US20240057664A1

US20240057664A1 - Aerosol Generation Set Comprising a Pair of Magnetic Elements, and Associated Operation Method

Info

Publication number: US20240057664A1
Application number: US18/266,982
Authority: US
Inventors: Akira Yamaguchi
Original assignee: JT International SA
Current assignee: JT International SA
Priority date: 2021-01-06
Filing date: 2022-01-05
Publication date: 2024-02-22
Also published as: JP2024501203A; EP4274438A1; WO2022148783A1; KR20230129237A

Abstract

An aerosol generation set includes

- an aerosol generation device defining a device body extending between two body ends, the device body including a device magnetic element;
- a case defining a cavity able to receive the aerosol generation device and a movable part movable from a closed position to an opened position further to a trigger event, the case including a case magnetic element arranged facing the device magnetic element when the aerosol generation device is received in the cavity; and
- an electric circuitry configured to detect the trigger event and upon its detection, activate magnetic interaction between said magnetic elements to push at least one body end from the cavity, when the aerosol generation device is received in the cavity.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns an aerosol generation set comprising a pair of magnetic elements. The aerosol generation set according to the invention further comprises an aerosol generation device and a case configured to receive such a device.
The present invention also concerns an operation method associated to such an aerosol generation set.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Different types of aerosol generation devices are already known in the art. Generally, such devices comprise a storage portion for storing a vaporizable material, which can comprise for example a liquid or a solid. A heating system is formed of one or more electrically activated resistive heating elements arranged to heat said vaporizable material to generate the aerosol. The aerosol is released into a flow path extending between an inlet and outlet of the device. The outlet may be arranged as a mouthpiece, through which a user inhales for delivery of the aerosol.
In some aerosol generation devices, the vaporizable material is stored in a removable cartridge. Thus, when the vaporizable material is consumed, the cartridge can be easily removed and replaced. In order to attach the removable cartridge to the device body, a screw-threaded connection can for example be used.
Some aerosol generation devices are configured to be stored in a case. Such a case may be adapted to receive an aerosol generation device, eventually with a removable cartridge. This can simplify carrying of the device and protect it for example against shocks. Some cases can also prevent leakage of the vaporizable material contained in the cartridge.
According to some examples, the case can be provided with a rechargeable battery able to recharge the battery of the aerosol generation device when for example an external power source is not available. According to some other examples, the case can allow the device power connection to an external power source and/or device data connection with an external device.
A case can thus present an important object for the user of an aerosol generation and its UX design (“user experience design”) has to be constantly improved. Particularly, easy operation of the case until using the aerosol generation device is essential for most of the users. For example, some users may expect to be able to operate the case and the aerosol generation device using one hand.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One of the aims of the present invention is to improve the UX design of an aerosol generation set and make it easier to be operated by a user.
For this purpose, the invention relates to an aerosol generation set, comprising:

- an aerosol generation device defining a device body extending between two body ends, the device body comprising a device magnetic element;
- a case defining a cavity able to receive the aerosol generation device and a movable part movable from a closed position to an opened position further to a trigger event, the case comprising a case magnetic element arranged facing the device magnetic element when the aerosol generation device is received in the cavity;
- an electric circuitry configured to detect the trigger event and upon its detection, activate magnetic interaction between said magnetic elements to push at least one body end from the cavity, when the aerosol generation device is received in the cavity.

Thanks to these features, the case including the aerosol generation device can be easily operated. For example, the aerosol generation device can be easily removed from the case when the user is intending to use the device. Additionally, this extraction can be performed using only one hand.
According to some embodiments, the case is closed when the movable part is in the closed position and the case is opened and the aerosol generation device is able to be put into the cavity or removed from it when the movable part is in the opened position.
According to some embodiments, the movable part forms an access lid to the case.
Thanks to these features, the aerosol generation device can be easily removed from the case after being carried inside the case in a closed position.
According to some embodiments, the trigger event consists in a manual opening of the case or in activating a button by a user
Thanks to these features, the aerosol generation device can be removed from the case upon its opening.
According to some embodiments, the case is a charging case configured to charge the aerosol generation device when it is received in the cavity.
Thanks to these features, the aerosol generation device can be charged while being stored in the case.
According to some embodiments, one of the said magnetic elements is a permanent magnet and the other is a coil connected to the electric circuitry and configured to generate a magnetic field repelling the permanent magnet.
Thanks to these features, a magnetic interaction between both magnetic elements can be easily performed.
According to some embodiments, said permanent magnet is formed by the device magnetic element and said coil is formed by the case magnetic element.
Thanks to these features, no power supply is needed for the aerosol generation device to be extracted from the cavity.
According to some embodiments, the device body extends along a device axis and said permanent magnet extends around the device axis.
Thanks to these features, the aerosol generation device can be stored in the case according to any orientation in respect of the device axis.
According to some embodiments, the electric circuitry is integrated into the case.
Thanks to these features, the device's design and the internal components of the device do not need to be specially adapted to carry out a simple extraction from the case.
According to some embodiments, the device magnetic element is integrated into one of the body ends, preferably in a body end designed to be held by a user while using the aerosol generation device.
Thanks to these features, the aerosol generation device can be easily taken by the user and be ready for immediate using. Thus, extracting of the device and its using can be performed by the same hand of the user.
According to some embodiments, the aerosol generation device further comprises a device retaining element integrated into the body end opposite to the body end integrating the device magnetic element and the case further comprises a case retaining element arranged facing the device retaining element when the aerosol generation device is received in the cavity, and configured to retain the body end integrating the device retaining element by cooperating with this retaining element.
Thanks to these features, the aerosol generation device can be in a stable position after the trigger event.
According to some embodiments, each retaining element is formed by a permanent magnet, said magnets being arranged to attract one the other.
Thanks to these features, the retaining elements can be implemented in a simple way.
According to some embodiments, the electric circuitry is further configured to maintain the magnetic interaction between said magnetic elements as long as the movable part is in the opened position.
According to some embodiments, the electric circuitry is further configured to deactivate the magnetic interaction between said magnetic elements when the movable part is in the closed position.
Thanks to these features, it is possible to activate the magnetic interaction between said magnetic elements only when there is a need to extract the aerosol generation device from the case.
The invention also relates to an operation method of an aerosol generation set as defined above, comprising the following steps:

- detect the trigger event;
- activate magnetic interaction between said magnetic elements to push at least one body end from the cavity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention and its advantages will be better understood upon reading the following description, which is given solely by way of non-limiting example and which is made with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view in perspective of an aerosol generation set according to a first embodiment of the invention, the aerosol generation set comprising a case and an aerosol generation device received in the case;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the aerosol generation device of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the case of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing an opened and a closed positions of the case of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view explaining the operation of the aerosol generation set of FIG. 1 , according to the first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic front view of an aerosol generation device comprised in an aerosol generation set according to a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic front view of a case comprised in the aerosol generation set according to the second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing the case of FIG. 7 in an opened and a closed position; and

FIG. 9 is a schematic view explaining the operation of the aerosol generation set according to the second embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Before describing the invention, it is to be understood that it is not limited to the details of construction set forth in the following description. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the present disclosure that the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways.
As used herein, the term “aerosol generation device” or “device” may include a vaping device to deliver an aerosol to a user, including an aerosol for vaping, by means of aerosol generating unit (e.g. an aerosol generating element which generates vapor which condenses into an aerosol before delivery to an outlet of the device at, for example, a mouthpiece, for inhalation by a user). The device may be portable. “Portable” may refer to the device being for use when held by a user. The device may be adapted to generate a variable amount of aerosol, e.g. by activating a heater system for a variable amount of time (as opposed to a metered dose of aerosol), which can be controlled by a trigger. The trigger may be user activated, such as a vaping button and/or inhalation sensor. The inhalation sensor may be sensitive to the strength of inhalation as well as the duration of inhalation to enable a variable amount of vapour to be provided (so as to mimic the effect of smoking a conventional combustible smoking article such as a cigarette, cigar or pipe, etc.). The device may include a temperature regulation control to drive the temperature of the heater and/or the heated aerosol generating substance (aerosol pre-cursor) to a specified target temperature and thereafter to maintain the temperature at the target temperature that enables efficient generation of aerosol.
As used herein, the term “aerosol” may include a suspension of vaporizable material as one or more of: solid particles; liquid droplets; gas. Said suspension may be in a gas including air. Aerosol herein may generally refer to/include a vapour. Aerosol may include one or more components of the vaporizable material.
As used herein, the term “vaporizable material” or “precursor” or “aerosol forming substance” or “substance” is used to designate any material that is vaporizable in air to form aerosol. Vaporization is generally obtained by a temperature increase up to the boiling point of the vaporization material, such as at a temperature less than 400° C., preferably up to 350° C. The vaporizable material may, for example, comprise or consist of an aerosol-generating liquid, gel, wax, foam or the like, an aerosol-generating solid that may be in the form of a rod, which contains processed tobacco material, a crimped sheet or oriented strips of reconstituted tobacco (RTB), or any combination of these. The vaporizable material may comprise one or more of: nicotine, caffeine or other active components. The active component may be carried with a carrier, which may be a liquid. The carrier may include propylene glycol or glycerin. A flavoring may also be present. The flavoring may include Ethylvanillin (vanilla), menthol, Isoamyl acetate (banana oil) or similar.
As used herein, the term “external device” may refer to a device, which is able to establish a wireless data connection with the aerosol generation device as it is explained in the specification. Such an external device may be a mobile device like a mobile phone for example. Additionally, such an external device may be a smart device able to process at least some data received from the aerosol generation device or intended to be transmitted to the aerosol generation device. Such a smart device can be a smartphone, a smartwatch, a tablet computer, a laptop, a desktop computer or any other smart object implemented for example according to the IoT (“Internet of things”) technology. Such a smart device can be also another aerosol generation device similar to said aerosol generation device.
Referring to FIG. 1 , an aerosol generation set 10 according to the first embodiment of the invention comprises an aerosol generation device 12 and a case 14 configured to store the aerosol generation device 12.
The aerosol generation device 12 is shown in more detail on FIG. 2 . In reference to this FIG. 2 , the aerosol generation device 12 comprises a device body 21 extending between a battery end 22 and a mouthpiece end 24 along a device axis X. The device body 21 can form a cylindrical shape with for example a round, elliptic or rectangular cross-section. The device body 21 further defines a lateral wall 25 extending along the device axis X. Depending on the cross-sectional shape of the device body 21, the lateral 25 wall can be formed by one or several external surfaces.
The mouthpiece end 24 comprises for example a mouthpiece (not shown on FIG. 2 ) which is intended to cooperate with the user's mouth. The battery end 22 is for example usable by the user to hold the device 12 while it is being used to generate vapour. Particularly, the battery end 21 can form an appropriate ergonomic shape to be held by the user while using the aerosol generation device 12.
Referring to FIG. 2 , the device body 21 defines a storage portion 26 designed to store a vaporisable material. Particularly, according to one embodiment of the invention, this storage portion 26 is designed to receive a removable cartridge, which is designed to store the vaporisable material. Thus, according to this embodiment, the cartridge can be received in the storage portion 26 and when the vaporisable material is exhausted, it can be replaced by another cartridge. In some cases, the cartridge can define a mouthpiece and form at least partially the mouthpiece end 24 of the device 12. According to another embodiment of the invention, the storage portion 26 is designed to be filled directly with a vaporisable material, through for example a suitable opening. In this case, when the vaporisable material is exhausted, the storage portion 26 can be refilled by the vaporisable material.
The device body 21 delimits an internal part of the aerosol generation device 12, which comprises for example a power block 32 designed to power the device 12, a heating system 34 designed to heat the vaporisable material comprised in the storage portion 26, and a controller 36 designed to control the operation of the aerosol generation device 12. The device body 21 may further comprise other internal components performing various functionalities of the device known in the art.
It should be noted that FIG. 2 presents only a schematic diagram of different components of the aerosol generation device 12 and does not necessarily show the real physical arrangement and dimensions of these components. Particularly, such an arrangement can be chosen according to the design of the aerosol generation device 12 and the technical features of its components.
The power block 32 comprises a battery and a battery changer. The battery is for example a known battery designed to be charged using the power supply furnished by an external source, and provide a direct current DC of pre-determined voltage. The battery charger is able to connect the battery to the external source and control the power delivered from the external source to the battery according for example a pre-determined charging profile. Such a charging profile can for example define a charging voltage of the battery depending on its level of charge.
To connect the battery to the external source, according to one embodiment of the invention, the battery charger comprises a power connector 40 shown on FIG. 2 . The power connector 40 can correspond to any known connector and can be arranged on a transverse wall of the device body 21 which is substantially perpendicular to the device axis X and is arranged on the battery end 22 of the device body 21. Particularly, the power connector 40 can protrude from this transverse wall or can be recessed in this wall. According to other embodiments, the power connector 40 may be arranged on any other wall, as for example on the lateral wall 25 of the device body 21. Advantageously, the power connector 40 can be provided with any suitable mean facilitating its connection with an external connector and/or disconnection from it. Such a mean can be formed by a magnetic element. Advantageously, the power connector 40 is configured to be connected to an external connector without being engaged inside it and without receiving at least a part of this external connector. In this case, connection between the connectors may be performed by cooperation of contacting surfaces of both connectors. In order to maintain the connection and make it reliable, at least one of the connectors can be pushed towards the other connector using suitable pushing means. Such pushing means can be integrated into the aerosol generation device 12 and/or the case 14. Advantageously, the operation of the pushing means can be deactivated further to a trigger event, as it will be explained in further detail below. In some embodiments, the connector 40 can be used for purposes other than charging purposes, as for example data transmitting purposes. In this case, it can be connected directly to the controller 36.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the battery charger may also be adapted to charge wirelessly the battery of the device 12, using for example a magnetic cooperation between a pair of coils as it is known per se. In this case, the power connector 40 may be provided as previously explained or may be used only for other purposes, as for example data transmitting purposes. According to still another example, no connector is provided with the aerosol generation device 12.
The heating system 34 is connected to the power block 32 through the controller 36. Various types of components known in the art may form the heating system 34. Thus, according to one embodiment of the invention, the heating system 34 may comprise a wick arranged in the storage portion 26 and a heating element arranged around the wick and connected to the power block 32 through the controller 36. In this case, the vaporisable material can be vaporized by passing through the wick while it is heated by the heating element. According to another embodiment of the invention, the heating system 34 may comprise a pair of heating plates. In this case, one of the heating plates may be arranged in the storage portion 26 and the other heating plate may be arranged in contact with this heating plate and connected to the power block 32. According to still another embodiment of the invention, the heating system 34 may comprise a susceptor arranged in the storage portion 26 and a coil arranged around the storage portion 26.
The controller 36 is able to control the operation of the aerosol generation device 12. Particularly, the controller 36 is configured to power the heating system 34 of the device to generate vapour from the vaporisable material. The controller 36 can be activated by the user via a vaping button or further to detection of a user puff, for example by a pressure sensor disposed in an airflow path of the aerosol generation device 12. The controller 36 may perform any other functionality of the device 12 known per se. Such functionality may for example concern a communication capacity of the device 12 with an external device, a maintenance capacity, an analysis capacity, etc.
According to the invention, the aerosol generation device 12 further comprises a device magnetic element 45 designed to cooperate with a case magnetic element as it will be described in further detail below.
According to the example of FIG. 3 , the device magnetic element 45 is arranged on the battery end 22. According to another embodiment of the invention, the device magnetic element 45 is arranged in any other location of the aerosol generation device 12. Particularly, according to some embodiments of the invention, the device magnetic element 45 may be arranged on the mouthpiece end 24 or any other location between the battery end 22 and the mouthpiece end 22.
In some embodiments, the device magnetic element 45 may be arranged in the internal part of the device body 21. In this case, it can be arranged adjacent to an internal surface of the lateral wall 25 of the aerosol generation device 12 so as to be able to interact with the case magnetic element. According to other embodiments of the invention, the device magnetic element 45 is arranged in the external part of the device body 21. In this case, the device magnetic element 21 can for example protrude from the lateral wall 25 or form a smooth surface with the external surface of the lateral wall 25.
According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the device magnetic element 45 is formed by a permanent magnet. The shape of the magnet can be adapted according to the shape of the device body 21. For example, when the device body 21 forms a cylindrical shape, the permanent magnet can form the same cylindrical shape. In this case, the permanent magnet may form an external surface having the same polarity and an internal surface having also the same polarity which is opposite to the polarity of the external surface. For example, the polarity of the external surface can correspond to the North pole of the magnet, and the polarity of the internal surface can correspond to its South pole. According to this embodiment, the permanent magnet can be arranged around the device axis X. In this case, the external surface of this magnet is adjacent to the internal surface of the lateral wall 25 or forms a smooth surface with the external surface of the lateral wall 25 or protrudes from the lateral wall 25. Thus, the device magnetic element 45 can interact with the case magnetic element independently of the orientation (i.e. radial orientation in case of a round cross-sectional shape) of the device body 21.
According to still another embodiment of the invention, the device magnetic element 45 can be formed by any other suitable component. For example, the device magnetic element 45 can be formed by a coil, which is able to create a magnetic field when it is powered for example by the power block 32 of the device body 21.
The case 14 will now be described, in reference notably to FIG. 3 . Thus, according to this FIG. 3 , the case 14 comprises a fixed part 51 and a movable part 52.
The fixed part 51 is for example designed to be held by the user when he/she wishes to extract the device 12 from the case 14. The fixed part 51 defines a cavity 54 extending along a cavity axis Y. The cavity 54 is adapted to receive at least partially the aerosol generation device 12, so that the device axis X coexists with the cavity axis Y as it is shown on FIG. 1 . Particularly, referring again to FIG. 3 , the cavity 54 extends along the cavity axis Y between a first end 62 and a second end 64. The first end 62 and the second end 64 are adapted to receive respectfully the battery end 22 and the mouthpiece end 24 of the aerosol generation device 12. For this purpose, in the embodiment of the Figures, the first end 62 of the cavity 54 can comprise a connector 70 configured to cooperate with the connector 40 of the aerosol generation device 12, as explained above. Depending on the nature of the connector 40, the connector 70 of the case 14 may be adapted to transmit power to the device 12 or data to this device 12. In some embodiments, the first end 62 of the cavity 54 may comprise a foam or any other suitable material preventing leakage from the mouthpiece when the aerosol generation device 12 is received in the cavity 54.
The fixed part 51 of the case 14 defines an internal part of the case comprising notably an electric circuitry 72. According to some embodiments, the electric circuitry 72 comprises a charging circuit able to provide to the aerosol generation device 12 an electric power supply. For this purpose, the charging circuit may comprise a rechargeable battery and a charger able to charge the battery of the aerosol generation device 12 wirelessly and/or via the connectors 40, 70. The charging circuit may further comprise electric connection means making it possible to connect the battery comprised in this circuit and/or charger to an external power source. For example, the charging circuit may define for this purpose an external connector 73. This external connector 73 is arranged for example on an external surface of the fixed part 51 of the case 14. According to some examples, the external connector 73 is disposed on the movable part 52 on the case 14. In some embodiments, the charging circuit is provided without battery. In this case, it is able to charge the battery of the aerosol generation device 12 directly from the power source.
According to the invention, the electric circuitry 72 further comprises a control module 75 able to implement a repelling capacity of the case 14 as it will be explained in further detail below.
The movable part 52 of the case 14 is formed for example by an access lid of the case 14. The movable part 52 can thus be hinged to the fixed part 51 of the case 14. According to other examples of the invention, the movable part 52 may be attachable to the fixed part 51 using any other suitable mean. The movable part 52 is movable between a closed position in which the movable part 52 closes the access to the case 14 and an opened position in which the device 12 can be put in the case and notably in the cavity 54, or extracted from it. Particularly, in the closed position, the movable part 52 may cover at least some parts of the aerosol generation device 12 when it is received in the cavity 54. In some embodiments, the movable part 52 can also define a cavity which is configured to receive the part of the aerosol generation device 12 which is not received in the cavity 54 of the fixed part. In other words, in this case, the cavities of both fixed and movable parts 51, 52 are designed to receive entirely the aerosol generation device 12 when the movable part 52 is in the closed position.
The movable part 52 is moved from the closed position to the opened position further to a trigger event. The trigger event may consist in a manual activating of the movable part 52 by the user. The manual activating may for example consist in pulling of at least one extremity of the movable part 52 from the corresponding extremity of the fixed part 51.
According to other examples of the invention, the trigger event may consist in actuating of a button by the user. In this case, the case 14 may for example comprise a button 77 arranged on the fixed part 51 of said case. In some other embodiments, the button 77 is arranged on the movable part 52 of the case 14 or is shared between the movable part 52 and the fixed part 51 of the case 14. The button 77 may for example be connected to bias means configured to move the movable part 52 to the opened position, when the button 77 is actuated. The bias means may for example comprise a spring, or any other elastic element, which may activate the hinge of the case 14 when the movable part 52 is hinged to the fixed part 51.
According to another example, the trigger event may consist in any other event that may be detected by the electric circuitry 72. For example, the trigger event may consist in receiving of a special command from an external device connected to the electric circuitry 72 of the case 14. According to another embodiment, the external device may be connected directly to the device 12. In this case, when the device 12 or the case 14 receives the corresponding command from the external device, it can activate the bias means to move the movable part 52 in the opened position.
According to the invention, the case 14 further comprises a case magnetic element 95 configured to interact with the device magnetic element 45 to repel the aerosol generation device 12 from the cavity 54 further to the trigger event. Particularly, according to FIG. 3 , the case magnetic element 95 is arranged facing the device magnetic element 45 when the device 12 is received in the cavity 54. Thus, according to the examples of FIGS. 2 and 3 , the case magnetic element 95 may be arranged adjacent to the first end 62 of the cavity 54. Advantageously, the case magnetic element 95 is arranged in the interior part of the fixed part 51 of the case 14 and is able to interact with the device magnetic element 45 through a wall delimiting the cavity 54.
According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the device magnetic element 95 presents a coil arranged along an axis perpendicular to the case axis Y, called hereinafter coil axis Z. The coil is connected to the electric circuitry 72 and notably to the control module 75 which is able to control its operation. Particularly, the control element 75 is able to power the coil to create a magnetic field inside the coil 95 along the coil axis Z. The magnetic field along the coil axis Z has the same polarity as the external surface of the device magnetic element 45 when it is formed by a permanent magnet. Particularly, as it is shown on FIG. 5 , the coil is powered by the control module 75 to create a magnetic field along the coil axis Z repelling the device magnetic element 45. In this example, the magnetic field has thus the North polarity.
According to the invention, the control module 75 of the case 14 is able to detect a trigger event causing the movable part 52 to move into the opened position. For this purpose, the control module 75 is for example connected to a detector able to detect the opened position of the movable part 52 of the case or for example to the button 77 which is able to transmit a special signal when it is actuated by the user. In addition to this detection, the control module 75 is able to power the case magnetic element 95 to repel the device magnetic element 45. In some cases, the control module 75 is able to power the case magnetic element 95 to repel the device magnetic element 45 according to a predetermined profile. For example, according to this profile, the coil may be powered with a delay after the detection of a trigger event. This delay may correspond to the time necessary to the movable part 52 to pass into a full opened position. The profile may also vary the power delivered to the coil for example to adapt the speed of repelling and thus, achieve a particular visual effect for the user. In some embodiments, the control module 75 may be configured to power the case magnetic element 45 as long as the movable part 52 is in the opened position. In some other embodiments, the control module 75 is configured to power the case magnetic element 45 during a predetermined time interval or as long as the aerosol generation device 12 is received partially in the cavity 54. In this last case, the control module 75 may be associated to means detecting the device extraction from the cavity 54.
According to another embodiment, the case magnetic element 95 can be formed by a permanent magnet and the device magnetic element 45 is formed by a coil. In this case, the controller 36 of the device may for example power this coil by the battery of the device further to a trigger event. According to still another embodiment, both case magnetic element 95 and device magnetic element 45 are formed by coils which may be powered in a suitable manner to repel one the other.
An operation method of the aerosol generation device set 10 will now be explained in reference to FIG. 4 .
It is considered initially that the aerosol generation device 12 is received in the case 14 and notably, in the cavity 54. The movable part 52 is in the closed position as it is shown on the top portion of FIG. 4 . When the user wishes to extract the aerosol generation device 12 from the case 14, he/she may cause a trigger event by actuating for example the button 77 and/or by pulling manually the movable part 52. This trigger event causes the opening of the movable part 52. The trigger event is detected by the control module 75, which activates magnetic interaction between the case magnetic element 95 and the device magnetic element 45. This magnetic interaction repels the battery end 22 of the device from the cavity 54. This position of the device 12 in respect to the cavity 54 is shown on the bottom portion of FIG. 4 . The user may thus take the the aerosol generation device 12 by holding it by the battery end 22 and start to use it by making for example a puff.

Second Embodiment of the Invention

An aerosol generation set 110 according to a second embodiment of the invention will now be explained in reference to FIGS. 6 to 9 . Like in the previous case, the aerosol generation set 110 comprises an aerosol generation device 112 and a case 114 configured to receive the aerosol generation device 112.
The aerosol generation device 112 according to the second embodiment of the invention is similar to the aerosol generation device 12 according to the first embodiment of the invention. Particularly, this aerosol generation device 112 comprises the same interior elements as the aerosol generation device 12 according to the first embodiment of the invention. These internal elements will not be described in further detail below.
Similarly to the previous case, the aerosol generation device 112 according to the second embodiment of the invention extends along a device axis X between a battery end 122 and a mouthpiece end 124 as it is shown on FIG. 6 . The battery end 122 receives a device magnetic element 145 which is for example similar to the device magnetic element 45 explained above. Particularly, like in the previous case, the device magnetic element 145 may be formed by a permanent magnet arranged around the device axis X.
According to the second embodiment of the invention, the aerosol generation device 112 further comprises a device retaining element 146 arranged for example on the mouthpiece end 124 as it is shown on FIG. 6 . The device retaining element 146 may be similar to the device magnetic element 145. Particularly, this device retaining element 146 may also be formed by a permanent magnet extending around the device axis X. This permanent magnet 146 also defines an exterior surface of a same polarity and an interior surface of the same polarity opposite to the polarity of the exterior surface. For example, the polarity of the external surface can correspond to the North pole. Like the device magnetic element 145, the device retaining element 146 may be arranged in an adjacent manner with a lateral wall delimiting the device body 121 or may be integrated in the lateral wall, or may protrude from this lateral wall.
The case 114 according to the second embodiment of the invention is also similar to the case 14 according to the first embodiment of the invention. Particularly, as it is shown on FIG. 7 , the case 114 according to the second embodiment of the invention comprises a fixed part 151 and a movable part 152. Like in the previous case, the movable part 152 may be hinged to the fixed part 151 or may be attached to this fixed part 151 using any other suitable means. The case 114 according to the second embodiment of the invention also comprises a case magnetic element 195 arranged in the interior part of the fixed part 151 and able to interact with the device magnetic element 145 to repel the aerosol generation device 112 from the case as it was explained in reference to the first embodiment of the invention.
According to the second embodiment of the invention, the case 114 further comprises a case retaining element 196 which is able to interact with the device retaining element 146 to retain the corresponding device end in the cavity of the case 114. The case retaining element 196 may for example be formed by a permanent magnet arranged facing the device retaining element 146 when in the aerosol generation device 112 is received in the cavity of the case 114. Particularly, the device retaining element 146 is arranged in such a way that its extremity facing the external surface of the magnet forming the device retaining element 146 has the opposite polarity. In other words, the case retaining element 196 is arranged to attract the device retaining element 146. In such a position, as it is shown on FIG. 9 , the case retaining element 196 is able to attract the device magnetic element 146 to retain the corresponding end of the device in the cavity. In the example of FIG. 9 , the magnet forming the case retaining element 196 is arranged so as its South pole faces the external surface of the magnet forming the device retaining element 146.
In some other embodiments, the case retaining element 196 may be formed by any other magnetic element like an electric coil able to attract the device-retaining element 146. Similarly, the device magnetic element 146 may also be formed by a coil which is powered upon detection of a trigger event.
The operation of the aerosol generation set 110 according to the second embodiment of the invention is similar to the operation of the aerosol generation set 10 according to the first embodiment of the invention. Particularly, like in the previous case, the case magnetic element 195 is able to repel the device magnetic element 145 when a trigger event is detected. This causes the battery end of the device to be pushed from the cavity 154 as it is shown on the bottom portion of FIG. 8 . However, in this case, the mouthpiece end of the aerosol generation device 112 can still be retained in the cavity 154 by the magnetic cooperation of the retaining elements 146 and 196 as it is also shown on FIG. 8 . This makes it possible to stabilize the aerosol generation device 112 in such a positon and prevent its falling.

Claims

1. An aerosol generation set comprising:

an aerosol generation device defining a device body extending between first and second body ends, the device body comprising a device magnetic element;

a case defining a cavity able to receive the aerosol generation device and a movable part movable from a closed position to an opened position further to a trigger event, the case comprising a case magnetic element arranged facing the device magnetic element when the aerosol generation device is received in the cavity; and

an electric circuitry configured to detect the trigger event and upon the detection, activate magnetic interaction between said magnetic elements to push at least one of the first and second body ends from the cavity, when the aerosol generation device is received in the cavity.

2. The aerosol generation set according to claim 1, wherein:

the case is closed when the movable part is in the closed position; and

the case is opened and the aerosol generation device is able to be put into the cavity or removed from the cavity when the movable part is in the opened position.

3. The aerosol generation set according to claim 2, wherein the movable part forms an access lid to the case.

4. The aerosol generation set according to claim 1, wherein the trigger event includes a manual opening of the case or in activating a button by a user.

5. The aerosol generation set according to claim 1, wherein the case is a charging case configured to charge the aerosol generation device when the aerosol generating device is received in the cavity.

6. The aerosol generation set according to claim 1, wherein one of the said magnetic elements is a permanent magnet and the other is a coil connected to the electric circuitry and configured to generate a magnetic field repelling the permanent magnet.

7. The aerosol generation set according to claim 6, wherein said permanent magnet is formed by the device magnetic element and said coil is formed by the case magnetic element.

8. The aerosol generation set according to claim 7, wherein the device body extends along a device axis and said permanent magnet extends around the device axis.

9. The aerosol generation set according to claim 1, wherein the electric circuitry is integrated into the case.

10. The aerosol generation set according to claim 1, wherein the device magnetic element is integrated into one of the first and second body ends.

11. The aerosol generation set according to claim 10, wherein:

the aerosol generation device further comprises a device retaining element integrated into one of the first and second body ends opposite to the other one of the first and second body ends integrating the device magnetic element; and

the case further comprises a case retaining element arranged facing the device retaining element when the aerosol generation device is received in the cavity, and configured to retain the other of the first and second body ends integrating the device retaining element by cooperating with the retaining element.

12. The aerosol generation set according to claim 11, wherein each retaining element is formed by a permanent magnet, said magnets arranged to attract one the other.

13. The aerosol generation set according to claim 1, wherein the electric circuitry is further configured to maintain the magnetic interaction between said magnetic elements as long as the movable part is in the opened position.

14. The aerosol generation set according to claim 1, wherein the electric circuitry is further configured to deactivate the magnetic interaction between said magnetic elements when the movable part is in the closed position.

15. An operation method of an aerosol generation set according to claim 1, comprising the following steps:

detecting the trigger event; and

activating magnetic interaction between said magnetic elements to push at least one of the first and second body ends from the cavity.

16. The aerosol generation set according to claim 10, wherein the device magnetic element is integrated into one of the first and second body ends configured to be held by a user while using the aerosol generation device.