Device for apparatus for heating smokable material

Abstract

Described herein is a cartridge for use with apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material. The cartridge comprises a housing defining a chamber, smokable material located in the chamber, and a mass of thermal insulation material located between the smokable material and the housing. Also disclosed is apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material. The apparatus comprises an assembly having an interface, and the cartridge, wherein the cartridge is for co-operating with the interface of the assembly.

1 . A device for use with apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilise at least one component of the smokable material, the device comprising:
 a support; and   smokable material arranged on the support,   wherein a first portion of the smokable material is arranged on a first portion of the support and has a form so as to be heatable more quickly than a second portion of the smokable material arranged on a second portion of the support.   
     
     
         2 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the smokable material comprises particles of the smokable material having a first mean particle size, and the second portion of the smokable material comprises particles of the smokable material having a second mean particle size that is greater than the first mean particle size. 
     
     
         3 . A device according to  claim 1  or  claim 2 , wherein the first portion of the smokable material is arranged on the support with a first thickness and the second portion of the smokable material is arranged on the support with a second thickness that is greater than the first thickness. 
     
     
         4 . A device for use with apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilise at least one component of the smokable material, the device comprising:
 a support; and   smokable material arranged on the support,   wherein a first portion of the smokable material is arranged on a first portion of the support with a first thickness and a second portion of the smokable material is arranged on a second portion of the support with a second thickness, and wherein the second thickness is greater than the first thickness.   
     
     
         5 . A device for use with apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilise at least one component of the smokable material, the device comprising:
 a support; and   smokable material arranged on the support,   wherein a first portion of the smokable material is arranged on a first portion of the support and comprises particles of the smokable material having a first mean particle size, and a second portion of the smokable material is arranged on a second portion of the support and comprises particles of the smokable material having a second mean particle size, and wherein the second mean particle size is greater than the first mean particle size.   
     
     
         6 . A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first and second portions of the support are first and second portions of one side of the support. 
     
     
         7 . A device according to  claim 6 , wherein the smokable material is arranged on the side of the support with a thickness that tapers from the first portion of the smokable material to the second portion of the smokable material. 
     
     
         8 . A device according to  claim 7 , wherein the smokable material is arranged on the side of the support with a thickness that tapers linearly from the first portion of the smokable material to the second portion of the smokable material. 
     
     
         9 . A device according to  claim 6 , wherein the smokable material is arranged on the side of the support with a thickness that increases in a stepwise manner from the first portion of the smokable material to the second portion of the smokable material. 
     
     
         10 . A device according to any one of  claims 1  to  5 , wherein the first and second portions of the support are first and second sides of the support, respectively. 
     
     
         11 . A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first and second portions of the smokable material are at respective opposite ends of the smokable material. 
     
     
         12 . A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the smokable material is bonded to the support. 
     
     
         13 . A device according to  claim 12 , wherein the smokable material is bonded by an adhesive to the support. 
     
     
         14 . A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support is planar. 
     
     
         15 . A device according to any one of  claims 1  to  13 , wherein the support is non-planar. 
     
     
         16 . A device according to  claim 15 , wherein the support is corrugated or folded. 
     
     
         17 . A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support is a heating element for heating the smokable material. 
     
     
         18 . A device according to  claim 17 , wherein the heating element is heatable by passing an electric current through the heating element. 
     
     
         19 . A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the smokable material comprises tobacco. 
     
     
         20 . A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the smokable material is in solid form. 
     
     
         21 . A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the smokable material comprises particles of the smokable material. 
     
     
         22 . A cartridge for use with apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilise at least one component of the smokable material, the cartridge comprising a device according to any one of the preceding claims. 
     
     
         23 . A cartridge according to  claim 22 , comprising a housing defining a chamber, wherein the device is located within the chamber. 
     
     
         24 . A cartridge according to  claim 22  or  claim 23 , comprising two electrically-conductive terminals that are accessible from an exterior of the cartridge, wherein the support is a heating element for heating the smokable material, and the heating element is electrically connected across the electrically-conductive terminals. 
     
     
         25 . Apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilise at least one component of the smokable material, the apparatus comprising a device according to any one of  claims 1  to  21 ; or comprising a cartridge according to any one of  claims 22  to  24  and an assembly, wherein the assembly has an interface and the cartridge is for co-operating with the interface of the assembly. 
     
     
         26 . Apparatus according to  claim 25 , wherein the apparatus is arranged to heat the smokable material to volatilise the at least one component of the smokable material without combusting the smokable material. 
     
     
         27 . Apparatus according to  claim 25  or  claim 26 , comprising a heating element for heating the smokable material, wherein the assembly comprises a controller for controlling the supply of electrical power to the heating element from an electrical power source. 
     
     
         28 . Apparatus according to any one of  claims 25  to  27 , comprising a heating element for heating the smokable material, wherein the assembly comprises a controller arranged to control heating of the heating element so as to cause heating of the smokable material to volatilise the at least one component of the smokable material without combusting the smokable material when the cartridge is co-operating with the interface of the assembly. 
     
     
         29 . Apparatus according to  claim 27  or  claim 28 , wherein the heating element of the apparatus is the support.