Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
  • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
  • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
  • A24F40/40—Constructional details, e.g. connection of cartridges and battery parts
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
  • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
  • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
  • A24F40/20—Devices using solid inhalable precursors

Definitions

• liquid drops may be formed inside the inhalation device due to a build up of the aerosol generated from the aerosol source.
• PTL 1 below indicates that a gap inside a tube accommodating the aerosol source is closed off by a sealing member in order to prevent faults in circuits, etc. caused by the liquid drops formed.
• the technology disclosed in PTL 1 above is intended to prevent permeation of small amounts of moisture, such as liquid drops, into the gap, but does not envisage a situation in which a large amount of water pours into a holding portion accommodating the aerosol source, such as when the holding portion is rinsed with water. Consequently, there is also a need to suppress penetration of water into the device when a large amount of water pours into the holding portion accommodating the aerosol source.
• the present invention was devised in light of the problem above, and the objective of the present invention lies in providing a novel and improved aerosol generating device capable of further improving waterproofing.
• an aerosol generating device comprising: a holding portion having a cylindrical structure inside which an aerosol generating substrate is inserted; a main body portion provided on a bottom face of the cylindrical structure; a gap formed in the bottom face along an outer shape of the main body portion; and a projection protruding from the main body portion so as to cover an opening of the gap.
• the projection may protrude so that the width of the opening after being covered is 0.2 mm or less.
• the projection may be formed from a silicone resin material, a fluororesin material, or a ceramic material.
• the projection may be provided so that the height of a tip end of the projection is no less than the height of any point between the center of the main body portion and the projection.
• a counter projection which is provided on a surface facing the projection and overlaps the projection may further be provided.
• the gap may be provided between the main body portion and a casing for holding the main body portion from the outside.
• the gap may be provided between the main body portion and a heating unit for heating the aerosol generating substrate while protruding into the cylindrical structure from the bottom face.
• the present invention as described above makes it possible to further improve waterproofing of an aerosol generating device.
• the inhalation device according to this configuration example is capable of generating an aerosol by heating a substrate that contains an aerosol source from inside the substrate. This configuration example will be described below with reference to fig. 1 .
• FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating schematically a configuration example of an inhalation device.
• an inhalation device 100 according to this configuration example comprises a power source unit 111, a sensor unit 112, a notification unit 113, a memory unit 114, a communication unit 115, a control unit 116, a heating unit 121, and a holding portion 140.
• a user inhales with the inhalation device 100 in a state in which a stick-type substrate 150 is accommodated in a holding portion 140.
• the components will be described in order below.
• the inhalation device 100 and the stick-type substrate 150 cooperate to generate an aerosol to be inhaled by the user.
• the combination of the inhalation device 100 and the stick-type substrate 150 may be considered to be an aerosol generation system.
• the power source unit 111 stores electrical power.
• the power source unit 111 then supplies electrical power to each component of the inhalation device 100.
• the power source unit 111 may be configured by a rechargeable battery such as a lithium ion secondary battery, for example.
• the power source unit 111 may be charged by being connected to an external power source by means of a USB (universal serial bus) cable or the like.
• the power source unit 111 may also be charged by means of wireless power transmission technology, without being connected to a power transmission-side device.
• the power source unit 111 may be provided so as to be removable from the inhalation device 100, and may be provided so as to be replaceable with a new power source unit 111.
• the notification unit 113 notifies the user of the information.
• the notification unit 113 is configured by a light-emitting device such as an LED (light-emitting diode).
• the notification unit 113 may emit light in a different light emission pattern for each case.
• the light emission patterns as referred to here generally include colors and timing of illumination/extinguishing.
• the notification unit 113 may also be configured by a display device for displaying images, a sound output device for outputting sounds, or a vibration device which vibrates, etc. Additionally, the notification unit 113 may notify information indicating that inhalation by the user is possible. The information indicating that inhalation by the user is possible may be notified when the temperature of the stick-type substrate 150 heated by means of the heating unit 121 has reached a predetermined temperature.
• the communication unit 115 is a communication interface for sending and receiving information between the inhalation device 100 and another device.
• the communication unit 115 performs communication conforming to any wired or wireless communication standard. Examples of communication standards which may be used include wireless LAN (local area network), wired LAN, Wi-Fi (registered trademark), and Bluetooth (registered trademark), etc.
• the communication unit 115 may send information relating to inhalation by the user to a smartphone in order to cause the smartphone to display the information relating to inhalation by the user.
• the communication unit 115 may receive new OS information from a server in order to update the OS information stored in the memory unit 114.
• the control unit 116 functions as an arithmetic processing device and a control device, and controls overall operation within the inhalation device 100 in accordance with various programs.
• the control unit 116 is realized by a CPU (central processing unit) or an electronic circuit such as a microprocessor, for example.
• the control unit 116 may also include a ROM (read-only memory) for storing programs and computation parameters, etc. which are used, and a RAM (random access memory) for temporarily storing suitably changing parameters, etc.
• the inhalation device 100 implements various types of processing on the basis of control performed by the control unit 116.
• Examples of processing controlled by the control unit 116 include: supply of electricity from the power source unit 111 to other components; charging of the power source unit 111; detection of information by the sensor unit 112; notification of information by the notification unit 113; storage and reading of information by the memory unit 114; and sending/receiving of information by the communication unit 115.
• Other processing implemented by the inhalation device 100 such as processing based on input of information to each component and information output from each component, are also controlled by means of the control unit 116.
• the holding portion 140 has an internal space 141, and holds the stick-type substrate 150 while accommodating a portion of the stick-type substrate 150 in the internal space 141.
• the holding portion 140 has an opening 142 allowing the internal space 141 to communicate with the outside, and holds the stick-type substrate 150 which has been inserted into the internal space 141 from the opening 142.
• the holding portion 140 is a cylindrical body comprising the opening 142 and a bottom portion 143 serving as a bottom surface, and defines a columnar internal space 141.
• the holding portion 140 is configured so that the inner diameter of at least part of the cylindrical body in a height direction is smaller than the outer diameter of the stick-type substrate 150, and is capable of holding the stick-type substrate 150, which has been inserted into the internal space 141, so as to press the stick-type substrate 150 from the outer circumference thereof.
• the holding portion 140 also has a function for defining a flow path for air passing through the stick-type substrate 150.
• An air inflow hole which is an inlet for air into the flow path is disposed in the bottom portion 143, for example. Meanwhile, the opening 142 forms an air outflow hole, which is an outlet for air from the flow path.
• the stick-type substrate 150 is a substrate in the shape of a stick which generates an aerosol.
• the stick-type substrate 150 comprises a substrate portion 151 and a mouthpiece portion 152.
• the substrate portion 151 comprises an aerosol source.
• the aerosol source is atomized by heating so as to generate an aerosol.
• the aerosol source may be, for example, a tobacco-derived material such as shredded tobacco, or a processed product obtained by molding a tobacco raw material into a granular form, a sheet form, or a powder form.
• the aerosol source may also contain a non-tobacco-derived substance produced from a plant other than tobacco (e.g., mint or herb, etc.).
• the aerosol source may contain a drug to be inhaled by a patient.
• the aerosol source is not limited to a solid, and may equally be a polyhydric alcohol such as glycerol or propylene glycol, or may be a liquid such as water, for example.
• a polyhydric alcohol such as glycerol or propylene glycol
• a liquid such as water, for example.
• the mouthpiece portion 152 is a member which is held in the user's mouth during inhalation. In a state in which the stick-type substrate 150 is being held in the holding portion 140, at least part of the mouthpiece portion 152 protrudes from the opening 142. When the user then inhales with the mouthpiece portion 152, which protrudes from the opening 142, held in the mouth, air flows into the holding portion 140 from the air inflow hole which is not depicted. The air which has flowed in passes through the internal space 141 of the holding portion 140, that is, through the substrate portion 151, and reaches the user's mouth together with the aerosol generated from the substrate portion 151.
• the heating unit 121 heats the aerosol source and thereby atomizes the aerosol source to generate an aerosol.
• the heating unit 121 has a blade-like form and is arranged so as to protrude into the internal space 141 from the bottom portion 143 of the holding portion 140.
• the blade-like heating unit 121 therefore pierces the substrate portion 151 of the stick-type substrate 150 and is inserted inside the stick-type substrate 150.
• the heating unit 121 generates heat, the aerosol source contained in the stick-type substrate 150 is then heated from the inside of the stick-type substrate 150 and atomized, generating the aerosol.
• the heating unit 121 generates heat when supplied with electricity from the power source unit 111.
• the heating unit 121 when the sensor unit 112 has detected that there has been predetermined user input, the heating unit 121, which has been supplied with power, generates heat, and an aerosol is generated from the stick-type substrate 150 as a result of the temperature of the stick-type substrate 150 reaching a predetermined temperature.
• the inhalation device 100 is capable of enabling inhalation by the user.
• the electrical supply to the heating unit 121 may be stopped when the sensor unit 112 has detected that there has been predetermined user input.
• the aerosol may be generated by the heating unit 121, which has been supplied with power, during a period in which the sensor unit 112 detects that there is inhalation by the user.
• a projection is provided so as to cover a gap formed in the bottom portion 143 of the holding portion 140, thereby making it possible to suppress an inflow of water, which has poured into the internal space 141 of the holding portion 140, to the gap.
• the structure of the bottom portion 143 of this holding portion 140 will be described in detail below.
• FIG. 2 is a schematic view in cross section showing the first configuration example of the bottom portion 143 of the holding portion 140.
• a main body portion 160 is provided at the bottom portion 143 of the holding portion 140.
• the main body portion 160 includes a first fixing portion 161 and a second fixing portion 162, and supports the heating unit 121 by sandwiching a flange portion 122 and an extension 123 extending from the heating unit 121, between the first fixing portion 161 and the second fixing portion 162. Furthermore, the main body portion 160 is accommodated in a casing 164 having a cylindrical structure.
• the heating unit 121 constitutes a blade-type heater for heating the stick-type substrate 150 inserted into the internal space 141 of the holding portion 140.
• the heating unit 121 protrudes into the internal space 141 through the bottom portion 143 from outside of the holding portion 140, and is thereby inserted inside the stick-type substrate 150 held in the internal space 141.
• the heating unit 121 may be, for example, a PTC (positive temperature coefficient) heater which generates heat by being energized.
• the flange portion 122 is a projection which projects in a direction orthogonal to a direction of extension of the heating unit 121, at one end of the heating unit 121 on the opposite side to the other end protruding into the internal space 141 of the holding portion 140.
• the flange portion 122 is sandwiched between the first fixing portion 161 and the second fixing portion 162 by way of a horizontal support portion 163 in the direction of extension of the heating unit 121.
• the flange portion 122 may be formed by a material that does not generate heat as a result of energization.
• the first fixing portion 161 is provided by a recessed structure which is open on one face on the opposite side to the side on which the holding portion 140 is provided.
• the second fixing portion 162 is accommodated together with the flange portion 122 inside the recessed structure of the first fixing portion 161, and has an overhang 1621 which becomes larger toward an inside face of the recessed structure of the first flange portion 161.
• the second fixing portion 162 is mated by causing the overhang 1621 to protrude into a cutout 1611 provided in the side face of the first fixing portion 161, whereby the second fixing portion 162 is fixed so as not to become detached from the first fixing portion 161.
• a gap 171 is formed along the outer shape of the first fixing portion 161, between the first fixing portion 161 and the casing 164.
• the gap 171 is sealed by a sealing member 170 which is provided inside the gap 171, sandwiched between the casing 164 and the first fixing portion 161.
• the sealing member 170 is a ring-shaped member formed by an elastic material or metal material.
• the sealing member 170 may be an O-ring, a gasket, or a sealing washer, etc. formed from rubber, silicone resin, various types of organic resins, or aluminum, etc.
• a projection 144 protrudes from the first fixing portion 161 so as to cover an opening of the gap 171 at the bottom portion 143 of the holding portion 140.
• the inhalation device 100 is capable of reducing the amount of water flowing into the gap 171 by narrowing the opening of the gap 171 by means of the projection 144.
• the sealing member 170 seals the gap 171 by generating stress between the casing 164 and the first fixing member 161 by means of a restoring force produced by elastic deformation. Consequently, if a force were applied to the sealing member 170 in the direction of extension of the gap 171 due to water pressure or discharge pressure of a water stream, etc., the sealing member 170 could deform, which might rupture sealing of the gap 171.
• a water stream flowing into the gap 171 can be blocked by the projection 144, so it is possible to prevent the water stream from hitting the sealing member 170 directly, and to prevent excessive water pressure from being exerted on the sealing member 170.
• the shape of the projection 44 provided that it is capable of covering the opening of the gap 171.
• the height of an end portion of the projection 144 is preferably no less than the height of the surface of the first fixing portion 161 on which the projection 144 is provided, in order to prevent penetration of water into the gap 171 more reliably.
• the projection 144 may be configured with a shape having a rectangular cross-sectional shape, as shown in fig. 3 , or may be configured with a shape having a triangular cross-sectional shape, as shown in fig. 4 and 5 .
• the projection 144 may also be configured with a shape having a cross-sectional shape including a curve, as shown in fig. 6 .
• a height P2 of a tip end portion of the projection 144 may be the same as (i.e., on the same surface as) a height P1 of any surface of the first fixing portion 161 on which the projection 144 is provided, as shown in fig. 3 and 4 .
• the height P2 of the tip end portion of the projection 144 may be greater than the height P1 of any surface of the first fixing portion 161 on which the projection 144 is provided, as shown in fig. 5 and 6 .
• a projection 144 having the shapes above is capable of further improving waterproofing of the inhalation device 100 because it is capable of suppressing an inflow of water to the gap 171.
• FIG. 7 is a schematic view in cross section showing a variant example in which a plurality of projections 144A, 144B protrude from the first fixing portion 161.
• Fig. 8 is a schematic view in cross section showing a variant example in which a plurality of projections 144A, 144B protrude from the first fixing portion 161, and a counter projection 165 protrudes from the casing 164.
• a plurality of projections 144A, 144B protrude from the first fixing portion 161 so as to cover the opening of the gap 171.
• the plurality of projections 144A, 144B may be provided one above another in the extension direction of the gap 171.
• the areas of the plurality of projections 144A, 144B covering the opening of the gap 171 may be the same as or different from each other. In this way, the inhalation device 100 is capable of further improving waterproofing because the inflow of water to the gap 171 can be further suppressed by the plurality of projections 144A, 144B.
• a counter projection 165 may further be provided on the casing 164 on a surface facing the plurality of projections 144A, 144B.
• the counter projection 165 mates with the opposing projections 144A, 144B and can thereby form a zigzagging flow path between the projections 144A, 144B.
• the counter projection 165 can therefore further increase resistance when water flows into the gap 171 from the internal space 141 of the holding portion 140. In this way, the inhalation device 100 is capable of further improving waterproofing by further suppressing inflow of water to the gap 171.
• the projection 144 is provided in the main body portion 160 which includes the first fixing portion 161 and the second fixing portion 162.
• the projection 144 protrudes from the main body portion 160 so as to cover the opening of the gap 171 formed between the main body portion 160 and the casing 164, thereby making it possible to suppress inflow of water to the gap 171.
• the projection 144 is capable of preventing water from flowing directly into the gap 171 by blocking the opening of the gap 171.
• the projection 144 is capable of preventing the sealing member 170 from deforming due to water pressure, which would lead to a reduction in properties of sealing the gap 171.
• the projection 144 is capable of improving waterproofing of the inhalation device 100 because it is capable of suppressing an inflow of water from the internal space 141 to inside the inhalation device 100.
• FIG. 9 is a schematic view in cross section showing the second configuration example of the bottom portion 143 of the holding portion 140.
• the main body portion 160 is provided at the bottom portion 143 of the holding portion 140.
• the main body portion 160 includes the first fixing portion 161 and the second fixing portion 162, and supports the heating unit 121 by sandwiching the flange portion 122 and the extension 123 extending from the heating unit 121, between the first fixing portion 161 and the second fixing portion 162.
• the heating unit 121, the flange portion 122, the extension 123, the first fixing portion 161, and the second fixing portion 162 are substantially the same as in the first configuration example and will therefore not be described again.
• a gap 171 extending in the direction of extension of the heating unit 121 is formed along the outer shape of the first fixing portion 161, between the first fixing portion 161 and the heating unit 121. Furthermore, the opening of the gap 171 is covered by the projection 144 protruding from the first fixing portion 161 toward the heating unit 121. That is to say, in the second configuration example, the position where the gap 171 is formed at the bottom portion 143 of the holding portion 140 differs from that of the first configuration example.
• the projection 144 is capable of increasing resistance when water flows into the gap 171 by narrowing the width of the opening of the gap 171, and the amount of water leaking into the gap 171 can therefore be reduced, in the same way as in the first configuration example. Furthermore, the projection 144 is capable of preventing water from flowing directly into the gap 171 formed in the bottom portion 143 of the holding portion 140 by covering the gap 171. Accordingly, the projection 144 is capable of improving waterproofing of the inhalation device 100.
• Fig. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a model for deriving the amount of water flowing through the gap 171 when no projection 144 is provided.
• Fig. 11 is a schematic diagram showing a model for deriving the amount of water flowing through the gap 171 when the projection 144 is provided. In fig. 10 and 11 , it is assumed for simplicity that the sealing member 170 is not provided inside the gap 171.
• the inhalation device 100 is capable of considerably reducing the amount of water penetrating into the gap 171 by narrowing the opening width of the gap 171 by means of the projection 144.
• the inhalation device 100 comprises the heating unit 121 having a blade-like structure, which heats the stick-type substrate 150 from the inside, but the present invention is not limited to this example.
• the gap 171 is formed in the internal space 141 of the holding portion 140, there is no particular limitation as to the method for heating the stick-type substrate 150 in the inhalation device 100.
• the inhalation device 100 may comprise a heating unit such as a film heater for heating the stick-type substrate 150 from the outside, or may comprise a heating unit such as a susceptor which is induction heated by means of a variable magnetic field.

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• 2022
  • 2022-11-02 JP JP2024553998A patent/JPWO2024095387A1/ja active Pending
  • 2022-11-02 EP EP22964407.5A patent/EP4602939A1/en active Pending
  • 2022-11-02 WO PCT/JP2022/040965 patent/WO2024095387A1/ja active Application Filing

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