AEROSOL GENERATING DEVICE WITH RETAINER

Abstract

There is provided an aerosol generating device for use with a heat source and an aerosol-forming substrate. The aerosol generating device comprises an elongate body having a longitudinal surface extending between an upstream end and a downstream end. The elongate body comprises an opening at the downstream end of the elongate body, and a cavity for receiving a heat source and an aerosol-forming substrate. The cavity is accessible through an aperture in the longitudinal surface of the elongate body. The upstream end of the cavity is closed and the downstream end of the cavity is in fluid communication with the opening. The aerosol generating device further comprises a closing member movable relative to the elongate body between an open position in which the aperture in open, and an experience position in which the aperture is closed by a first portion of the closing member. There is further provided an aerosol generating system comprising the aerosol generating device.

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. An aerosol generating device comprising, an elongate body having a longitudinal surface extending between an upstream end and a downstream end and comprising; an opening at the downstream end of the elongate body, and a cavity for receiving a heat source and an aerosol-forming substrate, the cavity being accessible through an aperture wherein the upstream end of the cavity is closed and the downstream end of the cavity is in fluid communication with the opening, and a closing member movable relative to the elongate body between an open position in which the aperture in open, and an experience position in which the aperture is closed by a first portion of the closing member, wherein the aperture is located in the longitudinal surface of the elongate body.

17. An aerosol generating device according to claim 16, wherein the closing member is rotatable relative to the elongate body about the longitudinal axis of the aerosol generating device between the open position and the experience position.

18. An aerosol generating device according to claim 16, wherein the first portion of the closing member is provided with at least one air inlet such that, in the experience position air is able to pass into the cavity through the at least one air inlet.

19. An aerosol generating device according to claim 18, wherein the at least one air inlet comprises at least one upstream air inlet, disposed at the upstream end of the first portion of the closing member, and at least one downstream air inlet disposed at the downstream end of the first portion of the closing member.

20. An aerosol generating device according to claim 16, wherein the closing member is further movable to an extinguishing position in which the aperture is closed by a second portion of the closing member, the second portion of the closing member being substantially air impermeable.

21. An aerosol generating device according to claim 16, wherein the cavity comprises an upstream section for receiving a heat source and a downstream section for receiving an aerosol-forming substrate, wherein the upstream section and the downstream section are divided by a barrier.

22. An aerosol generating device according to claim 21, wherein the barrier is fixed to the closing member.

23. An aerosol generating device according to claim 21, wherein the barrier comprises a heat conductive material for conducting heat from a heat source disposed in the upstream section of the cavity to an aerosol-forming substrate in the downstream section of the cavity.

24. An aerosol generating device according to claim 16, wherein the closing member further comprises at least one closing member support which extends into the cavity for supporting a heat source.

25. An aerosol generating device according to claim 16, wherein the elongate body comprises at least one elongate body support for supporting a heat source, the elongate body support being movable between an extended position and a retracted position, the at least one elongate body support extending further into the cavity in the extended position that in the retracted position.

26. An aerosol generating device according to claim 25, wherein movement of the closing member from the experience position to the open position actuates movement of the elongate body support element from the extended position to the retracted position, and movement of the closing member from the open position to the experience position actuates movement of the elongate body support element from the retracted positon to the extended position.

27. An aerosol generating device according to claim 16, further comprising a compression element disposed at the downstream end of the cavity for supporting an aerosol-forming substrate, the compression element being movable along the longitudinal axis of the aerosol generating device between an extended position and a retracted position, the compression element extending further into the cavity in the extended position that in the retracted position.

28. An aerosol generating device according to claim 27 wherein movement of the closing member from the experience position to the open position actuates movement of the compression element from the extended position to the retracted position and movement of the closing member from the open position to the experience position actuates movement of the compression element from the retracted positon to the extended position.

29. An aerosol generating system comprising a device according to claim 16, a heat source disposed in the cavity, and an aerosol-forming substrate disposed in the cavity.

Description

[0134] The aerosol generating device 100 comprises an elongate body 101. The elongate body 101 has a generally elongate shape and includes a longitudinal surface extending between an upstream end and a downstream end. The elongate body 101 includes an opening 103 at the downstream end of the elongate body 101. The elongate body 101 also includes a cavity 102 for receiving a heat source 105 and an aerosol-forming substrate 106. The cavity 102 is accessible through an aperture 104. The aperture 104 is in the longitudinal surface of the elongate body 101. The upstream end of the cavity 102 is closed and the downstream end of the cavity 102 is in fluid communication with the downstream opening 103. The elongate body 101 further comprises a closing member 120 movable relative to the elongate body 101 between an open position (or first position), in which the aperture 104 is open, and an experience position (or second position), in which the aperture 104 is closed by a first portion 121 of the closing member 120.

[0135] The opening 103 at the downstream end of the elongate body 101 acts as a mouthpiece. To facilitate this, the downstream end of the elongate body 101 has a reduced diameter compared to the upstream end of the elongate body. The opening 103 is in fluid communication with the downstream end of the cavity 102 by means of an airflow channel provided between the opening 103 and the downstream end of the cavity 102. The aerosol generating device 100 comprises a removable mouthpiece cover (not shown) to protect the mouthpiece and the opening 103 when the aerosol generating device 100 is not in use.

[0136] The elongate body 101 is formed from a thermally insulating polymeric material.

[0137] The closing member 120 comprises a downstream section which is received in the cavity 102 of the elongate body 101, and an upstream section which extends upstream of the upstream end of the elongate body 101.

[0138] The closing member 120 is substantially cylindrical and is divided radially into three approximately equal sized portions, each accounting for approximately 120 degrees of the curved surface of the substantially cylindrical closing member 120. The closing member 120 is rotatable relative to the elongate body 101 such that each of the three approximately equal sized portions may be aligned with the aperture 104.

[0139] The first portion 121 of the closing member 120 comprises a curved surface and comprises a plurality of air inlets such that air is able to pass into the cavity. The plurality of air inlets comprises a plurality of elongate slits through the first portion 121 of the closing member.

[0140] The plurality of air inlets comprises a plurality of upstream air inlets 111 disposed at the upstream end of the first portion 121 of the closing member 120, and a plurality of downstream air inlets 112 disposed at the downstream end of the first portion of the closing member. The plurality of upstream air inlets 111 are disposed adjacent the portion of the cavity configured to receive a heat source 105. The plurality of downstream air inlets 112 are disposed adjacent the portion of the cavity configured to receive an aerosol-forming substrate 106. As shown in FIG. 6, the size of the plurality of upstream air inlets 111 is greater than the size of the plurality of downstream air inlets 112. The result of this is that more air is able to pass into the portion of the cavity configured to receive a heat source 105 than is able to pass into the portion of the cavity configured to receive an aerosol-forming substrate 106. The closing member 120 is in the experience position, shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 when the first portion 121 of the closing member 120 is aligned with the aperture 104.

[0141] A second portion 122 of the closing member 120 comprises a curved surface but does not feature any air inlets. The second portion 122 of the closing member 120 is substantially air impermeable. The closing member is in an extinguishing position (or third position), shown in FIGS. 7, 8, and 9 when the second portion 122 of the closing member 120 is aligned with the aperture 104.

[0142] A third portion of the closing member is open such that when the third portion of the closing member is aligned with the aperture 104, the heat source 105 and the aerosol-forming substrate 106 may be inserted and removed from the cavity 102. The closing member is in an open position, shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 when the third portion 122 of the closing member 120 is aligned with the aperture 104.

[0143] The section of the closing member 120 which extends upstream of the upstream end of the elongate body 101 may comprise a closing member handle 107 which may be used to rotate the closing member 120 relative to the elongate body 101.

[0144] The aerosol generating device 100 further comprises an ignition means 130. The ignition means 130 extends into the upstream end of the cavity 102 and comprises a scraping surface 131 at its downstream end. The ignition means 130 extends upstream of the upstream end of the closing member 120 and includes an ignition means handle 132 at its upstream end. The ignition means is rotatable relative to the closing member 120 about the longitudinal axis of the elongate body 101. The ignition means 130 is also movable relative to the elongate body along the longitudinal axis of the elongate body 101. A compression spring 133 is provided to urge the ignition means 130 in the upstream direction. The ignition means 130 extends through the closing member handle 107 into the cavity 102.

[0145] The cavity 102 is divided into an upstream section 108 for receiving a heat source 105, and a downstream section 109 of the cavity for receiving an aerosol-forming substrate 106. The upstream section 108 and the downstream section 109 are divided by a barrier 110. The barrier 110 is in the form of an aluminium disk which is fixed to the closing member 120.

[0146] The closing member 120 further comprises a closing member support 113 which extends into the cavity 102. The closing member support 113 comprises two leaf springs attached to the inner surface of the closing element 120. The closing member support 113 is disposed substantially opposite the third portion of the closing member.

[0147] The elongate body 101 further comprises an elongate body support 114. The elongate body support 114 is disposed substantially opposite to the aperture 104, is attached to the inner surface of the elongate body 101, and extends into the cavity 102. The elongate body support 114 is moveable between an extended positon and a retracted positon. The elongate body support 114 extends further into the cavity 102 in the extended positon than in the retracted position. The orientation of the closing member 120 relative to the elongate body 101 determines whether the elongate body support 114 is in the extended or retracted position. When the closing member 120 is in the experience position and the extinguishing position, the elongate body support 114 is in the extended position since it is able to pass through the third section of the closing member 120. When the closing member 120 is in the open position, the elongate body support 114 is in the retracted positon since it is obstructed by the second portion 122 of the closing member 120. The elongate body support 114 comprises a leaf spring.

[0148] The aerosol generating device 100 further comprises a compression element 115 disposed at the downstream end of the cavity 102. The compression element is movable along the longitudinal axis of the aerosol generating device 100 between an extended position and a retracted position, the compression element extending further into the cavity 102 in the extended position that in the retracted position.

[0149] The orientation of the closing member 120 relative to the elongate body 101 determines whether the compression element 115 is in the extended or retracted position. When the closing member 120 is in the experience position and the extinguishing position, the compression element 115 is in the extended position. When the closing member 120 is in the open position, compression element 115 is in the retracted positon. A spring (not shown) urges the compression element 115 into the extended positon when the closing member 120 is in the experience position and the extinguishing position.

[0150] In use, the closing member 120 is placed in the open position. A heat source 105 is inserted into the upstream section 108 of the cavity 102, and an aerosol-forming substrate 106 is interested into the downstream section 109 of the cavity 102.

[0151] The heat source is a combustible carbonaceous heat source 105 and includes an ignitable composition on a first end surface. When the heat source is interested into the cavity, the first end surface is orientated upstream.

[0152] In the open positon, the compression element 115 is in the retracted position. The closing member 120 is then rotated by about 120 degrees using the closing member handle 107 to move the closing member 120 into the experience position. Once in the experience position, the heat source 105 is held between the closing member support 113 and the elongate body support 114.

[0153] In the experience positon, the compression element 115 is in the extended position and holds the aerosol-forming substrate against the barrier 110.

[0154] The ignition means 130 is then pushed in a downstream direction using the ignition means handle 132 until the scraping surface 131 is in contact with the upstream end of the heat source 105. The ignition means 130 is then rotated using the ignition means handle. This ignites the combustible heat source 105.

[0155] Air passes through the upstream air inlets 111 to provide sufficient air to ensure sustained combustion of the combustible heat source. Heat from the combustible heat source 105 is conducted by the aluminium barrier 110 to the aerosol-forming substrate 106 which releases an aerosol. The aerosol is entrained in an air stream which passes into the downstream section 109 of the cavity 102 through the downstream openings 103. The aerosol is then drawn through the airflow channel to the opening 103 and out of the aerosol generating device 100.

[0156] Once the experience is over, the closing member 120 is then rotated a by further 120 degrees from the experience position to the extinguishing position. The second portion of the closing member 122 prevents air from entering the cavity 102, extinguishing the heat source 105. In the extinguishing position, the heat source 105 is held between the closing member support 113 and the elongate body support 114. In the extinguishing positon, the compression element 115 is in the extended position and holds the aerosol-forming substrate against the barrier 110.

[0157] Once the combustible heat source 105 is extinguished, the closing member 120 is rotated by a further 120 degrees from the extinguishing positon to the open position with the third portion of the closing member 120 aligned with the aperture 104. The used combustible heat source 105 and aerosol-forming substrate 106 are then removed from the cavity 102.