Capsule

Abstract

The present invention relates to a capsule for a hookah device comprising: a smoking product comprising at least one ingredient configured to vaporise during heating of the smoking product in use and a housing comprising a plurality of walls shaped to define an internal chamber containing the smoking product and defining at least one air pathway to allow the vaporised ingredient to exit the capsule in use. A support structure is provided within the housing defining a surface area within the internal chamber away from the plurality of walls over which at least a portion of the smoking product is disposed, wherein the smoking product and support structure only partially fill the internal chamber.

1 . A capsule for a hookah device comprising:
 a smoking product comprising at least one ingredient configured to vaporise during heating of the smoking product in use;   a housing comprising a plurality of walls shaped to define an internal chamber containing the smoking product and defining at least one air pathway to allow the vaporised ingredient to exit the capsule in use; and   a support structure within the housing defining a surface area within the internal chamber away from the plurality of walls over which at least a portion of the smoking product is disposed, wherein the smoking product and support structure only partially fill the internal chamber.   
     
     
         2 . A capsule according to  claim 1 , where the capsule comprises first and second walls, the internal chamber being between the first and second walls, wherein the first and second walls comprise at least one respective aperture therein, such that in use, air passes through the respective apertures and over the smoking product in the internal chamber. 
     
     
         3 . A capsule according to  claim 1 , where the support structure has greater mechanical strength than the smoking product. 
     
     
         4 . A capsule according to  claim 1 , where the support structure is shaped to maintain a desired dispersion of the smoking product within the internal chamber. 
     
     
         5 . A capsule according to  claim 1 , where the support structure substantially spans a height and/or width dimension of the internal chamber. 
     
     
         6 . A capsule according to  claim 1 , where the support structure is loosely disposed within the internal chamber and movement of the support structure is constrained by contact with the plurality of walls and/or smoking product. 
     
     
         7 . A capsule according to  claim 1 , where the support structure comprises a partition configured to divide the internal chamber of the capsule into two or more compartments or cells, where the partition defines an annular internal chamber containing the smoking product and a central air pathway extending therethrough. 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A capsule according to  claim 1 , where the support structure comprises a plurality of elongate arms configured to extend into the smoking product and impinge movement thereof. 
     
     
         12 . A capsule according to  claim 1 , where the support structure is at least partially embedded within or coated by the smoking product. 
     
     
         13 . A capsule according to  claim 12 , where in use is the support structure is removable or displaceable from the capsule to leave an air channel within the smoking product after displacement therefrom. 
     
     
         14 . A capsule according to  claim 1 , where the support structure is air-permeable, for example comprising one or more of: a mesh; a foam; a perforated sheet material; or a web. 
     
     
         15 . A capsule according to  claim 1 , where the support structure comprises one or more partition shaped to define an air pathway in the form of a flow passage through the internal chamber whereby the one or more partition prevents entry of the smoking product into the flow passage. 
     
     
         16 . A capsule according to  claim 1 , where the support structure comprises a plurality of discrete elements or beads contained within the capsule. 
     
     
         17 . A capsule according to  claim 1 , where the smoking product at least partially encapsulates the support structure such that support structure provides a core and smoking product comprises a coating on the core. 
     
     
         18 . A capsule according to  claim 17 , where the core comprises an inert, inorganic material such as one or more of: stone; glass; ceramic; or sand. 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A capsule according to  claim 17 , where the coating comprises an organic thickener and/or the coating is substantially dry. 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A capsule according to  claim 17 , where a plurality of coated cores are provided and a further support structure, at least two of the coated cores being separated or constrained by the further support structure. 
     
     
         23 . A capsule according to  claim 1 , where the smoking product is provided in a plurality of discrete portions, each of the discrete portions comprising a different effective surface area of smoking product, different cross-sectional area or different volume to surface area ratio, such the different portions of the smoking product are consumed at different rates during heating. 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . A capsule according to claim  24 , where the total rate of vaporised smoking product produced by the capsule remains within a predetermined margin over a predetermined time period of use. 
     
     
         26 . A capsule according to  claim 1 , where the smoking product ingredients comprise a binder, a mist maker and a flavouring. 
     
     
         27 . A capsule according to  claim 26 , where the smoking product comprises an absorbent-binder, such as one or more of: fumed silica; amorphous silica; or talc. 
     
     
         28 . A capsule according to  claim 1 , where the smoking product comprises a viscous liquid, or semi-solid, such as a paste, and/or where the smoking product comprises an inert, granular filler. 
     
     
         29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . A hookah pipe comprising the capsule of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         31 . A method of manufacture of a capsule for a water pipe, the method comprising: providing a smoking product comprising at least one ingredient configured to vaporise during heating; forming a housing of the capsule having an internal chamber; providing a support structure for the internal chamber having a surface area arranged to receive the smoking product; applying the smoking product to the surface area of the support structure; and, closing the housing over the support structure with the smoking product applied thereto. 
     
     
         32 . A method of using the capsule of  claim 1  comprising:
 heating the capsule to vaporise one or more ingredient of the smoking product; 
 passing air into the capsule to entrain and extract the vaporised product from within the capsule.