TRAY WITH PIERCING ELEMENT FOR USE WIHT SHISHA DEVICE

Abstract

A tray for use with a shisha device includes a cavity for receiving a cartridge comprising aerosol-forming substrate. The tray is configured to form openings in the cartridge when the cartridge is inserted into the cavity. The openings formed in the cartridge allow air flow through the cartridge when cartridge and tray are received by the shisha device.

Claims

1. A tray for use with a shisha device, the shisha device having a receptacle for receiving the tray, the tray comprising: a body defining a cavity for receiving a cartridge comprising an aerosol-forming substrate, the cavity having an open top end into which the cartridge is insertable and having a bottom end, wherein the body comprises a sidewall that forms an interior surface of the cavity; a piercing element extending into the cavity from the bottom end of the cavity, wherein the piercing element is positioned to pierce the cartridge at a first surface when the cartridge is inserted into the cavity of the tray and force is applied to the cartridge to cause the first surface of the cartridge to move towards the bottom end of the cavity; and an exterior wall, wherein a second cavity is formed between the exterior wall and the sidewall that forms the interior surface of the cavity, wherein the second cavity is engageable with a portion of the shisha device.

2. The tray according to claim 1, wherein the sidewall is formed from a thermally conductive material.

3. The tray according to claim 2, wherein at least a portion of the sidewall inwardly tapers in a direction from the open top end of the cavity to the bottom end of the cavity.

4. The tray according to claim 3, wherein the cavity is frustoconical.

5. The tray according to claim 1, further comprising a handle extending from the body away from the cavity.

6. The tray according to claim 5, wherein the handle is formed from thermally insulating material.

7. The tray according to claim 1, wherein the exterior wall is thermally insulated from the sidewall.

8. The tray according to claim 1, comprising a cap for covering the open top end of the cavity defined by the body, wherein the cap comprises a cap piercing element extending from a surface configured to face the cavity when the cap covers the open top end of the cavity, and wherein the cap piercing element extends into the cavity and is positioned to pierce the cartridge at a second surface when the cartridge is inserted in the cavity of the tray and force is applied to the cap to cause the cap piercing element to move towards the bottom end of the cavity.

9. An assembly comprising the tray according to claim 1 and the shisha device.

10. The assembly according to claim 9, wherein the shisha device further comprises: a vessel comprising an interior volume configured to house a liquid; a receptacle for receiving the tray; a heating element that defines at least a portion of a surface of the receptable, the heating element being configured to heat aerosol-forming substrate within a cartridge received in the tray to produce aerosol; and a conduit for carrying the aerosol from the cartridge to the vessel.

11. The assembly comprising a tray according to claim 1 and the cartridge.

12. The assembly according to claim 11, wherein the aerosol-forming substrate in the cartridge comprises nicotine.

13. The assembly according to claim 11, wherein the aerosol-forming substrate contained in the cartridge comprises tobacco.

Description

[0091] Reference will now be made to the drawings, which depict one or more embodiments described in this disclosure. However, it will be understood that other embodiments not depicted in the drawings fall within the scope and spirit of this disclosure. Like numbers used in the figures refer to like components. The use of different numbers to refer to components in different figures is not intended to indicate that the different numbered components cannot be the same or similar to other numbered components. The figures are presented for purposes of illustration and not limitation. Schematic drawings presented in the figures are not necessarily to scale.

[0092] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an embodiment of a shisha device. Because interaction of a tray, cartridge, and shisha device are shown in more detail in FIGS. 2-5, the tray is omitted from FIG. 1 for convenience.

[0093] FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C are schematic perspective views of a portion of an embodiment of a shisha device and associated tray and cartridge.

[0094] FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view a portion of an embodiment of a shisha device and associated tray and cartridge.

[0095] FIG. 4 is a series of schematic perspective views illustrating use of an embodiment of a shisha device and associated tray and cartridge.

[0096] FIG. 5 is a series of schematic perspective views illustrating use of an embodiment of a shisha device and associated tray and cartridge.

[0097] FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of an example of a shisha device 100. The device 100 includes a vessel 17 defining an interior volume configured to contain liquid 19 and defining a headspace outlet 15 above a fill level for the liquid 19. The liquid 19 preferably includes water, which may optionally be infused with one or more colorants, one or more flavorants, or one or more colorants and one or more flavorants. For example, the water may be infused with one or both of botanical infusions and herbal infusions.

[0098] The device 100 also includes an aerosol-generating element 130. The aerosol-generating element 130 includes a receptacle 140 configured to receive a tray (not shown) and cartridge 200 comprising an aerosol-forming substrate. The aerosol-generating element 130 may also include a heating element 160. The heating element 160 may form at least one surface of the receptacle 140. In the depicted embodiment, the heating element 160 defines the side surfaces of the receptacle 140. The aerosol-generating element 130 also includes an air inlet 170 that draws air into the device 100. The air enters the cartridge 200, which is also heated by heating element 160, to carry aerosol generated by the aerosol former and the aerosol-forming substrate. The air exits an outlet of the aerosol-generating element 130 and enters a conduit 190.

[0099] The conduit 190 carries the air and aerosol into the vessel 17 below the level of the liquid 19. The air and aerosol may bubble through the liquid 19 and exit the headspace outlet 15 of the vessel 17. A hose 20 may be attached to the headspace outlet 15 to carry the aerosol to the mouth of a user. A mouthpiece 25 may be attached to, or form a part of, the hose 20.

[0100] An illustrative air flow path of the device, in use, is depicted by arrows in FIG. 1.

[0101] The mouthpiece 25 may include an activation element 27. The activation element 27 may be a switch, button or the like, or may be a puff sensor or the like. The activation element 27 may be placed at any other suitable location of the device 100. The activation element 27 may be in wireless communication with the control electronics 30 to place the device 100 in condition for use or to cause control electronics to activate the heating element 160; for example, by causing power supply 35 to energize the heating element 160.

[0102] The control electronics 30 and power supply 35 may be located in any suitable position of the aerosol-generating element 130, including locations other than the sides of the element 130 as depicted in FIG. 1.

[0103] Referring now to FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C, a body 310 of a tray is inserted into a receptacle of a shisha device 100. The body 310 of the tray defines a cavity 311 configured to receive a cartridge 200 comprising an aerosol-forming substrate. When cartridge 200 is inserted into the cavity 311 and the body 310 is inserted in the receptacle of the shisha device 100, the cartridge 200 may be heated by the shisha device to volatilize one or more constituents of the aerosol-forming substrate for inhalation by a user. The tray also comprises a cap 395 for covering an open top end of the cavity formed by the body 310 of the tray. The cap 395 includes a through hole 397 to allow air to enter the shisha device and flow through the cartridge 200. The tray depicted in FIG. 1 includes a handle 390 extending from the body 310 away from the cavity. The handle 390 may be grasped by a user to facilitate manipulation of the tray and cartridge 200. The handle 390 may comprise thermally insulating material to prevent a substantial amount of heat generated though use of the shisha device 100 from reaching the handle 390.

[0104] FIG. 3 shows a tray 300 that includes a body 310 and a cap 395. The body 310 is a single piece having a sidewall 316 that defines a cavity 311 that extends from an open top end to a bottom end 318. The body 310 also has an exterior wall 312 that extends from a top shoulder 314 of the cavity 311. The exterior wall 312 defines a second cavity 321 between the exterior wall 312 and the sidewall 316. The second cavity is configured to receive a top portion of the shisha device 100 such that at least a portion of the exterior wall 312 of the body 310 of the tray is disposed about the shisha device 100 when the sidewall 316 of the tray 300 is received in the receptacle 140 of the shisha device 100.

[0105] The exterior wall 312 of the body 310 of the tray 300 holds the body 310 in position relative to the shisha device 100. The exterior wall 312 may be formed from a thermally insulating material or materials to allow a user to grasp the exterior wall 312 following use of the shisha device 100 without causing the user discomfort due to heat generated during use of the device 100.

[0106] The cavity 311 provides a space for receiving a cartridge 200 comprising aerosol-forming substrate. The sidewall 316 defining the cavity 311 is configured to contact the cartridge 200 along the length of the cartridge 200 to transfer heat from the heating element 160 that forms at least a portion of the receptacle 140 of the shisha device 100 to the cartridge 200. The top shoulder 314 facilitates positioning of the cartridge 200 in the cavity 311 and guides the cartridge 200 into its operation position during insertion.

[0107] The body 310 includes a bottom piercing element 320. The piercing element comprises a plurality of hollow elongate elements having tapered ends that pierce the cartridge 200 to form outlets in the cartridge 200 for air flow through the cartridge and into conduit 190.

[0108] The cap 395 includes a through hole 397 in communication with hollow elongate elements that form upper piercing element 391 of the tray 300. When the cap 395 is inserted into the open top end of the cavity 311, the hollow elongate elements of the piercing element 391 pierce the cartridge 200 to form inlets for air flow through the cartridge 200. The cap 395 may be pressed into place in the cavity 311. In some embodiments (not shown), the cap may be screwed into the cavity via suitable threaded engagement.

[0109] Referring now to FIG. 4, an overview of a process for using a tray 300 that includes a body having an exterior wall is shown. The body 310 of the tray 300 may be placed on the shisha device 100 such that the exterior wall is disposed about a portion of the shisha device and the sidewall 316 is received in the receptable of the shisha device. A cartridge 200 may be placed in the cavity formed by the body 310 of the tray 300, and a cap 395 having a through hole 397 may be placed on the body 310. Placing the cap 395 on the body 310 may pierce the top and bottom of the cartridge 200 to form inlets and outlets for air flow through the cartridge 200. Once the aerosol-forming substrate of the cartridge 200 is depleted or the shisha session has ended, the tray 300 may be removed from the shisha device 100, the cap 395 may be removed from the body 310 of the tray 300, and the body 310 may be inverted to cause the cartridge 200 to be disposed in an appropriate waste container 400.

[0110] FIG. 5 provides an overview of a process for using a tray 300 having a body 310 that does not include an exterior wall. The body 310 includes sidewalls that form a cavity for receiving a cartridge 200 and for being received in a receptacle of a shisha device 100. The body 310 includes a handle 390. When the aerosol-forming substrate of the cartridge 200 is depleted or the shisha session has ended, the tray 300 may be removed from the shisha device 100 by grasping the handle 390, the cap 395 may be removed from the body 310 of the tray 300, and the body 310 may be inverted to cause the cartridge 200 to be disposed in an appropriate waste container 400.

[0111] Thus, trays with piercing elements for use with shisha devices are described. Various modifications and variations of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Although the invention has been described in connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. Indeed, various modifications of the described modes for carrying out the invention which are apparent to those skilled in the mechanical arts, chemical arts, and aerosol-generating article manufacturing or related fields are intended to be within the scope of the following claims.