Cartridge for use with 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 includes a housing defining a chamber, and a heating device located in the chamber. The heating device is arranged to heat smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material. The heating device includes a heating element and smokable material arranged on the heating element. Also disclosed is apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material. The apparatus includes an assembly having an interface, and the cartridge, wherein the cartridge is for co-operating with the interface of the assembly.

1 . A cartridge for use with apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilise at least one component of the smokable material, the cartridge comprising:
 a housing defining a chamber; and   a heating device located in the chamber, the heating device being arranged to heat smokable material to volatilise at least one component of the smokable material, the heating device comprising a heating element and smokable material arranged on the heating element.   
     
     
         2 . A cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein the heating element is heatable by passing an electric current through the heating element. 
     
     
         3 . A cartridge according to  claim 2 , comprising two electrically-conductive terminals that are accessible from an exterior of the cartridge, wherein the heating element is electrically connected across the electrically-conductive terminals. 
     
     
         4 . A cartridge according to  any one of the preceding claims , wherein the smokable material is bonded to the heating element. 
     
     
         5 . A cartridge according to  claim 4 , wherein the smokable material is bonded by an adhesive to the heating element. 
     
     
         6 . A cartridge according to  any one of the preceding claims , wherein the housing has a volatilised material flow path extending therethrough for permitting volatilised material to pass from the chamber out of the housing. 
     
     
         7 . A cartridge for use with apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilise at least one component of the smokable material, the cartridge comprising:
 a housing defining a chamber; and   smokable material located in the chamber;   wherein the housing has a volatilised material flow path extending therethrough for permitting volatilised material to pass from the chamber out of the housing.   
     
     
         8 . A cartridge according to  claim 6 or claim 7 , wherein the housing has one or more apertures extending therethrough for permitting volatilised material to pass from the chamber out of the housing. 
     
     
         9 . A cartridge according to  claim 8 , wherein all of the housing is made of non-porous material. 
     
     
         10 . A cartridge according to any one of  claims 6 to 8 , wherein all of the housing is made of porous material for permitting volatilised material to pass from the chamber out of the housing. 
     
     
         11 . A cartridge according to any one of  claims 6 to 8 , wherein a first portion of the housing is made of porous material for permitting volatilised material to pass from the chamber out of the housing, and a second portion of the housing is made of non-porous material. 
     
     
         12 . A cartridge according to  claim 11 , wherein the first portion of the housing has one or more apertures extending therethrough for permitting volatilised material to pass from the chamber out of the housing. 
     
     
         13 . A cartridge according to  claim 11 or claim 12 , wherein the second portion of the housing has one or more apertures extending therethrough for permitting volatilised material to pass from the chamber out of the housing. 
     
     
         14 . A cartridge according to  any one of the preceding claims , wherein the housing has an air flow path extending therethrough for admitting air into the chamber from an exterior of the housing. 
     
     
         15 . A cartridge for use with apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilise at least one component of the smokable material, the cartridge comprising:
 a housing defining a chamber; and   smokable material located in the chamber;   wherein the housing has an air flow path extending therethrough for admitting air into the chamber from an exterior of the housing.   
     
     
         16 . A cartridge according to  claim 14 or claim 15 , wherein the housing has a hole extending therethrough for admitting air into the chamber from an exterior of the housing. 
     
     
         17 . A cartridge according to  claim 16 , wherein the housing comprises a first housing part attached to a second housing part that is non-unitary with the first housing part, and wherein the first and second housing parts define the hole between the first and second housing parts. 
     
     
         18 . A cartridge according to  claim 17 , wherein the first and second housing parts cooperate so as to define the chamber. 
     
     
         19 . A cartridge according to any one of  claims 14 to 18 , wherein all of the housing is made of non-porous material. 
     
     
         20 . A cartridge according to any one of  claims 14 to 18 , wherein all of the housing is made of porous material for admitting air into the chamber from an exterior of the housing. 
     
     
         21 . A cartridge according to any one of  claims 14 to 18 , wherein a first portion of the housing is made of porous material for admitting air into the chamber from an exterior of the housing, and a second portion of the housing is made of non-porous material. 
     
     
         22 . A cartridge according to  claim 21 , wherein the first portion of the housing has a hole extending therethrough for admitting air into the chamber from an exterior of the housing. 
     
     
         23 . A cartridge according to  claim 21 or claim 22 , wherein the second portion of the housing has a hole extending therethrough for admitting air into the chamber from an exterior of the housing. 
     
     
         24 . A cartridge according to any one of  claims 10 to 13 and 20 to 23 , wherein the porous material comprises polyethylene or nylon. 
     
     
         25 . A cartridge according to  any one of the preceding claims , wherein part of the cartridge comprises, or is impregnated with, a flavourant. 
     
     
         26 . A cartridge according to  claim 25 , wherein the part of the cartridge is the housing. 
     
     
         27 . A cartridge according to  any one of the preceding claims , wherein the smokable material comprises tobacco. 
     
     
         28 . A cartridge according to  any one of the preceding claims , wherein the smokable material is in a solid state. 
     
     
         29 . A cartridge according to  any one of the preceding claims , wherein the smokable material comprises particles of the smokable material. 
     
     
         30 . A cartridge according to  any one of the preceding claims , wherein the cartridge has an asymmetric exterior cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         31 . Apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilise at least one component of the smokable material, the apparatus comprising an assembly having an interface, and a cartridge according to  any one of the preceding claims , wherein the cartridge is for co-operating with the interface of the assembly. 
     
     
         32 . Apparatus according to  claim 31 , 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 when the cartridge is co-operating with the interface of the assembly. 
     
     
         33 . Apparatus according to  claim 31 or claim 32  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 when the cartridge is co-operating with the interface of the assembly. 
     
     
         34 . Apparatus according to any one of  claims 31 to 33  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. 
     
     
         35 . Apparatus according to any one of  claims 31 to 34 , wherein the cartridge is able to co-operate with the interface in only one orientation relative to the assembly. 
     
     
         36 . Apparatus according to any one of  claims 31 to 35 , wherein the interface comprises a recess for receiving at least a portion of the cartridge. 
     
     
         37 . Apparatus according to  claim 36 , wherein the recess has an interior cross-sectional shape corresponding to an exterior cross-sectional shape of the cartridge.