Smokeless cigarette system

Abstract

A smokeless lighter includes a heater sized to accommodate a smokable article such as a cigarette such that a portion of the cigarette protrudes from the lighter. The heater maintains the temperature in an internal chamber in the range of 160 to 200° C. so as to be below the ignition temperature for tobacco. An insulating jacket surrounds the heater to protect the smokers from burn injury. Circuitry may be activated manually or by insertion of a cigarette into the heater and limits operation of the heater preferably to a period of 10 to 12 minutes. Optionally, a light may be used to indicate when air is drawn through the smokeless lighter.

1 . A lighter comprising: 
 generally cylindrical heater defining a generally cylindrical chamber, an air supply opening, and an entrance sized to receive at least an end portion of a smokable article, the heater being operable to maintain a substantially uniform temperature in the generally cylindrical chamber, the temperature being below the ignition temperature of tobacco, and lying in the range of about 160° C. to about 200° C.;    an insulating jacket substantially surrounding the generally cylindrical heater, having an external surface, being fashioned from a thermally insulating material, and having a thickness selected such that the temperature of the external surface remains below 40° C.;    power supply operable to supply electrical energy to the heater; and    circuitry operable to control the duration of electrical energy delivered by the power supply to the heater.    
   
   
       2 . The lighter of  claim 1  wherein circuitry includes a timing circuit operable to interrupt delivery of electrical energy to the heater after a period of about 10 to about 12 minutes.  
   
   
       3 . The lighter of  claim 1  further including a puff-indicator operable to sense airflow into the heater and to generate a signal during periods of increased airflow.  
   
   
       4 . The lighter of  claim 2  wherein the circuitry includes a manually actuatable switch to initiate operation of the heater independently of the timing circuit.  
   
   
       5 . The lighter of  claim 1  wherein the circuitry includes a switch actuated in response to the presence of an object in the generally cylindrical chamber of the heater.  
   
   
       6 . The lighter of  claim 1  wherein the generally cylindrical chamber of the heater has a transverse dimension corresponding to the nominal diameter of a cigarette or cigar.  
   
   
       7 . The lighter of  claim 1  further comprising an aerosol generating flavor cartridge in the chamber.  
   
   
       8 . The lighter of  claim 7  wherein the smokable article is a cigarette.  
   
   
       9 . The lighter of  claim 1  wherein the generally cylindrical chamber has a length corresponding to the length of the tobacco rod of a conventional cigarette.  
   
   
       10 . A lighter comprising: 
 a heater defining a generally cylindrical chamber, an air supply opening, and an entrance sized to accommodate at least an end portion of a smokable article, the heater being operable to maintain a temperature in the generally cylindrical chamber in the range of 160 to 200° C.;    a jacket substantially surrounding the heater, having an external surface, being fashioned from a thermally insulating material, and having a thickness selected such that the temperature of the external surface remains below 40° C.;    a power supply operable to supply electrical energy to the heater; and    circuitry operable to control the duration of electrical energy delivered by the power supply to the heater to a period of about 10 to about 12 minutes.    
   
   
       11 . The lighter of  claim 10  further including a puff-indicator operable to sense airflow into the heater and to generate a signal during periods of increased airflow.  
   
   
       12 . The lighter of  claim 10  wherein the circuitry includes a manually actuatable switch to initiate operation of the heater independently of the timing circuit.  
   
   
       13 . The lighter of  claim 10  wherein the circuitry includes a switch actuated in response to the presence of an the smokable article in the generally cylindrical chamber of the heater.  
   
   
       14 . The lighter of  claim 10  wherein the generally cylindrical chamber of the heater has a transverse dimension corresponding to the nominal diameter of a cigarette.  
   
   
       15 . The lighter of  claim 10  further comprising an aerosol generating flavor cartridge in the chamber.  
   
   
       16 . A smokeless cigarette lighter comprising: 
 heater defining a generally cylindrical chamber with a transverse dimension corresponding to the nominal diameter and length of a cigarette, the heater further including an air supply opening, and an entrance sized to accommodate the cigarette, the heater being operable to receive the cigarette and to maintain a temperature in the generally cylindrical chamber in the range of 160 to 200° C.;    a jacket substantially surrounding the heater, having an external surface, being fashioned from a thermally insulating material, and having a thickness selected such that the temperature of the external surface remains below about 40° C.;    a power supply operable to supply electrical energy to the heater; and    circuitry operable to control the duration of electrical energy delivered by the power supply to the heater to a period of about 10 to about 12 minutes.    
   
   
       17 . The lighter of  claim 16  further including a puff-indicator operable to sense airflow into the heater and to generate a signal during periods of increased airflow.  
   
   
       18 . The lighter of  claim 16  wherein the circuitry includes a manually actuatable switch to initiate operation of the heater.  
   
   
       19 . The lighter of  claim 16  wherein the circuitry includes a switch actuated in response to the presence of a cigarette in the generally cylindrical chamber of the heating means.  
   
   
       20 . The lighter of  claim 16  further comprising an aerosol generating flavor cartridge in the chamber.  
   
   
       21 . A method of heating at least a portion of a cigarette rod while maintaining it at a preselected temperature for a predetermined time interval.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the preselected temperature is maintained without interruption between puffs during said time interval or in absence of a puff for said time interval.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the preselected temperature is maintained without interruption between puffs.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 21  further including the step of using a puff sensor to actuate the predetermined time interval.  
   
   
       25 . A method of delivering mainstream smoke from a cigarette without combustion by maintaining at least a portion of a cigarette rod at a preselected temperature for a predetermined time interval.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 25  further including the step of sensing for puffs during the predetermined time interval.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26  further including the step of restarting the preselected time interval when a puff is sensed.  
   
   
       28 . A system for smokeless enjoyment of a smoking article comprising: 
 at least one smokable article;    a lighter having an opening sized to receive at least an end portion of the smokable article, including an insulating jacket, and heating apparatus operable to maintain a preselected temperature within the opening, the preselected temperature being in the range of about 160° C. to about 200° C.; and    a power supply operable to supply electrical energy to the heating apparatus.    
   
   
       29 . The system of  claim 28  wherein the lighter further includes a puff sensor effective to sense air flow changes through the lighter.  
   
   
       30 . The system of  claim 29  wherein the heating apparatus of the lighter is actuated for a predetermined time period, wherein the smokable article initiates the predetermined time period, and wherein the puff sensor resets the predetermined time period.