Abstract
The invention relates to a shisha device comprising: a cavity configured for receiving a capsule comprising aerosol-forming substrate; and a trough in fluid communication with the cavity.
Claims
1-15. (canceled)
16. Aerosol-generating system comprising: a capsule comprising an aerosol-forming substrate, and a shisha device comprising: a cavity configured for receiving the capsule comprising aerosol-forming substrate; and a trough in fluid communication with the cavity.
17. Aerosol-generating system according to claim 16, wherein the trough is arranged downstream of the cavity.
18. Aerosol-generating system according to claim 16, wherein the trough comprises an annular shape.
19. Aerosol-generating system according to claim 16, wherein the trough is centred about a longitudinal central axis of the cavity.
20. Aerosol-generating system according to claim 16, wherein the shisha device comprises an opening element and the opening element is located upstream of the trough.
21. Aerosol-generating system according to claim 16, further comprising a first airflow channel in fluid communication with the cavity, wherein the first airflow channel is configured as a central tubular first airflow channel.
22. Aerosol-generating system according to claim 16, wherein the trough is arranged around the first airflow channel.
23. Aerosol-generating system according to claim 21, further comprising a connection element, wherein the connection element comprises or at least partially defines the first airflow channel.
24. Aerosol-generating system according to claim 16, wherein the trough has a conically shaped outer wall.
25. Aerosol-generating system according to claim 16, wherein the trough comprises an inner wall, an outer wall, and a bottom wall, wherein said inner wall, outer wall, and bottom wall are integrally formed.
26. Aerosol-generating system according to the preceding claim 23, wherein the trough comprises an inner wall, and a bottom wall, wherein the connection element further comprises one or both of said inner wall and bottom wall of the trough.
27. Aerosol-generating system according to claim 26, wherein the inner wall of the trough forms a portion of the first airflow channel.
28. Aerosol-generating system according to claim 22, wherein the shisha device further comprises a second airflow channel of a stem pipe in fluid communication with the first airflow channel.
29. Aerosol-generating system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the trough comprises an absorption element.
30. Aerosol-generating system according to claim 29, wherein the absorption element comprises a retention material or a high liquid retention material.
31. Aerosol-generating system according to claim 20, wherein the opening element and the trough are integrally formed.
32. Aerosol-generating system according to claim 21, wherein the first airflow channel is arranged along the longitudinal central axis of the cavity.
33. Aerosol-generating system according to claim 23, wherein the connection element is configured removably attached to the shisha device.
34. Aerosol-generating system according to claim 29, wherein the absorption element is at or proximal to the bottom wall of the trough.
35. Aerosol-generating system according to claim 30, wherein the retention material or high liquid retention material is a fibrous retention material.
Description
[0144] The invention will be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
[0145] FIG. 1A shows a cut-out of a perspective view of a head portion of a shisha device of the invention including a connection element including the first airflow channel;
[0146] FIG. 1B shows a close up of the perspective view of FIG. 1A;
[0147] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a capsule which may be used in a shisha device of the invention;
[0148] FIG. 3A depicts a cross-sectional view of a connection element of the invention including the first airflow channel and a slot;
[0149] FIG. 3B and 3C show perspective views of the connection element of FIG. 3A viewed from the top and from the bottom, respectively;
[0150] FIG. 4A shows a cross-sectional view of an assembly of a connection element together with the trough and the opening element;
[0151] FIG. 4B shows a view of the assembly of FIG. 4A from the top;
[0152] FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of head portion of shisha device including the cavity, the trough and the connection element,
[0153] FIG. 6 depicts a schematic view of a shisha device of the invention.
[0154] FIG. 1A shows a cut-out of a perspective view of a head portion of a shisha device according to the invention. The head portion comprises a lid portion 22, which includes a first shell 22A, a second shell 22B and a third shell 22C which all work together to provide a closing of the cavity 10 and some actuation for opening up a top portion of the capsule using further opening elements (top portion of the capsule and further opening elements not shown in this figure). The lid portion closes the cavity 10 which includes a capsule, of which only the bottom portion 12C is shown for the sake of clarity. Downstream of the cavity 10 a plurality of opening elements 14A is shown which together form a crown 14 of opening elements 14A surrounding the perimeter of the bottom portion 12C of the capsule 12. Each opening element 14A cuts a hole in the bottom portion 12C of the capsule 12 which allows an aerosol formed in the capsule to leave the capsule.
[0155] Downstream of the opening elements 14A, a connection element 16 is located which includes a slot 17 (reference sign 17 only shown in FIG. 1B). In the slot, a conically shaped outer wall 18A for directing one or both of debris and liquid matter from the aerosol-forming substrate included in the capsule 12 into the trough 18. One single annular-shaped trough 18, including the inner wall 18B, the bottom wall 18C and the conically shaped outer wall 18A is present which is able to receive the debris of all the openings produced by the opening elements 14A located upstream. The trough 18 is arranged in such a way that it surrounds the longitudinal central axis 26 of the cavity 10. The connection element 16 also includes a central first airflow channel 20A for the aerosol formed in the capsule.
[0156] The head portion of the shisha device may be disassembled into separate elements. A central piece 28 with central tubular portion is present on to which the connection element 16 including the first airflow channel 20A and other parts of the head portion may be mounted. If mounted with the other parts of the head portion of the shisha device, first airflow channel 20A of the connection element 16 may form the upper part of an airflow channel for the aerosol. The airflow channel 20A may then form fittingly abut the stem pipe 20B. The lid portion 22 contains outside air inlets 24. These outside air inlets 24 allow air from the outside of the shisha device to enter the cavity 10 and subsequently be directed into the capsule housed therein via apertures in the top portion of the capsule (apertures not shown in FIG. 1A). The holes cut by the opening elements 14A in the bottom portion 12C of the capsule subsequently allow the aerosol formed in the capsule to exit the capsule and to be directed further downstream through the first airflow channel 20A and the stem pipe 20B.
[0157] Heating means 70 for heating the capsule 12 are present which for example may comprise a thermally conductive material having at tubular shape and surrounding the capsule 12 housed in the cavity 10. These heating means 70 may heat the aerosol-forming substrate in the capsule 12 for forming an inhalable aerosol, in particular without burning the contents of the aerosol-forming substrate.
[0158] FIG. 1B shows a close up of the perspective view of FIG. 1A. A crown of opening elements 14A is situated on a conically shaped outer wall 18A of the trough. The plurality of opening elements 14A and the conically shaped outer wall 18A are integrally formed. The conically shaped outer wall extends into the annular-shaped slot 17 of the connection element 16. Thus, the trough 18 is formed by the outer wall 18A, the inner wall 18B and the bottom wall 18C. The inner wall and the bottom wall are formed in the connection element 16. In particular, an upstream part 42 of the wall of the first airflow channel 20A also comprises the inner wall of the trough. Additionally, a ring-shaped absorption element 36 is present in the trough 18. Furthermore, a ring-shaped support structure 32 is present abutting the outer perimeter of the outer wall 18A, further stabilizing the crown of opening elements. Each opening element includes two side frames 14B which flank a central section 14C including a tip protruding towards the bottom portion 12C of the capsule 12 when the capsule is housed in the cavity 10. Owing to their design each of the opening elements 14A nearly cut a rectangular hole 30 into the bottom portion of the capsule.
[0159] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a capsule 12 including a top portion 12A, a central portion 12B and a bottom portion 12C. The top portion may include a flat rim for mounting a cover, for example a metal foil for sealing the capsule 12. Such a cover may be able to seal air inlets present in the top portion of the capsule 12. Alternatively, the cover itself may be easily pierced by opening elements located in the lid portion of the shisha device. The central portion 12B may have at tubular shape and holds the aerosol-forming substrate. The bottom portion 12C has a frusto-conical shape and can easily be opened by the opening elements 14A located downstream of the cavity 10 of the shisha device. The overall shape of the capsule may be conical or frustoconical shape.
[0160] FIG. 3A shows a cross-sectional view of the connection element 16. This connection element may be formed as one piece for example by extrusion of polymers and includes a slot 17. An outer wall of the trough (not shown in this FIG. 3A) might be positioned in this slot 17. Alternatively, the trough including the outer wall, inner wall and bottom wall integrally formed with the opening element might be included in the slot, as shown in FIG. 4A. The central part of the connection element 16 includes an upstream part 42 of a wall of the first airflow channel 20A. Additionally, inner snap noses 44A and outer snap noses 44B are located in the bottom part of the connection element 16. The snap noses may be used in order to connect the connection element with the stem pipe. In particular, the outer snap noses 44B may be used in order to connect the connection element 16 to a tubular core section of the stem pipe. The inner snap noses 44A may be used in order to provide a formfitting connection between the first air flow channel of the connection element 16 and the second airflow channel of the stem pipe of the shisha device.
[0161] FIG. 3B shows a perspective view of the connection element 16 presented in cross-sectional view in FIG. 3A. The connection element 16 has an overall tubular shape with a central tubular airflow portion 20A with an inner wall 42 and an outer tubular wall 46. The annular-shaped slot 17 extending around the central first airflow channel 20A with its outer wall 46 can clearly be seen.
[0162] FIG. 3C shows a perspective view from the bottom of the connection element 16 of FIG. 3B. This perspective view clearly shows the outer snap noses 44B for connection with the tubular section of the stem pipe and the inner snap noses 44A providing a connection to the stem pipe of the shisha device.
[0163] FIG. 4A shows an alternative arrangement of a crown 14 of opening elements 14A which together with the outer wall 18A, the inner wall 18B and the bottom wall 18C of the trough is formed integrally into one single piece 50.
[0164] This single piece 50 is mounted into the slot 17 of the connection element 16 in order to provide a positioning of the opening elements 14 and the trough relative to the connection element 16 and its first airflow channel 20A. Any debris released by openings created by the opening elements 14 will slide down the outer wall 18A of the trough and will be collected at the bottom wall 18C of the trough in the piece 50. The opening elements 14 are the elements which are most upstream, whereas the bottom part of this arrangement is the most downstream part of the arrangement.
[0165] FIG. 4B shows a top view of the arrangement shown in FIG. 4A. A plurality of six opening elements 14A, each opening element comprising two side frames flanking a section including a sharp tip protruding from the opening elements can be seen. The opening elements 14A are arranged in a ring-like manner on the crown 14. Debris originating from the holes in the capsule 12 produced by the opening elements 14A may be received at the bottom wall 18C of the trough. Furthermore, the wall 42 of the connection element is visible.
[0166] FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of a head portion of one embodiment of a shisha device in accordance with the invention. Heating means 70 are present, which define a cavity into which a capsule 12 is housed. The lid portion 22 of the shisha device includes further opening elements 40 piercing into the top portion of the capsule 12. The further opening elements 40 extend through the upstream end face 72 of the cavity and provide openings for the air to enter the capsule. The downstream end face 74 of the cavity aligns with the bottom portion 12C of the capsule 12. Opening elements 14A are present. The opening elements 14A provide openings in the bottom portion 12C of the capsule which allow the aerosol formed in the capsule to exit the capsule. Downstream of the opening elements and downstream of the downstream end face 74 of the cavity, the trough 18 is provided which may receive one or both of the debris and liquid components of the aerosol-forming substrate of the capsule, which may be released from the capsule via the openings provided by the opening elements. The opening elements 14A extend into the cavity through the downstream end face 74. Such a spatial arrangement ensures reliable opening of the bottom portion 12C of the capsule by the opening elements when the capsule is received in the cavity. A gap 78 is present between the downstream end face 74 of the cavity and upstream end face 76 of the first airflow channel 20A. This gap 78 enables the aerosol being released through the holes produced by the opening elements to enter the first airflow channel 20A and subsequently be channelled further through the shisha device. The trough 18 surrounds the first airflow channel, in particular it surrounds a perimeter of the upstream end face 76 of the first airflow channel and therefore is configured to receive any debris from the openings in the capsule produced by the opening elements without contaminating the first airflow channel with debris.
[0167] FIG. 6 shows the complete shisha device 52 of the invention. The head portion 54 of the shisha device is the most upstream element of the shisha device and includes the lid section 22 and the cavity 10. In order to provide more clarity, the details of the cavity 10 including the opening elements 14A and trough 16 are not shown in FIG. 6. The stem pipe 20B is located downstream of the head portion 54 and is able to direct an aerosol formed in the capsule 12 housed in the cavity 10 into a liquid vessel 58. This liquid vessel 58 contains a portion 62 filled with a liquid, in particular water which might include additional flavouring agents and a gas headspace 60 containing a gas residing above the liquid in the vessel. The aerosol formed will be released into the liquid portion 62 of the liquid vessel 58 at the most downstream end 56 of the stem pipe 20B. The aerosol may pass through the liquid portion 62 of the liquid vessel and rise into the head space volume 60. Puffing by a user on a mouthpiece 68 of the hose 66 may draw the aerosol in the headspace 60 through the head space outlet 64 and into the hose 66 for inhalation. In particular, negative pressure at the mouthpiece 68 may translate into negative pressure at the head space outlet 64 causing airflow through the pierced capsule housed in the cavity 10 of the shisha device.
