WO2022179809A1

WO2022179809A1 - Aerosol generating system

Info

Publication number: WO2022179809A1
Application number: PCT/EP2022/052297
Authority: WO
Inventors: Layth Sliman BOUCHUIGUIR; Marko Plevnik; Nathan Lyell
Original assignee: Jt International Sa
Priority date: 2021-02-23
Filing date: 2022-02-01
Publication date: 2022-09-01
Also published as: TW202233266A

Abstract

An aerosol generating system comprises a case (10) and a vaporizer (12), the case (10) having a chamber or recess (18) for accommodating the vaporizer (12), the vaporizer (12) being connected to the case (10) only by a combination of at least one magnet (24, 26) and at least one ferritic element (24, 26) and being tiltable about at least one edge (22) of a step or inclination (20) so as to allow removal of the vaporizer (12) from the case (10). Further, the vaporizer (12) is elongate, at least one magnet (24, 26) or ferritic element (24, 26) is located substantially at a center of the elongate vaporizer (12), and an edge (22) is formed near both ends of the vaporizer (12).

Description

Aerosol Generating System

Technical Field

The invention relates to an aerosol generating system comprising a case and a vaporizer.

Technical Background

Aerosol generating devices such as vaporizers have become popular as a replacement for conventional smoking articles.

In such devices, an aerosol is heated for example by means of an electric heater to which electric power needs to be supplied. For this purpose, the vaporizer is usually combined with a case which also acts as a charger and can also accommodate a tobacco substrate or cartridge insertable into the vaporizer.

According to EP 3632239 A1 a vaporizer is mounted in a receiving unit mounted rotatably in the case and held in certain positions by magnets. EP 3672432 A1 and WO 2020 149634 A2 are related to vaporizers directly accommodated in a cavity of the case. Finally, EP 3610743 A2 and EP 3610748 A1 are related to vaporizers tiltably held in a case by magnets .

Summary of the Invention

There is still a need to provide an aerosol generating system, in which the vaporizer can easily be removed from the case, which, moreover, should have a simplified structure.

This is achieved by the subject matter of claim 1. Accordingly, the case has a chamber or recess for accommodating the vaporizer, and the vaporizer is connected to the case only by a combination of at least one magnet and at least one ferritic element. In other words, there is no need for any kind of receiving unit, holder, door or similar component holding the vaporizer and/or allowing access to the vaporizer when opened. Rather, the vaporizer is simply accommodated in a suitable chamber or recess and held by magnetic force only.

In order to nevertheless allow simple removal of the vaporizer from the case, the vaporizer is tiltable about at least one edge of a step or inclination typically provided in the chamber or recess of the case so as to allow removal of the vaporizer. In other words, by means of tilting or bringing it into a state inclined relative to the chamber or recess accommodating the vaporizer, at least a portion of the vaporizer is brought in an exposed position to be graspable by a user. Thus, it can easily be removed, and the case can be kept simple. In particular, tilting of the vaporizer can easily be effected by pushing one end of the vaporizer towards the case, where it can enter a free space adjacent the step, so that it will adapt an inclined position partly extending into the free space, resting on the step at an intermediate portion of the vaporizer and with the end opposite the pushed down end projecting from the case so that the user can grab it and remove the vaporizer from the case.

Both a familiar and easy to handle shape and a shape suitable for accommodating the necessary components can be achieved, since the vaporizer is elongate. Reliable holding of the vaporizer can be achieved due to the fact, that at least one magnet or ferritic element is located substantially at the center of the elongate vaporizer.

Handling and in particular removal of the vaporizer from the case can further be simplified, because an edge is formed near both ends of the vaporizer. In other words, the vaporizer can be tilted so as to allow removal by grasping it, by applying a pushing force to either end thereof. In particular, the vaporizer can be formed symmetrically, and the magnet or ferritic element can be formed at the center or at two essentially symmetrical positions, so that the vaporizer can be accommodated in the case in either orientation and can still be held reliably in the case and is at the same time easily removable. This is particularly supported by the position of the edges, since the vaporizer is significantly longer than the distance between its respective end and the edge, so that a significant part of the vaporizer is "raised", when it is tilted and, therefore, easy to grasp.

In this context, it is preferred that the area adjacent at least one edge, preferably both edges, the step(s) and/or inclination (s) lack any magnet. In other words, it is most preferred, that any magnets are located at the center in order to secure attachment for the normal accommodation position, but at the same time allow easy removal.

Preferred embodiments are described in the further claims.

Prevention of accidental removal of the vaporizer and an appealing shape of the combination of case and vaporizer can be achieved, when at least one surface of the vaporizer forms at least part of one surface of the combination of case and vaporizer.

In this context, it has been found advantageous for convenient handling, when at least one edge, about which the vaporizer can be tilted, is located at a position corresponding to 15 to 30%, in particular 17 to 23%of the vaporizer's length from an end thereof. When the vaporizer has a length differing between an inner, case-facing side and an outer side, an average length is considered. It will further improve simple handling, when the maximum tilt angle of the vaporizer is defined by the inclination or slant or a stop. In the case of an inclination, the vaporizer will essentially get into a line contact with the inclination when tilted about the edge of the inclination. When a step is applied having an edge, about which the vaporizer is tiltable, the tilting movement can advantageously be delimited by a suitable stop, against which the vaporizer abuts. As a side aspect, the maximum tilt angle and be set so as to at least expose an aperture of the vaporizer, into which a tobacco substrate stick or cartridge can be inserted. This allows the mentioned components to be inserted with the vaporizer being only tilted and not fully removed from the case.

Since it is advantageous, if the vaporizer cannot be removed by tilting only, it is preferred that the magnet and ferritic element holding the vaporizer to the case are still attracted to each other, when the vaporizer is at a maximum tilt angle. In other words, also in the fully tilted state, the vaporizer is still attracted to the case and it takes an appropriate force applied by the user to remove the vaporizer from the case.

Advantageously and still keeping a simple structure, the case can have a recess or chamber for accommodating the vaporizer having at least one edge adapted to align the vaporizer during tilting. This will further contribute to avoiding unintentional removal of the vaporizer, for example during the tilting movement and before the user actually intends to grasp it.

Still, the vaporizer is easily removable when this can be done by only overcoming the magnetic force. When the case essentially has the shape of a cuboid, it is preferred with regard to easy visibility and handling of the vaporizer, when it is provided on one of the largest or second-largest surfaces.

Handling will further be simplified, when the vaporizer is provided eccentrically on the case.

In particular, this can be achieved by providing the vaporizer adjacent at least one edge of the case.

Brief description of the drawings

Hereinafter, the invention will be described with reference to the drawings showing exemplary embodiments, in which

Figure la to lc are side views of a first embodiment of the aerosol generating system;

Figure 2 and 3 are perspective views of the embodiment of figure 1, and

Figures 4 and 5 are perspective views of a second embodiment.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments

As shown in figure la, the aerosol generating system has a case and a vaporizer 12 having an aperture 14, into which for example a tobacco substrate stick can be inserted. In the embodiment shown, the bottom 16 of a recess 18, on which the vaporizer 12 is supported when fully accommodated in the recess 18, has an inclination 20 on both ends thereof. Thus, as shown at the right side of figure la, by pushing the end of the vaporizer 12 towards the case 10, it will tilt about the edge 22 which is present between the inclination 20 and the (in figure la horizontal) bottom 16 of the recess 18. As a consequence, in the situation shown, the left part of the vaporizer 12 will be exposed from the case so that it can be grabbed by the user.

Although the embodiment shown has an inclination 20 on both ends, the gist of the invention can also be realized by an embodiment where only one inclination 20 or step with an adjacent recess is formed at one end. Even if only one inclination 20 or step is provided, the design based on magnetic force without any hinge, door or similar element still allows the user to select which end (the one with the aperture 14 or the opposite one) is to be exposed by tilting.

In comparison with figure la figure lb illustrates a situation, in which the vaporizer 12 is placed in the recess 18 with aperture 14 at the right side. Consequently, when applying force at the side, the end opposite the aperture 14 is exposed. Thus, the subject design, in particular having the combination of magnet and ferritic element approximately at the center, but not necessarily having to inclinations 20 or steps, allows more freedom to place the vaporizer within the case (aperture on left or right side), which is also novel over the prior art.

In the situation shown in figure la, applying force at the right side particularly exposes the aperture 14 of the vaporizer 12. Nevertheless, also in the shown, tilted stated, a magnet or ferritic element 24 provided on the vaporizer essentially at the center thereof and near or at the surface facing the bottom 16 of the case 10 will still be attracted to a complementary magnet or ferritic element 26 provided at or near the bottom 16 of the recess 18 of the case 10. Thus, also in the shown, tilted state, the vaporizer will be somewhat attracted to the case, and this will particularly be the case, when the vaporizer 12 is fully accommodated in the case by resting against the bottom 16. However, no further means for holding the vaporizer 12 to the case 10 are necessary . This situation is shown in figure 2 with the force exerted by a user indicated by arrow A. Figure 3 corresponds to the situation shown in figure 1 and arrow B indicates the end of the vaporizer projecting from the case. It can, moreover, be seen in figures 2 and 3 that the vaporizer is provided eccentrically on the largest surface of the case 10 and near an edge thereof. In the case shown, the vaporizer is adjacent an edge of the case both at one long and two short sides thereof. It can finally be taken from figures 2 and 3 that the surface of the vaporizer 12 constitutes a part of the surface of the combination of case and vaporizer facing the viewer of figure 2.

As can be seen by comparing figures 2 and 3, at least one, preferably both large side surfaces 28, which are entirely located inside the recess 18 in the situation shown in figure 2, will move along the longer edges 30 of the recess 18. Particularly when these side surfaces 28 are parallel to each other and to the direction of tilting movement, they will travel along the edges 30, so that the edges 30 provide some alignment to the vaporizer 12 as a whole, when moving from the situation shown in figure 2 to that shown in figure 3. As a consequence, any movement sideways according to figures 2 and 3 is restricted and unintended accidental removal is less likely.

Returning to figure la, it can be seen based on the inclination 20 and edge 22 also be present at the left side in this particular embodiment, that the vaporizer can also be tilted so as to expose the according to figure la right end thereof, as shown in figure lc. In this context, it goes without saying, that the vaporizer 12 can again be placed in the recess 18 with the aperture 14 at the right side so as to expose same when applying pressure at the left side. In the embodiment of figures 4 and 5, the vaporizer is provided at one of the second largest surfaces of the essentially cuboid case, so that it has, in this case, adjacent edges of the case all around the vaporizer. The vaporizer, moreover, again constitutes a part of the surface of the combination of case and vaporizer, in this case an essential part of one of the second-largest surfaces, and the tilting movement so as to initiate removal essentially corresponds to that described previously. This also applies to alignment of the vaporizer 12 by edges 30 along its large surfaces 28.

In this context, the edge 22 shown in figure 1 can also be provided on a step, and the maximum tilt angle defined by the inclination 20 in figure 1 can also be defined by recessed portions of the bottom 16 being provided essentially at positions where the inclinations 20 are shown in figure 1.

Claims

1. An aerosol generating system comprising a case (10) and a vaporizer (12), the case (10) having a chamber or recess (18) for accommodating the vaporizer (12), the vaporizer (12) being connected to the case (10) only by a combination of at least one magnet (24, 26) and at least one ferritic element (24, 26) and being tiltable about at least one edge (22) of a step or inclination (20) so as to allow removal of the vaporizer (12) from the case (10), wherein the vaporizer (12) is elongate, at least one magnet (24, 26) or ferritic element (24, 26) is located substantially at a center of the elongate vaporizer (12), and an edge (22) is formed near both ends of the vaporizer (12).

2. The aerosol generating system of claim 1, wherein at least one surface of the vaporizer (12) forms at least part of one surface of the combination of case (10) and vaporizer (12).

3. The aerosol generating system of claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one edge (22) is located at a position corresponding to 15 to 30%, in particular 17 to 23% of the vaporizer's length from an end thereof.

4. The aerosol generating system of any of the preceding claims, wherein the maximum tilt angle is defined by the inclination (20) or a stop.

5. The aerosol generating system of any of the preceding claims, wherein at a maximum tilt angle as defined by the inclination (20) or the stop in cooperation with the edge (22), the magnet (24, 26) and ferritic element (24, 26) still are attracted to each other.

6. The aerosol generating system of any of the preceding claims, wherein the case (10) has a recess (18) having at least one edge (30) adapted to align the vaporizer (12) during tilting.

7. The aerosol generating system of any of the preceding claims, wherein the vaporizer (12) is removable from the case (10) by only overcoming the magnetic force.

8. The aerosol generating system of any of the preceding claims, wherein the case (10) essentially has the shape of a cuboid, and the vaporizer (12) is provided on one of the largest or second-largest surfaces.

9. The aerosol generating system of any of the preceding claims, wherein the vaporizer (12) is provided eccentrically.

10. The aerosol generating system of any of the preceding claims, wherein the vaporizer (12) is provided adjacent at least one edge (22) of the case (10).

11. The aerosol generating system of any of the preceding claims, wherein the edge (22) is provided in the chamber or recess (18) of the case (10).

12. The aerosol generating system of any of the preceding claims, wherein the area adjacent at least one edge (22), preferably both edges (22), the step(s) and/or inclination (s) (20) lack any magnet.