Europaisches Patentamt
`
`European Patent Office
`
`Office europeen des brevets
`
`111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
`EP O 845 220 81
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`(11)
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`EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION
`
`(19) '
`
`(12)
`
`(45) Date of publication and mention
`of the grant of the patent:
`03.09.2003 Bulletin 2003/36
`
`(21) Application number: 97925295.4
`
`(22) Date of filing: 09.06.1997
`
`(54) FLAVOR PRODUCING ARTICLE
`
`AROMAERZEUGENDER ARTIKEL
`PARFUMEUR D'AMBIANCE
`
`(84) Designated Contracting States:
`DE FR GB
`
`(30) Priority: 17.06.1996 JP 15563696
`
`(43) Date of publication of application:
`03.06.1998 Bulletin 1998/23
`
`(73) Proprietor: Japan Tobacco Inc.
`Minato-Ku Tokyo 105 (JP)
`
`(72) Inventors:
`• SUSA, Masayuki-Japan Tobacco Inc.
`Tokyo 130 (JP)
`• TAKEUCHI, Manabu-Japan Tobacco Inc.
`Tokyo 130 (JP)
`• KOBAYASHI, Takeshi-Japan Tobacco Inc.
`Engin.
`Kanagawa-ken 254 (JP)
`
`(51) Int Cl.7: A24F 47/00
`// A61M15/06
`
`(86) International application number:
`PCT/JP97/01953
`
`(87) International publication number:
`WO 97/048293 (24.12.1997 Gazette 1997/55)
`
`• SASAKI, Hiroshi-Japan Tobacco Inc. Eng.
`R+DCenterD
`Kanagawa-ken254 n (JP)
`• BANDAI, Takeshi-Japan Tobacco Inc. Eng.
`R+DCenterD
`Kanagawa-ken254 n (JP)
`
`(74) Representative: Ruffles, Graham Keith
`MARKS & CLERK,
`57-60 Lincoln's Inn Fields
`London WC2A 3LS (GB)
`
`(56) References cited:
`WO-A-95/01137
`JP-A- 2 124 082
`US-A· 4 303 083
`US-A- 4 846 199
`
`JP-A- 2124 081
`JP-B- 48 008 231
`US-A· 4 735 217
`
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`""" 00
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`C. w
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`Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give
`notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in
`a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art.
`99(1) European Patent Convention).
`
`Printed by Jouve, 75001 PARIS (FR)
`
`Philip Morris Products, S.A.
`Exhibit 1008
`Page 001
`
`

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`EP O 845 220 B1
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`Description
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`Technical Field
`
`[0001] The present invention relates to a flavor gen(cid:173)
`eration article employed for enjoying inhalation of a fla(cid:173)
`vor and simulated smoking and, more particularly, to a
`flavor generation article used for generating the flavor
`as an inhalation target by heating a liquid material with
`an electric heater.
`
`Background Art
`
`[0002] A simulated smoking article employed for en(cid:173)
`joying the flavor and smoke of tobacco without burning
`tobacco is already known, and various types of simulat(cid:173)
`ed smoking articles have been proposed.
`[0003] Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No.
`3-232481 discloses a typical concept of a conventional
`simulated smoking article. The article of this reference
`uses, e.g., a rod-like solid material. When the solid ma(cid:173)
`terial is heated by a heating element, an inhalation tar-
`get, e.g., a flavor, is generated. The drawbacks of the
`article of th is type are as fol lows. When the sol id material
`is continuously heated, the material is largely wasted.
`Inversely, when the solid material is heated in accord(cid:173)
`ance with inhalation of the user, a large time lag occurs
`between the start of inhalation (one puffing operation)
`of the user and generation of the flavor.
`[0004] As an example of an article that copes with the
`above drawbacks, Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication
`No. 3-277265 discloses a flavor emitting article having
`a solid material divided into a large number of portions.
`In the article of this reference, the respective portions of
`the solid material are sequentially heated in units of puff-
`ing operations of the user to generate an inhalation tar-
`get, e.g., a flavor or the like. The drawback of this article
`is that the solid material and a heating element consti-
`tute an integral flavor generation medium. Therefore,
`when the material is consumed, the heating element
`must be exchanged or disposed of together with the ma(cid:173)
`terial, which is not preferable both in terms of economy
`and environment.
`[0005] Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No.
`5-212100 discloses an example of a mechanism that
`detects one puffing operation of the user. In the article
`of this reference, the driving operation of a heating ele(cid:173)
`ment for heating the flavor material is controlled by a
`signal obtained from the motion of the lips of the user.
`[0006] U.S.P. No. 4,945,931 discloses a simulated
`smoking article using a pressurized aerosol container.
`In the article of this reference, the puffing operation of
`the user swings the vanes to mechanically open the out-
`let port of the container, and the aerosol is emitted. As
`a modification, this reference also discloses an article
`in which a heating element for heating aerosol cooled
`by the heat of evaporation is disposed in the outlet port
`of the container. The drawback of this reference is as
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`follows. Since the pressurized aerosol is closed in the
`container with a valve which is opened/closed merely
`by the puffing operation of the user, once the valve is
`opened, a large amount of aerosol leaks undesirably.
`More specifically, in the article of this reference, a pre(cid:173)
`determined amount of aerosol appropriate for one puff(cid:173)
`ing operation cannot be continuously emitted, and rath(cid:173)
`er all of the pressurized flavor gas may undesirably be
`emitted until a puffing operation is complete twice or
`three times.
`[0007] WO 9501137 provides a dispenser which com(cid:173)
`prises a reservoir of a physiologically active substance
`and a droplet ejection device, for example a bubble jet
`or piezoelectric device, which is controlled to issue a
`15 predetermined number of discrete droplets of the sub(cid:173)
`stance from ejection orifices upon actuation. Device
`may be actuated by a pressure transducer responsive
`to inhalation and issue the droplets into an airstream (A)
`which enters at slot and is then inhaled via mouthpiece.
`In other embodiments (Fig. 5) the dispenser is finger ac(cid:173)
`tuated and directed by hand for topical application. The
`number and/or frequency of droplets issued is program(cid:173)
`matically controlled by a control circuit whereby average
`and total dose of the substance are predetermined.
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`25
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`DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
`
`[0008] According to a first aspect of the present inven(cid:173)
`tion, there is provided a flavor generation article char(cid:173)
`so acterized by comprising:
`
`a casting having an air intake port for taking in air
`therein and a suction port through which a user in(cid:173)
`hales a flavor, and forming a gas flow path between
`said intake port and said suction port;
`a material container for storing a liquid material
`which contains at least a flavor substance and hav(cid:173)
`ing a discharge port for said material, said material
`container being mounted on said casing;
`discharge driving means electrically operable for
`discharging said material
`from said container
`through said discharge port in the form of a liquid
`drop;
`gasifying means disposed in said gas flow path to
`receive the liquid drop of said material discharged
`from said container by said discharge driving
`means and gasify said material by electrically heat(cid:173)
`ing the liquid drop;
`a power supply for supplying electric energy to said
`discharge driving means and said gasifying means;
`and
`control means responsive to suction applied to the
`suction part for selectively forming a state where
`said discharge driving means and said gasifying
`means operate in response to the suction by electric
`energy from said power supply.
`
`[0009] According to a second aspect, there is a pro-
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`Philip Morris Products, S.A.
`Exhibit 1008
`Page 002
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`vide a flavor generation article in the first aspect, char(cid:173)
`acterized by further comprising a sensor for detecting
`an inhaling operation of the user, wherein said control
`means controls, based on a signal from said sensor,
`said discharge driving means and said gasifying means
`so as to discharge said material from said container and
`to generate heat by said gasifying means.
`[001 O] According to the third aspect of the present in(cid:173)
`vention, there is provided a flavor generation article in
`the second aspect, characterized in that the sensor
`comprises a pressure-sensitive sensor mounted on the
`casing around the suction port.
`[0011] According to the fourth aspect of the present
`invention, there is provided a flavor generation article in
`the second or third aspect, characterized in that the con(cid:173)
`trol means controls the gasifying means based on the
`signal from the sensor so that the gasifying means gen(cid:173)
`erates heat.
`[0012] According to the fifth aspect of the present in(cid:173)
`vention, there is provided a flavor generation article in
`the fourth aspect, characterized in that the control
`means controls the gasifying means and the discharge
`driving means so as to preheat the gasifying means prior
`to discharge of the material.
`[0013] According to the sixth aspect of the present in(cid:173)
`vention, there is provided a flavor generation article in
`the first aspect, characterized in that the power supply
`is disposed in the casing.
`[0014] According to the seventh aspect of the present
`invention, there is provided a flavor generation article in
`the sixth aspect, characterized in that the casing is con(cid:173)
`stituted by first and second portions that are electrically
`connected to each other through a cable, the gas flow
`path, the container, the discharge driving means, and
`the gasifying means being disposed in the first portion,
`and the power supply being disposed in the second por(cid:173)
`tion.
`[0015] According to the eighth aspect of the present
`invention, there is provided a flavor generation article in
`the seventh aspect, characterized in that the first and
`second portions of the casing are detach ably connected
`to each other through a connecting portion.
`[0016] According to the ninth aspect of the present in(cid:173)
`vention, there is provided a flavor generation article in
`the first aspect, characterized by further comprising an
`operation lever for manually operating the discharge
`driving means.
`[0017] According to the 10th aspect of the present in(cid:173)
`vention, there is provided a flavor generation article in
`any one of first to ninth aspects, characterized in that
`the gasifying means comprises a porous layer, and the
`liquid drop of the material is supplied onto the porous
`layer.
`[0018] According to the 11th aspect of the present in(cid:173)
`vention, there is provided a flavor generation article in
`any one of the first to 10th aspects, characterized in that
`the gasifying means is arranged to oppose the dis(cid:173)
`charge port, and a throttle hole for directing air flowing
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`from the air intake port toward a gap between the dis(cid:173)
`charge port and the gasifying means is disposed in the
`gas flow path.
`[0019] According to the 12th aspect of the present in(cid:173)
`vention, there is provided a flavor generation article in
`any one of first to 11th aspects, characterized in that the
`casing is formed with an outer air inlet hole to supply an
`outer air into the gas flow path between the gasifying
`means and the suction port.
`[0020] According to the 13th aspect of the present in(cid:173)
`vention, there is provided a flavor generation article in
`any one of first to 12th aspects, characterized by further
`comprising a formed body of a solid material containing
`at least a flavor substance and disposed in the gas flow
`15 path so as to be located between the gasifying means
`and the suction port.
`[0021] According to the 14th aspect of the present in(cid:173)
`vention, there is provided a flavor generation article in
`the 13th aspect, characterized by further comprising
`20 heating means for heating the formed body.
`[0022] According to the present invention, a flavor
`generation article can be provided in which waste of a
`flavor material does not occur easily and the timing of
`one puffing operation of the user and that of generation
`25 of a flavor can be matched easily. In particular, when the
`discharge driving means is controlled based on a signal
`from a sensor that detects the inhaling operation of the
`user, not only waste of the material is eliminated, but
`also a stable flavor can constantly be provided. When
`the casing is divided into a portion incorporating a power
`supply and a portion to be held by the mouth such that
`the two portions are detachable from each other, the fla(cid:173)
`vor generation article can be used more conveniently.
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`30
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`35 Brief Description of Drawings
`
`[0023]
`
`FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a flavor gener(cid:173)
`ation article according to an embodiment of the
`present invention;
`FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the discharge head
`of the flavor generation article shown in FIG. 1;
`FIG. 3 is an enlarged schematic view showing the
`discharge head and discharge drive portion taken
`along the line Ill - Ill of FIG. 2;
`FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the control system of
`the flavor generation article shown in FIG. 1;
`FIG. 5 is a view showing the state of use of the flavor
`generation article shown in FIG. 1;
`FIG. 6 is a graph showing an example of operation
`timing of energization of the ceramic heater and that
`of actuation of the discharge drive portion, of the
`flavor generation article shown in FIG. 1;
`FIG. 7 is a graph showing another example of op(cid:173)
`eration timing of energization of the ceramic heater
`and that of actuation of the discharge drive portion,
`of the flavor generation article shown in FIG. 1;
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`Philip Morris Products, S.A.
`Exhibit 1008
`Page 003
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`FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing a flavor gener(cid:173)
`ation article according to another embodiment of
`the present invention;
`FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing a flavor gener(cid:173)
`ation article according to still another embodiment
`of the present invention;
`FIG. 1 O is a schematic view showing a flavor gen(cid:173)
`eration article according to still another embodiment
`of the present invention;
`FIG. 11 is a schematic view showing a flavor gen(cid:173)
`eration article according to still another embodiment
`of the present invention;
`FIG. 12 is a schematic view showing a flavor gen(cid:173)
`eration article according to still another embodiment
`of the present invention;
`FIG. 13 is a schematic view showing a flavor gen(cid:173)
`eration article according to still another embodiment
`of the present invention;
`FIG. 14 is a schematic view showing a flavor gen(cid:173)
`eration article according to still another embodiment
`of the present invention;
`FIG. 15 is a schematic view showing a flavor gen(cid:173)
`eration article according to still another embodiment
`of the present invention; and
`FIG. 16 is a schematic view showing a flavor gen(cid:173)
`eration article according to still another embodiment
`of the present invention.
`
`Best Mode of Carrying Out the Invention
`
`[0024] FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a flavor
`generation article according to an embodiment of the
`present invention.
`[0025] A flavor generation article 1 O has a cylindrical
`casing 12 having such an outer diameter that the user
`can hold the casing 12 in his mouth. The casing 12 com(cid:173)
`prises a first portion 12a to be held by the user's mouth,
`and a second portion 12b for incorporating a power sup-
`ply and the like. The two portions 12a and 12b are de(cid:173)
`tachably connected to each other through a connecting
`portion 13 formed on a casing main body 14. The two
`portions 12a and 12b are electrically connected to each
`other through a cable 15 stored in a space formed in the
`casing main body 14 to correspond to the connecting
`portion 13. As the connecting portion 13, a known struc-
`ture, e.g., a screw or a fitting pair, can be employed. The
`main body 14 of the casing 12 is made of a material, e.
`g., a plastic, metallic, ceramic, or wooden material.
`[0026] A suction port 22 through which the user in(cid:173)
`hales the flavor is formed in the end portion of the first
`portion 12a of the casing 12. In contrast to this, a plu(cid:173)
`rality of air intake ports 24 for taking in air into the casing
`12 are formed in the intermediate portion of the first por-
`tion 12a. A gas flow path 26 is defined in the casing 12
`between the air intake ports 24 and the suction port 22.
`The air intake ports 24 can be formed to have an open
`area corresponding to a predetermined air intake
`amount. As shown in FIG. 1, an adjusting ring 28 having
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`a plurality of openings can be disposed on the casing
`12 around the air intake ports 24. In this case, the
`amount of air flowing into the casing 12 can be adjusted
`by adjusting the position of the adjusting ring 28 with
`respect to the air intake ports 24.
`[0027] A throttle plate 21 having a throttle hole 20 at
`its center is disposed in the casing 12 to be located in
`the gas flow path 26. The throttle hole 20 serves to reg(cid:173)
`ulate air from the air intake ports 24 to flow along the
`10 surface of a ceramic heater 42 (to be described later).
`[0028] A material container 32 for storing a liquid ma(cid:173)
`terial 36 for generating a flavor or the like to be inhaled
`by the user is detachably fixed in a space which is deep
`in the first portion 12a of the case and partitioned from
`the gas flow path 26 by a wall 31. The material container
`32 stores the liquid material 36 in an amount corre(cid:173)
`sponding to the discharge amount of a plurality of puffing
`operations of the user. The material container 32 can be
`mounted on the outer side of the casing main body 14.
`In this case, the head portion of the material container
`32 may be inserted in the casing main body 14, or only
`discharge ports 35 (to be described later) may be insert(cid:173)
`ed in the casing main body 14.
`[0029] The liquid material 36 contains at least a flavor
`25 substance. For example, if the liquid material 36 is an
`article used for enjoying only the flavor, e.g., menthol or
`caffeine, it can be a material that generates only the fla(cid:173)
`vor. Also, in order to add smoke to the flavor, the liquid
`material 36 can contain a material which generates aer-
`30 osol when heated. As the material that generates aero(cid:173)
`sol, alcohols, saccharide, or water, or a mixture of at
`least two of these components can be used. The alco(cid:173)
`hols used in this case are, e.g., glycerin or propylene
`glycol, or their mixture.
`[0030] More specifically, the liquid material 36 can
`contain an extracted material and/or the constituent
`components of various types of natural materials in ac(cid:173)
`cordance with the application purpose. For example, if
`this article is used as a simulated smoking article, a to(cid:173)
`bacco component, e.g., a tobacco extracted component
`or a tobacco smoke condensate component, may be
`contained in the liquid material 36.
`[0031] The material container 32 is formed with a dis(cid:173)
`charge head 34 having the plurality of discharge ports
`35 for discharging the liquid material 36 in a transverse
`direction of the casing 12. The discharge head 34 is ar-
`ranged to be located closer to the suction port 22 than
`the throttle hole 20. A discharge drive portion 38 is dis(cid:173)
`posed adjacent to the discharge ports 35 to discharge
`the liquid material 36 from the material container 32
`through the discharge ports 35. The discharge head 34
`and the discharge drive portion 38 comprise a liquid dis(cid:173)
`charge mechanism (having the same principle as that
`of the method shown in Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKOKU Pub-
`lication No. 53-45698 and U.S.P. No. 3,596,275) utiliz(cid:173)
`ing a piezoelectric element.
`[0032] For example, as shown in FIG. 2, 1 O discharge
`ports 35 are arranged for two rows, leading to a total of
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`Philip Morris Products, S.A.
`Exhibit 1008
`Page 004
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`20 discharge ports 35 in a region with a width W of about
`2 mm and a length L of about 5 mm of the upper surface
`of the discharge head 34. The center of arrangement of
`the discharge ports 35 almost coincides with the center
`of the ceramic heater 42 (to be described later).
`[0033] FIG. 3 is an enlarged schematic view showing
`the discharge head 34 and discharge drive portion 38
`taken along the line Ill
`Ill of FIG. 2. More specifically,
`FIG. 3 shows a section corresponding to one row of the
`discharge ports 35. A section corresponding to the other
`row of the discharge ports 35 and the section shown in
`FIG. 3 are horizontally symmetrical.
`[0034] As shown in FIG. 3, a frame 134 constituted by
`a plurality of components is stacked on a wiring board
`132 to form recessed portions and holes to be filled with
`the liquid material 36. The recessed portions formed by
`the frame 134, excluding the plurality of discharge ports
`35, are covered with a film 136. A liquid reservoir 146 is
`formed under the discharge ports 35 to temporarily store
`the liquid material 36. The bottom plate of the liquid res-
`ervoir 146 is constituted by an electrode 138 that serves
`as a vibration plate.
`[0035] The liquid material 36 from the material con(cid:173)
`tainer 32 is supplied firstthrough a narrow flow path 142,
`and flows from a plurality of suction holes 144, having
`a smaller diameter than that of the discharge ports 35,
`to reach the liquid reservoir 146. Under the control of a
`control circuit 72, when the electrode 138 is operated to
`vibrate, the liquid material 36 is selectively discharged
`through the discharge ports 35 having a low resistance
`against the flow. The discharged liquid material 36 is
`supplied onto the ceramic heater 42 as a liquid drop LD.
`[0036] Other than this, as the discharge mechanism
`of the liquid material 36, a known printer ink discharge
`mechanism can be modified and employed, e.g., a
`method disclosed in Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKOKU Publica-
`tion No. 61-59911 and the like wherein the process liquid
`is injected by bubbles generated by heating it, or a meth-
`od disclosed in U.S.P. No. 3,060,429 and the like where(cid:173)
`in the particles of the process liquid are electrified to per(cid:173)
`form electric field control. Alternatively, a discharge
`mechanism in which a liquid material 36 is a pressurized
`liquid and is controlled by opening/closing a valve dis(cid:173)
`posed in a discharge ports 35 may be employed.
`[0037] The ceramic heater 42 is disposed in the gas
`flow path 26 to oppose the discharge ports 35. The ce(cid:173)
`ramic heater 42 is fixed on the inner surface of the cas-
`ing main body 14 through a support member 44. A gap
`27 between the discharge ports 35 of the discharge
`head 34 and the ceramic heater 42 is set such that air
`from the throttle hole 20 can flow through it. Accordingly,
`air from the air intake ports 24 is directed by the throttle
`hole 20 to the gap 27 between the discharge ports 35
`and ceramic heater 42.
`[0038] A material corresponding to one puffing oper-
`ation, which is driven by the discharge drive portion 38
`and emitted from the discharge ports 35 is supplied onto
`the ceramic heater 42 in the form of a liquid splash or
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`liquid drop. The ceramic heater 42 is constituted by a
`ceramic plate and a coated resistance heater on the ce(cid:173)
`ramic plate, and is accordingly an integral member of a
`catch pan for receiving the splash of the material and a
`heating means for heating the catch pan. However, the
`catch pan and the heating means can be disposed as
`separate components.
`[0039] A liquid-absorbing porous layer 46 having a
`thickness of 0.01 mm to 2.0 mm, e.g., an activated car-
`10 bon layer having a thickness of about 0.5 mm, is formed
`on a surface of the ceramic heater 42 that receives the
`liquid splash of the material, i.e., a surface of the ceram(cid:173)
`ic heater 42 that serves as the catch pan. The porous
`layer 46 not only protects the surface of the ceramic
`15 heater 42 but also relaxes heat conduction from the ce-
`ramie heater 42, thereby stabilizing gasification of the
`splash of the material. The porous layer 46 can be
`formed of an organic compound, e.g., natural cellulose,
`a cellulose derivative, or an aramid resin, or an inorganic
`compound, e.g., carbon (including activated carbon),
`alumina, or silicon carbide. The porous layer 46 can
`have an arbitrary shape. For example, the compound
`mentioned above may be formed as a formed body in
`advance, e.g., a film, a sheet, a plate, fabric, or unwoven
`fabric, and be used as the porous layer 46. Alternatively,
`the porous layer 46 may be formed by directly applying
`the powder of the component mentioned above on the
`ceramic heater 42.
`[0040] A cooling chamber 52 is formed between the
`ceramic heater 42 and the suction port 22 to constitute
`part of the gas flow path 26. Outer air inlet holes 54 are
`formed in the side wall of the casing main body 14 de(cid:173)
`fining the cooling chamber. The gas heated by the ce(cid:173)
`ramic heater 42 and containing a flavor is mixed with the
`outer air and cooled in the cooling chamber 52, and
`reaches the suction port 22. The outer air inlet holes 54
`can be formed to have an open area corresponding to
`a predetermined air inlet amount. As shown in FIG. 1,
`an adjusting ring 55 having a plurality of openings can
`40 be disposed on the casing 12 around the outer air inlet
`holes 54. In this case, the amount of outer air flowing
`into the cooling chamber 52 can be adjusted by adjust(cid:173)
`ing the position of the adjusting ring 55 with respect to
`the outer air inlet holes 54.
`[0041] A filter 58 is disposed in the gas flow path 26
`between the cooling chamber 52 and suction port 22 to
`cover the suction port 22. When the filter 58 is disposed,
`the pressure loss can be adjusted so that the flavor com(cid:173)
`ponent can be inhaled with an appropriate pressure.
`50 The filter 58 can be made of a normal tobacco filter ma-
`terial made of cellulose acetate, pulp, or the like.
`[0042] A power supply 62 is detachably fixed in the
`second portion 12b of the casing 12. The power supply
`62 is used to supply electric energy to the discharge
`drive portion 38, the ceramic heater 42, and the control
`circuit 72 (to be described later). The power supply 62
`can be mounted in and removed from the casing main
`body 14 by opening/closing a cap 64 that closes the rear
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`Exhibit 1008
`Page 005
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`opening of the casing main body 14. The power supply
`62 is preferably a DC power supply, e.g., a commercially
`available dry cell or rechargeable cell. However, the
`power supply 62 can be an AC power supply. The power
`supply 62 can be mounted on the outer side of the cas(cid:173)
`ing main body 14, or can be provided separately and
`connected to the casing main body 14 with a wire.
`[0043] The control circuit 72 for controlling the driving
`operation of the discharge drive portion 38 and the ce(cid:173)
`ramic heater 42 is arranged between the power supply
`62 and material container 32. As shown in FIG. 4, the
`control circuit 72 has a signal processing circuit 72a, a
`drive circuit 72b, and a power circuit 72c. The signal
`processing circuit 72a is connected to a sensor 73 for
`detecting the inhaling operation of the user and a man(cid:173)
`ual ON/OFF switch 74. The drive circuit 72b is connect(cid:173)
`ed to the discharge drive portion 38 and the ceramic
`heater 42. The power circuit 72c is connected to the
`power supply 62.
`[0044] The sensor 73 for detecting the inhaling oper(cid:173)
`ation of the user is disposed around the casing main
`body 14 to be adjacent to the suction port 22. The sensor
`73 has the same principle as that of a general strain type
`pressure-sensitive sensor for detecting a change in re(cid:173)
`sistance or capacitance, a piezoelectric electromotive
`force, or the like, and generates an electrical signal upon
`detection of a pressure with which the user holds the
`casing 12 in his mouth. Alternatively, as the sensor 73,
`a swing vane type sensor (to be described later), a con(cid:173)
`tact type sensor, a lip sensor disclosed in Jpn. Pat. Ap(cid:173)
`pln. KOKAI Publication No. 5-212100, or the like can be
`used.
`[0045] Upon reception of a signal from the manual
`ON/OFF switch 74, or based on a signal from the sensor
`73, the control circuit 72 starts the discharge drive por(cid:173)
`tion 38 and the ceramic heater 42 at a timing to match
`the inhaling operation of the user, so that the liquid ma(cid:173)
`terial is discharged and gasified. For example, signal
`processing of the control circuit 72 and the way of control
`of the control circuit 72 can be known as analog control
`or two-position control, or their combination.
`[0046] The manual ON/OFF switch 74 is disposed on
`the side surface of the first portion 12a of the casing 12.
`When this article is not in use, the switch 74 may be
`manually switched to the OFF state, thereby forcibly
`stopping the discharge drive portion 38 and the heater
`42. The manual switch 74 has the same mechanism as
`that of a general compact push switch, e.g., a micro limit
`switch having an electric contact.
`[0047] How the flavor generation article 1 O shown in
`FIG. 1 is operated will be described.
`[0048] When the user performs simulated smoking or
`inhales the flavor by using the flavor generation article
`1 O shown in FIG. 1, first, the user turns on the manual
`switch 74, holds the first portion 12a of the casing 12
`with his mouth, and performs an inhaling operation
`through the suction port 22. By this operation, the sensor
`73 outputs an inhaling operation signal to the control cir-
`
`5
`
`10
`
`15
`
`cuit 72. Accordingly energization of the ceramic heater
`42 is started under the control of the control circuit 72.
`Simultaneously, or with a lapse of a predetermined pe(cid:173)
`riod after the start of energization, the discharge drive
`portion 38 is actuated.
`[0049] The liquid material 36 is then discharged from
`the discharge ports 35 and gasified as it is heated by
`the ceramic heater 42. As the user performs an inhaling
`operation, the gasified material is mixed with main suc-
`tion air which has been taken in from the air intake ports
`24, passed through the throttle hole 20, and guided to
`a portion between the discharge ports 35 and ceramic
`heater 42, and is guided to the suction port 22.
`[0050] Energization of the ceramic heater 42 and ac-
`tuation of the discharge drive portion 38 are performed,
`e.g., at the operation timings shown in FIG. 6 or 7. FIG.
`6 shows a case wherein, in response to a signal from
`the sensor 73, the ceramic heater 42 is energized and
`heated and the liquid material 36 is discharged simulta-
`20 neously. FIG. 7 shows a case wherein, in response to a
`signal from the sensor 73, the ceramic heater 42 is en(cid:173)
`ergized and preheated in advance, and with a lapse of
`a predetermined period of time, i.e., when the heater
`temperature has increased to a certain degree, the liq-
`25 uid material 36 is discharged.
`[0051]
`If necessary, the amount of main suction air
`taken in from the air intake ports 24 and the amount of
`inlet air supplied from the outer air inlet holes 54 can be
`changed by adjusting the adjusting rings 28 and 60 dur-
`ing inhalation. Then, the taste of air containing the flavor
`and reaching the suction port 22 can be changed, so
`that the user can perform simulated smoking or inhala(cid:173)
`tion of the flavor in accordance with the taste of his in(cid:173)
`halation feeling.
`[0052] As described above, the casing 12 has a struc(cid:173)
`ture in which the first portion 12a storing the liquid ma(cid:173)
`terial 36, the discharge head 34, the ceramic heater 42,
`and the like, and the second portion 12b storing the con(cid:173)
`trol circuit 72, the power supply 62, and the like are de-
`tachably connected to each other through the connect(cid:173)
`ing portion 13. The first and second portions 12a and
`12b are electrically connected to each other through the
`cable 15. Therefore, this flavor generation article 1 O may
`be used with its first and second portions 12a and 12b
`45 being integrally connected to each other through the
`connecting portion 13, or may be used with its first and
`second portions 12a and 12b being separated from
`each other, as shown in FIG. 5. In the state shown in
`FIG. 5, since the first and second portions 12a and 12b
`50 can be separated within a