CN218073464U - Power module and aerosol-generating device - Google Patents

Abstract

A power module and an aerosol-generating device comprising an atomiser for atomising a liquid substrate; the power supply assembly is used for providing electric drive for the atomizer, and the atomizer is connected to one end of the power supply assembly; wherein the power supply assembly further comprises a guide formation extending longitudinally from an end of the power supply assembly, the guide formation comprising a first surface substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction, the first surface being capable of engaging with a second surface of the side portion of the atomiser, in addition to providing a longitudinal support between the power supply assembly and the atomiser, the guide formation on the power supply assembly being capable of providing lateral support to the atomiser to enable stable engagement between the atomiser and the power supply assembly.

Description

Power module and aerosol-generating device

Technical Field

Embodiments of the present application relate to the field of aerosol-generating devices, in particular to a power supply component and an aerosol-generating device.

Background

An aerosol-generating device includes an atomizer and a power supply assembly, wherein the power supply assembly provides a power supply to the atomizer, which atomizes a liquid substrate stored therein to generate an aerosol. Aerosol-generating devices are generally constructed in a unitary manner to form a relatively regular box, rod or cylinder shape, with a relatively unitary design. In a separate aerosol generating device, the atomizer and the power supply module are generally configured to be connected vertically, and a part of the housing of the power supply module forms a housing chamber, and a part of the atomizer is housed in the housing chamber. This split combination maintains a relatively stable connection only when the user is holding the aerosol-generating device, and the two components are extremely easily disconnected when the user is not using the device.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

In order to solve the problem of unstable connection between the atomizer and the power supply component of aerosol-generating devices of the prior art, embodiments of the present application provide an aerosol-generating device comprising an atomizer for atomizing a liquid substrate; the power supply assembly is used for providing electric drive for the atomizer, and the atomizer is connected to one end of the power supply assembly; wherein the power supply assembly further comprises a guide structure extending longitudinally from an end of the power supply assembly, the guide structure comprising a first surface substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction, the first surface being adapted to engage a second surface of the side portion of the atomiser to enable the atomiser to be stably coupled to the power supply assembly.

In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating device further comprises a removable upper cover, the nebulizer comprising a body and a mouthpiece disposed at one end of the body, the body of the nebulizer being housed in an interior space of the upper cover together with the guide structure and substantially completely occupying the interior space of the upper cover.

In some embodiments, the upper cover is connected to the guide structure by a first connecting member so that the atomizer is positioned at an end of the power module.

In some embodiments, the first coupling member includes a first magnetically attractive element on the guide structure and a second magnetically attractive element on the upper cover.

In some embodiments, the height of the longitudinal extension of the guide structure is substantially equal to the height of the longitudinal extension of the body of the atomizer.

In some embodiments, the power module further comprises a bracket, the guide structure being formed as part of the bracket or being integrated with the bracket.

In some embodiments, one end of the bracket is provided with a receiving slot in which at least a portion of the atomizer can be received, and the guide structure extends longitudinally from a bottom wall of the receiving slot.

In some embodiments, at least one boss is disposed in the receiving groove, and the other end of the atomizer abuts against the boss.

In some embodiments, a third magnetic element is fixed on the boss for magnetically connecting with the atomizer.

In some embodiments, the bosses comprise at least two spaced bosses, and a recessed region is formed between adjacent bosses for collecting liquid flowing from the atomizer.

In some embodiments, the mouthpiece is provided protruding from one end of the upper cover.

In some embodiments, the upper cover is further provided with a window for exposing a part of the surface of the main body of the atomizer.

There is also provided in an embodiment of the present application an aerosol-generating device comprising an atomiser for atomising a liquid substrate, the atomiser comprising a body and a mouthpiece disposed at one end of the body; a power supply assembly for providing electrical drive to the atomizer, the power supply assembly comprising a bracket, the atomizer being attached to an end of the bracket, the bracket comprising a guide structure extending longitudinally from the end; and a removable upper cover, the main body of the atomizer and the guide structure are jointly accommodated in the inner space of the upper cover, and the upper cover is connected with the guide structure through a first connecting member, so that the atomizer is positioned at the end of the bracket.

Embodiments of the present application also provide a power supply component for an aerosol-generating device comprising an atomizer connected at one end of the power supply component; the power supply assembly comprises a support, the support comprises an end face abutting against the atomizer and a guide structure longitudinally extending from the end face, the guide structure comprises a first surface basically parallel to the longitudinal direction, and the first surface can be attached to the side face of the atomizer, so that the atomizer can be stably combined with the power supply assembly.

The beneficial effects of this application are that, through set up longitudinal extension's guide structure on power supply module, this guide structure bulges power supply module's one end and sets up to at least partly surface of guide structure can laminate mutually with at least one side of atomizer. In the aerosol-generating device, the power supply unit and the atomizer are supported in the longitudinal direction, and the guide structure of the power supply unit can support the atomizer in the lateral direction, so that the atomizer and the power supply unit can be stably coupled to each other.

Drawings

One or more embodiments are illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, which correspond to the figures in which like reference numerals refer to similar elements and which are not to scale unless otherwise specified.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an aerosol-generating device provided by an embodiment of the present application;

figure 2 is an exploded view of an aerosol-generating device provided by embodiments of the present application;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the power module provided by the embodiment of the present application with the housing removed;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a power module provided in an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a power module provided in an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an atomizer provided in embodiments of the present application;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the present application showing a cover separated from a power module;

fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of an upper cover provided in an embodiment of the present application.

Detailed Description

To facilitate an understanding of the present application, the present application is described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and detailed description.

It should be noted that all directional indicators (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, horizontal, vertical, etc.) in the embodiments of the present application are only used to explain the relative position relationship between the components, the motion situation, etc. in a specific posture (as shown in the drawings), and if the specific posture is changed, the directional indicators are changed accordingly, the "connection" may be a direct connection or an indirect connection, and the "setting", and "setting" may be directly or indirectly set.

In addition, descriptions in this application as to "first", "second", etc. are for descriptive purposes only and are not to be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicit to the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one such feature.

The aerosol-generating device includes an atomizer 200 and a power module 100, the atomizer 200 stores a liquid substrate therein, and the atomizer 200 can atomize the liquid substrate to generate an aerosol when the power module 100 is driven by electric power. Because of the availability of a significant amount of liquid substrate for storage within the nebulizer 200, the nebulizer 200 is typically configured as a replaceable consumable component, the power module 100 is typically configured as a rechargeable body module, the nebulizer 200 and the power module 100 are typically configured as a separate component, and the two components are configured to allow for modular connection, the nebulizer 200 and the power module 100 are typically packaged separately by the manufacturer, and the user typically needs to store the two components separately during carrying and storage. Storage of the power module 100 is relatively easy, but for the nebulizer 200 that has been unpacked and used for a while, the nebulizer 200 is relatively small in size and easily lost if the nebulizer 200 is left free after being separated from the power module 100, and leakage is extremely easily caused without protection of accessories such as a protective cover after the nebulizer 200 is unpacked. Accordingly, it is desirable for the power module 100 to provide sufficient retention of the atomizer 200 in addition to providing a connecting function with the atomizer 200.

The present embodiments provide a novel structural design of an aerosol-generating device in which the power module 100 provides sufficient retention for the nebulizer 200 in addition to providing a coupling effect for the nebulizer 200. The following describes the design of the power module 100 and the atomizer 200 in detail with reference to the internal design of the power module 100.

Referring to figure 1, the aerosol-generating device is generally configured in the shape of a generally triangular prism consisting essentially of four sides, two of which are at least partially opposed and configured as sector-shaped cylindrical surfaces of different circular arcs, and two other sides connected between the two sector-shaped cylindrical surfaces, which are generally planar. The user is holding the aerosol-generating device in-process, its palm portion mainly with two side plane contact to the width of the less fan-shaped cylindrical surface of degree of arc is little enough, so that it just can the centre gripping between two fingers, thereby makes things convenient for the light gripping of user.

Referring to fig. 2 to 4, the atomizer 200 and the power module 100 of the aerosol-generating device are configured to be connected in an up-and-down manner, the power module 100 includes a housing 10, one end of the housing 10 is open, and components such as the battery 30 and the control module can be mounted in an inner cavity of the housing 10 through the open end of the housing, so as to facilitate modular fixing and mounting of the components such as the battery 30 and the control module, the power module 100 further includes a bracket 20, a part of wall surfaces of the bracket 20 encloses a battery cavity 31 for accommodating the battery 30, the battery 30 abuts longitudinally on two end portions of the battery cavity 31, and at least a part of side walls of the battery 30 abuts on an inner wall surface of the battery cavity 31. A flexible member 32 is disposed between the wall surfaces of the battery 30 abutting against the battery cavity 31 for buffering the deformation of the battery 30 during the transient charging and discharging process.

The power module 100 further includes a control module, the electronic components and the pressing sensing component are fixed on the control board 33, and the control board 33 is fixed on the bracket 20 through screws. The control board 33 is arranged side by side with the battery 30, and conductive leads connected to both poles of the battery 30 are welded to the control board 33. An LED light assembly is also welded to the control panel 33 for indicating the operating status of the aerosol generating device. A USB charging module 34 is welded to the lower end of the control board 33 for supplying power to the battery 30.

The casing 10 has an open end, and the battery 30, the control board 33 and other components are mounted on the bracket 20, the bracket 20 can be accommodated into the inner cavity of the casing 10 through the open end of the casing 10, and the bottom of the bracket 20 is longitudinally connected to the bottom end face of the casing 10.

The aerosol-generating device may be arranged to be actuated by an air-flow sensitive switch, or may be arranged to be actuated by a touch or push switch. In one example thereof, the activation switch of the aerosol-generating device is provided as a push switch 35, the push switch 35 being provided on the power supply assembly 100. The push switch 35 includes a push operation portion and a deformation sensing portion that are in contact, and the deformation sensing portion is electrically connected to the control board 33. At least a portion of the press operating portion is exposed on an outer surface of the housing 10. In a preferred embodiment, a portion of the outer surface of the press operating portion is recessed to form a press zone 351, the press zone 351 being sized for finger size for alerting a user that the zone is available for pressing. By pressing the pressing area 351 by the user, the deformation sensing part converts the deformation signal into an electrical signal, so that the driving power supply provides power supply to the nebulizer 200.

A portion of the bracket 20 is received in the inner cavity of the housing 10, and another portion of the bracket 20 is exposed to the outside of the housing 10. In order to provide sufficient support and fixation of the atomizer 200, a part of the wall surface of the holder 20 encloses a receiving groove 21, and a part of the atomizer 200 is received in the receiving groove 21. Referring to fig. 5 and 6, a first electrical connector 22 is further mounted at the bottom end of the receiving groove 21, the first electrical connector 22 is configured as an elastic electrode column, the bottom end of the atomizer 200 is provided with an exposed second electrical connector 40, and the exposed end of the second electrical connector 40 abuts on the top end surface of the first electrical connector 22, thereby communicating the atomizer 200 with the power module 100. The housing groove 21 is configured to accommodate a portion of the surface of the atomizer 200, in a preferred embodiment, a third magnetic element 23 is further disposed on a bottom end surface of the housing groove 21, the third magnetic element 23 has an exposed end, and a magnetic adsorbing member 41 is disposed on the bottom end of the atomizer 200, where the magnetic adsorbing member 41 may be a metal ring covering the end of the atomizer 200 or a second magnetic member fixed on the bottom end surface of the atomizer 200. In one example, the power module 100 includes two first electrical connectors 22 and two third magnetic elements 23, the two first electrical connectors 22 are disposed adjacent to each other, and the two third magnetic elements 23 are disposed outside the two first electrical connectors 22, so that when the magnetic attraction component on the atomizer 200 and the magnetic component on the power module 100 are attracted to each other, the two first magnetic components on the power module 100 and the two second electrical connectors on the atomizer 200 can also form stable contact, which is beneficial to the stability of the electrical connection between the two components.

The power module 100 is further provided with a guide structure 50 at one end thereof, and as shown in fig. 2 to 4, the guide structure 50 is provided protruding from one end of the power module 100, and at least a part of the surface of the guide structure 50 can be engaged with at least one side surface of the nebulizer 200, so that the power module 100 can provide a longitudinal support for the nebulizer 200, and the guide structure 50 can provide a lateral support for the nebulizer 200, thereby allowing a more stable coupling between the nebulizer 200 and the power module 100. In some examples, when the atomizer 200 is a regular cylindrical structure, the guide structure 50 is disposed around at least a portion of the surface of the atomizer 200, or the guide structure 50 is configured as a semi-enclosed structure for the atomizer 20, and the atomizer 200 can be inserted into the interior of the receiving groove 21 of the holder 20 from the side opening of the guide structure 50.

In a preferred implementation provided herein, and as shown with reference to fig. 2, 3 and 5, the nebulizer 200 comprises a main body 41 and a mouthpiece 42 connected to one end of the main body 41, the mouthpiece being primarily in contact with the mouthpiece 42 during use of the aerosol-generating device by a user. The guide structure 50 has a flat first surface 52, the first surface 52 extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction, the side of the atomizer 200 has a relatively flat second surface 53, and the first surface 52 can abut against the second surface 53 of the side of the atomizer 200, so that the atomizer 200 can be stably coupled to the power module 100. The guide structure 50 extends longitudinally from the bottom end of the receiving slot 21, and the height of the guide structure 50 is substantially the same as the height of the main body 41 of the atomizer 200. At least a part of the side surface of the atomizer 200 can be attached to the guide structure 50 and accommodated in the accommodating groove 21 along the guide structure 50.

The guide structure 50 may be a part of the frame 20, or may be separately configured and combined with the frame 20, such as being fixedly attached to an end of the frame 20. In an alternative embodiment, the guide structure 50 may be coupled to the housing 10, such as when the holder 20 is fully received in the interior cavity of the housing 10, and the guide structure 50 is coupled to the housing 10. The guiding structure 50 is substantially cylindrical in configuration, the specific geometry being mainly determined by the structural shape of the aerosol-generating device. At least a portion of the surface of the guide structure 50 and a portion of the side surface of the atomizer 200 can remain engaged to provide lateral support for the atomizer 200, making it difficult to separate the atomizer 200 from the power module 100. Therefore, when the side surface of the atomizer 200 is curved, the side surface of the guide structure 50 is also correspondingly configured to be curved. When the side surface of the atomizer 200 is a slope, the side surface of the guide structure 50 is also correspondingly disposed as a slope.

Three bosses 24 are provided at intervals in the accommodating groove 21, and include a first boss 241, a second boss 242, and a third boss 243, the second boss 242 is provided between the first boss 241 and the third boss 243, and the first boss 241 and the second boss 242 are provided near both sides of the accommodating groove 21. The two first electrical connectors 22 and the two third magnetic elements 23 are disposed on the second boss 242 at the middle position of the accommodation groove 21. The guide structure 50 is disposed on the first boss 241 or the third boss 243. When a part of the atomizer 200 is accommodated in the accommodating groove 21, the bottom end surface of the atomizer 200 mainly contacts with three boss surfaces in the accommodating groove 21, a recessed area 25 is formed between every two adjacent bosses 24, and liquid overflowing from the end of the atomizer 200 can be stored in the recessed area 25, thereby further preventing the liquid matrix from entering the inner cavity of the power module 100 and corroding the battery 30 and other electronic components.

At least a portion of the housing of the main body 41 of the atomizer 200 may be configured as a transparent housing, and an upper cover 60 may be provided on the exterior of the atomizer 200 when the atomizer 200 is attached to one end of the power module 100, as shown in fig. 2, 7 and 8. The cover 60 is removably attached to one end of the power module 100. Specifically, the flange 26 is provided on the outer wall of the holder 20, the holder 20 is longitudinally abutted against the tip of the housing 10 by the flange 26, the portion above the flange 26 of the holder 20 is exposed outside the housing 10, and when the nebulizer 200 is connected to one end of the power module 100, the flange 26 of the holder 20 and the guide structure 50 are exposed, and the aesthetic appearance of the aerosol generating device as a whole is deteriorated, so that by providing the upper cover 60, the upper cover 60 is longitudinally abutted against the tip of the housing 10 of the power module 100, and the upper cover 60 is preferably made of the same material and similar design as the housing 10 of the power module 100, so that the upper cover 60 can be integrally fused with the housing 10 when connected to the end of the housing 10.

In a preferred embodiment, the cover 60 is removably attached to one end of the power module 100 and covers a portion of the body 41 of the atomizer 200, and since the portion of the body 41 of the atomizer 200 is disposed on one side of the guide structure 50, the cover 60 can also cover the guide structure 50 such that the body 41 of the atomizer 200 and the guide structure 50 are collectively housed in the interior space of the cover 60, and the body 41 of the atomizer 200 and the guide structure 50 substantially completely occupy the interior space of the cover 60. Further, the upper cover 60 is connected to the guide structure 50 by the first connecting member, so that the atomizer 200 can be stably positioned at the end of the power module 100. In one example, the first connecting member includes a first magnetic element 51 disposed on the guide structure 50 and a second magnetic element 61 disposed on the upper cover 60, wherein the first magnetic element 51 is preferably disposed on the top end of the guide structure 50, so that the end surface of the upper cover 60 can be magnetically attracted on the top end surface of the guide structure 50. In other examples, the first connecting member may further include a catch provided on the guide structure 50 and a catch provided on the upper cover 60, or the first connecting member includes an external thread provided on the guide structure 50 and an internal thread provided on the upper cover 60.

The suction nozzle 42 is provided to protrude from one end of the upper cover 60. Also on the side of the upper cover 60 are windows 62 for exposing a portion of the surface of the body 41 of the atomizer 200, through which windows 62 a user can observe the consumption of the liquid medium stored in the atomizer 200 inside. When the liquid substrate stored within the atomizer 200 is consumed, the user may remove the end cap and then remove the atomizer 200 for replacement.

It will be appreciated that in alternative embodiments, the cover 60 may be pivotally connected to one side of the guide structure 50, and when it is desired to install or remove the atomizer 200, the cover 60 is rotated, and the atomizer 200 is inserted into the interior of the receiving groove 21 of the bracket 20 along the guide structure 50. In this manner, the cover 60 is securely attached to a portion of the power module 100, thereby preventing the cover 60 from being lost.

Since the end of the atomizer 200 is magnetically attracted to one end of the power module 100 in the longitudinal direction, and at least one side of the atomizer 200 is supported by the guide structure 50 in the lateral direction, the atomizer 200 can be stably coupled to the power module 100. Further, the cover 60 provides a shielding barrier to the atomizer 200, making it substantially difficult for the atomizer 200 to be disconnected from the power supply assembly 100, so that the atomizer 200 can be disconnected from the power supply assembly 100 only when a user removes the cover 60 and applies a pulling force to the atomizer 200 alone. Therefore, when the user does not use the nebulizer 200, the nebulizer 200 can always remain connected to the power supply module 100. Even if some liquid overflows from the end of the atomizer 200, the liquid can directly enter the receiving groove 21 of the holder 20 without entering the inside of the power module 100.

It should be noted that the description and drawings of the present application illustrate preferred embodiments of the present application, but are not limited to the embodiments described in the present application, and further, those skilled in the art can make modifications or changes according to the above description, and all such modifications and changes should fall within the scope of the claims appended to the present application.

Claims (14)

1. An aerosol-generating device, comprising:

an atomizer for atomizing a liquid substrate;

the power supply assembly is used for providing electric drive for the atomizer, and the atomizer is connected to one end of the power supply assembly;

wherein the power supply assembly further comprises a guide structure extending longitudinally from an end of the power supply assembly, the guide structure comprising a first surface substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction, the first surface being adapted to engage a second surface of the side portion of the atomizer to enable stable engagement of the atomizer with the power supply assembly.

2. An aerosol-generating device according to claim 1, further comprising a removable upper cap, wherein the nebulizer comprises a body and a mouthpiece provided at one end of the body, the body of the nebulizer being housed together with the guide structure in an interior space of the upper cap and fully occupying the interior space of the upper cap.

3. An aerosol-generating device according to claim 2, wherein the cover is connected to the guide structure by a first connecting member, thereby locating the atomiser at the end of the power supply assembly.

4. An aerosol-generating device according to claim 3, wherein the first connecting member comprises a first magnetically attractive element on the guide structure and a second magnetically attractive element on the upper cover.

5. An aerosol-generating device according to claim 1, wherein the guide structure extends longitudinally to a height substantially equal to the height of the longitudinal extension of the body of the nebuliser.

6. An aerosol-generating device according to claim 1, wherein the power supply assembly further comprises a support, the guide structure being configured as part of the support or being associated with the support.

7. An aerosol-generating device according to claim 6, wherein the holder is provided at one end with a receiving recess in which at least a portion of the atomiser is receivable, the guide formation extending longitudinally from a bottom wall of the receiving recess.

8. An aerosol-generating device according to claim 7, wherein at least one boss is provided within the receiving channel, the other end of the atomiser abutting against the boss.

9. An aerosol-generating device according to claim 8, wherein a third magnetic element is secured to the boss for magnetically coupling with the atomiser.

10. An aerosol-generating device according to claim 8, wherein the projections comprise at least two spaced-apart projections, adjacent ones of the projections forming a recessed region therebetween for collecting liquid substrate issuing from the atomiser.

11. An aerosol-generating device according to claim 2, wherein the mouthpiece is provided projecting from one end of the lid.

12. An aerosol-generating device according to claim 2, wherein the lid is further provided with a window for exposing a portion of the surface of the body of the atomiser.

13. An aerosol-generating device, comprising:

the atomizer is used for atomizing a liquid substrate and comprises a main body and a suction nozzle arranged at one end of the main body;

a power supply assembly for providing electrical drive to the atomizer, the power supply assembly comprising a bracket, the atomizer being attached to an end of the bracket, the bracket comprising a guide structure extending longitudinally from the end; and

a removable upper cover, the main body of the atomizer and the guide structure being housed together in an inner space of the upper cover, the upper cover being connected to the guide structure by a first connecting member, thereby positioning the atomizer at an end of the bracket.

14. A power supply component for an aerosol-generating device, the aerosol-generating device comprising a nebuliser, the nebuliser being connected at one end of the power supply component;

the power supply assembly comprises a support, the support comprises an end face abutting against the atomizer and a guide structure longitudinally extending from the end face, the guide structure comprises a first surface which is substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction and can be attached to the side face of the atomizer, and therefore the atomizer can be stably combined with the power supply assembly.

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