Abstract
A container for aerosol-generating articles is provided, including: a box portion formed from a single laminar blank; a lid portion formed from a same single laminar blank as the box portion; a plurality of aerosol-generating articles disposed within the box portion; and a removable laminar blank made from a same material as the single laminar blank, the removable laminar blank being disposed within and attached to the lid portion, the removable laminar blank including at least one longitudinal line of weakness, and the removable laminar blank being foldable along the at least one longitudinal line of weakness to form an elongate cleaning tool having a scraping surface at a distal end thereof.
Claims
1.-14. (canceled)
15. A container for aerosol-generating articles, the container comprising: a box portion formed from a single laminar blank; a lid portion formed from a same single laminar blank as the box portion; a plurality of aerosol-generating articles disposed within the box portion; and a removable laminar blank made from a same material as the single laminar blank, the removable laminar blank being disposed within and attached to the lid portion, wherein the removable laminar blank comprises at least one longitudinal line of weakness, the removable laminar blank being foldable along the at least one longitudinal line of weakness to form an elongate cleaning tool having a scraping surface at a distal end thereof.
16. The container according to claim 15, wherein the distal end has a diameter of less than or equal to a diameter of at least one of the aerosol-generating articles.
17. The container according to claim 15, wherein the removable laminar blank is integral with the single laminar blank and is attached to the single laminar blank by a line of weakness.
18. The container according to claim 17, wherein the lid portion comprises: a lid portion back wall depending from a box portion back wall; a lid portion top wall depending from the lid portion back wall; and a lid portion front wall depending from the lid portion top wall, wherein the lid portion front wall comprises a lid portion front panel depending from the lid portion top wall, and a lid portion front wall under panel depending from the lid portion front panel, wherein the lid portion front wall under panel underlies the lid portion front panel, and wherein the removable laminar blank is at least partially defined by the lid portion front wall under panel.
19. The container according to claim 18, wherein the lid portion further comprises an additional lid portion under panel depending from the lid portion front wall under panel, and wherein the removable laminar blank is at least partially defined by the lid portion under panel.
20. The container according to claim 15, wherein the at least one longitudinal line of weakness or longitudinal side edges of the removable laminar blank, or both the at least one longitudinal line of weakness and the longitudinal side edges of the removable laminar blank, are non-parallel to a longitudinal axis of the removable laminar blank such that, when the removable laminar blank is folded along the at least one longitudinal line of weakness to form the elongate cleaning tool, the elongate cleaning tool tapers towards the scraping surface.
21. The container according to claim 15, wherein the at least one longitudinal line of weakness comprises a plurality of longitudinal lines of weakness each extending along substantially an entire length of the removable laminar blank and disposed such that, when the removable laminar blank is folded along the plurality of longitudinal lines of weakness to form the elongate cleaning tool, the elongate cleaning tool has a closed cross-sectional shape.
22. The container according to claim 21, wherein the plurality of longitudinal lines of weakness are disposed such that, when the removable laminar blank is folded along the plurality of longitudinal lines of weakness to form the elongate cleaning tool, the elongate cleaning tool has a triangular cross-sectional shape.
23. The container according to claim 21, wherein the plurality of longitudinal lines of weakness are disposed such that longitudinal side edges of the removable laminar blank overlap with each other when the removable laminar blank is folded along the plurality of longitudinal lines of weakness to form the elongate cleaning tool.
24. The container according to claim 21, wherein the removable laminar blank further comprises at least one additional longitudinal line of weakness disposed such that, when the removable laminar blank is folded along the plurality of longitudinal lines of weakness in a first direction and is folded along the at least one additional longitudinal line of weakness in a second, opposite, direction to form the cleaning tool, the elongate cleaning tool comprises an internal projection extending into a central lumen of the elongate cleaning tool, the at least one additional longitudinal line of weakness forming a vertex of the internal projection.
25. The container according to claim 15, wherein the removable laminar blank further comprises at least one proximal line of weakness at or adjacent to a proximal end of the removable laminar blank and extending along only part of a length of the removable laminar blank, the removable laminar blank being foldable along the at least one proximal line of weakness to form a handle portion extending outwardly from the elongate cleaning tool at or adjacent to the proximal end of the elongate cleaning tool.
26. The container according to claim 15, wherein the at least one longitudinal line of weakness is formed by creasing, scoring, ablation, or any combination thereof.
27. The container according to claim 15, wherein the removable laminar blank comprises a plurality of discrete fingers at a distal end thereof, each discrete finger of the plurality of discrete fingers being foldable along a transverse fold line to form inwardly extending bristles defining the scraping surface at the distal end of the elongate cleaning tool.
28. A container for aerosol-generating articles, the container comprising: a box portion; a lid portion; a plurality of aerosol-generating articles disposed within the box portion; and a removable laminar blank disposed in the box portion, or the lid portion, or both, wherein the removable laminar blank is foldable about longitudinal lines of weakness each extending along a longitudinal axis of the removable laminar blank to form a tubular elongate cleaning tool having a distal end with a diameter of less than or equal to a diameter of at least one of the aerosol-generating articles, and wherein the longitudinal lines of weakness are disposed such that, when the removable laminar blank is folded along the longitudinal lines of weakness to form the elongate cleaning tool, the elongate cleaning tool has a triangular cross-sectional shape.
29. The container according to claim 28, wherein the removable laminar blank comprises a plurality of discrete fingers at a distal end thereof, each discrete finger of the plurality of discrete fingers being foldable along a transverse fold line to form inwardly extending bristles defining a scraping surface at the distal end of the elongate cleaning tool.
30. The container according to claim 28, wherein the elongate cleaning tool comprises a central lumen and one or more internal projections extending transversely into the central lumen.
Description
[0108] The invention will be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
[0109] FIG. 1 shows a front perspective view of a first embodiment of container in accordance with the present invention, with the lid portion in an open position;
[0110] FIG. 2 shows a partial perspective view of the container of FIG. 1 with the lid portion in an open positon and with the removable laminar blank in an outwardly folded position;
[0111] FIG. 3 shows a plan view of a first embodiment of removable laminar blank for the container of FIG. 1;
[0112] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of an elongate cleaning tool formed from the removable laminar blank of FIG. 3;
[0113] FIG. 5 shows a partial perspective view of the elongate cleaning tool of FIG. 4 in use in the cavity of an aerosol-generating device;
[0114] FIG. 6 shows a plan view of a laminar blank for forming the container of FIG. 1;
[0115] FIG. 7 shows a front perspective view of a second embodiment of container in accordance with the present invention, with the lid portion in an open position;
[0116] FIG. 8 shows a plan view of a second embodiment of removable laminar blank for the containers of FIG. 1 and FIG. 7;
[0117] FIGS. 9A, 9B and 9C show perspective views of a folding process for forming an elongate cleaning tool from the removable laminar blank of FIG. 8;
[0118] FIG. 10A shows a partial cut-away side perspective view of the elongate cleaning tool of FIG. 9C in use in the cavity of an aerosol-generating device;
[0119] FIG. 10B shows an end view in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 10A;
[0120] FIG. 11 shows a plan view of a third embodiment of removable laminar blank for the containers of FIG. 1 and FIG. 7;
[0121] FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of an elongate cleaning tool formed from the removable laminar blank of FIG. 11;
[0122] FIG. 13A shows a partial cut-away side perspective view of the elongate cleaning tool of FIG. 12 in use in the cavity of an aerosol-generating device;
[0123] FIG. 13B shows an end view in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 13A;
[0124] FIG. 14 shows a plan view of a fourth embodiment of removable laminar blank for the containers of FIG. 1 and FIG. 7;
[0125] FIG. 15 shows a perspective view of an elongate cleaning tool formed from the removable laminar blank of FIG. 14;
[0126] FIG. 16A shows a partial cut-away side perspective view of the elongate cleaning tool of FIG. 15 in use in the cavity of an aerosol-generating device; and
[0127] FIG. 16B shows an end view in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 16A.
[0128] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of container 10 of aerosol-generating articles in accordance with the present invention. The container, or pack, 10 comprises an outer package formed from a folded laminar blank and having a box portion 14 and a lid portion 16 hinged to the rear wall of the box portion 14. In use, the front of the lid 16 is pivoted up and to the rear by the consumer to open the pack 10 and thereby allow access to its contents, as shown in FIG. 1. The pack 10 also includes an inner frame 18 inside the front and sides of the box portion 14. At least a portion of the inner frame 18 extends above the box portion 14 into the space covered by the lid 16 in the closed position. The inner frame 18 is formed from a folded laminar blank and has a front wall 20 and side walls 22 extending rearwardly from the side edges of the front wall 20. Standing in the box portion 14 and between the side walls 22 of the inner frame 18 are two individually foil wrapped bundles 24 of aerosol-generating articles. A central cut-out 26 is provided in the front wall 20 of the inner frame to allow the consumer to remove smoking articles from the pack 10 in the open position. As well as reinforcing the front and sides of the pack 10, the inner frame 18 provides some interference or frictional engagement with the lid 16 as it opens and closes, thereby helping to prevent accidental opening of the pack 10 and to retain the lid 16 in the closed position when desired.
[0129] The lid portion 16 comprises a lid portion back wall 28 depending from the box portion back wall, a lid portion top wall 30 depending from the lid portion back wall 28, and a lid portion front wall 32 depending from the lid portion top wall 30. First and second lid portion side walls 34, 36 depend from the lid portion back, top and front walls.
[0130] As shown in FIG. 2, the lid portion front wall 32 comprises a lid portion front panel 38 depending from the lid portion top wall 30, and a lid portion front wall under panel 40 extending from the lower edge of the lid portion front wall 32 along a fold line. 42. When the container 10 is assembled from a laminar blank, the lid portion front wall under panel 40, or lid front flap, is folded inwards against the inner surface of the lid portion front panel 38. In order to facilitate and guide the folding of a laminar blank to form a container of the type described above, the fold line 42 is a line of weakness at the lower edge of the lid portion front wall 32, whereby the lid front flap 40 can easily be folded inwards by approximately 180 degrees to lie against the inside of the lid portion front panel 38. When the lid portion 16 is opened, the lid front flap 40 may be unfolded outwards along the fold line 42 by a user, as shown.
[0131] In this example, the fold line 42 comprises a plurality of perforations to allow the lid front flap 40 to be removed from the container 10 by breaking the container 10 along the fold line 42. In this example, the lid front flap 40 is a removable laminar blank 50 and defines the entire removable laminar blank 50. In other examples, an additional line of weakness (not shown) may be provided at any other position across the width of the lid portion front wall 32 to allow part of the lid portion front wall 32 to be removed from the container 10 along the line of weakness. In such examples, the removable laminar blank may be defined by only part of the lid front flap 40, by the lid front flap 40 and part of the lid portion front panel 38, or by an additional lid portion under panel extending from the lid front flap 40.
[0132] As shown in FIG. 3, the removable laminar blank 50 defined by the lid front flap 40 is planar and has a generally rectangular elongate shape with a diagonal cut across one corner. The removable laminar blank 50 has a proximal end 51 and a distal end 52, and first and second longitudinal side edges 53, 54 extending along the length of the removable laminar blank from the proximal end 51 to the distal end 52. The first longitudinal side edge 53 extends along the fold line 42 and is parallel with the longitudinal axis 55 of the removable laminar blank 50. The second longitudinal side edge 54 has a first portion 54A extending from the proximal end 51 which is parallel with the longitudinal axis 55, and a second portion 54B which extends at an angle from the first portion 54A to the distal end 52 to form a taper towards the distal end 52. The removable laminar blank 50 also has a longitudinal line of weakness 56 and a proximal line of weakness 58. The longitudinal line of weakness 56 extends along the entire length of the blank 50 between the proximal and distal ends 51, 52 and at an angle to the longitudinal axis 55. The proximal line of weakness 58 extends at an angle from the proximal end 51 to part way along the length of the first longitudinal side edge 53.
[0133] The removable laminar blank 50 has a total length L, a width W.sub.P at the proximal end 51, and a width W.sub.D at the distal end 52 which is less than the width W.sub.P at the proximal end 51. The first portion 54A of the second longitudinal side edge 54 has a length of LA. This is the distance from the proximal end 51 at which the second longitudinal side edge 54 starts to taper towards the distal end 52. The longitudinal line of weakness 56 extends from point A on the proximal edge 51 to point Con the distal edge 52. The proximal line of weakness 58 extends from point B on the proximal edge 52 to point D on the first longitudinal side edge 53.
[0134] In a particularly preferred example, the total length L is 72 millimetres, the first portion 54A has a length LA of 34 millimetres the width W.sub.P at the proximal end 43 is 18 millimetres, the width W.sub.D at the distal end 52 is 4 millimetres, point A is 3 millimetres from the first portion 54A of the second longitudinal side edge 54, point B is 10 millimetres from the first longitudinal side edge 53, point C is 2 millimetres from the first longitudinal side edge 53, and point D is 20 millimetres from the proximal end 51.
[0135] FIG. 4 shows an elongate cleaning tool 80 formed from the removable laminar blank 50. To form the cleaning tool 80, the removable laminar blank is first removed from the rest of the container, by tearing along fold line 42, and is folded in a first direction both along the longitudinal line of weakness 56 and along the proximal line of weakness 58. The elongate cleaning tool 80 has a scraping surface 82 at its distal end, a handle 84 at its proximal end, and an open shape with a generally V-shaped cross-section. As the longitudinal line of weakness 56 and the second portion 54B of the second longitudinal side edge 54 of the removable laminar blank are non-parallel to the longitudinal axis 55 of the removable laminar blank, the resulting elongate cleaning tool 80 tapers towards the scraping surface 82 at its distal end. This may facilitate the ease with which the cleaning tool 80 is inserted into a cavity. A narrow scraping surface 82 may facilitate mechanical cleaning of debris in the cavity. The handle 84 is formed by folding the removable laminar blank outwardly along the proximal line of weakness.
[0136] FIG. 5 shows the elongate cleaning tool 80 when inserted into the cavity 2 of an aerosol-generating device 1. The open shape of the elongate cleaning tool 80 allows the tool 0 to be positioned around a heater blade 3 in the cavity 2. The heater blade 3 and the cavity 2 may then be mechanically cleaned with the scraping surface by gripping the tool 80 by the handle and moving the tool 80 around within the cavity 2. Once the cavity 2 has been cleaned, the elongate cleaning tool 80 is withdrawn from the cavity 2 and the aerosol-generating device 1 is then inverted to allow dislodged debris to fall out of the cavity 2. The aerosol-generating device 1 may then be used again as normal.
[0137] FIG. 6 shows a laminar blank 100 for forming the container 10 of the first embodiment. Solid lines represent cut lines and dashed lines represent lines of weakness, such as scoring lines, along which the laminar blank 100 is folded to form the container 10. The laminar blank 100 comprises a box portion bottom panel 102, a box portion front panel 104 depending along a fold line 106 from the box portion bottom panel, and a box portion back panel 108 depending along a fold line 110 from the box portion bottom panel 102. First box portion side panels 112 depend along fold lines 114 from the box portion back panel 108 and second box portion side panels 116 depend along fold lines 118 from the box portion front panel 104. Two box portion dust flaps 120 depend along fold lines 122 from the first box portion side panels 112.
[0138] The laminar blank 100 further comprises a lid portion back panel 124 depending along a fold line 126 from the box portion back panel 108, a lid portion top panel 128 depending along a fold line 130 from the lid portion back panel, and a lid portion front panel 38 depending along a fold line 134 from the lid portion top panel 128. A lid portion front under panel 40 depends along a fold line 42 from the lid portion front panel 38. The laminar blank 100 also comprises first lid portion side flaps 140 depending along fold lines 142 from the lid portion back panel 124, dust flaps 144 depending along fold lines 146 from the first lid portion side flaps 140, and second lid portion side flaps 148 depending along fold lines 150 from the lid portion front panel 38. When the laminar blank 100 is folded to form the box portion 12 and the lid portion 14 shown in FIG. 1, each pair of first and second lid portion side flaps 140, 148 overlap each other to form the lid portion side walls 34, 36. The dust flaps 144 are folded about the fold lines 146 so that they underlie the lid portion top panel 42. The lid portion front under panel 40 is folded about the fold line 42 to underlie the lid portion front panel 38 and, together with the lid portion front panel 38, form the lid portion front wall 32.
[0139] FIG. 7 shows a second embodiment of container 210 of aerosol-generating articles in accordance with the present invention. As with the container of the first embodiment, the container, or pack, 210 comprises an outer package formed from a folded laminar blank and having a box portion 214 and a lid portion 216 hinged to the rear wall of the box portion 214 and including a removable laminar blank 250. However, unlike the container 10 of the first embodiment, the removable laminar blank 250 is provided as a discrete component, or insert, which is removably secured to an inner surface of the lid portion 216. For example secured to both the top wall 230 and the lid portion front wall. The removable laminar blank 250 may be secured to the lid portion 216 by any suitable means. For example, the removable laminar blank 250 may be received in a pocket formed between the lid portion front panel 238 and the lid portion under panel 240. In a preferred embodiment, the removable laminar blank 250 is removably secured to the lid portion 216 by a pressure sensitive adhesive. In a similar manner to the container 10 of the first embodiment, the removable laminar blank 250 may be removed from the container 210 and folded to form an elongate cleaning tool, as discussed below in relation to FIGS. 8 to 10B.
[0140] FIG. 8 shows a removable laminar blank 250 according to a second embodiment for the container 210 of the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 8, the removable laminar blank 250 is planar and has a generally rectangular elongate shape. In this example, the removable laminar blank 250 has an additional flap 260 containing a series of printed instructions for forming an elongate cleaning tool from the removable laminar blank 250. The additional flap 260 is attached to the rest of the removable laminar blank 250 by a perforated line 262 and is removed by tearing along the perforated line 262 prior to folding the removable laminar blank 250. The first and second longitudinal side edges 253, 254 are parallel with each other and with the longitudinal axis 255 of the removable laminar blank 250. A plurality of longitudinal lines of weakness 256 extend along the length of the removable laminar blank 250 parallel to the longitudinal side edges 253, 254. The removable laminar blank 250 further comprises an additional longitudinal line of weakness 257 which is parallel to the plurality of longitudinal lines of weakness 256 and positioned between two adjacent longitudinal lines of weakness 256.
[0141] The removable laminar blank 250 is divided into a series of panels by the longitudinal lines of weakness 256. In particular, the removable laminar blank comprises a first panel 264 between the first longitudinal side edge 253 and the adjacent first longitudinal line of weakness 256A, a second panel 265 adjacent to the first panel 264 and between first and second longitudinal lines of weakness 256A, 256B, a third panel 266 adjacent to the second panel 265 and between second and third longitudinal lines of weakness 256B, 256C, a fourth panel 267 between the third and fourth longitudinal lines of weakness 256C, 256D, and a fifth panel 268 between the fourth longitudinal line of weakness 256D and the second longitudinal side edge 254. The second panel 265 is divided into two sub panels by the additional longitudinal line of weakness 257.
[0142] Referring to FIGS. 9A to 9C, the removable laminar blank 250 is folded along the plurality of longitudinal lines of weakness 256 in a first direction and is folded along the additional longitudinal line of weakness 257 in a second, opposite direction to form an elongate cleaning tool 280 having a closed cross-sectional shape and having an internal projection 288 extending into a central lumen 286 of the elongate cleaning tool 280. The internal projection 288 forms part of the scraping surface 282 and has side walls defined by the second panel 265 and an apex 289 formed by the additional longitudinal line of weakness 257. The first, third and fourth panels 264, 266, 267 form side walls 290 of the cleaning tool 280. The fifth panel 268 overlaps with the first panel 265 to provide additional rigidity.
[0143] In this example, the removable laminar blank 250 has four evenly spaced longitudinal lines of weakness 256 and a single additional longitudinal line of weakness 257 positioned at the midpoint between two adjacent longitudinal lines of weakness 256. This results in an elongate cleaning tool 280 with a equilateral triangular cross-section and parallel side walls 290, and an internal projection 288 having a width, or radial extent, of approximately half the width of each of the side walls 290. It will be appreciated that different cross-sectional shapes may be provided using different numbers of longitudinal lines of weakness, or by varying the spacing of the longitudinal lines of weakness. It will also be appreciated that cleaning tools with non-parallel side walls may be provided by providing the removable laminar blank with non-parallel longitudinal side edges and non-parallel longitudinal lines of weakness.
[0144] FIGS. 10A and 10B show the elongate cleaning tool 280 in use in the cavity 2 of an aerosol-generating device 1. The triangular cross-sectional shape of the elongate cleaning tool 280 allows the side walls 290 to be positioned around the heater blade 3 in the cavity 2. The heater blade 3 and the cavity 2 may then be mechanically cleaned with the scraping surface 282 and the internal projection 288 by moving the cleaning tool 280 around within the cavity 2. Advantageously, the side walls of the internal projection 288 provide a flat surface against which the heater blade 3 may be cleaned more effectively. Once the cavity 2 has been cleaned, the elongate cleaning tool 280 is withdrawn from the cavity 2 and the aerosol-generating device 1 is then inverted to allow dislodged debris to fall out of the cavity 2. The aerosol-generating device 1 may then be used again as normal.
[0145] FIG. 11 shows a removable laminar blank 350 according to a third embodiment for the container 210 of the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 11, the removable laminar blank 350 is planar and has a generally rectangular elongate shape. The removable laminar blank 350 is similar in construction and operation to the removable laminar blank 250 of the second embodiment and where the same features are present, like reference numerals are used. As with the removable laminar blank 250 of the second embodiment, the removable laminar blank 350 an additional flap 360 containing a series of printed instructions for forming the elongate cleaning tool and which is removably attached to the rest of the removable laminar blank 350 by a perforated line 362. The removable laminar blank 350 also has four evenly spaced longitudinal lines of weakness 356 and a single additional longitudinal line of weakness 357 positioned at the midpoint between two adjacent longitudinal lines of weakness 356. Again, this results in an elongate cleaning tool 380 with a equilateral triangular cross-section and parallel side walls 390, and an internal projection 388 having a width, or radial extent, of approximately half the width of each of the side walls 390. However, unlike the first and second embodiments of removable laminar blank, the third embodiment of removable laminar blank 350 further comprises a plurality of discrete fingers 370 at its distal end 352, each of the discrete fingers 370 being foldable along a transverse fold line 372 to form inwardly extending bristles defining a scraping surface at the distal end of the elongate cleaning tool. In this example, the discrete fingers 370 are provided in groups at the distal end of each of the first, third and fourth panels 364, 366, 367 and not at the distal end of the second panel 365 or the fifth panel 368. This helps to prevent the discrete fingers 370 on adjacent panels from impinging on each other when the removable laminar blank 350 is folded to form the tool 380.
[0146] Referring to FIG. 12, the resulting elongate cleaning tool 380 according to the third embodiment is similar in construction to the elongate cleaning tool 280 according to the second embodiment with the addition of a plurality of bristles 392 at the distal end of the tool 380. The bristles 392 are formed by folding each of the discrete fingers 370 of the removable laminar blank 350 along their respective transverse fold line 372 towards the central passage, or lumen 386. The bristles 392 form part of the scraping surface 382 of the tool 380.
[0147] FIGS. 13A and 13B show the elongate cleaning tool 380 in use in the cavity 2 of an aerosol-generating device 1. The triangular cross-sectional shape of the elongate cleaning tool 380 allows the side walls 390 to be positioned around the heater blade 3 in the cavity 2. The heater blade 3 and the cavity 2 may then be mechanically cleaned with the scraping surface 382, the internal projection 388, and the bristles 392 by moving the cleaning tool 380 around within the cavity 2. Advantageously, the side walls of the internal projection 388 provide a flat surface against which the heater blade 3 may be cleaned more effectively, and the bristles 392 provide an additional cleaning surface to facilitate cleaning. The bristles 392 are pointed towards, and flex around, the internal heater blade 3 during cleaning to accommodate the heater blade 3 and increase the level of contact between the tool 380 and the heater blade 3. The bristles 392 may also allow for a greater scraping force to be applied to the heater blade 3 in a transverse direction. Once the cavity 2 has been cleaned, the elongate cleaning tool 380 is withdrawn from the cavity 2 and the aerosol-generating device 1 is then inverted to allow dislodged debris to fall out of the cavity 2. The aerosol-generating device 1 may then be used again as normal.
[0148] FIG. 14 shows a removable laminar blank 450 according to a fourth embodiment for the container 210 of the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 14, the removable laminar blank 450 is planar and has a generally rectangular elongate shape. Unlike the second and third embodiments of removable laminar blank, the removable laminar blank 450 of the fourth embodiment comprises only a single longitudinal line of weakness 456 provided adjacent to the second longitudinal side edge 454. The single longitudinal line of weakness 456 is parallel to the first and second longitudinal side edges 453, 454 and the longitudinal axis 455 and divides the removable laminar blank 450 into a first panel 464 and a much smaller second panel 465. Unlike the removable laminar blanks of the first to third embodiments, the removable laminar blank 450 is not folded to form an elongate cleaning tool, but is rolled about its longitudinal axis 455 to form a tubular elongate cleaning tool having a closed circular cross-section. The first panel 464 defines the side wall 490 of the tool 480 and the second panel 465 under lies the first panel 464 to add rigidity to the tool. As with the third embodiment of removable laminar blank 350, a plurality of discrete fingers 470 are provided at the distal end 452 of the removable laminar blank 450, each of the discrete fingers 470 being foldable along a transverse fold line 472 to form inwardly extending bristles defining a scraping surface at the distal end of the elongate cleaning tool. In this example, the discrete fingers 470 are provided at the distal end of the first panel 464 and not at the distal end of the second panel 465. This is because the second panel 465 lies against the first panel 464 when the tool is formed and any fingers on the second panel 465 might impinge against those on the first panel 466.
[0149] Referring to FIG. 15, the resulting elongate cleaning tool 480 according to the fourth embodiment is tubular and has a circular cylindrical shape. As with the third embodiment, the elongate cleaning tool 480 has a plurality of bristles 492 at its distal end which are formed by folding each of the discrete fingers 470 of the removable laminar blank 450 along their respective transverse fold line 472 towards the central passage, or lumen, of the tool 480. The bristles 492 form part of the scraping surface 482 of the tool 480.
[0150] FIGS. 16A and 16B show the elongate cleaning tool 480 in use in the cavity 2 of an aerosol-generating device 1. The tubular cross-sectional shape of the elongate cleaning tool 480 allows the heater blade 3 in the cavity 2 to be accommodated in the central passage 486 of the tool 480. The heater blade 3 and the cavity 2 may then be mechanically cleaned with the scraping surface 482 and bristles 490 by moving the cleaning tool 480 around within the cavity 2. Advantageously, the bristles 490 provide an additional cleaning surface to facilitate mechanical cleaning of the cavity 2 and the heater 3, particularly in regions which might be otherwise hard to reach with a tool without any transversely extending portions. The bristles 490 are pointed towards, and flex around, the internal heater blade 3 during cleaning to accommodate the heater blade 3 and increase the level of contact between the tool 480 and the heater blade 3. The bristles 490 may also allow for a greater scraping force to be applied to the heater blade 3 in a transverse direction. Once the cavity 2 has been cleaned, the elongate cleaning tool 480 is withdrawn from the cavity 2 and the aerosol-generating device 1 is then inverted to allow dislodged debris to fall out of the cavity 2. The aerosol-generating device 1 may then be used again as normal.
[0151] The specific embodiments and examples described above illustrate but do not limit the invention. It is to be understood that other embodiments of the invention may be made and the specific embodiments and examples described herein are not exhaustive.
