Apparatus and method for heating smokable material

An apparatus arranged to heat smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material, the apparatus comprising:

• the smokable material in the form of or provided as part of a solid rod;
• a mouth end with an opening allowing the smokable material to be introduced into the opening;
• a distal end opposite the mouth end;
• and
• at least one thin-film heater constructed and arranged to heat the smokable material contained in use within the apparatus, the at least one thin-film heater having a plurality of heating regions for heating different portions of the smokable material contained in use within the apparatus,
• wherein a first heating region of the at least one thin-film heater is arranged at a first end of the at least one thin-film heater and is configured to provide a lower watt density to the smokable material than a second heating region of the at least one thin-film heater;
• wherein the first heating region is closer to the first end of the at least one thin-film heater than any other heating region of the plurality of heating regions;
• wherein the first heating region has a plurality of first electrically conductive heating portions which are electrically connected in series;
• wherein the second heating region has a plurality of second electrically conductive heating portions which are electrically connected in series, the apparatus further comprising a power supply which is arranged to provide the same voltage to the first heating region and the second heating region;
• wherein the first heating region is arranged towards the mouth end;
• and
• wherein the apparatus is configured such that, in use of the apparatus, the solid rod is located partly within the opening of the mouth end of the apparatus and partly outside the apparatus.

An apparatus arranged to heat smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material, the apparatus comprising:

• a mouth end with an opening allowing the smokable material to be introduced into the opening;
• a distal end opposite the mouth end;
• and
• at least one thin-film heater constructed and arranged to heat the smokable material contained in use within the apparatus, the at least one thin-film heater having a plurality of heating regions for heating different portions of the smokable material contained in use within the apparatus,
• wherein a first heating region of the at least one thin-film heater is arranged at a first end of the at least one thin-film heater and is configured to provide a lower watt density to the smokable material than a second heating region of the at least one thin-film heater,
• wherein the first heating region is closer to the first end of the at least one thin-film heater than any other heating region of the plurality of heating regions;
• wherein the first heating region has a plurality of first electrically conductive heating portions which are electrically connected in series;
• wherein the second heating region has a plurality of second electrically conductive heating portions which are electrically connected in series, the apparatus further comprising a power supply which is arranged to provide the same voltage to the first heating region and the second heating region;
• wherein the first heating region is arranged towards the mouth end;
• and
• wherein the at least one thin film heater has a non-heating region arranged generally centrally of the at least one thin-film heater, the non-heating region provided by:
• a gap between a pair of the plurality of first electrically conductive heating portions;
• and/or
• a gap between a pair of the plurality of second electrically conductive heating portions;
• and/or
• a gap between one of the plurality of first electrically conductive heating portions and one of the plurality of second electrically conductive heating portions.

An apparatus arranged to heat smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material, the apparatus comprising:

• a mouth end with an opening allowing the smokable material to be introduced into the opening;
• a distal end opposite the mouth end;
• and
• at least one thin-film heater constructed and arranged to heat the smokable material contained in use within the apparatus, the at least one thin-film heater having a plurality of heating regions for heating different portions of the smokable material contained in use within the apparatus,
• wherein a first heating region of the at least one thin-film heater is arranged at a first end of the at least one thin-film heater and is configured to provide a lower watt density to the smokable material than a second heating region of the at least one thin-film heater;
• wherein the first heating region is closer to the first end of the at least one thin-film heater than any other heating region of the plurality of heating regions;
• wherein the first heating region has a plurality of first electrically conductive heating portions which are electrically connected in series;
• wherein the second heating region has a plurality of second electrically conductive heating portions which are electrically connected in series, the apparatus further comprising a power supply which is arranged to provide the same voltage to the first heating region and the second heating region;
• wherein the first heating region is arranged towards the mouth end;
• wherein the at least one thin-film heater is a hollow cylindrical tube having a hollow interior heating chamber into which the smokable material is inserted for heating in use;
• and
• wherein the at least one thin film heater is surrounded along at least part of its length by a thermal insulator, and the thermal insulator comprises a vacuum tube.

An apparatus arranged to heat smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material, the apparatus comprising:

• a mouth end with an opening allowing smokable material to be introduced into the opening;
• a distal end opposite the mouth end;
• and
• at least one thin-film heater constructed and arranged to heat the smokable material contained in use within the apparatus, the at least one thin-film heater having a plurality of heating regions for heating different portions of the smokable material contained in use within the apparatus,
• wherein a first heating region of the at least one thin-film heater is arranged at a first end of the at least one thin-film heater and is configured to provide a lower watt density to the smokable material than a second heating region of the at least one thin-film heater,
• wherein the first heating region is closer to the first end of the at least one thin-film heater than any other heating region of the plurality of heating regions;
• wherein the first heating region has a plurality of first electrically conductive heating portions which are electrically connected in series;
• and
• wherein the second heating region has a plurality of second electrically conductive heating portions which are electrically connected in series, the apparatus further comprising a power supply which is arranged to provide the same voltage to the first heating region and the second heating region;
• wherein the first heating region is arranged towards the mouth end;
• and
• wherein the apparatus comprises a slidable cover mounted on the mouth end of the apparatus, the slidable cover operable to slidably move between an open position and a closed position, wherein the open position allows insertion of the smokable material into the apparatus, and the closed position prevents insertion of the smokable material into the apparatus.