CLEANING TOOL WITH A TORQUE LIMITER

Abstract

The invention relates to a cleaning tool for an aerosol-generating device. The FIG. 1 cleaning tool comprises a cleaning head and a handle. At least a part of the cleaning head is rotatably mounted in the handle. The cleaning tool further comprises at least one suspension element arranged between the cleaning head and the handle. The suspension element is arranged to engage the cleaning head or the handle to prevent relative rotation between the cleaning head and the handle, if a torque below a predetermined threshold is applied between the cleaning head and the handle. The suspension element is configured to disengage the cleaning head or the handle, if a torque above a predetermined threshold is applied between the cleaning head and the handle

Claims

1. Cleaning tool for an aerosol-generating device, the cleaning tool comprises a cleaning head and a handle, wherein at least a part of the cleaning head is rotatably mounted in the handle, wherein the cleaning tool further comprises at least one suspension element arranged between the cleaning head and the handle, wherein the suspension element is arranged to engage the cleaning head with the handle to prevent relative rotation between the cleaning head and the handle, if a torque below a predetermined threshold is applied between the cleaning head and the handle, and wherein the suspension element is configured to disengage the cleaning head from the handle, if a torque above a predetermined threshold is applied between the cleaning head and the handle.

2. Cleaning tool according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined threshold of the torque between the handle and the cleaning head is between 3 centinewton meter (cN.Math.m) and 27 cN.Math.m.

3. Cleaning tool according to claim 1, wherein the suspension element comprises a resilient element.

4. Cleaning tool according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning tool comprises at least two suspension elements.

5. Cleaning tool according to claim 4, wherein the suspension elements are arranged circumferentially on the inner wall of the handle.

6. Cleaning tool according to claim 4, wherein the two suspension elements are arranged radially opposite of each other.

7. Cleaning tool according to claim 1, wherein one or both of the cleaning head and the handle comprises at least one cavity, and wherein the suspension element is configured to engage with the cavity.

8. Cleaning tool according to claim 7, wherein at least two cavities are provided.

9. Cleaning tool according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning head is cylindrically.

10. Cleaning tool according to claim 1, wherein the handle has a hollow cylindrical shape with a distal open end for mounting at least a part of the cleaning head and an opposite proximal closed end.

11. Cleaning tool according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning head comprises side taps rotationally mounted in grooves of the handle or wherein the handle comprises side taps rotationally mounted in grooves of the cleaning head.

12. Cleaning tool according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning head comprises cleaning brushes or wipers, wherein the cleaning brushes or wipers are arranged adjacent a distal end of the cleaning head and wherein the cleaning brushes or wipers are extended beyond the distal end of the handle.

13. Cleaning tool according to claim 1, wherein the handle comprises a central raised area at a proximal inner wall for engagement with a corresponding central notch in a proximal end face of the cleaning head or wherein the handle comprises a central notch at a proximal inner wall for engagement with a corresponding central raised area in a proximal end face of the cleaning head.

14. System comprising a cleaning tool according to claim 1 and an aerosol-generating device, wherein the aerosol-generating device comprises a cavity configured to receive an aerosol-generating article comprising aerosol-forming substrate, wherein the aerosol-generating device comprises a heating element arranged within the cavity, and wherein the cleaning head of the cleaning tool is configured to be inserted into the cavity of the aerosol-generating device for cleaning of one or more of the cavity and the heating element.

15. System according to claim 14, wherein the heating element is configured as a blade-shaped heating element, wherein the heating element has a bigger width dimension than its thickness.

16. Cleaning tool according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined threshold of the torque between the handle and the cleaning head is between 9 cN.Math.m and 17 cN.Math.m.

17. Cleaning tool according to claim 1, wherein the suspension element is configured as a spring.

18. Cleaning tool according to claim 8, wherein the cavities are arranged circumferentially surrounding a proximal end of the cleaning head

19. System according to claim 15, wherein the heating blade has a tapered end.

Description

[0037] The invention will be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0038] FIG. 1 shows an illustrative cross-sectional side view of a cleaning tool;

[0039] FIG. 2 shows an illustrative cross-sectional top view of the cleaning tool; and

[0040] FIG. 3 shows an illustrative cross-sectional side view of an aerosol-generating device.

[0041] FIG. 1 shows a cleaning tool 10 for an aerosol-generating device 34. The aerosol-generating device 34 shown in FIG. 3. The cleaning tool 10 comprises a handle 12. The cleaning tool 10 further comprises a cleaning head 14. The cleaning tool 10 comprises a proximal end P and a distal end D. The cleaning head 14 is mounted within the handle 12. More particularly, a proximal portion 16 of the cleaning head 14 is mounted within the handle 12, while a distal portion 18 of the cleaning head 14 protrudes from the handle 12.

[0042] For mounting the proximal portion 16 of the cleaning head 14 within the handle 12, the cleaning head 14 comprises side taps 20. The side taps 20 are arranged circumferentially on the circumference of the proximal portion 16 of the cleaning head 14. The side taps 20 are configured to engage with corresponding grooves 22 of the handle 12. Alternatively, the handle 12 comprises side taps 20 and the cleaning head 14 comprises corresponding grooves 22. The side taps 20 engaged the grooves 22 such that the cleaning head 14 can freely rotate within the handle 12. Additionally, the side taps 20 engaging the grooves 22 prevent axial movement of the cleaning head 14 relative to the handle 12.

[0043] For preventing rotation between the handle 12 and the cleaning head 14, a suspension element 24 is provided. The suspension element 24 may be configured as a single suspension element 24. Alternatively, multiple suspension elements 24 may be provided. The suspension element 24 is configured as a resilient element such as a spring or a rubber-containing material. The suspension element 24 is configured to engage the handle 12 with the cleaning head 14. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the suspension element 24 is configured to engage with the cleaning head 14. More particularly, the suspension element 24 is configured to engage with a cavity 26 of the cleaning head 14. In FIG. 1, two suspension elements 24 and two cavities 26 are depicted. As can be seen in FIG. 2, two suspension elements 24 are provided and configured to engage with corresponding multiple cavities 26. As depicted in FIG. 1, the suspension element 24 is provided separate from the handle 12 and the cleaning head 14. The suspension element 24 is preferably mounted in the handle 12. Alternatively, the suspension element 24 can be integrally formed with the handle 12. As a further alternative embodiment, the suspension element 24 is mounted on the cleaning head 14 or integrally formed with the cleaning head 14 and the handle 12 comprises corresponding cavities 26. The suspension elements 24 are arranged circumferentially around a proximal end face of the proximal portion 16 of the cleaning head 14.

[0044] FIG. 1 further shows that the handle 12 has a closed proximal wall 28 at a proximal end. At an inner wall of the proximal wall 28, a central raised area 30 or protrusion is provided. The central raised area 30 is configured to engage in a notch 32 of the cleaning head 14. The notch 32 of the cleaning head 14 is provided in a proximal end face of the proximal portion 16 of the cleaning head 14. The engagement between the central raised area 30 of the handle 12 and the notch 32 of the cleaning head 14 prevents a radial movement between the cleaning head 14 and the handle 12. By means of the engagement between the side taps 20 and the grooves 22 as well as the engagement between the central raised area 30 and the notch 32, the cleaning head 14 is securely and rotatably mounted within the handle 12.

[0045] FIG. 2 shows a top cross-sectional view of the cleaning tool 10. Multiple cavities 26 are depicted for engagement with the suspension elements 24. The engagement between the suspension elements 24 and the cavities 26 is configured such that rotation between the handle 12 and the cleaning head 14 is prevented, if a torque below a predetermined threshold is applied to the handle 12 relative to the cleaning head 14. In this case, the engagement between the suspension elements 24 and the cavities 26 is sufficiently strong to overcome the applied torque and keep the coupling between the handle 12 and the cleaning head 14 such that the handle 12 does not rotate with respect to the cleaning head 14. If the torque applied to the handle 12 relative to the cleaning head 14 exceeds the predetermined threshold, the suspension elements 24 are configured to disengage the initial cavities 26. As a consequence, the handle 12 will rotate for a small amount until the suspension elements 24 engage with the cavities 26 that neighbour the initial cavities 26. In other words, the handle 12 and the cleaning head 14 function similar to a torque wrench, in which a predetermined torque is exceeded. Preferably, this functionality is independent from the tangential direction of the torque applied to the handle 12.

[0046] FIG. 3 shows an illustrative aerosol-generating device 34. The aerosol-generating device 34 comprises a cavity 36. The cavity 36 is configured to receive an aerosol-generating article comprising aerosol-generating substrate. Centrally arranged within the cavity 36, a heating element 38 is depicted. The heating element 38 is preferably configured as a blade-shaped heating element 38. The aerosol-generating device 34 further comprises a controller 40 for controlling supply of electrical power from a power supply 42 to the heating element 38.

[0047] When the aerosol-generating article is depleted, the aerosol-generating article is removed from the cavity 36 and a fresh aerosol-generating article is inserted into the cavity 36. Between removal of the depleted aerosol-generating article and insertion of a fresh aerosol-generating article, a user may wish to clean one or more of the inner sidewall of the cavity 36, the base of the cavity 36 and the heating element 38. For this purpose, the user may employ the cleaning tool 10 according to the present invention. More particularly, the user may insert the distal portion 18 of the cleaning head 14 into the cavity 36. The distal portion 18 of the cleaning head 14 may comprise a slid-shaped recess 44 (shown in FIG. 1) to accommodate the blade-shaped heating element 38, when the distal portion 18 of the cleaning head 14 is inserted into the cavity 36. The distal portion 18 of the cleaning head 14 may be dimensioned to fit into the cavity 36. During insertion and removal of the distal portion 18 of the cleaning head 14, unwanted residues may be scraped off of one or more of the inner sidewall of the cavity 36, the base of the cavity 36 and the heating element 38. During use, a user may potentially apply a torque to the handle 12 of the cleaning tool 10. If this torque exceeds the predetermined torque, the heating element 38 may potentially be damaged, if the torque is transmitted to the heating element 38. For this reason, the cleaning tool 10 according to the present invention is employed, in which the handle 12 rotates relative to the cleaning head 14, if the torque applied to the handle 12 by the user exceeds the predetermined threshold. As a consequence, this torque exceeding the predetermined threshold is not transmitted to the cleaning head 14 and to the heating element 38 from the handle 12. Thus, damage to the heating element 38 is prevented.