`
`Ulllt?d States Patent [19]
`Brooks et al.
`
`[11] Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`4,947,874
`Aug. 14, 1990
`
`[54] SMOKING ARTICLES UTILIZING
`ELECI-RICAL ENERGY
`
`[75] Inventors: Johnny L. Brooks; Donald L.
`Roberts, both of Winston-Salem;
`8' 8mm’ Rural Han’ an °f
`
`.
`.
`[73] Asslgnee' R?!‘ Rey'mlds T°h°°° c‘mmy’
`wmsmn'salem’ N-C-
`21 A 1_ N _: 24
`[
`1
`pp
`0
`2,086
`[22] Filed:
`Sep. 8, 1988
`[51] 1111. cu ........................ .. A24D 1/00; A24F 1/00;
`A24F 47/00; A61M 16/00
`[52] US. Cl. .................................. .. 131/329; 131/273;
`131/194; 128/202.21; 128/203.26; 128/203.27;
`128/204_21
`
`[56]
`
`..................... ..
`0f
`128/202.21, 202.27, 203.12, 203.13, 203.15,
`204.21, 203.17, 203.26, 203.27, 204.13, 204.23
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`1,771,366 7/1930 wyss et a1- .
`1,968,509 7/1934 Timmy _
`2,057,353 10/1936 whimmore, In '
`2,104,266 l/ 1938 McCormick .
`2,974,669 3/1961
`.
`3’200’3 19 3/1965 Gllbel'f -_
`6/1975 Gmén. ‘
`,
`,
`11/1975 K010111161.
`3,943,941 3/1976 Boyd et al. ........................ .. 131/359
`4,133,318 1/1979 Gross et a1. .
`4,141,369 2/ 1979 Burruss .
`4,164,230 8/ 1979 Pearlnmn .
`4,193,411 3/1930 Fans "-31- -
`33am fail‘ 7'
`4,523,539 6/1985 Krauser .
`4,564,748 1/1986 Gupton .
`4,580,583 4/ 1986 Green, Jr. .
`
`4,708,151 11/ 1987 Shela!‘ -
`4,714,082 12/19s7 Banerjee eta]. .
`4,735,217 4/1988 Gerth et al. .
`4,756,318 7/1988 Clearman et a1. .
`4,771,796 9/1988 Myer .
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`174645 3/1986 European Pat. Off. .
`186280 7/1986 European Pat. Off. .
`212234 3/19s7 European Pat. on‘. .
`2653133 5/1978 Fed. Rep. of Germany .
`2704218 8/1978 Fed. Rep. of Germany .
`3300992 7/1984 Fed. Rep. of Germany .
`2128256 10 1972 F
`.
`48,23, 341973 13:?
`W086/02528 5/1986 PCT 111m Appl. .
`197946 4/1924 United Kingdom .
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`Tobacco and Tobacco smgke, wynder et a1”
`522 (1967).
`Primary Examiner-V. Millin
`
`and
`
`_
`_
`Cr_
`ABS
`_
`[57] _
`Smokmg artlcles employ an electrical resistance heating
`element and an electrical power source to prov1de a
`tobacco-?avored smoke or aerosol and other sensations
`of smoking. The smoking articles advantageously com
`prise a disposable portion and a reusable controller. The
`disposable portion, which may be a cigarette, normally
`includes (1) an air permeable resistance heating element
`h .
`“If
`hanl 2/
`hi h
`“mg ",5 ace area greater P
`m _g' “' c _‘_1s“‘
`ally 63.11168 an aerosol forming material, and (11) a
`charge or roll of tobacco. The reusable controller nor
`mally includes a puff-actuated current actuation means,
`a time-based current regulating means to control the
`temperature of the heating element, and a battery
`Pmve' supply
`
`202 Claims, 8 Drawing Sheets
`
`14
`
`/IO
`
`44 4a 42 3e '6 46
`49 44052 36 1e
`
`I2
`
`5s
`
`20
`
`58
`
`A
`
`28
`
`32
`
`62
`
`Exhibit 1005, Page 0001
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`
`
`Exhibit 1005, Page 0002
`
`
`
`US. Patent Aug. 14, 1990
`
`Sheet 2 of8
`
`4,947,874
`
`on mm 33 2 mm
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`Exhibit 1005, Page 0003
`
`
`
`US. Patent Aug. 14, 1990
`
`Sheet 3 of8
`
`4,947,874
`
`68 24 66 l2
`
`I8 36
`
`22
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`
`34A
`
`34B
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`Exhibit 1005, Page 0004
`
`
`
`I US. Patent Aug. 14, 1990
`
`Sheet 4 of8
`
`4,947,874
`
`‘I4 74 4842 I6 49 4e
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`as 52
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`
`Exhibit 1005, Page 0005
`
`
`
`US. Patent
`
`Aug. 14, 1990
`
`Sheet 5 of 8
`
`4,947,874
`
`Exhibit 1005, Page 0006
`
`
`
`US. Patent Aug. 14, 1990
`
`Sheet 6 of 8
`
`4,947,874
`
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`
`
`
`m3 mm mm. mm. =10! B. 3.
`
`_w_ 5. m9
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`
`Exhibit 1005, Page 0007
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 14, 1990
`
`Sheet 7 of 8
`
`4,947,874
`
`O_ .01
`
`wh
`
`ww
`
`mm
`
`m:
`
`Exhibit 1005, Page 0008
`
`
`
`Exhibit 1005, Page 0009
`
`
`
`1
`
`SMOKING ARTICLES UTILIZING ELECTRICAL
`ENERGY
`
`5
`
`20
`
`35
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`The present invention relates to cigarettes and other
`smoking articles such as cigars, pipes, and the like,
`which employ an electrical resistance heating element
`and an electrical power source to produce a tobacco
`?avored smoke or aerosol.
`Preferred smoking articles of the invention are capa
`ble of providing the user with the sensations of smoking
`(eg., smoking taste, feel, satisfaction, pleasure, and the
`like), by heating but not burning tobacco, without pro
`ducing sidestream smoke or odor, and without produc
`ing carbon monoxide. As used herein, the term “smok
`ing article” includes cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and the
`like, which use tobacco in various forms.
`Many smoking articles have been proposed through
`the years as improvements upon, or alternatives to,
`smoking products which burn tobacco.
`Many tobacco substitute smoldng materials have been
`proposed, and a substantial listing of such materials can
`be found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,079,742 to Rainer et al.
`Tobacco substitute smoking materials having the trade
`25
`names Cytrel and NSM were introduced in Europe
`during the 1970’s as partial tobacco replacements, but
`did not realize any long-term commercial success.
`Numerous references have proposed smoking articles
`which generate ?avored vapor and/or visible aerosol.
`Most of such articles have employed a combustible fuel
`source to provide an aerosol and/or to heat an aerosol.
`See, for example, the background art cited in U.S. Pat.
`No. 4,714,082 to Banerjee et al.
`However, despite decades of interest and effort, no
`one had successfully developed a smoking article which
`provided the sensations associated with cigarette or
`pipe smoking, without delivering considerable quanti
`ties of incomplete combustion and pyrolysis products.
`Recently, however, in European Patent Publication
`Nos. 174,645 and 212,234, and U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,708,151,
`4,714,082, and 4,756,318, assigned to R. J. Reynolds
`Tobacco Go, there are described smoking articles
`which are capable of providing the sensations associ
`ated with cigarette and pipe smoking, by heating but not
`burning tobacco, and without delivering considerable
`quantities of incomplete combustion -’products. Such
`articles rely on the combustion of a fuel element for heat
`generation, resulting in the production of some combus
`tion products.
`Over the years, there have been proposed numerous
`smoking products, ?avor generators and medicinal in
`halers which utilize electrical energy to vaporize or
`heat a volatile material, or attempt to provide the sensa
`tions of cigarette or pipe smoking without burning to
`bacco.
`U.S. Pat. No. 2,057,353 to Whittemore, Jr. proposed
`a vaporizing unit. In particular, a wick reportedly car
`ried liquid medicament by capillary action to a point
`where the liquid was vaporized by an electrical resis
`tance heating element.
`U.S. Pat. No. 2,104,266 to McCormick proposed an
`article having a pipe bowl or cigarette holder which
`included a resistance coil (i) wound on an insulating and
`heat resisting material, and (ii) contained in an insulated
`65
`chamber. Prior to use of the article, the pipe bowl was
`filled with tobacco or the holder was fit with a ciga
`rette. Current then was passed through the resistance
`
`4,947,874
`2
`coil. Heat produced by the resistance coil was transmit
`ted to the tobacco in the bowl or holder, resulting in the
`volatilization of various ingredients from the tobacco.
`A thermostatic switch was employed to maintain a
`predetermined temperature range to which the tobacco
`was heated.
`U.S. Pat. No. 3,200,819 to Gilbert proposed a smoke
`less, non-tobacco cigarette having a ?avor cartridge,
`such as a porous substrate impregnated with mentho
`lated water. The article included a battery for powering
`a tube or bulb which was illuminated before assembly.
`The bulb was placed in a tubular liner, which was in
`turn located within a tube of plastic having the size,
`color and form of a cigarette. In use, the illuminated
`bulb reportedly heated the ?avored air drawn through
`passages formed between the bulb and the tubular liner.
`As such, warm, moist, ?avored air was delivered to the
`user.
`French Patent Publication No. 2,128,256 to Ribot et
`al proposed an article for delivering denicotinized
`_ smoke. The proposed article included a sealed ampule
`which contained pressurized denicotinized smoke. An
`electric resistor was immersed in the smoke. In use, the
`terminals of the resistor were pushed into contact with
`a microbattery causing the resistor to generate heat and
`heat the smoke within the ampule. Draw by the user
`reportedly caused warm smoke to exit a valve near the
`mouthend of the article.
`Japanese Patent Publication 8231/73 to Takeda pro
`posed a cigar-shaped inhaler which included a battery
`powered Nichrome wire to heat air that, in turn, evapo
`rated an essence from an essence container. The Ni
`chrome wire was energized by either a manually
`actuated or a draw actuated “on-oft“ switch.
`West German Patent Application No. 2,653,133 to
`Kovacs proposed a smoking simulator having an inter
`nal battery which could accelerate or control the vapor
`ization or emission of aromatic substances for delivery
`to the user. In supplemental West German Patent Ap
`plication No. 2,704,218, Kovacs described the use of a
`vacuum or draw-actuated switch to switch “on” the
`battery operated heating coil.
`A draw actuated, pressure transducer switch was
`described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,246,913 to Ogden et al, as
`part of a smoke aversion therapy article which deliv
`ered a small electrical shock to a smoker whenever the
`smoker drew on a cigarette.
`U.S. Pat. No. 4,141,369 to Burruss proposed an article
`similar to the previously discussed McCormick articles.
`Burruss proposed a container which was electrically
`heated to a temperature sufficient to volatilize desired
`components from smoking material inserted therein.
`Heated air passing through the container during draw
`reportedly carried volatilized materials to the mouth of
`the user.
`U.S. Pat. No. 4,303,083 to Burruss proposed a pipe
`having an electrical resistance heating element, a manu
`ally operated “on-oft" power switch, and an opening
`above the resistance element for the addition of volatile
`compound. During use, the volatile compound was
`applied, using a squeeze tube or eye dropper, to a heated
`surface within the pipe, apparently on a puff-by-puff
`basis. The volatile compounds reportedly were vapor
`ized, mixed with air drawn into the pipe, and inhaled by
`the user.
`PCT Publication No. WO 86/02528 to Nilsson et al
`proposed an article similar to that described by McCor
`
`40
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`Exhibit 1005, Page 0010
`
`
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`4,947,874
`3
`4.
`mick. Nilsson et al proposed an article for releasing
`pyrolysis products including carbon monoxide or any
`volatiles from a tobacco material which had been
`sidestream smoke or odor. Preferred articles can pro
`duce aerosol almost immediately upon commencement
`treated with an aqueous solution of sodium carbonate.
`The article resembled a cigarette holder and reportedly
`of a puff, as well as provide the controlled production
`of aerosol throughout the puff and over the 6 to 10 puff
`included a battery operated heating coil to heat an un
`tipped cigarette inserted therein. A switch was acti
`life of a typical cigarette.
`vated to supply current to the heating coil. A tempera
`In one aspect of the invention, the smoking article
`ture sensor reportedly disconnected and reconnected
`includes a cigarette or a disposable portion (eg., a car
`the battery in order to maintain the temperature gener
`tridge) which utilizes an air permeable high surface area
`electrical resistance heating element that normally
`ated by the device in a narrow temperature range. Air
`drawn through the device reportedly was subjected to
`carries aerosol forming and/or tobacco ?avor sub—
`elevated temperatures below the combustion tempera
`stances prior to use. This resistance heating element
`ture of tobacco and reportedly liberated tobacco ?avors
`typically is a porous material having a surface area
`from the treated tobacco contained therein.
`greater than 1 m2/ g, as determined using the Brunaver,
`U.S Patent No. 4,735,217 to Gerth et al proposed a
`Emmett and Teller (BET) method described in J. Am.
`“cigarette-shaped” medicament dosing article having a
`Chem. 800., Vol. 60, p. 309 (1968); and Adsorption Sur
`pellet of vaporizable medicament and a Nichrome resis
`face Area and Porosity, Gregg et al, Academic Press,
`tance heating element connected in series with a battery
`N.Y. (1967). Preferably, the heating element is a ?brous
`power source and a draw actuated switch. In their only
`carbon material, most preferably having a surface area
`working example, the Nichrome heating element alleg
`greater than about 1,000 mzg. (In contrast, the surface
`edly achieved a temperature in the range of 190° F. to
`area of the Nichrome metal resistance element of Gerth
`220° F. (90° C. to 105° C.) within a two second puff,
`et al is believed to be about 0.01 mzg.) Preferably, such
`porous heating elements are impregnated with liquid
`which apparently was suf?cient to volatilize menthol
`from a menthol pellet. At Column 8, lines 43-63, Gerth
`aerosol forming substances, such as glycerin, and with
`et al. went on to speculate that their article could be
`tobacco extracts. Such heating elements are particularly
`used to vaporize nicotine from a nicotine-containing
`advantageous in that they are capable of holding and
`efficiently releasing relatively large quantities of liquid
`pellet and that they believed it feasible to coat the heat
`ing element with a nicotine-containing compound in
`aerosol forming substances and tobacco ?avor materi
`lieu of using a vaporizable pellet.
`als. For example, such heating elements can carry
`enough aerosol forming substances to provide aerosol
`However, it is believed that it would not be possible
`to coat a Nichrome heating element, of the type de
`for 6 to 10 puffs, or more.
`scribed by Gerth et al, with enough vaporizable liquid
`The cigarette or disposable portion includes tobacco,
`material to deliver sufficient volatile material to the
`such as a roll or charge of cut ?ller. Other forms of
`user, over the 6 to 10 puff life of a typical cigarette. It
`tobacco also can be used.
`also is believed that the article of Gerth et al would not
`Another aspect of the invention relates to a reusable
`be able to provide enough electrical energy to (i) vapor
`controller which can be used with the cigarettes or
`ize volatile material until near the end of a typical two
`disposable portions of the invention, as well as with
`second puff, or (ii) provide a high enough temperature
`other resistance heating aerosol producing articles. This
`(e.g., 150° C. to 350° C.) to vaporize many volatile
`reusable controller normally includes a current actua
`materials within a two second puff, including many
`tion means, a separate current regulating means to con
`desirable aerosol forming substances and most volatile
`trol the temperature of the heating element, and a bat
`tery power supply. Alternatively, the electrical power
`tobacco ?avor components. In addition, even with only
`a single AA battery, the article described by Gerth et al.
`supply can be provided separately from the current
`is more than 3 times the diameter and many times
`actuation and current regulating means; e. g., as a sepa
`heavier than a typical cigarette and is provided with a
`rate battery pack or as normal household current
`relatively imprecise draw actuated control switch and
`stepped down by an appropriate transformer. The reus
`with no means of regulating the current or heat during
`able controller can be in the form of a pipe, a reusable
`the puff.
`cigarette holder, or a hand-held unit or other portable
`Despite many years of interest and effort, none of the
`form into which the disposable portion can be inserted.
`foregoing articles employing electrical energy has ever
`The use of such a reusable article with the cigarette and
`disposable portions of the invention is particularly ad
`realized any signi?cant commercial success, and it is
`vantageous in that it permits the use of (i) relatively
`believed that none has ever been widely marketed.
`Moreover, it is believed that none of the foregoing
`large power sources, capable of generating 10 to 40
`electrical energy articles is capable of providing the
`watts of power or more, and (ii) accurate and sophisti
`user with the sensations of cigarette or pipe smoking.
`cated current actuation and current regulating means
`Thus, it would be desirable to provide a smoking
`that normally would be too costly to incorporate into a
`single use, disposable article.
`article which can provide the sensations of cigarette or
`pipe smoking, which does not burn tobacco or other
`Preferably, the current actuation means is puff actu
`material, and which does not produce combustion prod
`ated, so that current ?ows through the resistance heat
`ing element to produce aerosol only during draw by the
`ucts.
`user.
`The current regulating means normally functions
`only during periods of current actuation, and preferably
`is time based. That is, the current regulating means
`preferably is based on controlling the time period dur
`ing which current passes through the resistance element
`during draw. This, in turn, controls the temperature
`experienced by the resistance element and by the aero
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`The present invention relates to cigarettes and other
`smoking articles which employ an electrical resistance
`heating element and an electrical power source to pro
`vide a tobacco-?avored smoke or aerosol and other
`sensations of smoking, without burning tobacco or
`other substances, without producing any combustion or
`
`30
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`35
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`45
`
`55
`
`65
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`Exhibit 1005, Page 0011
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`
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`20
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`4,947,874
`6
`5
`sol forming substances. The current regulating means
`includes means for connecting the resistance element to
`normally includes an electrical control circuit which
`the battery or other external power source, and prefera
`maximizes initial heating of the heating element, until a
`bly includes an air passageway used in conjunction with
`desired temperature range for volatilization of the aero
`the preferred puff actuated current actuation means. In
`sol former and the tobacco ?avor substances is reached,
`other preferred embodiments, the disposable portion is
`usually between about 150° C. and about 350° C. There
`adapted for connection to the external power source via
`after, the control circuit, by regulating, restricting or
`connectors located on the reusable controller. In certain
`interrupting current ?ow through the resistance ele
`preferred embodiments, the resistance heating element
`ment, normally maintains the heating element within
`is located centrally in the disposable portion and/ or
`the desired temperature range during the balance of the
`does not occupy a signi?cant portion of the cross-sec
`puff and/or ensures that the heating element does not
`tional area of the disposable portion. In other preferred
`overheat during puf?ng.
`embodiments, the resistance heating element is located
`Preferably, the time-based current regulating means
`adjacent an end of the disposable portion, and/or at
`includes a means for permitting uninterrupted current
`least substantially ?lls the cross-sectional area of the
`?ow through the heating element for an initial period
`disposable portion or the air passageway therethrough.
`after current actuation, thus permitting rapid heating of
`In another aspect of the invention, the current actua
`the resistance element. The current regulating means
`tion means, the current regulating means, and/or the
`preferably includes a timer means for subsequently reg
`electrical power source may be incorporated into the
`ulating or interrupting current ?ow through the heating
`portion of the smoking article containing the electrical
`element, such as by repeated off-on switching, to con
`resistance heating element, so that the reusable control
`’ trol the average current ?ow through the heating ele
`ler may be reduced in size or even eliminated.
`ment during the balance of the puff. This, in turn, con
`Yet another aspect of the invention relates to a cur
`trols the temperature range experienced by the heating
`rent control circuit for resistance heating aerosol pro
`element. More preferably, the current regulating means
`ducing articles which includes the current regulating
`also includes a means to prevent the heating element
`means described herein.
`from overheating during rapid puf?ng.
`Preferred smoking articles of the invention are capa
`Depending upon factors such as the wattage gener
`ble of delivering an average of at least 0.5 mg, more
`ated by the power source and the resistivity of the heat
`preferably at least 0.8 mg, of aerosol per puff, measured
`ing element, preferred current regulating means of the
`as wet total particulate matter (WT PM), under standard
`invention are capable of producing almost immediate
`FTC smoking conditions of 2 second, 35 m1 puffs, taken
`aerosol generation upon puf?ng, preferably within
`once every 60 seconds. Preferred smoking articles of
`about 0.5 second, more preferably within about 0.1
`the invention can deliver such aerosol, preferably in
`second. Such preferred regulating means also ensure
`visible form, for a plurality of puffs, preferably at least
`that sufficient aerosol forming and tobacco ?avor sub
`about 6 puffs, more preferably at least about 10 puffs,
`stances remain for later puffs, and that such substances
`under such conditions.
`are not degraded by exposure to excessive tempera
`Smoking articles of the invention also are capable of
`tures.
`providing an aerosol which is chemically simple. A
`To use the smoking articles of the invention, the user
`chemically simple aerosol consists essentially of air, the
`simply inserts the cigarette or disposable portion into
`aerosol former, tobacco volatiles, and desired ?avor
`the controller, to electrically connect the heating ele
`40
`ants. This aerosol preferably has no signi?cant muta
`ment to a circuit including the current actuation and
`genic activity according to the Ames test; Ames et al,
`current regulating means and to the battery. When the
`Mat. Res., 31:347-364 (1975); Nagao et al, Mut. Res.,
`user draws on the mouthend of the article, the preferred
`42:335 (1977).
`current actuation and current regulating means permit
`As used herein, and only for the purposes of this
`unrestricted or uninterrupted ?ow current through the
`application, “aerosol” is de?ned to include vapors,
`resistance heating element to generate heat rapidly.
`gases, particles, and the like, both visible and invisible,
`This heating volatilizes the aerosol forming and/or
`and especially those components perceived by the user
`tobacco ?avor substances, which in turn form an aero
`to be “smoke-like,” generated by action of heat from the
`sol and pass through the article and into the mouth of
`resistance heating element upon aerosol forming sub
`the user. At the same time, the current regulating means
`stances and/ or tobacco ?avor substances located on the
`(i)vregulates current flow through the heating element
`resistance element or elsewhere in the article.
`to control heating of the resistance element and the
`The articles of the present invention are described in
`temperature experienced thereby, and (ii) prevents
`greater detail in the accompanying drawings and in the
`overheating and degradation of the aerosol former.
`detailed description of the invention which follows.
`When the user stops drawing on the article, the current
`actuation means prevents further current ?ow through
`the heating element and disables the current regulating
`means. This process continues, puff after puff, until the
`user decides to stop drawing on the article. At that
`point, the cigarette or disposable portion can be re
`moved and discarded, and a new one inserted in its
`place.
`Another important aspect of the invention relates to
`the various con?gurations of the cigarette or disposable
`portions described herein. For example, in certain pre
`ferred embodiments, the disposable portion advanta
`geously is provided with an electrical connection means
`at one end thereof. This electrical connection means
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`FIG. 1 is a longitudinal, partial sectional view of a
`smoking article of this invention;
`FIG. 1A is a sectional view of a portion of the em
`bodiment shown in FIG. 1 taken along lines 1-1;
`FIG. 2 is a longitudinal, partial sectional view of a
`smoking article of this invention;
`FIG. 3 is a perspective of a smoking article of this
`invention including an exposed inner view of the reus
`able portion thereof;
`FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 are longitudinal, partial sectional
`views of preferred smoking articles of this invention
`
`60
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`65
`
`Exhibit 1005, Page 0012
`
`
`
`4,947, 874
`7
`showing the disposable portions and cut-away views of
`the controllers;
`FIGS. 7 and 8 are longitudinal sectional views of
`additional smoking articles of the invention;
`FIGS. 9 and 10 are representative schematic dia
`grams of time-based control circuits and related wiring
`for preferred controllers of the invention; and
`FIG. 11 depicts the temperature, average current and
`average voltage pro?les experienced by a resistance
`heating element during heating controlled by the pre
`ferred current regulating means of the invention.
`
`0
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`8
`ing moderate resistivities; porous substrates in intimate
`contact with resistance heating components; and the
`like.
`Preferably, the heating element 18 is impregnated
`with or otherwise carries the aerosol forming substance
`in order that the aerosol forming substance is in a heat
`exchange relationship with the electrical heating ele
`ment. The aerosol forming substance can be, for exam
`ple, a polyhydn'c alcohol, such as glycerin, propylene
`glycol, or a mixture thereof; water; a tobacco material
`such as a tobacco aroma oil, a tobacco essence, a spray
`dried tobacco extract, a freeze dried tobacco extract,
`tobacco dust, or the like, in order to provide tobacco
`?avor; or a combination thereof. Other suitable aerosol
`forming substances are well known in the art. See, for
`example, US Pat. Nos. 4,714,092 and 4,756,318. While
`the loading of the aerosol forming substance can vary
`from substance to substance and from heating element
`to heating element, the amount of liquid aerosol form
`ing substance used typically will be greater than about
`15 mg and preferably ranges from about 25 mg to about
`50 mg.
`A heat resistant, electrically insulative strip, tube or
`spacer 36, preferably is provided in order to maintain
`the heating element in place and to prevent the heating
`element from contacting itself. The insulative spacer 36
`can be a heat resistant plastic material (such as a poly
`imide), a cellulosic sheet treated with ?re retardant, an
`aluminum foil having a surface coating of aluminum
`oxide, an insulative ceramic material, or the like.
`The electrical connection plug 16 preferably is manu
`factured from a resilient, electrically insulative material
`such as a thermoplastic material. The plug 16 includes
`two electrical connector pins or prongs 38, 39 con
`nected to the ends of heating element 18 via connectors
`40, 41. The pins 38, 39 engage with electrical terminals
`v42, 43 located in electrical connection receptacle 44 of
`the controller 14. Plug 16 also includes a passageway 46
`through which tube 48 from pressure sensing switch 28
`extends. As shown in FIG. 1A, pins 38, 39 and passage
`way 46 are offset with respect to the longitudinal axis of
`plug 16.
`A portion of the length of the electrical connection
`plug 16 preferably is circumscribed by a collar 49 hav
`ing the form of a thermoplastic tube, which preferably
`is friction fit around a portion of the length of the plug.
`The collar 49 in turn is secured to the remaining portion
`of the cigarette via overwrap 24 using tipping paper 52
`or other appropriate means such as adhesive, a friction
`?t, or the like. Preferably, the collar 49 includes one or
`more peripheral air inlet openings 54 which provide a
`flow of ambient air through the cigarette during draw.
`Alternatively, the air inlet can be positioned through
`the extreme inlet end of the cigarette or elsewhere
`through the periphery of the cigarette, such that drawn
`ambient air passing through the cigarette to the mouth
`of the user passes the resistance element.
`The cigarette can include a plug spacer member 55
`positioned between the heating element 18 and the roll
`or charge of tobacco 20. The plug spacer member 55
`conveniently permits passage of aerosol therethrough,
`while preventing tobacco ?ller from contacting the
`heating element. The plug spacer member can be a
`cylindrical plug of pleated tobacco paper (eg., pleated
`tobacco paper of the type commercially available from
`Kimberly-Clark Corp. as Pl44-l85-GAPF Reconsti
`tuted Tobacco Sheet). Preferably, the spacer member is
`overwrapped with a paper overwrap 56.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
`Referring to FIG. 1, smoking article 10 includes a
`cigarette 12 and a reusable, hand-held controller 14.
`The cigarette 12 includes electrical connection plug 16,
`resistance heating element 18 carrying an aerosol form
`ing substance, a roll of tobacco 20, month end ?lter 22,
`and a resilient overwrap 24. The preferred controller 14
`includes a case 26, a puff actuated current actuation
`mechanism 28 having the form of a pressure sensitive
`switch, a time-based current control circuit 30, and a
`chamber 32 into which battery power supply 34 (shown
`as batteries 34A and 34B) is inserted.
`The resistance heating element 18 employed in ciga
`rette 12 preferably is a ?brous material having a high
`surface area and an adsorbant, porous, wettable charac
`ter, in order to carry a suitable amount of aerosol form
`ing substance for effective aerosol formation. Suitable
`heating elements preferably have surface areas above
`about 50 rnzg, more preferably above about 250 mzg,
`and most preferably above about 1,000 mzg.
`Preferred heating elements normally have low mass,
`low density, and moderate resistivity, and are thermally
`stable at the temperatures experienced during use. Such
`heating elements heat and cool rapidly, and thus pro
`vide for the ef?cient use of energy. Rapid heating of the
`element also provides almost immediate volatilization
`of the aerosol forming substance. Rapid cooling pre
`vents substantial volatilization (and hence waste) of the
`aerosol forming substance during periods when aerosol
`formation is not desired. Such heating elements also
`permit relatively precise control of the temperature
`range experienced by the aerosol forming substance,
`especially when the preferred time based current con
`trol means of the invention is employed.
`Preferred resistance heating elements include carbon
`?lament yarns available from American Kynol, Inc.,
`New York, N.Y., as Catalog Nos. CFY-0204-1, CFY
`0204-2, and CFY-0204-3. Such yarns typically have
`surface areas of about 1,500 mzg and resistivities of
`about 10 to about 30 milliohm-cm. See, Kirk-Othmer:
`Encycl. Chem. T ech., Vol. 16, 3rd Ed., pp. 135-136
`(1981). Representative lengths of such yarns range from
`about 15 mm to about 50 mm. Other preferred heating
`elements include carbon felts and activated carbon felts
`available from American Kynol, Inc, as Catalog Nos.
`CN-l57(HC), CN-2l0(HC), ACN-2l 1-10, ACN-210-l0,
`and ACN-l57-l0. Such felts typically have surface
`areas of about 1,500 mzg and resistivities of about 5 to
`about 30 milliohm-cm. Such felts can be used in the
`form of circular discs having diameters of about 4 to 8
`mm, as described in greater detail hereinafter with ref
`erence to FIGS. 4-6. Other suitable heating elements
`include porous metal wires or ?lms; carbon yarns,
`cloths, fibers, discs or strips; graphite cylinders, fabrics
`or paints; microporous high temperature polymers hav
`
`45
`
`50
`
`60
`
`65
`
`Exhibit 1005, Page 0013
`
`
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`4,947,874
`10
`puff, to heat the aerosol forming substance to a tempera
`The tobacco charge 20 can be tobacco ?ller such as
`strands or shreds of tobacco laminae, reconstituted to
`ture above about 120° C. in order to volatilize an appro
`bacco, volume expanded tobacco, processed tobacco
`priate amount of the aerosol forming substance. More
`typically, a temperature above about 150° C., often
`stems, or blends thereof. Extruded tobacco mat