WO2022034019A1

WO2022034019A1 - Aerosol generating device

Info

Publication number: WO2022034019A1
Application number: PCT/EP2021/072156
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kyle ADAIR; Peter LOVEDAY; Olayiwola Olamiposi POPOOLA
Original assignee: Jt International Sa
Priority date: 2020-08-10
Filing date: 2021-08-09
Publication date: 2022-02-17
Also published as: EP4192273A1

Abstract

An aerosol generating device (10) for delivering aerosol upon heating a liquid comprises an elongate outer casing (12) with a cavity (14) for receiving a cartomizer (16) at a first end (22), an autonomous power supply device (18), and an electronic circuitry control board (20). The device (10) has a second end (24) longitudinally opposite to the first end (22), such that the autonomous power supply device (18) is positioned between the electronic circuitry control board (20) and the receiving cavity (14), and the electronic circuitry control board (20) is positioned between the second end (24) and the power supply device (18) with its main surface parallel to a longitudinal axis of the device (10). The power supply device (18) is distant from the second end (24) of the device (10) at least a length (LI) representing between a quarter and a third of the total length (L) of the device (10), in particular at least a length (LI) of 15 mm.

Description

Aerosol Generating Device

Cross reference

Any features essential to the European patent applications titled "SHOCK ABSORPTION IN A HANDHELD AEROSOL GENERATION DEVICE" , "AEROSOL GENERATING DEVICE WITH A SEALED CHAMBER FOR ACCOMODATING A BATTERY" , "AEROSOL GENERATING DEVICE" and "AEROSOL GENERATING DEVICE WITH LIP SEAL FOR BATTERY DEGASS ING MITIGATION" all filed August 10 , 2020 having application numbers 20 190 300 . 2 , 20 190 246 . 7 , 20 190 249 . 1 and 20 190 247 . 5 , as well as the corresponding PCT applications all filed August 9 , 2021 , such as the claims thereof , and/or contained therein and corresponding to and/or relating to features of the present application are incorporated herein by this reference and can be combined with feature combinations disclosed herein in order to provide an improved aerosol generating device , and protection may be sought for the resulting feature combinations .

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to an aerosol generating device , such as an electronic cigarette .

BACKGROUND

In recent years , there is a tendency among consumers to replace conventional cigarettes by aerosol generating devices , which are essentially used in a manner very similar to that of conventional cigarettes . In particular, a cartomi zer at a first end of the device is contacted by the lips in order to inhale the aerosol . However, since such aerosol generating devices usually contain a power supply device , such as a battery, they are signi ficantly heavier than conventional cigarettes . Nevertheless , it would be desirable for the user to be able to hold the device in an ergonomic manner, i . e . with as little as possible holding force applied by one or more fingers up to the possibility to hold the device with the lips only .

US 9 486 014 B2 is related to an electronic cigarette comprising from a first , vaping end and a second end distal from the user ' s mouth, an atomi zer, a battery and a generic control circuit board . Similar devices are shown in CN 110680016 A, CN 204409591 U, US 2019037926 Al and US 10070667 B2 .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the above , it is an obj ect underlying the invention to provide an aerosol generating device which has a simple and ef ficient structure and is improved with regard to the weight balance so as to mimic the action of cigarette smoking particularly well .

This obj ect is solved by means of the subj ect-matter of claim 1 . Preferred embodiments are described in the further claims .

Accordingly, the device is adapted to deliver aerosol upon heating a liquid contained in the device and comprises an elongate outer casing . The casing comprises a receiving cavity arranged for receiving a cartomi zer at a first end of the device proximal to the user . The device further comprises an autonomous power supply device , such as a battery, which can be rechargeable and at least one electronic circuitry control board . In accordance with the invention, the autonomous power supply device is positioned between the electronic circuitry control board and the receiving cavity, and the electronic circuitry control board is positioned between the power supply device and the second, distal end, the electric circuitry control board being substantially flat and its main surface being substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the device .

Such an electronic circuitry control board essentially corresponds to well-known control boards which are flat , meaning that they have two large , essentially opposite main surfaces which are signi ficantly larger than the remaining four side surfaces which are essentially shaped as strips with their smaller dimension corresponding to the thickness direction of the board . Such a board can be equipped easily with the necessary electronic components and connections and can at the same time be readily accommodated in the outer casing of the aerosol generating device . Since the main surface of the control board is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the device , it can readily be made suf ficiently long to accommodate the necessary electronic components . The autonomous power supply device is also consequently maintained at safe distance from the bottom end and protected by the control board in case of shock ( e . g . in the event of severe drop ) of the device .

In particular, this comparably light electronic circuitry control board is , according to the invention, located towards the second end of the device , i . e . during vaping relatively far away from the user at a location, where the comparably heavy power supply device is located in many known aerosol generating devices .

However, in accordance with the invention, the relatively heavy power supply device is located signi ficantly closer towards the user, namely between the receiving cavity for the cartomi zer and the electronic circuitry control board, so that the center of gravity is signi ficantly closer to the user as compared to known devices . Therefore , the device is easier to hold, for example , only by using the thumb and forefinger, or even only the lips . This is in other words achieved by the fact that the power supply device is essentially placed in the center of the device which, together with the fact that the power supply device accounts for about 50% of the total weight , leads to a well-balanced weight distribution allowing an ergonomic holding of the device as described above .

As an additional advantage , heat and/or vapor (humidity) sensitive devices , such as electronic components mounted to the circuitry control board are moved away from the first end, where the cartomi zer is accommodated .

In some embodiments , the power supply device is distant from the second end of the device by at least a length representing a quarter, preferably between a quarter and a third, the length being most preferably at least 15 mm . These measures have proven to be particularly ef ficient with regard to the above described balancing ef fect .

This also applies to those embodiments , in which the center of gravity of the device , including the cartomi zer being accommodated in the receiving cavity, is substantially positioned at the geometric center of the device and/or the casing . In particular, it leads to a particularly comfortable user feeling, when the device appears particularly balanced due to the fact that the geometric center and the center of gravity essentially coincide .

In some embodiments , the electronic circuitry control board, the power supply device and the receiving cavity for the cartomi zer are aligned along the longitudinal axis , which leads to a particularly well organi zed, ef ficient and easy to manufacture arrangement of the interior components of the device .

In some embodiments , the device further comprises at least one flexible printed circuit board which can advantageously be used to provide flexible , i . e . essentially deliberately bendable and/or shapable connections to further electronic components , connectors such as plugs or sockets , indicators such as lights and/or further non- flexible circuit boards as described in more detail below .

In such an embodiment , at least one flexible printed circuit board can advantageously be arranged in the device to extend adj acent a longitudinal surface of the power supply device , the longitudinal surface being essentially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the device . Such a longitudinal surface can be a planar, rectangular or cylindrical surface , and the at least one flexible printed circuit board can be described to lie on, surround or envelope such a surface . In an example , the flexible printed circuit is placed adj acent a substantially planar surface of the power supply device . The flexible printed circuit board may be formed as a flexible band having a width narrower than the width of the surface of the power supply device and a length longer than the length of the device .

As indicated above , at least one flexible printed circuit board can be employed to provide connection to at least one electronic circuitry control board and can, therefore , be mechanically attached to at least one electronic circuitry control board .

Such an attachment can be made particularly ef ficient by providing the electronic circuitry control board with non- flexible material sandwiching at least one flexible printed circuit board . In other words , the circuitry control board comprises at least two rigid material layers , between which a portion of at least one flexible printed circuit board is sandwiched .

In some embodiments , a second electronic circuitry control board can be positioned between the power supply device and the receiving cavity, which has proven not to impair the weight balance achieved by the novel position of the power supply device .

In this context , the second electronic circuitry control board can comprise a support of non- flexible material and can include power electrical connectors connected to the power supply device .

As already indicated above , when a second electronic circuitry control board is present , it can advantageously be connected to the initially described first electronic circuitry control board by at least one flexible printed circuit board .

In some embodiments , the second end of the device comprises an electrical charging connection, such as an USB socket , for the autonomous power supply device . In this manner, the charging connection can be conveniently performed, although the power supply device is shi fted towards the center of the device , and the control board is present near the second, distal end of the device .

In some embodiments , the power supply device is a rechargeable battery or fuel cell , both of which have proven to provide ef ficient and long-lasting power to the device .

In some embodiments , the device comprises a rigid frame in the casing, and the power supply device is mounted to the frame by at least one energy absorbing member, such as a foam pad, positioned between the frame and the power supply device . In this manner, undesired shi fting of the power supply device due to , for example , mechanical shock, can advantageously be prevented .

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Hereinafter, the invention will be described with reference to the drawings showing exemplary embodiments, in which:

Fig. 1 shows the interior of a first embodiment;

Fig. 2 shows a detail of the device of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3a shows another detail of the device of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3b shows the detail of Fig. 3a in a perspective view;

Fig. 4 shows the interior of a second embodiment; and

Fig. 5 shows a front view of the embodiment of Fig. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

As can be seen in Fig. 1, the aerosol generating device 10 has an elongate outer casing 12, in which a receiving cavity 14 for a cartomizer 16, a power supply device 18, and an electronic circuitry control board 20 are arranged in this order from a first, proximal end 22 to a second, distal end 24. Consequently, the power supply device 18 is located at approximately the center of the device 10, so that this is particularly well balanced. The figure further shows various seals 26 between the power supply device 18 and the receiving cavity 14 as well as the electronic circuitry control board 20 respectively.

In Fig. 1, the main surface of the control board 20 is essentially parallel to the plane of the drawing, and it can thus be seen that the main surface is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the device, which extends from left to right in Fig. 1. It should further be mentioned that absorbent foam 34 (see Fig. 2) is, in the embodiment shown, provided at the front and the rear end of the power supply device 18, and the circuit board 20 is connected to a second printed circuit board 28 by means of a flexible printed circuit board 32 .

This is shown in more detail in Fig . 2 , from which the power supply device 18 , its electrically connection 30 to the control board 20 as well as the flexible circuit board 32 can be taken . As shown, a portion of the flexible circuit board 32 is sandwiched between rigid material of the rigid circuit board 20 , and the flexible circuit board 32 is essentially strip-shaped and extends , in the orientation shown in Fig . 2 essentially corresponding to that of Fig . 1 , and the detail shown therein, from the control board 20 laterally, upward and again laterally adj acent a longitudinal surface of the power supply device 18 . A width of the flexible circuit board, i . e . a dimension perpendicular to the plane of the drawing of Fig . 2 can be signi ficantly smaller than the dimension of the power supply device 18 in the same direction .

Fig . 3a shows another, i . e . left or proximal end of the power supply device 18 , where the flexible circuit board 32 is bent downwards to be connected, again sandwiched between rigid material thereof , with a second circuit board 28 oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis . This second circuit board 28 serves to electrically connect to the cartomi zer . In Figs . 2 and 3 the absorbent foam 34 at both ends of the power supply device 18 as well as a front seal 26 are additionally shown .

These details can also be taken from Fig . 3b, in which it is additionally apparent that the flexible circuit board 32 having a width measured perpendicular to the plane of the drawing of Fig . 3a and from the lower left corner to the upper right corner of Fig . 3b which is less or narrower than the surface of the power supply device 18 . In particular, the flexible circuit board 32 has a constant width which can be approximately a third to a quarter of the width of the power supply device 18. As can be seen in Fig. 3b, the flexible circuit board 32 is adjacent to and particularly lies on the substantially planar and in this case rectangular surface of the power supply device 18 visible in Fig. 3b. The flexible circuit board 32 may comprise electrical components affixed thereon such as sensors, e.g. capacitive touch sensors and/or one or more LEDs .

Fig. 4 shows a part of the interior of a second embodiment, which again has a first circuit board 20 and a second circuit board 28 carrying contacts 36 to be connected to the cartomizer. In the embodiment of Fig. 4, a portion of the flexible circuit board 32 is sandwiched between rigid material of both the first 20 and the second circuit board 28. In the embodiment shown, a portion of the flexible circuit board 32 extends over the complete size of each circuit board 20, 28, in other words, two layers of rigid material sandwich, throughout their entire size, a portion of the flexible circuit board 32.

In the embodiment shown, the first circuit board 20 carries a USB socket 38 for charging the power supply device which is not visible in Fig. 4. However, it can be appreciated from Fig. 4, that the one-piece flexible circuit board, portions of which are sandwiched in the rigid circuit boards 20, 28, and further portions are denoted 32 in Fig. 4 extend adjacent, surround or envelope the power supply device 18 not visible in this figure. As indicated in the figure, electrical components 40 can be mounted to the flexible circuit board 32 together with sensors, such as pressure or capacitive touch sensors as well as an NFC antenna and LEDs, which are not shown in the figure, but can for example be present at the very right side of the flexible circuit board 32 in the orientation of Fig. 4. Contrary to the orientation of Figs. 1 to 3, a cartomizer would be located at the very right side in Fig. 4. In the use or vaping position, the cartomizer may be received partially in a receiving cavity of the outside casing of the device with the mouth end part of the cartomi zer extending out of the cavity ( as shown in Figure 1 ) . As shown at the bottom in Fig . 4 , a portion of the one-piece flexible circuit board 32 can extend essentially along the entire device , and portions of the flexible circuit board 32 are bent in any direction necessary to connect to one or more rigid circuit boards 20 , 28 and/or so as to be arranged adj acent the power supply device 18 .

It can finally be appreciated from Fig . 5 , that portions of the flexible circuit board 32 essentially extend in the shape of S when viewed from the second end, where the USB socket 38 is present . Electrical components can be mounted on any portions of the flexible circuit board 32 , preferably on that side thereof , which faces the interior, in other words facing away from the casing 12 (not shown in Fig . 5 ) .

Claims

CLAIMS Aerosol generating device (10) for delivering aerosol upon heating a liquid contained in the device (10) comprising an elongate outer casing (12) comprising a receiving cavity (14) arranged for receiving a cartomizer (16) at a first end (22) of the device (10) ; the device (10) further comprising: an autonomous power supply device (18) , at least one electronic circuitry control board (20) , wherein the device (10) comprises a second end (24) longitudinally opposite to the first end (22) , wherein the autonomous power supply device (18) is positioned in the outer casing (12) between the electronic circuitry control board (20) and the receiving cavity (14) , wherein the electronic circuitry control board (20) is positioned between the second end (24) and the power supply device (18) , wherein the electronic circuitry control board (20) is substantially flat, and its main surface is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the device (10) , and wherein the power supply device (18) is distant from the second end (24) of the device (10) at least a length (LI) representing a quarter, preferably between a quarter and a third of the total length (L) of the device (10) , in particular at least a length (LI) of 15 mmm. Aerosol generating device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the power supply device (18) is positioned such that the center of gravity of the device (10) including the cartomizer (16) in the receiving cavity (14) is substantially positioned at the geometric center of the device (10) and/or casing (12) . Aerosol generating device (10) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the electronic circuitry control board (20) , the power supply device (18) and the receiving cavity (14) for the cartomizer (16) are aligned along the longitudinal axis. Aerosol generating device (10) according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one flexible printed circuit board (32) . Aerosol generating device (10) according to claim 4, wherein at least one flexible printed circuit at least partially extends adjacent a longitudinal surface of the power supply device (18) . Aerosol generating device (10) according to any of claims 4 to 5, wherein at least one flexible printed circuit board (32) is attached to at least one electronic circuitry control board (20) . Aerosol generating device (10) according to any of claims 4 to 6, wherein at least one electronic circuitry control board (20) comprises non-flexible material sandwiching at least one flexible printed circuit board (32) . Aerosol generating device (10) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a second electronic circuitry control board (28) is positioned between the power supply device (18) and the receiving cavity (14) . Aerosol generating device (10) according to claim 8, wherein the second electronic circuitry control board (28) comprises a support of non-flexible material and includes power electrical connectors connected to the power supply device (18) . Aerosol generating device (10) according to any one of claims 8 or 9 wherein the first and second electronic control boards (20, 28) are connected by at least one flexible printed circuit (32) . Aerosol generating device (10) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the second end (24) of the comprises an electrical charging connection, such as an USB socket (38) , for the autonomous power supply device (18) . Aerosol generating device (10) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the device (18) is a rechargeable battery or fuel cell. Aerosol generating device (10) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein it comprises a rigid frame in the casing (12) and the power supply device (18) is mounted to the frame by at least one energy absorption member such as a foam pad (34) positioned between the frame and the power supply device (18) .