MX2008008555A - Cigarette substitute - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a cigarette substitute, comprising a hollow tubular element (1) provided with a generator of products to be inhaled (7, 8), with internal heating means (6) for heating the inspired air or at least part of the generator of products to be inhaled, and with a device (8) for triggering the generator of products to be inhaled. It is characterized in that the triggering device comprises an element (8) sensitive to the heat produced by heating means that are situated outside the substitute (1) and are independent of the latter, said heat-sensitive element (8) being made of a material that cannot ignite or burn under the conditions of normal use of the substitute (1). It is thus possible to activate the cigarette substitute with the aid of a flame, without thereby causing combustion of the generator of products to be inhaled.

Description

SUBSTITUTE FOR CIGARETTE Field of the Invention The invention relates to a cigarette substitute that includes a hollow tubular element provided with a generator of inhalable products, internal heating means for heating the aspirated air or at least part of the inhalable product generator, and a device to activate the generator of inhalable products.

Background of the Invention People wishing to quit smoking have an arsenal of medical and non-medical aids at their disposal. Quitting smoking requires not only getting rid of nicotine, but also losing the reflex of lighting a cigarette. These two factors are the main source of failure of the treatments of loss of habit. For this purpose, different cigarette substitutes have been proposed that, while simulating the gesture of smoking a cigarette, do not release toxic substances from real cigarettes, such as tar. According to the models, said substitutes only release nicotine or only an aromatic and / or flavoring agent, or both. It is known, through WO 2005 009152 A cigarette imitation consisting of a cylindrical body made of plastic material in which there is, at one end, a plug that lets ambient air pass, natural essences located between two filters , and a mouthpiece Therefore, this cigarette imitation only releases effluvia of natural essences.

Through WO 2005 099494 A, an electronic cigarette with nicotine aerosol is known, which includes, in a helmet, an electronic circuit, a constant pressure cavity, a sensor, a gas-liquid separator, an atomizer and a flask. of power, the electronic circuit being composed of an electronic switching circuit and a high frequency generator. This electronic cigarette allows the smoker to receive a dose of nicotine. These two cigarette substitutes provide the smoker with a cold breath of natural essences or nicotine, far from the sensations he usually feels when smoking a real cigarette. Therefore, cigarette substitutes have been proposed in which the aspirated air is heated, either directly, or by means of the inhalable product generator. In any case, the user sucks a mouthful of heated air charged with the product to be inhaled. DE 199 35 706 A1 discloses an example of the first embodiment. It is a cigarette that includes, arranged one behind the other, an incandescent wire, a battery, a switch activated by the aspiration and a filter soaked in nicotine and, where appropriate, a flavoring agent (menthol). The aspirated air is heated by the incandescent wire, and passes through the filter, where it is loaded with nicotine. Therefore, this cigarette supplies hot air rich in nicotine. A similar device is observed in DE 297 13 866 Ul. In US 4 945 931 A, a valve activated by suction causes the spray of a spray contained in a pressurized bottle. This spray, mixed with air sucked simultaneously, it is heated by means of an electrical resistance before being inhaled. Numerous documents propose the second solution. For example, EP 0 430 559 A2 discloses an article that produces an aroma in which the aroma generator is in direct contact with a heating resistance. Due to the effect of the heat produced by the heating resistance, the aroma generator releases its or its substances that the user then inhales. EP 0 503 767 A1 discloses a similar device. DE 198 54 005 Al proposes a cigarette substitute in which a material that can generate an aerosol is surrounded by an electrical resistance. By pressing a button or by means of a control device, the resistance is heated and the air is drawn through the material that releases the aerosol before being inhaled. EP 0 845 220 Al discloses an article that produces a scent. In said article, the aromatic substance is placed in a tank that is provided with a channel that conducts the liquid to discharge ports. Due to the heat, the liquid placed in the discharge ports vaporizes before being sucked by the user. The deposit is removable and can be replaced. This device is especially complicated and expensive.

Different means of controlling the heating device are proposed. A first solution consists in providing a switch that closes the electric circuit when pressed (EP 0 845 220 Al, DE 297 13 866 Ul, DE 198 54 005 Al). Other devices provide for heating When vacuuming, for example with the help of a valve displaced by the sucked air. In case of aspiration, said valve moves and causes the heating circuit to close (DE 199 35 706 Al, US 4 945 931). Finally, other systems provide an electronic circuit that controls the more or less long and more or less important heating of the air or the substrate, starting the heating by pressing a switch (see EP 0 430 559 A2, EP 0 503 767 Al). In all these examples, the user recovers the sensation of inhaling a mouthful of air enriched with various products, close to the one he usually inhales with a real cigarette. However, he lacks the gesture of lighting the cigarette. However, this gesture is an important element of the smoker's ritual, and its absence is one of the causes of the failure of traditional deprivation. Therefore, some documents have proposed heating means that are previously ignited by a flame and then consumed without smoke emission. Thus, EP 1 600 066 A2 discloses an article for smoking which serves as an aerosol for a flavoring agent. It is shaped like a cigarette with a balsa core that serves as a fuel source, surrounded by a large proportion of non-combustible mineral material impregnated with the flavor agent, all contained in a non-combustible shell closed at one end by a traditional filter. The shell and the non-combustible mineral material are consumed forming ash that the smoker can shake as usual. In the present case, it can be thought that the puff aspirated by the smoker is heated due to the combustion of the balsa core. However said puff is rich not only in aerosol, but also in products of combustion that can be harmful. • In the same category of articles for smokers, it is known from document EP 1 468 618 A a cigarette substitute that includes a hollow cylindrical element equipped with a heat generator at one of its ends, and a nozzle at its other end . Close to the heat generator, a flavor generator including a plurality of granules containing flavoring substances is provided. Another flavor-generating device is disposed at a distance from the first for substances that do not require heating. In this smoker article, the heat generator is largely carbon-based. Therefore, it is necessary to ignite the heat generator so that it is consumed by providing heat. Channels are provided inside the heat generator to allow air to pass through it without being in contact with the material being consumed. Also here, the cigarette releases products of the combustion of the material that constitutes the heat generator. In these two documents, the cigarette substitute is activated by igniting by means of a flame a combustible product which, when consumed, ensures the heating either of the inspired air or of the substrate that produces the aerosol. Therefore, the flame initiates a combustion that continues throughout the use of the substitute. Even if in some cases the products of combustion are not directly inhaled, they are released in the direct surroundings of the smoker and those around him, greatly reducing the interest of said substitutes.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION Therefore, the object of the invention is to propose a cigarette substitute which provides the smoker with a mouthful of hot air enriched with aromatic or flavor product, which requires the use of a lighter or a phosphorus to activate it, without therefore cause the combustion of a product. This object according to the invention is achieved because the starting device includes an element sensitive to a heat input produced by heating means located on the outside of the substitute and independent thereof., said element being sensitive to a supply of heat in a material that can not be ignited or consumed under the conditions of normal use of the substitute. While no external heat is applied to the element sensitive to the contribution of external heat, the cigarette substitute can not function properly and no aerosol can be generated that contains the flavor or aromatic products, or any other product to be inhaled. Therefore, this cigarette substitute allows the smoker to maintain the ignition ritual by means of the flame of the lighter or phosphorus. However, said element sensitive to external heat does not become inflamed or consumed. As a result, no undesirable product is released. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the cigarette substitute further includes means for operating the internal heating means only when said heat sensitive element has been subjected to the heat generated by the means of heating. exterior heating. It is thus avoided that said internal heating means are put to use unnecessarily, before the aerosol can be produced. In a first embodiment of the invention, the starting device is a heat detector, preferably a bimetallic element, which is electrically connected to the internal heating means. In this way, when the heat detector checks the contribution of external heat, it sends a signal to the internal heating means, which can be put into operation. In a second embodiment of the invention, the inhalable product generator includes a reservoir, preferably interchangeable. In this way, it will be possible to reuse the cigarette substitute and choose between various flavor or aromatic products. In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the deposit is made in a material that can be destroyed at least in part by means of heating, without igniting or consuming, preferably by melting, or by breaking means, and the generator of inhalable products is endowed with means to absorb the content of the deposit when it is destroyed at least in part. It is possible that said means for heating the tank are constituted by the external heating means. In this way, the heat provided by the flame serves to partially melt the deposit, which releases its content in the absorption means that can be formed by a tampon, preferably made of a fabric and preferably interchangeable. Likewise, the means of heating the reservoir in the form of a heater resistor attached to a source of electrical energy commanded by the heat sensitive element. In this way, the heat provided by the flame is. detected by the element sensitive to external heat, which starts the heating of the tank by means of electrical resistance. Said electric resistance may be included in the tank itself or be a component of the cigarette substitute. It is preferable to locate the reservoir at the end of the tubular element opposite that intended to enter the mouth. To ensure heating of the air when the smoker sucks the cigarette substitute, means are provided for starting and stopping the electric heating element, the start-up means being preferably provided with first means for activating at least a portion of the electric heater element in case of aspiration and deactivate it when the aspiration ceases. In this way, it is possible to save a source of electrical energy by carrying out the complete heating only when the smoker sucks a puff. This also prevents the heating element from being too hot in the next puff. Furthermore, it is also possible, in order to ensure practically instantaneous heating, to provide the means for starting up second means for activating at least a part of the electric heating element after the first aspiration, without deactivating it when the aspiration ceases. In this way, once the heating element is activated at the moment of the first puff, a part of the heating element that gives activated and ensures, as in a real cigarette, a "basic heat". Therefore the air contained in the cigarette substitute is heated, and the next puff is hot from the start. In each puff, the rest of the heating element is activated, thus increasing the heat of the sucked air, as would a real cigarette by the effect of oxygen supply due to aspiration. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first and / or the second means for activating the heating element include a switch. This switch can be equipped, for example, with a weak recoil spring and with a disc that can let air through, the spring and the disc being arranged so that the disc closes an electrical circuit during an aspiration, and opens said circuit by the effect of the recoil spring when the suction stops. The simple fact of sucking air through the substitute causes a current of air that drags the disc against a metal plate, closing the circuit. As soon as the suction stops, the spring pushes the disc back and cuts the circuit. It is preferable that the cigarette substitute has an autonomous power source, preferably an electric battery or an accumulator. It may be useful to provide the cigarette substitute with an air speed regulator, preferably in the form of a perforated disk. In addition, it may be useful to provide the tubular element with a filter, at its end intended to enter the mouth, preferably a filter that imitates that of a real cigarette. It may also be favorable to provide, in the end of the tubular element opposite the end intended to enter the mouth, luminous means that simulate the incandescence of the cigarette, especially in the form of a tangle of heating resistors that can be attached to the source of electrical energy, preferably with the help of the means of putting into operation, the luminous means being able to present an opening for accessing the interior of the tubular element. In order for the smoker to perceive all the pleasure of a real cigarette, it is possible to provide a smoke generator, especially an electric smoke generator that can be connected to the energy source, preferably through the start-up means. It will be ensured that the smoke is not released in the mouth of the smoker. The invention is explained in more detail below, with the help of the single figure, which shows an exemplary embodiment. The cigarette substitute includes a hollow tubular element (1) closed at one of its ends (la) by a filter (2) and, at its other end (Ib) by light means (9) simulating the incandescence of the cigarette. Behind the filter (2), there is an air speed regulator (3). The latter can be made from a perforated disk. The diameter of the perforation is designed to oppose a brake to the air flow equivalent to the resistance to the aspiration of an authentic cigarette. Next, there is a switch (4) constituted, for example, by a perforated disc pivoting between an open rest position, separated from the plate contact, and a closed position in which it is attached to the contact plate. A return spring, not shown, tends to return it to the open rest position. When the smoker sucks a puff through the tubular element, the air current causes the perforated disc to close, thus closing the commutator (4). As soon as the air flow due to the suction stops, the spring returns the disc to its open rest position. The tubular element (1) also contains a heat generator (6) preferably constituted by heating resistors. A part of the heat generator (6) is intended to be activated only when the smoker sucks air through the cigarette substitute, while the rest must be activated even between two successive puffs. To do this, the means for starting the heating element include an electronic circuit (not shown) that ensures the command of said two parts. In another variant embodiment, the switch (4) can be provided with a double contact, the first contact reacting to the aspirations, while the second, once closed by the first aspiration, remains in this position even when the suction ceases . The heat generator (6) is powered by an electric battery (5). The flavor and / or odor agents are absorbed by a buffer (7). It is envisioned that said agents are initially contained in a reservoir (8) located in proximity to the buffer (7). In the "ignition" with the flame of the lighter, the heat provided is transmitted to the tank (8), which is destroyed by melting at least in part. The content of The reservoir (8) is brought into contact with the tampon (7), which absorbs it. In the embodiment example presented here, the tank (8) is a capsule whose shell is made of a material with a fairly low melting point. Likewise, it is possible to manually apply in a buffer (7) the products to be inhaled, for example with the help of a pipette. To do this, an access hole will be provided, for example in the light means (9) that close the "incandescent" end of the cigarette substitute. · If a tank is used, the size of the tank may be such as to obstruct the interior of the hollow tubular element (1), the end of which may be metallic. An external heat source, like the flame of a lighter, allows to melt the envelope of the capsule and release the liquid that will be absorbed by capillarity. Likewise, it is possible to surround the tank with a heating resistor which is connected to the stack by means of a switch (4) and, where appropriate, the electronic control circuit. In the first aspiration, once the substitute activated by the lighter flame detected by a detector not shown, the heating resistance melts, at least in part, the envelope of the capsule and releases its content, which is absorbed by the buffer ( 7). Another variant foresees activating the heater resistance directly by means of the external heat detector. The heating resistor can be integrated in the tank or be located around it when it is introduced into the tubular element (1). The exact order of the different components may vary depending on their volume and the desired effects.

In particular, it is possible to provide several reservoirs, some of which are located upstream of the heating element, to heat their contents at the time of aspiration, and others are located downstream so that their content does not pass through the heating element. By way of non-limiting example, the tube will have the dimensions of a cigarette. The discharge time of the power source may be of the order of 5 minutes. Although not shown in Figure 1, it is also possible to provide a smoke generator. The cigarette substitute of the invention functions in the following manner. First, the user must start the flavor or odor generator by bringing a source of heat outside the substitute. The simplest approach is the flame of a lighter or match. The element sensitive to said external heat is then activated. In the example presented here, the heat melts, at least in part, the tank (8), releasing its contents in the buffer (7). While this gesture has not taken place, the flavor or aromatic product remains enclosed in the tank (8), and the odor and / or flavor generator is not activated. As indicated above, a heat detector could be provided that would close the control circuit. This would have started the heating resistance located around or in the tank (8), causing partial fusion. Another alternative would have been to provide a heat detector, for example a bimetallic element that would provide a signal to a control circuit. The latter would have switched in the running position, allowing the use of the internal heating means (6) or causing the melting of the tank in the first aspiration.

The bimetallic element could also be designed so as to tear the tank after being deformed by the effect of the heat provided by the flame. Once the cigarette substitute has been started, it is sufficient to suck the air through the nozzle (la) to cause the internal heating means (6) to start operating. In the first use, the switch (4) closes, causing on the one hand the start-up of the heating element (6), as well as the incandescence of the filaments of the light means (9) and, where appropriate, the setting in progress of the resistance located in the tank, causing the release of its content, which is absorbed by the buffer (7). The sucked air enters passing through the luminous means, passes through the buffer (7), charging the flavor and / or odor agents, then passing said air through the heating element (6) where it is heated. Next, it passes through the holes of the switch disc (4) and those of the speed regulator (3), before passing through the filter (2) and reaching the mouth of the smoker. When the suction stops, the switch (4) is reopened by the effect of the spring or, if the switch is double, one of the switches is opened and the other is closed. Due to the opening of the switch (4) or of one of the switches, a part of the heating element stops being fed, as well as at least part of the filaments of the light means (9), while the other part of the element heater (6) and, where appropriate, the light means (9) are still powered thanks to the second switch that was closed or to an electronic command circuit. In this way, the air contained in the tubular element remains hot, without thereby overheating, and the end that simulates combustion remains slightly incandescent. The next aspiration again causes the total closure of the switch (4) and, therefore, the putting into tension of the assembly of the heating element and of all the filaments of the light means. Therefore, there is a very large similarity in use and appearance between the cigarette substitute of the invention and a real cigarette. The smoker maintains the ritual and the sensations of heat and flavor / smell that he perceived with a real cigarette, without suffering the inconveniences. The starting device according to the invention can be applied to all the cigarette substitutes known in the state of the art, the inventive principle being the need for a start by means of a lighter or a phosphor, before the substitute can be used.

List of references: 1 Hollow tubular element End to enter the mouth Ib End "incandescent" 2 Filter 3 Air speed regulator 4 Switch 5 Power source 6 Electric heater element 7 ampon 8 Tank 9 Luminous means

Claims (17)

Claims

1. - Cigarette substitute that includes a hollow tubular element (1) equipped with a generator of inhalable products (7, 8), internal heating means (6) to heat the aspirated air or at least a part of the generator of inhalable products ( 8), and a device (8) for activating the generator of inhalable products, characterized in that the activation device includes an element (8) sensitive to a heat supply produced by heating means located on the outside of the substitute (1) and independent thereof, said element (8) sensitive to a heat supply being made of a material that can not be ignited or consumed under the conditions of normal use of the substitute (1).

2. - Cigarette substitute, according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it also includes means for operating the internal heating means (6) only when said heat-sensitive element (8) has been subjected to the heat generated by the heating means outside.

3. "Cigarette substitute" according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the activation device is a heat detector, preferably a bimetallic element, which is electrically connected to the internal heating means (6).

4. - Cigarette substitute according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inhalable product generator includes a reservoir (8), preferably interchangeable.

5. - Cigarette substitute, according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the reservoir (8) is located at the end of the tubular element (1) opposite to (the) intended to enter the mouth. 6.- Cigarette substitute, according to the claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the tank (8) is made of a material that can be destroyed, at least in part, by heating means, without igniting or consuming, preferably by melting, or by means of breaking, and because the generator of inhalable products is provided with means (7) to absorb the contents of the tank (8) when it is destroyed at least in part. 7. - Cigarette substitute, according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the heating means of the tank (8) are formed by a heater resistor connected to a source of electrical energy (5) and commanded by the heat sensitive element and / or they are constituted by the external heating means. 8. - Cigarette substitute, according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the absorption means are constituted by a tampon (7), preferably made in a fabric and preferably interchangeable. 9. - Cigarette substitute according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the internal heating means are constituted by an electric heating element (6), preferably a heating resistor, attached to a source of electrical energy (5). 10. - Cigarette substitute, according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it includes means (4) for starting and stopping the electric heating element (6), the start-up means (4) being especially provided with first means for activating at least a part of the electric heating element (6) in the case of suction and deactivating it when the suction ceases. 11.- Cigarette substitute, according to the claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the start-up means (4) are provided with second means for activating at least a part of the internal heating element (6) after the first aspiration, without deactivating it when the aspiration ceases. 12.- Cigarette substitute, according to the claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the first and / or the second means for activating the internal heating element (6) include a switch provided with a weak recoil spring and a disc that can pass air, the spring and the disk being arranged so that the disk closes an electrical circuit at the moment of an aspiration and opens said circuit by effect of the recoil spring when the aspiration ceases. 13.- Cigarette substitute, according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it includes a source of autonomous electrical energy, preferably a battery or an accumulator (5). 14. Cigarette substitute according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is provided with an air speed regulator (3), preferably in the form of a perforated disc. 15. - Cigarette substitute according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tubular element (1) is provided, at its end intended to enter the mouth, of a filter (la), preferably a filter that imitates that of a real cigarette, said filter can be interchangeable. 1

6. - Cigarette substitute according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tubular element (1) is provided, at its end opposite the end intended to enter the mouth, with light means (9) that simulate the incandescence of the cigarette , especially in the form of a tangle of heating resistors which can be connected to a source of electrical energy (5), preferably thanks to the start-up means (4), the light means (9) being able to present an opening to access the interior of the tubular element. 1

7. - Cigarette substitute according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is provided with an electric smoke generator that can be connected to an energy source (5), preferably by means of the start-up means (4) , especially the first means of start-up.