United States Patent (19)
`Losee et al.
`
`54)
`(75)
`
`(73)
`
`21)
`22
`(51)
`(52)
`(58)
`
`(56)
`
`FLAVOR GENERATING ARTICLE
`Inventors: D. Bruce Losee, Righmond;
`Constance H. Morgan, Midlothian; F.
`Murphy Sprinkel, Glen Allen;
`Francis V. Utsch, Midlothian, all of
`Va.
`Assignee: Philip Morris Incorporated,
`Richmond, Va.
`Appl. No.: 615,590
`Filed:
`Nov. 19, 1990
`Int. Cl. ................................................ A24F 1/00
`U.S. C. .................................... 131/194; 131/335;
`131/270; 128/200.19; 128/202.21; 128/203.27
`Field of Search ............... 131/194, 270, 271,346,
`131/335-337,359, 351; 128/200.19, 202.21,
`203.17, 203.21, 203.27, 203.15, 203.23, 203.26,
`204.13, 204.17
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`1,771,366 7/1930 Wyss et al. .
`... 219/38
`1968,509 7/1934 Tiffany ..................
`... 219/38
`2,057,353 10/1936 Whittenore, Jr. ...
`... 13/12
`2,104,266 1/1938 McCormick ..........
`... 128/200
`2,442,004 5/1948 Hayward-Butt ..
`... 31/72
`2,974,669 3/1961 Ellis ...................
`... 128/208
`3,200,819 8/1965 Gilbert ......
`... 13/178
`3,363,633 1/1968 Weber .......
`... 31/185
`3,402,723 9/1968 Hu .................
`... 131/1.78
`3,482,580 12/1969 Hollabaugh...
`... 131/173
`3,804,100 4/1974 Fariello .........
`3,889,690 6/1975 Guarnieri............................ 31/185
`4,016,061 4/1977 Wasa et al. ....
`... 204/92 F
`4,068,672 1/1978 Guerra ..........
`... 131/170 A
`4,077,784 3/1978 Vayrynen ............................. 55/146
`4,131,119 12/1978 Blasutti................................ 131/187
`4,141,369 2/1979 Burruss .....
`... 131/71 A
`4,164,230 8/1979 Pearlman ..
`... 131/171 R
`4,193,411 3/1980 Faris et al.
`... 31/17 R
`4,215,708 8/1980 Bron ................................ 131/262 B
`4,219,032 8/1980 Tabatznik et al............... 13/170 A
`4,246,913 l/1981 Ogden et al. ................... 31/17. A
`4,256,945 3/1981 Carter et al...
`... 29/10.75
`4,259,970 4/1981 Green, Jr. .....
`... 131/330
`4,303,083 12/1981 Burruss, Jr. ......................... 31/27
`
`
`
`USOO5095921A
`5,095,921
`Patent Number:
`11
`45) Date of Patent: Mar. 17, 1992
`
`4,393,884 7/1983 Jacobs ................................. 13/273
`4,431,903 2/1984 Riccio .........
`... 219/238
`4,436,100 3/1984 Green, Jr. ........................... 131/330
`4,463,247 7/1984 Lawrence et al. .................. 219/236
`4,562,337 12/1985 Lawrence .......
`... 29/42
`4,570,646 2/1986 Herron ................................ 131/185
`4,580,583 4/1986 Green, Jr. ........................... 131/330
`4,621,649 ill/1986 Osterrath ............................ 131/85
`4,623,401 11/1986 Derbyshire et al. .................. 148/13
`4,637,407 1/1987 Bonanno et al. .................... 131/175
`4,659,912 4/1987 Derbyshire ......................... 219/535
`(List continued on next page.)
`ABSTRACT
`57
`An article is provided in which a flavor generating
`medium is electrically heated to combustion to evolve
`inhalable flavors or other components in vapor and/or
`aerosol form. The article has a plurality of charges of
`the flavor generating medium which are heated to com
`bustion sequentially to provide individual puffs.
`84 Claims, 11 Drawing Sheets
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`1202378 5/1985 Canada .
`87/104459 2/1988 China .
`0295122 12/1988 European Pat. Off. .
`0358002 3/1990 European Pat. Off. .
`0358114 3/1990 European Pat. Off. .
`3640917A1 8/1988 Fed. Rep. of Germany.
`3735704A1 5/1989 Fed. Rep. of Germany .
`61-68061 4/1986 Japan.
`WO86/02528 4/1986 PCT Int'l Appl. .
`2148079 5/1985 United Kingdom .
`2148676 5/1985 United Kingdom .
`2132539 7/1985 United Kingdom .
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`Excerpt from "NASA Tech Briefs,” Jul./Aug. 1988, p.
`31.
`"PTC Thermistors," Keystone Carbon Company prod
`uct literature.
`
`Primary Examiner-V. Millin
`Assistant Examiner-J. Doyle
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Charles B. Smith
`
`Philip Morris Products, S.A.
`Exhibit 1012
`Page 001
`
`

`

`5,095,921
`Page 2
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`4,682,010 7/1987 Drapeau et al. ........... 128/203.27 X
`4,694,824 9/1987 Ruderian .................... 128/203.27 X
`4,735,217 4/1988 Gerth et al... 13/273
`4,771,796 9/1988 Myer ........
`... 3/273
`4,776,353 10/1988 Lilja et al.....
`... 131/297
`4,837,421 6/1989 Luthy .................................. 219/272
`
`
`
`4,846,199 7/1989 Rose .................................... 131/329
`3:67 Eisea"O. 22
`487.989 ió/i985 Drews et al... 30/323
`4.5225015/1996 Brookset al....C. 128/20326
`4,945,931 8/1990 Gori .................................... 131/335
`4,947,874 8/1990 Brooks et al. ...
`... 131/329
`4,947,875 8/1990 Brooks et al. ....................... 131/330
`
`Philip Morris Products, S.A.
`Exhibit 1012
`Page 002
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 17, 1992
`
`Sheet 1 of 11
`
`5,095,921
`
`
`
`Philip Morris Products, S.A.
`Exhibit 1012
`Page 003
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar, 17
`
`y
`
`1992
`
`Sheet 2 of 11
`
`5,095,921
`
`
`
`Philip Morris Products, S.A.
`Exhibit 1012
`Page 004
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 17, 1992
`
`Sheet 3 of 11
`
`5,095,921
`
`
`
`Philip Morris Products, S.A.
`Exhibit 1012
`Page 005
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 17, 1992
`
`Sheet 4 of 11
`
`5,095,921
`
`
`
`Philip Morris Products, S.A.
`Exhibit 1012
`Page 006
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 17, 1992
`
`Sheet 5 of 11
`
`5,095,921
`
`
`
`Philip Morris Products, S.A.
`Exhibit 1012
`Page 007
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 17, 1992
`
`Sheet 6 of 11
`
`5,095,921
`
`
`
`Philip Morris Products, S.A.
`Exhibit 1012
`Page 008
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 17, 1992
`
`Sheet 7 of 11
`
`5,095,921
`
`
`
`Philip Morris Products, S.A.
`Exhibit 1012
`Page 009
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 17, 1992
`
`Sheet 8 of 11
`
`5,095,921
`
`
`
`Philip Morris Products, S.A.
`Exhibit 1012
`Page 010
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 17, 1992
`
`Sheet 9 of 11
`
`5,095,921
`
`
`
`Philip Morris Products, S.A.
`Exhibit 1012
`Page 011
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 17, 1992
`
`Sheet 10 of 11
`
`5,095,921
`
`
`
`Philip Morris Products, S.A.
`Exhibit 1012
`Page 012
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 17, 1992
`
`Sheet 11 of 11
`
`5,095,921
`
`
`
`
`
`4.
`
`>/E7////700
`
`
`
`
`
`Philip Morris Products, S.A.
`Exhibit 1012
`Page 013
`
`

`

`s
`
`1.
`
`FLAVOR GENERATING ARTICLE
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`This invention relates to articles in which discrete
`charges of a flavor generating media are burned to
`release tobacco flavors. More particularly, this inven
`tion relates to electrically heated articles.
`It is known to provide smoking articles in which a
`10
`flavor bed of tobacco or tobacco-derived material is
`heated, without combustion of tobacco, to release to
`bacco flavors without producing all the normal prod
`ucts of tobacco combustion. For example, it is known to
`provide a smoking article having a bed of tobacco
`15
`derived material and a combustible heat source. A
`smoker draws air through or around the heat source,
`heating it, and the heated air passes through the flavor
`bed, releasing tobacco flavors that are drawn into the
`smoker's mouth. The heat source temperature is depen
`dent on how the smoker uses the article, so that the
`flavor release rate varies widely from user to user, and
`from article to article for a particular user.
`Articles that produce the taste and sensation of smok
`ing by heating tobacco electrically are also known.
`25
`However, in some known electrically heated articles
`the temperature was not consistent because the output
`of the electrical power source was not well regulated,
`so that the release of flavors also was not consistent. In
`other known electrically heated articles the power
`30
`source was external to the article and inconvenient.
`Commonly-owned, co-pending U.S. patent applica
`tion Ser. No. 444,746, filed Dec. 1, 1989, teaches heat
`ing, but not burning, discrete charges of a flavor gener
`ating media to produce an aerosol. Heating discrete
`35
`charges eliminates sidestream smoke. Heating, but not
`burning, the flavor generating media eliminates many of
`the normal products of combustion. However, the con
`trol circuitry required to heat flavor generating media
`without burning it often is complicated.
`40
`It would be desirable to be able to provide an electri
`cally heated article which produces a predetermined
`release of flavor with each puff.
`It would also be desirable to be able to provide such
`an article which consistently for each puff reaches its
`45
`operating temperature quickly and remains at that tem
`perature long enough to cause burning of its flavor
`source, while at the same time minimizing the consump
`tion of energy.
`It would further be desirable to be able to provide
`50
`such an article which is self-contained.
`It would still further be desirable to be able to pro
`vide such an article which can have the appearance of a
`conventional cigarette, but does not produce sidestream
`smoke, and is not hot between puffs.
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`It is an object of this invention to provide an electri
`cally heated article which produces a consistent release
`of flavor with each puff.
`60
`It is also an object of this invention to provide such an
`article which consistently for each puff reaches its oper
`ating temperature quickly and remains at that tempera
`ture long enough to cause burning of its flavor source,
`while at the same time minimizing the consumption of 65
`energy.
`It is a further object of this invention to provide such
`an article which is self-contained.
`
`5,095,921
`2
`It is still a further object of this invention to provide
`such an article which can have the appearance of a
`conventional cigarette, but does not produce sidestream
`smoke, and is not hot between puffs.
`In accordance with this invention, there is provided
`an article for delivering to a consumer a flavor-contain
`ing substance. The article comprises a plurality of
`charges of flavor generating medium, electrical heating
`means for individually heating to combustion each of
`the plurality of charges, a source of electrical energy for
`powering the electrical heating means, and control
`means for applying the electrical energy to the electri
`cal heating means to individually and sequentially heat
`one of the plurality of charges. Each of the charges,
`when heated to combustion, delivers a quantity of fla
`vor-containing substance to the consumer.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`The above and other objects and advantages of the
`invention will be apparent upon consideration of the
`following detailed description, taken in conjunction
`with the accompanying drawings, in which like refer
`ence characters refer to like parts throughout, and in
`which:
`FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of
`an article according to the present invention;
`FIG. 2 is a partially fragmentary exploded perspec
`tive view of the article of FIG. 1;
`FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a more preferred
`second embodiment of an article according to the pres
`ent invention;
`FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the article
`of FIG. 3;
`FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a still more preferred
`article according to the present invention;
`FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the article
`of FIG. 5;
`FIGS. 7A-7K are perspective views of various em
`bodiments of heaters for use in the present invention;
`FIGS. 8A-8C are views of a particularly preferred
`embodiment of heaters for use in the present invention;
`FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of a preferred power
`source for use in the present invention; and
`FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a preferred em
`bodiment of a control circuit for use in the present
`invention.
`DETALED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`INVENTION
`The basic article of the present invention includes a
`source of electrical energy, an electrical heater or heat
`ers, electrical or electronic controls for delivering elec
`trical energy from the source of electrical energy to the
`heaters in a controlled manner, and a flavor generating
`medium in contact with, or acted on by, the heater.
`When the heater heats the flavor generating medium to
`cause combustion, flavor-containing substance-i.e., a
`vapor or aerosol, or mixture thereof, containing fla
`vored vapors or aerosols or other vapor or aerosol
`components-is generated or released and can be
`drawn in by the consumer. (In the discussion that fol
`lows, either of the words "generate" or "release",
`when used alone, includes the other, and the word
`"form', when used in connection with the phrase "fla
`vor-containing substance," means "generate or re
`lease.')
`The flavor generating medium can be any material
`that, when heated to combustion, releases a flavor-con
`
`55
`
`Philip Morris Products, S.A.
`Exhibit 1012
`Page 014
`
`

`

`5
`
`O
`
`5,095,921
`3
`4.
`taining substance. Such materials can include tobacco,
`power source 121, the nature of which will be discussed
`tobacco condensates or fractions thereof (condensed
`in more detail below.
`components of the smoke produced by the combustion
`A knurled knob 122 is provided at the remote end of
`of tobacco, leaving flavors and, possibly, nicotine), or
`section 12 to allow the consumer to select one of the
`tobacco extracts or fractions thereof, deposited on an
`heaters 110. Knob 122 controls a single-pole ten posi
`inert substrate. These materials when combusted gener
`tion rotary switch 123 connected by wires 124 to sock
`ate or release a flavor-containing substance (which may
`ets 120. Index mark 125 on knob 122 and graduations
`include nicotine) which can be drawn in by the con
`126 on the body of section 12 assist the consumer in
`sumer. Any of these flavor generating media can also
`selecting the next heater 110. To operate article 10, the
`include an aerosol-forming material, such as glycerine
`consumer selects an heater 110 using knob 122 and
`or water, so that the consumer has the perception of
`presses momentary-on pushbutton switch 127 to com
`inhaling and exhaling "smoke" as in a conventional
`plete the circuit and energize the selected heater 110 to
`cigarette. A particularly preferred material is a compo
`initiate heating. Flavor generating medium 111, thus
`sition such as that described in copending, commonly
`heated to combustion, can release or generate a flavor
`assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 222,831, filed
`containing substance. The consumer draws in the fla
`15
`July 22, 1988, hereby incorporated by reference in its
`vor-containing substance along with air drawn through
`entirety, which describes pelletized tobacco containing
`perforations 115 in the outer wrapper of section 11 or
`glycerine (as an aerosol-forming ingredient) and cal
`12, which could be conventional cigarette paper or
`tipping paper. Air may also enter through the end of
`cium carbonate (as a filler). As used in the present in
`vention, the composition, instead of being formed into
`section 12 remote from the mouth end through channels
`20
`pellets, would be deposited as a coating, in conjunction
`that may be provided for that purpose, carrying the air
`with adhesion agents such as citrus pectin, on an heater
`around power source 121 and around other internal
`components of section 12. What is important is that the
`or on an inert substrate in contact with an heater.
`The flavor generating medium is divided into individ
`air enters section 11 at a point at which it can fully
`ual charges, each representing one puff of the article. It
`sweep heaters 110 to carry the maximum amount of
`25
`is possible to mimic a conventional cigarette by provid
`flavor-containing substance to the mouth of the con
`ing a number of charges of flavor generating medium
`Sle,
`equal to an average number of puffs per cigarette, e.g.,
`When all ten charges in section 11 have been heated
`eight to ten puffs. Although the article does not de
`to combustion, section 11 is spent, and can be un
`crease in length like a conventional cigarette as it is
`plugged from article 10 and a new section 11 can be
`30
`operated, it is possible to make the article in varying
`plugged in. Section 12 as envisioned is reusable.
`lengths, with different numbers of puffs. By providing
`In article 10, it is possible that the consumer will
`individual charges for each puff, one reduces the total
`select a particular heater 110 more than once, giving
`amount of flavor generating medium that must be pro
`rise to the possibility of reselecting a previously-com
`vided, as compared with a single larger charge that
`busted flavor generating medium, unless knob 122 is
`35
`designed so that it can only be rotated in one direction
`would be electrically heated or reheated once for each
`of several puffs. Thus, the total energy requirement is
`and only for one complete revolution. But in that case,
`reduced.
`its ability to rotate would have to be restored when
`The portion of the article according to the present
`section 11 is replaced, which is mechanically complex
`invention that contains the heaters and the flavor gener
`to achieve. Therefore, a more preferred embodiment 30
`40
`ating medium is preferably a replaceable plug-in unit, so
`of an article according to the present invention, shown
`that when all of the charges have been heated to com
`in FIGS. 3 and 4, includes controls that automatically
`bustion, the spent plug-in unit can be discarded and a
`select which charge will be heated to combustion. Be
`new one inserted. The controls and power source could
`cause the flavor generating medium will be combusted,
`complex controls for controlling the duration of heating
`be retained.
`45
`One embodiment of article 10 according to the inven
`are unnecessary.
`tion is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Article 10 is the simplest
`Article 30 includes an heater/flavor/mouthpiece sec
`form of article according to the present invention, and
`tion 11 identical to section 11 of article 10. However,
`includes heater/flavor/mouthpiece section 11 and
`power and control section 31 contains electronic con
`power and control section 12. Section 11 includes a
`trol circuit 32 (described in more detail below) in place
`50
`plurality of heaters 110, each having deposited on its
`of mechanical switch 123 of power and control section
`surface a quantity of flavor generating medium 111. The
`12 of article 10. Control circuit 32, in response to de
`heater configuration shown in FIG. 2 is illustrative
`pression of pushbutton 127, selects one of charges 111
`only. Different possible heater configurations will be
`that has not previously been used, and supplies power
`discussed below. Preferably, there is a segment of filter
`from power source 121 to the associated heater 110.
`55
`material 112, such as conventional cellulose acetate or
`Control circuit 32 may also limit the operation of the
`polypropylene cigarette filter material, possibly in con
`heater to a predetermined duration. After all ten
`junction with paper-wrapped tobacco rod sections, at
`charges 111 have been used, circuit 32 no longer
`the mouth end of section 11, both for aesthetic purposes
`supplies power to any heater until spent section 11 is
`as well as to provide appropriate filtration efficiency
`replaced by a fresh unit. Optionally, control circuit 32
`and resistance-to-draw to the system. In addition,
`also locks out pushbutton 127 for a predetermined lock
`mouthpiece 113 can optionally be included.
`out period after each depression, so that heaters 110 are
`As shown in FIG. 2, there are ten heaters 110 in
`not energized too soon one after the other. Because
`section 11. There are also eleven contact pins 114 ex
`heaters 110 are preferably part of replaceable heater/-
`tending from section 11 remote from its mouth end
`flavor/mouthpiece section 11, they need not be capable
`65
`one common pin and ten pins connected to individual
`of more than one use.
`heaters 110-that fit into eleven sockets 120 on section
`Articles according to the present invention do not
`12 to make electrical contact between heaters 110 and
`decrease in length like conventional cigarettes do as
`
`Philip Morris Products, S.A.
`Exhibit 1012
`Page 015
`
`

`

`5,095,921
`5
`6
`ing, commonly-assigned U.S. patent application Ser.
`they are smoked, because only the flavor generating
`medium burns. Therefore, in order to provide some
`No. 07/444,569, filed Dec. 1, 1989, and hereby incorpo
`rated by reference in its entirety. A number of different
`indication to a consumer of how much of article 30 has
`possible additional heater configurations are shown in
`been used or remains to be used, visual indicators 33,
`which can be a series of ten light emitting diodes or a
`FIGS. 7A-7K. The different configurations reflect both
`mechanical considerations--e.g., ease of manufacture
`bar graph or similar indicator, under the control of
`circuit 32, are preferably provided to display either how
`-and materials considerations--e.g., the effect of the
`many of charges 111 have been used or how many
`heater material on the composition of the flavor-con
`remain. Similarly, there is no glowing coal as in a con
`taining substance.
`ventional cigarette to indicate to the consumer that the
`For example, linear heaters 110 shown in FIGS. 2, 4
`10
`article is operating. Optionally, an additional light emit
`and 6 could be bars or mesh of stainless steel or other
`ting diode 34 or similar indicator, also under the control
`suitable metals or ceramics, although the flavor generat
`of circuit 32, can be provided to show when one of
`ing medium would adhere more readily to a mesh.
`heaters 110 is energized. An additional indicator or
`A preferred material for the heaters is graphite.
`indicators (not shown) may also be provided to show
`Graphite heaters, possibly compounded with other
`that the lockout period is in effect or that it is over.
`forms of carbon to provide the desired electrical resis
`In the most particularly preferred embodiment, an
`tance and therefore the desired heating, are stable, and
`article according to this invention does not have a push
`can be molded, extruded or machined into many forms
`button 127, but is responsive to the consumer's drawing
`and attached, by suitable contacts, to power source 121.
`on the article, similarly to a conventional cigarette.
`For example, a cylindrical graphite structure 70 as
`20
`Therefore, article 50, shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, is identi
`shown in FIG. 7A can be formed with a number of
`cal to article 30, except that section 52 lacks pushbutton
`inwardly directed vanes 701 equal to the desired num
`127. Pushbutton 127 is replaced by a switch 53 in sec
`ber of puffs. The inner surfaces 702 of structure 70 can
`tion 52 that is sensitive either to pressure changes or air
`be coated with the flavor generating medium. By con
`flow changes as the consumer draws on article 50. It has
`necting one pole of power source 121 to the outer sur
`25
`face 703 of structure 70, and sequentially connecting the
`been found that when a Model 163PC01D36 silicon
`sensor, manufactured by the MicroSwitch division of
`other pole to the inwardmost edge 704 of each vane 701,
`Honeywell, Inc., Freeport, Ill., is used in a preferred
`one can heat each vane 701 to the desired temperature.
`embodiment of the invention, the appropriate heater is
`Inwardmost edge 704 of each vane 701 is increased in
`activated sufficiently rapidly by the change in pressure
`thickness as compared to the body of vane 701 for
`when the consumer draws on article 50. In addition,
`added strength and to provide a conductive pathway to
`flow sensing devices, such as those using hot-wire ane
`improve the uniformity of electrical flow and heating
`mometry principles, have been successfully demon
`across the vane to maximize the use of available heater
`strated to actuate the appropriate heater 110 sufficiently
`surface area. Covering both surfaces of each vane 701
`rapidly after sensing a change in air flow.
`with flavor generating medium also maximizes the use
`35
`An heater used in smoking articles constructed in
`of available heater area and, thus, heater energy. Con
`accordance with this invention may be designed to have
`centrating the flavor-generating medium further in
`a "hot spot" which has a higher electrical resistance
`creases the amount of flavor-containing substance gen
`than other portions of the heater. Hot spots heat faster
`erated or released per unit of expended electrical en
`than other areas of the heater, causing the flavor gener
`ergy.
`ating medium adjacent to or in contact with the hot spot
`Similarly, graphite structure 71 can be provided
`to initiate combustion. Relatively little energy must be
`which functions like structure 70, except that vanes 711
`applied to the heater to initiate combustion. After the
`radiate outwardly from a central core 713, as shown in
`flavor generating medium adjacent the hot spot begins
`FIG. 7B. The flavor generating medium is deposited on
`combustion, combustion propagates through the sur
`the surfaces 712 between vanes 711. Power can be ap
`45
`rounding flavor generating medium. Combustion prop
`plied between core 713 and the outer edge 714 of the
`agation may be assisted by including an oxidizing agent
`appropriate vane 711. Outer edge 714 of each vane is
`in or adjacent to the flavor generating medium (as dis
`increased in thickness as compared to the body of vane
`cussed below). Deigning hot spots into heaters reduces
`711 for added strength and to provide a conductive
`the amount of energy required to reach the combustion
`pathway as discussed above.
`temperature, and provides a means for modifying the
`Each of structures 70 and 71 has eight vanes 701,711,
`burn characteristics of a given heater/flavor generating
`representing eight charges of flavor generating medium
`medium combination.
`which provide eight puffs. The structures shown below
`In a preferred embodiment of the invention, oxidizing
`would provide ten puffs.
`agents are added to either the flavor generating me
`Structure 72 shown in FIG. 7C is a hollow cylinder
`55
`dium, the heater, or a composite heater/flavor generat
`of graphite, divided by nine opposed pairs of slits 720,
`ing medium. An oxidizing agent may also be placed
`721 into ten opposed pairs of segments 722, 723. The
`adjacent to the heater and flavor generating medium.
`flavor generating medium is coated on the inner or
`The oxidizing agent promotes combustion. It reduces
`outer surface 724 of cylinder 72. When one pole of
`the energy (and temperature) required to attain combus
`power source 121 is connected to each of opposed seg
`tion of the flavor generating medium. Oxidizing agents
`ments 722,723, heat is generated predominantly in that
`pair only, heating to combustion the flavor generating
`suitable for use in this invention must be non-toxic when
`medium coated onto that pair. Although all ten pairs are
`combusted.
`The linear array of heaters 110 shown in FIGS. 2, 4
`interconnected at midline 725, at most a low current
`and 6 is shown for ease of illustration only, and does not
`flows along midline 725 outside the pair being heated.
`65
`necessarily represent the preferred embodiment of heat
`The flavor generating medium coated on cylinder 72
`ers to be used in the present invention. Possible heaters
`may be applied in discrete increments corresponding to
`for use in the present invention are described in copend
`the number of heater segments (see, e.g., FIGS. 7G, 7I,
`
`30
`
`15
`
`50
`
`Philip Morris Products, S.A.
`Exhibit 1012
`Page 016
`
`

`

`O
`
`15
`
`25
`
`30
`
`5,095,921
`7
`8
`of strips 782,783 causes heat to flow primarily to those
`and 7J), thus providing a "fire break" between each of
`the charges to prevent undesired propagation of com
`width-wise strips, heating that section of substrate 78
`and combusting flavor generating medium 784 thereon.
`bustion.
`Heat is applied to strips 782,783 by passing substrate 78
`Structure 73 shown in FIG. TD is a solid or hollow
`(not shown) cylinder of graphite, with ten grooves 730
`through an heater 785. The movement of substrate 78
`formed in its surface, separating eleven lands 731.
`through heater 785 in the direction of arrow A can be
`Grooves 730 are coated with flavor generating medium
`accomplished in any of the ways set forth above for the
`732. By applying power source 121 across two adjacent
`movement of collars 760, 77. Heater 785 can be dispos
`lands 731, one heats structure 73 between those two
`able, as part of section 11, or permanent, as part of
`lands 731, causing combustion of the flavor generating
`section 12, 31 or 52, with only substrate 78 being re
`medium 732 in groove 730 therebetween.
`placed as part of section 11.
`Structure 74 shown in FIG. 7E is a graphite ring
`Structure 79 of FIG. 7 is similar to structure 78,
`divided by two interleaved sets often slots each, one set
`except that substrate 79 is made from graphite, which
`of slots 740 extending from one side 741 of the ring, and
`serves as its own heater, so that heater 785 can be omit
`the other set of slots 742 extending from the other side
`ted and replaced with electrical contacts (not shown)
`743 of the ring, forming ten U-shaped fingers 744 that
`for applying power across strips 782, 783 of substrate
`are coated inside or outside with flavor generating me
`79.
`dium 746 adjacent side 741, and ten uncoated bases 745
`Structure 790 of FIG. 7K has an inert substrate 791
`adjacent side 743, each base 745 connected to one leg
`on which lines 792 of flavor generating medium, mixed
`each of two adjacent fingers 744 so that two adjacent
`20
`with graphite or similar material to make it conductive,
`bases 745 contact opposite ends of one finger 744. By
`are laid. Contacts similar to those used with structure 79
`applying power from source 121 across two adjacent
`are used to apply power across lines 792, which, by
`bases 745 heat is generated predominantly in that the
`virtue of their conductivity, form their own heaters
`finger 744 that they contact in common, heating the
`integral with the flavor generating medium.
`flavor generating medium thereon to combustion.
`FIGS. 8A-8C show a particularly preferred embodi
`Structure 75 shown in FIG. 7F is similar to structure
`ment of an heater structure 80 for use with the present
`74, except that it has only five each of slots 740 and 742,
`invention. Structure 80 includes ten U-shaped heater
`and the flavor generating medium 750 is confined to the
`elements 81 connected to a central hub 82. Preferably,
`band of overlap of slots 740 and 742, thus forming ten
`heater elements 81 are made of graphite. Hub 82 serves
`separate areas of tobacco-derived material 750, as well
`as one contact point for the application of power to
`as five bases 751 and five fingers 752. Bases 751 and
`each heater element 81, while outer edge 83 of each
`fingers 752 are arranged so that when one pole of power
`heater element 81 serves as the second contact point for
`source 121 is applied to one base 751, two areas 750 can
`that respective heater. Hub 82 is connected to one
`be heated sequentially by sequentially applying the
`contact and outer edges 83 are connected to a series of
`other pole of power source 121 to each of two adjacent
`ten contacts that are activated sequentially to sequen
`fingers 752. To heat further areas 750, the second pole
`tially heat heater elements 81. (As used herein, "sequen
`of power source 121 is left attached to the second one of
`tially' does not necessarily imply any spatial order, but
`fingers 752 and the first (or third) pole of power source
`only that some individual element is heated after some
`121 is connected to a different base 751, and so on.
`other individual element.)
`Structure 76 shown in FIG. 7G is similar to structure
`40
`Whatever heater design is used, it is subject to several
`72 shown in FIG. 7C, except that a slidable heater 760
`design criteria. First, the electrical resistance of the
`is provided to serially heat each pair of opposed seg
`heater should be matched to the voltage of power
`ments 722, 723 by conduction, convection or radiation
`source 121 so that the desired rate of heating is accom
`as it is moved in the direction of arrow A. Optionally,
`plished. At the same time, the resistance must.be large
`structure 703 can be indexed through stationary heater
`45
`compared to the internal resistance of power source 121
`collar 760. A variant structure 77 shown in FIG. 7H is
`to avoid excessive losses due to the internal resistance.
`an extruded rod 770 (hollow or solid) made solely of
`Second, the surface area must be sufficient to allow for
`flavor generating medium and components to add me
`support of the flavor generating medium with proper
`chanical strength, provided with slidable heater 771.
`thickness of the flavor generating medium to allow
`Heater 771 is similar to heater 760. The heater is moved
`50
`rapid heating and w