FIELD
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The present disclosure relates to a cleaning tool system.
BACKGROUND
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A typical aerosol generating apparatus may comprise a power supply and an aerosol generating unit that is driven by the power supply. The aerosol generating unit is configured to aerosolise an aerosol precursor to generate an aerosol. The aerosol precursor may include loose leaf material and/or other substances that are heated by the aerosol generating unit.
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Known aerosol generating apparatuses may require that the aerosol generating unit is manually cleaned from time to time. For example, residues of the aerosol precursor may be removed from the aerosol generating apparatus, for example from the aerosol generating unit. To do so, cleaning tools can be used.
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In spite of the effort already invested in the development of aerosol generating apparatuses further improvements are desirable.
SUMMARY
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In a first aspect, the present disclosure provides a cleaning tool system including a cleaning tool for cleaning an aerosol generating unit (e.g. including a heating element) and a body for storing the cleaning tool, wherein the aerosol generating unit is configured to generate an aerosol from a consumable (e.g. the heating element is configured to heat a consumable to generate an aerosol therefrom). In some examples, the body includes a channel formed therein for removably receiving the cleaning tool. Optionally, the body further includes a first engagement element and a second engagement element at respective positions spaced along a length of the channel. Further optionally, the first engagement element and the second engagement element are resiliently deformable to press the cleaning tool against a wall of the channel when received therein.
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In a second aspect, the present disclosure provides an aerosol generating apparatus that comprises an aerosol generating unit for generating an aerosol from a consumable including a precursor. The aerosol generating unit can include the heating element. Optionally, the aerosol generating apparatus includes a housing and the housing forms at least a port of the body as described herein.
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In this way, the cleaning tool can be stored within the body without or only minor rattling in a stored position. For example, the first engagement element retains or holds the cleaning tool in the channel of the body and the second engagement element minimises lateral movements of the cleaning tool in the channel which would otherwise produce rattling noises.
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The cleaning tool may be an elongate component having a longitudinal direction. The channel may also be elongate defining a channel axis. The length of the channel can be measured along the channel axis. The cleaning tool may be longitudinally inserted into the channel. For example, the cleaning tool is moved along its longitudinal direction along the channel axis when inserting the cleaning tool into the channel.
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The channel may be closed except for a channel opening through which the cleaning tool can be inserted. The channel opening may be arranged on an outer surface of the body. The channel may be or has the characteristics of a blind hole in the body.
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The first engagement element may be configured to retain the cleaning tool in the channel. For example, if the first engagement element is engaged with the cleaning tool, the cleaning tool is retained in the channel (e.g. the cleaning tool can no longer longitudinally move in the channel, e.g. along the channel axis). The first engagement element may be configured to provide a releasable connection or fixation of the cleaning tool to the body.
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The second engagement element may not be configured to retain the cleaning tool in the channel. For example, if the second engagement element is engaged with the cleaning tool, the cleaning tool may still be able to move within the channel (e.g. along the channel axis). The second engagement element may be configured to suppress a lateral movement of the cleaning tool within the channel, but not a longitudinal movement of the cleaning tool in the channel. The first engagement element may be configured to suppress both the lateral movement and the longitudinal movement. However, the first engagement element may still allow a rotational movement of the cleaning device around the location of the first engagement element (which can cause lateral movement (e.g. perpendicular to the channel axis) of the cleaning tool in the channel at the location of the second engagement element). In this way, the cleaning tool would be laterally movable at the location of the second engagement element which can be suppressed by the second engagement element. The second engagement element may be considered an anti-rattle means.
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To increase the effect of the second engagement element, the first engagement element is arranged spaced away from the second engagement element, for example along the channel axis. Optionally, the distance between the first engagement element and the second engagement element is made as large as possible. For example, the first engagement element is close to the bottom of the channel and the second engagement element is close to the channel opening.
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In some examples, the cleaning tool includes a handle and a shaft. Optionally, the handle is arranged on a proximal end of the shaft and/or a cleaning portion is arranged on a distal end of the shaft.
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The cleaning portion may include any means which is suitable for cleaning the aerosol generating unit, e.g. the heating element. For example, the cleaning portion may include a brush, a spatula, and/or other shapes that can be used for cleaning the aerosol generating unit. The cleaning tool may be a cleaning pick.
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The handle may be that portion of the cleaning tool which is gripped by the user when operating the cleaning tool, e.g. when cleaning the aerosol generating unit. The shaft and/or the cleaning portion may be made from a rigid and/or heat resistant material, such as metal. The handle may be made from a thermally nonconductive material, such as a plastic material. The handle may be shaped to conform to the channel opening.
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The shaft may have a uniform the shape along the longitudinal direction of the cleaning tool except for the cleaning portion. For example, the shaft may have a rectangular, quadratic, circular, or oval shape in a cross-sectional view (except for the cleaning portion). The cross-sectional shape of the channel may conform to the cross-sectional shape of the shaft.
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The second engagement element may be configured to catch a tip end of the cleaning tool (e.g. the cleaning portion) when the cleaning tool (inadvertently) slides out of the channel, for example if the cleaning tool is inadvertently dislodged. Thus, the force provided by resiliently deforming the second engagement element upon insertion of the cleaning tool into the channel may be overcome when completely removing the cleaning tool from the channel. The second engagement element may provide a stopper which needs to be dislodged when inserting or removing the cleaning tool into/from the channel.
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In some examples, the first engagement element provides a (releasable) interference fit with the cleaning tool.
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In some examples, the first engagement element and/or the second engagement element include a flexible portion for providing a biasing force when the cleaning tool is received in the channel.
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The first engagement element may include a flexible portion and a rigid portion. The rigid portion may be solely connected to the body via the flexible portion. The rigid portion may be movable by an elastic deformation of the flexible portion, for example relative to the body. The rigid portion may provide the interference fit with the cleaning tool. The rigid portion can be that part of the first engagement element that engages with the cleaning tool. Further, the rigid portion may have a shape that conforms to a corresponding part of the cleaning tool for providing the interference fit.
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The flexible portion and the rigid portion may be a unitary component made from an elastically deformable material. The rigid portion may be thicker or has a higher cross-sectional diameter compared to the flexible portion. In this way, if a force acts on the first engagement element, the rigid portion is not or less deformed compared to the flexible portion. The flexible portion and the rigid portion may be made from a plastic or metal material. The first engagement element, optionally the flexible portion and the rigid portion, may be a unitary component with the body, for example with a wall of the channel.
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The second engagement element may also have a flexible portion and a rigid portion having the same characteristics and/or optional features as the flexible portion and the rigid portion, respectively, of the first engagement element. A difference may be that the rigid portion of the second engagement element does not provide an interference fit with the cleaning tool but only contacts the cleaning tool when the cleaning tool is inserted into the channel. Further, the second engagement element may only consist of the flexible portion.
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In some examples, the first engagement element and/or the second engagement element protrude into the channel when not elastically deformed and/or the first engagement element and/or the second engagement element constrict the channel when not elastically deformed
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The flexible portions of the first and/or second engagement elements may not be elastically deformed when the cleaning tool is not inserted into the channel. The flexible portions of the first and/or second engagement elements may be elastically deformed when the cleaning tool is inserted into the channel so that the flexible portions press the respective rigid portions against the cleaning tool.
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When the cleaning tool is not inserted into the channel, the rigid portions of the first and/or second engagement elements may protrude into or constrict the channel so that the cleaning tool contacts the rigid portions when being inserted into the channel.
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The rigid portions of the first and/or second engagement elements may be spaced apart from a wall of the channel when not deformed. Further, the wall of the channel may include a recess at the location of the first engagement element and/or second engagement element. In this case, the rigid portions of the first and/or second engagement elements may be spaced apart from a bottom of the recess so that the rigid portion can be moved towards the bottom of the recess when the cleaning tool is inserted into the channel.
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The channel may have a rectangular cross-sectional shape and the shaft (without the cleaning portion) may also have a rectangular cross-sectional shape. For example, the channel may have an upper wall, a lower wall opposing the upper wall, a first (left) sidewall, and a second (right) sidewall opposing the first sidewall. The upper and lower walls may be arranged between the first side and second sidewalls.
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The first engagement element and the second engagement element may be arranged on the first sidewall. Alternatively, the first engagement element may be arranged on the first sidewall and the second engagement element may be arranged on the second sidewall. The second engagement element when arranged on the first sidewall may press the cleaning tool against the second sidewall. Further, for providing the interference fit, the first engagement element when being arranged on the first sidewall may also press the cleaning tool against the second sidewall.
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The shaft of the cleaning tool may have a maximal width which is smaller than a distance between the first sidewall and the second sidewall. The maximal width of the shaft of the cleaning tool may be measured at a point where the distance along a direction of the width is maximal. The shaft of the cleaning tool may have a height that is approximately equal or is (only slightly) smaller than the distance between the upper and the lower wall of the channel. This may help that the shaft of the cleaning tool has only little play in a direction of the height of the shaft. Thus, when inserting the cleaning tool into the channel, the shaft of the cleaning tool may slide along the upper wall and the lower wall of the channel.
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The body may have a layered structure, wherein optionally each layer corresponds to a different component of the body or of the aerosol generating apparatus. For example, the first sidewall and the second sidewall may be provided by a cut-out in a first flat or plate-like component. The upper wall may be provided by a second flat or plate-like component of the body which is arranged on the first component. The lower wall may be provided by a third flat or plate-like component of the body which is arranged below the first component.
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Optionally, the first engagement element and/or the second engagement element may be simultaneously manufactured with the channel, e.g. by cutting, punching, or stamping the first component. In this way, the heights of the first engagement element and/or the second engagement element is identical to the height of the channel.
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In some examples, the channel is configured to receive only a shaft of the cleaning tool. Optionally, the handle abuts against the channel opening when the shaft is received in the channel. In this way, the handle may provide an end stop for the insertion of the cleaning tool into the channel and/or the handle can may be made larger so that can be more easily gripped by the user.
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In some examples, the body is a component separate to an aerosol generating apparatus including the aerosol generating unit (e.g. the heating element). In this way, the body of the cleaning tool system provides a storage container for the cleaning tool. This might be helpful because the cleaning tool can be a small component that can be easily lost. The body provides a means for securely storing the cleaning tool such that it is not damaged as the shaft might be easily bent due to its fragility because of its size.
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The body and the aerosol generating apparatus may be two completely separated components. Thus, the body can be handled, carried, and/or gripped by a user independently from the aerosol generating apparatus. The body and the cleaning tool (e.g. the cleaning tool system) may be a complementary accessory to the aerosol generating apparatus.
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In this example, the body may include fastening means for fastening the body to other components, e.g. to the aerosol generating apparatus, a charger for the aerosol generating apparatus, or the like. Further, the body may include means for fastening the body to clothes, bags, suitcases and/or other devices worn or carried by the user.
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In some examples, the body provides at least a part of a housing of the aerosol generating apparatus, for example a housing of the device body of the aerosol generating apparatus. Optionally, the aerosol generating apparatus includes at least one of a power supply, an electrical circuitry, and a memory and the housing surrounds at least one of: the power supply, the electrical circuitry, and the memory. Optionally, the channel is at least partially provided by the housing. In this way, the cleaning tool can be stored within the housing of the aerosol generating apparatus.
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The channel may extend completely in a wall of the housing. In other words, all walls of the channel may be provided by the housing. Alternatively, the housing may provide one or more walls of the channel. For example, one or more walls of the channel may be provided by components other than the housing.
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The housing may be the housing of a device body of the aerosol generating apparatus and can include a device housing (which may provide the second component of the layered structure of the body described above) and a rear housing (which may provide the first component of the layered structure of the body described above). The third component of the layered structure of the body described above may be provided by the power supply or a cover of the power supply. In this way, the housing of the aerosol generating apparatus, optionally of the device body, may have to double functionality of housing the components of the device body and providing the channel for storing the cleaning tool.
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The handle of the cleaning tool may be shaped to conform with a recess in the housing so that an outer surface of the handle is flush with the outer surface of the housing. Further, the provision of both the first engagement element and the second engagement element provides a secure attachment of the cleaning tool within the channel of the housing e.g. even for situations where the aerosol generating apparatus is carried by the user for example in a bag or pocket of the user.
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In some examples, the first engagement element is configured to engage with the cleaning portion. In this way, the shape of the cleaning portion can be used for both cleaning the aerosol generating unit and providing interference fit with the first engagement element.
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The cleaning portion may be shaped so that residues of the precursor in and/or on the aerosol generating unit can be removed. For example, the cleaning portion may be shaped to insert, move along, and/or scratch certain parts of the aerosol generating unit where residues of the precursor are expected after use.
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Thus, the cleaning portion may have a different shape compared to the rest of the shaft of the cleaning tool. This difference in the shape may be used to provide interference fit with the first engagement element.
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The cleaning portion may have the same height as the rest of the shaft while a width of the cleaning portion may be different compared to the rest of the shaft.
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In some examples, the cleaning portion includes a protrusion and/or a cut-out. In this way, the cleaning tool can be used as a cleaning pick including a burr.
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The cleaning portion can be an integral part of the shaft and, therefore, can be manufactured in a simple manner. The protrusion may protrude in the direction of the width of the shaft and/or the cut-out may be a recess in the direction of the width of the shaft. The one or more protrusions and/or the one or more cut-outs may be arranged on the same side of the shaft. For example, the one or more protrusions and/or the one or more cut-outs face the first sidewall of the channel when the cleaning tool is inserted into the channel. The cut-out can form a notch in the shaft.
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Optionally, the cleaning portion includes a single protrusion and a single cut-out which are arranged adjacent to each other.
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In some examples, a width of the channel is greater the combined width of the shaft and the protrusion for longitudinally receiving the shaft.
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The provision of the protrusion requires that the width of the channel is larger than the width of the rest of the shaft of the cleaning tool so that the cleaning tool can be longitudinal inserted into the channel. In other words, the dimension of the shaft in the width direction at the point of the protrusion determines the minimum width of the channel.
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In some examples, the first engagement element is configured to engage with the cut-out. In this way, an interference fit can be provided in that the first engagement element presses against the cut-out.
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For example, the shape of the rigid portion of the first engagement element may conform to the shape of the cut-out. For example, the cut-out and the rigid portion of the first engagement element both have the shape of a half-circle. The half-circle of the rigid portion protrudes into the channel whereas the half-circle of the cut-out is recessed compared to a side wall of the shaft. The rigid portion may be considered providing a detent.
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In some examples, the aerosol generating apparatus includes an elongate heating element. Optionally, the elongate heating element has an outer surface. Further, optionally a shape of the cut-out matches a shape of the outer surface of the elongate heating element. Due to the conformity of the shape of the cut-out to the shape of the elongate heating element, the cut-out can be used to clean the outer surface of the heating element. This provides a simple cleaning tool for the heating element. Further, the part of the first engagement element cooperating with the cut-out (e.g. the rigid portion or detent) can be made large so that the first engagement element can better handle wear from the cleaning portion.
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The rigid portion of the first engagement element may also matches or conforms to the shape of the heating element. For example, if the heating element has the shape of a cylinder, a radius of the cylinder of the heating element matches the radius of the rigid portion of the first engagement element as well as the radius of the cut-out.
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In some examples, the cleaning tool system and/or the aerosol generating apparatus further include the consumable.
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The preceding summary is provided for purposes of summarizing some examples to provide a basic understanding of aspects of the subject matter described herein. Accordingly, the above-described features should not be construed to narrow the scope or spirit of the subject matter described herein in any way. Moreover, the above and/or proceeding examples may be combined in any suitable combination to provide further examples, except where such a combination is clearly impermissible or expressly avoided. Other features, aspects, and advantages of the subject matter described herein will become apparent from the following text and the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
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Aspects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following description of examples in reference to the appended drawings in which like numerals denote like elements.
- Fig. 1 is a block system diagram showing an example aerosol generating apparatus.
- Fig. 2 is a block system diagram showing an example implementation of the apparatus of Fig. 1, where the aerosol generating apparatus is configured to generate aerosol from a solid precursor.
- Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example implementation of the apparatus of Fig. 2.
- Fig. 4 is a schematic exploded view showing an example cleaning tool system including an exemplary embodiment of the aerosol generating apparatus of Fig. 2.
- Fig. 5 is a schematic perspective view of a cleaning tool and a rear housing of the aerosol generating apparatus of Fig. 4.
- Fig. 6a is a side view of a further example of the cleaning tool system including a body for the cleaning tool of Fig. 4.
- Fig. 6b is a front view of the body of Fig. 6a.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
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Before describing several examples implementing the present disclosure, it is to be understood that the present disclosure is not limited by specific construction details or process steps set forth in the following description and accompanying drawings. Rather, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the present disclosure that the systems, apparatuses and/or methods described herein could be embodied differently and/or be practiced or carried out in various alternative ways.
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Unless otherwise defined herein, scientific and technical terms used in connection with the presently disclosed inventive concept(s) shall have the meanings that are commonly understood by those of ordinary skill in the art, and known techniques and procedures may be performed according to conventional methods well known in the art and as described in various general and more specific references that may be cited and discussed in the present specification.
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Any patents, published patent applications, and non-patent publications mentioned in the specification are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
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All examples implementing the present disclosure can be made and executed without undue experimentation in light of the present disclosure. While particular examples have been described, it will be apparent to those of skill in the art that variations may be applied to the systems, apparatus, and/or methods and in the steps or in the sequence of steps of the methods described herein without departing from the concept, spirit, and scope of the inventive concept(s). All such similar substitutions and modifications apparent to those skilled in the art are deemed to be within the spirit, scope, and concept of the inventive concept(s) as defined by the appended claims.
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The use of the term "a" or "an" in the claims and/or the specification may mean "one," as well as "one or more," "at least one," and "one or more than one." As such, the terms "a," "an," and "the," as well as all singular terms, include plural referents unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Likewise, plural terms shall include the singular unless otherwise required by context.
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The use of the term "or" in the present disclosure (including the claims) is used to mean an inclusive "and/or" unless explicitly indicated to refer to alternatives only or unless the alternatives are mutually exclusive. For example, a condition "A or B" is satisfied by any of the following: A is true (or present) and B is false (or not present), A is false (or not present) and B is true (or present), and both A and B are true (or present).
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As used in this specification and claim(s), the words "comprising, "having," "including," or "containing" (and any forms thereof, such as "comprise" and "comprises," "have" and "has," "includes" and "include," or "contains" and "contain," respectively) are inclusive or open-ended and do not exclude additional, unrecited elements or method steps.
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Unless otherwise explicitly stated as incompatible, or the physics or otherwise of the embodiments, examples, or claims prevent such a combination, the features of examples disclosed herein, and of the claims, may be integrated together in any suitable arrangement, especially ones where there is a beneficial effect in doing so. This is not limited to only any specified benefit, and instead may arise from an "ex post facto" benefit. This is to say that the combination of features is not limited by the described forms, particularly the form (e.g. numbering) of example(s), embodiment(s), or dependency of claim(s). Moreover, this also applies to the phrase "in one embodiment," "according to an embodiment," and the like, which are merely a stylistic form of wording and are not to be construed as limiting the following features to a separate embodiment to all other instances of the same or similar wording. This is to say, a reference to 'an,' 'one,' or 'some' embodiment(s) may be a reference to any one or more, and/or all embodiments, or combination(s) thereof, disclosed. Also, similarly, the reference to "the" embodiment may not be limited to the immediately preceding embodiment. Further, all references to one or more embodiments or examples are to be construed as non-limiting to the claims.
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The present disclosure may be better understood in view of the following explanations, wherein the terms used that are separated by "or" may be used interchangeably:
As used herein, an "aerosol generating apparatus" (or "electronic(e)-cigarette") may be an apparatus configured to deliver an aerosol to a user for inhalation by the user. The apparatus may additionally/alternatively be referred to as a "smoking substitute apparatus", if it is intended to be used instead of a conventional combustible smoking article. As used herein a combustible "smoking article" may refer to a cigarette, cigar, pipe or other article, that produces smoke (an aerosol comprising solid particulates and gas) via heating above the thermal decomposition temperature (typically by combustion and/or pyrolysis). An aerosol generated by the apparatus may comprise an aerosol with particle sizes of 0.2 - 7 microns, or less than 10 microns, or less than 7 microns. This particle size may be achieved by control of one or more of: heater temperature; cooling rate as the vapour condenses to an aerosol; flow properties including turbulence and velocity. The generation of aerosol by the aerosol generating apparatus may be controlled by an input device. The input device may be configured to be user-activated, and may for example include or take the form of an actuator (e.g. actuation button) and/or an airflow sensor.
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Each occurrence of the aerosol generating apparatus being caused to generate aerosol for a period of time (which may be variable) may be referred to as an "activation" of the aerosol generating apparatus. The aerosol generating apparatus may be arranged to allow an amount of aerosol delivered to a user to be varied per activation (as opposed to delivering a fixed dose of aerosol), e.g. by activating an aerosol generating unit of the apparatus for a variable amount of time, e.g. based on the strength/duration of a draw of a user through a flow path of the apparatus (to replicate an effect of smoking a conventional combustible smoking article).
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The aerosol generating apparatus may be portable. As used herein, the term "portable" may refer to the apparatus being for use when held by a user.
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As used herein, an "aerosol" may include a suspension of precursor, including as one or more of: solid particles; liquid droplets; gas. Said suspension may be in a gas including air. An aerosol herein may generally refer to/include a vapour. An aerosol may include one or more components of the precursor.
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As used herein, a "precursor" may include one or more of a: liquid; solid; gel; loose leaf material; other substance. The precursor may be processed by an aerosol generating unit of an aerosol generating apparatus to generate an aerosol. The precursor may include one or more of: an active component; a carrier; a flavouring. The active component may include one or more of nicotine; caffeine; a cannabidiol oil; a non-pharmaceutical formulation, e.g. a formulation which is not for treatment of a disease or physiological malfunction of the human body. The active component may be carried by the carrier, which may be a liquid, including propylene glycol and/or glycerine. The term "flavouring" may refer to a component that provides a taste and/or a smell to the user. The flavouring may include one or more of: Ethylvanillin (vanilla); menthol, Isoamyl acetate (banana oil); or other. The precursor may include a substrate, e.g. reconstituted tobacco to carry one or more of the active component; a carrier; a flavouring.
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As used herein, a "flow path" may refer to a path or enclosed passageway through an aerosol generating apparatus, e.g. for delivery of an aerosol to a user. The flow path may be arranged to receive aerosol from an aerosol generating unit. When referring to the flow path, upstream and downstream may be defined in respect of a direction of flow in the flow path, e.g. with an outlet being downstream of an inlet.
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As used herein, a "delivery system" may be a system operative to deliver an aerosol to a user. The delivery system may include a mouthpiece and a flow path.
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As used herein, a "flow" may refer to a flow in a flow path. A flow may include aerosol generated from the precursor. The flow may include air, which may be induced into the flow path via a puff by a user.
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As used herein, a "puff" (or "inhale" or "draw") by a user may refer to expansion of lungs and/or oral cavity of a user to create a pressure reduction that induces flow through the flow path.
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As used herein, an "aerosol generating unit" may refer to a device configured to generate an aerosol from a precursor. The aerosol generating unit may include a unit to generate a vapour directly from the precursor (e.g. a heating system or other system) or an aerosol directly from the precursor (e.g. an atomiser including an ultrasonic system, a flow expansion system operative to carry droplets of the precursor in the flow without using electrical energy or other system). A plurality of aerosol generating units to generate a plurality of aerosols (for example, from a plurality of different aerosol precursors) may be present in an aerosol generating apparatus.
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As used herein, a "heating system" may refer to an arrangement of at least one heating element, which is operable to aerosolise a precursor once heated. The at least one heating element may be electrically resistive to produce heat from the flow of electrical current therethrough. The at least one heating element may be arranged as a susceptor to produce heat when penetrated by an alternating magnetic field. The heating system may be configured to heat a precursor to below 300 or 350 degrees C, including without combustion.
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As used herein, a "consumable" may refer to a unit that includes a precursor. The consumable may include an aerosol generating unit, e.g. it may be arranged as a cartomizer. The consumable may include a mouthpiece. The consumable may include an information carrying medium. With liquid or gel implementations of the precursor, e.g. an e-liquid, the consumable may be referred to as a "capsule" or a "pod" or an "e-liquid consumable". The capsule/pod may include a storage portion, e.g. a reservoir or tank, for storage of the precursor. With solid material implementations of the precursor, e.g. tobacco or reconstituted tobacco formulation, the consumable may be referred to as a "stick" or "package" or "heat-not-burn consumable". In a heat-not-burn consumable, the mouthpiece may be implemented as a filter and the consumable may be arranged to carry the precursor. The consumable may be implemented as a dosage or pre-portioned amount of material, including a loose-leaf product.
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As used herein "heat-not-burn" (or "HNB" or "heated precursor") may refer to the heating of a precursor, typically tobacco, without combustion, or without substantial combustion (i.e. localised combustion may be experienced of limited portions of the precursor, including of less than 5% of the total volume).
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Referring to Fig. 1, an example aerosol generating apparatus 1 includes a power supply 2, for supply of electrical energy. The apparatus 1 includes an aerosol generating unit 4 that is driven by the power supply 2. The power supply 2 may include an electric power supply in the form of a battery and/or an electrical connection to an external power source. The apparatus 1 includes a precursor 6, which in use is aerosolised by the aerosol generating unit 4 to generate an aerosol. The apparatus 2 may also include a delivery system 8 for delivery of the aerosol to a user.
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Electrical circuitry (not shown in figure 1) may be implemented to control the interoperability of the power supply 4 and aerosol generating unit 6.
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In variant examples, which are not illustrated, the power supply 2 may be omitted since, e.g. an aerosol generating unit implemented as an atomiser with flow expansion may not require a power supply.
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Fig. 2 shows an implementation of the apparatus 1 of Fig. 1, where the aerosol generating apparatus 1 is configured to generate aerosol by a-heat not-burn process.
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In this example, the apparatus 1 includes a device body 50 and a consumable 70.
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In this example, the device body 50 includes the power supply 4 and a heating system 52 (an example of the aerosol generating unit 4). The heating system 54 includes at least one heating element 54. The device body 50 may additionally include any one or more of electrical circuitry 56, a memory 58, a wireless interface 60, one or more other components 62.
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The electrical circuitry 56 may include a processing resource for controlling one or more operations of the device body 50, e.g. based on instructions stored in the memory 58.
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The wireless interface 60 may be configured to communicate wirelessly with an external (e.g. mobile) device, e.g. via Bluetooth.
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The other component(s) 62 may include an actuator, one or more user interface devices configured to convey information to a user and/or a charging port, for example (see e.g. Fig. 3).
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The device body 50 is configured to engage with the consumable 70 such that the at least one heating element 54 of the heating system 52 penetrates into the solid precursor 6 of the consumable 70. In use, a user may activate the aerosol generating apparatus 1 to cause the heating system 52 of the device body 50 to cause the at least one heating element 54 to heat the solid precursor 6 of the consumable 70 (without combusting it) by conductive heat transfer, to generate an aerosol which is inhaled by the user.
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Fig. 3 shows an example implementation of the aerosol generating device 1 of Fig. 2.
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As depicted in Fig. 3, the consumable 70 can be implemented as a stick, which is engaged with the device body 50 by inserting the stick into an aperture at a top end 53 of the device body 50, which causes the at least one heating element 54 of the heating system 52 to penetrate into the solid precursor 6.
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The consumable 70 includes the solid precursor 6 proximal to the device body 50, and a filter distal to the device body 50. The filter serves as the mouthpiece of the consumable 70 and thus the apparatus 1 as a whole. The solid precursor 6 may be a reconstituted tobacco formulation.
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In this example, the at least one heating element 54 is a rod-shaped element with a circular transverse profile. Other heating element shapes are possible, e.g. the at least one heating element 54 may be blade-shaped (with a rectangular transverse profile) or tube-shaped (e.g. with a hollow transverse profile).
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In this example, the aerosol generating apparatus 1 further includes a cap device 51. In use the cap device 51 is engaged at a top end 53 of the device body 50. Although not apparent from Fig. 3, the cap device 51 is moveable relative to the body 50. In particular, the cap device 51 is slidable and can slide along an axial direction of the device body 50 which may coincide or is parallel to a longitudinal direction of a first arm 104.
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The device body 50 can also include an actuator 55 on an outer surface of the body 50. In this example, the actuator 55 has the form of a button.
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The device body 50 may also include a user interface device configured to convey information to a user. Here, the user interface device is implemented as a plurality of lights 57, which may e.g. be configured to illuminate when the apparatus 1 is activated and/or to indicate a charging state of the power supply 4. Other user interface devices are possible, e.g. to convey information haptically or audibly to a user.
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The device body 50 may also include an airflow sensor which detects airflow in the aerosol generating apparatus 1 (e.g. caused by a user inhaling through the consumable 70). This may be used to count puffs, for example.
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In this example, the consumable 70 includes a flow path which transmits aerosol generated by the at least one heating element 54 to the mouthpiece of the consumable 70.
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In this example, the aerosol generating unit 4 is provided by the above-described heating system 52 and the delivery system 8 is provided by the above-described flow path and mouthpiece of the consumable 70.
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Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, a further example of the aerosol generating apparatus 1 is shown. The aerosol generating apparatus 1 of Figs. 4 and 5 includes the same optional features, characteristics, and/or embodiments as the aerosol generating apparatus 1 of Fig. 3 except for the following differences.
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The aerosol generating apparatus 1 of Figs. 4 and 5 is part of a cleaning tool system 100 that further includes a cleaning tool 96. The aerosol generating apparatus 1 of Figs. 4 and 5 includes the device body 50 and the cap device 51. The cap device 51 includes a cap housing 80, a cap chassis, and/or a mouthpiece element 84. The device body 50 includes a bridge element 86, an arm portion 88, the heating element 54, a device housing 90, a front cover 92, and/or a rear cover 94.
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The cap chassis 82 of the cap device 51 may be a unitary component made from a plastic material. For example, the cap chassis 82 may be moulded in a single processing step. The cap chassis 82 may be considered a chassis for supporting the mouthpiece element 84 and the cap housing 80.
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The cap chassis 82 includes a first cavity and/or a second cavity (not visible in Figs. 4 and 5). The first cavity and/or the second cavity are elongate and extend parallel to the axial direction of the device body 50 in a closed position. The first cavity and/or the second cavity are configured to receive a first arm 104 and/or a second arm 106, respectively, of the arm portion 88. Thus, in the closed position, the first arm 104 is located within the first cavity and the second arm 106 is located within the second cavity.
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The first arm 104 and/or the second arm 106 are provided for supporting the cap device 51 on the device body 50. Thus, the first arm 104 and/or the second arm 106 have sufficient strength for supporting the cap device 51 on the device body 50. The cap device 51 is supported on the device body 50 by the interaction between the first arm 104 and/or the second arm 106 with the first cavity and the second cavity, respectively. For example, the first cavity and the second cavity are shaped to conform to the first arm 104 and/or the second arm 106, respectively, for example such that there is only minimal play so that the cap device 51 is tightly fitted to the device body 50.
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The cap chassis 82 further includes a heating chamber for receiving the heating element 54 in the closed position (not visible in Fig. 4). An axis of the heating chamber coincides with or is coaxial to an axis of the heating element 54. The heating chamber is dimensioned to receive the consumable 70. The heating chamber may be closed by the mouthpiece element 84. The heating chamber may be a part of the delivery system 8.
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The mouthpiece element 84 may generally have the shape of a wheel or disk and is rotatably supported by the cap chassis 82. For example, the cap chassis 82 may include an axle bearing 110 which might include opposing through-holes in a cavity in which the mouthpiece element 84 is received. The mouthpiece element 84 may be include an axle which is inserted into the through-holes of the axle bearing 110. In this way, the mouthpiece element 84 may be rotated, for example by a user. The mouthpiece element 84 includes an air passage 112 which may have to same diameter as the heating chamber. The air passage 112 may be a part of the delivery system 8.
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In an open position of the mouthpiece element 84, the air passage 112 is coaxial to the heating chamber so that the consumable 70 can be inserted into the heating chamber through the air passage 112. In a closed position of the mouthpiece element 84, the mouthpiece element 84 blocks the heating chamber. The mouthpiece element 84 may be brought from the closed position to the open position and vice versa by rotating the heating element 84. In the closed position of the mouthpiece element 84, the air passage 112 may have an angle of 90° compared to the open position.
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The cap chassis 82 may also include a first spring attachment portion for attaching a spring element (not shown in figures) to the cap chassis 82 and, therefore, to the cap device 51. The spring element may further be attached to the device body 50 for providing a bi-stable configuration of the cap device 51 relative to the device body 50. The other end of the spring element may be attached to a second spring attachment portion 116 which is arranged on the spring bridge element 86. The first spring attachment portion and the second spring attachment portion 116 may be pins that protrude from the cap chassis 82 and the bridge element 86, respectively. The spring element may be part of a fixing means for holding and/or maintaining the cap chassis 82 either in the closed position or in the cleaning position.
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The bridge element 86 may be made from a reinforced plastic material and is attached to the first arm 104 and the second arm 106. For example, the first arm 104 and the second arm 106 each include a slot through which ends of the bridge element 86 are inserted. The bridge element 86 may be attached the first arm 104 and the second arm 106 by a snap fit connection.
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In the closed position, the cap device 51 abuts against the device body 50 and the first arm 104 and the second arm 106 are fully inserted into the first cavity and the second cavity, respectively. In the closed position, the cap device 51 covers the heating element 54 so that the heating element 54 is not accessible by a user. The heating chamber may completely surround the heating element 54 in the closed position. The consumable 70 may be inserted into the heating chamber via the mouthpiece element 84 if the mouthpiece element 84 is in the open position.
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In a cleaning position, the cap device 51 is positioned away from the device body 50 compared to the closed position. This may be achieved by sliding the cap chassis 82 or the cap device 51 along the first arm 104 and the second arm 106. In the cleaning position, the heating element 54 is accessible by the user, for example for cleaning the heating element 54. The first arm 104 and the second arm 106 may only partly be located within the first cavity and the second cavity, respectively. However, the first arm 104 and the second arm 106 may be sufficiently inserted into the first cavity and the second cavity, respectively, so that first arm 104 and the second arm 162 can still support the cap device 51 on the device body 50. The spring element biases the cap device 51 to the closed position or to the cleaning position. The bridge element 86 may provide a stopper or abutment portion against which the cap device 51, optionally the cap chassis 82, abuts in the cleaning position.
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The cap housing 80 of the cap device 51 covers the cap chassis 82 and/or partly the mouthpiece element 84. The cap housing 80 may be made from a metal material and may be made from the same material as the device housing 90. Thus, in the closed position, the aerosol generating apparatus 1 may include a continuous outer surface as there is no gap between the cap housing 80 and the device housing 90. The cap housing 80 may be attached to the cap chassis 82 by a snap fit connection. The mouthpiece element 84 may protrude from the cap chassis 82 and the cap housing 80 both in the open position and the closed position.
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The front cover 92 and the rear cover 94 may surround the power supply 4 (e.g. including battery), the electrical circuitry 56, the memory 58, the wireless interface 60, and/or the other components 62. As such, they are not visible in Fig. 4. The front cover 92 may include a button and/or a user interface (e.g. including one or more LEDs). The front cover 92 and the rear cover 94 may be surrounded by device housing 90 and/or may be made from a plastic material.
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The rear cover 94 and the cap housing may form part of a body 98 for storing the cleaning tool 96.
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The front cover 92, the rear cover 94, and/or the device housing 90 may be attached to the arm portion 88, e.g. using a snap fit connection. The arm portion 88 includes the first arm 104, the second arm 106, and/or a base portion 118. The first arm 104, the second arm 106, and the base portion 118 may be a unitary component, e.g. moulded from a plastic material. The first arm 104, the second arm 106, and the heating element 54 may protrude from the base portion 118. The heating element 54 can extend parallel to the first arm 104 and the second arm 106. Thus, the heating element 54 is arranged between the first arm 104 and the second arm 106. The base portion 118 may form a top end of the device body 50.
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The rear cover 94 and the cap housing may form part of a body 98 for storing the cleaning tool 96. The body 98 may be a part of the cleaning tool system 100 which is provided by the device body 50 of the aerosol generating apparatus 1 in this example. The rear housing 92 may include a slot which provides a channel 120 for the cleaning tool 96 in cooperation with the device housing 90. The channel 120 may be shaped and dimensioned such that the cleaning tool 96 can be inserted into the channel 120 along a direction of extension of the channel 120.
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The cleaning tool 96 may be used for cleaning the heating element 54, for example if the cap device 51 is in the cleaning position. To this end, the cleaning tool 96 may be removed from the channel 120 and inserted into the channel 120 after cleaning. The cleaning tool 96 may be a component separate from the aerosol generating apparatus 1.
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The cleaning tool 96 includes a shaft 122 and a handle 124. The shaft 122 may be an elongate component which may be the only part of the cleaning tool 96 which is inserted into the channel 120. The device housing 90 and the rear cover 94 may include a recess for receiving the handle 124 (not shown in the figures). Further, the handle 124 may be received in the recess so that an outer surface of the handle 124 (that is exposed when the cleaning tool 96 is received within the channel 120) is flush with the outer surface of the device housing 90.
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The shaft 122 includes a proximal end and a distal end. The handle 124 is attached to the shaft 122 at its proximal end. A cleaning portion 126 is provided at the distal end of the shaft 122. The cleaning portion 126 is configured and/or shape to clean the aerosol generating unit 4, optionally the heating element 54. The cleaning portion 126 includes a cut-out 128 and a protrusion 130 both of which are located at the same side of the shaft 122. The cut-out 128 and the protrusion 130 are arranged side-by-side to each other. A width of the shaft 122 is maximal at the position of the protrusion 130. A width of the channel 120 is larger than the width of the shaft 122 at the position of the protrusion 130 so that the shaft 122 can be longitudinally inserted into the channel 120.
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The shape and/or radius of the cut-out 128 conforms to the shape and/or radius, respectively, of the heating element 54. This allows to scratch the cut-out 128 along the heating element 54 for removing residues of the precursor 6 that stick to the heating element 54. As the cut-out 128 conforms to the shape of the heating element 54, the cleaning efficiency can be increased.
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The rear cover 94 and the device housing 90 may form part of a body 98 for storing the cleaning tool 96. The rear cover 94 provides a first sidewall and a second side wall of the channel 120. The device housing 90 provides an upper wall of the channel 120. A lower wall of the channel 120 may be provided by the power supply 4 or a component covering the power supply 4 (not shown in the figures).
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The body 98 includes a first engagement element 132 and a second engagement element 134 which are spaced apart along the longitudinal direction of the channel 120. The first engagement element 132 engages with the cleaning portion 126 for retaining the shaft 122 in the channel 120. The first engagement element 132 may provide an interference fit with the cleaning portion 126. The second engagement element 134 presses the shaft 122 against a side wall of the channel 120. The second engagement element 134 may not provide an interference fit but only presses the shaft 122 against the side wall of the channel 120. Thus, the second engagement element 134 would not be configured to retain the shaft 122 fully inserted in the channel 120.
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The first engagement element 132 and the second engagement element 134 form a unitary component with the rear cover 94. For example, the first engagement element 132 and the second engagement element 134 may be manufactured by punching or cutting the rear cover 94, for example simultaneously when cutting or punching the channel 120 into the rear element 94.
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The first engagement element 132 and the second engagement element 134 each include a rigid portion 136 and a flexible portion 138. The rigid portion 136 and the flexible portion 138 may from a lever protruding into the channel 120. The flexible portion 138 may be a thinned or narrowed region of the lever and the rigid portion 136 may be a thickened or bulging portion of the lever. The flexible portion 138 can be elastically deformed for moving the rigid portion 136 in and out of the channel 120. For example, the rigid portion 136 protrudes into the channel 120 such that it is a laterally pushed when inserting the shaft 122 into the channel 120. Due to the elasticity of the flexible portion 138, the rigid portion 136 of the first engagement element 132 engages with the cut-out 128 and the rigid portion 136 of the second engagement element 134 presses the shaft 122 against the opposing wall of the channel 120. Thus, the first engagement element 132 retains the shaft 122 within the channel 120 and a second engagement element 134 minimises or prevents that the shaft 122 rattles in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the channel 120.
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Fig. 6a and 6b show another exemplary embodiment of the cleaning tool system 100. The body 98 and/or the cleaning tool 96 can include the same features, optional embodiments, and/or characteristics as the body 98 and/or the cleaning tool 96, respectively, of the cleaning tool system 100 shown in Figs. 4 and 5 except for the following differences.
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The body 98 of Fig. 6a and 6b is separate to the aerosol generating apparatus 1. For example, the body 98 can be attached to the aerosol generating apparatus 1. The body 98 may be an elongate component for receiving and storing the cleaning tool 96. The body 98 also includes the channel 120 which may have the same characteristics and/or optional features as the channel 120 described in connection with Figs. 4 and 5.
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The body 98 may include a channel opening 140 which may be a dimensioned to receive the handle 124 so that the handle 124 does not protrude from the body 98 when the cleaning tool 96 is fully inserted into the channel 120. The channel opening 140 may be a recess or depression in a side surface of the body 98.