Smoking substitute device and system

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to the field of smoking tobacco. In particular, the present disclosure relates to smoking substitute systems and particularly, although not exclusively, to a heat-not-burn (HNB) smoking substitute system. Further in particular, the present disclosure relates to a smoking substitute system having at least two different modes of operation. The present disclosure also relates to an improved housing design. The present disclosure further relates to a smoking substitute device with an improved housing design. The present disclosure yet further relates to smoking substitute systems having at least two independent display elements.

1 . A smoking substitute device, comprising a heating element;
 wherein the smoking substitute device is adapted for receiving a smoking substitute consumable;   wherein the heating element is adapted for heating the smoking substitute consumable; wherein the smoking substitute device comprises at least two modes of operation; and wherein the smoking substitute device is a heat-not-burn smoking substitute device.   
     
     
         2 . The smoking substitute device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a main body; and   a cavity;   wherein the cavity is arranged in the main body; wherein the heating element is arranged in the cavity;   wherein the cavity is adapted for receiving the smoking substitute consumable; and wherein the heating element is adapted for penetrating the outer surface of the smoking substitute consumable to get into contact with tobacco material located inside the smoking substitute consumable upon insertion of the smoking substitute consumable into the smoking substitute device for heating of the tobacco material.   
     
     
         3 . The smoking substitute device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a control element operable by a user of the smoking substitute device, and wherein the control element is adapted for setting a desired mode of operation. 
     
     
         4 . The smoking substitute device according to  claim 3 , wherein for setting a desired mode of operation the control element is actuated by the user of the smoking substitute device, and wherein different modes of operation are settable depending on a duration of the actuation of the control element by the user. 
     
     
         5 . The smoking substitute device according to  claim 1 , wherein a desired mode of operation is settable for the duration of consuming a smoking substitute consumable. 
     
     
         6 . The smoking substitute device according to  claim 1 , wherein a mode of operation relates to a heating temperature of the tobacco material during the consumption of the smoking substitute consumable. 
     
     
         7 . The smoking substitute device according to  claim 6 , wherein the temperature is in a range between substantially 170° C. and 400° C. 
     
     
         8 . The smoking substitute device according to  claim 7 , wherein the smoking substitute device comprises at least three modes of operation relating to the heating temperature of the tobacco material during the consumption of the smoking substitute consumable, and wherein in a first mode of operation, the temperature is between substantially 170° C. and 250° C., in a second mode of operation the temperature is between substantially 200° C. and 300° C., and in a third mode of operation the temperature is between substantially 250° C. and 400° C. 
     
     
         9 . The smoking substitute device according to  claim 1 , wherein a mode of operation relates to an amount of vapour generated during the consumption of the smoking substitute consumable, in particular wherein in a first mode of operation less vapour is generated than in a second mode of operation. 
     
     
         10 . The smoking substitute device according to  claim 9 , further comprising a display element for indicating a mode of operation to the user. 
     
     
         11 . A smoking substitute system, comprising:
 a smoking substitute device according to  claim 1 ; and   a smoking substitute consumable.   
     
     
         12 . A method of using the smoking substitute system according to  claim 11 , the method comprising:
 inserting the smoking substitute consumable into the smoking substitute device; and   heating the smoking substitute consumable using the heating element.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising:
 inserting the smoking substitute consumable into the cavity within the main body of the smoking substitute device; and   penetrating the smoking substitute consumable with the heating element upon insertion of the smoking substitute consumable.   
     
     
         14 . A smoking substitute device, comprising:
 a main body having an elongated shape comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end comprises a first cavity and the second end comprises a second cavity; and   a bung element adapted to be insertable alternatively into the first cavity and the second cavity.   
     
     
         15 . The smoking substitute device according to  claim 14 , wherein the bung element is adapted to remain in either one of the first cavity and the second cavity substantially without external force. 
     
     
         16 . The smoking substitute device according to  claim 14 , wherein the bung element and the first and second cavity are complementarily shaped. 
     
     
         17 . The smoking substitute device according to  claim 14 , wherein in a first mode of operation, the bung element is inserted into the first cavity and in a second mode of operation, the bung element is inserted into the second cavity. 
     
     
         18 . The smoking substitute device according to  claim 14 , wherein a defined mode of operation is activatable only if the bung element is or is not inserted in one of the first cavity and the second cavity. 
     
     
         19 . The smoking substitute device according to  claim 14 , wherein a defined mode of operation is activated by inserting or not inserting the bung element into one of the first cavity and the second cavity. 
     
     
         20 . The smoking substitute device according to  claim 14 , wherein the smoking substitute device is activatable only if the bung element is inserted into one of the first and second cavity. 
     
     
         21 . The smoking substitute device according to  claim 14 , wherein the smoking substitute device is not activatable if the bung element is inserted into one of the first and second cavity. 
     
     
         22 . The smoking substitute device according to  claim 14 , wherein one of the first cavity and the second cavity is a cavity for receiving a smoking substitute consumable, and the other one of the first cavity and the second cavity is a cavity comprising an electrical interface ( 30 ). 
     
     
         23 . The smoking substitute device according to  claim 22 , wherein the electrical interface ( 30 ) is a symmetrical interface, in particular a USB-C interface or a lightning interface. 
     
     
         24 . The smoking substitute device according to  claim 14 , wherein the main body comprises an outer shape in the area of the first and second cavity, and wherein the shape of the bung element substantially conforms to the shape of the main body in the area of the first and second cavity, so as to be substantially flush with the main body. 
     
     
         25 . The smoking substitute device according to  claim 14 , wherein the first cavity has a circular shape with two notches extending at opposing sides of the first cavity defining a first width, and wherein the second cavity comprises substantially the same width in a defined direction. 
     
     
         26 . The smoking substitute device according to  claim 25 , wherein the bung element comprises a protrusion having an elongated shape with a first length, wherein the shape of the protrusion conforms to the second cavity and wherein the length conforms to the width of the first cavity. 
     
     
         27 . The smoking substitute device according to  claim 14 , wherein the insertion of the bung element in one of the first cavity and the second cavity prevents contamination of said cavity. 
     
     
         28 . The smoking substitute device according to  claim 14 , wherein the smoking substitute device is an HNB smoking substitute device. 
     
     
         29 . The smoking substitute device according to  claim 14 , wherein the electrical interface ( 30 ) is an interface comprising one of an electrical connection, a data connection, or both. 
     
     
         30 . A smoking substitute system, comprising:
 a smoking substitute device according to  claim 14 ; and   a smoking substitute consumable.   
     
     
         31 . A method of using the smoking substitute system according to  claim 30 , the method comprising:
 inserting the smoking substitute consumable into the smoking substitute device; and   heating the smoking substitute consumable using the heating element.   
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 31 , the method further comprising:
 inserting the smoking substitute consumable into the cavity within the main body of the smoking substitute device; and   penetrating the smoking substitute consumable with the heating element upon insertion of the smoking substitute consumable.   
     
     
         33 . A smoking substitute device, comprising:
 a main body having a length (l) and a transverse cross-section (c), wherein the cross-section (c) comprises two at least partially parallel, substantially linear sides (S 1 , S 2 ) of different width (w 1 , w 2 ), and wherein the cross-section (c) further comprises two sides (S 3 ,S 4 ) having a curved shape, and wherein the curved sides (S 3 ,S 4 ) connect with the linear sides (S 1 , S 2 ) for forming the cross-section.   
     
     
         34 . The smoking substitute device according to  claim 33 , wherein the curved sides (S 3 ,S 4 ) are non-circular. 
     
     
         35 . The smoking substitute device according to  claim 33 , wherein one of the substantially linear sides (S 1 , S 2 ) is a front side (S 2 ) of the smoking substitute device, and wherein the other one of the substantially linear sides (S 1 , S 2 ) is a back side (S 1 ) of the smoking substitute device. 
     
     
         36 . The smoking substitute device according to  claim 35 , the front side (S 2 ) comprising at least one of:
 a display element for indicating a mode of operation, and   a control element for controlling operation of the smoking substitute device.   
     
     
         37 . The smoking substitute device according to  claim 36 , further comprising a front face element (F), wherein at least one of the display element and the control element are arranged on the front face element (F), and wherein the front face element (F) protrudes from the front side (S 1 ). 
     
     
         38 . The smoking substitute device according to  claim 33 , wherein the curved sides (S 3 ,S 4 ) each comprise a plurality of subsections (S 3   a , S 3   b , S 3   c , S 4   a , S 3   b , S 3   c ); and
 wherein each curved side (S 3 ,S 4 ) comprises two curved subsections (S 3   a , S 3   c , S 4   a , S 3   c ); or   each curved side (S 3 ,S 4 ) comprises two curved subsections (S 3   a , S 3   c , S 4   a , S 3   c ) and a substantially linear subsection (S 3   b ,S 4   b ) arranged between the curved subsections (S 3   a , S 3   c , S 4   a , S 3   c ).   
     
     
         39 . The smoking substitute device according to  claim 33 , further comprising a first end section and a second end section, wherein the end sections are non-linear in shape, in particular comprise a curvature. 
     
     
         40 . The smoking substitute device according to  claim 33 , wherein the length (l) is in the range of 5 cm to 20 cm. 
     
     
         41 . The smoking substitute device according to  claim 33 , wherein the first width (w 1 ) is in the range of 1 cm to 3 cm. 
     
     
         42 . The smoking substitute device according to  claim 33 , wherein the second width (w 2 ) is in the range of 0.5 cm to 1.5 cm. 
     
     
         43 . The smoking substitute device according to  claim 33 , wherein a width (w) of the smoking substitute device is in the range of 1 cm to 5 cm. 
     
     
         44 . The smoking substitute device according to  claim 33 , wherein a depth (d) of smoking substitute device is in the range of 0.5 cm to 3 cm. 
     
     
         45 . The smoking substitute device according to  claim 33 , wherein the two substantially linear sides (S 1 , S 2 ) have a radius of curvature in the range of 10 cm and 1000 cm. 
     
     
         46 . The smoking substitute device according to  claim 45 , wherein one of the two substantially linear sides (S 1 , S 2 ) is concavely shaped and the other one of the two substantially linear sides (S 1 , S 2 ) is convexly shaped. 
     
     
         47 . A smoking substitute system, comprising:
 a smoking substitute device according to  claim 33 ; and   a smoking substitute consumable.   
     
     
         48 . A method of using the smoking substitute system according to  claim 47 , the method comprising:
 inserting the smoking substitute consumable into the smoking substitute device; and   heating the smoking substitute consumable using the heating element.   
     
     
         49 . The method according to  claim 48 , further comprising:
 inserting the smoking substitute consumable into the cavity within the main body of the smoking substitute device; and   penetrating the smoking substitute consumable with the heating element upon insertion of the smoking substitute consumable.   
     
     
         50 . A smoking substitute device, comprising:
 a main body;   wherein the main body comprises a first display element for displaying first information and a second display element for displaying second information;   wherein the first display element is arranged separate from and independent of the second display element;   wherein the first information is different from the second information;   wherein one of the first and second information is for displaying a power status of the smoking substitute device; and   wherein the smoking substitute device is a heat-not-burn device.   
     
     
         51 . The smoking substitute device according to  claim 50 , wherein the power status is for displaying an ON/OFF status of the smoking substitute device. 
     
     
         52 . The smoking substitute device according to  claim 51 , comprising a heating element, wherein said ON status is indicative of the heating element being energized. 
     
     
         53 . The smoking substitute device according to  claim 50 , comprising a heating element, wherein said ON status is indicative of the heating element being within a target temperature range. 
     
     
         54 . The smoking substitute device according to  claim 50 , comprising a heating element, wherein said ON status is indicative of the heating element being outside a target temperature range. 
     
     
         55 . The smoking substitute device according to  claim 50 , comprising a heating element, wherein said ON status is indicative of said heating element exceeding a threshold safety temperature. 
     
     
         56 . The smoking substitute device according to  claim 50 , wherein the other one of the first and second information is for displaying information out of the group consisting of status information, power source level information, time to use information, remaining time of use information, heating status information. 
     
     
         57 . The smoking substitute device according to  claim 50 , wherein the first display element and the second display element are differently sized. 
     
     
         58 . The smoking substitute device according to  claim 50 , wherein the display element not displaying the power status information is substantially larger than the display element ( 28   a,b ) displaying the power status information. 
     
     
         59 . The smoking substitute device according to  claim 50 , wherein the display element displaying the power status information is active substantially as long as the smoking substitute device in an on status, and wherein the display element not displaying the power status information in only intermittently activated. 
     
     
         60 . The smoking substitute device according to  claim 50 , further comprising a control element, wherein the display element displaying the power status information is arranged in the vicinity of or is incorporated in the control element. 
     
     
         61 . The smoking substitute device according to  claim 50 , wherein the first display element and/or the second display element are a display element out of the group consisting of an LED element, a plurality of LED elements, an LCD display element, an OLED element and a plurality of OLED elements. 
     
     
         62 . The smoking substitute device according to  claim 50 , wherein the first display element and/or the second display element are adapted for displaying information in different colours. 
     
     
         63 . The smoking substitute device according to  claim 62 , wherein a change in colour of a display element corresponds to a change in a status displayed. 
     
     
         64 . The smoking substitute device according to  claim 60 , wherein the type of displayed information is colour-dependent. 
     
     
         65 . A smoking substitute system, comprising:
 a smoking substitute device according to  claim 50 ; and   a smoking substitute consumable.   
     
     
         66 . A method of using the smoking substitute system according to  claim 65 , the method comprising:
 inserting the smoking substitute consumable into the smoking substitute device; and   heating the smoking substitute consumable using the heating element.   
     
     
         67 . The method according to  claim 66 , the method further comprising:
 inserting the smoking substitute consumable into the cavity within the main body of the smoking substitute device; and   penetrating the smoking substitute consumable with the heating element upon insertion of the smoking substitute consumable.