Abstract
The invention relates to an aerosol-generating device. The aerosol-generating device comprises a first housing portion and a second housing portion. The first housing portion comprises a cavity for receiving an aerosol-generating article comprising aerosol-forming substrate. The first housing portion and second housing portion are configured arrangeable in a first position, in which the first housing portion is extended relative to the second housing position, and in which the cavity is accessible for insertion of the aerosol-generating article. The first housing portion and second housing portion are configured arrangeable in a second position, in which the second housing portion is retracted at least partly within the cavity.
Claims
1. An aerosol-generating device comprising: a first housing portion; and a second housing portion, wherein the first housing portion comprises a cavity for receiving an aerosol-generating article comprising aerosol-forming substrate, wherein the first housing portion and second housing portion are configured arrangeable in a first position, in which the first housing portion is extended relative to the second housing position, and in which the cavity is accessible for insertion of the aerosol-generating article, and wherein the first housing portion and second housing portion are configured arrangeable in a second position, in which the second housing portion is retracted at least partly within the cavity.
2. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 1, wherein a proximal portion of the second housing portion has a shape corresponding to a shape of the cavity of the first housing portion.
3. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 1, wherein the aerosol-generating device comprises biasing means configured to bias the first housing portion relative to the second housing portion towards the first position.
4. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 3, wherein the biasing means comprises at least one spring.
5. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 3, wherein the biasing means is arranged between the first housing portion and the second housing portion.
6. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 1, wherein the aerosol-generating device comprises one or more guiding rails configured to guide movement of the second housing portion relative to the first housing portion.
7. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 1, wherein the second housing portion is configured movable towards the first housing portion in a direction parallel or coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generating device.
8. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 1, wherein the aerosol-generating device comprises locking means, and wherein the locking means are configured to lock the aerosol-generating device in the second position.
9. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 8, wherein the aerosol-generating device comprises a wireless communication interface, and wherein the wireless communication interface is configured to interact with an external device for unlocking the locking means.
10. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 9, wherein the wireless communication interface comprises authorization means configured to interact with the external device for unlocking the locking means.
11. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 1, wherein the aerosol-generating device comprises a heating element, and wherein the heating element is arranged in the first housing portion.
12. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 11, wherein the heating element comprises an induction coil arranged at least partly surrounding the cavity of the first housing portion.
13. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 1, wherein the aerosol-generating device comprises a controller, and wherein the controller is configured to prevent operation of the aerosol-generating device, preferably prevent operation of a heating element of the aerosol-generating device, when one or both of the first housing portion is in the retracted position; and the locking means are locked.
14. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 1, wherein the first housing portion has a hollow cylindrical shape, and wherein the portion of the second housing portion arrangeable within the cavity of the first housing portion is cylindrical and has an outer diameter corresponding to the inner diameter of the hollow cylindrical first housing portion.
15. An aerosol-generating system comprising the aerosol-generating device according to claim 1 and an aerosol-generating article comprising aerosol-forming substrate.
Description
[0041] The invention will be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
[0042] FIG. 1a shows an illustrative side cut view of an aerosol-generating device in the second position;
[0043] FIG. 1b shows an illustrative side cut view of an aerosol-generating device in the first position, with an aerosol-generating article received in a cavity of a first housing portion of the aerosol-generating device;
[0044] FIG. 2 shows an illustrative side cut view of a first housing portion of the aerosol-generating device;
[0045] FIG. 3 shows an illustrative side cut view of a second housing portion of the aerosol-generating device;
[0046] FIGS. 4a to 4e show illustrative side cut views of the operation of the aerosol-generating device;
[0047] FIG. 5 shows an example of extraction of the aerosol-generating article from the aerosol-generating device;
[0048] FIG. 6a shows a schematic view of the first position of the aerosol-generating device; and
[0049] FIGS. 6a and 6b show schematic views of the second position of the aerosol-generating device.
[0050] FIG. 1 shows an aerosol-generating device. The aerosol-generating device comprises a first housing portion 10 and a second housing portion 12. The first housing portion 10 is a proximal housing portion. In other words, the first housing portion 10 faces a user, when the device is in use of the aerosol-generating device. The second housing portion 12 is a distal housing portion. In other words, the second housing portion 12 faces away from a user during use of the aerosol-generating device. The first housing portion 10 has a hollow cylindrical shape. The second housing portion 12 has a solid cylindrical shape. The second housing portion 12 is arranged to be at least partly receivable within the first housing portion 10.
[0051] The first housing portion 10 comprises a cavity 14. The cavity 14 is configured to receive an aerosol-generating article 16. The cavity 14 has a hollow cylindrical shape. The cavity 14 is arranged adjacent the proximal end of the first housing portion 10. The cavity 14 extends approximately halfway through the first housing portion 10.
[0052] The second housing portion 12 comprises a proximal portion 18. The proximal portion 18 has a length of approximately half the length of the second housing portion 12. The proximal portion 18 is arranged adjacent the proximal end of the second housing portion 12. The proximal portion 18 of the second housing portion 12 is arranged to be received within the first housing portion 10. Consequently, the outer diameter of the proximal portion 18 is smaller than the inner diameter of the cavity 14. A proximal end face 20 of the proximal portion 18 may form a base of the cavity 14. Particularly, the proximal end face 20 forms a base of the cavity 14, when the aerosol-generating device is positioned in a first position. The first position is shown in FIG. 1b. In the first position, the aerosol-generating device is in the extended position. The extended position is characterized by the cavity 14 being open. The extended position is further characterized by the second housing portion 12 being arranged in an extended position relative to the first housing portion 10.
[0053] FIG. 1a shows the aerosol-generating device in a second position. In the second position, the aerosol-generating device is in a retracted position. In this position, the proximal portion 18 of the second housing portion 12 is retracted into the cavity 14 of the first housing portion 10. In the second position, the proximal end face 20 of the proximal portion 18 of the second housing portion 12 is arranged flush with a proximal end of the first housing portion 10. In other words, the proximal end face 20 of the second housing portion 12 is arranged flush with the outlet of the cavity 14. In this way, the cavity 14 is protected from contamination and from a user or bystander reaching into the cavity 14.
[0054] FIG. 1b further shows biasing means 22 for biasing the aerosol-generating device into the first position. The biasing means 22 are in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1b configured as two springs. The biasing means 22 are arranged between the first housing portion 10 and the second housing portion 12. The biasing means 22 are arranged adjacent the perimeter of the proximal portion 18 of the second housing portion 12. The biasing means 22 are arranged adjacent the sidewall of the hollow cylindrical first housing portion 10. The biasing means 22 are arranged upstream of the cavity 14 of the first housing portion 10. The biasing means 22 are configured to bias the first housing portion 10 and the second housing portion 12 away from each other into the first position of the aerosol-generating device.
[0055] FIG. 1 further shows locking means 24. The locking means 24 are configured to hold the aerosol-generating device in the second position. In other words, the locking means 24 are configured to hold the second housing portion 12 in the retracted position relative to the first housing portion 10 against the biasing force of the biasing means 22. The locking means 24 may be configured as any conventional locking means 24. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the locking means 24 comprise a male locking element 26 and a female locking element 28. The male locking element 26 is arranged adjacent the sidewall of the first housing portion 10. The female locking element 28 is arranged adjacent the proximal portion 18 of the second housing portion 12. The placement and configuration of the locking means 24 is, however, only exemplary.
[0056] Unlocking of the locking means 24 may be facilitated mechanically by a user. Exemplarily, the aerosol-generating device may comprise a pushbutton for unlocking the locking means 24. Alternatively, the locking means 24 may be configured as electrically operated locking means 24 and operated by a controller. The aerosol-generating device may further comprise a communication interface, preferably a wireless communication interface. The communication interface may be configured to interact with an external device for unlocking the locking means 24. The external device may be a smartphone, smartwatch or tablet. The communication interface may receive an output from the external device. The communication interface may subsequently generate an output, which is received by the controller. The controller may then unlock the locking means 24 upon receiving the appropriate output from the communication interface. The communication interface may comprise authorization means to identify a correct external device.
[0057] FIG. 1a shows the second position, in which the locking means 24 are locked and the second housing portion 12 is held in the retracted state within the first housing portion 10. As a consequence, the cavity 14 of the first housing portion 10 is protected by the appropriately shaped proximal portion 18 of the second housing portion 12. This position is preferably the position in which the aerosol-generating device is arranged, when the device is not used. In FIG. 1b, the locking means 24 are unlocked and the biasing means 22 have biased the aerosol-generating device in the first position such that the cavity 14 is accessible. As indicated in FIG. 1b, the aerosol-generating article 16 is inserted into the cavity 14 so that the aerosol-generating device can be operated.
[0058] For operating the aerosol-generating device, the aerosol-generating device comprises a heating element 30. The heating element 30 is heated for heating the aerosol-forming substrate of the aerosol-generating article 16. The heating element 30 is configured to heat but not burn the aerosol-forming substrate. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the heating element 30 is configured as an induction heating element 30. Consequently, the heating element 30 comprises an induction coil. Further, a susceptor (not shown) is provided for generating the heat for heating the aerosol-forming substrate. The susceptor may be provided as part of the aerosol-generating device, or as part of the aerosol-generating article, or both as part of the aerosol-generating device and as part of the aerosol-generating consumable. The induction coil is arranged around the perimeter of the susceptor. The induction coil is preferably configured as a helical coil. The susceptor is preferably configured as a tubular susceptor surrounding the cavity 14. The susceptor may form the sidewall of the cavity 14.
[0059] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the heating element 30 comprises two separate induction coils. One induction coil is arranged surrounding an upstream portion of the cavity 14. The other induction coil is arranged surrounding a downstream portion of the cavity 14. Two induction coils may be utilized to heat different portions of the aerosol-forming substrate of the aerosol-generating article 16. The controller may independently control the induction coils.
[0060] FIG. 1 further shows that the second housing portion 12 comprises a power supply 32. The power supply 32 is preferably configured as a battery. The power supply 32 is configured to supply electrical energy to the heating element 30 to operate the heating element 30. The power supply 32 may be controlled by the controller.
[0061] FIG. 2 shows a more detailed view of the first housing portion 10. Particularly, the hollow cylindrical shape of the first housing portion 10 is shown in FIG. 2. The cavity 14 for insertion of the aerosol-generating article 16 is arranged in a proximal portion 36 of the first housing portion 10. The cavity 14 is surrounded by the heating element 30. The heating element 30 comprises two individual induction coils for heating different areas of the inserted aerosol-generating article 16. The second housing portion 12 is mounted in a distal portion 34 of the first housing portion 10 opposite the proximal portion 36 of the first housing portion 10. The distal portion 34 of the first housing portion 10 consequently has a hollow cylindrical shape so that the second housing portion 12 can be inserted into the first housing portion 10.
[0062] FIG. 3 shows a more detailed view of the second housing portion 12. Particularly, the proximal portion 18 of the second housing portion 12 with a reduced diameter is shown. This proximal portion 18 of the second housing portion 12 is dimensioned to be arranged within the cavity 14 of the first housing portion 10, when the aerosol-generating device is in the second position.
[0063] FIG. 4 shows operation of the aerosol-generating device. From left (FIG. 4a) to right (FIG. 4e), the aerosol-generating device is in a non-used state followed by usage of the aerosol-generating device and subsequently in the non-used state again. FIG. 4a shows the aerosol-generating device in the second position. In the second position, the second housing portion 12 is retracted into the first housing portion 10. Further, access to the cavity 14 is blocked by the proximal portion 18 of the second housing portion 12. In FIG. 4b, the aerosol-generating device is prepared to be used. To this end, the locking means 24 are disengaged. This engagement of the locking means 24 leads to the biasing means 22 biasing the second housing portion 12 into the extended position relative to the first housing portion 10. Consequently, the aerosol-generating device is in the first position in FIG. 4b. In FIG. 4c, the aerosol-generating device is inserted into the cavity 14. The cavity 14 is unoccupied by the proximal portion 18 of the second housing portion 12 in the first position of the aerosol-generating device. When the aerosol-generating article 16 is inserted into the cavity 14, the heating element 30 is operated to heat the aerosol-forming substrate of the aerosol-generating article 16. Consequently, an inhalable aerosol is generated that can be inhaled by a user. After the aerosol-generating article 16 is depleted, the aerosol-generating article 16 is removed from the cavity 14. For removing the aerosol-generating article 16 from the cavity 14, the second housing portion 12 can be pushed into the first housing portion 10 as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 4d. The second housing portion 12 can be manually pushed into the first housing portion 10 by the user against the biasing force of the biasing means 22. As a consequence, the cavity 14 gradually shrinks due to the proximal portion 18 of the second housing portion 12 being pushed into the cavity 14. Particularly, the proximal end face 20 of the second housing portion 12 forming the base of the cavity 14 is pushed into the cavity 14 until the aerosol-generating article 16 is pushed out of the cavity 14 and can be removed by the user. After the proximal portion 18 of the second housing portion 12 is fully pushed into the first housing portion 10, as indicated in FIG. 4e, the aerosol-generating device is again in the second position. The second position of the aerosol-generating device is a compact position, in which undesired access to the cavity 14 is prevented by the positioning of the proximal portion 18 of the second housing portion 12.
[0064] FIG. 5 shows an example of extracting the aerosol-generating article 16 from the aerosol-generating device. A user 38 may press on the second housing portion 12, when the aerosol-generating article 16 is depleted. The user 38 may push with a digit, exemplarily a thumb, against the end face of the second housing portion 12. As a consequence, the second housing portion 12 is pushed into the first housing portion 10. Gradually, the cavity 14 is occupied by the second housing portion 12. The aerosol-generating article 16 is pushed out of the cavity 14 by the proximal end face 20 of the proximal portion 18 of the second housing portion 12. Finally, the second housing portion 12 is fully pushed into the first housing portion 10. The proximal end face 20 of the second housing portion 12 is flush with the opening of the cavity 14. The aerosol-generating article 16 is thus extracted from the cavity 14. The aerosol-generating article 16 may be disposed in a recycle bin 40.
[0065] FIG. 6a shows the first housing portion 10 and the second housing portion 12 of the aerosol-generating device in the second position. In the second position, the first housing portion 10 and the second housing portion 12 are arranged in a retracted position. In this position, the proximal portion 18 of the second housing portion 12 is arranged within the cavity 14. As a consequence, the proximal end face 20 of the proximal portion 18 is arranged flush with the opening of the cavity 14 as shown in FIG. 6a.
[0066] FIG. 6b shows the first housing portion 10 and the second housing portion 12 arranged in the first position, which is an extended position. The cavity 14 is accessible. As shown in FIG. 6c, the aerosol-generating article 16 can be inserted into the cavity 14. The aerosol-generating device can then be operated by heating the aerosol-forming substrate of the aerosol-generating article 16. When the aerosol-generating article 16 is depleted, the aerosol-generating article 16 can be extracted as described in conjunction with FIG. 5. For extracting the aerosol-generating article 16, the second housing portion 12 can be pushed towards the first housing portion 10 such that the aerosol-generating device is arranged again in the second position shown in FIG. 6a.
