CLEANING TOOL FOR HEATING ELEMENT WITH PRONGS

Abstract

There is provided a cleaning tool configured for cleaning an aerosol-generating device including a heating chamber and a heating element disposed in the heating chamber, the cleaning tool including: multiple prongs configured to be inserted into the heating chamber of the aerosol-generating device and to clean at least the heating element; and an actuating element configured to move the multiple prongs between a first position and a second position, wherein the multiple prongs are expanded towards inner sidewalls of the heating chamber in the first position and contracted towards the heating element in the second position.

Claims

1.-13. (canceled)

14. A cleaning tool configured for cleaning an aerosol-generating device comprising a heating chamber and a heating element disposed in the heating chamber, the cleaning tool comprising: multiple prongs configured to be inserted into the heating chamber of the aerosol-generating device and to clean at least the heating element; and an actuating element configured to move the multiple prongs between a first position and a second position, wherein the multiple prongs are expanded towards inner sidewalls of the heating chamber in the first position and contracted towards the heating element in the second position.

15. The cleaning tool according to claim 14, wherein the multiple prongs are made of wire.

16. The cleaning tool according to claim 14, wherein the multiple prongs are further configured to contact the inner sidewalls of the heating chamber and a base of the heating chamber in the first position, when the cleaning tool is inserted into the heating chamber.

17. The cleaning tool according to claim 14, wherein the multiple prongs are further configured to surround and to contact the heating element in the second position, when the cleaning tool is inserted into the heating chamber.

18. The cleaning tool according to claim 17, wherein the multiple prongs are kinked and ends of the multiple prongs contact the heating element in the second position.

19. The cleaning tool according to claim 14, wherein the multiple prongs are further configured with a roughened surface.

20. The cleaning tool according to claim 14, wherein the actuating element comprises a spring, which biases the multiple prongs in the first position or the second position.

21. The cleaning tool according to claim 14, wherein the actuating element is further configured such that the multiple prongs are moved from the first position to the second position, when the actuating element is actuated.

22. The cleaning tool according to claim 21, wherein the actuating element comprises a tapered portion, and wherein the tapered portion is configured to contact and to push apart proximal ends of the multiple prongs during actuation of the actuating element.

23. The cleaning tool according to claim 14, wherein the actuating element is configured such that the prongs are moved from the second position to the first position, when the actuating element is actuated.

24. The cleaning tool according to claim 23, wherein the actuating element comprises a tapered portion, wherein proximal ends of the multiple prongs are connected with a connection portion, and wherein the tapered portion is configured to contact and to elastically deform the connection portion during actuation of the actuating element, thereby moving the multiple prongs from the second position to the first position.

25. A system comprising an aerosol-generating device and a cleaning tool according to claim 14, the aerosol-generating device comprising a heating chamber and a heating element disposed in the heating chamber, wherein multiple prongs of the cleaning tool are configured to be inserted into the heating chamber of the aerosol-generating device and to clean at least the heating element.

26. A method for cleaning an aerosol-generating device with a cleaning tool, the aerosol-generating device comprising a heating chamber and a heating element disposed in the heating chamber, and the cleaning tool comprising multiple prongs, the method comprising: inserting the multiple prongs into the heating chamber of the aerosol-generating device for cleaning at least the heating element, wherein the cleaning tool further comprises an actuating element configured to move the multiple prongs between a first position and a second position, and wherein the multiple prongs are expanded towards inner sidewalls of the heating chamber in the first position and contracted towards the heating element in the second position; and moving the multiple prongs between the first position and the second position after insertion of the cleaning tool into the heating chamber.

Description

[0032] The invention will be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0033] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a cleaning tool with prongs in a first position and in a second position,

[0034] FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the cleaning tool of FIG. 1,

[0035] FIG. 3 shows the cleaning tool of FIG. 1 and an aerosol-generating device, wherein the cleaning tool is inserted into the aerosol-generating device,

[0036] FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the cleaning tool, in which the prongs of the cleaning tool are positioned in the second position, if the cleaning tool is not actuated, and

[0037] FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the cleaning tool according to the second embodiment.

[0038] FIG. 1 shows a cleaning tool with prongs 10. The prongs 10 are made of metal wire. The prongs 10 are mounted on the cleaning tool such that the prongs 10 can be moved. In particular, the distal ends 12 of the prongs 10 can be moved from an expanded position towards a contracted position. The distal ends 12 of the prongs 10 are positioned such that the distal ends 12 of the prongs 10 are inserted into a heating chamber of an aerosol-generating device first. Opposite of the distal ends 12 of the prongs 10, proximal ends 14 of the prongs 10 are provided.

[0039] The proximal ends 14 of the prongs 10 are connected to a handle 16. The handle 16 comprises a plate-shaped element 18. The plate-shaped element 18 is large enough such that a user can grip the plate-shaped element 18, preferably by sliding two fingers under the plate-shaped element 18. The handle 16 further comprises a tubular element 20. The proximal ends 14 of the prongs 10 are at least partly arranged inside of the tubular element 20.

[0040] Opposite of the proximal ends 14 of the prongs 10, an actuating element 22 is provided. The actuating element 22 comprises a spring 24 and a shaft 26. The shaft 26 is at least partly arranged inside of the tubular element 20 of the handle 16. The shaft 26 is configured slidable inside of the tubular element 20. The spring 24 is arranged winding around the shaft 26. The spring 24 abuts the plate-shaped element 18 of the handle 16 and a protruding rim 28 of the actuating element 22. In this way, the shaft 26 is biased in a first position, in which the shaft 26 is pushed away from the handle 16 and the prongs 10. The first position is depicted in the left part of FIG. 1. For actuating the actuating element 22, a user can push the shaft in the direction of the handle 16 and the prongs 10 while fixating the handle 16. Preferably, the user can slide two fingers under the plate-shaped element 18 of the handle 16 and place a thumb on top of the protruding rim 28 of the actuating element 22. Then, the user can push the thumb in the direction of the handle 16, which is fixated by the two fingers under the plate-shaped element 18 of the handle 16 such that the shaft 26 is positioned in a second position. Hence, the prongs 10 are closed, when a user pushes the shaft 26 in the direction of the prongs 10. The second position is depicted in the right part of FIG. 1. Upon releasing the handle 16, the shaft 26 is urged back into the first position by means of the spring 24.

[0041] FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the cleaning tool. The actuation action of the actuating element 22 can be seen in FIG. 2. As described with respect to FIG. 1, the actuating element 22 can be actuated such that the shaft 26 is moved from a first position into a second position. The left part of FIG. 2 shows the first position, while the right part of FIG. 2 shows the second position.

[0042] As depicted in FIG. 2, the prongs 10 are mounted in the cleaning tool at mounting positions 30. This arrangement allows the prongs 10 to pivot around the mounting positions 30. The prongs 10 are furthermore partly arranged inside of the tubular element 20. The shaft 26 is arranged slidably and at least partly inside of the tubular element 20. When the shaft 26 is in the first position, as depicted in the left part of FIG. 2, the shaft does not contact the proximal ends 14 of the prongs 10. The shaft 26 comprises a tapered portion 32. The tapered portion 32 of the shaft 26 is arranged opposite to the protruding rim 28 and is facing the proximal ends 14 of the prongs 10. When the actuating element 22 is actuated, the shaft 26 is pushed into the tubular element 20 in the direction of the proximal ends 14 of the prongs 14. The spring 24 allows a movement of the shaft 26 so that the tapered portion 32 of the shaft 26 contacts the proximal ends 14 of the prongs 10 and pushes the proximal ends 14 apart. The shaft 26 is then in the second position. As a consequence of the proximal ends 14 being pushed apart, the prongs 10 pivot around the mounting positions 30, leading to a contracting movement of the distal ends 12 of the prongs 10. In other words, the proximal ends 14 of the prongs 10 are moved away from the longitudinal axis of the cleaning tool, when the shaft 26 is in the second position, and, at the same time, the distal ends 12 of the prongs are moved towards the longitudinal axis of the cleaning tool, when the shaft 26 is in the second position.

[0043] FIG. 3 shows the usage of the cleaning tool for cleaning an aerosol-generating device 34. From left to right, FIGS. 3A to 3D show how to insert the cleaning tool into a heating chamber 36 of the aerosol-generating device 34 and subsequently how to clean a heating element 38, which is arranged in the heating chamber 36, and the heating chamber 36 itself. The heating chamber 36 has a cylindrical shape and is surrounded by a housing 40 of the aerosol generating device 34. A rod comprising aerosol-forming substrate can be inserted into the heating chamber 36. During operation of the aerosol-generating device 34, the blade-shaped heating element 38 penetrates the aerosol-forming substrate for aerosol generation. The blade-shaped heating element 38 is centrally aligned within the heating chamber 36 along the longitudinal axis of the heating chamber 36.

[0044] The aerosol-generating device 34 comprises on-off button 42 for activating the heating element 38. Alternatively, the heating element 38 may be activated by means of a sensor such as an airflow sensor or a negative pressure sensor. Within the aerosol-generating device 34, a power supply, preferably in the form of a battery, and a control unit is arranged. The control unit controls a supply of electrical power from the power supply to the heating element 38 during activation of the heating element 38.

[0045] When the aerosol-forming substrate, which is penetrated by the heating element 38, is depleted after multiple operations of the heating element 38, the rod comprising the aerosol-forming substrate is removed from the heating chamber 36. Residues off the aerosol-forming substrate may stick to the heating element 38. Such residues may also stick to the inner sidewalls of the heating chamber 36 or the base of the heating chamber 36. The cleaning tool according to the present invention is utilized to remove these residues.

[0046] As can be seen in FIG. 3A, the prongs 10 of the cleaning tool are in an expanded position before insertion of the cleaning tool into the heating chamber 36 of the aerosol-generating device 34. As described with reference to FIG. 2, this positioning of the prongs 10 corresponds to the first position of the shaft 26. This positioning of the prongs 10 will also be referred to in the following as the first position of the prongs 10. In FIG. 3B, the prongs 10 of the cleaning tool have been fully inserted into the heating chamber 36 of the aerosol-generating device 34. The distal ends 12 of the prongs 10 contact the base of the heating chamber 36 as well as the inner sidewalls of the heating chamber 36. During insertion of the prongs 10 into the heating chamber 36 of the aerosol-generating device 34, residues sticking to the inner sidewalls of the heating chamber 36 may be scraped off by the expanded prongs 10.

[0047] FIG. 3C shows the shaft 26 in the second position, which leads to the prongs 10 being contracted towards the longitudinal axis of the cleaning tool. This position is also referred to as the second position of the prongs 10. In this position, the distal ends 12 of the prongs 10 contact the heating element 38. This operation of the cleaning tool is facilitated by actuating the actuating element 22. During this operation, residues may be scraped off the base of the heating chamber 36 by the distal ends 12 of the prongs 10. The actuating element 22 is actuated by a user sliding two fingers under the handle 16, while pushing the protruding rim 28 in the direction of the handle 16.

[0048] FIG. 3D shows how the cleaning tool is removed from the heating chamber 36, thereby cleaning the heating element 38. While the cleaning tool is removed from the heating chamber 36, the user continues to actuate the actuating element 22 such that the prongs 10 stay in the second position. Consequently, the distal ends 12 of the prongs 10 stay in contact with the heating element 38 during removal of the cleaning tool out of the heating chamber 36. In this way, residues are scraped off of the heating element 38.

[0049] FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the present invention, in which the first and second positions of the prongs 10 are reversed with respect to the shaft 26. In this embodiment, the prongs 10 are in a contracted position, when the shaft 26 is in the first position. This arrangement is depicted in the left part of FIG. 4. In the right part of FIG. 4, the shaft 26 is in the second position, which leads to the prongs 10 being placed in an expanded position. In other words, the prongs 10 are in a contracted position, when the actuating element 22 is not actuated. The prongs 10 are in an expanded position, when the actuating element 22 is actuated.

[0050] FIG. 5 shows the arrangement of the cleaning tool according to the second embodiment. Essentially, the components of the cleaning tool according to the second embodiment correspond to the components of the cleaning tool according to the first embodiment. The differences between the second and the first embodiment can be seen next to the mounting positions 30 of the prongs 10. While in the first embodiment, the prongs 10 are not connected with each other, the prongs 10 according to the second embodiment are connected with each other by means of a connection portion 44. The connection portion 44 connects the proximal ends 14 of the prongs 10 with each other. Furthermore, the connection portion 44 is configured elastic and to be contacted by the tapered portion 32 of the shaft 26.

[0051] Compared to the first embodiment, the tapered portion 32 of the shaft 26 is not configured to directly contact the proximal ends 14 of the prongs 10, when the actuating element 22 is actuated. In the second embodiment, the tapered portion 32 of the shaft 22 contacts the connection portion 44, when the actuating element 22 is actuated. Due to the elastic configuration of the connection portion 44, the tapered portion 32 deforms the connection portion 44, when the actuating element 22 is actuated. As a consequence, the proximal ends 14 of the prongs 10 are pulled towards the longitudinal axis of the cleaning tool, when the tapered portion 32 of the shaft 26 deforms the connection portion 44. When the proximal ends 14 of the prongs 10 are pulled towards the longitudinal axis of the cleaning tool, the prongs 10 pivot around the mounting positions 30, so that the distal ends 12 of the prongs 10 are pushed away from the longitudinal axis of the cleaning tool. As a consequence, the distal ends 12 of the prongs 10 are moved from the contracted position towards the expanded position during actuation of the actuating element 22.

[0052] In the second embodiment of the present invention, the cleaning tool is actuated by a user before insertion of the prongs 10 of the cleaning tool into the heating chamber 36 of the aerosol-generating device 34. When the prongs 10 are in an expanded position after actuation of the actuating element 22, the prongs 10 are inserted into the heating chamber 36 as described with reference to FIG. 3. After insertion of the cleaning tool, the actuation element 22 is released and the prongs 10 close and contact the heating element 38. The cleaning tool can then be withdrawn from the heating chamber 36, thereby cleaning the heating element 38.

[0053] As an alternative, the cleaning tool according to the second embodiment can be inserted into the heating chamber 36, when the prongs 10 are in a contracted position. Then, the prongs 10 are pushed over the heating element 38 during insertion of the prongs 10 into the heating chamber 36. Thus, residues of aerosol-forming substrate can be scraped of the heating element 38 during insertion of the prongs 10 into the heating chamber 36 instead of scraping off of the residues during extraction of the prongs 10. When the cleaning tool is operated in this way, the prongs 10 can be expanded after being pushed over the heating element 38. Then, residues of the aerosol-forming substrate can be scraped of the base and the inner sidewalls of the heating chamber 36 during removal of the prongs 10 of the cleaning tool from the heating chamber 36 of the aerosol-generating device 34.

[0054] The present invention is not limited by the described embodiments. The skilled person understands that the described features can be combined with each other within the scope of the invention.