Apparatus for Heating Smokeable Material

Abstract

An apparatus is configured to heat smokeable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokeable material. The apparatus comprises a heater comprising a carbonisable electrical insulating material. The heater is arranged to carbonise the insulating material to cause progressive heating of the smokeable material.

1 . An apparatus configured to heat smokeable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokeable material, wherein the apparatus comprises a heater comprising a carbonisable electrical insulating material, and wherein the heater is arranged to carbonise the electrical insulating material to cause progressive heating of the smokeable material. 
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the heater is configured to trigger carbonisation of the electrical insulating material. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the heater is configured to trigger carbonisation of the electrical insulating material in response to a user action. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the heater is configured to trigger carbonisation of the electrical insulating material by heating the electrical insulating material to a carbonisation temperature of the electrical insulating material. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the electrical insulating material is configured to progressively carbonise from a first end of the heater to a second end of the heater in response to carbonisation being initially triggered by the heater. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according  claim 5 , wherein the apparatus is arranged to progressively heat the smokeable material by the progressive carbonisation of the electrical insulating material. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the heater comprises a plurality of electrodes which are separated and electrically isolated by the electrical insulating material. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , configured to trigger carbonisation of the electrical insulating material by causing a current to pass between electrodes. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the electrical insulating material is carbonised to provide an electrically conductive bridge between electrodes of opposite polarity. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the heater is arranged to pass a current between electrodes of opposite polarity to cause progressive carbonisation of the electrical insulating material to occur from a first end of the heater to a second end of the heater. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the heater is positioned in a cavity within a charge of smokeable material. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the heater is enclosed within a gas-impermeable container. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the container is thermally conductive, and wherein the thermal conductivity of the container is greater in a lateral dimension than in a longitudinal dimension. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the electrical insulating material is a cellulosic material. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the electrical insulating material comprises a paper material. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , configured to heat the smokeable material without combusting the smokeable material. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the heater is positioned around a periphery of a charge of smokeable material. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the electrical insulating material is a fibrous material. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the electrical insulating material is a resin.