Smoking device

Abstract

A device includes a chamber that receives a consumable, a heating unit that heats the consumable received into the chamber, and a tubular sleeve that surrounds the chamber. The chamber includes an opening through which the consumable is inserted and a holding unit that holds the consumable. The holding unit includes a pressing unit, which presses a part of the consumable, and a non-pressing unit. The holding unit is provided with an air gap between the inner surface of the non-pressing unit and the consumable when the consumable is positioned at a desired position in the chamber, the air gap connecting the opening in the chamber and the end surface of the consumable positioned at the desired position in the chamber, or the opening in the chamber and the end surface of the consumable positioned inside the chamber and away from the opening in the chamber.

1 . A smoking system comprising a consumable containing a smokable substance and a device that heats and atomizes the smokable substance, wherein the device includes
 a chamber that receives the consumable; and   a heating unit that heats the consumable received into the chamber,   wherein the chamber includes an opening through which the consumable is inserted and a holding unit that holds the consumable,   wherein the holding unit includes a pressing unit, which presses a part of the consumable, and a non-pressing unit,   wherein the pressing unit and the non-pressing unit each have an inner surface and an outer surface, and   wherein the heating unit is disposed on the outer surface of the pressing unit.   
     
     
         2 . The smoking system according to  claim 1 , wherein an inner circumferential length of the holding unit is the same as an outer circumferential length of the consumable before being pressed by the pressing unit. 
     
     
         3 . The smoking system according to  claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of the pressing unit is a flat surface. 
     
     
         4 . The smoking system according to  claim 1 , wherein the device includes a band-shaped electrode extending from the heating unit, and
 wherein the band-shaped electrode extends from the outer surface of the pressing unit to the outside of the outer surface of the pressing unit in a state with the heating unit disposed on the outer surface of the pressing unit.   
     
     
         5 . The smoking system according to  claim 1 , wherein the consumable includes a first portion having a first hardness and a second portion having a second hardness,
 wherein the second portion is a different portion from the first portion in the insertion direction of the consumable, and   wherein the second hardness is higher than the first hardness.   
     
     
         6 . The smoking system according to  claim 5 , wherein when the consumable is positioned at a desired position in the chamber, the consumable is positioned such that at least a part of the first portion is pressed against the inner surface of the pressing unit. 
     
     
         7 . The smoking system according to  claim 5 , wherein when the consumable is positioned at a desired position in the chamber, the consumable is positioned such that at least a part of the second portion is pressed against the inner surface of the pressing unit. 
     
     
         8 . The smoking system according to  claim 5 , wherein a length of the first portion of the consumable in a longitudinal direction is less than or equal to a length of the inner surface of the pressing unit in the longitudinal direction, and
 wherein when the consumable is positioned at a desired position in the chamber, the consumable is positioned in the chamber such that the first portion of the consumable does not stick out from the inner surface of the pressing unit and also such that at least a part of the second portion is pressed against the inner surface of the pressing unit.   
     
     
         9 . The smoking system according to  claim 1 , wherein the holding unit includes two pressing units facing each other, and
 wherein at least a portion of a distance between the inner surfaces of the two pressing units is shorter than a width of the consumable inserted into the chamber at a location disposed between the pressing units.   
     
     
         10 . The smoking system according to  claim 1 , wherein the holding unit includes at least two pressing units spaced out in a circumferential direction of the chamber, and
 wherein the holding unit is provided with an air gap between the inner surface of the non-pressing unit connecting two of the pressing units and the consumable when the consumable is positioned at a desired position in the chamber, the air gap connecting the opening in the chamber and an end surface of the consumable positioned inside the chamber, or the opening in the chamber and the end surface of the consumable positioned inside the chamber and away from the opening in the chamber.   
     
     
         11 . The smoking system according to  claim 1 , wherein the inner surface of the non-pressing unit of the holding unit has a curved surface connecting ends of the inner surface of the pressing unit in the circumferential direction of the chamber. 
     
     
         12 . The smoking system according to  claim 1 , wherein the chamber includes a first guide unit provided with a tapered surface that connects the inner surface of the chamber forming the opening to the inner surface of the pressing unit. 
     
     
         13 . The smoking system according to  claim 1 , wherein the heating unit includes a heating element and an electrical insulation member that covers at least one surface of the heating element, and
 wherein the electrical insulation member is disposed so as not to stick out from the outer surface of the holding unit in the longitudinal direction of the chamber.   
     
     
         14 . The smoking system according to  claim 1 , wherein the chamber is provided with a cylindrical non-holding unit between the opening and the holding unit, and
 wherein in a state with the consumable positioned at a desired position in the chamber, a gap between an inner surface of the non-holding unit and the consumable is less than or equal to 3.0 mm.   
     
     
         15 . The smoking system according to  claim 1 , wherein the heating unit includes a first portion positioned on the opposite side from the opening and a second portion positioned on the opening side,
 wherein a heater power density of the second portion is higher than a heater power density of the first portion, or   wherein a rate of temperature increase in the second portion is higher than a rate of temperature increase in the first portion, or   wherein a heating temperature of the second portion is higher than a heating temperature of the first portion over any equal time.   
     
     
         16 . The smoking system according to  claim 15 , wherein in a state in which the consumable is positioned at a desired position in the chamber, the second portion covers the outer surface of the holding unit corresponding to at least ½ of the smokable substance included in the consumable in the longitudinal direction of the smokable substance. 
     
     
         17 . The smoking system according to  claim 1 , wherein the inner surface of the pressing unit has a pair of flat pressing surfaces having a planar shape and facing each other, and wherein the inner surface of the non-pressing unit has a pair of curved non-pressing surfaces having a curved shape and facing each other that connect ends of a pair of flat pressing surfaces. 
     
     
         18 . A device that heats and atomizes a smokable substance, the device comprising:
 a chamber that receives a consumable; and   a heating unit that heats the consumable received into the chamber,   wherein the chamber includes an opening through which the consumable is inserted and a holding unit that holds the consumable,   wherein the holding unit includes a pressing unit, which presses a part of the consumable, and a non-pressing unit,   wherein the pressing unit and the non-pressing unit each have an inner surface and an outer surface, and wherein the heating unit is disposed on the outer surface of the pressing unit.   
     
     
         19 . The device according to  claim 18 , wherein the inner surface of the pressing unit has a pair of flat pressing surfaces having a planar shape and facing each other, and
 wherein the inner surface of the non-pressing unit has a pair of curved non-pressing surfaces having a curved shape and facing each other that connect ends of a pair of flat pressing surfaces.   
     
     
         20 . A consumable used in the smoking system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first portion that is partially pressed by the chamber;   a mouthpiece; and   a second portion positioned between the first portion and the mouthpiece.