Article for Use with Apparatus for Heating Smokable Material

Abstract

Disclosed is an article for use with apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material. The article comprises a mass of smokable material. An exterior of the article has a length, a width perpendicular to the length, and a depth perpendicular to each of the length and the width. The length is greater than or equal to the width, and the width is greater than the depth.

1 . An article for use with apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material, wherein the article comprises a mass of smokable material, and wherein an exterior of the article has a length, a width perpendicular to the length, and a depth perpendicular to each of the length and the width, wherein the length is greater than or equal to the width, and wherein the width is greater than the depth. 
     
     
         2 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the mass of smokable material is fixed relative to the exterior of the article. 
     
     
         3 . The article of  claim 1 , comprising a substrate, wherein the mass of smokable material is on the substrate. 
     
     
         4 . The article of  claim 3 , wherein the substrate has a length, a width perpendicular to the length of the substrate, and a depth perpendicular to each of the length and the width of the substrate, wherein the length of the substrate is greater than or equal to the width of the substrate, and wherein the width of the substrate is greater than the depth of the substrate; and
 wherein the length, width and depth of the substrate are substantially parallel to the length, width and depth, respectively, of the exterior of the article.   
     
     
         5 . The article of  claim 3 , wherein the substrate comprises heating material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field to heat the smokable material. 
     
     
         6 . The article of  claim 5 , wherein the heating material comprises one or more materials selected from the group consisting of: an electrically-conductive material, a magnetic material, and a magnetic electrically-conductive material. 
     
     
         7 . The article of  claim 5 , wherein the heating material comprises a metal or a metal alloy. 
     
     
         8 . The article of  claim 5 , wherein the heating material comprises one or more materials selected from the group consisting of: aluminum, gold, iron, nickel, cobalt, conductive carbon, graphite, plain-carbon steel, stainless steel, ferritic stainless steel, copper, and bronze. 
     
     
         9 . The article of  claim 5 , wherein the heating material is in contact with the smokable material. 
     
     
         10 . The article of  claim 5 , wherein the heating material extends to opposite longitudinal ends of the mass of smokable material. 
     
     
         11 . The article of  claim 3 , wherein a portion of the substrate protrudes beyond an end of the mass of smokable material. 
     
     
         12 . The article of  claim 3 , wherein the substrate is within the mass of smokable material. 
     
     
         13 . The article of  claim 3 , wherein the substrate comprises smokable material. 
     
     
         14 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the mass of smokable material defines at least a portion of the exterior of the article. 
     
     
         15 . The article of  claim 1 , comprising a cover around the mass of smokable material, wherein the cover defines at least a portion of the exterior of the article. 
     
     
         16 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the smokable material comprises tobacco and/or one or more humectants. 
     
     
         17 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the smokable material comprises reconstituted smokable material or is in the form of one of a gel, agglomerates, compressed material, or bound material. 
     
     
         18 . Apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material, the apparatus comprising:
 first and second bodies with a heating zone arranged therebetween, wherein the first body is movable relative to the second body to compress the heating zone, wherein the heating zone is for receiving at least a portion of an article comprising smokable material; and   wherein one or each of the first and second bodies comprises at least a portion of a magnetic field generator for generating a varying magnetic field to be used in heating the smokable material when the portion of the article is located in the heating zone.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the first body is rotatable relative to the second body to compress the heating zone. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the portion of a magnetic field generator comprises an electrically-conductive coil. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the, or each, magnetic field generator is for generating a varying magnetic field that penetrates the heating zone. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein one or each of the first and second bodies comprises heating material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field to heat the heating zone. 
     
     
         23 . Apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material, the apparatus comprising:
 a heating zone for receiving at least a portion of an article comprising smokable material, wherein the heating zone has a length, a width perpendicular to the length, and a depth perpendicular to each of the length and the width, wherein the length is greater than or equal to the width, and wherein the width is greater than the depth; and   a magnetic field generator for generating a varying magnetic field to be used in heating the smokable material when the portion of the article is located in the heating zone.   
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the magnetic field generator comprises an electrical power source that is offset from the heating zone in a direction parallel to the depth of the heating zone. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the electrical power source has a length, a width perpendicular to the length of the electrical power source, and a depth perpendicular to each of the length and the width of the electrical power source, wherein the length of the electrical power source is greater than or equal to the width of the electrical power source, and wherein the width of the electrical power source is greater than the depth of the electrical power source; and
 wherein the length, width and depth of the electrical power source are substantially parallel to the length, width and depth, respectively, of the heating zone.   
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , comprising first and second bodies, wherein the heating zone is defined by and is arranged between the first and second bodies, and wherein one or each of the first and second bodies comprises at least a portion of a magnetic field generator for generating a varying magnetic field to be used in heating the smokable material when the portion of the article is located in the heating zone. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the portion of a magnetic field generator comprises a two-dimensional electrically-conductive coil. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , comprising a third body comprising at least a portion of an electrical circuit;
 wherein a first side of the second body is attached to the first body via a first element, and a second side of the second body is attached to the third body via a second element; and   wherein the second body is between the first and third bodies.