EP3979858B1

EP3979858B1 - Aerosol generation device with tilted heating chamber

Info

Publication number: EP3979858B1
Application number: EP20729810.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Layth Sliman BOUCHUIGUIR; Marko Plevnik; Norihiko Inoue
Original assignee: JT International SA
Current assignee: JT International SA
Priority date: 2019-06-07
Filing date: 2020-06-05
Publication date: 2023-08-02
Anticipated expiration: 2040-06-05
Also published as: KR20220017948A; PL3979858T3; JP2022536024A; EP3979858A1; CN113891661A; TW202100041A; TWI772817B; WO2020245435A1

Description

Field of the Disclosure

The present disclosure relates to an aerosol generation device having a tilted heating chamber. The disclosure is particularly, but not exclusively, applicable to a portable aerosol generation device, which may be self-contained and low temperature. Such devices may heat, rather than burn, tobacco or other suitable materials by conduction, convection, and/or radiation, to generate an aerosol for inhalation.

Background to the Disclosure

The popularity and use of reduced-risk or modified-risk devices (also known as vaporisers) has grown rapidly in the past few years as an aid to assist habitual smokers wishing to quit smoking traditional tobacco products such as cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos, and rolling tobacco. Various devices and systems are available that heat or agitate an aerosol substrate to produce an aerosol and/or vapour for inhalation, as opposed to burning tobacco as in conventional tobacco products.
One type of reduced-risk or modified-risk device is a heated substrate aerosol generation device, or heat-not-burn device. Devices of this type generate an aerosol and/or vapour by heating a solid aerosol substrate, typically moist leaf tobacco, to a temperature typically in the range 100°C to 300°C. Heating an aerosol substrate, but not combusting or burning it, releases an aerosol and/or vapour that comprises the components sought by the user but less or even none of the toxic and carcinogenic by-products of combustion and burning.
Existing aerosol generation devices tend to be quite small and compact, and this can make them awkward to use. For example, it is helpful to provide a button for operating the device close to the region in which the aerosol substrate is inserted in use. In such cases, the user's thumb or finger on the button may get in the way (e.g. impact the user's nose) when the user simultaneously seeks to draw vapour or aerosol from the device. In other examples, a slidable cover may be provided that selectively covers and uncovers an aperture through which the aerosol substrate is inserted in use. Such a cover may be moved by the user in order for the aerosol substrate to be inserted into the device during use, and either the user's hand manipulating the cover or the cover itself may then get in the way (e.g. impact the user's nose) when the user seeks to draw the vapour or aerosol from the device.
The preamble of claim 1 is derivable from WO 2016/207407 A1 .

Summary of the Disclosure

Aspects of the disclosure are set out in the accompanying claims.
According to a first aspect of the disclosure, there is provided an aerosol generation device comprising:

a body;
a heating chamber housed in the body, the heating chamber comprising an elongate cavity;
an aperture in an outer surface of the body, through which aperture a substrate carrier including aerosol generating material is insertable into the elongate cavity of the heating chamber along a cavity axis that extends centrally along the length of the elongate cavity; and
a user manipulated element arranged to be moveable in a movement region of the outer surface of the body, the movement region extending at least predominantly to one side of the aperture;
wherein the cavity axis lies along a direction extending out of the aperture that is tilted away from the movement region.

By arranging the cavity axis to be oriented away from the movement region, the direction in which the substrate carrier may be inserted into the heating chamber may follow a path spaced away from the movement region, outside the aperture, by a distance greater than in other orientations. The heating chamber is therefore more accessible. Moreover, for substrate carriers that protrude from the heating chamber and are drawn from directly by the user during use, or even other arrangements in which a position of a mouthpiece from which the user inhales is defined by the cavity axis, a user may be able to position their face further away from the movement region than in other arrangements. For example, the user's mouth may be close to the aperture, while their nose is spaced further away from the movement region. So, in one particular example, a part of the substrate carrier that protrudes out of the aperture in use may extend along the direction of the cavity axis that may be tilted away from the movement region.
Optionally, the movement region of the outer surface of the body has a movement region axis normal to the centroid of the movement region and the cavity axis is tilted away from the movement region axis by an angle α in a range 0° < α ≤ 45°, preferably in a range 10° < α ≤ 45°, more preferably in a range 15° < α ≤ 35º and most preferably equal to approximately 20° or approximately 30°.
Optionally, the cavity axis and the movement region axis cross or intersect inside the body.
Optionally, the user manipulated element protrudes from the outer surface of the body.
Optionally, the user manipulated element is moveable towards the body.
Optionally, the user manipulated element is moveable relative to the aperture between aclosed position in which the user manipulated element covers the aperture and an open position in which the aperture is substantially unobstructed by the user manipulated element.
Optionally, the user manipulated element is slidable across the outer surface of the body. The user manipulated element may be moveable along an arc or a straight line.
Optionally, the aerosol generation device comprises a detector for detecting movement of the user manipulated element and a controller for controlling operation of the aerosol generation device in response to the detection of the movement.
Optionally, the body is elongate between a first end and a second end, and the aperture and the user manipulated element are located on the second end of the body.
Optionally, the first end of the body has a flat portion on which the aerosol generation device stands.
Optionally, the second end of the body is flat or generally convex.
Optionally, between the first end and the second end, the outer surface of the body has a first pair of opposing faces and a second pair of opposing faces, the first pair of opposing faces being larger than the second pair of opposing faces.
Optionally, the aerosol generation device comprises an electrical power store, the electrical power store being elongate and having a power store axis extending centrally along its length, the power store axis and the cavity axis converging towards one another towards the first end of the body.
Optionally, a perimeter of the aperture defines an aperture plane and the central axis of the elongate cavity is inclined relative to a plane perpendicular to the aperture plane.
Optionally, the substrate carrier is elongate and positioned coaxially with the elongate cavity in use.
Optionally, the substrate carrier protrudes outwardly from the aperture when fully inserted into the elongate cavity.
Optionally, the substrate comprises a tobacco containing material containing volatile tobacco flavour compounds, which are released from the substrate upon heating. The substrate may comprise a non-tobacco aerosol former such as glycerine and propylene glycol.
According to a second aspect of the disclosure, there is provided an aerosol generation device comprising:

a body;
a heating chamber housed in the body, the heating chamber comprising an elongate cavity;
an aperture in an outer surface of the body, through which aperture a substrate carrier including aerosol generating material is insertable into the elongate cavity of the heating chamber along a cavity axis that extends centrally along the length of the elongate cavity; and
a user manipulated element moveable relative to the aperture between a closed position in which the user manipulated element covers the aperture and an open position in which the aperture is substantially unobstructed by the user manipulated element, wherein when the user manipulated element is in the open position the user manipulated element is located over an open region on the outer surface, the open region of the outer surface having an open region axis normal to the centroid of the open region,
wherein the central axis and the open region axis diverge from one another outside the body in a direction away from the body.

Optionally, the cavity axis and the open region axis intersect inside the body.
Optionally, the cavity axis diverges from the region axis at an angle β in a range 0° < β ≤ 45°, preferably in a range 10º < β ≤ 45°, more preferably in a range 15º < β ≤ 35º and most preferably equal to approximately 25° or approximately 30°.
According to a third aspect of the disclosure, there is provided an aerosol generation device comprising:

a body;
a heating chamber housed in the body, the heating chamber comprising an elongate cavity;
an aperture in an outer surface of the body, through which aperture a substrate carrier including aerosol generating material is insertable into the elongate cavity of the heating chamber along a cavity axis that extends centrally along the length of the elongate cavity; and
a user manipulated element moveable relative to the aperture between a closed position in which the user operable element covers the aperture and an open position in which the aperture is substantially unobstructed by the user operable element, the open position of the user operable element being displaced from the closed position of the user operable element by a vector,
wherein an angle γ between the vector and a direction extending out of the aperture on which the cavity axis lies is obtuse.

Optionally, the angle γ is in a range 90º < γ ≤ 135°, preferably in a range 91° < γ ≤ 100° and more preferably equal to approximately 95° or approximately 100°.
Optionally, the user operable element is moveable between the closed position and the open position along an arc, with the vector being a chord of the arc.
Each of the aspects above may comprise any one or more features mentioned in respect of the other aspects above.
The disclosure extends to any novel aspects or features described and/or illustrated herein. Further features of the disclosure are characterised by the other independent and dependent claims.
It should be noted that the term "comprising" as used in this document means "consisting at least in part of". So, when interpreting statements in this document that include the term "comprising", features other than that or those prefaced by the term may also be present. Related terms such as "comprise" and "comprises" are to be interpreted in the same manner. As used herein, "(s)" following a noun means the plural and/or singular forms of the noun.
As used herein, the term "aerosol" shall mean a system of particles dispersed in the air or in a gas, such as mist, fog, or smoke. Accordingly the term "aerosolise" (or "aerosolize") means to make into an aerosol and/or to disperse as an aerosol. Note that the meaning of aerosol/aerosolise is consistent with each of volatilise, atomise and vaporise as defined above. For the avoidance of doubt, aerosol is used to consistently describe mists or droplets comprising atomised, volatilised or vaporised particles. Aerosol also includes mists or droplets comprising any combination of atomised, volatilised or vaporised particles.
Preferred embodiments are now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective illustration of an aerosol generation device according to a first embodiment, having a user manipulated element in the closed position.
Figure 2 is a schematic perspective illustration of the aerosol generation device of Figure 1 with the user manipulated element in the open position.
Figure 3 is a schematic perspective illustration of the aerosol generation device of Figure 1 with the user manipulated element in the open position and a substrate carrier inserted.
Figure 4 is a schematic cross-sectional illustration of the aerosol generation device of Figure 1 showing a first geometrical arrangement.
Figures 5A and 5B are schematic plan illustrations of the aerosol generation device of Figure 1 with the user manipulated element in the closed positon and open position respectively, showing the first geometrical arrangement.
Figure 6 is a schematic cross-sectional illustration of the aerosol generation device of Figure 1 showing a second geometrical arrangement.
Figures 7A and 7B are schematic plan illustrations of the aerosol generation device of Figure 1 with the user manipulated element in the closed position and the open position respectively, showing the second geometric arrangement.
Figure 8 is a schematic cross-sectional illustration of the aerosol generation device of Figure 1 showing a third geometrical arrangement.
Figure 9 is a schematic cross-sectional illustration of the aerosol generation device of Figure 1, showing a further geometrical relationship.
Figure 10 is a schematic cross-sectional illustration of an aerosol generation device according to a second embodiment, showing the first geometrical arrangement.
Figure 11 is a schematic cross-sectional illustration of the aerosolgeneration device of Figure 10, showing the second geometrical arrangement.
Figure 12 is a schematic cross-sectional illustration of the aerosol generation device of Figure 10, showing the third geometrical arrangement.

Detailed Description of the Embodiments

First Embodiment

Referring to Figure 1, according to afirst embodiment of the disclosure, an aerosol generation device 100 comprises a body 102 housing various components of the aerosol generation device 100. The body 102 includes an outer surface 110 defining the shape of the body 102. The outer surface 110 can be any shape so long as it is sized to fit the components described in the aerosol generation device 100. The outer surface 110 can be formed of any suitable material, or indeed layers of material. The size and shape of the outer surface 110 are chosen for a user to conveniently and comfortably hold the aerosol generation device 100.
The aerosol generation device 100 has a first end 120, shown towards the bottom of Figure 1, and described for convenience as a bottom, base or lower end of the aerosol generation device 100. A second end 122 of the aerosol generation device 100, which is an end opposite to the first end 120, is shown towards the top of Figure 1, and described for convenience as the top or upper end of the aerosol generation device 100. During use, the user typically orients the aerosol generation device 100 with the first end 120 downward and/or in a distal position with respect to the user's mouth and the second end 122 upward and/or in a proximate position with respect to the user's mouth.
The body 102 has (in addition to the first end 120 and second end 122) a first pair of opposing faces 110a and a second pair of opposing faces 110b, collectively forming the sides of the outer surface 110, and in conjunction with the first end 120 and the second end 122 of the aerosol generation device 100 forming the outer surface 110. The first pair of opposing faces 110a is larger than the second pair of opposing faces 110b, resulting in the body 102 having a generally wide or tablet shape. The second end 120 has a flattened portion for example to allow the aerosol generation device 100 to be placed upright on a surface (i.e. with the second end 122 being the uppermost portion). The body 102 shown in Figure 1 is elongate in a direction between the first end 120 and second end 122 of the body 102.
The second end 122 includes a user manipulated element 114. In the present embodiment, the user manipulated element 114 is a closure, which is shown in a closed position in Figure 1 and in an open position in Figure 2. The user manipulated element 114 is arranged to be moveable between the closed position and the open position by sliding relative to the body 102. Typically, the user manipulated element 114 slides along the second end 122 of the aerosol generation device 100 when transitioning from the closed position to the open position and from the open position to the closed position. In other embodiments, the motion between the open and closed positions of the user manipulated element 114 may be rotational or hinged. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the second end 122 of the body 102 has a curved profile, and the user manipulated element 114 therefore moves along a curved path between the open position and the closed position.
The user manipulated element 114 may be freely moveable between the open position and the closed position, such that the user manipulated element 114 can stably rest at any point between the two positions. In other examples the user manipulated element 114 may be bi-stable so that the user manipulated element 114 is stable in the open position and in the closed position, but is biased away from (intermediate) positions in between the open position and the closed position, towards either the open position or the closed position. Usually in bi-stable cases, the user manipulated element 114 is biased towards the open position from a range of intermediate positions closest to the open position, and towards the closed position from a range of intermediate positions closest to the closed position.
It can be seen from Figure 2 that the open position of the user manipulated element 114 is so called because in this position the user manipulated element 114 uncovers an aperture 108, leaving the aperture 108 substantially unobstructed by the user manipulated element 114. The aperture 108 is provided in the outer surface 110 of the aerosol generation device 100. The aperture has a perimeter 128 where it meets to the outer surface 110. The aperture 108 allows a user to access the interior of the aerosol generation device 100 (when the aperture 108 is uncovered as shown). In particular, the aperture 108 connects the exterior of the aerosol generation device 100 to the interior of a heating chamber 104 (not shown in Figure 2, but see, e.g., Figure 4). The aperture 108 is typically circular, but it will be appreciated that the aperture 108 may have another shape, e.g. square or triangular.
Figure 3 illustrates the aerosol generation device 100 in use. As can be seen, a substrate carrier 112 can be inserted into the aperture 108. The substrate carrier 112 is typically elongate (as shown), and has a first end for inserting through the aperture 108 and into the heating chamber 104. The first end of the substrate carrier 112 comprises an aerosol substrate arranged to be heated so that one or more components of the aerosol substrate volatilise. The aerosol substrate may typically comprise a tobacco-containing material containing volatile compounds. The aerosol substrate may be solid or semi-solid material. Examples of solids include powder, granules, pellets, shreds, strands, foam, mousse, sheet. The aerosol substrate may comprise an aerosol former. Examples of aerosol formers include polyhydric alcohols such as glycerol, propylene glycol and combinations thereof. The volatile compounds may include nicotine or other flavour compounds such as tobacco or non-tobacco volatiles. The aerosol substrate generally form aerosol including vapour upon heating that a user can inhale. The substrate carrier 112 has a second end, opposite its first end, through which a user can draw the vapour or aerosol. Between the first end (comprising the aerosol substrate) and the second end, there may be regions for condensing the vapour, cooling the vapour, filtering the vapour and so forth. In some examples, there may simply be a hollow tube. In any event, the user draws the vapour or aerosol through the substrate carrier 112 and out of the second end of the substrate carrier 112. This is typically achieved by a user placing their lips around the second end of the substrate carrier 112 and sucking through the substrate carrier 112. When the aerosol generation device 100 is heating the aerosol substrate at the first end of the substrate carrier 112 to form vapour or aerosol, the user can inhale the aerosol or vapour in this way.
It can be seen from Figure 3 that the user manipulated element 114 includes a rounded protrusion, which projects upwardly (or generally away from the body 102) from the second end 122 of the aerosol generation device 100. A user attempting to place their lips around the second end of the substrate carrier 112 (the end protruding from the aerosol generation device 100) risks the protrusion interfering with their nose. This could cause annoyance or discomfort for the user. However, as shown in Figure 3, the substrate carrier 112 when inserted through the aperture 108 and into the aerosol generation device 100 is tilted away from the location of the user manipulated element 114 when it is in the open position. This orients the second end of the substrate carrier 112 away from the protrusion and makes room for the user's nose when they place their lips on the second end of the substrate carrier 112.
The arrangement of the components of the aerosol generation device 100 is shown in more detail in Figure 4, in which a cross-sectional view of the aerosol generation device 100 is shown. The heating chamber 104 has an elongate cavity 106, and the elongate cavity 106 has a cavity axis A, shown by the line denoted A-A in the drawing, extending centrally along the length of the elongate cavity 106. The cavity axis A can be used to define the tilting arrangement mentioned above with reference to Figure 3. While no substrate carrier 112 is shown in Figure 4, it can nevertheless be seen that the aerosol generation device 100 is arranged to ensure that the substrate carrier 112 is tilted away from the open position of the user manipulated element 114 when the substrate carrier 112 is inserted into the heating chamber 104, by virtue of the heating chamber 104 (and cavity axis A) being tilted. In this regard, the elongate cavity 106 acts like a guide, to define the tilted angle of a substrate carrier 112 inserted through the aperture 108 and into the heating chamber 104. The substrate carrier 112 being elongate, straight and/or rod-shaped also helps with this arrangement.
The user manipulated element 114 slides in a movement region B, shown in cross section by the line denoted B-B in the drawing. The user manipulated element 114 moves along a path, which in the illustrated embodiment is an arc, in order to move between the open and closed positions. The second end 122 of the aerosol generation device 100 is generally convex, and the convex shape determines the arc along which the user manipulated element 114 slides.
It can be seen in Figure 4 that the cavity axis A is tilted away from the movement region B. Figures 5A and 5B show plan views of the second end 122 of the aerosol generation device 100, from which it can be seen that the movement region B (shown as a hashed region in Figures 5A and 5B) encompasses all areas overlapped by the user manipulated element 114 within its range of movement. The movement region B is shown bordered by adashed line where other features do not overlap with the movement region B. For example in Figure 5A, the lower part of the movement region B is overlapped by the user manipulated element 114 (shown as a solid line, in its closed position), while the upper part of the movement region B is shown as a dashed line, indicating the outer extent of the locations which the user manipulated element 114 would occupy if moved to its open position (the open position being shown in Figure 5B).
Effectively, the movement region B is an area of the outside of the aerosol generation device 100 underneath the user manipulated element 114 as it moves between the closed position (shown in Figure 5A) and the open position (shown in Figure 5B), inclusive of the areas covered by the user manipulated element 114 when it is in each of the closed position and the open position. The motion of the user manipulated element 114 is such that the movement area B is predominantly located to one side of the aperture 108 (towards the top of Figures 5A and 5B). The cavity axis A is tilted away from the side of the aperture 108 to which the movement region B is predominantly located, as shown in Figure 4.
The centroid of the movement region B is the geometric centre of the movement region B. The movement region B has a movement region axis C, shown by the line denoted C-C in the drawing, defined as the normal to the movement region B at the centroid of the movement region B. The movement region axis C extends through the centroid, perpendicular to the outer surface 110 of the aerosol generation device 100 at that point, or normal to the movement region B. Returning to Figure 4, it can be seen that the cavity axis A is tilted away from the movement region axis C. The cavity axis A and the movement region axis C are tilted away from one another by an angle α. The angle α is shown as being approximately 20° in the illustrated embodiment. More generally, the angle α is in the range 15° < α ≤ 35º. In other embodiments, the angle α may be in the range 10° < α ≤ 45° or even in the range of 0° < α ≤ 45º, depending upon the precise geometry of the aerosol generation device 100. The size of the angle α can be chosen to tilt the cavity axis A away from the movement region B sufficiently to allow a user to place their lips around the second end of a substrate carrier 112 (of a given length) and draw vapour or aerosol through the substrate carrier 112, without their nose (or other parts of their face) coming into contact with the user manipulated element 114.
The angle α may also be chosen so that the heating chamber 104 does not project too greatly across the body 102 of the aerosol generation device 100, e.g. in a direction extending between the second pair of faces 110b of the outer surface 110 or perpendicular to the length of the aerosol generation device 100 (between the first end 120 and the second end 122). This can help the aerosol generation device 100 to have a size and shape that is aesthetically pleasing and easier for a user to grip firmly, e.g. not too wide. The exact value of the angle α can be chosen to adapt the aerosol generation device 100 to the size and shape of the user manipulated element 114 and the desired shape and size of the outer surface 110.
Also shown in Figure 4 is a power store 126. The power store 126 is a battery in the present embodiment, for supplying power to a heater (not shown) of the heating chamber 104 in order to cause heating and thereby volatilise parts of the aerosol substrate as set out above. In embodiments in which the power store 126 is a battery, the heating chamber 104 may include an electric heater (not shown). The power store 126 is electrically coupled to the heating chamber 104 via a controller 118, which can act to regulate the heating profile of the heater, for example to ensure rapid initial heating to reduce the time between activation and enough vapour or aerosol being generated that a user can draw on the substrate carrier 112 (known as time to first puff). Additionally or alternatively, the controller 118 may act to prevent overheating of the aerosol substrate, for example by receiving temperature information from the heating chamber 104 and operating to maintain temperatures at or below a given threshold temperature.
As shown in Figure 4, the power store 126 has a generally cylindrical shape. A power store axis D, shown by the line denoted D-D in the drawing, runs lengthwise along the centre of power store 126, and in this embodiment is therefore the central axis of the cylindrical shape. As can be seen in the drawings, the cavity axis A is tilted relative to the power store axis D. More specifically, as shown, the cavity axis A and the power store axis D converge towards one another towards the first end 120 of the body 102. In the illustrated embodiment, the cavity axis A is tilted with respect to the power store axis D by a larger angle than the angle α between the cavity axis A and the movement region axis C. Putting this another way, the power store axis D makes an angle with the movement region axis C, such that these two axes C, D diverge as they extend away from aerosol generation device 100 outwardly from the second end 122. However, in some embodiments, the power store axis D is instead parallel to the movement region axis C. Such embodiments may be beneficial, for example, to reduce the width of the body 102 towards the second end 122 so that the body 102 does not flare outwards towards the second end 122 and/or can have a uniform cross-sectional shape along its length, e.g. such that the body 102 is a ovoid cylinder or such like, which in turn may improve the comfort for a user holding the aerosol generation device 100.
Note that extensions of the cavity axis A and the movement region axis C towards the first end 120 of the aerosol generation device 100 intersect inside the body 102. However, this is not always the case and, in some embodiments, the cavity axis A and the movement region axis C intersect outside the body 102 (e.g. below the first end 120), for example in cases where the angle α is smaller than shown in Figure 4. Likewise, it is possible that the cavity axis A and the movement region axis C do not intersect, but instead merely each have a point along their length within the body 102 or outside the body 102 at which they are closest to one another, e.g. "cross", but never actually meet. This may be the case when the shape of the aerosol generation device 100 has less symmetry, in particular such that the cavity axis A and the movement region axis C lie in parallel planes. Similarly, in the illustrated embodiment, the cavity axis A and the power store axis D intersect when extended towards the first end 120. In the illustrated embodiment, the cavity axis A and the power store axis D must be extended below the first end 120 in order to intersect. In other words, the intersection point is outside the body 102. In other embodiments, the intersection point between the cavity axis A and the power store axis D is inside the body 102. This can be altered by changing the angle of tilt of the heating chamber 104 and/or the power source 126. Again, when there is less symmetry, the cavity axis A and the power store axis D may instead merely "cross", in the sense described above, rather than intersect.
Referring to Figures 6, 7A and 7B, the geometry of the aerosol generation device 100 can be described in a different way with reference to the location of the user manipulated element 114 in the open position. The open position of the user manipulated element 114 defines an open region F, shown in cross section by the line denoted F-F in Figure 6 and in plan view by the hashed region denoted F in Figures 7A and 7B. An open region axis G, shown by the line denoted G-G in Figure 6, is defined as a line running through the centroid of the open region F, perpendicular to the outer surface 110 at that point or normal to the open region F. The centroid of the open region F is the geometric centre of the open region F. The open region F has an open region axis G, shown by the line denoted G-G in the drawing, defined as the normal to the open region F at the centroid of the open region F. As can be seen most clearly in Figures 7A and 7B, the open region F is the "footprint" of the user manipulated element 114 in the open position.
The open region F is shown bordered by a dashed line where the open region F is not overlapped by other features. For example in Figure 7A, the user manipulated element 114 is shown as a solid line in its closed position towards the lower part of Figure 7A. By contrast the open region F is shown as a dashed line bordering a hashed region having the same shape and size as the user manipulated element 114, but located towards the top of Figure 7A. The open region encompasses the area overlapped by the user manipulated element 114 when it is in the open position; that is, the open region F indicates the location which the user manipulated element 114 would occupy if moved to its open position. In Figure 7B, the user manipulated element 114 is shown in the open position, and the user manipulated element 114 overlaps the open region F (by definition). Effectively, the open region F is an area of the outside of the aerosol generation device 100 underneath the user manipulated element 114 when it is in the open position (in Figure 7B, the open region F and the user manipulated element 114 exactly align with each other for this reason).
It is clear that the open region F is located towards one side of the aperture 108 (towards the top of Figures 7A and 7B). Correspondingly, since only the position of the user manipulated element 114 in the open position is taken into account in defining the open region F, the open region axis G is located to this side of the aperture 108 (towards the top of Figures 7A and 7B). As can be seen in Figures 6, 7A and 7B, the heating chamber 104 (and corresponding cavity axis A) is tilted away from the open region F. In other words, the open region axis G and the cavity axis A diverge from one another outside the body 102 in a direction outwardly from the second end 122 of the aerosol generation device 100. In the illustrated embodiment, an angle β between the open region axis G and the cavity axis A is approximately 25°. More generally, the angle β is in the range 15° < β ≤ 35º. In other embodiments, the angle β may be in the range 10° < β ≤ 45° or even in the range 0° < β ≤ 45º, depending upon the precise geometry of the aerosol generation device 100. As noted above, different tilting angles may be chosen to implement different arrangements for a variety of reasons (ergonomic, practical, aesthetic, etc.).
In some cases, extensions of the cavity axis A and the open region axis G towards the first end 120 of the aerosol generation device 100 intersect inside the body 102. This is not always the case, however, and in some embodiments, the cavity axis A and the open region axis G intersect outside the body 102 (e.g. below the first end 120), for example in cases where the angle β between the cavity axis A and the open region axis G is smaller than shown in Figure 6. Likewise, it is possible that the cavity axis A and the open region axis G do not intersect, but instead merely each have a point along their length within the body 102 or outside the body 102 at which they are closest to one another, e.g. "cross", but never actually meet. This may be the case when the shape of the aerosol generation device 100 has less symmetry, in particular such that the cavity axis A and the open region axis G lie in parallel planes.
Similarly, in the illustrated embodiment, the cavity axis A and the power store axis D (not shown in Figure 6, but see Figure 4) intersect when extended towards the firstend 120. Once more, this intersection point is outside the body 102. In other embodiments, the intersection point between the cavity axis A and the power store axis D is inside the body 102. This can be altered by changing the angle of tilt of the heating chamber 104 and/or the power source 126. Again, when there is less symmetry, the cavity axis A and the power store axis D may instead merely "cross", in the sense described above, rather than intersect.
Referring to Figure 8, the geometry of the aerosol generation device 100 can also be described with reference to the displacement of the user manipulated element 114. In Figure 8, a vector H is drawn between the closed position of the user manipulated element 114 and the open position of the user manipulated element 114. Since the user manipulated element 114 travels in a curved path between the closed position and the open position, the centroid of a side view of the user manipulated element 114 is used in Figure 8 to unambiguously define the end points of the vector H. As the movement of the user manipulated element 114 between the open and closed positions is an arc, the vector H is a chord of this arc. In other cases, the centroid of the volume of the user manipulated element 114 may be used to unambiguously define the start and end points of the vector H. In yet a further example, the point on the outer surface of the user manipulated element 114 which intersects the cavity axis A when the user manipulated element 114 is in the closed position is a location which can be used to unambiguously define the start and end points of the vector H.
It can be seen in the drawing that the vector H can be extended backwards (to the left of the closed position in Figure 8) to intersect the cavity axis A. An angle γ is formed between the vector H and the cavity axis A. This angle γ is the angle between the vector H and a direction extending out of the aperture 108 on which the cavity axis A lies. The angle γ is obtuse. In the illustrated embodiment, the angle γ is approximately 95°. More generally, the angle γ is in the range 91° < γ ≤ 100°. In other embodiments, the angle γ may be in the range 90° < γ ≤ 135°, depending upon the precise geometry of the aerosol generation device 100. As noted above, different tilting angles may be chosen to implement different arrangement for a variety of reasons (ergonomic, practical, aesthetic, etc.).
In the present definition, the size of the angle γ depends not only on the tilt of the heating chamber 104 and cavity axis A, but also on the curvature of the second end 122 of the aerosol generation device 100 and the angular distance around the curve of the second end 122 that the user manipulated element 114 traverses, with a tighter curve and a larger distance travelled along the curve by the user manipulated element 114 each increasing the angle γ, all else being equal. As mentioned above it is possible for another point of the user manipulated element 114 to be used instead of the centroid to define the vector H, so long as the same point is used for the start and finish of the vector. Due to the curved path taken by the user manipulated element 114 as it moves between open and closed positions, the direction and length of the vector H will vary if a point other than the centroid is chosen. However, this does not affect the validity of the geometrical description of the tilt, provided appropriate modifications are made to the value of the angle γ (which may not then be obtuse).
In Figure 9, a further geometric relationship of the components of the aerosol generation device 100 is highlighted. Here the perimeter 128 of the aperture 108 is shown as defining an aperture plane E, shown in cross section by the line denoted E-E in the drawing. That is to say, the edge(s) of the aperture 108 defining the perimeter 128 of the aperture lie in the aperture plane E. In other words, a two-dimensional shape, typically a circle, can be formed from the perimeter 128 of the aperture 108, as seen when looking towards the aperture 108. This two-dimensional shape lies on the aperture plane E, which is a plane defined by the aperture 104. Of course, in variations of the embodiment, it is possible that the perimeter 128 of the aperture 108 defines a non-planar shape, e.g. a curved plane, curving in one or more directions.
The aperture plane E defines an aperture axis J, shown by the line denoted J-J in Figure 8, which extends through the centre (e.g. the centroid) of the aperture 108, perpendicular or normal to the aperture plane E. It is evident that, in the illustrated embodiment, the aperture axis J is not aligned with the cavity axis A. Instead, the aperture axis J and cavity axis A diverge from one another outside the body 102 in a direction away from the aerosol generation device 100, from a point of intersection at the centroid of the aperture 108. In other words, the cavity axis A is inclined relative to the aperture axis J. Note that this arrangement decouples the tilt of the heating chamber 104 (embodied in the direction of the cavity axis A) from the shape and orientation of the outer surface 110 at the point where the aperture 108 is formed in the outer surface 110 (embodied by the direction of J, which can be thought of as a normal axis to the outer surface 110 in the centroid of the aperture 108 if the aperture were covered in a manner which is flush with the surrounding outer surface 110). In other words, the tilt of the heating chamber 104does not require the outer surface 110 to be any particular shape or to have any particular orientation. Specifically the cavity axis A need not be normal to the outer surface 110. It will be noted that the geometries defined above by referring to the tilt of the cavity axis A with respect to the movement region B, movement region axis C, open region F, open region axis G and/or vector H can all equally be defined with reference to the tilt of the aperture plane E or aperture axis J with respect to the movement region B, movement region axis C, open region F, open region axis G and/or vector H, albeit with different sized angles.
Of course, in variations of the embodiment, it is possible that the aperture plane E defined by the perimeter 128 of the aperture 108 is not two-dimensional or flat, but a non-planar shape, e.g. a curved plane, curving in one or more directions. In such variations, it is still possible to define the aperture axis J, as this merely extends through the centre or centroid of the aperture 108, perpendicular or normal to the aperture plane E (at the centre or centroid).
The user manipulated element 114 is described above as a closure, moveable selectively to cover or uncover the aperture 108. However, in other embodiments, the user manipulated element 114 has a different function. In some embodiments, the user manipulated element 114 is a button configured to move in a direction towards the body 102 in order to control an operation of the aerosol generation device 100. In such embodiments, the movement region B extends only as far as the perimeter of the button, with the movement being solely towards and away from the body 102 of the aerosol generation device 100. Such a movement region B may look like open region F shown in Figures 7A and 7B, because the "footprint" of the movement is confined to the region of the second end 122 of the aerosol generation device 100 which is directly underneath the usermanipulated element 114 - in this case "underneath" means towards the body 102. This movement region B would likely be entirely to one side of the aperture 108 (to the right of the aperture 108 with the aerosol generation device 100 oriented as shown in Figure 4). Note, however, that while this change in definition of the movement region B would slightly shift the position of the centroid (to become e.g. axis G in Figure 7), the above definition relating the tilt of the heating chamber 104 relative to an axis perpendicular to the movement region B at the centroid of the movement region B still holds, albeit with the angle α having a different (larger) value. Note also that the user manipulated element 114 in the form of a button still protrudes from the aerosol generation device 100, e.g. is a protrusion, so the reason for including a tilted heating chamber 104 is still valid. In some cases, even if the user manipulated element 114 does not protrude (or protrudes much less than shown in Figure 4), tilting the heating chamber 104 can still be advantageous as this allows a user to operate the button using a thumb or finger without hitting their nose while doing so.
In yet further embodiments, the user manipulated element 114 may be arranged both to move across the full range of the movement region B shown in Figure 4, and also to move closer to the body 102 from the open positon shown in Figure 4, for example to control the aerosol generation device 100. In this case, the movement region B and the movement region axis C remains those shown in Figure 4, and the above discussion of this arrangement applies.
Embodiments in which the user manipulated element 114 operates as a button may include a biasing means to push the user manipulated element 114 away from the body 102. This can allow for the user manipulated element 114 to default to a state in which the user manipulated element 114 is not pressed, and thereby avoid accidental operation. The user manipulated element 114 may cause the aerosol generation device 100 to activate and run through a heating cycle when the user manipulated element 114 is pressed (or held for a predetermined amount of time), or in some cases, the aerosol generation device 100 may only operate when the user manipulated element 114 is held down, and may stop heating when the user manipulated element 114 is released. In either case, the controller 118 may be arranged to determine the position of the user manipulated element 114 and selectively activate the heater based on the determined position of the user manipulated element 114. In yet further embodiments, the controller 118 may be configured to prevent heating if the user manipulated element 114 is detected as being in the closed position.
As used herein a heating cycle refers to a predetermined period of time in which power is delivered to the heater. For example, the total time for a heating cycle to complete may be the time taken for all or most of the volatilisable parts of the aerosol substrate (e.g. the parts which a user wishes to inhale) to be heated and form a vapour or aerosol. The heating cycle may include delivering a prearranged power for a prearranged time, a series of prearranged powers for corresponding prearranged times, or it may operate as a feedback loop, measuring a temperature (e.g. of a part of the heating chamber 104) and adjusting the delivered power to bring the temperature closerto a desired temperature.
An example of a mechanism for operating the user manipulated element 114, in the form of a sliding closure, is shown in Figure 4. A curved guide is provided to define the motion of the user manipulated element 114 and to limit its motion. This can help to prevent the user manipulated element 114 sliding too far in either direction, and ensure that the closed position does indeed cover the aperture 108, so as to prevent dust or dirt entering the heating chamber 104. The curved guide may have sensors at either end to detect the position of the user manipulated element 114. The guide may also ensure that the user manipulated element 114 can only be pressed towards the body 102 when the user manipulated element 114 is in the open position. This can help ensure that the aerosol generation device 100 cannot be activated when the user manipulated element 114 is covering the aperture 108 and that the substrate carrier 112 cannot be inserted into the heating chamber 104

Second embodiment

Referring to Figures 10 to 12, an aerosol generation device 100 according to a second embodiment is identical to the aerosol generation device 100 according to the first embodiment except that the second end 122 of the aerosol generation device 100 is generally planar or flat. The same reference numerals are used in the drawings to denote the same or similar features and only the differences between the second embodiment and the first embodiment are described below, for conciseness.
In the second embodiment, the user manipulated element 114 comprises a protrusion that projects outwardly from the second end 122 of the aerosol generation device 100. As shown in Figure 10, the heating chamber 104 and cavity axis A are both tilted away from the location of the user manipulated element 114 when it is in the open position. This causes the second end of the substrate carrier 112 inserted into the heating chamber 104 to be oriented away from the user manipulated element 114, and makes room for the user's nose when they are placing their lips on the second end of the substrate carrier 112.
Figure 10 highlights the tilting arrangement using a geometrical representation analogous to that described with reference to Figures 4, 5A and 5B for the first embodiment. While no substrate carrier 112 is shown in Figure 10, it can be seen that the aerosol generation device 100 is nevertheless arranged to ensure that the substrate carrier 112 is tilted away from the open position of the user manipulated element 114 when the substrate carrier 112 is inserted into the heating chamber 104, by virtue of the heating chamber 104 (and cavity axis A) being tilted. In this regard, the elongate cavity 106 of the heating chamber 104 acts like a guide, to define the tilted angle of a substrate carrier 112 inserted through the aperture 108 and into the heating chamber 104.
The user manipulated element 114 slides in the movement region B, shown here in cross-section by the line B-B. The closed position of the user manipulated element 114 is shown in dashed lines and the open position is shown in solid lines. The movement region B extends as far as the outer extent of these positions. The user manipulated element 114 also moves in a straight line in order to move between the open and closed positions along the planar or flat second end 122. It can clearly be seen in Figure 10 that the cavity axis A is tilted away from the movement region B.
The movement region B has a movement region axis C, shown in cross-section by the line C-C in Figure 10. The cavity axis A is tilted with respect to the movement region axis C. More specifically, the cavity axis A and the movement region axis C are tilted away from one another by the angle α. In this embodiment, the angle α is approximately 30°. More generally, the angle α is in the range 15° < α ≤ 35º. In variations of the second embodiment, the angle α may be in the range 10° < α ≤ 45º or even in the range 0° < α ≤ 45º, depending upon the precise geometry of the aerosol generation device 100. The size of angle α can be chosen to tilt the cavity axis A away from the movement region B sufficiently to allow a user to place their lips around the protruding end of a substrate carrier 112 and draw vapour or aerosol through the substrate carrier 112, without their nose (or other part of their face) hitting the user manipulated element 114. At the other end of the scale, the angle α may be chosen so that the heating chamber 104 does not project too far in a direction perpendicular to the length of the aerosol generation device 100. This can help the aerosol generation device 100 to appear aesthetically pleasing, and also makes it easier for a user to grip firmly. The exact value of α can be chosen to adapt the aerosol generation device 100 to the size and shape of the user manipulated element 114 and the desired shape and size of the outer surface 110.
Although not shown in Figure 10, the aerosol generation device 100 may include the power store 126 and controller 118, as set out above in relation to the first embodiment. The power store 126 may have a corresponding power store axis D which is tilted with respect to the cavity axis A, as described with respect to the first embodiment, e.g. with reference to Figure 4.
Note that extensions of the cavity axis A and the movement region axis C towards the first end 120 of the aerosol generation device 100 intersect inside the body 102. This is not always the case, however, and in some examples, the intersection point between the cavity axis A and the movement region axis C is outside the body 102 (e.g. below the first end 120), for example in cases where the angle α is smaller than shown in Figure 10. Likewise, it is possible that the cavity axis A and the movement region axis C do not intersect, but instead merely each have a point along their length within the body 102 or outside the body 102 at which they are closest to one another, e.g. "cross", but never actually meet, as described with reference to the first embodiment.
Figure 11 highlights the tilting arrangement using a geometrical representation analogous to that described with reference to Figures 6, 7A and 7B for the first embodiment. The user manipulated element 114 is shown in the open position in Figure 11, leaving the aperture 108 uncovered. The open position in turn defines the open region F, shown in cross-section by the line F-F in Figure 11. The open region axis G, shown by the line denoted G-G in the drawings, is again defined as a line running through the centroid of the open region F, perpendicular to the outer surface 110 at that point. As can be seen, the heating chamber 104 (and corresponding cavity axis A) is tilted away from the open region F. In other words, the open region axis G and the cavity axis A diverge from one another outside the body 102 in a direction away from the body 102. In the second embodiment, the angle β formed by the open region axis G and the cavity axis A is approximately 30°. More generally, the angle β is in the range 15° < β ≤ 35°. In variations of the second embodiment, the angle β may be in the range 10° < β ≤ 45° or even in the range 0° < β ≤ 45º, depending upon the precise geometry of the aerosol generation device 100. It can be seen that this is another way of describing the tilt of the heating chamber 104 and the cavity axis A, using a different geometric construction from that provided in respect of Figure 10.
In some cases, extensions of the cavity axis A and the open region axis G towards the first end 120 of the aerosol generation device 100 intersect inside the body 102. This is not always the case, however, and in some examples, the intersection point between the cavity axis A and the open region axis G is outside the body 102 (e.g. below the first end 120), for example in cases where the angle β between the cavity axis A and the open region axis G is smaller than shown in Figure 11. As described above, the cavity axis A and the open region axis G may instead merely "cross", in the sense described above, rather than intersect.
Figure 12 highlights the tilting arrangement using a geometrical representation analogous to that described with reference to Figure 8 for the first embodiment. The vector H is drawn between the closed position of the user manipulated element 114 and the open position of the user manipulated element 114. Since the user manipulated element 114 travels in a straight path between these locations, any point on the user manipulated element 114 can be used, so long as the same point is used for the start and finish of the vector, and the same vector H will result (in general this is not true of convex variant shown in Figure 8). It can be seen that the vector H can be extended backwards (to the left Figure 12) to intersect the cavity axis A. An angle γ is formed between the vector H and the cavity axis A. In more detail, the angle γ is the angle between the vector H and a direction extending out of the aperture 108 on which the cavity axis A lies. The angle γ is obtuse, and this represents another way of defining the tilt of the heating chamber 104 and the cavity axis A.
In the second embodiment, the angle γ is approximately 100°. More generally, the angle γ is in the range 91° < γ ≤ 100°. In variations of the second embodiment, the angle γ may be in the range 90º < γ ≤ 135°, depending upon the precise geometry of the aerosol generation device 100. As noted above, different tilting angles may be chosen to implement different arrangement for a variety of reasons (ergonomic, practical, aesthetic, etc.). As can be seen in Figure 12, the movement of the user manipulated element 114 between the open and closed positions is a straight line in this embodiment, and the vector H is aligned with this straight line.
While the user manipulated element 114 is shown in Figure 10 as a closure, slidable to selectively cover or uncover the aperture 108, in other examples, the user manipulated element 114 may have a different function. Forexample, the user manipulated element 114 may be a button configured to move in a direction towards the body 102, for example in order to control operation of the aerosol generation device 100. In this case, the movement region B would extend only as far as the protrusion forming the button (the movement region would look more like region F in Figures 7a and 7B), because the "footprint" of the movement is confined to the region of the second end 122 of the aerosol generation device 100 which is directly underneath the user manipulated element 114, and largely or even entirely to one side of the aperture 108 (to the right of the aperture in Figure 10). Note however that while this change in definition of the movement region B would slightly shift the position of the centroid (to become e.g. axis G in Figures 7A and 7B), the above definition relating the tilt of the heating chamber 104 relative to the centroid of the movement region still holds. Note that the button still protrudes from the aerosol generation device 100, so the reason for including a tilted heating chamber 104 is still valid. In some cases, even if the button does not protrude (or protrudes much less than shown in Figure 10), tilting the heating chamber 104 can still be advantageous as this allows a user to operate the button using a thumb or finger without hitting their nose while doing so.
In yet further examples, the user manipulated element 114 may be arranged to both slide within the full range of the movement region B shown in Figure 10 and also to move closer to the body 102 from the open positon shown in Figure 10, for example to control the aerosol generation device 100. In this case, the movement region axis C remains that shown in Figure 10, and the above discussion of this arrangement applies.
In the second embodiment, due to the second end 122 being planar or flat, a given tilt to the cavity axis A results in the angles α and β having the same value. This can be seen as the angles α and β are measured between the tilted cavity axis A, and the normal to the planar second end 122 in each case. A further relationship can be derived between γ and either α or β where the second end 122 is planar. The relationship between γ and either α or β is γ = α + 90° = β + 90°, for a given tilt angle for the cavity axis A and where the second end 122 is planar or flat.

Definitions and Alternative Embodiments

It will be appreciated from the description above that many features of the different embodiments are interchangeable with one another. The disclosure extends to further embodiments comprising features from different embodiments combined together in ways not specifically mentioned.
Embodiments have been described in which the user manipulated element 114 is a door that selectively covers and uncovers the aperture 108; in which the user manipulated element 114 is not moveable to cover the aperture 108, but functions instead as a button for activating the aerosol generation device 100; and also in which the user manipulated element is both a door and a button. The tilt of the heating chamber 104 and the other geometry of the aerosol generation device 100 is much the same in each of these embodiments, but may be most accurately defined using the different definitions provided and have different, if overlapping, advantages depending upon the functionality of the user manipulated element 114.
While the description above has shown the movement region B, open region F and vector H extending or being located to one side of the aperture 108, that side being offset in a direction between the second pair of opposing faces 110b towards a centroid of the second end 122 of the aerosol generation device 100 and away from an edge of the second end 122 (e.g. towards the right in Figures 1 to 4, 6 and 8 to 12), this need not always be the case. For example, the movement region B, open region F and vector H may extend or be located to the left, front or behind of the aerosol generation device 100 as it is oriented in Figures 1 to 4, 6 and 8 to 12, e.g. closer to an edge of the second end 122 than to the centroid of the second end 122. The cavity axis A remains tilted away from the movement region B, open region F or vector H, as described above, although the direction of tilt differs depending upon the position of the movement region B, open region F or vector H.
The first embodiment described above relates to a convex, curved second end 122. Convex in this context is general rather than specific, for example encompassing shapes formed of a series of planar sections angled with respect to one anotherto form a generally convex shape. Similarly, the curved second end 122 is shown as an arc of a circle, but this can be generalised to a convex second end 122 having any curved shape. The second embodiment covers the case where the second end 122 is not convex, but is a flat planar surface, but again this is general rather than specific. For example, the edges of the second end 122 may be curved, e.g. have a radius, and there may be features on the second end 122 that disrupt its generally planar nature, such one or more protrusions, undulations or indentations.
It will be apparent that the principles described herein can be applied to aerosol generation devices 100 for receiving a wide range of substrate carriers 112. Indeed, any replaceable substrate carrier may be used, with the tilt generally improving access. When the substrate carrier 112 is elongate and protrudes from the aerosol generation device 100 in use, e.g. such that it is intended for a user to interact with the protruding end of the substrate carrier 112, there is additional benefit is spacing the users mouth and face away from the aerosol generation device 100 more appropriately, as described above. Indeed, the tilting arrangements described herein are useful as providing design freedom in the shape of the outer surface 110 and the user manipulated element 114, while allowing a range of different aerosol generation devices 100 to all use a common design for the substrate carrier 112, thus benefitting from economies of scale in manufacturing the substrate carrier 112 (as there is no need to design a different substrate carrier 112 for each aerosol generation device 100).
The description of the various geometrical arrangements set out above makes reference to various planes and axes. Although the definitions rely on certain parts of the aerosol generation device 100 (e.g. the aperture perimeter 128, the elongate cavity 106, the open region B, etc.), the axes and planes are virtual or imaginary. As such, they generally extend beyond the structural confines of the components with which they are associated, e.g. beyond the body 102 of the aerosol generation device 100 or outward of the outer surface of the aerosol generation device 100.
As used herein, the term "vapour" (or "vapor") means: (i) the form into which liquids are naturally converted by the action of a sufficient degree of heat; or (ii) particles of liquid/moisture that are suspended in the atmosphere and visible as clouds of steam/smoke; or (iii) a fluid that fills a space like a gas but, being below its critical temperature, can be liquefied by pressure alone. Consistently with this definition the term "vaporise" (or "vaporize") means: (i) to change, or cause the change into vapour; and (ii) where the particles change physical state (i.e. from liquid or solid into the gaseous state).
As used herein, the term "aerosol" shall mean a system of particles dispersed in the air or in a gas, such as mist, fog, or smoke. Accordingly the term "aerosolise" (or "aerosolize") means to make into an aerosol and/or to disperse as an aerosol. Note that the meaning of aerosol/aerosolise is consistent with each of volatilise, atomise and vaporise as defined above. For the avoidance of doubt, aerosol is used to consistently describe mists or droplets comprising atomised, volatilised or vaporised particles. Aerosol also includes mists or droplets comprising any combination of atomised, volatilised or vaporised particles.

Claims

An aerosol generation device (100) comprising:
a body (102);

a heating chamber (104) housed in the body (102), the heating chamber (104) comprising an elongate cavity (106);

an aperture (108) in an outer surface (110) of the body (102), through which aperture (108) a substrate carrier (112) including aerosol generating material is insertable into the elongate cavity (106) of the heating chamber (104) along a cavity axis (A) that extends centrally along the length of the elongate cavity (106), a perimeter (128) of the aperture (108) defining an aperture plane (E) with an aperture axis (J) normal to the aperture plane (E) at the centroid of the aperture (108); and

a user manipulated element (114) arranged to be moveable in a movement region (B) of the outer surface (110) of the body (102), the movement region (B) extending at least predominantly to one side of the aperture (108) and having a movement region axis (C) normal to the movement region (B) at the centroid of the movement region (B); wherein the cavity axis (A) lies along a direction extending out of the aperture (108) that is tilted away from the movement region axis (C), characterized in that the aperture axis (J) lies along a direction extending out of the aperture (108) that is tilted away from the movement region axis (C).
The aerosol generation device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the cavity axis (A) is tilted away from the movement region axis (C) by an angle α in a range 0° < α ≤ 45°.
The aerosol generation device (100) according to claim 2, wherein the cavity axis (A) and the movement region axis (C) intersect inside the body (102).
The aerosol generation device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the user manipulated element (114) protrudes from the outer surface (110) of the body (102).
The aerosol generation device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the user manipulated element (114) is moveable towards the body (102).
The aerosol generation device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the user manipulated element (114) is moveable relative to the aperture (108) between a closed position in which the user manipulated element (114) covers the aperture (108) and an open position in which the aperture (108) is substantially unobstructed by the user manipulated element (114).
The aerosol generation device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the user manipulated element (114) is slidable across the outer surface (110) of the body (102).
The aerosol generation device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the user manipulated element (114) is moveable along an arc.
The aerosol generation device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the body (102) is elongate between a first end (120) and a second end (122), and the aperture (108) and the user manipulated element (114) are located on the second end (122) of the body (102).
The aerosol generation device (100) according to claim 9, wherein the second end (122) of the body (102) is generally convex.
The aerosol generation device (100) according to claim 9 or claim 10, wherein, between the first end (120) and the second end (122), the outer surface (110) of the body (102) has a first pair of opposing faces (110a) and a second pair of opposing faces (110b), the first pair of opposing faces (110a) being larger than the second pair of opposing faces (110b).
The aerosol generation device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising an electrical power store (126), the electrical power store (126) being elongate and having a power store axis (D) extending centrally along its length, the power store axis (D) and the cavity axis (A) converging towards one another towards the first end (120) of the body (102).
The aerosol generation device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, and the substrate carrier (112), wherein the substrate carrier (112) is elongate and positioned coaxially with the elongate cavity (106) in use.
The aerosol generation device (100) according to claim 13, and the substrate carrier (112), wherein the substrate carrier (112) protrudes outwardly from the aperture (108) when fully inserted into the elongate cavity (106).
The aerosol generation device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the aerosol generation device (100) comprises a detector for detecting movement of the user manipulated element (114) and a controller (118) for controlling operation of the aerosol generation device (118) in response to the detection of the movement.