DE102024203108B4 - Device for removing tobacco from a tobacco heater and system consisting of such a device and a tobacco heater - Google Patents

Abstract

Device for removing tobacco from a tobacco heater, comprising a handle element (1) for gripping by a user and at least one removal element (2) coupled to the handle element (1) and extending in a longitudinal direction for engaging with the tobacco in the tobacco heater, wherein the at least one removal element (2) has a rod-shaped section (3) that can be inserted into the tobacco and wherein the rod-shaped section (3) has at least one barb (4) so that tobacco can be removed from the tobacco heater when a rod-shaped section (3) inserted into the tobacco is pulled out, characterized in that the rod-shaped section (3) and/or the barb (4) are designed to be elastic such that the barb (4) can be moved or tensioned from a rest position relative to the rod-shaped section (3) into a tensioned position by means of a tension force and moves back to its rest position after the tension force is removed.

Description

The invention relates to a device for removing tobacco from a tobacco heater, comprising a handle element for gripping by a user and at least one removal element coupled to the handle element and extending in a longitudinal direction for engaging with the tobacco in the tobacco heater, wherein the at least one removal element has a rod-shaped section that can be inserted into the tobacco and wherein the rod-shaped section has at least one barb, so that when a rod-shaped section inserted into the tobacco is pulled out of the tobacco heater, tobacco can be removed from the tobacco heater.

Furthermore, the present invention relates to a system consisting of such a device and a tobacco heater.

The e-cigarette tobacco market, and especially the market for heated tobacco products, is gaining increasing importance due to consumer demand, surpassing traditional cigarette consumption. Statistics show a trend of rising demand from both commercial customers and end consumers in the e-cigarette and heated tobacco product market. Numerous companies have established themselves in the e-cigarette/heated tobacco product market, particularly in the relatively new segment of heated tobacco products, offering their products to consumers through retail partners and direct sales.

The main difference between e-cigarettes and the new generation of tobacco heating devices is that e-cigarettes use a liquid that is electronically vaporized, whereas tobacco heating devices, depending on the device and manufacturer, typically use a heating coil or induction plate to heat tobacco instead of vaporizing it or burning it as in conventional cigarettes.

Similar to e-cigarettes, tobacco heaters provide the consumer with a small, battery-powered device through which they can consume their "mini-cigarettes." Visually, the tobacco heater device closely resembles an e-cigarette. The physical difference between e-cigarettes and tobacco heaters is generally that tobacco heaters are two-part: the casing and the stick, through which the mini-cigarettes are consumed. The stick is the main unit. The casing serves as the battery, which recharges the stick, allowing it to be used for a certain number of smoking cycles. Some manufacturers also offer tobacco heaters that are a single unit.

When purchasing a tobacco heater, the consumer receives a kit consisting of several components. This kit typically includes—as explained above—a housing that serves as the battery, the actual tobacco heater (often called a stick) used to insert and heat the mini-cigarettes, a power adapter with a USB/USB-C connection for charging the battery, and cleaning rods, brushes, and/or sticks. These are primarily used to clean the main unit—the tobacco heater or stick—into which the mini-cigarettes are inserted. After use, the mini-cigarettes are removed from the tobacco heater. The cleaning tools are primarily used to remove any tobacco residue remaining in the heater and any buildup of residue, such as ash, from the heating process.

A particular problem with consuming tobacco sticks or mini-cigarettes using induction-heated tobacco heaters is that the cylindrical tobacco sticks or mini-cigarettes, which usually consist of a tobacco portion and a filter portion with an almost equal length ratio, break off after or even during the smoking cycle. In most cases, the entire tobacco portion of the stick or mini-cigarette remains stuck inside the tobacco heater, and the filter portion, which normally protrudes from the heater or device, is broken off. The user then faces the problem of removing the remaining tobacco portion from the tobacco heater or device in order to insert a new stick or mini-cigarette. Currently, no suitable device exists for this purpose.

Therefore, it is of great importance to provide a suitable device capable of removing tobacco components from, in particular, a tobacco heater of the new generations, and specifically a broken-off cylindrical piece of tobacco remaining in the tobacco heater, so that the tobacco heater can be used for a new smoking cycle, which would otherwise not be possible with a remaining cylindrical piece of tobacco.

From the US 2022 / 0 386 705 A1 as from the CN 2 08 113 977 U Devices for removing combustion residues from tobacco heaters and devices are already known for These devices generate aerosols through the vaporization of suitable substances, such as liquids or pastes, for inhalation by a consumer. The devices shown here are primarily intended for scraping combustion residue from e-cigarettes. The removal of used or unused tobacco sticks or mini-cigarettes, particularly after a filter fragment or filter has broken off, is not described here.

Furthermore, it is evident from the US 1 328 964 A a device having all the features of the preamble of claim 1 is known.

The present invention is therefore based on the objective of providing a device for removing tobacco from a tobacco heater and a corresponding system consisting of such a device and a tobacco heater, whereby a particularly simple removal of tobacco from a tobacco heater is made possible by structurally simple means.

According to the invention, the foregoing problem is solved by a device having the features of claim 1 and by a system having the features of claim 11.

According to claim 1, the device of the type mentioned above is characterized in that the rod-shaped section and/or the barb are designed to be elastic in such a way that the barb can be moved or clamped from a rest position relative to the rod-shaped section into a clamped position by means of a clamping force and moves back to its rest position after the clamping force is removed.

Accordingly, according to claim 11, a system comprising a device according to one of claims 1 to 10 and a tobacco heater is provided, wherein the tobacco heater has a substantially cylindrical receiving area for inserting a cigarette or mini-cigarette for heating.

In accordance with the invention, it has first been recognized that the aforementioned problem is solved in a surprisingly simple manner by cleverly designing a removal element. Specifically, the longitudinally extending rod-shaped section has at least one barb. Due to this barb, tobacco can be removed from the tobacco heater when the rod-shaped section, inserted into the tobacco, is pulled out. The tobacco is thus removed very simply by inserting the rod-shaped section with the barb into the tobacco and then pulling it out using the handle. Because of the barb's design, the tobacco remains attached to the barb and thus to the rod-shaped section when it is pulled out, and the tobacco is removed from the tobacco heater very easily. The previously known, laborious scraping of the tobacco from the tobacco heater is no longer necessary.

In a further aspect of the invention, the rod-shaped section and/or the barb are designed to be elastic such that the barb can be moved or tensioned from a rest position relative to the rod-shaped section into a tensioned position by means of a tension force and returns to its rest position after the tension force is released. In this way, the barb and the rod-shaped section can be compressed, thus enabling the rod-shaped section with the barb to be inserted even into receiving areas with a particularly small inner diameter. When inserted into such a receiving area or into the tobacco within such a receiving area, the barb is moved or tensioned by the interior or an inner wall of the receiving area towards the rod-shaped section, thus also enabling insertion into receiving areas with a particularly small inner diameter. The compressive force exerted on the barb and the rod-shaped section is generated when the tobacco is inserted into the receiving area. This force is further augmented by the inner wall of the receiving area and, depending on the tobacco's consistency, potentially also by the tobacco itself. Once the compressive force is released during withdrawal from the receiving area, the barb and the rod-shaped section return to their resting position. Ultimately, the barb's dimensions can be adjusted to the inner diameter of the receiving area to create this compressive effect to the desired extent. If the inner diameter is large enough, or the barb small enough, the rod-shaped section with the barb can be inserted into the receiving area in such a way that neither the rod-shaped section nor the barb comes into contact with the inner wall of the receiving area. The removal of tobacco, tobacco sticks, or mini-cigarettes from the intake area of a tobacco heater is not affected by any possible compression or tensioning of the barb relative to the rod-shaped section during insertion of the rod-shaped section with the barb into the intake area. Ultimately, this depends on the inner diameter of the intake. The only difference between the barb and the rod-shaped section will be the angle of the barb relative to the rod-shaped section, without preventing or impairing removal. With a small inner diameter, the angle between the barb and the rod-shaped section will be more acute when the rod-shaped section and barb are inserted than with a larger inner diameter.

The device according to the invention is particularly useful for removing tobacco sticks or mini-cigarettes from a tobacco heater, since tobacco sticks or mini-cigarettes typically have a filter at one end for smoking the tobacco stick or mini-cigarette, which protrudes from the tobacco heater when the tobacco stick or mini-cigarette is inserted. Adjacent to the filter, the tobacco portion of the tobacco stick or mini-cigarette often has a cylindrical opening extending longitudinally along the tobacco stick or mini-cigarette. Into this opening—for example, if the filter has broken off from the tobacco stick or mini-cigarette—the rod-shaped section with the barb can be inserted in a particularly simple and targeted manner to enable subsequent removal of the tobacco portion of the tobacco stick or mini-cigarette from the tobacco heater. Such a rod-shaped section with a barb is not known from the prior art described above and could also be inserted without a cylindrical opening and even through a filter.

In the case of a tobacco stick or mini-cigarette, the device can remove not only the tobacco or tobacco component, but also other parts of the tobacco stick or mini-cigarette, such as the usual paper surrounding the tobacco and the usual foil. Furthermore, these new mini-cigarettes may also have a small filter component at the bottom. Therefore, the term "removing tobacco" also includes the removal of other additional components of the tobacco stick or mini-cigarette.

Consequently, the device and system according to the invention provide a device and a system which enables the particularly simple removal of tobacco or parts of a tobacco stick or mini-cigarette from a tobacco heater using structurally simple means.

In a specific embodiment, the barb can be positioned at an angle of less than 90° relative to the rod-shaped section in its resting position. This ensures a particularly secure engagement of the barb with the tobacco portion and thus a particularly secure extraction of the tobacco portion from the tobacco heater. The orientation of the barb relative to the longitudinal extension of the rod-shaped section is essentially at least slightly backwards, i.e., at least slightly towards the handle element.

In a particularly simple design, the barb can be formed at the end of the rod-shaped section facing away from the handle. In further embodiments, one or more barbs can be implemented at predetermined positions along the rod-shaped section, either as an alternative or in addition to the barb at this end. Multiple barbs can be arranged equidistant from one another and/or oriented radially in different directions from the rod-shaped section. Depending on the requirements, the barbs can be of different sizes.

To ensure particularly easy and secure insertion or piercing into the tobacco, a point may be formed in the transition area between the rod-shaped section and the barb. Such a point guarantees targeted and secure insertion or piercing into the tobacco.

In a specific embodiment, the rod-shaped section and/or the barb can be made of an elastic material – preferably metal or plastic. Such a design can largely prevent damage to the receiving area of a tobacco heater when the inside of such a receiving area comes into contact with the rod-shaped section and/or barb, since the rod-shaped section and/or the barb can spring back from the inside. In the case of a rigid design, the risk of damage is increased.

To easily protect the removal element when not in use, the handle element can be provided with a removable cover or cap, the cover or cap being designed to be positioned over the removal element. With the cover or cap positioned over the removal element, the removal element cannot cause unwanted damage to its surroundings and cannot itself be damaged by any environmental influences. In a preferred embodiment, the handle element and/or The lid or cap should be essentially cylindrical. Oval or polygonal shapes are also possible. The shape of the handle and the shape of the lid or cap can be coordinated to provide an easy-to-use design for the device.

For a particularly secure fit, the lid or cap can be attached to the handle and/or locked into place. When attached, the lid or cap can be clamped to the handle, allowing for easy release of such a clamping or locking connection by simply pulling the handle and lid or cap apart with one hand, thus ensuring quick and trouble-free use of the device. The handle and the lid or cap can incorporate suitable clamping and/or locking elements for this purpose.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the handle element can have a stop area facing the rod-shaped section to limit the insertion depth of the rod-shaped section into a substantially cylindrical receiving area of a tobacco heater, which is designed for inserting a cigarette or mini-cigarette. This limits the insertion depth of the rod-shaped section with the barb, preventing, for example, damage to a heating element located at the bottom of the receiving area caused by the rod-shaped section being inserted too deeply and an unintentional contact between the heating element and the rod-shaped section and/or barb. The stop area can be located at an end of the handle element facing the rod-shaped section. When the rod-shaped section with the barb is inserted into the receiving area, the stop area can abut an upper edge of the receiving area of the tobacco heater at the end of the insertion movement. As a result, safe operation of the device in conjunction with a tobacco heater is ensured.

To facilitate the easy insertion of the removal element into tobacco, tobacco sticks, or mini-cigarettes, the handle can feature pressure areas—such as pressure elements or push buttons—that are coupled to or interact with rod-shaped sections in such a way that the rod-shaped sections move towards each other when the pressure areas are activated. These pressure areas can, for example, be oriented in opposite radial directions to the handle, allowing them to be activated by the thumb and forefinger when the handle is held in the usual way. When the pressure areas are activated or pressed, if two rod-shaped sections are used, these two sections can be moved or compressed towards each other to form a particularly stable insertion element for the tobacco. This makes inserting the tobacco especially easy. After the pressure points are released, the rod-shaped sections can elastically separate, allowing the rod-shaped sections and barbs to engage securely with the tobacco, tobacco stick, or mini-cigarette. For example, the pressure points can be implemented as push buttons on both sides of the grip element. The pressure points or push buttons can act on rod-shaped sections extending into the grip element, or even be integrated into the rod-shaped sections themselves, extending through openings in the grip element. This allows for secure activation of the pressure points or push buttons, for example, using the thumb and forefinger.

When inserting the tobacco, tobacco stick, or mini-cigarette, the barbs can alternatively or additionally be tensioned towards their respective rod-shaped section. This creates a particularly sharp point on the removal element, further facilitating insertion. Upon releasing the pressure areas or push buttons, the tension generated by the actuation releases the barbs, causing them to spread into the tobacco, tobacco stick, or mini-cigarette. For this purpose, the grip element can have at least one pressure area—for example, a pressure element or a push button—that is coupled to or interacts with at least one rod-shaped section and/or at least one barb in such a way that the barb moves towards its associated rod-shaped section when the pressure area is actuated. In a further embodiment, a spring element—for example, a coil spring—can act and/or be arranged between the barb and the rod-shaped section to ensure particularly secure spreading of the at least one barb after the pressure area is actuated.

Exemplary embodiments of the device according to the invention can also be referred to as tobacco stick extractors for electronic or induction-heated tobacco stick heaters or tobacco heaters. The tool used to remove a cylindrical piece of tobacco residue remaining in a tobacco heater can be constructed from inexpensive plastic as its outer casing – consisting of a handle and an openable/removable lid/cap. The handle can incorporate one, two, or more removal elements, which are essentially rigid, rod-shaped sections made of a metal alloy that can be statically and/or physically connected to the handle. Each rod-shaped section can be fitted with one or more flexible, inwardly tensionable barbs or pointed hooks, for example, made of a metal alloy. These rod-shaped sections of the tool can be inserted from above into a receiving area, such as a receiving area in the housing of a tobacco heater, containing the remaining cylindrical piece of tobacco residue. The alignment or orientation of the barbs or pointed hooks allows for downward insertion/penetration into the tobacco, while in the opposite direction, the barbs or pointed hooks interlock in the cylindrical tobacco residue, transporting the remaining residue or the entire residue of the mini-cigarette upwards or outwards, thus making the receiving area essentially free of tobacco residue for reuse.

The practical application of the device according to the invention, the peeling tool - tobacco stick peeler - is simple and safe for a user.

After tobacco has been removed from a tobacco heater, the tobacco remaining on the rod-shaped section and/or barb is usually removed from this removal element. For this purpose, a hinge can be provided between the grip element and the removal element to allow the removal element to be folded away from its longitudinally extending functional position, thus facilitating the removal of the tobacco portion from the removal element. This hinge allows the removal element to be folded away from its longitudinally extending functional position. This can facilitate the removal of the tobacco portion from the tobacco heater by essentially shifting the tobacco portion in the opposite longitudinal direction to the grip element. In this sliding direction, the barb does not impede the movement of the tobacco portion relative to the removal element.

• 1 in einer Seitenansicht ein Ausführungsbeispiel der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung und
• 2 in einer Seitenansicht das Ausführungsbeispiel der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung aus 1 mit einer aufgesteckten Kappe.

There are now various ways to advantageously develop and further refine the teaching of the present invention. For this purpose, reference is made, on the one hand, to the dependent claims and, on the other hand, to the following explanation of preferred embodiments of the device and system according to the invention with reference to the drawing. In conjunction with the explanation of the preferred embodiments with reference to the drawing, generally preferred embodiments and further developments of the teaching are also explained. The drawing shows

• 1 in a side view an embodiment of the device according to the invention and
• 2 in a side view the embodiment of the device according to the invention 1 with a cap attached.

1 Figure 1 shows a side view of an embodiment of the device according to the invention for removing tobacco from a tobacco heater. The device has a handle 1 for gripping by a user with one hand or two fingers and two removal elements 2 coupled to the handle 1 and extending longitudinally for engaging with the tobacco in the tobacco heater. Other embodiments have only one removal element 2 or several removal elements 2. In both an embodiment with two removal elements 2 and with several removal elements 2, for example with three or four removal elements 2, the removal elements 2 can extend parallel to each other. The removal elements 2 each have a rod-shaped section 3 that can be inserted into the tobacco, each of the rod-shaped sections 3 having at least one barb 4, so that when one or more removal elements 2 or rod-shaped sections 3 inserted into the tobacco are pulled out of the tobacco heater, tobacco can be removed from the tobacco heater.

The barbs 4 are in the 1 In the resting position shown, each barb 4 is positioned at an angle α of approximately 40° relative to the rod-shaped section 3. It is essential that a barb 4 in a resting position is positioned at an angle α of less than 90° relative to the rod-shaped section 3, ensuring a barbing effect on the tobacco when the rod-shaped section 3 is withdrawn from a tobacco heater or the receiving area of a tobacco heater. With multiple removal elements 2, and thus multiple rod-shaped sections 3, the respective barbs 4 can be positioned at different angles α to their respective rod-shaped sections 3. By implementing multiple barbs 4, which are positioned at different angles α relative to their respective rod-shaped sections 3, different intervention conditions regarding the tobacco to be extracted can be realized depending on the application.

In the embodiment shown here, the two barbs 4 are each formed at an end 5 of the respective rod-shaped section 3 facing away from the handle element 1. In the respective transition areas between the rod-shaped section 3 and the barb 4, a point 6 is formed, which facilitates the insertion of the rod-shaped section 3 into tobacco.

A like in 1 The illustrated embodiment can, by way of example, have a thickness d of 16 mm for the handle element 1. The length of the handle element 1 can, for example, be 24 mm. The length of the rod-shaped sections 3 can, by way of example, be 30 mm. It should be noted that the dimensions can also deviate completely from these, whereby these dimensions can be adapted to the dimensions of a particular tobacco heater or the receiving area of a tobacco heater.

2 shows in a side view the embodiment from 1 , wherein a cap 7 is slid over the spacer elements 2. With the cap 7 in place, the device can be handled easily and safely without risk of damaging the spacer element(s) 2 or the surrounding area. The length of the device with the cap 7 in place can be, for example, 60 mm, with the cap 7 being, for example, 36 mm long. The dimensions of the cap 7 can also be adapted to individual requirements, so the cap 7 can therefore have a different length.

With the cap 7 removed, the barbs 4 protrude radially slightly beyond the outer thickness of the handle element 1, in a resting position. When the cap 7 is attached, the elastically shaped barbs 4 are pressed inwards, towards the rod-shaped sections 3, until they are under tension against an inner wall of the cap 7. This tension stabilizes the cap 7 in its attached position due to friction between the free ends of the barbs 4 and the inner wall of the cap 7. Alternatively or additionally, the cap 7 can be stabilized in this coupled state by a clamping effect created when it is attached to the handle element 1. After the cap 7 is removed, the barbs 4 return to their original position. 1 Resting position shown.

A comparable tensioning process with respect to the barbs 4 can occur when the rod-shaped sections 3 are inserted into a receiving area of a tobacco heater, such that the barbs 4 are pre-tensioned inwards by the inner wall of the receiving area when inserted. After the rod-shaped sections 3 are withdrawn from the receiving area of the tobacco heater, the barbs 4 move back into their original position. 1 Resting position shown.

The handle element 1 and the cap 7 are essentially cylindrical, tapering at their ends facing away from each other, as shown in 2 is shown.

The handle element 1 further has a stop area 8 facing the rod-shaped section 3 to limit the insertion depth of the rod-shaped section 3 into a substantially cylindrical receiving area of a tobacco heater designed for inserting a cigarette or mini-cigarette.

To facilitate the easy insertion of the removal element 2 into tobacco, tobacco sticks, or mini-cigarettes to be removed, the handle element 1 may have pressure areas, each with a push button 9. The pressure areas or push buttons 9 are coupled to the two rod-shaped sections 3 in such a way that the rod-shaped sections 3 move towards each other when the pressure areas or push buttons 9 are actuated. The rest position of the barbs 4 relative to their respective rod-shaped sections 3, or the angular position of the barbs 4 in their rest position, does not change. The pressure areas or push buttons 9 are oriented in opposite radial directions to the handle element 1, so that these pressure areas or push buttons 9 can be actuated, for example, by the thumb and forefinger when the handle element 1 is held in the usual way with the thumb and forefinger. When the pressure areas or push buttons 9 are activated or pressed, the two rod-shaped sections 3 are moved towards or clamped together to form a particularly stable insertion element for inserting into the tobacco, tobacco stick, or mini-cigarette. This makes insertion particularly easy. After releasing the pressure areas or push buttons 9, they move away. The rod-shaped sections 3 spring back from each other elastically, allowing the rod-shaped sections 3 and the barbs 4 to engage securely with the tobacco, tobacco stick, or mini-cigarette, or to hook onto these components. The pressure areas or pushbuttons 9 act on rod-shaped sections 3 extending into the grip element. Alternatively, the pressure areas or pushbuttons 9 can be implemented as components of the rod-shaped sections 3, extending through openings formed in the grip elements 1, so that secure actuation of the pressure areas or pushbuttons 9 is possible, for example, by means of the thumb and forefinger.

When inserting the tobacco, tobacco stick, or mini-cigarette, the barbs 4 can alternatively or additionally be tensioned towards their respective rod-shaped sections, thereby facilitating insertion due to the particularly pointed tip of the removal element 2 formed by this tension. Upon releasing the pressure areas or push buttons 9, the tension generated by the actuation of the barbs 4 is released, causing the barbs 4 to spread into the tobacco, tobacco stick, or mini-cigarette. For this purpose, the grip element 1 can have at least one pressure area – for example, a pressure element or a push button 9 – which is coupled or interacts with at least one rod-shaped section 3 and/or at least one barb 4 in such a way that, upon actuation of the pressure area or push button 9, the barb 4 moves towards its associated rod-shaped section 3. In a further embodiment, a spring element 10 – for example, a coil spring – can act and/or be arranged between the barb 4 and the rod-shaped section 3 to ensure particularly secure spreading of the at least one barb 4 after the end of the actuation of the pressure area or push button 9. Such a spring element 10 is compressed when a pressure area or push button 9 is actuated and is released when the pressure area or push button 9 is released.

Regarding further advantageous embodiments of the device and system according to the invention, reference is made to the general part of the description and to the attached claims to avoid repetition.

Finally, it should be expressly pointed out that the exemplary embodiments described above serve only to illustrate the claimed teaching, but do not limit it to these exemplary embodiments.

Reference symbol list

1

Handle element

2

Distance element

3

rod-shaped section

4

barbs

5

End

6

Great

7

cap

8

Stop area

9

Pushbutton

10

spring element

d

thickness

α

angle

Claims (11)

Device for removing tobacco from a tobacco heater, comprising a handle element (1) for gripping by a user and at least one removal element (2) coupled to the handle element (1) and extending in a longitudinal direction for engaging with the tobacco in the tobacco heater, wherein the at least one removal element (2) has a rod-shaped section (3) that can be inserted into the tobacco and wherein the rod-shaped section (3) has at least one barb (4) so that tobacco can be removed from the tobacco heater when a rod-shaped section (3) inserted into the tobacco is pulled out, characterized in that the rod-shaped section (3) and/or the barb (4) are designed to be elastic such that the barb (4) can be moved or tensioned from a rest position relative to the rod-shaped section (3) into a tensioned position by means of a tension force and moves back to its rest position after the tension force is removed. Device according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the barb (4) is positioned in a rest position at an angle (α) of less than 90° relative to the rod-shaped section (3). Device according to Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the barb (4) is formed at an end (5) of the rod-shaped section (3) facing away from the handle element (1). Device according to Claim 3 , characterized in that a tip (6) is formed in a transition area between the rod-shaped section (3) and the barb (4). device according to one of the Claims 1 until 4 , characterized in that the rod-shaped section (3) and/or the barb (4) are made of an elastic material - preferably metal or plastic. device according to one of the Claims 1 until 5 , characterized in that a removable lid or cap (7) is associated with the handle element (1), wherein the lid or cap (7) is designed for positioning via the distance element (2), wherein preferably the handle element (1) and/or the lid or cap (7) are essentially cylindrical. Device according to Claim 6 , characterized in that the lid or cap (7) can be attached to the handle element (1) and/or locked into place with the handle element (1). device according to one of the Claims 1 until 7 , characterized in that the handle element (1) has a stop area (8) facing the rod-shaped section (3) for limiting the insertion depth of the rod-shaped section (3) into a substantially cylindrical receiving area of a tobacco heater designed for inserting a cigarette or mini-cigarette. device according to one of the Claims 1 until 8 , characterized in that the handle element (1) has pressure areas - for example pressure elements or push buttons (9) - which are coupled to or interact with rod-shaped sections (3) in such a way that the rod-shaped sections (3) move towards each other when the pressure areas are actuated. device according to one of the Claims 1 until 9 , characterized in that the handle element (1) has at least one pressure area - for example a pressure element or a push button (9) - which is coupled or interacts with at least one rod-shaped section (3) and/or with at least one barb (4) in such a way that the barb (4) moves towards its associated rod-shaped section (3) when the pressure area is actuated, wherein preferably a spring element (10) - for example a coil spring - acts between the barb (4) and the rod-shaped section (3). System consisting of a device according to one of the Claims 1 until 10 and a tobacco heater, wherein the tobacco heater has a substantially cylindrical receiving area for inserting a cigarette or mini-cigarette for heating.