A HOLDER FOR HOLDING AN AEROSOL-GENERATING DEVICE AND A PACKET OF AEROSOL-GENERATING ARTICLES

Abstract

A holder for holding an aerosol-generating device and a packet of aerosol-generating articles is provided, including: a back wall, a support structure mounted on a first face of the back wall, and a receptacle mounted on a second face of the back wall, the first face being opposite the second face, the support structure including a first side wall projecting from the first face, and a second side wall projecting from the first face, the second side wall being positioned opposite the first side wall and separated from the first side wall by a predetermined distance such that the first and the second side walls are configured to hold the device and the articles by interference fit, and the first side wall projects further from the back wall than the second side wall projects from the back wall, and the receptacle defines one or more compartments.

Claims

1.-15. (canceled)

16. A holder for holding an aerosol-generating device and a packet of aerosol-generating articles, the holder comprising: a back wall, a support structure mounted on a first face of the back wall, and a receptacle mounted on a second face of the back wall, wherein the first face is opposite the second face, the support structure comprising a first side wall projecting from the first face of the back wall, and a second side wall projecting from the first face of the back wall, wherein the second side wall is positioned opposite the first side wall and is separated from the first side wall by a predetermined distance such that the first and the second side walls are configured to hold the aerosol-generating device and the packet of aerosol-generating articles by interference fit, and wherein the first side wall projects further from the back wall than the second side wall projects from the back wall, and the receptacle defining one or more compartments.

17. The holder according to claim 16, wherein the receptacle comprises a main body having a closed bottom end and an open top end.

18. The holder according to claim 17, wherein the receptacle further comprises a lid configured to cover the open top end.

19. The holder according to claim 18, wherein the lid is a hinged lid.

20. The holder according to claim 17, wherein the receptacle further comprises a cover over the open top end, and the cover includes a region of resiliently deformable material, the region of resiliently deformable material including at least one slit extending through the resiliently deformable material.

21. The holder according to claim 20, wherein the at least one slit comprises two slits extending through the resiliently deformable material, the two slits overlying each other to define a cross shape.

22. The holder according to claim 17, wherein the receptacle further comprises an aperture in the closed bottom end and a flap configured to cover the aperture.

23. A holder for holding an aerosol-generating device and a packet of aerosol-generating articles, the holder comprising; a back wall and a support structure mounted on a front face of the back wall, the support structure comprising; a first side wall projecting from the front face of the back wall, a second side wall projecting from the front face of the back wall, the second side wall positioned opposite the first side wall, a base wall projecting from the front face of the back wall, and positioned proximate the first side wall, wherein the base wall is configured to support one or more of the aerosol-generating device and the packet of aerosol-generating articles, and an intermediate wall projecting from the front face of the back wall, the intermediate wall positioned between the first and the second side walls, wherein the intermediate wall is separated from the first side wall by a first predetermined distance such that the intermediate wall and the first side wall are configured to hold the aerosol generating device by interference fit, and the intermediate wall is separated from the second side wall by a second predetermined distance such that the intermediate wall and the second side wall are configured to hold the packet of aerosol-generating articles by interference fit, wherein the first side wall comprises a back edge adjacent to the back wall and a front edge opposite the back edge, the first side wall further comprising a projection, the projection positioned adjacent the front edge of the first side wall and directed towards the intermediate wall, the projection configured to retain the first consumer article between the first side wall and the intermediate wall, and wherein the projection of the first side wall is elongate and extends parallel to the front edge of the first side wall.

24. The holder according to claim 23, wherein the first side wall and the base wall of the support structure are connected at a corner of the back wall such that the first side wall and the base wall together form a seat for the first consumer article.

25. The holder according to claim 23, wherein the first predetermined distance is such that the holder is configured to hold the aerosol-generating device with a widest side of the aerosol-generating device adjacent the back wall.

26. The holder according to claim 23, wherein the first predetermined distance is such that the holder is configured to hold the aerosol-generating device with a narrowest side of the aerosol-generating article adjacent the back wall.

27. The holder according to claim 23, further comprising an attachment mechanism on a back face of the back wall, the back face being opposite the front face.

Description

[0036] Particular embodiments will now be discussed in detail and shown by way of example only in the following Figures, in which:

[0037] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a holder according to a first aspect of the present invention;

[0038] FIGS. 2a and 2b show perspective views of the holder of FIG. 1, holding one and two consumer articles respectively;

[0039] FIG. 3 is a side view of the holder of FIG. 1;

[0040] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the holder of FIG. 1;

[0041] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a holder according to a second aspect of the present invention;

[0042] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the holder of FIG. 5 with consumer articles;

[0043] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the holder of FIG. 5 with a first article insertion configuration;

[0044] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the holder of FIG. 5 with a second article insertion configuration;

[0045] FIG. 9a is a perspective view of the holder of FIG. 8 ejecting consumer articles, and FIG. 9b is a perspective view of the holder of FIG. 7 ejecting consumer articles.

[0046] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a holder according to a first aspect of the present invention. The holder 10 is formed of a back wall 3, a first side wall 1, an intermediate wall 2, a second side wall 4 and a base wall 16. Each of the first side wall 1, the intermediate side wall 2, the second side wall 4 and the base wall 16 extend perpendicularly forwards from a front face 12 of the back wall 3. The base wall 16 is connected to the first side wall 1 at a rounded corner 8. The base wall 16 extends perpendicular to the first side wall 1. The first side wall 1, second side wall 4 and intermediate wall 2 are positioned parallel to each other, with each wall extending substantially vertically. The first side wall 1 is positioned along one edge of the back wall 3. The second side wall 4 is positioned along an edge of the back wall 3 opposite the first side wall. The base wall 16 is positioned along an edge of the back wall 3 that extends between the first side wall 1 and the second side wall 4.

[0047] The first side wall 1, intermediate wall 2 and base wall 16 together with the back wall 3 define a first holding region. The second side wall 4 and intermediate wall 2 together with the back wall 3 define a second holding region. The first side wall 1 includes a lip 14 extending along an inner face of the front edge of the first side wall 1 and projecting towards the intermediate wall 2.

[0048] FIG. 2a shows a perspective view of an aerosol-generating device 5 held within the first holding region of the holder 10. The aerosol-generating device 5 abuts each of the first side wall 1, intermediate wall 2 and the base wall 16 as well as the back wall 3 in order to be retained on the holder 10 by interference fit. Additionally, the aerosol-generating device 5 is positioned between the lip 14 and the back wall 3. The lip 14 prevents the aerosol-generating device 5 from falling forwards out of the holder 10.

[0049] FIG. 2b shows a packet of aerosol-generating articles 6 held within the second holding region of the holder 10. The packet of aerosol-generating devices 6 abuts each of the second side wall 4 and the intermediate side wall 2 in order to be retained on the holder 10 by interference fit.

[0050] FIG. 3 shows a side view of the holder 10 including an aerosol-generating device 5 and a packet of aerosol-generating articles 6. Extending from a back face 18 of the back wall 3 is an attachment mechanism 20. The attachment mechanism 20 extends perpendicularly outwards from the back face 18 back wall 3. The attachment mechanism 20 is formed of two parallel projections 22 and 22 defining a groove 24 between the two projections 22 and 22. The two projections 22 and 22 are joined at the base 26 of the attachment mechanism 20. The base 26 of the attachment mechanism 20 has a large surface area. The base 26 of the attachment mechanism 20 connects to the back face 18 back wall 3 of the holder 10, as shown in FIG. 4. Each of the two projections 22 and 22 taper away from the base 26 such that the projections are narrow at the tips 28.

[0051] The attachment mechanism 20 is configured to attach to the air vents of vehicles in particular. A flap of an air vent can be received in the groove 24 in order to position the holder 10 on the dashboard of a vehicle.

[0052] FIG. 5 shows a holder 30 according to a second aspect of the present invention. The holder 30 is formed of a back wall 33, a first side wall 31, a second side wall 34 and a receptacle 32. The first side wall 31 and the second side wall 34 extend perpendicularly from a first face of the back wall 33. The first side wall 31 and the second side wall 34 are positioned parallel to each other, with each side wall extending substantially vertically. The first side wall 31 is positioned along one edge of the back wall 33. The second side wall 34 is positioned along an edge of the back wall 33 opposite the first side wall.

[0053] The receptacle 32 is positioned on a second face of the back wall 33, opposite the first face. The receptacle 32 extends across the whole of the second face of the back wall 33. The receptacle 32 is defined by two opposing side walls 35, a back wall 36, a top cover 39 and a bottom wall 40.

[0054] As shown in FIG. 6, an aerosol-generating device 5 and a packet of aerosol-generating articles 6 are inserted into the holder by sliding from the distal edge of the first side wall 31 to the back wall 33. The aerosol-generating device 5 and packet of aerosol-generating articles 6 are then held simultaneously between the first side wall 31 and the second side wall 34. The width of the aerosol-generating device 5 and the packet of aerosol-generating articles 6 together is substantially equal to the distance between the first side wall 31 and the second side wall 34, such that the aerosol-generating device 5 and the packet of aerosol-generating articles 6 are held in position via interference fit.

[0055] An opening 42 is located within the top cover 39 of the receptacle 32. The opening 42 is defined by two slits extending through the top cover 39. The slits overlie each other and one slit is perpendicular to the other slit such that the two slits together form a cross. The top cover 39 surrounding the cross is formed of a resiliently deformable material. With this construction, a waste item, such as a used aerosol-generating article, may be pushed through the opening 42, as shown in FIG. 7, deforming the material either side of the slits, in order to enter the receptacle 32. Once the article is inserted, the material either side of the slits will return to its original position such that the waste and any odours generated by it are prevented from escaping from the receptacle 32.

[0056] In an alternative embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, the top cover 39 may be hingedly connected to the second face of the back wall 33. The top cover 39 in this embodiment may be opened by a user to allow waste consumer articles to be inserted into the receptacle 32. In order to empty the contents of the receptacle 32, the top cover 39 may be opened and the holder 30 tipped in order that the consumer articles within the receptacle 32 can fall out, as shown in FIG. 9a.

[0057] In the first embodiment, in which the top cover 39 is fixedly attached to the main body of the receptacle 32, the bottom wall 40 includes an aperture 46 to allow the contents of the receptacle 32 to be removed. Waste aerosol-generating articles can be ejected through the aperture 46 at a convenient time. The aperture 46 is covered by a hinged lid 44 as shown in FIGS. 9a and 9b. The hinged lid 44 has a locking means to retain the hinged lid 44 in a closed position such that it covers the aperture 42. A user may activate the locking means in order to open the hinged lid 44 such that waste can be emptied from the receptacle 32.