Abstract
The cleaning system for an aerosol-generating device comprises a first cleaning tool comprising a cleaning body having a cleaning head, and a housing configured to house at least part of the cleaning body. The housing is formed by a first cap and a second cap, wherein the second cap is configured to accommodate the cleaning head. The cleaning system further comprises a second cleaning tool comprising a first part acting as an engagement portion and a second part comprising a scraping surface. The first cleaning tool and the second cleaning tool are configured for cleaning different parts of the aerosol-generating device and the second cleaning tool is detachably accommodated in the first cleaning tool.
Claims
1. A cleaning system for an aerosol-generating device, the cleaning system comprising: a first cleaning tool comprising a cleaning body having a cleaning head, and a housing configured to house at least part of the cleaning body, wherein the housing is formed by a first cap and a second cap, wherein the second cap is configured to accommodate the cleaning head and a second cleaning tool comprising a first part acting as an engagement portion and a second part comprising a scraping surface, wherein the first cleaning tool and the second cleaning tool are configured for cleaning different parts of the aerosol-generating device and the second cleaning tool is detachably accommodated in the first cleaning tool.
2. A cleaning system according to claim 1, wherein the first cap accommodates part of the cleaning body such that the first cap forms a handle for the cleaning head.
3. A cleaning system according to claim 1, wherein the second cleaning tool is an elongate tapered shape.
4. A cleaning system according to claim 1, wherein the second cleaning tool is telescopically extendable.
5. A cleaning system according to claim 1, wherein one of the first cap and the second cap comprises an opening for the second cleaning tool to be inserted and extracted.
6. A cleaning system according to claim 5, wherein the second part of the second cleaning tool is inserted into the housing through the opening.
7. A cleaning system according to claim 1, wherein the second cleaning tool is accessible from the outside of the housing.
8. A cleaning system according to claim 7, wherein the engagement portion is accessible from the outside of the housing.
9. A cleaning system according to claim 8, wherein the engagement portion is provided with a knob.
10. A cleaning system according to claim 1, wherein the second cleaning tool is enclosed within the housing of the first cleaning tool.
11. A cleaning system according to claim 10, wherein the second cleaning tool is detachably mounted in the inside of the housing.
12. A cleaning system according to claim 10, wherein the second cleaning tool is configured to be mounted to the cleaning head of the first cleaning tool.
13. A cleaning system according to claim 1, wherein the first cleaning tool comprises two cleaning heads.
14. A cleaning system according to claim 13, wherein one of the cleaning heads of the first cleaning tool is detachable from the first cleaning tool.
Description
[0069] The invention will be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
[0070] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a cleaning system of the present invention;
[0071] FIG. 2 schematically shows a cleaning head of the first cleaning tool;
[0072] FIG. 3 shows a cleaning system with a second cleaning tool in the form of a wooden stick;
[0073] FIG. 4 shows a cleaning system wherein the second cleaning tool is accommodated within the housing;
[0074] FIG. 5 shows a modification to the cleaning system of FIG. 4;
[0075] FIG. 6 shows a cleaning system with the first cleaning tool comprising two cleaning heads;
[0076] FIG. 7 shows details of a first cleaning tool comprising a brush; and
[0077] FIG. 8 shows a further embodiment of a second cleaning tool.
[0078] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a cleaning system 10 in accordance with the present invention. The cleaning system 10 comprises a first cap 11 and a second cap 12. The cleaning system 10 further comprises a first cleaning tool 20 and a second cleaning tool 30.
[0079] In the uppermost view of FIG. 1 all elements of the cleaning system 10 are assembled together and the first cap 11 and the second cap 12 form a closed housing 14 of the cleaning system 10. The second cap 12 can be removed to expose the first cleaning tool 20. The first cleaning tool comprises a cleaning body 22 and a cleaning head 24. The first cap 11 remains attached to the first cleaning tool 20 and forms a handle for using the cleaning head 24 of the first cleaning tool 20. At least the part of the cleaning body 22 of the first cleaning tool 20 is located within the first cap 11.
[0080] The cleaning head 24 of the first cleaning tool 20 is made from polymeric material and defines a recess for receiving a heating element of an aerosol-generating device 40. Cleaning head 24 is provided with three protrusions inwardly extending or projecting into the recess of the cleaning head 24. The cleaning head 24 of the first cleaning tool 20 is described in more detail below with reference to FIG. 2.
[0081] The second cleaning tool 30 is detachably accommodated in the first cleaning tool 20. The first cap 11 has an opening (not depicted) at its end face 18. The second cleaning tool 30 can be inserted via the opening into cap 11 and into the cleaning body 22 of the first cleaning tool 20 as depicted in the middle view of FIG. 1.
[0082] In the fourth view of FIG. 1, the second cleaning tool 30 is completely removed from the remaining parts of the cleaning system 10. The second cleaning tool 30 has an elongate, tapered shape and comprises an engagement portion 32. In this embodiment the cleaning head 34 of the second cleaning tool 30 is a tapered stick made from polymeric material.
[0083] The cleaning head 34 is mounted to the engagement portion 32 via a cylindrical mounting portion 36 having an increased diameter.
[0084] The engagement portion 32 is accessible from the outside of the housing 14. Thus, the second cleaning tool 30 can be retracted for use by pulling at engagement portion 32 without any need to open the housing 14.
[0085] As indicated in the bottom view of FIG. 1, the second cleaning tool 30 may be used to clean the bottom or side surfaces of a heating chamber 42 of an aerosol-generating device 40.
[0086] FIG. 2 shows a perspective schematic view of the first cleaning tool 20 depicted in FIG. 1 The first cleaning tool 20 comprises an elongate cleaning body 22 having a generally cylindrical shape. The cleaning head 24 defines a recess 25 for receiving a heating element of an aerosol-generating device.
[0087] The cleaning head 24 comprises a first set of protrusions 26. Each of these protrusions 26 extend into a central region of the recess 25. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, three such protrusions 26 are provided, with said protrusions 26 being uniformly spaced around the recess 25.
[0088] When the cleaning tool of FIG. 2 is in use, a heating element can be inserted into the recess 25 such that at least a portion of the length of the heating element extends along at least a portion of the length of the recess 25. The cleaning tool 20 can then be moved relative to the heating element, for example by rotating the cleaning tool 20 relative to the heating element. Such rotational movement can cause debris being removed from the surface of the heating element.
[0089] The cleaning head 24 comprises also a second set of protrusions 28. These protrusions 28 are disposed around the peripheral region of the cleaning head 24, with each of said protrusions 28 extending towards the central region of the cleaning head 24. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, twelve such protrusions 28 are provided, with said protrusions 28 being uniformly spaced around the recess 25.
[0090] The protrusions 28 are smaller than the protrusions 26. The second protrusions 28 are preferably formed of a rigid material, such as a polyimide. The first protrusions 26 are preferably formed of a flexible material, such as a thermoplastic elastomer. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the second protrusions 28 are formed integrally with the elongate cleaning body 22.
[0091] The second protrusions 28 can together form a scraping surface, which can be used to provide a different cleaning function from that of the first protrusions 26. In particular, the second protrusions 28 can be used to clean the base of a cavity which contains a heating element of an aerosol-generating device. The cleaning function of the second protrusions 28 can be initiated by movement of the cleaning tool 20 relative to the cavity and heating element. Such movement may be a rotational movement.
[0092] In FIG. 3 a further embodiment of the cleaning system 10 of the present invention is depicted. The first cap 11 and the second cap 12 form a closed housing 14 for the first cleaning tool 20.
[0093] The second cleaning tool 30 is again detachably accommodated in the first cleaning tool 20. The first cap 11 has an opening 16 at its end face 18. The second cleaning tool 20 can be inserted and detached from the first cleaning tool 20 via opening 16 of the first cap 11, as indicated by the arrow depicted in the top view of FIG. 3.
[0094] In the second view of FIG. 3, the second cleaning tool 30 is completely extracted and detached from the first cleaning tool 20. The second cleaning tool 30 has an engagement portion 32 in the form of a knob made from polymeric material.
[0095] The second cleaning tool 30 has an elongate, tapered shape. The cleaning head 34 of the second cleaning tool 30 is an elongated element with a rounded end acting as scraping surface. The cleaning head 34 of the second cleaning tool 30 is made from wood.
[0096] The third view of FIG. 3 shows all elements of the cleaning system 10 in a disassembled state: the second cap 12, the first cap 11 with the first cleaning tool 20, and the second cleaning tool 30.
[0097] The bottom view of FIG. 3 shows how the second cleaning tool 30 may be used for cleaning the heating chamber 42 of an aerosol generating device 40.
[0098] FIG. 4 shows a further embodiment of the cleaning system 10 of the present invention. In this embodiment the first cleaning tool 20 comprises two cleaning heads 24a, 24b and the second cleaning tool 30 is completely accommodated within the housing 14. Thus, in this embodiment the second cleaning tool 30 is not accessible from the outside. Instead, in order to access the second cleaning tool 30, the first cap 11 and the second cap 12 have to be separated from each other.
[0099] In the configuration shown in the top view of FIG. 4 the second cap 12 is removed and the first cleaning tool 20 is attached to the first cap 11. In this configuration the first cleaning head 24a of the first cleaning tool 20 is exposed. This first cleaning head 24a corresponds to the cleaning heads 24 of the first cleaning tool as depicted in FIGS. 1 to 3.
[0100] As depicted in the second view of FIG. 4, the housing 14 is configured such that also the second cap 12 may remain attached to the first cleaning tool 20 while the first cap 11 may be removed. Both caps 11, 12 are made from the same material and form a snap-fit connection with the first cleaning tool 20. Either cap 11, 12 can be removed from the first cleaning tool 20 by pressing one cap 12, 11 and pulling the respective other cap 11, 12.
[0101] In the second view of FIG. 4 the second cleaning head 24b of the first cleaning tool 20 is exposed. The second cleaning head 24b of the first cleaning tool 10 has the form of a brush and is also useful for cleaning the heating chamber or the heating element of an aerosol-generating device.
[0102] In addition, in the second cap 12 of the cleaning system 10 the second cleaning tool 30 is accommodated. The second cleaning tool 30 is similar to the second cleaning tool 30 depicted in FIG. 1 and is a polymeric elongate stick with a tapered shape. In this embodiment the second cleaning tool 30 is telescopically extendible. In the contracted state the second cleaning tool 30 is sufficiently short, so that it is accommodated within the first cleaning tool 20 when the housing is closed. In the extended state the second cleaning tool 30 is sufficiently long so that it can be efficiently used to clean the heating chamber, including the bottom of the heating chamber, of an aerosol generating device. The second cleaning tool 30 may also be used for cleaning the inside and the bottom of any supporting structure that is used for facilitating insertion of the aerosol-generating article.
[0103] As depicted in the lowermost views of FIG. 4 the second cleaning tool 30 may be used as a stand-alone tool. Alternatively the second cleaning tool 30 may also remain attached to the first cap 11. In the latter configuration, the first cap 11 may form a handle to make handling of the second cleaning tool 30 easier.
[0104] FIG. 5 shows a modification of the cleaning system 10 of FIG. 4. The second cleaning tool 30 is accommodated in a tubular support structure 17 provided in the first cap 11. The tubular support structure 17 extends from end face 18 into the inner volume of the first cap 11. One end of the tubular support structure 17 forms opening 16 at the end face 18 of the first cap 11. The inner diameter of the tubular support structure corresponds to the outer diameter of the second cleaning tool 30 and holds the second cleaning tool in position by friction.
[0105] As indicated in FIG. 5 the second cleaning tool 30 can be made ready for use in only three steps. In a first step the second cleaning tool 30 is detached from the tubular support structure 17 of the first cap 11. In a second step the second cleaning tool 30 is rotated by 180 degrees and is transferred to the outer end face 18 of the first cap 11. In a third step the second cleaning tool 30 is plugged from the outside into the opening 16 of the end face 18 of the first cap 11. In this way, the first cap may form a handle to make handling of the second cleaning tool 30 easier. The bottom view of FIG. 5 shows the second cleaning tool of the embodiment of FIG. 5 in a ready to use configuration.
[0106] FIG. 6 shows a modification of the cleaning system 10 of FIG. 4. The second cleaning tool 30 is completely accommodated in the housing 14 of the cleaning system 10 and the first cleaning tool 20 comprises two cleaning heads 24a, 24b at opposite ends of the cleaning body 22. In contrast to the embodiment of FIG. 4, the second cleaning tool 30 is not attached to the first cap 11, but is accommodated in the centre of and coupled to the first cleaning tool 20. The second cleaning tool 30 is configured as a telescopic element and can be completely extracted from the first cleaning tool 20. This is depicted in the third view of FIG. 6.
[0107] The second cleaning head 24b of the first cleaning tool 10 comprises a brush. As depicted in the bottom view of FIG. 6, the second cleaning head 30 is configured to be removable from the first cleaning tool 20. The second cleaning tool 20 may then be re-inserted into a connection sleeve 35 of the first cleaning tool 20. In this way, the second cap 12 and the remaining portion of the first cleaning tool 20 may serve as a handle for the second cleaning tool 30. Alternatively, similar as shown in FIG. 5 the second cleaning head 30 may be re-inserted from the outside in the opening on the end face of cap 11 which may then serve as a handle for the second cleaning tool 30.
[0108] As depicted in FIG. 7, once the second cleaning tool 30 has been re-inserted into the connection sleeve 35, the first cap 11 may also be removed. In this configuration the remaining cleaning body 22 of the first cleaning tool 20 forms the handle for maneuvering the second cleaning tool 30.
[0109] FIG. 8 shows a further embodiment of a cleaning system 10 according to the present invention. The first cleaning tool is similar to the first cleaning tool as described above in relation to the embodiment of FIG. 1.
[0110] The second cleaning tool 30 is an extendible element having a generally cylindrical shape. The second cleaning tool 30 is detachable from the first cleaning tool 20. The cylindrical portion of the second cleaning tool 30 comprises a longitudinal slit 44. A cleaning swab 46 is to be mounted in the longitudinal slit. The cleaning swap 46 is of generally rectangular shape and has a length that corresponds to the length of the longitudinal slit 44. In order to mount the cleaning swap in the longitudinal slit, one edge of the cleaning swab is inserted into the slit. Subsequently the cleaning swab is rolled around the cylindrical portion of the second cleaning tool 30. In this way the cleaning swap forms a cylindrical cleaning head that may be used for cleaning the inner side of a heating chamber of an aerosol-generating device.
[0111] As depicted in FIG. 8 the cleaning body of the first cleaning tool 20 may form a handle for the second cleaning tool 30. Alternatively, the second cleaning tool 30 may also be inserted from the outside into an opening provided at an end surface of the first cap as described in relation with the embodiment of FIG. 5.
