WO2022106656A2

WO2022106656A2 - Aerosol provision device

Info

Publication number: WO2022106656A2
Application number: PCT/EP2021/082373
Authority: WO
Inventors: Marcus Hartley; Kang Min Kim
Original assignee: Nicoventures Trading Limited
Priority date: 2020-11-20
Filing date: 2021-11-19
Publication date: 2022-05-27
Also published as: JP2023550058A; KR20230087569A; WO2022106656A3; EP4247192A2; US20240000140A1; GB202018301D0

Abstract

An aerosol provision device (100) is described. The device (100) has an aerosol generating assembly (200). A housing (102) encapsulates the aerosol generating assembly (200) and has an opening (103) for receiving at least part of an article (300) in the aerosol generating assembly (200). The device (100) has a non-removable panel (108) on an outer side of the housing (102).

Description

AEROSOL PROVISION DEVICE

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an aerosol provision device. The present invention also relates to a method of assembling an aerosol provision device, and an aerosol provision system comprising an aerosol provision device and an article comprising aerosol generating material.

Background

Smoking articles such as cigarettes, cigars and the like burn tobacco during use to create tobacco smoke. Attempts have been made to provide alternatives to these articles that burn tobacco by creating products that release compounds without burning. Examples of such products are heating devices which release compounds by heating, but not burning, the material. The material may be for example tobacco or other non-tobacco products, which may or may not contain nicotine.

Summary

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an aerosol provision device comprising an aerosol generating assembly, a housing encapsulating the aerosol generating assembly, the housing comprising an opening for receiving at least part of an article in the aerosol generating assembly, and a nonremovable panel on an outer side of the housing.

In an embodiment of the above, the non-removable panel wraps around part of the housing.

In a further embodiment of any of the above, the panel is at least partially arcuate and corresponds to an arcuate part of the housing.

In a further embodiment of any of the above, the non-removable panel is a cover fixed to the housing.

In a further embodiment of any of the above, the non-removable panel is fixed by a mechanical connection.

In a further embodiment of any of the above, the mechanical connection comprises a one-way clip.

In a further embodiment of any of the above, the non-removable panel is bonded to the housing. In a further embodiment of any of the above, the housing defines a fluid barrier, and the non-removable panel covers at least part of the fluid barrier.

In a further embodiment of any of the above, the housing comprises a first surface portion covered by the non-removable panel and an exposed second surface portion.

In a further embodiment of any of the above, the first surface portion has a first surface texture, and the second surface portion comprises a second, different, surface texture.

In a further embodiment of any of the above, the first surface portion has a first surface texture, and the non-removable panel comprises an exposed panel surface with a second, different surface texture.

In a further embodiment of any of the above, the non-removable panel comprises an exposed panel surface and the exposed panel surface is at least substantially co-planar with the exposed second surface portion.

In a further embodiment of any of the above, the panel is at least substantially in contact with the first surface portion across an inner side of the panel.

In a further embodiment of any of the above, the non-removable panel encompasses at least part of the housing.

In a further embodiment of any of the above, the housing is elongate and defines an axis, and wherein the non-removable panel is elongate in the axial direction.

In a further embodiment of any of the above, the housing comprises a step and an edge of the non-removable panel abuts against the step.

In a further embodiment of any of the above, the housing has a recessed portion and the non-removable panel is in the recessed portion.

In a further embodiment of any of the above, the housing comprises a tubular body and an end cap, wherein the non-removable panel is on the tubular body.

In a further embodiment of any of the above, the housing defines a component cavity in which the aerosol generating assembly is disposed and the aerosol generating assembly defines an article receiving chamber extending from the opening, wherein the article receiving chamber is isolated from the component cavity.

In a further embodiment of any of the above, the aerosol generating assembly comprises a heater assembly having a heating element for heating an article. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a system comprising the aerosol provision device of any of the above, and an article comprising aerosol generating material.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method of assembling an aerosol provision device, the method comprising providing an aerosol generating assembly, providing a housing encapsulating the aerosol generating assembly and comprising an opening for receiving at least a part of an article in the aerosol generating assembly, non-removably attaching a panel to an outer side of the housing.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an aerosol provision device comprising an aerosol generating assembly, and a shell encapsulating the aerosol generating assembly; the shell defining an outer surface of the device and an opening in the outer surface for inserting at least part of an article in the aerosol generating assembly, wherein the shell comprises a first shell part forming a first portion of the outer surface and a second shell part forming a second portion of the outer surface, wherein the first shell part comprises a panel extending on an inner side on the second shell part, and the first shell part is inseparable from the second shell part.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an aerosol provision device comprising an aerosol generating assembly, a housing encapsulating the aerosol generating assembly, the housing including an opening for receiving an article, the housing comprising a single ply region of the shell and a multiple ply region of the shell.

In an embodiment of the above, the multiple ply region is a double ply region.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 shows an aerosol provision device;

Figure 2 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the aerosol provision device of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 shows a partially exploded view of the aerosol provision device of Figure 1 with a non-removable panel shown separated from a housing;

Figure 4 shows another partially exploded view of the aerosol provision device of Figure 1 ; and

Figure 5 shows a view of the aerosol provision device of Figure 1 from above. Detailed Description

As used herein, the term “aerosol generating material” includes materials that provide volatilised components upon heating, typically in the form of an aerosol. Aerosol generating material includes any tobacco-containing material and may, for example, include one or more of tobacco, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco or tobacco substitutes. Aerosol generating material also may include other, non-tobacco, products, which, depending on the product, may or may not contain nicotine. Aerosol generating material may for example be in the form of a solid, a liquid, a gel, a wax or the like. Aerosol generating material may for example also be a combination or a blend of materials. Aerosol generating material may also be known as “smokable material”.

Apparatus is known that heats aerosol generating material to volatilise at least one component of the aerosol generating material, typically to form an aerosol which can be inhaled, without burning or combusting the aerosol generating material. Such apparatus is sometimes described as an “aerosol generating device”, an “aerosol provision device”, a “heat-not-burn device”, a “tobacco heating product device” or a “tobacco heating device” or similar. Similarly, there are also so-called e-cigarette devices, which typically vaporise an aerosol generating material in the form of a liquid, which may or may not contain nicotine. The aerosol generating material may be in the form of or be provided as part of a rod, cartridge or cassette or the like which can be inserted into the apparatus.

An aerosol provision device can receive an article comprising aerosol generating material for heating. An “article” in this context is a component that includes or contains in use the aerosol generating material, which is heated to volatilise the aerosol generating material, and optionally other components in use. A user may insert the article into the aerosol provision device before it is heated to produce an aerosol, which the user subsequently inhales. The article may be, for example, of a predetermined or specific size that is configured to be placed within a heating chamber of the device which is sized to receive the article. The article, in embodiments, is a consumable. That is, the article is discarded after use, for example following one or more uses, with another consumable article then being used.

Figure 1 shows an aerosol provision device 100 for generating aerosol from an aerosol generating medium/material. In broad outline, the device 100 may be used to heat a replaceable article 300 (refer to Figure 2) comprising the aerosol generating medium, to generate an aerosol or other inhalable medium which is inhaled by a user of the device 100.

The device 100 includes a body or enclosure assembly 101. The enclosure assembly 101 comprises a housing 102 surrounding and housing an aerosol generating assembly 200, which comprises various components for generating an aerosol from the received article. In one example, the article 300 is heated by a heater assembly to generate aerosol. The housing 102 has an opening 103 in one end, through which the article may be inserted for heating. The opening 101 is shown in Figures 2 and 5. In use, the article 300 may be fully or partially inserted into the device where it may be heated by one or more components. In the example shown, the opening 101 is covered by a lid 140 of the housing 102 which is slidable to reveal or hide the opening, to protect the opening from foreign material when not in use. The lid acts as a movable covering element to selectably cover or uncover the opening 103. The lid 140 may be omitted as shown in Figure 2. The opening 103 is shown covered in Figures 1 to 3 and uncovered in Figure 5.

In one example, the aerosol generating assembly 200 comprises an induction-type heater, including an induction coil and a susceptor. The induction coil is in communication with a power source, which energises the coil to generate a varying magnetix flux. The magnetic flux generates a current in the susceptor, which in turn causes the susceptor to heat. The susceptor is in heat communication with the article, and heats the article to generate an aerosol. In another example the aerosol generating assembly 200 comprises a resistive heater, or another type of heater. The aerosol generating assembly 200 in embodiments comprises two or more types of heater. The heater may, for example be a tubular heater and/or protruding, such as a blade, heater.

The device 100 also includes a user-operable control element 150, such as a button or switch, which operates the device 100 when pressed. For example, a user may turn on the device 100 by operating the switch. The switch may form part of the housing 102.

The device 100 also comprises an electrical component, such as a connector/port 160 (refer to Figure 4), which can receive a cable to charge a battery of the device 100. For example, the connector may be a charging port, such as a USB charging port. In some examples the connector 160 may be used additionally or alternatively to transfer data between the device 100 and another device, such as a computing device.

The device 100 comprises a power source 170 (refer to Figure 2), for example, a battery, such as a rechargeable battery or a non-rechargeable battery. Examples of suitable batteries include, for example, a lithium battery (such as a lithium-ion battery), a nickel battery (such as a nickel-cadmium battery), and an alkaline battery.

With reference predominantly to Figure 2, the housing 102 of the device 100 encapsulates the aerosol generating assembly 200. That is the housing 102 surrounds the aerosol generating assembly 200 such that access to the aerosol generating assembly 200 is prevented when the housing is present, with the exception of the opening 103 for inserting the article 300. The housing 102 defines a component cavity 201 in which the aerosol generating assembly 200 is received. The housing 102 acts as a barrier to the component cavity 201 so as to contain the aerosol generating assembly 200 and provide protection from the environment. The housing 102 protects the user from the aerosol generating assembly, for example preventing contact with electrical components and/or providing thermal resistance from the heated components. The housing 102 substantially wholly surrounds the device 100 and the aerosol generating assembly 200. The aerosol generating assembly 200 defines an article receiving chamber 202 extending from the opening 103. The article receiving chamber 202 is isolated from the component cavity 201. A cup and/or tubular member 203 may define the article receiving chamber 202. The housing 102 may act as a fluid barrier. The housing 102, in embodiments, fluidly isolates an outer side of the aerosol generating assembly. The housing 102 acts as a shell.

The device 100 defines a proximal end 104, which is generally the end from which the user may inhale the aerosol which is generated, and a distal end 106 which is at an opposite end of the device to the proximal end 104. The opening 103 is at the proximal end 104. The device 100 is elongate. The device 100 defines a longitudinal axis X which extends in a direction from the proximal end 104 to the distal end 106. The housing 102 surrounds the device 100 so as to form a continuous layer in a circumferential direction around the axis X. Referring to Figure 3, the device 100 further comprises a panel 108 on the housing 102. The panel 108 is arranged on an outer side of the housing 102. The panel 108 acts as a second shell, with the housing acting as a first shell. The panel 108 comprises an inner panel side 114 which faces the outer side of the housing 102, so as to cover a portion of the housing 102. The housing comprises a first surface portion 102a covered by the panel 108 and an exposed second surface portion 102b. In embodiments, the first surface portion 102a does not have any through holes. The first surface portion may be an outwardly facing surface onto which the panel 108 is mounted.

Although shown in an exploded view in Figures 3 and 4, the panel 108 is permanently fixed with the housing 102. The panel 108 is non-separable from the housing 102 as will be described in detail below. The outermost surface of the device 100 is thereby defined by the outer surface of the panel 108, and the exposed second surface portion 102b of the housing 102.

The panel 108 is elongate, and extends between the proximal end 104 and the distal end 106 parallel to the axis X. In the example shown, the panel 108 extends substantially the whole length of the device 100 from the proximal end 104 to the distal end 106.

The panel 108 is arcuate, comprising a generally curved shape in the plane defined by the axis X. The panel comprises a substantially constant, curved crosssection in the longitudinal direction of the axis X. The arcuate shape of the panel 108 corresponds in shape to a portion of the housing 102 which is also arcuate, such that the panel 108 fits onto and engages with the arcuate portion of the housing 102. In the example shown, the inner side 114 of the panel 108 is in contact with the outer side of the housing 102 across substantially the whole of the inner side 114 of the panel 108.

As best seen in Figure 5, the housing 102 comprises a prism shape, with a substantially constant cross-section extending from the proximal end 104 to the distal end 106 of the device 100. The cross-sectional shape is a racetrack shape, comprising two linear sections 130, 132 joined by two curved sections 134, 136. The panel 108 may be an end or side panel, which extends around and covers one of the curved sections 134 of the housing 102, between two locations where the curved section 134 meets the linear sections 130, 132. The housing 102 comprises a tubular section or element. As shown, tubular is not limited to circular cross-section, with the tubular section comprising the two linear sections 130, 132 and the two curved sections 134, 136. The tubular section extends from the proximal end 104 to the distal end 106 of the device 100. At the proximal end 104 and the distal end 106, the housing 102 further comprises end caps 105, 107 which form the two axial ends of the device. The end caps 105, 107 form part of the housing 102 and cover the ends of the tubular element. The proximal end cap 105 comprises the covering 140 for the opening, as described above.

The panel 108 comprises a shape of constant thickness in the radial direction defined by the axis X. That is, the panel 108 is substantially planar in a curved plane defined by the arcuate shape, so as to form a shell of constant thickness.

The shape of the panel 108 described above is such that it wraps around a portion of the housing 102 to cover the portion of the housing. Together, the housing 102 and the panel 108 form a shell which surrounds the aerosol generating assembly within the housing 102, with the housing 102 forming a first shell part and the panel 108 forming a second shell part. The shell formed by the housing 102 and the panel 108 together thereby comprises a single ply region, where the single layer of the housing 102 alone covers the aerosol generating assembly, and a multiple ply region, where the housing 102 and the panel 108 both cover the aerosol generating assembly. In the example shown, the multi ply region is a two ply region formed by the two layers of the housing 102 and the panel 108.

In the example shown, the housing 102 comprises a recessed section 116 shaped to receive the panel 108. In the example shown, the recessed section 116 generally corresponds to one of the curved sections 134 of the housing 102. The housing 102 defines a protruding section 117 which comprises the remaining section of the housing 102, in the example shown generally corresponding to the linear sections 130, 132 and the other curved section 136.

A step 118 is formed in the housing 102. The step 118 is defined along a longitudinal line which separates the recessed portion 116 and the protruding portion 117 of the housing 102. In the example shown, two steps 118 are formed along two such longitudinal lines defining the recessed portion 116. The panel 108 comprises edges 120 which abut against the step 118 of the housing. The step 118 and the edge 120 each extend along substantially along the whole length of the device 100 from the proximal end 104 to the distal end 106. The path of each step may differ, and may not be linear.

The recessed portion 116, steps 118 and edges 120 allow a panel 108 which is correspondingly shaped and sized to fit into the recessed section 116 so that an outer surface of the panel 108 is flush with an outer surface of the housing 102 around the protruding portion 117. That is, the outer surface of the panel is co-planar with the outer surface of the housing at the location where the panel 108 abuts against the housing 102.

The panel 108 is attached to the housing 102 in a permanent or nonremovable manner, i.e. by a non-removable attachment means. The term ‘nonremovable’, as used herein, is taken to mean that the panel 108 cannot be removed from the housing 102 without causing damage to the attachment means, such that the panel 108 could not be reattached to the housing 102 by the same attachment means without repair. A non-removable attachment means is one which substantially prevents the end-user from removing the panel 108. The panel 108 is non-movable. That is, it cannot be moved relative to the housing 102. The panel 108 is fixed.

The attachment means in one example comprises a mechanical attachment means. In one example, the attachment means comprises a clip and a receptacle for receiving the clip, where one of the clip and receptacle is part of the panel 108 and the other is part of the housing 102. The clip engages with the receptacle so as to non-removably secure the panel 108 to the housing 102.

In a further example, the attachment means comprises an adhesive which forms a non-removable adhesive bond to both the panel 108 and the housing 102. The adhesive may be applied in one location on the panel 108 and the housing 102, or may be applied in a plurality of locations to form a plurality of adhesive bonds between the panel 108 and the housing 102.

In a further example, the attachment means comprises a combination of a mechanical attachment means and an adhesive. For example, an adhesive may be applied on the mechanical attachment means.

An example attachment means is shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The panel 108 comprises a plurality of protrusions 110 and the housing 102 comprises a plurality of recesses 112 which are shaped correspondingly to the protrusions 110 so as to receive the protrusions 110. An adhesive is applied to the protrusions 110 and/or the recesses 112 and the panel 108 is fitted to the housing 102 by snapping the protrusions into the recesses 112. The adhesive forms an adhesive bond between the protrusions 110 and the recesses 112.

The arrangement described herein may aid the application of surface modifications such as patterning or finishes to the housing, such as for the purpose of customisation of the device, during manufacture. Applying the surface modifications directly to the housing can be undesirable as it may be difficult to apply surface modification to isolated portions of the housing, and the material properties desired for the housing such as strength and thermal insulation may not be conducive to surface modification. By using the arrangement described herein, these surface modifications may be applied in a straightforward manner to an element having more suitable material properties. By using a permanent attachment for the panel, the first surface covered by the panel does not need to meet the high standards required for exposure to a user, which provides design freedom, and can, for example, provide protrusions or elements which are used to assist in the manufacture of the housing.

By comprising a panel which is non-removably attached to a housing, the device may be provided with additional design freedom in the area of the housing underlying the panel, while the panel provides an outer surface to the device which is more suitable for interaction by the user. A device with an encapsulating housing and an overlying non-removable panel may be more easily manufactured, allowing features of the housing in the region covered by the side panel to be designed with reduced concern for protection of the device from the environment, or suitability of the region for interaction by the user.

In one example, the housing 102 comprises an outer surface, or an outermost surface, which has a texture. The texture may be substantially constant across the housing 102. The panel 108 may comprise an outer surface, or outermost surface, which has a texture that is different to the texture of the housing 102. A texture may be characterised by the VDI scale (Verein Deutscher Ingenieure scale), the outer surfaces of the housing 102 and the panel 108 comprising different VDI values.

By comprising a non-removable panel with a different texture to that of an underlying housing, the device may be provided with improved grip, and/or an improved user-perception of temperature in different sections of the device. The above embodiments are to be understood as illustrative examples of the invention. Further embodiments of the invention are envisaged. It is to be understood that any feature described in relation to any one embodiment may be used alone, or in combination with other features described, and may also be used in combination with one or more features of any other of the embodiments, or any combination of any other of the embodiments. Furthermore, equivalents and modifications not described above may also be employed without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined in the accompanying claims.

Claims

1 . An aerosol provision device comprising: an aerosol generating assembly; a housing encapsulating the aerosol generating assembly, the housing comprising an opening for receiving at least part of an article in the aerosol generating assembly; and a non-removable panel on an outer side of the housing.

2. The aerosol provision device of claim 1 , wherein the non-removable panel wraps around part of the housing.

3. The aerosol provision device of claim 1 or 2, wherein the panel is at least partially arcuate and corresponds to an arcuate part of the housing

4. The aerosol provision device of any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the nonremovable panel is a cover fixed to the housing.

5. The aerosol provision device of any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the nonremovable panel is fixed by a mechanical connection

6. The aerosol provision device of claim 5, wherein the mechanical connection comprises a one-way clip.

7. The aerosol provision device of any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the nonremovable panel is bonded to the housing.

8. The aerosol provision device of any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the housing defines a fluid barrier, and the non-removable panel covers at least part of the fluid barrier.

9. The aerosol provision device of any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the housing comprises a first surface portion covered by the non-removable panel and an exposed second surface portion.

10. The aerosol provision device of claim 9, wherein the first surface portion has a first surface texture, and the second surface portion comprises a second, different, surface texture.

11 . The aerosol provision device of claim 9 or 10, wherein the first surface portion has a first surface texture, and the non-removable panel comprises an exposed panel surface with a second, different surface texture.

12. The aerosol provision device of claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the nonremovable panel comprises an exposed panel surface and the exposed panel surface is at least substantially co-planar with the exposed second surface portion.

13. The aerosol provision device of any of claims 9 to 12, wherein the panel is at least substantially in contact with the first surface portion across an inner side of the panel.

14. The aerosol provision device of any of claims 1 to 13, wherein the nonremovable panel encompasses at least part of the housing.

15. The aerosol provision device of any of claims 1 to 14, wherein the housing is elongate and defines an axis, and wherein the non-removable panel is elongate in the axial direction.

16. The aerosol provision device of any of claims 1 to 15, wherein the housing comprises a step and an edge of the non-removable panel abuts against the step.

17. The aerosol provision device of any of claims 1 to 16, wherein the housing has a recessed portion and the non-removable panel is in the recessed portion.

18. The aerosol provision device of any of claims 1 to 17, wherein the housing comprises a tubular body and an end cap, wherein the non-removable panel is on the tubular body.

19. The aerosol provision device of any of claims 1 to 18, wherein the housing defines a component cavity in which the aerosol generating assembly is disposed - 14 - and the aerosol generating assembly defines an article receiving chamber extending from the opening, wherein the article receiving chamber is isolated from the component cavity.

20. The aerosol provision device of any of claims 1 to 19, wherein the aerosol generating assembly comprises a heater assembly having a heating element for heating an article.

21. A system comprising: the aerosol provision device of any of claims 1 to 20; and an article comprising aerosol generating material .

22. A method of assembling an aerosol provision device, the method comprising: providing an aerosol generating assembly; providing a housing encapsulating the aerosol generating assembly and comprising an opening for receiving at least a part of an article in the aerosol generating assembly; and non-removably attaching a panel to an outer side of the housing.

23. An aerosol provision device comprising: an aerosol generating assembly; and a shell encapsulating the aerosol generating assembly; the shell defining an outer surface of the device and an opening in the outer surface for inserting at least part of an article in the aerosol generating assembly; wherein the shell comprises a first shell part forming a first portion of the outer surface and a second shell part forming a second portion of the outer surface; and wherein the first shell part comprises a panel extending on an inner side on the second shell part, and the first shell part is inseparable from the second shell part.

24. An aerosol provision device comprising: an aerosol generating assembly; a housing encapsulating the aerosol generating assembly, the housing including an opening for receiving an article; the housing comprising a single ply region of the shell and a multiple ply region of the shell. - 15 -

25. The aerosol provision device of claim 24, wherein the multiple ply region is a double ply region.