a longitudinal axis of the body.

220 . The heat-not-burn-device according to claim 208 , wherein the closure is at least one of a swiveling closure, a swinging closure, a sliding closure, and a lifting closure.

221 . The heat-not-burn device according to claim 208 , wherein the closure is movable between the first and the second position by a rotary movement.

222 . The heat-not-burn device according to claim 221 , wherein the closure comprises a member having a bore therethrough, the member being rotatable about an axis of rotation.

223 . The heat-not-burn device according to claim 222 , wherein said bore is perpendicular to said axis of rotation, the closure being configured such that when it is in said second position, the bore is aligned with a longitudinal axis of said body such that the bore and the cavity provide a passage for insertion of said consumable.

224 . The heat-not-burn device according to claim 223 , wherein the closure is configured such that when it is in said first position, the bore is aligned in a direction which is not parallel with said cavity, thereby closing the opening of the cavity.

225 . A method of operating a heat not burn device, the method comprising:
determining, a position of a closure for covering an opening of the device into which a heat-not-burn consumable is received in use; and controlling a heater of the device based on the determined position of the closure.

226 . The method of operating the heat not burn device according to claim 225 , wherein controlling the heater of the device comprises
determining, by a sensor associated with the controller, the position of the closure, wherein the controller deactivates the heater based on a signal received from the sensor when the closure is in a first position where the closure covers an opening of a cavity in the device.

227 .- 295 . (canceled)

296 . The heat-not-burn device according to claim 222 , wherein the member is a cylindrical member.

Assignees

• Imperial Tobacco Ltd

Inventors

• Ferrie Kate
• Shenton Ross
• Lomas Pete
• Aggarwal Nikhil
• Roebuck Jason Peter

Classifications

• H05B3/06

  Heater elements structurally combined with coupling elements or holders · CPC title

• A61M11/042

  electrical · CPC title

• A46B2200/3073

  Brush for cleaning specific unusual places not otherwise covered, e.g. gutters, golf clubs, tops of tin cans, corners · CPC title

• B25B27/14

  for assembling objects other than by press fit or detaching same · CPC title

• A61M2209/10

  Equipment for cleaning · CPC title