KR20220017948A - Aerosol-generating device with inclined heating chamber - Google Patents

Abstract

The aerosol-generating device 100 has an inclined heating chamber 104 . The heating chamber 104 includes an elongate cavity 106 having a cavity axis A extending centrally along the length of the elongated cavity 106 . There is an opening 108 in the outer surface 110 of the body 102 , through which a substrate carrier 112 comprising an aerosol-generating material passes through the heating chamber 104 along a common axis A. It may be inserted into the elongate cavity 106 . The user operating element 114 is arranged to be movable in a movement area B of the outer surface 110 of the body 102 , the movement area B extending at least mostly to one side of the opening 108 . The common axis A lies along a direction extending out of the sloping opening 108 away from the movement area B.

Description

Aerosol-generating device with inclined heating chamber

The present disclosure relates to an aerosol-generating device having a tilted heating chamber. In particular, the present disclosure is applicable, though not entirely, to portable aerosol-generating devices that may be standalone and may be low temperature. Such devices may generate an aerosol for inhalation by heating by conduction, convection, and/or radiation instead of burning tobacco or other suitable material.

Assistive devices to assist habitual smokers in their desire to quit smoking traditional tobacco products, such as cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos, and rolled cigarettes, due to the use and popularity of risk reduction or risk modifying devices (also known as vaporizers) has grown rapidly over the past few years. As opposed to burning tobacco as in conventional tobacco products, a variety of devices and systems are available that heat or agitate an aerosol substrate to produce an aerosol and/or vapor for inhalation.

One type of hazard reduction or hazard modification device is a heated substrate aerosol-generating device or a heat-not-burn device. Devices of this type generate aerosols and/or vapors by heating a solid aerosol substrate (typically moist leaf tobacco) to a temperature typically in the range of 100°C to 300°C. By heating an aerosol substrate, but not combusting or calcining it, it releases an aerosol and/or vapor that contains the components the user would like to obtain, but with little or even no toxic and carcinogenic by-products of combustion and calcination.

Existing aerosol-generating devices tend to be very small and compact, which can make them inconvenient to use. For example, in use, it is useful to provide a button for actuating the device proximate to the area into which the aerosol substrate is to be inserted. In this case, the user's thumb or finger on the button may be obstructed (eg, may hit the user's nose) when the user is attempting to simultaneously inhale vapor or aerosol from the device. In another embodiment, a slidable cover may be provided that, in use, selectively covers and exposes an opening into which the aerosol substrate is inserted. Such a cover may be moved by a user during use to insert an aerosol substrate into the device, in which case the user's hand operating the cover or the cover itself may interfere with the user's attempt to inhale vapors or aerosols from the device. can be (eg, it can hit the user's nose).

Aspects of the present disclosure are set forth in the appended claims.

According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an aerosol-generating device, the aerosol-generating device comprising:

main body;

a heating chamber housed in the body, the heating chamber including an elongate cavity;

an opening in the outer surface of the body through which a substrate carrier comprising an aerosol-generating material can be inserted into the elongate cavity of the heating chamber along a cavity axis, the cavity axis along the length of the elongate cavity a centrally extending opening; and

a user manipulated element arranged to be movable in a movement area of the outer surface of the body, the movement area extending at least predominantly to one side of the opening;

The cavity axis lies along a direction extending out of the sloping opening away from the movement area.

By arranging the coaxial axis to be directed away from the movement area, the direction in which the substrate carrier may be inserted into the heating chamber may follow a path spaced from the movement area outside of the opening at a greater spacing than other directions. Thus, the heating chamber is more accessible. Further, even in the case of a substrate carrier that protrudes from the heating chamber and is drawn directly by the user during use, or in other arrangements where the position of the mouthpiece to be inhaled by the user is defined by a common axis, the user is more likely to move away from the movement area than in other arrangements. It is possible to position their faces further apart. For example, a user's mouth may be closer to the opening, while their nose is further spaced from the movement area. Thus, in one specific embodiment, the portion of the substrate carrier that protrudes out of the opening in use may extend along the direction of the common axis, which may be inclined away from the movement area.

Optionally, the movement area of the outer surface of the body has a movement area axis perpendicular to the center of the movement area, the common axis being in the range 0° < α ≤ 45°, preferably in the range 10º < α ≤ 45º, more preferably It is inclined away from the axis of the movement area in the range 15º < α ≤ 35º, and most preferably by an angle α equal to about 20° or about 30°.

Optionally, the common axis and the movement area axis are staggered or intersected inside the body.

Optionally, the user operating element protrudes from the outer surface of the body.

Optionally, the user operating element is movable toward the body.

Optionally, the user operating element is movable relative to the opening between a closed position in which the user operating element covers the opening and an open position in which the opening is not substantially blocked by the user operating element.

Optionally, the user operating element is slidable over the outer surface of the body. The user operating element may be movable along an arc or straight line.

Optionally, the aerosol-generating device comprises a detector for detecting movement of the user-operated element, and a controller for controlling operation of the aerosol-generating device in response to detecting the movement.

Optionally, the body extends between the first end and the second end, and the opening and the user operating 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-generating 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 opposite surfaces and a second pair of opposite surfaces, the first pair of opposite surfaces being larger than the second pair of opposite surfaces.

Optionally, the aerosol-generating device comprises a power reservoir, the power reservoir being elongated and having a power reservoir axis extending centrally along a length thereof, the power reservoir axis and the common axis toward each other towards the first end of the body converges

Optionally, a perimeter of the aperture defines an aperture plane, the central axis of the elongate cavity being inclined with respect to a plane perpendicular to the aperture plane.

Optionally, the substrate carrier is elongate and, in use, is positioned coaxially with the elongate cavity.

Optionally, the substrate carrier projects outwardly from the opening when fully inserted into the elongate cavity.

Optionally, the substrate comprises a tobacco-containing material containing a volatile tobacco flavor compound that is released from the substrate upon heating. The substrate may include non-tobacco aerosol formers such as glycerin and propylene glycol.

According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an aerosol-generating device, the aerosol-generating device comprising:

main body;

a heating chamber housed in the body, the heating chamber including an elongate cavity;

an opening in the outer surface of the body through which a substrate carrier comprising an aerosol-generating material can be inserted into the elongate cavity of the heating chamber along a common axis, the cavity axis extending centrally along the length of the elongate cavity; opening; and

A user operating element comprising: a user operating element movable relative to the opening between a closed position in which the user operating element covers the opening and an open position in which the opening is not substantially blocked by the user operating element; is in the open position, the user operating element is positioned over an open area on the outer surface, the open area of the outer surface having an open area axis perpendicular to the center of the open area;

The central axis and the open area axis diverge from each other to the exterior of the body in a direction away from the body.

Optionally, the cavity axis and the open area axis intersect within the interior of the body.

Optionally, the cavity axis is in the range 0° < β ≤ 45°, preferably in the range 10° < β ≤ 45°, more preferably in the range 15° < β ≤ 35°, and most preferably about 25° or about It diverges from the domain axis at an angle β equal to 30°.

According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an aerosol-generating device, the aerosol-generating device comprising:

main body;

a heating chamber housed in the body, the heating chamber including an elongate cavity;

an opening in the outer surface of the body through which a substrate carrier comprising an aerosol-generating material can be inserted into the elongate cavity of the heating chamber along a common axis, the cavity axis extending centrally along the length of the elongate cavity; opening; and

a user-operable element, wherein the user-operable element is movable relative to the opening between a closed position in which the user-operable element covers the opening and an open position in which the opening is not substantially blocked by the user-operable element; the open position of the activatable element is displaced by a vector from the closed position of the user activatable element;

The angle γ between the direction extending out of the opening in which the cavity axis lies and the vector is an obtuse angle.

Optionally, the angle γ is in the range of 90° < γ ≤ 135°, preferably in the range of 91° < γ ≤ 100°, and more preferably about 95° or about 100°.

Optionally, the user actuable element is movable between a closed position and an open position along an arc, the vector being a chord of the arc.

Each aspect above may include any one or more features recited in relation to the other aspect above.

This disclosure extends to any novel aspect or feature described and/or illustrated herein. Additional features of the present disclosure are characterized by other independent and dependent claims.

It should be noted that the term "comprising" as used herein means "consisting at least in part." Accordingly, when interpreting a description that includes the term “comprising” in this document, other features or features described in the preface to the term may be present. Related terms such as “comprise” and “comprises” should be interpreted in the same way. As used herein, "(s)" after a noun means the plural and/or singular form of the noun.

As used herein, the term “aerosol” refers to a system of particles dispersed in a gas or air, such as a mist, mist, or smoke. Accordingly, the term "aerosolise" (or "aerosolize") means to aerosolize and/or to disperse as an aerosol. Note that the meaning of “aerosol/aerosolize” is consistent with each of “volatilize”, “spray” and “evaporate” as defined above. For the avoidance of doubt, aerosol is used to consistently describe a spray or droplet comprising atomized, volatilized or vaporized particles. Aerosols also include sprays or droplets comprising any combination of atomized, volatilized or vaporized particles.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A preferred embodiment is now described only by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a schematic perspective view of an aerosol-generating device according to a first embodiment, with a user-operated element in a closed position;
FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the aerosol-generating device of FIG. 1 , with a user-operated element in an open position;
FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the aerosol-generating device of FIG. 1 with an inserted substrate carrier and a user operating element in an open position;
Fig. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the aerosol-generating device of Fig. 1 showing a first geometrical arrangement;
5a and 5b are schematic plan views of the aerosol-generating device of FIG. 1 with user operating elements in a closed position and an open position, respectively, showing a first geometrical arrangement;
6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the aerosol-generating device of FIG. 1 showing a second geometrical arrangement;
7a and 7b are schematic top views of the aerosol-generating device of FIG. 1 with a user-operated element in a closed position and an open position, respectively, showing a second geometrical arrangement;
Fig. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the aerosol-generating device of Fig. 1 showing a third geometrical arrangement;
FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the aerosol-generating device of FIG. 1 showing a further geometrical relationship;
10 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an aerosol-generating device according to a second embodiment showing a first geometrical arrangement;
FIG. 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the aerosol-generating device of FIG. 10 showing a second geometrical arrangement;
12 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the aerosol-generating device of FIG. 10 showing a third geometrical arrangement;

first embodiment

Referring to FIG. 1 , in accordance with a first embodiment of the present disclosure, an aerosol-generating device 100 includes a body 102 that houses various components of the aerosol-generating device 100 . The body 102 includes an outer surface 110 that defines a shape of the body 102 . The outer surface 110 may be of any shape, as long as it is sized to match the described components of the aerosol-generating device 100 . The outer surface 110 may be formed of any suitable material, or actually a layer of material. The size and shape of the outer surface 110 is selected such that a user conveniently and comfortably grips the aerosol-generating device 100 .

The aerosol-generating device 100 has a first end 120 , the first end 120 being shown as facing downward in FIG. 1 , and for convenience described as the lower, base or lower end of the aerosol-generating device 100 . . The second end 122 of the aerosol-generating device 100 , which is the end opposite the first end 120 , is shown as facing upward in FIG. 1 , and for convenience is described as the upper or upper end of the aerosol-generating device 100 . do. During use, the user typically has the first end 120 in a distal position and/or downwards relative to the user's mouth and the second end 122 in a proximal position relative to the user's mouth and/or Orient the aerosol-generating device 100 so as to be upwards.

The body 102 has a first pair of opposing surfaces 110a and a second pair of opposing surfaces 110b (along with a first end 120 and a second end 122 ), the first opposing surfaces 110a The pair and the second pair of opposing surfaces 110b jointly form a side surface of the outer surface 110 and, together with the first end 120 and the second end 122 of the aerosol-generating device 100 , the outer surface (110) is formed. The first pair of opposing surfaces 110a is larger than the second pair of opposing surfaces 110b , which results in the body 102 having a generally wide or tablet shape. The second end 120 has, for example, a flat portion to allow the aerosol-generating device 100 to be placed upright on a surface (ie, the second end 122 is the top portion). The body 102 shown in FIG. 1 extends in a direction between the first end 120 and the second end 122 of the body 102 .

The second end 122 includes a user manipulation element 114 . In this embodiment, the user operating element 114 is a closure shown in FIG. 1 in a closed position and in FIG. 2 in an open position. The user operating element 114 is arranged to be movable between a closed position and an open position by sliding relative to the body 102 . Typically, the user operating element 114 slides along the second end 122 of the aerosol-generating 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 movement between the open and closed positions of the user operating element 114 may be rotational or hinged. 1 and 2 , the second end 122 of the body 102 has a curved profile such that the user operating element 114 follows a curved path between the open and closed positions. Move.

The user-operated element 114 may be freely movable between an open position and a closed position, such that the user-operated element 114 may be stably stopped at any point between the two positions. In other embodiments, the user-operated element 114 may be bistable such that the user-operated element 114 is stable in the open and closed positions, but spaced apart from the (intermediate) position between the open and closed positions in the open position or biased towards the closed position. Generally in the case of bistable, the user operating element 114 is biased towards the open position from the various intermediate positions closest to the open position, and biased towards the closed position from the various intermediate positions closest to the closed position.

The open position of the user-operated element 114 is maintained in this position by the user-operated element 114 exposing the opening 108 such that the opening 108 remains substantially unobstructed by the user-operated element 114 . It can be seen in FIG. 2 that it is referred to as so. An opening 108 is provided in the outer surface 110 of the aerosol-generating device 100 . The opening has a perimeter 128 that meets the outer surface 110 . The opening 108 allows a user to access the interior of the aerosol-generating device 100 (when the opening 108 is exposed as shown). In particular, the opening 108 connects the exterior of the aerosol-generating device 100 to the interior of the heating chamber 104 (not shown in FIG. 2 , but see eg FIG. 4 ). The openings 108 are typically circular, although it will be appreciated that the openings 108 may have other shapes (eg, square or triangular).

3 shows the aerosol-generating device 100 in use. As can be seen, the substrate carrier 112 can be inserted into the opening 108 . The substrate carrier 112 is typically elongate (as shown) and has a first end for insertion through the opening 108 into the heating chamber 104 . The first end of the substrate carrier 112 includes an aerosol substrate arranged to be heated to volatilize one or more components of the aerosol substrate. The aerosol substrate may comprise a tobacco-containing material that typically contains a volatile compound. The aerosol substrate may be a solid or semi-solid material. Examples of solids include powders, granules, pellets, pieces, strands, foams, mousses, and sheets. The aerosol substrate may comprise an aerosol former. Examples of aerosol formers include polyhydric alcohols such as glycerol, propylene glycol, and combinations thereof. Volatile compounds may include nicotine or other flavor compounds such as tobacco or non-tobacco volatiles. In general, an aerosol substrate, upon heating, forms an aerosol comprising a vapor that can be inhaled by a user. The substrate carrier 112 has a second end opposite its first end, through which a user can inhale the vapor or aerosol. Between the first end (including the aerosol substrate) and the second end, there may be an area for condensing the vapor, an area for cooling the vapor, an area for filtering the vapor, and the like. In some embodiments, there may simply be a hollow tube. In either case, the user inhales the vapor or aerosol through the substrate carrier 112 and out of the second end of the substrate carrier 112 . This is typically accomplished by a user inhaling through the substrate carrier 112 by placing their lips around the second end of the substrate carrier 112 . When the aerosol-generating device 100 heats the aerosol substrate at the first end of the substrate carrier 112 to form a vapor or aerosol, the user can inhale the aerosol or vapor in this way.

It can be seen in FIG. 3 that the user operating element 114 comprises a rounded projection that protrudes upwardly (or generally spaced apart from the body 102 ) from the second end 122 of the aerosol-generating device 100 . A user attempting to place their lips around the second end of the substrate carrier 112 (the end protruding from the aerosol-generating device 100 ) risks the protrusion obstructing their nose. This may cause annoyance or inconvenience to the user. However, as shown in FIG. 3 , when the substrate carrier 112 is inserted into the aerosol-generating device 100 through the opening 108 , the user-operated element 114 is in the open position. It is inclined away from the position of (114). Accordingly, the second end of the substrate carrier 112 is directed away from the protrusion, leaving 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-generating device 100 is shown in more detail in FIG. 4 , in which a cross-sectional view of the aerosol-generating device 100 is shown. The heating chamber 104 has an elongate cavity 106, which has a cavity axis A, shown by the line marked AA in the figure, and the cavity axis A has an elongate cavity ( 106) extends centrally. The common axis A may be used to define the inclined arrangement described above with reference to FIG. 3 . Although the substrate carrier 112 is not shown in FIG. 4 , nevertheless, when the heating chamber 104 (and the cavity axis A) is tilted, the substrate carrier 112 is inserted into the heating chamber 104 . , it can be seen that the aerosol-generating device 100 is positioned to ensure that the substrate carrier 112 is inclined away from the open position of the user-operated element 114 . In this regard, the elongate cavity 106 acts as a guide to define the angle of inclination of the substrate carrier 112 inserted into the heating chamber 104 through the opening 108 . Also, a substrate carrier 112 that is elongate, straight, and/or rod-shaped is conducive to this arrangement.

The user-operated element 114 is slid in the moving area B, shown in cross-section by the line marked B-B in the figure. The user operating element 114 moves along a path that is, in the illustrated embodiment, an arc, in order to move between the open position and the closed position. The second end 122 of the aerosol-generating device 100 is generally convex, and the convex shape determines the arc over which the user-operated element 114 is slid.

It can be seen in FIG. 4 that the common axis A is inclined away from the movement area B. As shown in FIG. 5A and 5B show a top view of a second end 122 of the aerosol-generating device 100 , wherein the movement area B (shown as a hashed area in FIGS. 5A and 5B ) is, of It can be seen from this that it includes all areas overlapped by the user-operated element 114 within the movement range. Moving area B is shown bounded by a dashed line where no other features overlap with moving area B. For example, in FIG. 5A , the lower portion of the movement area B is overlapped by the user operating element 114 (indicated by a solid line in its closed position), while the upper portion of the movement area B is When the operating element 114 is moved to its open position (the open position shown in FIG. 5B ), it is shown by a dashed line indicating the outer extent of the position it occupies.

Substantially, the movement area B moves the aerosol below the user-operated element 114 as it moves between the closed position (shown in FIG. 5A ) and the open position (shown in FIG. 5B ). An area external to the generating device 100 and including the area covered by the user operating element 114 when the user operating element 114 is in the closed position and the open position, respectively. The movement of the user operating element 114 causes the movement area B to be mostly located on one side of the opening 108 (toward the top of FIGS. 5A and 5B ). The cavity axis A is inclined away from the side of the opening 108 where the movement area B is mostly located, as shown in FIG. 4 .

The center of the moving area B is the geometric center of the moving area B. The movement area B has a movement area axis C, which is shown in the figure by the line marked CC and is defined by the vertical line of the movement area B at the center of the movement area B. do. The movement area axis C extends through the center at that point perpendicular to the outer surface 110 of the aerosol-generating device 100 , or perpendicular to the movement area B . Referring back to FIG. 4 , it can be seen that the cavity axis A is inclined away from the movement area axis C. The cavity axis A and the movement area axis C are inclined away from each other by an angle α. The angle α is shown to be about 20° in the illustrated embodiment. More generally, the angle α ranges from 15° < α ≤ 35°. In other embodiments, the angle α may be in the range of 10° < α ≤ 45°, or even in the range of 0° < α ≤ 45°, depending on the exact geometry of the aerosol-generating device 100 . The magnitude of the angle α can be selected to tilt the common axis A sufficiently away from the movement area B, so that the user can ensure that their nose (or other part of their face) is not aligned with the user-manipulated element ( Vapors or aerosols may be drawn through the substrate carrier 112 by placing their lips around the second end of the substrate carrier 112 (of a given length) without contacting the 114 .

Also, for example, extending perpendicularly to the length of the aerosol-generating device 100 (between the first end 120 and the second end 122 ) or between the pair of second faces 110b of the outer surface 110 . The angle α may be chosen such that the heating chamber 104 does not project too much over the body 102 of the aerosol-generating device 100 . As such, it can help the aerosol-generating device 100 to have a size and shape that is aesthetically pleasing and easier (eg, not too wide) for a user to grip tightly. The exact value of angle α may be selected to fit the aerosol-generating device 100 to the size and shape of the user-operated element 114 and the desired shape and size of the outer surface 110 .

Also shown in FIG. 4 is a power storage 126 . In this embodiment, the power reservoir 126 is a battery for powering a heater (not shown) of the heating chamber 104 to heat and volatilize the components of the aerosol substrate as described above. In embodiments where the power storage 126 is a battery, the heating chamber 104 may include an electric heater (not shown). The power reservoir 126 is electrically connected to the heating chamber 104 through a controller 118, which can act to adjust the heating profile of the heater, for example by ensuring rapid initial heating. , may act to decrease the time (known as the first puff time) between activation and generation of sufficient vapor or aerosol for a user to inhale through the substrate carrier 112 . Additionally or alternatively, the controller 118 may act to prevent overheating of the aerosol substrate by, for example, receiving temperature information from the heating chamber 104 and operating to maintain the temperature below a given threshold temperature. have.

As shown in FIG. 4 , the power storage 126 has a generally cylindrical shape. The power storage axis D, shown by the line marked D-D in the drawing, extends longitudinally along the center of the power storage 126 and therefore, in this embodiment, is the central axis of the cylindrical shape. As can be seen from the figure, the common axis (A) is inclined with respect to the power storage axis (D). More specifically, as shown, the common axis A and the power storage axis D converge towards each other towards the first end 120 of the body 102 . In the embodiment shown, the cavity axis A is inclined with respect to the power storage axis D by an angle greater than the angle α between the cavity axis A and the movement area axis C. In other words, the power storage axis D forms an angle with the movement area axis C such that these two axes C, D are drawn from the aerosol-generating device 100 outwardly from the second end 122 . As they are spaced apart and extended, they are emitted. However, instead, in some embodiments, the power storage axis D is parallel to the movement area axis C. Such an embodiment, for example, such that the body 102 does not flare outward toward the second end 122 and/or can have a uniform cross-sectional shape along its length (eg, It may be desirable to reduce the width of the body 102 towards the second end 122 , such that the body 102 becomes an elliptical cylinder, etc.), which in turn results in the user gripping the aerosol-generating device 100 . Comfort can be improved.

Note that the extensions of the movement area axis C and the cavity axis A towards the first end 120 of the aerosol-generating device 100 intersect inside the body 102 . However, this is not always the case, and in some embodiments, for example, when the angle α is smaller than that shown in FIG. 4 , the cavity axis A and the movement area axis C are 102 (eg, under the first end 120 ). Likewise, the common axis A and the movement area axis C do not intersect, but instead only of the body 102 , where they are closest to each other (eg, “staggered” but never actually met). It is possible to have points along their length either on the outside or within the body 102 , respectively. This may be the case in particular if the shape of the aerosol-generating device 100 is less symmetrical, such that the common axis A and the movement area axis C lie in a parallel plane. Similarly, in the illustrated embodiment, the common axis A and the power storage axis D intersect when extending towards the first end 120 . In the embodiment shown, the common axis A and the power storage axis D must extend below the first end 120 to intersect. That is, the intersection point is outside the body 102 . In another embodiment, the point of intersection between the common axis A and the power storage axis D is on the interior of the body 102 . This can be changed by changing the angle of inclination of the heating chamber 104 and/or the power source 126 . Again, in the less symmetrical case, the common axis A and the power storage axis D do not intersect, but instead merely “stagger” in the sense described above.

With reference to FIGS. 6 , 7A and 7B , the geometry of the aerosol-generating device 100 can be described in different ways with reference to the position of the user operating element 114 in the open position. The open position of the user operating element 114 defines an open area F, which is shown in cross-sectional view by the line marked FF in FIG. 6 and a hash area marked F in FIGS. 7A and 7B . is shown in plan view by The open area axis G, shown in FIG. 6 by the line marked GG, at that point extends through the center of the open area F, perpendicular to the outer surface 110 or perpendicular to the open area F. It is limited as a line to be The center of the open area F is the geometric center of the open area F. The open area F has an open area axis G, which is shown in the figure by the line marked GG and is defined by the vertical line of the open area F at the center of the open area F. do. As can be seen most clearly in FIGS. 7A and 7B , the open area F is the “footprint” of the user operating element 114 in the open position.

The open area F is shown bounded by a dashed line where the open area F is not overlapped by other features. For example, in FIG. 7A , the user operating element 114 is shown with a solid line in its closed position towards the lower portion of FIG. 7A . In contrast, the open area F is positioned towards the top of FIG. 7A , though shown as a dashed line bounding a hash area having the same shape and size as the user-operated element 114 . The open area includes the area overlapped by the user-operated element 114 when the user-operated element 114 is in the open position; That is, the open area F represents a position occupied by the user operating element 114 when moved to its open position. In FIG. 7b , the user-operated element 114 is shown in the open position, which (of course) overlaps the open area F. Substantially, the open area F is the area outside of the aerosol-generating device 100 below the user operating element 114 when the user operating element 114 is in the open position (in FIG. 7b , the open area ( F) and the user-operated element 114 are precisely aligned with each other for this reason).

It is clear that the open area F is located towards one side of the opening 108 (toward the top of FIGS. 7A and 7B ). Correspondingly, since only the position of the user operating element 114 in the open position is taken into account for defining the open area F, the open area axis G is located on this side of the opening 108 ( FIGS. 7a and 7b ). towards the top of the). As can be seen in FIGS. 6 , 7A and 7B , the heating chamber 104 (and the corresponding cavity axis A) is inclined away from the open area F . That is, the open area axis G and the cavity axis A diverge from each other out of the body 102 in an outward direction from the second end 122 of the aerosol-generating device 100 . In the embodiment shown, the angle β between the open area axis G and the cavity axis A is about 25°. More generally, the angle β ranges from 15° < β ≤ 35°. In other embodiments, the angle β may be in the range of 10° < β ≤ 45°, or even 0° < β ≤ 45°, depending on the exact geometry of the aerosol-generating device 100 . As mentioned above, different angles of inclination may be selected to implement different arrangements for various reasons (ergonomic, practical, aesthetic, etc.).

Optionally, extensions of the open area axis G and the cavity axis A towards the first end 120 of the aerosol-generating device 100 intersect inside the body 102 . However, this is not always the case, and in some embodiments, for example, when the angle β between the cavity axis A and the open area axis G is smaller than that shown in FIG. 6 , the cavity axis (A) and open area axis G intersect outside of body 102 (eg, below first end 120 ). Likewise, the common axis A and the open area axis G do not intersect, but instead only of the body 102 , where they are closest to each other (eg, “staggered” but never actually met). It is possible to have points along their length either on the outside or within the body 102 , respectively. This may be the case in particular if the shape of the aerosol-generating device 100 is less symmetrical, such that the common axis A and the open area axis G lie in a parallel plane.

Similarly, in the illustrated embodiment, the common axis A and the power storage axis D (not shown in FIG. 6 , but see FIG. 4 ) intersect when extending towards the first end 120 . . Once again, this point of intersection is external to the body 102 . In another embodiment, the point of intersection between the common axis A and the power storage axis D is on the interior of the body 102 . This can be changed by changing the angle of inclination of the heating chamber 104 and/or the power source 126 . Again, in the less symmetrical case, the common axis A and the power storage axis D do not intersect, but instead merely “stagger” in the sense described above.

Referring to FIG. 8 , the geometry of the aerosol-generating device 100 may be described with reference to the displacement of the user operating element 114 . In FIG. 8 , a vector H between the closed position of the user operating element 114 and the open position of the user operating element 114 is shown. Since the user-operated element 114 travels in a curved path between the closed position and the open position, the center of the side view of the user-operated element 114 is used in FIG. 8 to unambiguously define the endpoint of the vector H . Since the movement of the user operating element 114 between the open and closed positions is an arc, the vector H is a chord of this arc. In other cases, the center of the volume of the user-manipulated element 114 may be used to unambiguously define the starting and ending points of the vector H. In another embodiment, when the user operating element 114 is in the closed position, the points on the outer surface of the user operating element 114 intersecting the common axis A define the starting and ending points of the vector H. It is a position that can be used to limit

It can be seen in the figure that the vector H can extend rearward (to the left of the closed position in FIG. 8 ) to intersect the common axis A. An angle γ is formed between the vector H and the common axis A. This angle γ is the angle between the direction extending out of the opening 108 in which the cavity axis A lies and the vector H. The angle γ is an obtuse angle. In the embodiment shown, the angle γ is about 95°. More generally, the angle γ is in the range 91° < γ ≤ 100°. In other embodiments, the angle γ may range from 90° < γ ≤ 135°, depending on the exact geometry of the aerosol-generating device 100 . As mentioned above, different angles of inclination may be selected to implement different arrangements for various reasons (ergonomic, practical, aesthetic, etc.).

In this sense, the magnitude of the angle γ depends not only on the cavity axis A and on the inclination of the heating chamber 104 , but also on the user-operated element which increases the angle γ respectively (all other things being equal). The longer distance traveled along the curve by 114 and the angular distance around the curve of the second end 122 over which the user operating element 114 travels along the steeper curve and the second of the aerosol-generating device 100 . It also depends on the curvature of the end 122 . As mentioned above, it is possible for other points of the user-operated element 114 to be used instead of the center to define the vector H, as long as the same point is used for the start and end of the vector. As the user-operated element 114 moves between the open and closed positions, due to the curved path taken by the user-operated element 114, the direction and length of the vector H will vary if a non-central point is selected. will be. However, if an appropriate change to the value of the angle γ is made (which may not be an obtuse angle in this case), this does not affect the validity of the geometrical description of the slope.

In FIG. 9 , additional geometrical relationships of the components of the aerosol-generating device 100 are highlighted. Here, the perimeter 128 of the opening 108 is shown defining the opening plane E, which is shown in cross-section by the line marked E-E in the figure. That is, the edge(s) of the opening 108 defining the perimeter 128 of the opening lies in the opening plane E. That is, a two-dimensional shape (typically circular), as seen when viewed towards the opening 108 , may be formed from the perimeter 128 of the opening 108 . This two-dimensional shape lies on the aperture plane E, which is the plane defined by the aperture 104 . Of course, in variations of the embodiment, it is possible for the perimeter 128 of the opening 108 to define a non-planar shape (eg, a curved plane, curvature in one or more directions).

The aperture plane E defines an aperture axis J, shown by the line marked JJ in FIG. 8 , which is perpendicular or perpendicular to the aperture plane E, at the center of the aperture 108 ( eg, through the center). In the illustrated embodiment, it is clear that the aperture axis J is not aligned with the cavity axis A. Instead, the aperture axis J and the cavity axis A diverge from each other out of the body 102 in a direction away from the aerosol-generating device 100 from a point of intersection at the center of the aperture 108 . do. That is, the cavity axis A is inclined with respect to the opening axis J. According to this arrangement, the shape and orientation of the outer surface 110 at the point where the opening 108 is formed in the outer surface 110 (if the opening is covered in such a way that it is coplanar with the peripheral outer surface 110 , The inclination of the heating chamber 104 (implemented in the direction of the common axis A) from the center of the opening 108 , implemented in the direction of J, which can be considered an axis perpendicular to the outer surface 110 ). Note that is separated. That is, depending on the inclination of the heating chamber 104 , the outer surface 110 need not have any particular shape or any particular orientation. Specifically, the cavity axis A need not be perpendicular to the outer surface 110 . The geometry defined above by indicating the inclination of the common axis A with respect to the movement area B, the movement area axis C, the open area F, the open area axis G, and/or the vector H is, albeit with angles of different magnitudes, the opening plane ( Note that E) or the inclination of the aperture axis J may all be equally defined.

Of course, in variants of the embodiment, the opening plane E defined by the perimeter 128 of the opening 108 is not two-dimensional or flat, but rather has a non-planar shape (eg, a curved plane, one or more directions). curve) is possible. In this variant, it is still possible to define the aperture axis J, as it extends only through the center or center of the aperture 108 , perpendicular or perpendicular to the aperture plane E (either at the center or at the center). .

The user operating element 114 is described above as a closure that is selectively movable to cover or expose the opening 108 . However, in other embodiments, the user-operated element 114 has a different function. In some embodiments, the user operating element 114 is a button configured to move in a direction towards the body 102 to control operation of the aerosol-generating device 100 . In this embodiment, the movement area B extends only to the perimeter of the button, and the movement is directed exclusively towards the body 102 of the aerosol-generating device 100 and is spaced apart from the body 102 of the aerosol-generating device 100 . The “footprint” of the movement is that of the second end 122 of the aerosol-generating device 100 directly below the user-operated element 114 (in this case, “under” means facing the body 102 ). Because it is limited to an area, this movement area B may appear to be an open area F shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B . It is possible that this moving area B is entirely one side of the opening 108 (to the right of the opening 108 of the aerosol-generating device 100 which is directed as shown in FIG. 4 ). However, this change in the delimitation of the movement area B slightly shifts the position of the center (for example to be the axis G in FIG. 7 ), but from the center of the movement area B to the movement area B. Note that the above limitation regarding the inclination of the heating chamber 104 with respect to the vertical axis is still valid, even if the angle α has different (greater) values. It is also noted that the user-operated element 114 in the form of a button still protrudes from the aerosol-generating device 100 (eg is a protrusion), so the reason to include the inclined heating chamber 104 is still valid. . In some cases, even if the user-manipulated element 114 does not protrude (or even less protrudes than shown in FIG. 4 ), tilting the heating chamber 104 will thus cause the user to lift their nose while doing so. This may still be desirable, as it allows the thumb or finger to be used to actuate the button without bumping into it.

In another embodiment, the user operating element 114 moves over the entire range of the movement area B shown in FIG. 4 , as well as to control the aerosol-generating device 100 , for example in FIG. 4 . It may be arranged to move closer to the body 102 from the illustrated open position. In this case, the movement area B and the movement area axis C are still those shown in FIG. 4 , and the above description of this arrangement applies.

Embodiments in which the user-operated element 114 acts as a button may include biasing means for pressing the user-operated element 114 away from the body 102 . Accordingly, the user-operated element 114 can default to a state in which the user-operated element 114 is not pressed, thereby preventing accidental operation. The user-operated element 114 may cause the aerosol-generating device 100 to actuate by activating a heating cycle when the user-operated element 114 is depressed (or pressed for a predetermined time), or if Accordingly, the aerosol-generating device 100 can only be activated when the user-operated element 114 is depressed, and can stop heating when the user-operated element 114 is released. In either case, the controller 118 may be arranged to determine a position of the user-operated element 114 and selectively activate the heater based on the determined position of the user-operated element 114 . In another embodiment, the controller 118 may be configured to prevent heating when the user operated element 114 is detected to be in the closed position.

A heating cycle as used herein refers to a predetermined amount of time during which power is delivered to a heater. For example, the total time the heating cycle is completed can be the time it takes for all or most of the volatile component of the aerosol substrate (eg, the component the user wants to inhale) to be heated to form a vapor or aerosol. The heating cycle may include delivering a pre-conditioned power for a pre-conditioned time, a series of pre-conditioned power for that pre-conditioned time, or it may include (eg, a portion of the heating chamber 104 ) ) can act as a feedback loop, measuring the temperature and adjusting the delivered power to bring the temperature closer to the desired temperature.

An embodiment of a mechanism for actuating a user operating element 114 in the form of a sliding stopper is shown in FIG. 4 . In order to confine the movement of the user operating element 114 and to limit its movement, a curved guide is provided. This prevents the user operating element 114 from sliding too far in either direction, and ensures that the closed position actually covers the opening 108 , preventing dust or dirt from entering the heating chamber 104 . can help The curved guide may have sensors at both ends to detect the position of the user-operated element 114 . Further, the guide may ensure that the user-operated element 114 can be pressed towards the body 102 only when the user-operated element 114 is in the open position. This ensures that the aerosol-generating device 100 cannot be activated and that the substrate carrier 112 cannot be inserted into the heating chamber 104 when the user-operated element 114 is covering the opening 108. can help ensure

second embodiment

10 to 12 , an aerosol-generating device 100 according to a second embodiment comprises a first, except that a second end 122 of the aerosol-generating device 100 is generally planar or flat. It is the same as the aerosol-generating device 100 according to the embodiment. In the drawings, the same reference numbers are used to denote the same or similar features, and for the sake of brevity, only the differences between the second embodiment and the first embodiment are described below.

In a second embodiment, the user manipulation element 114 comprises a protrusion that protrudes outwardly from the second end 122 of the aerosol-generating device 100 . As shown in FIG. 10 , both the heating chamber 104 and the cavity axis A are angled away from the position of the user manipulated element 114 when the user manipulated element 114 is in the open position. Thereby, the second end of the substrate carrier 112 inserted into the heating chamber 104 is directed away from the user manipulation element 114 , which places their lips on the second end of the substrate carrier 112 . In this case, there is room for the user's nose.

Fig. 10 highlights the oblique arrangement, using a geometric representation similar to that described with reference to Figs. 4, 5a and 5b for the first embodiment. Although the substrate carrier 112 is not shown in FIG. 10 , nevertheless, when the heating chamber 104 (and the cavity axis A) is tilted, the substrate carrier 112 is inserted into the heating chamber 104 . , it can be seen that the aerosol-generating device 100 is positioned to ensure that the substrate carrier 112 is inclined away from the open position of the user-operated element 114 . In this regard, the elongate cavity 106 of the heating chamber 104 acts as a guide to define the angle of inclination of the substrate carrier 112 inserted through the opening 108 into the heating chamber 104 .

The user operating element 114 is slid here in the movement area B, shown in cross-section by the line B-B. The closed position of the user operating element 114 is shown by a dotted line, and the open position is shown by a solid line. The movement area B extends to an extent outside of this position. Further, the user operating element 114 moves in a straight line between the open position and the closed position, along the second end 122 , which is planar or flat, by moving in a straight line. It can be clearly seen in FIG. 10 that the common axis A is inclined away from the movement area B. As shown in FIG.

The moving area B has a moving area axis C shown in cross section by the line C-C in FIG. 10 . The common axis (A) is inclined with respect to the axis of movement (C). More specifically, the common axis A and the movement area axis C are inclined to be spaced apart from each other by an angle α. In this embodiment, the angle α is about 30°. More generally, the angle α ranges from 15° < α ≤ 35°. In a variant of the second embodiment, the angle α may be in the range of 10° < α ≤ 45°, or even 0° < α ≤ 45°, depending on the exact geometry of the aerosol-generating device 100 . . The magnitude of the angle α can be selected to tilt the common axis A sufficiently away from the movement area B, so that the user can ensure that their nose (or other part of their face) is not aligned with the user-manipulated element ( Vapors or aerosols can be drawn through the substrate carrier 112 by placing their lips around the protruding end of the substrate carrier 112 without colliding with the 114 . At the other end of the scale, the angle α may be chosen such that the heating chamber 104 does not project too far in a direction perpendicular to the length of the aerosol-generating device 100 . As such, it can help make the aerosol-generating device 100 look aesthetically pleasing, and also makes it easier for the user to grip firmly. The exact value of α may be selected to fit the aerosol-generating device 100 to the size and shape of the user-operated element 114 and the desired shape and size of the outer surface 110 .

Although not shown in FIG. 10 , the aerosol-generating device 100 may include a power storage 126 and a controller 118 , as described above in connection with the first embodiment. The power storage 126 may have a corresponding power storage axis D that is inclined with respect to the common axis A, for example as described in connection with the first embodiment with reference to FIG. 4 .

Note that the extensions of the movement area axis C and the cavity axis A towards the first end 120 of the aerosol-generating device 100 intersect inside the body 102 . However, this is not always the case, and in some embodiments, the point of intersection between the common axis A and the movement area axis C is, for example, where the angle α is smaller than that shown in FIG. 10 . , on the exterior of the body 102 (eg, below the first end 120 ). Likewise, as described with reference to the first embodiment, the common axis A and the movement area axis C do not intersect, but instead they are closest to each other (eg, “staggered”). never actually meet), just outside of body 102 or within body 102 , respectively, with points along their length.

Fig. 11 highlights the oblique arrangement, using a geometric representation similar to that described with reference to Figs. 6, 7a and 7b for the first embodiment. The user-operated element 114 is shown in FIG. 11 in an open position with the opening 108 exposed. Consequently, the open position defines an open area F shown in cross-section by line F-F in FIG. 11 . The open area axis G, shown in the figure by the line marked G-G, is again defined as a line extending through the center of the open area F, perpendicular to the outer surface 110 at that point. As can be seen, the heating chamber 104 (and its cavity axis A) is inclined away from the open area F. That is, the open area axis G and the cavity axis A diverge from each other to the outside of the body 102 in a direction away from the body 102 . In the second embodiment, the angle β formed by the open area axis G and the cavity axis A is about 30°. More generally, the angle β ranges from 15° < β ≤ 35°. In a variant of the second embodiment, the angle β may be in the range of 10° < β ≤ 45°, or even 0° < β ≤ 45°, depending on the exact geometry of the aerosol-generating device 100 . . It can be seen that this is another way to account for the inclination of the cavity axis A and the heating chamber 104 , using a different geometry than that provided in connection with FIG. 10 .

Optionally, extensions of the open area axis G and the cavity axis A towards the first end 120 of the aerosol-generating device 100 intersect inside the body 102 . However, this is not always the case, and in some embodiments the point of intersection between the cavity axis A and the open area axis G is, for example, the angle between the cavity axis A and the open area axis G If β) is smaller than shown in FIG. 11 , it is outside of body 102 (eg, under first end 120 ). As mentioned above, the common axis A and the open area axis G are not intersected, but instead merely "staggered" in the sense described above.

Fig. 12 highlights the oblique arrangement, using a geometric representation similar to that described with reference to Fig. 8 for the first embodiment. A vector H is shown between the closed position of the user operating element 114 and the open position of the user operating element 114 . Since the user-operated element 114 moves on a straight path between these positions, any point on the user-operated element 114 can be used, as long as the same point is used for the start and end of the vector, and the same vector ( H) will be created (generally, this is not the case with the convex variant shown in FIG. 8 ). It can be seen that the vector H can extend rearward (to the left of FIG. 12 ) to intersect the common axis A. An angle γ is formed between the vector H and the common axis A. More specifically, the angle γ is the angle between the vector H and the direction in which the cavity axis A extends out of the opening 108 . Angle γ is an obtuse angle, which represents another way of defining the cavity axis A and the inclination of the heating chamber 104 .

In the second embodiment, the angle γ is about 100°. More generally, the angle γ is in the range 91° < γ ≤ 100°. In a variant of the second embodiment, the angle γ may range from 90° < γ ≤ 135°, depending on the exact geometry of the aerosol-generating device 100 . As mentioned above, different angles of inclination may be selected to implement different arrangements for various reasons (ergonomic, practical, aesthetic, etc.). As can be seen in FIG. 12 , the movement of the user operating element 114 between the open and closed positions is in this embodiment a straight line, the vector H being aligned with this straight line.

Although the user-operated element 114 is shown in FIG. 10 as a slidable closure to selectively cover or expose the opening 108 , in other embodiments, the user-operated element 114 may have a different function. For example, the user operating element 114 may be a button configured to move in a direction towards the body 102 , for example to control operation of the aerosol-generating device 100 . In this case, the "footprint" of the movement is limited to the region of the second end 122 of the aerosol-generating device 100 immediately below the user-operated element 114 , most (to the right of the opening in FIG. 10 ) or Even completely confined to one side of the opening 108 , the moving area B extends only as far as the protrusion forming the button (the moving area appears to be more area F in FIGS. 7A and 7B ). However, this change in the definition of the moving region B slightly displaces the position of the center (eg, to be the axis G in FIGS. 7A and 7B ), but the heating chamber 104 relative to the center of the moving region. Note that the above limitation with respect to the slope of is still valid. Note that since the button still protrudes from the aerosol-generating device 100 , the reason to include the inclined heating chamber 104 is still valid. In some cases, even if the button does not protrude (or protrude much less than shown in FIG. 10 ), tilting the heating chamber 104 can thus be achieved without hitting the user's nose while doing so. Since the thumb or finger can be used to actuate the button, it may still be desirable.

In another embodiment, the user operating element 114 is slid within the full extent of the movement area B shown in FIG. 10 , as well as to control the aerosol-generating device 100 , for example in FIG. 10 . It may be arranged to move closer to the body 102 from the open position shown in FIG. In this case, the movement area axis C is still shown in FIG. 10 , and the above description of this arrangement applies.

In the second embodiment, due to the planar or flat second end 122 , a given inclination with respect to the common axis A results in angles α and β having the same value. This can be seen, since the angles α and β are measured in each case between the perpendicular to the planar second end 122 and the inclined cavity axis A. If the second end 122 is planar, an additional relationship between α or β and γ can be derived. The relationship between α or β and γ is γ = α + 90° = β + 90° when the second end 122 is planar or flat and for a given angle of inclination with respect to the common axis A.

Definitions and Alternative Embodiments

It will be appreciated from the description above that many features of the different embodiments are interchangeable. This disclosure extends to further embodiments including features from different embodiments combined together in ways not specifically mentioned.

the user operating element 114 is a door that selectively covers and exposes the opening 108 ; The user operating element 114 is not movable to cover the opening 108 , but instead functions as a button for activating the aerosol-generating device 100 ; An embodiment has also been described wherein the user-operated element is both a door and a button. The inclination of the heating chamber 104 , and other geometries of the aerosol-generating device 100 , although very the same in each of these embodiments, can be most precisely defined using the different definitions provided and, if overlapping, user manipulation. Depending on the function of element 114 may have different advantages.

The above description has presented a movement area B, an open area F, and a vector H extending or positioned to one side of the opening 108 , which side is from the edge of the second end 122 . A second opposing surface 110b that is spaced apart (eg facing the right side of FIGS. 1-4 , 6 and 8-12 ) and faces the center of the second end 122 of the aerosol-generating device 100 . ) are offset in the direction between the pairs, but this need not always be the case. For example, the movement region B, the open region F, and the vector H are as directed in FIGS. 1-4, 6 and 8-12 (eg, the second end ( closer to the edge of the second end 122 than the center of the 122 ), extending or positioned to the left, forward or rearward of the aerosol-generating device 100 . As mentioned above, the common axis A is tilted away from the movement area B, the open area F or the vector H, but the direction of the tilt is the movement area B, the open area F ) or the position of the vector (H).

The first embodiment described above relates to a convex curved second end 122 . Convex in this context is generic and not specific, and includes a shape formed by a series of planar regions angled with respect to one another, for example, to form a generally convex shape. Similarly, although the curved second end 122 is shown as a circular arc, it can be generalized to a convex second end 122 having any curved shape. The second embodiment covers the case where the second end 122 is a flat planar surface rather than convex, but again, this is general rather than specific. For example, the edge of the second end 122 may be curved, eg, have a radius, and features (eg, one or more of the features on the second end 122 that interfere with its generally planar nature). protrusions, corrugations or press-ins).

It will be apparent that the principles described herein may be applied to an aerosol-generating device 100 for receiving a variety of substrate carriers 112 . Indeed, any interchangeable substrate carrier may be used, as the bevel generally improves access. As described above, when the substrate carrier 112 is elongate and, for example, in use, is intended to protrude from the aerosol-generating device 100 such that a user interacts with the protruding end of the substrate carrier 112 . , there is the additional advantage of more appropriately spacing the user's mouth and face from the aerosol-generating device 100 . Indeed, the inclined arrangement described herein provides design freedom in the shape of the user-operated element 114 and the outer surface 110 , while a variety of different aerosol-generating devices 100 are common for the substrate carrier 112 . Benefit from economies of scale in manufacturing the substrate carrier 112 as it is useful to allow all of the phosphorous designs to be used (there is no need to design a different substrate carrier 112 for each aerosol-generating device 100 ). none).

The foregoing descriptions of the various geometrical arrangements refer to various planes and axes. While the limitations depend on the particular portion of the aerosol-generating device 100 (eg, the opening perimeter 128 , the elongate cavity 106 , the open area B, etc.), the axes and planes are virtual or fictitious. Accordingly, they generally extend beyond the structural limits of the components to which they are associated (eg, beyond the body 102 of the aerosol-generating device 100 , or outwardly to the outer surface of the aerosol-generating device 100 ).

As used herein, the term "vapour" (or "vapor") refers to (i) a form in which a liquid is naturally transformed by the action of a sufficient degree of heat; or (ii) particles of liquid/moisture suspended in the atmosphere and appearing as cloudy vapor/smoke; or (iii) a fluid that fills a space like a gas but is below its critical temperature, which can be liquefied by pressure alone. Consistent with this definition, the term "evaporate" (or "vaporize") includes (i) turning to or causing a change to vapor; and (ii) when the particle changes its physical state (ie, from a liquid or solid to a gaseous state).

As used herein, the term “aerosol” refers to a system of particles dispersed in a gas or air, such as a mist, mist, or smoke. Accordingly, the term "aerosolise" (or "aerosolize") means to aerosolize and/or to disperse as an aerosol. Note that the meaning of “aerosol/aerosolize” is consistent with each of “volatilize”, “spray” and “evaporate” as defined above. For the avoidance of doubt, aerosol is used to consistently describe a spray or droplet comprising atomized, volatilized or vaporized particles. Aerosols also include sprays or droplets comprising any combination of atomized, volatilized or vaporized particles.

Claims (15)

An aerosol-generating device (100) comprising:
body 102;
a heating chamber (104) received in the body (102), the heating chamber (104) including an elongate cavity (106);
An opening 108 in the outer surface 110 of the body 102 through which a substrate carrier 112 comprising an aerosol-generating material is passed along a common axis A into the heating chamber 104 . can be inserted into the elongate cavity 106 of an opening (108) defining an opening plane (E) at the center of the opening (108) with an opening axis (J) perpendicular to the opening plane (E); and
a user operating element (114) arranged to be movable in a movement area (B) of said outer surface (110) of said body (102);
the moving area (B) extends at least mostly to one side of the opening (108) and has a moving area axis (C) perpendicular to the moving area (B) at the center of the moving area (B);
both the aperture axis (J) and the cavity axis (A) lie along a direction extending out of the aperture (108) inclined away from the movement area axis (C),
aerosol-generating device 100 . According to claim 1,
The cavity axis (A) is inclined away from the axis of movement (C) by an angle (α) in the range 0° < α ≤ 45°. 3. The method of claim 2,
an aerosol-generating device ( 100 ), wherein the common axis (A) and the axis of movement (C) intersect inside the body (102). 4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The user operating element (114) protrudes from the outer surface (110) of the body (102). 5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
the user operating element (114) is movable toward the body (102). 6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The user-operated element 114 has a closed position in which the user-operated element 114 covers the opening 108 and an open position in which the opening 108 is not substantially blocked by the user-operated element 114 . An aerosol-generating device (100), movable relative to said opening (108) between positions. 7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
The user operating element (114) is slidable over the outer surface (110) of the body (102). 8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
wherein the user operating element (114) is movable along an arc. 9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
The body 102 extends between the first end 120 and the second end 122,
the opening (108) and the user operating element (114) are located on the second end (122) of the body (102). 11. The method of claim 10,
and the second end (122) of the body (102) is generally convex. 11. The method of claim 9 or 10,
Between the first end 120 and the second end 122 , the outer surface 110 of the body 102 includes a pair of first opposing surfaces 110a and a second pair of opposing surfaces 110b. have,
and the first pair of opposing surfaces (110a) is larger than the second pair of opposing surfaces (110b). 12. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 11,
power storage (126);
the power reservoir 126 is elongate and has a power reservoir axis D extending centrally along its length;
The aerosol-generating device (100), wherein the power storage axis (D) and the common axis (A) converge towards each other towards the first end (120) of the body (102). 13. The substrate carrier (112) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising:
wherein the substrate carrier (112) is elongate and, in use, is positioned coaxially with the elongate cavity (106). 14. The method of claim 13, and in the substrate carrier (112),
wherein the substrate carrier (112) projects outwardly from the opening (108) when fully inserted into the elongate cavity (106). 15. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 14,
The aerosol-generating device 100 includes a detector for detecting movement of the user-operated element 114 and a controller 118 for controlling operation of the aerosol-generating device 118 in response to detecting the movement. comprising, an aerosol-generating device ( 100 ).

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