Device for Heating Tobacco

Abstract

In a device for heating tobacco in a cigarette, a heating tube heats the cigarette to generate smoke. The heating tube has a first channel and a set of one or more second channels. Each second channel is disposed at an outer circumference of the first channel and is in connection with the first channel. The first channel receives the cigarette and conducts mainstream smoke, which is a portion of the smoke passing through the tobacco and a cigarette filter in the cigarette. The second channel set collects and conducts side-stream smoke, which is a portion of the smoke passing through a cigarette paper of the cigarette. The mouthpiece is connected to both the first channel and the second channel set to provide not only the mainstream smoke but also the side-stream smoke for a smoker to inhale, thereby avoiding wasting the side-stream smoke.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 201920363023.7, filed on Mar. 21, 2019, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for heating tobacco in a cigarette for enabling a smoker to smoke the cigarette.

BACKGROUND

With the development of device for tobacco technology, a so-called “heating-without-smoldering” smoking method by heating the tobacco material without burning or smoldering is started to be applied to ordinary cigarettes. For the ordinary cigarettes, the amount of smoke generated by heating in a manner of “heating-without-smoldering” is relatively small due to the filtering effect of the filter on the cigarette. To enhance enjoyable experience made by a user during smoking, generating a large amount of smoke is desirable. Existing techniques for producing a larger amount of smoke are generally based on changing the exit direction of the smoke such that the smoke comes out from the end of the cigarette without passing through a filter. The filter's adsorption of the smoke is reduced, thereby increasing the amount of smoke that is generated. However, this approach of smoking from cigarette butts does not conform to the normal smoking style, and the user is psychologically unacceptable. In addition, the smoke from the cigarette butt still contains some harmful substances such as tar. As such, it is necessary to additionally install a filtering device to filter the smoke and the cost is therefore increased. In addition, the existing techniques generally consider the export of mainstream smoke only, and neglect the utilization of side-stream smoke, thereby reducing the utilization efficiency of tobacco smoke. Therefore, how to increase the amount of tobacco smoke and the efficiency of utilizing the tobacco smoke in order to meet the user's established smoking habit has become an urgent problem to be solved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a device for heating tobacco in a cigarette to enable a smoker to smoke. The purpose of the present invention is to improve the utilization efficiency of tobacco smoke. To this end, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions.

The device comprises a heating tube and a mouthpiece. The heating tube is used for heating the cigarette to thereby generate smoke. The heating tube comprises a first channel and a set of one or more second channels. Each second channel in the second channel set is disposed at an outer circumference of the first channel and is in connection with the first channel. The first channel is used for receiving the cigarette and conducting mainstream smoke of the cigarette, where the mainstream smoke is a portion of the smoke passing through the tobacco and a cigarette filter in the cigarette. The second channel set is used for collecting and conducting side-stream smoke of the cigarette, where the side-stream smoke is a portion of the smoke passing through a cigarette paper of the cigarette. The mouthpiece is configured for the smoker to inhale the smoke. In particular, the mouthpiece is connected to both the first channel and the second channel set to provide not only the mainstream smoke but also the side-stream smoke for the smoker to inhale, thereby avoiding wasting the side-stream smoke.

In a preferable embodiment, the second channel set consists of plural second channels. The second channels are disposed circumferentially along the first channel and uniformly distributed. Preferably, a major axis of each second channel is in parallel to a major axis of the first channel. Due to the existence of the second channels, a cigarette paper of the cigarette serves as a screen paper to block some of harmful substances, such as tar, in the smoke.

Preferably, the device further comprises a cigarette support portion and a height-limit article. The height-limit article is disposed inside the mouthpiece toward one end of the first channel. The first channel away from one end of the mouthpiece is provided with the support portion for supporting the cigarette. A distance between one end of the support portion near the mouthpiece and the height-limit article is less than the length of the cigarette. As a result, the cigarette is compressed by the height-limit article and the cigarette support portion so as to generate wrinkle at a side surface of a cigarette paper to thereby increase some space for enhancing flowability of the side-stream smoke.

Preferably, at one end of the first channel away from the mouthpiece, the support portion is disposed. The support portion includes a push rod assembly. A push rod of the push rod assembly abuts one end of the cigarette. A distance between the push rod that faces one end of the mouthpiece and the height-limit article is less than or equal to the length of the cigarette. As a result, the cigarette is compressed by the height-limit article and the push rod assembly, so as to generate wrinkle at the side surface of the cigarette paper hence to increase some space for enhancing flowability of the side-stream smoke.

Preferably, the push rod assembly comprises a connecting base, and the inner wall of the connecting base is sealingly connected to a side wall of the push rod. One end of the push rod facing the mouthpiece protrudes into the heating tube. Preferably, the heating tube is provided with a smoke storage chamber. The chamber can be disposed close to the mouthpiece or away from the mouthpiece. Preferably, the smoke storage chamber is disposed away from one end of the mouthpiece. The device is provided with a housing. Preferably, the housing is internally disposed with an intake pipe. Preferably, a major axis of the intake pipe is parallel to the major axis of the first channel. An outlet end of the intake pipe is located at an end of the heating tube away from the mouthpiece.

Preferably, at the end of the heating tube away from the mouthpiece is provided with an adapter. The adapter includes a first mounting portion and a second mounting portion. The first mounting portion is connected to the intake pipe. The second mounting portion connects to the heating tube. The adapter is provided with a first through hole to connect the intake pipe and the heating tube.

Preferably, a transition piece is disposed between the heating tube and the mouthpiece. The transition piece is provided with a first transition channel and a second transition channel. The first transition channel is in connection with the first channel. The second transition channel is in connection with the second channel.

Preferably, the outer circumference of the mouthpiece is disposed with at least two first protrusions, and the housing is disposed with a mouthpiece holder for connecting the mouthpiece. The inner wall of the mouthpiece holder is spaced apart from at least two second protrusions. The first protrusions can be locked with the second protrusions near one side of the heating tube.

Preferably, a thermistor and a pulse width modulation (PWM) method is employed in the temperature control system so as to maintain the heating temperature at the preset range.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic structural view of a device for heating tobacco according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a device for heating tobacco in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic structural view of a device for heating tobacco with part housing removed according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic structural view of a heating tube in one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic structural view of a first perspective view of an adapter according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic structural view of a second perspective view of an adapter according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic structural view of a transition piece in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an exploded view of a device for heating tobacco in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged schematic view of part A of FIG. 8;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described in the following with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. The embodiments are a part of the embodiments of the invention, and not all of the embodiments. The components of the embodiments of the invention, which are generally described and illustrated in the figures herein, may be arranged and designed in various different configurations.

Therefore, the following detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention are not intended to limit the scope of the claimed. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without creative efforts are within the scope of the present invention.

It should be noted that similar reference numerals and letters indicate similar items in the following figures. Therefore, once an item is defined in one figure, it is not necessary to further define and explain it in the subsequent figures.

In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that the directions of the terms “upper”, “lower”, “left”, “right”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “inside”, “outside”, etc. or the positional relationship is based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings, or the orientation or positional relationship that is conventionally placed when the utility model product is used. It is for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or suggesting the device or component referred to must have a particular orientation, is constructed and operated in a particular orientation, and thus is not to be construed as limiting the invention. Moreover, the terms “first”, “second”, “third”, and the like are used merely to distinguish a description, and are not to be construed as indicating or implying a relative importance. In the description of the present invention, “a plurality” means two or more unless otherwise stated.

In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that the terms “setting”, “dispose” and “connecting” should be understood broadly unless otherwise explicitly stated and defined. For example, it may be a fixed connection or a detachable connection, or connected in one piece, it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection etc. The specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood by those skilled in the art in a specific case.

In the present invention, unless otherwise specifically stated and defined, the first feature “on” or “under” the second feature may include direct or indirect contact of the first and second features, or features are not in direct contact but through additional features between them. Moreover, the first feature “above” the second feature includes the first feature directly above and inclined above the second feature, or merely indicating that the first feature level is higher than the second feature. The first feature “below” the second feature includes the first feature directly below and inclined below the second feature, or merely indicating the first feature level being low than the second feature.

The embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below, and the examples of the embodiments are illustrated in the drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals are used to refer to the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are intended to be illustrative only, and are not to be construed as limiting.

As shown in FIGS. 1-3, a device 1000 for heating tobacco in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is depicted. Particularly, the device is used for heating tobacco of a cigarette to enable a user to smoke the cigarette. The device 1000 comprises a housing 1, a heating tube 3 disposed inside the housing 1, and a mouthpiece 2 connected to the housing 1. A battery power source 02 is installable in the device 1000. The heating tube 3 is configured to electrically connect to the battery power source 02 for heating the cigarette 100. As shown in FIG. 4, the heating tube 3 includes a first channel 31 for receiving the cigarette. The heating tube 3 is formed with an interior surface 380 for bounding the first channel 31. Advantageously, the interior surface 380 has one or more recesses thereon. Each recess forms one second channel 32 adjacent to the first channel 31, thereby forming a set of one or more second channels 32. Hence, the heating tube 3 further includes the set of one or more second channels 32. Herein the set of one or more second channels 32 is referred to as a second channel set 32 for convenience. The second channel set 32 is disposed at the outer circumference of the first channel 31. Furthermore, the first channel 31 and each second channel in the second channel set 32 are in communication with each other. The mouthpiece 2 is connected to the first channel 31 and the second channel set 32.

When the cigarette is placed in the first channel 31 for heating, the mainstream smoke generated by the cigarette 100 is released from the cigarette end. When the user inhales, the mainstream smoke passes through the tobacco and the cigarette filter in the cigarette 100, and then passes through the mouthpiece 2 to reach the user's mouth. Apart from the mainstream smoke that passes through the cigarette filter, a portion of the smoke generated by the cigarette passes through the cigarette paper of the cigarette to form side-stream smoke. The side-stream smoke generated by the cigarette 100 is advantageously collected by the second channel set 32 and is forwarded to the mouthpiece 2, and is inhaled by the user through the mouthpiece 2 under the action of the user. By providing the first channel 31 and the second channel set 32, the mainstream smoke and the side-stream smoke are collected by the mouthpiece 2 and inhaled by the user, thereby avoiding the user to directly smoke on the cigarette filter where only the mainstream smoke is consumed but the side-stream smoke is wasted. In addition, the mainstream smoke volume is large, and some harmful substances in the mainstream smoke are filtered out through the cigarette filter. However, the amount of side-stream smoke is small. By simple filtering through the cigarette paper, the side-stream smoke can also be absorbed by the user safely.

Specifically, referring to FIG. 4, the device for heating tobacco includes at least one second channel 32 that is disposed circumferentially along the first channel 31, and a major axe of each second channel 32 is parallel to a major axis of the first channel 31. Preferably, the device 1000 for heating tobacco is disposed with three second channels 32, and the angle extending between adjacent two second channels 32 with respect to the major axis of the first channel 31 is 120 degrees. Optionally, each second channel 32 has a cross-sectional area greater than 0.1 mm². The cross-sectional area of each second channel 32 can be decided by those skilled in the art according to actual conditions. In existing or previous “heating-without-smoldering” smoking methods for heating a regular cigarette, the smoke aerosol can only come out from the end of the cigarette away from the cigarette filter, resulting in no filtering of the smoke aerosol so that harmful matters such as tar is directly inhaled by the user. However, in the present invention, the smoke has three ways to go, which are the cigarette filter, the bottom end of the cigarette and the side surface of the cigarette. By providing the second channel set 32 around the cigarette 100, the smoke aerosol can pass through the cigarette paper into the second channel set 32 since there is a space between the cigarette 100 and the heating tube 3. The cigarette paper can function as a screening paper and hazardous substance like tar can be blocked by the cigarette paper, thus leaving a cleaner smoke aerosol for the user.

The heating tube 3 may be a metal heating tube, a ceramic heating tube or a carbon material heating tube. Optionally, the heating tube 3 is an alumina ceramic heating tube, where the interior surface of the alumina ceramic heating tube is provided with a resistive material, and the resistive material can generate heat when energized to heat the cigarette 100 in contact therewith. The resistance of the resistive material may be between 0.05˜5Ω.

Furthermore, the outer side of the heating tube 3 is disposed with a heat insulating layer 4 for isolating the hot air generated during heating the cigarette so as to protect the electronic components inside the housing 1. The heat insulating layer 4 also prevents excessive heat transfer to the housing 1 so as to avoid an uncomfortable experience to the user such as being scalded. Besides, by having the heat insulating layer 4, the heat generated by the heating tube 3 is sufficiently concentrated in the vicinity of the heating tube 3 instead of being transmitted away, thereby improving the heating efficiency. The heat insulating layer 4 may include a foam structure formed of Teflon, polyether-ether-ketone (PEEK) or other organic polymer materials; and it may also include inorganic materials such as aluminum silicate ceramic fibers, silica aerogels, and porous ceramic tubes. Alternatively, the insulating layer 4 may be made of silica aerogel. Furthermore, the heat insulating layer 4 may have a thickness of about 1 to 5 mm. Nevertheless, the thickness of the heat insulating layer 4 can be set by those skilled in the art according to specific conditions. The aforementioned minimum range and the highest range are not limiting to the present invention. In addition, a fixing layer may be further disposed outside the heat insulating layer 4, and a polymer film may be used as the fixing layer. The polymer film may be a Polyimide (PI) tape.

Optionally, referring again to FIG. 2, the device 1000 for heating tobacco is disposed with a smoke storage chamber 01. Generally, the chamber 01 can be disposed close to the mouthpiece or away from the mouthpiece, preferably, the smoke storage chamber 01 is disposed away from one end of the mouthpiece. When the cigarette 100 is placed in the heating tube 3, and the cigarette 100 is initially heated, less smoke is generated so that the user has a poor eating experience at this time. By setting the smoke storage chamber 01, when the cigarette 100 is initially heated, suction is not performed. As a result, the smoke generated by the cigarette 100 is collected into the storage chamber 01 at first, and after a certain time of the smoke collection, the user can enjoy a better smoking experience with a relatively large amount of smoke. If the storage chamber 01 is not provided, the smoke of the cigarette 100 is released throughout the interior of the housing 1 and cannot be well consumed by the user. Of course, after the cigarette 100 is heated, the smoke is mainly released from the cigarette end away from the cigarette filter. There, in one embodiment, the storage chamber 01 is disposed at one end of the heating tube 3 away from the mouthpiece 2. It can also be set in other locations in other embodiments. Specifically, the cigarette 100 is placed in the heating tube 3, and there is a support portion for supporting the cigarette 100. In one embodiment, the diameter of the support portion is smaller than the diameter of the heating tube 3, and the space between the outer wall of the support portion and the inner wall of the heating tube 3 can be used to form the storage chamber 01. Optionally, the support portion is provided with a third channel, and one end of the heating tube 3 away from the mouthpiece 2 is provided with the smoke storage chamber 01. The third channel is used to connect with the heating tube 3 and the storage chamber 01.

Refer to FIG. 2. Optionally, the device 1000 for heating tobacco is further disposed with a structure for axially compressing of the cigarette 100. By axially compressing the cigarette 100, the surface of the cigarette paper is wrinkled. First note that the diameter of the first channel 31 is larger than the outer diameter of the cigarette 100 in order to accommodate the cigarette 100. Second, the interior surface 380 that bounds the first channel 31 does not flatten the cigarette paper pleats and leaves those wrinkles there, thereby increasing the flow space of the side-stream smoke. As a result, the flowability of the side-stream smoke is improved. Specifically, the mouthpiece 2 is disposed with a height-limit article 8 at one end of the first channel 31 for compressing the cigarette 100 by limiting a height of the cigarette 100 when the cigarette 100 is inserted into the first channel 31. The end of the first channel 31 away from the mouthpiece 2 is provided with a support portion for supporting the cigarette 100. The distance between the support portion adjacent to the end of the mouthpiece 2 and the height-limit article 8 is less than the length of the cigarette 100. The cigarette 100 is placed between the height-limit article 8 and the support portion. When the cigarette 100 is inserted into the first channel 31, the cigarette 100 will be axially compressed by the height-limit article 8 and the support portion, and hence the wrinkle is generated at the outer surface of the cigarette 100. Optionally, the height-limit article 8 inside the mouthpiece 2 is detachably connected to the mouthpiece 2, so as to replace the height-limit article 8 with a suitable one for adapting to cigarettes of different heights and thicknesses. Alternatively, the first channel 31 may be disposed with a support portion supporting the cigarette 100 away from the end of the mouthpiece 2. The support portion includes a push rod assembly, and the push rod 61 of the push rod assembly abuts one end of the cigarette 100. The distance between the end of the push rod 61 facing the mouthpiece 2 and the height-limit article 8 can be selectively less than or equal to the length of the cigarette 100. After the cigarette 100 is placed in the first channel 31, the mouthpiece 2 (without the height-limit article 8) is installed, and then the push rod 61 is moved toward to the mouthpiece 2, whereby the cigarette 100 is axially compressed and the wrinkle is produced at the outer surface of the cigarette 100. In addition, when the cigarette 100 is axially compressed by the push rod 61, the space of the smoke storage chamber 01 disposed at one end of the heating tube 3 away from the mouthpiece 2 can be further increased, thereby collecting more cigarette smoke and hence providing the user with stronger smoke with better experience. Of course, optionally, the device 1000 for heating tobacco can also be disposed with the height-limiting article 8 in the mouthpiece 2, and the supporting portion for supporting the cigarette 100 is also provided as the push rod assembly.

Furthermore, the push rod assembly includes a connecting base 62. The inner wall of the connecting base 62 can be sealingly connected to the side wall of the push rod 61. The one end of the push rod 61 facing the mouthpiece 2 can extend into the heating tube 3 to prevent the cigarette smoke flee away out of the housing 1. Optionally, a limit groove is disposed in the connecting base 62 away from the side of the heating tube 3. Accordingly, a limiting portion is disposed on the outer circumference of the push rod 61 to prevent the push rod 61 from protruding into the heating tube 3 too much. If not, excessive compression of the cigarette 100 is resulted, which is not conducive to the circulation of mainstream smoke. Furthermore, the push rod 61 is disposed with a push handle 611 at one end away from the cigarette 100, and the push handle 611 allows the user to push the push rod 61 toward to the cigarette 100 or pull the push rod 61 back from the cigarette 100. Optionally, the housing 1 is provided with a detachable end cover 11 below the push handle 611 to prevent an external force from accidentally pushing the push rod 61.

Furthermore, the housing 1 is internally provided with an intake pipe 5 whose major axis is parallel to the major axis of the first channel 31, and the outlet end of the intake pipe 5 is located at one end of the heating tube 3 away from the mouthpiece 2. Alternatively, referring to FIG. 2, an adapter 7 may be provided at one end of the heating tube 3 away from the mouthpiece 2. Specifically, referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the adapter 7 includes a first mounting portion 71 and a second mounting portion 72, where the first mounting portion 71 is connected to the intake pipe 5, and the second mounting portion 72 is connected to the heating tube 3. In the adapter 7, a first through hole is provided to communicate the intake pipe 5 and the heating tube 3. The arrangement of the adapter 7 prevents the intake pipe 5 from being bent. Optionally, the connecting base 62 in the push rod assembly is located at one end of the adapter 7 away from the heating tube 3, and the adapter 7 is disposed with a third mounting portion 73 for mounting the connecting base 62. The third mounting portion 73 and the second mounting portion 72 are axially disposed along the heating tube 3. The third mounting portion 73 and the second mounting portion 72 are provided with a second through hole 74 through which the push rod 61 can pass through the second through hole 74 and contact with the cigarette 100 in the heating tube 3.

In addition, referring to FIG. 2, a transition piece 9 is installed between the heating tube 3 and the mouthpiece 2. Specifically, referring to FIG. 7, the transition piece 9 is disposed with a first transition channel 91 and a second transition channel 92. The first transition channel 91 is connected to the first channel 31, and the second transition channel 92 is connected to the second channel 32, so that the mainstream smoke and side-stream smoke of the cigarette 100 can all be smoked by the user from the mouthpiece 2. Furthermore, in this embodiment, before the cigarette 100 is inserted into the heating tube 3, the mouthpiece 2 needs to be removed first. After the cigarette 100 is inserted into the heating tube 3, the mouthpiece 2 is connected to the housing 1. Hence, the mouthpiece 2 and the housing 1 are detachably connected. Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, optionally, the outer periphery of the mouthpiece 2 is disposed with at least two first protrusions 21, and the housing 1 disposed with a mouthpiece holder 10 for connecting with the mouthpiece 2. The inner wall of the mouthpiece holder 10 is spaced apart with at least two second protrusions 101. The first protrusions 21 are inserted into the interior of the mouthpiece holder 10 from the gap between the two second protrusions 101, and then rotated by a certain angle so that the first protrusions 21 can be located under the second protrusions 101 near one side of the heating tube 3, preventing the mouthpiece 2 from being detached from the mouthpiece holder 10. It is of course also possible to provide a positioning portion in the mouthpiece holder 10 to prevent the mouthpiece 2 from swaying in the axial direction of the heating tube 3 in the mouthpiece holder 10. Furthermore, in this embodiment, one end of the second protrusions 101 is provided with a stopping portion 102 for restricting the mouthpiece 2 from further rotating in the mouthpiece holder 10 and sliding out from the two second protrusions 101. Specifically, the stopping portion 102 is disposed perpendicular to the second protrusions 101 and extends in a direction to the heating tube 3, where the second protrusions 101 are in contact with the first protrusions 21 at the first side surface, which is perpendicular to the major axis of the heating tube 3. The stopping portion 102 is in contact with the first protrusions 21 at the second side surface which is parallel to the major axis of the heating tube 3. Apparently, the stopping portion 102 and the second protrusions 101 may be disposed at an acute angle or an obtuse angle. Accordingly, the first protrusions 21 are disposed with a structure adapted thereto to ensure the engagement of the mouthpiece 2 and the mouthpiece holder 10. In addition, the rotational direction of each of the second protrusions 101 to be provided with the stopping portion 102 should be consistent. That is, both are arranged in a clockwise direction or both are arranged counterclockwise to ensure that the mouthpiece 2 can be rotated into the mouthpiece holder 10.

Furthermore, the device 1000 for heating tobacco further comprises a temperature control system. The temperature control system includes a thermistor to detect a temperature of the heating tube 3. A pulse width modulation (PWM) method is employed to control the output power of the battery power source 02. A lower temperature limit and an upper temperature limit are set in the temperature control system. Preferably, the lower temperature limit is 190° C. and the upper temperature limit is 230° C. At this heating temperature range, the cigarette gives a taste close to a taste offered by a real burning cigarette, and generates less harmful materials such as tar, carbon monoxide (CO) etc. What's more, the nicotine content released in the smoke aerosol can be controlled by systematically tuning the heating temperature of the heating tube 3 through the PWM method. This arrangement is helpful to control the absorbed dose of nicotine for the user. Hence, it is an advantage to make this device 1000 for heating tobacco a powerful tool in a smoking cessation program.

In addition, it should be stated here that the device 1000 for heating tobacco is further disposed with a circuit board, a controller disposed on the circuit board, and a switch 03 electrically connected to the controller, wherein the battery power source 02 and the heating tube 3 are also electrically connected to the controller. The device 1000 for heating tobacco is also provided with a USB interface 04 capable of charging the battery power source 02.

The above-described embodiments of the present invention are intended to be illustrative only and not to limit the embodiments of the present invention. Other variations or modifications of the various forms may be made by those skilled in the art in light of the above description. There is no need and no way to exhaust all of the implementations. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions and improvements made within the spirit and scope of the invention are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A device for heating tobacco in a cigarette to enable a smoker to smoke the cigarette, the device comprising:

a heating tube for heating the cigarette to thereby generate smoke, the heating tube comprising a first channel and a set of one or more second channels, each second channel in the second channel set being disposed at an outer circumference of the first channel and being in connection with the first channel; and

a mouthpiece configured for the smoker to inhale the smoke;

wherein the first channel is used for receiving the cigarette and conducting mainstream smoke of the cigarette, where the mainstream smoke is a portion of the smoke passing through the tobacco and a cigarette filter in the cigarette;

wherein the second channel set is used for collecting and conducting side-stream smoke of the cigarette where the side-stream smoke is a portion of the smoke passing through a cigarette paper of the cigarette; and

wherein the mouthpiece is connected to both the first channel and the second channel set to provide not only the mainstream smoke but also the side-stream smoke for the smoker to inhale, thereby avoiding wasting the side-stream smoke.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the second channel set consists of plural second channels, the second channels being disposed circumferentially along the first channel.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein each second channel in the second channel set has a cross-sectional area greater than 0.1 mm2 for allowing smoke generated inside the cigarette to pass through the cigarette paper into the second channel set so that the cigarette paper is used as a screen paper to block some of harmful substances in the smoke.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the heating tube is disposed with a smoke storage chamber.

5. The device according to claim 1 further comprising a housing and an intake pipe, wherein the housing is internally disposed with the intake pipe for air cross-ventilation, an outlet end of the intake pipe being located at an end of the heating tube away from the mouthpiece.

6. The device according to claim 1 further comprising an adapter and an intake pipe, wherein an end of the heating tube away from the mouthpiece is disposed with the adapter, the adapter comprising a first mounting portion and a second mounting portion, the first mounting portion being connected to an intake pipe, the second mounting portion being connected to the heating tube, the adapter being disposed with a first through-hole for connecting the intake pipe and the heating tube.

7. The device according to claim 1 further comprising a transition piece, wherein the transition piece is arranged between the heating tube and the mouthpiece, the transition piece being disposed with a first transition channel and a second transition channel, the first transition channel being connected with the first channel, the second transition channel being connected with the second channel set.

8. A device for heating tobacco in a cigarette to enable a smoker to smoke the cigarette, the device comprising:

a heating tube for heating the cigarette to thereby generate smoke, the heating tube comprising a first channel and a set of one or more second channels, each second channel in the second channel set being disposed at an outer circumference of the first channel and being in connection with the first channel;

a mouthpiece configured for the smoker to inhale the smoke;

a cigarette support portion; and

a height-limit article disposed inside the mouthpiece toward one end of the first channel, the first channel away from one end of the mouthpiece being provided with the support portion for supporting the cigarette, a distance between one end of the support portion near the mouthpiece and the height-limit article being less than the length of the cigarette, whereby the cigarette is compressed by the height-limit article and the cigarette support portion so as to generate wrinkle at a side surface of a cigarette paper to thereby increase some space for enhancing the flowability of side-stream smoke, the side-stream smoke being a portion of the smoke passing through a cigarette paper of the cigarette.

9. The device according to claim 8 further comprising a support portion for supporting the cigarette, wherein at one end of the first channel away from the mouthpiece, the support portion is disposed, wherein the support portion includes a push rod assembly, wherein a push rod of the push rod assembly abuts one end of the cigarette, and wherein a distance between the push rod that faces one end of the mouthpiece and the height-limit article is less than or equal to the length of the cigarette, whereby the cigarette is compressed by the height-limit article and the push rod assembly, so as to generate wrinkle at the side surface of the cigarette paper hence to increase some space for enhancing flowability of the side-stream smoke.

10. The device according to claim 8 further comprising a housing, wherein the mouthpiece is connected to the housing, and the mouthpiece is connected with the first channel and the second channel set so that the mainstream and side-stream of the smoke meet together in the mouthpiece for further smoking.

11. The device according to claim 9, wherein the push rod assembly comprises a connecting base, and the inner wall of the connecting base is sealingly connected to a sidewall of the push rod, wherein the push rod extends into the interior surface of the heating tube toward the direction of the mouthpiece.

12. The device according to claim 8 further comprising a housing, wherein an outer periphery of the mouthpiece is provided with at least two first protrusions, the housing being provided with a mouthpiece holder for connecting with the mouthpiece, an inner wall of the mouthpiece holder being spaced apart with at least two second protrusions, the first protrusions being locked with the second protrusions so as to fix the mouthpiece with the device.

13. The device of claim 1 further comprising:

a temperature control system for controlling a heating temperature of the heating tube;

a thermistor disposed at an outer surface of the heating tube to monitor the heating temperature; and

a battery power source for powering the heating tube, wherein a pulse width modulation (PWM) method is employed in the temperature control system for controlling an output power of the battery power source so as to adjust the heating temperature.

14. The device according to claim 13, wherein a lower temperature limit and an upper temperature limit are set in the temperature control system.

15. The device according to claim 14, wherein the thermistor is capable of detecting whether the heating temperature of the heating tube is lower than the lower temperature limit and whether the heating temperature is higher than the upper temperature limit so as to maintain the heating temperature in a preset heating temperature range.